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May 27, 2005
The So-called Liberal Mind
In today's NY Times, Thomas Friedman claims that he's not squeamish about the war on terror, yet he wants President Bush to close down Guantanamo because our allies are horrified by prisoner and "Koran abuse." This from a liberal who, no doubt, just kvelled over Andres Serranaos' "artwork" in which a crucifix was immersed in urine. Did he or the ACLU protest religious desecration then? Of course not. Christianity and Judaism are fair targets. But as always, Muslims and their violent, imperialistic religion get a big fat pass.
Friedman moves from our POW camps to Israel. He suggets that it's best for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and then Judea and Samaria in order to "deprive the Arab world and its exploding media of oxygen." This is typical of the so-called liberal mind. Surrender, withdraw, forget right and wrong, because the forces of history are moving against you. In fact this is Marxist thought. It has come to the point that Liberal and Marxist ideology are one and the same. Marx posited the "inevitable collapse of capitalism." The word "inevitable" is key. It suggests that material forces have such weight that nothing can stand in their way. Now, Marx was wrong--about everything. Yet his cruel ideas so permeate our elite universities that several generations of American students have imbibed Marxist thought without even being aware of it. This is, by the way, brainwashing.
Need I point out that Jews no longer live in any Arab countries. The last of the Jewish populations were expelled in the 60's. Yet these same Arab countries are the most anti-Semitic on earth. The absence of Jews in society ensures the continuation of rabid anti-Semitism. So if Israel were to cower behind a wall--as Friedman so sagely counsels--what would happen is this: anti-Semitism would increase a hundred fold and the next stage in the Arab plan would be a Jewish withdrawl from all of Jerusalem, and then, naturally, Israel--which is their stated plan.
What would Friedman and his liberal friends say then? Withdraw to Brooklyn, no doubt.
Look, you need not be a genius to know that if you reward evil, it will spread. Appeasement is just another word for cowardice. When Chamberlin waved a piece of paper and exclaimed "Peace in our time," Hitler was gleefully preparing for the destruction of Britain. The Arabs are delighted about Gaza and preparing to move their terrorist operations to the West Bank. This is actually inevitable.
PS. I get a lot of mail from women telling me that they're not particularly interested when I write about politics. They are interested when Karen and I write about Ariel ZT"L. The mail I get from men asks for the exact opposite. More politics. I appreciate both points of view. Please know that I write what I write when I write it because that's what my heart and mind are calling for at the moment. It keeps me sane.
I wish you all a lovely and meaningful Shabbos.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at May 27, 2005 08:08 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Stay sane Rebbe!
Posted by: danny bee at May 27, 2005 08:47 PM
I enjoy all your posts, including the political ones.
Posted by: Tamara at May 29, 2005 04:42 PM
I shouldn't do this, since I don't check back here enough to make it a conversation, but it's late and I'm punchy.
You *really* don't see the difference between the individual artist's desecration of a religious symbol and a government's doing so?
What if it weren't a desecration, but a promotion? What if a painter created a beautiful piece of art celebrating the Gee-man, and then the Army liked it so much they decided that the picture would have to be posted on one wall in every military building? Still no difference?
Look, as much as it galls me, it is the beauty of this country that any racist bigot who wants to can stand on the corner and shout about how the Jews are the source of all evil, etc. In fact, in sufficiently non-incendiary circumstances, any racist bigot who wants to could purchase a Koran or a New Testament or (Chas V'Shalom) a Sefer Torah and urinate on it or whatever, and there's very little that could (legally) be done about it.
But you know, if the cops were to ever do that, it'd be a different story. Even if they were just doing it so some ostensibly religious suspect would confess.
There *might* be an argument for Gitmo and rendition if torture were actually effective in getting good information. MIGHT. I'd argue not, but at least there MIGHT be one. But since it's well established that torture and abuse *don't* get any good information... well, then you're stuck arguing for torture for the sake of torture. And even setting aside the moral value of that argument it's simply a waste of resources.
I have what to say about the wall, too. But I gotta sleep.
--FD
PS: As much as I disagree (most of the time) with your political opinions, I consider all of your posts extraordinary, be they about politics or Ariel (zt'l), and cherish each of them.
Posted by: FrumDad at July 18, 2005 11:39 PM