Time for REEDBACK! The first edition of this segment

Hi everybody,

Well, the Daily Reeder has passed another milestone today. I've been checking my posts for new comments (I admit it, all those who've posted comments so far have been by relatives), and upon checking my monumental post on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, I found a comment by someone named Mister Sneaky.

I had been planning a segment like this, where I would respond to comments posted in response, but I didn't get an opportunity until now. So, without any more rambling, let me introduce to you... Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart, wait, no, wrong intro. Let me introduce you to the first edition of my new segment... REEDBACK!

Mister Sneaky had some really good things to say. Here was his comment in its entirety:

"Mr. Reeder,What do you have in mind for a two-state solution?One pressing problem, I would say, is that neither Hamas nor the Israeli government has ever expressed a genuine commitment to abide by the relevant U.N. Security Council Resolutions (centrally, 242 and 338). Israel was long opposed to the creation of a third state between itself and Jordan, and in recent years the most it has been willing to accept is a demilitarized Palestinian state consisting of Gaza, roughly 90% of a significantly cantonized West Bank, and a capital on the outskirts of Jerusalem rather than in predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem. Hamas, of course, remains officially dedicated to the destruction of Israel -- a good example of the foolish pride you're talking about, since Israel has nuclear weapons and by far the most powerful military in the region.Since Hamas is powerless in the face of Israeli military might, it would be sensible for its leaders to change the group's charter so that it calls for some version of the two-state solution instead of Israel's destruction. This would shift the focus from Hamas' rejectionism to Israel's, which would in turn make it considerably more difficult for the U.S. to continue backing Israel in the face of near-universal international condemnation. But in order for Hamas to take this step, pragmatism will have to take the place of pride, and I'm not confident there's room in their rigid ideology for that.Glad to see you're thinking this stuff through.-S.B. True"

This is kind of like what I was saying. I believe both sides have made grievous moral errors. I have to admit I hadn't read the UN Security Resolutions. I realize why both sides have done what they did, even though I heartily object to their doing so.

One point that the video brought up is that those in Palestine would do well to look what Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King all did to succeed in their struggles. Did Gandhi launch rockets at the British? Did Martin Luther King dedicate himself to the destruction of White America? Did Mandela call for the massacre of all who were a part of the Apartheid regime, including the children?

No, no and hell no. These men all succeeded by employing peace in the face of violence. They knew that the only way they could dissolve the oppression was by being peaceful while the oppressors employed violence as only they knew how. Every sane, good person in the world eventually woke up and realized that the people were being oppressed. The occuppying powers, the White racism in South Africa, the White racism in America, the British oppression of India, were all forced to change their ways or get out.

Imagine if someone from Palestine decided to take this action. To admit that Palestine had done wrong to people, and then to shift from dedication to the destruction of Israel to wanting to be out from under Israel's grip. Because the Palestinians were there, and the Israelis came in, took over the land, then told everyone there where you can go, and all. Now, anyone would be pissed at this. However, this will only prolong the suffering for all involved. And as the video said, peace doesn't make you weaker, it actually takes more courage, more strength.

As to his first comment, "What do you have in mind for a two-state solution?" Well, I'm not the one making policy decisions. I don't live there. I will say this, though: Both sides will have to give some. Because this simply can't go on. And with Israel's nuclear capabilities, like Mr. Sneaky mentioned, the imperative is that much more pressing that both the Israelis and Palestinians put thier ideologies in the backseat, admit that they both made mistakes, and then work out the issues themselves.

You have really good ideas on this, though, Mister Sneaky, so keep reading this blog and post your responses if you feel compelled to do so. Well, this concludes the first edition of REEDBACK, on January 17, 2009. The segment will doubtless evolve as this blog does. Thanks for listening, everyone, and please continue to write in your responses.

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.