Posted on 12/15/2003 11:34:24 AM PST by SJackson
A few years ago, a great movie came out called The Sixth Sense. The theme of the movie was that people see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. Without revealing any important details of the film, I can tell you that it was also the kind of movie that was especially enjoyable to watch again, keeping that theme in mind.
What theme could be more true or relevant when it comes to the world's view of Israel. The world sees what it wants to see, and hears what it wants to hear.
There are so many double standards and so much hypocrisy, I don't know where to begin. It seems that no matter what we do, or try to prove, the world will still see what it wants to see, and hear what it wants to hear.
Prior to June of 1967, did anyone see or care that Jews were barred from the Old City of Jerusalem, from going to pray at the holy Kotel? (Never mind that it was used as a garbage dump.) That there was no "Palestinian People" or talk of a Palestinian state? That the PLO was already three years old, and had the expressed stated goal of destroying Israel? OK, I didn't mean to go back to ancient history (although we all know that that would prove our case, as well). Let’s stick with the world’s blindness of just the last few years.
The world told Israel to get out of southern Lebanon, because we were the obstacle to peace in the region. Well, we left. Anyone notice that Hizbollah filled the void, and the area is now more dangerous than ever? Anyone notice that the Syrians have been occupying and controlling Lebanon for the last how many years? (Oh yeah, their excuse is that they were "invited" to be there.)
When Israel captured the Karine-A, the boat filled with dozens of tons of explosives, guns, and ammo, to be used against innocent Israeli citizens, did the world care? Arafat was caught red-handed in violation of Oslo. We had the boat, the crew, and all the evidence we needed. The captain of the boat readily admitted he was under direct orders from Arafat. When asked about what the EU response would be, a high ranking Spanish official said something along the lines of, ‘Well… just because the captain of the boat claimed he was working under direct orders from Arafat, how do we know that the Israelis didn't tell him to say that?’ I was a little surprised the captain didn't try the old ‘Weapons? What weapons? How did those get here?’ defense. I'm also surprised the EU didn't call on Israel to compensate the PA for their loss.
How about when we turned control of the area around Joseph’s Tomb over to the PA, with the promise that it would be protected as a holy site. How many hours did it take to burn it down and turn it into a mosque? One might have thought the world would realize who Joseph was, and that this was a Jewish holy site, thanks to the "Technicolor Dreamcoat" show, but no, nobody seemed to care.
As our army puts our soldiers’ lives at risk to help keep down the collateral damage, Yasser Arafat and Saeb Erekat scream "massacre, massacre!" and the world listens. After Erekat claimed massacre to Ted Koppel, Koppel wisely asked if it was proven that there was no massacre, would Erekat come back and apologize, and he heartily agreed. We are still waiting. The only massacre that took place in Jenin was against Israeli soldiers who walked into booby-trapped houses and alleyways. Did the world see and hear when two of our soldiers were brutally murdered and dissected in Ramallah, for the crime of being Jews who made a wrong turn? Could you imagine the outcry if such an incident happened the other way?
Some time ago, after Israel killed a carload of terrorists on their way to carry out another murderous attack, Erekat again cried massacre for the dozens of alleged "innocent civilians" killed, and the world again condemned us. Well this time, Israel was one step ahead. In typical Alan Funt style, they pulled a "Candid Camera". They filmed the entire episode. It clearly showed that the only ones hit by the helicopter missiles were the terrorists in the car. There was no one else, especially not any civilians anywhere nearby. Did the world see and hear this newest blood libel?
We are now trying to negotiate with these murderers to try to get back one live man and three soldiers’ bodies. We are willing to give up hundreds of terrorists for this. We can't even find out if Ron Arad is dead, alive or paralyzed. Doesn't anyone else care?
Recently, Sheikh Yassin announced he might be willing to negotiate to trade body parts of our fallen soldiers for the release of terrorists. Read that sentence again. Could you imagine the reaction if we offered their body parts for our live captives? (hmm….)
There was a recent poll taken in the EU countries. Respondents were asked what country they thought was the biggest threat to peace in the world. The number one answer, at 59% was… “Survey says: Israel!” That's right, a bigger threat to world peace than Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq or Libya. Are we living on the same planet as these people?
Of course, many of those sadly confused ideas stem from the media treatment of the Jewish State. On November 8th, the Associated Press released a list of terrorist attacks around the world. Reuters released a similar list on November 9th. Those reports were similar to the New York Times report of May 15th. According to those reports, there has not been one terror attack in Israel in the last several years. Not one was listed. Try telling that to the thousands of dead and wounded. Tell that to the thousands of orphans and maimed victims. Maybe someone (Hobson?) should "alert the media".
At least tell those wonderful people who like to get media attention and act as human shields. Surely they would be willing to risk their lives to protect innocent Israeli civilians. Has Israel ever specifically targeted innocent civilians? Don't Arab homicide bombers always target innocent civilians?
The world in its infinite blindness doesn't even want to let Israel protect herself anymore. A security fence is being built, at tremendous expense, which Israel can hardly afford. The express sole purpose of this fence is to keep the terrorists out. No terrorists, no need for a fence. Again, the world sees this as provocation. How many countries have security fences around them? Actually, how many don't? Usually, it is to keep illegal aliens from getting in, or to keep their own people from getting out. Israel’s goal is to keep out those whose avowed purpose is to kill innocents and annihilate us. What other country in the world wouldn't see fit to try to protect itself?
Someone recently e-mailed me the following statement, which says it all:
“If the Arabs would lay down their arms, there would be no more war. If Israel would lay down her arms, there would be no more Israel.”
People can see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. The way the world views Israel, however, it does not utilize a sixth sense, it simply makes no sense at all.
Really? I thought the theme of The Sixth Sense was that precocious children see dead people everywhere and the dead people don't know their dead. Unless they have an axe dangling from their cerebellum, in which case they may have a clue.
Kidding aside, I can't remember getting such a theme out of the movie. I thought it was more about "unfinished business", and the idea that incomplete lives result in incomplete deaths...
Did anyone get this author's theme, or did the author just make it up to fit his premise?
An excellent formula that should be used often. This is a most excellent article.
I forgot that line. Well done.
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