This isn’t kind of message that people generally write around New Years, but 2008 has been a great challenge and 2009, despite the hope born out of the election of Barack Obama, could be every bit as tough. I don’t generally veer into political issues in public forums and never here in this place generally dedicated to Little House on the Prairie and wholesome family entertainment.

This will be my first-ever post about politics and violence. Sadly, I find myself astonished and outraged by the negative reaction to Israel’s decision to defend itself against rocket attacks launched a week ago by the Palestinian terror organization, Hamas. 

In all the hand wringing protests at Israeli consulates and embassys there is much outrage that Israel would dare defend itself and little or no acknowledgement that Hamas began this round of hostilities by firing rockets into Israel thereby ending a six-month-old cease fire.  Palestinian defenders around the globe make charges of non-proportional responses to Palestinian attacks…as if unaimed rockets designed to kill people at random are hospitality gifts that Israel should accept with gratitude.

Israel should hit Hamas and their Palestinian supporters with overwhelming force, with all respect to the inevitable Palestinian casualties, until the Hamas rocket attacks end and meaningful peace negotiations begin. If the Palestinian people are so appalled by Israeli air strikes let them vent their displeasure to Hamas.  If enough Palestinian people openly opposed Hamas terrorists they wouldn’t be able to function in populated areas where civilians live and work, but they obviously support or at very least tolerate Hamas’ political and military goals so they should not be surprised to experience the full deadly brunt of Israel’s military capability.

I am 52 years old and there has never been a time in my life when Israel’s right to exist hasn’t been rejected in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world. It’s appalling. Until that fundamental issue is resolved violence will certainly continue.  I am not religious person…but I am totally sympathetic to Israel’s desire to exist and mystified by people and organizations who blame Israel for defending itself while seeking sympathy from the world as they terrorize and kill Israeli citizens and destroy their country. We can only hope that Palestinian leaders emerge who can marshall support for the overwhelming advantages of peace rather than the tragic disadvantages of religious extremism. 

I welcome your thoughts and comments…

Happy New Year.

Dean

Merry Christmas one and all.  All the best in 2009.