In response to Bruce Thornton's
In response to Bruce Thornton's "Indifference to History," I sent the following. I borrowed some words from other bits I've written here. There's much more to be said about Thornton's somewhat blinkered view of the evolution of humanity's moral sensibilities (not to mention his seemingly simplistic view of history in general and in particular), but you only get 400 words for posts to the illustrious Front Page forums. This bit weighs in at a hefty 403 words. Let's see if they actually post it:
"In 1882, Zionist Leon Pinsker published an influential tract called “Auto-Emancipation: An Appeal To His People By A Russian Jew.” In it, he writes:
“If we would have a secure home, give up our endless life of wandering and rise to the dignity of a nation in our own eyes and in the eyes of the world, we must, above all, not dream of restoring ancient Judaea. We must not attach ourselves to the place where our political life was once violently interrupted and destroyed. The goal of our present endeavors must be not the "Holy Land," but a land of our own.”
Pinsker suggested establishing the Jewish homeland in Asiatic Turkey, or on a tract of land in the still-open ranges of North America. Pinsker knew that, however symbolically important Jerusalem and the ancient lands of Israel were to his people, the area was crowded with incompatible histories, rife with turmoil, and soaked in blood.
When Mr. Thornton speaks of “moral responsibility and the hard price one must pay for one's choices,” he seems to ignore the choice made by the early Zionist leadership to reject Pinsker's very sensible—and historically aware—admonition. Had they listened, the Jewish homeland might be located in a place where the Israelis are not beset by enemies on all sides and compelled to make impossible choices between humane behavior and necessary defense against an inhumane enemy.
That tantalizing historical possibility aside, Mr. Thornton seems to view history as an inevitable force that is entirely beyond human influence. He portrays it as a juggernaut that marches onward with unstoppable force. That view allows Mr. Thornton to claim that, because the idea of the nation is foreign to Islamic civilization, they have no right to adopt it, and any attempt to do so is suspect. If this is true, then what hope is there in appealing to the moderate elements in Iranian secular society? What is the purpose of overthrowing Sadaam Hussein? The tide of history has already borne the national ideal past them. It is too late for them.
Mr. Thornton's appeal to history is to be respected. However, the fact that history shows us that humanity has always behaved in a certain way does not mean that humanity must always behave in that way. I am no “right-thinking liberal,” but it seems to me that the simple existence of a historical precedent should not guarantee its conservation."
[It's posted. Good for them. --IW]
