Worry About the West - Not Israel

Private Papers ^ | Aug. 14 | Victor Davis Hanson

[T.L.Sink]

Hanson raises worrisome questions about the ability of many in the West to see this conflict for what it really is.

[T.L.Sink]

Dr. Hanson asks whether moral equivalence and bias in the MSM and many in the West preclude the possibility of our ever "getting it right".

[roses of sharon]

The West's problem's are not with the pols or the press, but with our citizens.

If the West's citizens had the fortitude, courage, and patience of our Grandparents, then our Pols and our Press would have the same.

They are simply a reflection of us.

[GeronL]

the west is toast.... the west is Pwn3d by jihadists.

although I hope not.

[Right Wing Assault]

The West's problem's are not with the pols or the press, but with our citizens.

Exactly. We don't want to know the truth because that would require some sacrifice. So fairy tails are much easier to handle. But that only works so long,

[JLAGRAYFOX]

You are right on!!! The Democrat "Traitor/Treason/Cut&Run" Party only exists because the American public is asleep at the wheel. The same applies to the MSM. The "living in denial" American public and voter will kill the nation if they don't wake up to "cannibals at the gate". Sad, but true!!!

[zot]

Please be a little more careful with your use of the first person plural -- "us". They are not a reflection of me. Of course, that may be because I am a grandparent.

[The Westerner]

Yes. A civilization rises or falls based upon its philosophy. As long as the major universities are turning out kids who believe in diversity, egalitarianism and altruism this country is toast. Nothing else matters except the basic ideas. All the rest follows from them.

[T.L.Sink]

"Human kind cannot bear very much reality" -- T.S. Eliot

[NutCrackerBoy]

When this is all over, we should not worry about the survival of Israel . For weeks, pundits have been lecturing how canny and adept Hezbollah has proved — and how a clumsy Israel could only respond by destroying Lebanon 's infrastructure. Yet, when the dust settles, the world will learn that Lebanon outside Hezbollah's domain is not destroyed. And, one hopes, those who have suffered in the Hezbollah-controlled south will reexamine their support for a terrorist organization that has brought them — and itself — to near ruin.

Instead far more worrisome is the moral crisis in the West itself. If so many of its politicians, intellectuals and media will not or cannot fathom moral differences in this war, they will hardly be able to see them anywhere else. -Victor Davis Hanson

I've been wondering if Lebanese Shia won't start a Resistance against Hezbollahs setting up missile launchers in their back yards. They probably didn't like dying when the Israelis struck these military targets.

[jeremiah]

The West is tired of constant warfare. Before WW I and II, the US was militarily distant from the constant killing. We were in a perfect position to rescue Europe from itself, and morally in a superior position. We now are tired of butting our noses into everyones affairs, and frankly want our troops to come home. We are suffering the burnout Britain suffered, and every other "Empire" building nation. I know we are not building these empires for ourselves, but we are trying to set them up for others anyway. At least the Romans, Brits and Spaniards, kept the spoils of war. We expend great capital, then come away with nothing but rivals, enemies, or competitors.

[T.L.Sink]

Right - have you heard about - or read - David Horowitz's book? It's on my "required reading" list for this summer.

[perfect stranger]

They are simply a reflection of moral equivalence and bias in the MSM and many in the West, based on the moral equivalence and bias taught by public schools based on the moral equivalence and bias of the NEA, based on the moral equivalence and bias of liberal thought in general.

The treasonist fools still believe- despite the large history of evidence that contradicts their ideas- that collectivism is not an utter failure but, they still think they just haven't yet figured out what exactly they need to lie about to make it work.

[perfect stranger]

...to lie about next to make it work.

[umgud]

If the West's citizens had the fortitude, courage, and patience of our Grandparents, then our Pols and our Press would have the same.

They are simply a reflection of us.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I certainly do not believe our press is a reflection of us. Our press does everything in its power to make us believe they are mainstream and in sync with us, but it just ain't so. The pols? You may have a point there, however.

[toddlintown]

"So fairy tails are much easier to handle."

And they're so damn fuzzy too!

[roses of sharon]

But our press still has enormous power over us, they sway opinion polls regularly, they destroy reputations, they influence policy and our pols.

If we could not be swayed opinion polls would show it, and the news orgs corporate bodies would be changing and firing their Dem hacks left and right.

[roses of sharon]

Of course, my apologies!

[Richard Kimball]

I was watching TVland, and they had something like the 100 most important TV moments. It was, to me, the ultimate mixing of fantasy and reality. John F. Kennedy's funeral and the first step on the moon were covered in the exact same way as the death of Florida's husband on Good Times or the final episode of Newhart.

Some may think this is an oversimplification, but most in the West want the war on Islamic Fascists stopped because the ratings aren't good. Despite the reality of the World Trade Center and the Madrid train bombings, many people seem to believe they can change the channel, and the war will be over, and reality becomes "What Not to Wear" or Monday Night Football. I really don't think a lot of people can tell the difference between reality and entertainment.

[roses of sharon]

Populism always sounds so cool and refreshing in tough times.

[zot]

No problem. Thank you for your gracious reply. :-)