Wednesday, February 09, 2005

CEASE FIRE OPEN THREAD

There's chatter in my comment secton on the danger of self-fulfilling prophesies.

Loyal DovBear reader, and fan-club president "Skeptic" thinks the right sabotaged Oslo, and he thinks the right will likewise sabatoge yesterday's cease-fire. Below I reprint his thoughts for your amusment, consideration and redicule:
Let's roll back the clock. Let's pretend that the right didn't demonize and denounce Rabin. Let's pretend that the right didn't murder Rabin. Let's pretend that Butthead Netanyahu never came to power, and never made it clear that he was going to ignore his Oslo obligations. Do you still think Oslo would have failed?
In another comment he adds:
...rediculous warmongering (and aren't you brave? Asking IDF soldiers to die, while you sit on your fat ass in america) is part of the reason why Jews die.

You bring it on us, and on yourself, by refusing to seriously consider any opportunity for peace. You're safe on your fat ass, so its no skin off your nose if Oslo is scuttled. And now, you're probably against the Sharm deal, too. Meanwhile, Jews die. Jews die because you lazily dismiss any opportunity to end this conflict.

You make me sick.
I won't blame the victims, and I am not sure Skeptic has. But I do know the right-wingers of whom Skeptic speaks. There are Jews in this world who want the cease fire to fail.

They prefer war to peace for two reasons: (1) If we sign a peace deal, we lose settlements and access to holy rocks and dirt. If the choice is land or peace, we choose land. (2) Any deal is a Trojan horse. No Arab desires peace. What they want is to drive us into the sea. Total war is the only option, so let's stop pretending and get it on.

What do you think? Are these attitudes realistic? Does their love of land and acute distrust of Arab intentions make peace impossible? Or are their fears foolish, and obstacles to a lasting deal?