I begin this post with a disclaimer. I am a Jew who doesn't hate myself or other Jews for being Jewish. In my heart, I support Israel's right to exist based on a spiritual connection that reaches back through the generations... as well as Jews' need for protection, the evidence based on centuries of brutal intolerance, culminating in the Holocaust.
Today, I was talking with a Jewish friend about Israel's aggressive measures against its neighbors. He is otherwise opposed to the meshuggah policies of this administration, but he commented that the one good thing he could say about Bush: he supports Israel. And deep-down, I agreed.
And there-in lies the problem. As a Jew and a liberal, I have until now ignored my conflict of interest when it comes to Israel. I have within me a one-issue extremism.
I recognize that one-issue extremist groups make up the win-or-die Republican coalition that brought us Bushco.
As an American Jew, I find myself on a list with anti-abortionists, anti-environmentalists, greedy capitalists, anti-immigrants and other single issue constituencies.
FLASHBACK
I can hear the talk over the dinner table: "How does that affect Israel? Good for Israel or not good for Israel?" Terrible sins can be forgiven, if the candidate supports Israel. "C'mon, this is Israel we're talking about!" Bushco learned this allegiance early on and has used it to masterful effect.
While my heart does not allow me to be critical of Israel when it comes to Israel's defense, my head recognizes that this attitude is destructive.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM: unconditional defense of ALL of all of Israel's actions is bad foreign policy.
Israeli government policy which is insensitive to civilian death and devastation is WRONG. There is no rightness to it, simply because it is done by Israel. It would be no different to say that US Marines should be able to rape and murder Iraqis with impunity.
At a certain point, you lose the human common ground which is necessary for peace. There must be a better way.
Suggestion: How about recognizing that our individual happiness rests in our mutual happiness?
My one-issue Jew theory explains Joe Lieberman's march to the right. He has sacrificed all of his liberal political ideals in return for providing safety and security for Israel. Joe might call me anti-semitic for making that statement. I am not.
I am against policies that lead to suffering, devastation and the political destabilization of governments. These governments are providing services for massive numbers of human beings. Human beings, y'know, like you and me.
Is the human race capable of overcoming its tendency towards deep tribal allegiances? This struggle will undoubtedly tear apart the fabric of modern civilization.
Do we really want to create a grotesque, post-modern, dark age? Read "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler to get an idea of what it will look like. It's sort of like NOLA post-Katrina Day #3, but across the whole country.
Modern civilization is on the road to collapse... over what amounts to tribal allegiances.
Will we human beings evolve beyond this stage?