isany1listening

President-elect Obama has expressed concerns over the civilian deaths of both the Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza. Of course there are many news agencies reporting this, and of course the internet blogs have people coming out of the woodwork to denounce Obama as a Muslim concerned only with the Paelstinians. Truth be told, this whole situation sickens me. There have been over 560 deaths on the side of the Palestinians and only 4 friendly fire deaths on the side of the Israelis. Where is the balance? And how can you accuse someone who is concerned with the deaths of over 560 innocent people a terrorist supporter? Where has humanity gone?

The conflict between Palestine and Israel has been going on for years. The U.S. has always been a staunch supporter of Israel. And, unfortunately if you dare to critique Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, then you are labeled an anti-semite. However, being an intelligent and free thinking person, I believe that every state is open to criticism, especially criticism that comes from a logical and reasonable place. I will go out on a limb and say that the situation in Gaza makes me want to cry. The fact that innocent civilians, Palestinians, are being killed left and right, is completely immoral and unethical. Israel knows that Hamas is using the civilians as human shields, and yet it does not deter them from trying to massacre everyone, making no clear distinction between the guilty from the innocent. Where is the justice? For me, there is no justification.

The Palestinians were given the right to elect their own government in Gaza and they elected Hamas. The U.S., among others, was not happy with the election. Well, when you allow democracy to happen in a valid way, you open yourself up to having people elect representation that you may not like. If the election was legal, and you didn’t get the result you wanted, well too bad. True democracy allows citizens to elect those they want to elect and they choose who they feel will best govern them and attend to their needs. What can we do? The fact is, that when the Israelis committ what appears to be genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians in their state, and deprive them of basic human rights, well when a small area gets independence of course they will choose the party of terrorists who are telling them they will stop the genocide. They have no where else to turn. What do we expect?

I have one last point, and one that may get me into trouble, but I will put it as mildly as I can. All genocides and holocausts are terrible. This means what happened in Europe, Rwanda, Cambodia, Armenia, etc. The list goes on. But if you, as a member of an ethnic group, are a victim of such a terrible event, it does not give you the right to later become the victimizer of another ethnic group and claim your victimhood as ethical reasoning. It is completely unethical and inhumane to do this. No genocide, ethnic cleansing, nor holocaust can ever be justified. I don’t think I have to emphasize this further.

My concern is for the innocents who are dying in this war, and is always for the innocent victims in any war. It is ugly. It is unfair. And unfortunately it is the way of the world. I hope someday we can change. And I hope that we will always be allowed to criticize states who engage in such actions, especially our own, and the support we give to states who are wrong. This doesn’t make you anti anything, except anti-war, and it makes you a logical person who has a heart and cares for all of humanity. No exceptions!