printI grew up in Israel and have never witnessed Israelis throng to Rabin Square (previously “Kings of Israel Square”) to celebrate the death of an enemy, although I’ve seen them a form human chain from Tel-Aviv to Haifa to stop a war.
Yet, such civility is bemoaned in a deeply stupid article on YNetNew.com. Why stupid? The author collapses the distinction between joy on the streets over Israel’s declaration of independence (November 29, 1947), or its winning of the European basketball championship with “public celebrations of battlefield victories.”
The same writer quotes The Book of Proverbs: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,” but asserts, without citation or scholarly substantiation, that this crystal-clear proverb “refers to domestic enemies.”
All in all, the idea of mounting an argument in favor of gloating over the death of an enemy—for bad taste—says it all about the Age of the idiot.
There is one thing my father taught me when I was a young boy, win with honor lose with dignity. Now I realize this was a sports lesson but it applies even more so here. Although I will certainly shed no tears at the death of OBL. I did not and will not take to the streets and celebrate. I will not give the terrorist (insert your favorite explitive) the satisfaction.
…“refers to domestic enemies.”
Hmm, still trying to figure that one out…
I guess Israel has its own version of our neofascistic Sean Hannity.
The more I reflect over this vigilante/posse/lynching of Osama, the stinkier it seems. At Nuremberg, we did not just line up Germans and kill them wholesale… we put them on trial (Glenn Greenwald has excellent quotes from Justice Jackson on the reason for the trials). The rationale to TRY Osama is even greater considering that he was our own Frankenstein monster, formed in the 1980’s by the CIA and the Saudis. But instead, the Seals just killed him with apparently ZERO attempt to bring him back alive.
Contrast that with the trial of Adolph Eichmann, a man whose murders and infamy far exceeded bin Laden. (incidentally, chief prosecutor and later Judge, Moshe Landau – died recently at age 99). The evil Eichmann was not merely assassinated and dumped in some Argentine pampas but put on trial for the world to witness.
Tragically, Americans celebrate this lynch mob mentality, the complete absence of any pretense of justice or due process. We managed to fight the Nazis and the Reds without becoming like them but it appears that American values have sunk into the abyss of Orwellian totalitarianism.
We should dance in the streets when the leader of a terrorist organization dies; therefore, we should dance in the street when the president of a country we don’t like dies, how about celebrating the violence in Egypt now that their president has departed. Where do we draw the line? In your article “Atavism on the streets” A Trivevibe commenter offered a similar article as Ynetnew did. Both blog sites quoted Jewish admonishments- not to rejoice over the death of your enemy, and nullified them? Is that not in Rabbinical terms “Destroying the Law” rather than “Fulfilling the Law” I think there are some blind guides out there.
This was referred to on Michael Savage yesterday. He was irritated that people were using The Book of Proverbs quote when he wanted to celebrate the death of bin Laden. He then goes on to say he received a letter from a rabbi who said people were missing that the quote was referring to domestic enemies only – without quoting any particular passage.
Isn’t it interesting that the Administration that wanted very badly to turn the “war” on terror into a matter for the criminal justice system – including giving accused terrorists civilian trials in downtown Manhattan – didn’t prefer to ALSO give Bin Laden a trial.
Maybe they’ve “grown” in office? 🙂
Anyway, it seems to me that the seals executed Bin Laden… possibly against orders, or possibly, at the orders of those below Obama that know better.
So, the question becomes… who’s *really* in charge… because it sure isn’t Obama.
Myron
You may be forgetting the firebombing of Dresden and of course the nukes on Japan. And how about the despicable Yalta conference where half of europe was left to Communism.
Contemplationist:
I think that massive terror bombings of cities are now viewed as war crimes. The bombings certainly ceased when the war ceased. The issue is that those who surrendered were given a semblence of some due process – with history in mind – rather than just summarily shot and dumped. My preference is for the rule of law when it is possible and to just dump the rule of law (when not necessary) is a dangerous idea.
Contemplationist:
Don’t forget, the fire bombing of Tokyo too.(100K civilians killed in one night)plus incineration bombing of 64 other Japanese Cities. (Death toll not listed) Dresden taught Curtis LeMay how to make war on civilians, when he transferred from Europe to the Orient. At least he didn’t gloat about it.