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February 03, 2009
Daniel Pearl and the Normalization of Evil
Daniel Pearl Z'L
An important article from The Wall Street Journal.
By JUDEA PEARL
This week marks the seventh anniversary of the murder of our son, former Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. My wife Ruth and I wonder: Would Danny have believed that today's world emerged after his tragedy?
The answer does not come easily. Danny was an optimist, a true believer in the goodness of mankind. Yet he was also a realist, and would not let idealism bend the harshness of facts.
Neither he, nor the millions who were shocked by his murder, could have possibly predicted that seven years later his abductor, Omar Saeed Sheikh, according to several South Asian reports, would be planning terror acts from the safety of a Pakistani jail. Or that his murderer, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, now in Guantanamo, would proudly boast of his murder in a military tribunal in March 2007 to the cheers of sympathetic jihadi supporters. Or that this ideology of barbarism would be celebrated in European and American universities, fueling rally after rally for Hamas, Hezbollah and other heroes of "the resistance." Or that another kidnapped young man, Israeli Gilad Shalit, would spend his 950th day of captivity with no Red Cross visitation while world leaders seriously debate whether his kidnappers deserve international recognition.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at February 3, 2009 09:08 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.
" ... My wife Ruth and I wonder: Would Danny have believed that today's world emerged after his tragedy? ..."
maybe it's time for an accurate sequel to
"A Mighty Heart"
Posted by: exdemexlib at February 3, 2009 10:11 AM
The world has been upside down now for some time, where evil is good and good evil...
Posted by: Bill Brandt at February 3, 2009 10:31 AM
I feel like this editorial is like the Valedictory address for all readers of Seraphic Secret. It's so succinct and covers a lot of history and today's issues as well.
All I would add here is that many of the supporters of Hamas at Universities are actually supporting something else as well. They believe there is no such thing as good and evil. Thus, there are no terrorists, no criminals, no sexual predators or deviants, etc.
The fight against global jihad offends not only their inherent Jew-hatred, but also their hatred for any sense of justice, decency, and civilization.
Posted by: Jake at February 3, 2009 12:53 PM
A very moving article. It’s heart-breaking to see Daniel Pearl’s beautiful picture and think what was to come.
I admire Mr. Pearl’s determination to persevere in speaking truth even in the inhospitable environment of UCLA. I can’t share his generous belief that these people (liberal media & would-be cultural elites) started with “well-meaning” intentions, which gradually turned them into anti-Zionists and pro-terrorists. I believe they consciously choose to focus on events or views which are ego-syntonic, and contribute to their feeling of superiority. Theirs, they can imagine, is the “nuanced” view, while those of us who point out hard reality are just too benighted to “get it.” When peoples share the same basic goals, “cultural understanding” is a most worthy goal. Radical Islam has made no secret of its own goals. I’m afraid we understand them all too well, but our governments lack the courage to take decisive actions.
Sorry for the long rant – It’s an emotional subject.
Jake, your comments are spot on in identifying the "no-values" approach so common not just on campus but in all public schools.
Ex-dem Ex-Lib, An accurate mighty heart would be wonderful.
Posted by: Katherine at February 3, 2009 01:09 PM
If Daniel Pearl were to see the world today he would think we have fallen through the looking glass. I've lived through the years since 9-11 and even I can't believe what I read from those that blame America first.
Growing up in the fifties and the sixties, my friends and I were taught that there is right/wrong anf good/evil.
The worst thing to happen to us since the sixties is that everything is relative now and to call someone a terrorist does not help move the dialogue to a win-win for everyone because people will only look at the label. That is why the NY Times will not call anyone a terrorist because it will label them so that people will not try to understand their view.
People don't want to say what happened on 9-11 was pure evil. What happened to Gilad Shalit is evil personified. What happens to women and homosexuals in Iran and other muslim countries is evil. Drawing a moral equivalence between Abu Ghraib and what happened to Daniel Pearl is evil.
If we can't even see the evil we can never defeat it.
Posted by: Johnny at February 3, 2009 02:24 PM
Everyone:
Thanks so much for all your comments. Mr. Pearl's article is simple, clear and morally without flaw. Too bad our culture seems to be rejecting his message.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 3, 2009 08:54 PM
Amen, Robert!
Posted by: ProphetJoe at February 4, 2009 07:34 AM
Debbie Schlussel reports on the contradiction between Judea Pearl's words and his actions.
Posted by: kishke at February 4, 2009 07:48 AM
Kishke:
Thanks for the link. I'm picking up my jaw from the floor.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 4, 2009 08:52 AM
Yeah. It doesn't negate the truth of this article, and I think Schlussel goes a bit over the top, but still.
Posted by: kishke at February 4, 2009 01:32 PM