Monday, January 30, 2006

Absurdities Du Jour

“And I just don't think you can support democracy and then say, well, we have to do this because of the outcome.” – C. Rice, Jan 29, 2006
Why not? The election of Hamas reveals the values of the Palestinian majority. We should judge the people appropriately and act accordingly. To do anything else is to betray one’s own values. To view the will of the majority as always respectable—indeed, as defining what is right and wrong—is moral subjectivism in its collectivist variant. Thus, if the Palestinian people accept the hate-filled violence-soaked values of Hamas, then these are their authentic values, according to this line of reasoning. This, of course, is multi-cultural relativism at its worse.

"They’ll have to behave responsibly now that they are the government” – various writers.

Need I comment? This reminds us of the women who marries an alcoholic that promises to but never reforms. One day she says, “Now that I’m pregnant he’ll have to become responsible and support the family.” But a pattern of undeserved forgiveness only solidifies bad habits. This, too, has been the case with Palestinians. Since two thirds of Palestinian wealth is from foreign aid, given to them despite their decent into depravity, don’t expect more aid to encourage positive change.

“We have to support Hamas because if we don’t, Iran will” – leftist media pundits like Juan Williams
The rationale is that we’ll have control if we fund Hamas. We could threaten them by withholding funds … wait, that’s just what Williams says we can’t do! This line of moral depravity would have us funding terrorists before more unsavory characters do. Would it really have been better if the State Department funded 9/11 so that they didn’t get their money from bin Laden?

“We do understand that the Palestinian people may have some humanitarian needs” – C. Rice, Jan 29, 2006
There is an idea, circulating in the media, that you can separate the nation from the people who just elected a terrorist regime. We can’t support terrorist nations but we have to help the people, we are told, who are poor and unemployed. This means funding terrorists. There’s no one else there. They are filled with hate for the Jews, they vigorously support targeting and killing civilians, they idolized suicide bombers, and they cheered on 9/11. Why do we help them?

“They must renounce their platform for a destruction of Israel …” – the President and others
Why ask them to lie? This is the core of their being. This is what makes them get up in the morning. From childhood they are taught to hate Jews. It is drummed into them. They aspire to become suicide bombers. Their religious leaders extol the virtues of Jihad. Our leaders' superficial focus on rhetoric amounts to saying “bad, Arabs, now wash you mouth out before we can talk again!”

“And the Palestinian people have an aspiration for peace. We know that.” – C. Rice
How do you know this, Madam Secretary? Ouija boards don’t count.

Analysis

Our leaders are symptoms of deeper problems in our culture. The first is the philosophy of Pragmatism which holds that there is no firm reality, expediency (not principles) is the effective means to success, “winging it” is preferable to having a plan, and human beings have no identity—they can act differently regardless of their character, history, and core beliefs.

The second failure is a philosophy of altruism—not generosity but a fundamentalist-socialist belief holding that ethics means putting the values and interests of others first. With all the people suffering in the world, an altruist helps their enemies first while asking friends to continue to suffer. “It’s our duty to suffer and endure so that we may serve those whose values come before ours.” The altruist perverts the regard for others, which is an integral part of ethical principles, into the total focus and object of ethical concern. Thus, to the altruist, helping one’s enemies is the ultimate proof of being moral, i.e. of placing others above self.

We are not responsible for feeding the children of our enemies. By electing Hamas they have declared themselves an enemy of civilization and should be shunned by all. Two thirds of their sustenance comes from foreign sources, mostly Western. Without foreign support the Palestinian threat to Israel could be over in short order—perhaps months.

The Solution

Repudiate the past policies of appeasing terrorists like Arafat. Face the threat of Islam which Hamas is a prime example. Expose, with full brutal honestly, the barbarian culture of the Palestinian Arabs that now exists in the West Bank. Cut all aid—every penny—to the nation and people who abhor our values and embrace a culture of death.

It’s time to draw a line in the sand. This is it! While others demand our President appease Hamas if they make superficial changes, we should demand tougher policies unconditionally, unilaterally, completely, and irrevocably. Write to the President, Senators, and Congressmen. You’ll be proud you did.

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hear, Hear!

-FJ

1/30/06, 12:41 PM  
Blogger beakerkin said...

Jason

The Palestinian people have had an election and we should respect outcomes that we do not agree with.
However, we also should use whatever actions we feel prudent to deal with the situation . I agree to halt all funding and let the Arabs pick up their share.

If a Civil war breaks out we should keep the Iranians and Saudi
money out.

However I am pondering if Adam Shapiro will form an international brigade like those in Spain to protect Fatah from Hamas. They could even name it the Rachel Corrie brigade.

1/30/06, 3:05 PM  
Blogger Mark said...

Jason:

We should NEVER support this terrorist organization, whatever the outcome. Principles are principles. I'm with you all the way!

1/30/06, 4:23 PM  
Blogger John Sobieski said...

'With all the people suffering in the world, an altruist helps their enemies first while asking friends to continue to suffer."

That's it, right there. That's America. We have terrible poverty, yes it is a small percentage of the population, but it should not be at the bottom of the priority list. There are many poor Christian and nonMuslim countries that would appreciate our charity, not spit at us.

Stop this insipid political correctness. Absolutely no aid to Hamas, no shady carefully worded statement by Hamas that really says nothing, commits to nothing but 'sounds good.' Isn't that what Condi is looking for? Ms. Moneybags purse is bulging and she can't wait to spend it on the terrorists of Palestine. The problem is it's our money, not hers.

Here are the words of President George W. Bush in an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, which was issued for immediate release, by the Office of the Press Secretary, shortly after 911: (September 20 2001):

"We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists (Applause.)

From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorim will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html

1/30/06, 5:50 PM  
Blogger Always On Watch said...

Jason,
I just read that link to the interview with Condi Rice. Dear God! What a Pollyanna!

How much more clearly do the lines have to be drawn? Condi Rice is trying to weasel out, trying to use conciliatory words where there is no room for conciliation. It's disgusting! Dangerous! Absolutely surreal! What's this crap about not funding "unless Hamas mends its ways"? Read the Hamas Charter, for God's sake!

In your words: By electing Hamas they have declared themselves an enemy of civilization and should be shunned by all....Cut all aid—every penny—to the nation and people who abhor our values and embrace a culture of death. It’s time to draw a line in the sand. This is it!

But do world leaders have the slightest grasp of "This is it!"?

All this blather of conciliatory words only emboldens Hamas. Worse, they will take this as the will of Allah, proof that Islamism is blessed by their moon god. Of course, they will take Western opposition as a war against all of Islam and will play up the persecution angle ("innocent" sufferers and the like). But which course is the one with integrity? The choice is obvious, isnt' it?

I got my letters done today--to the President, my Senators, and my House Rep.

I hear tough talk on FNC right now, from Rice and Bush. Will they stick by it?

1/30/06, 6:13 PM  
Blogger Jason Pappas said...

Thanks FJ. That must be your shortest post! I left you speechless! ;)

Amusing point, beak. If civil war breaks out between Fatah and Hamas, what’s a leftist to do?

Thanks, Mark. I wonder if politicians remember what principles are. Or if they think the public will like the sound of principled statements and that’s enough.

John brings us a reminder of Bush’s words. We must keep reminding people. This will haunt George W. like “Read my lips” haunted his father if he caves like his father did.

AOW, Pollyanna is a good old fashioned word that’s just right for Condi’s nonsense. I can’t believe she’s talking like that. So far there’s not one politician who’s been inspiring on this issue. If there is I’ve missed them. But when they start a sentence with “If they change …” they’ve lost me.

1/30/06, 8:20 PM  
Blogger beakerkin said...

Jason

It never seems to resonate that leftists should mind their own business. If anyone else gets involved they readily get worked up into a self absorbed frenzy.

1/31/06, 4:29 AM  
Blogger elmers brother said...

The rationale is that we’ll have control if we fund Hamas.

Does this mean we will be sponsoring terrorism then?

1/31/06, 10:54 AM  
Blogger Mark said...

They used to say that charity begins at home. Whatever happened to that pearl of wisdom? I agree with you, John Sobieski. Not a cent more to that enemy of civilization, Hamas!

1/31/06, 2:16 PM  
Blogger Jason Pappas said...

Well, well, well, Ducky is giving us the fascist rationalization: “they made the trains run on time.” Perhaps, he’d like to say how the Nazis helped the Germans feel proud (circa 1935) and how Stalin was a beloved war hero (circa 1950.) Don’t for get the Klan, that civic group that proudly counts a Supreme Court Justice and one of the Senate’s most beloved members … at least in West Virginia. I knew you’d understand them … all.

1/31/06, 4:04 PM  
Blogger Jason Pappas said...

That’s right, not one more cent to terrorists. The American people weren’t aware that we’ve been supporting the terrorists in the West Bank. I argue, here, that we should get the American people angry when our leaders suggest that we continue to support the terrorist group, Hamas, as we’ve supported the Fatah terror group. The general public didn’t realize how our government was deceived (willfully so in my opinion). It’s time to get angry at the suggestion that Hamas, a hate-group like the Klan, can change and become respectable.

I’ve written my representatives via snail-mail and e-mailed as well. I wish there were columnists who were getting outraged at the suggestion that we should give Hamas a chance. Perhaps we should have given the Taliban a chance to change also? Just suggesting such a thing should disgrace the politician that utters such nonsense.

1/31/06, 4:18 PM  
Blogger Always On Watch said...

Jason,
Did I hear the news correctly last night? That the U.S. will continue to fund? Surely I am wrong!

2/1/06, 8:56 AM  
Blogger Dymphna said...

Writing to the people in Washington is a good idea. But since the anthrax scares, the snail mail is searched six ways to Sunday and takes weeks, even a month, to reach its destination.

I suggest lots of emails.

2/3/06, 6:13 PM  

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