I am only new to the poetryetc list, having joined up yesterday. Within the
hour I received Laurence Upton's first email on Palestine re: Paul Foot's
Guardian article (5 March 02) and have read each email/reply/response with
much interest.
I think Laurence makes some very fine arguments but I have to respond to the
many emails I have read (mostly this morning), with particular emphasise on
Nick Temple's first email.
On reading all your responses I kept thinking that there were crucial
elements to each situation (the Middle East and Northern Ireland) that we
are forgetting - and even with regards to the events that have unfolded
on/after September 11. Elements that are run-of-the-mill stuff but
nevertheless cannot be forgotten in any argument because they put things
into perspective.
These ingredients are intolerance, hatred, disrespect, injustice and a
blindingly stubborn way of thinking that whatever side you happen to be on
is the right and the most just side. The "us and them" game. At this time we
should wonder what Montaigne would have to say about such situations.
But I have to stress that before hatred and disrespect, etc. is intolerance.
And even when each ingredient is full and fat and hungry for blood there is
king intolerance sitting amongst its creations nodding and egging them all
on. Intolerance is the bitter seed of human nature and a very successful one
at that.
Nick Temple's comment that, 'I sometimes feel that terrorists sometimes have
terrorism as their raison d'etre, and that this can replace their original
aims and demands as time goes on' is a very sad statement indeed. But
somehow I don't believe it. We have to return to the source - return to the
driving force. I don't believe that terrorists ever do it for blood, their
objectives become distorted, yes, but I don't think they ever let go of the
shackles that drove them to do such things.
We also have to remember how profound the Middle East and Northern Ireland
situations are. For the Middle East this is an ancient conflict, for
Northern Ireland it feels ancient. It has developed each culture, each
citizen. In such circumstances is it any wonder that things get distorted?
What I am trying to say is that when intolerance exists I don't think you
can ever defeat it. Unfortunately there will always be a persecutor and the
persecuted. A situation simmers and stirs and bubbles away - but never goes
away. Look at any modern conflict and there are years and years of
development there. Most are long and patient.
The saddest thing I am witnessing today is Israel's actions and how they
cannot see that in their own way they have become the most unthinkable thing
for a Jew - the persecutor. Despite everything I have written in this email
I still ask myself - How on Earth has this happened?
Regards,
Libby Hart
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