A spot-on column today on Friday’s brutal murder in Israel of five members of the Fogel family, from the Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby:
There are those who believe passionately that all human beings are inherently good and rational creatures, essentially the same once you get beyond surface disagreements. Such people cannot accept the reality of a culture that extols death over life, that inculcates a vitriolic hatred of Jews, that induces children to idolize terrorists. Since they would never murder a family in its sleep without being driven to it by some overpowering horror, they imagine that nobody would. This is the mindset that sees a massacre of Jews and concludes that Jews must in some way have provoked it. It’s the mindset behind the narrative that continually blames Israel for the enmity of its neighbors and makes it Israel’s responsibility to end their violence.
The truth is simpler, and bleaker. Human goodness is not hard-wired. It takes sustained effort and healthy values to produce good people; in the absence of those values, cruelty and intolerance are far more likely to flourish.
What do you think?
7:56 am
More Muslim HATE! I try not to hate anyone, but I can’t deal with these awful muslim people. Such a heinous act. I’m from the USA, and I’m not Jewish, but I feel a brotherhood to the Jewish people, who in my eyes have always been persecuted for nothing. I pray for the orphans, and hope Israel decimates the murderers!
1:30 pm
I have to restrain my anger when I see the blatant way Israel is portrayed in the media of my country. I admire the Israeli people and pray for them. You are the apple of God’s eye. Stand strong. I stand with you with my support and with my vote.
12:14 pm
I was taught by an older,wise,liberal Jewish man on issue of Palastinians,little snakes grow up to be large snakes.This article needs to be read by all,espaecially the weakminded who say support Palatinian state.
1:24 pm
AMEN!