A difficult lesson (Must read)

Treppenwitz | 7/16/06

[Rockingham]

A friend of mine had a similar experience in the Florida panhandle some years ago when he was in the Army. He and a smallish Filipino friend were drinking in a local bar when several rednecks picked a fight, pursuing them even as they left the bar to avoid the confrontation. The fight did not last long, with the Filipino sergeant exercising his martial arts skills. The rednecks were quickly bloodied and on the ground, and their friends were calling an ambulance and the sheriff -- and recruiting witnesses to claim that they had been attacked without provocation.

The two military men immediately returned to base and reported the incident to the provost office. The brusque, no nonsense black captain on duty was irate about yet another incident with the locals. His attitude seemed to soften a little when the two servicemen mentioned the vitriolic abuse directed at the dark-skinned Filipino -- which they were reluctant to repeat until ordered to do so. The phone then rang, and it was the sheriff's office calling to discuss the incident. After a moment, the provost captain returned, struggling to hold back a smile: unusually, the sheriff's office was complimentary about the restrained and correct correct conduct of two servicemen, who had also done a public service by delivering a much-derserved beating to some troublesome local bullies.

[laotzu]

...so what is your point?

See....if you don't defeat the bully, he will remain a bully. The story is pretty clear..the words aren't too big.

[ArGee]

So spare a moment , what is the "point"

I'll try to make it, or you can read Thomas Sowell's most recent article as he is much more articulate than I (It's linked from Drudge).

If you help the bully before he gets his a$$ whipped, he remains a bully. You need to let the bully get his a$$ whipped so he learns to keep his fists to himself.

In this case, Hezbullah is the bully. Israel is about to whip his a$$. We need to let that happen until Hezbullah learns that there is no room in this world for such a bully.

And, if the Arab world learns to stop supporting him, so much the better, but that's not part of the analogy.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

WOW, for Gods sake who are you people?

I can't speak for the rest, but I'm someone who can read an analogy without reading more into it than was put there.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

Unfortunately, Hezbollah also has it's charitable branch, like Hamas, and it's part of people's every day lives.

I understand the mob makes very good neighbors.

That excuses nothing.

Shalom.

[Egon]

So while we are at war, this thread uses the United States Marine corp to represent the most reviled people in western civilization.

Wow. I've never before seen the word "obtuse" demonstrated in such a clear fashion.

Since none of the Marine's buddies stepped in either, it seems pretty apparent to the vast majority of us that he was an abberration, and that his buddies didn't hold to his stupid behavior either. It's not an indictment of the Marine Corps; it's an indictment of one person, and an indication of what needs to be allowed to happen.

[FreedomPoster]

While there are no doubt many who support Hezbollah, many don't. However, up to now, it has been easier for them to live with Hezbollah, than to deal with them.

Israel is changing that political calculus. In addition to stomping Hezbollah wherever they can be found, they are also showing the rest of Lebanon, and the world, that it's best not to let terrorists live among you.

[MeekOneGOP]

Bump!! Bump!! Bump!!

Kudos!

Thanks for posting this!

Kick A$$, Israel! Kick A$$!!

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Unfortunately, Hezbollah also has it's charitable branch, like Hamas, and it's part of people's every day lives.

The alleged good works are negated by the fact that they are terrorist murderers. For example, if a citizen has committed a violent crime, but he also donated to his church or the Red Cross or whatever, he will be punished for the violent crime and the good deeds are rendered meaningless. Completely meaningless.

[ishabibble]

Good for you! This is the first time I read this story, and I must say that I am very impressed. It would have been a shame to miss this common sense take on the current situation. Your posting is much appreciated.

[Brooklyn Kid]

The president of Lebanon is running a country where his voters aren't prepared to "kick out" Hezbollah. (whether he may want to or not) The people wanted Syria out - though they're not - but they also have hezbollah in their parliament. Since he isn't an 'all powerful' dictator, he can't get rid of them on his own.
The best he could hope for would be a disarming of hezbollah and allow the charitable branch to continue, because that's what the people might allow.

[Brooklyn Kid]

please read #51

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Agreed. The story is not an indictment of the United States Marine Corps, and more than an Aesop's fable is an indictment of a rabbit or a tortoise.

[ansel12]

"I can't speak for the rest, but I'm someone who can read an analogy without reading more into it than was put there.

I looked up analogy, and it pretty much said U.S. Marine equals the enemy that all of the American military is fighting against. (as used in the story)

If you are a foreigner then this is bearable (as long as you are not from a friendly country), but if you are an American then tell us.

[StACase]

I cought on the re-run what's your point?

[somemoreequalthanothers]

That's what the UN resolution in place calls for, but obviously nobody is going to enforce it except Israel.
If Hezbollah would have disarmed, there would be no conflict and they would be free to do all the charitable works they wanted.

[listenhillary]

The Marine (if you want to call him that) was looking for a fight. He picks the scrawniest guy in the bar and sucker punches him thinking he's going to have a little fun and entertainment.

His miscalculation, stubbornness and stupidity almost costs him his life. His crying for help to save him from his own stupidity is amusing and most certainly represents the tactics used by the the parties that have attacked Israel in the past and then whined about getting their asses kicked.

Is this a Marine that you are proud of?

The Marines we are proud of would never condone nor instigate this behavior. We are not using the Marines in general as an analogy for the Islamofacists, but a stupid person that maybe shouldn't have been a Marine in the first place.

This story was not intended to slander the Marines in my opinion.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

#53 - "any" more

[Brooklyn Kid]

But what is the practically powerless new president supposed to do?

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Unfortunately, I would say he's screwed. I don't have a good answer.