We have lost our cool By Yehuda Ben Meir

[azurnoir]

Although I do not necessarily agree 100% with the author, it is an interesting article .

In the past Israel was famous the world over as a society that knew how to maintain its equanimity and to behave in a balanced, judicious and restrained manner even in very difficult situations, in the face of terror attacks, infiltrators, wars, terror, threats and grave security challenges. It is no coincidence that Ariel Sharon always used to say that "restraint is power, too" - all, of course, in the right dosage. This unique quality, which aroused admiration all over the world, was the secret of Israel's strength and power, and to a large extent the secret of its success as well.

The issue of our captive soldiers is very complex. It must be handled with great sensitivity vis-a-vis the families, and with no less determination vis-a-vis our bitterest enemies.

Anyone who follows the media could get the impression that Gilad Shalit is being held by the State of Israel, and that only because the prime minister is preoccupied with his own problems has he not taken the time to open his cell and release him.


The unbalanced reaction to the attack in Jerusalem is another example of the weakness and absence of equanimity that are undermining Israeli society.

But that is a far cry from demolishing the home of the terrorist's family. There are cases when demolishing a terrorist's home is justified, but in this case the demolition is not only an unjust act that is contrary to Jewish ethics, it is also and mainly an unwise one. The time has come to return to what we used to be: a society that knows how to deal with challenges while maintaining equanimity, restraint and good judgment.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/999588.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. Very interesting article...

I fully agree about demolishing the homes of terrorists' families. Unless there is direct evidence of collusion, why should the families be punished?

[Vegasaurus]

2. I do not agree with home demolition either

although martyrs are always celebrated in the culture, innocent children should not lose their homes.

[subsuelo]

3. what culture is that exactly

[LeftishBrit]

4. To varying degrees, almost any culture of war...

Actual suicide attacks are not generally common; but the celebration of casualties as 'martyrs' and role models is much commoner. On the whole, professional soldiers do not welcome martyrdom, but civilians certainly celebrate 'martyrs' on their side. Most Brits have probably encountered Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade", about an incident where lots of British soldiers got killed due to their commander fucking things up rather thoroughly; and Tennyson ardently extolled their martyrdom:

"Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldiers knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die...

Honour the Light Brigade!
Honour the charge they made!
Noble six hundred!"


Terrorists, paramilitary groups and militant rebels (not mutually exclusive groups, of course) seem more likely to seek and celebrate martyrdom. The IRA, for instance, had many songs celebrating people who died during, or as a result of, attacks on the British. A famous 20th century song, "The Patriot Game", deals with a teenager who joined the IRA, and was killed at the age of 16. It was apparently based on a real person and intended to encourage others to 'do likewise'.

"This Ireland of ours has for long been half-free.
Six counties are under John Bull's tyranny.
I've read of our heroes; I've wanted the same,
And so I am part of the Patriot Game.

They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair.
His wounds from the battle, still bleeding and bare.
His fine body twisted, all crooked and lame.
They soon made me part of the Patriot Game...


And now as I lie here, my body all holes,
I think of our leaders who bargained and sold.
I wish that my rifle had given the same
To Quislings who sold out the Patriot Game."

And many more where that came from.

[Vegasaurus]

5. Cultures that celebrate the death of martyrs

It is not a common practice in societies, although there is an effort here to make it so.

I think it speaks to a sickness within a society, for them to celebrate the killing of other people, along with celebrating the one who did the killing.

[subsuelo]

6. People who celebrate war can be found in all societies n/t

[LeftishBrit]

7. Celebrating the death of 'martyrs' is a pretty common practice...

though creating martyrs by encouraging suicide attacks is much less common.

As I said in another post, it is probably much commoner in rebel, paramilitary, or terrorist groups than among professional soldiers in ordinary armies; though the 'martyrdom' of soldiers is sometimes celebrated by civilian compatriots.

While within the UK, the Irish rebel songs probably contain the most recent and most frequent celebration of martyrdom ("Another martyr for old Erin/ Another murder for the Crown/ The British laws may crush the Irish/ But cannot keep our spirits down!"), there is also plenty of it in Scottish Jacobite songs:

In one, a bereaved father declares:

"I once had sons; I now have none;
I bred them toiling sairly.
If I could have my own sons again,
I'd give them all for Charlie!"

[azurnoir]

8. A good deal of Catholic saints

were also martyrs, what about Masada?. Most cultures to one degree or another celebrate martyrdom, this especially true when fighting as "underdogs".