THINK AGAIN: The limits of empathy

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 1, 2002 | Jonathan Rosenblum

[Alouette]

Jonathan Rosenblum bump

[RnMomof7]

Not one Jew rushed out into the street to pass out candies, shoot off machine guns, or ululate in celebration of Palestinian deaths. Even upon the death of our most bitter enemies, Jews are instructed not to rejoice (see Proverbs 24:17), and we all grew up removing 10 drops from our wine cups at the Pessah Seder in memory of the Egyptians drowned in the sea.

Excellent piece Alouette. The people of Israel have shown great personal and National restraint. At some point that will end

[lavrenti]

This is a good editorial.

When the leadership of an organization such as Hamas, which has the popular support of the people they represent, proudly and loudly declare its war aim to be the physical eradication of the State of Israel, then what's with this empathy stuff?

I said this over and over for two years. This is Algeria redux, with the added burden of the wild-eyed mentality of ghost dancing Jihadis with cell phones and Semtex. They are out to kill, or to die trying.

Therefore, logically, the only defensive act is to: Kill them. Without mercy.

[dennisw]

You're right. This is Algeria all over again. And now Algerians colonize France.

[Utah Girl]

Ping

[A_perfect_lady]

It is truly painful for me to read editorials like this. Every piece of writing wherein I see thoughtful Jewish people saying, essentially, "why??'' makes my stomach burn with outrage. Stop asking why, my friends. Because you are Jewish, that's why. There is no logic, there is no reason, there is only the hatred of those who cannot undermine your faith or your nation, and therefore seek to destroy you. If I believed in God, I would say he must have indeed chosen the Jews. As I don't, I can only say, fight! Fight, dammit! Who cares why? FIGHT!!

[logos]

From (too) many years ago, I remember the following one-question final examination from a college-level ethics class:

You are the platoon leader of an undermanned platoon when you learn that your battalion is making a strategic withdrawal ahead of superior advancing enemy forces. The battalion is retreating through a narrow mountain pass, which is the only way out of the vally where you are located. You receive orders to remain behind the battalion, hiding yourselves in the pass, and when the enemy approaches, to do everything in your power to impede or even halt the enemy advance.

The first morning after the battalion has withdrawn, leaving you and your men in the mountain pass, you wake up to see a rag-tag group of civilian refugees approaching your position. These civilians, old men, women and children, number from between 500 and 600 people. Right behind this motley group of civilian refugees are the advance columns of the enemy. It is obvious that the enemy is using the refugees as cover, and in fact, has forced them to lead the way into the pass, rightly fearing your waiting ambush. There is no way you can engage the enemy forces with your available firepower without shooting through the refugees.

Remember your orders. You are to impede or stop the advance of the enemy. It has also been drummed into you throughout your short military career that you should take every step possible to avoid turning innocent civilian non-combatants into casualties.

Given the foregoing information, the question for you today is simply: What do you do? You have three hours to complete your examination.

One man, an Army lieutenant colonel recently returned from the fields of Viet Nam and a member of the ethics class, read the question, wrote his answer in less than a minute and handed in his paper. He was the only person in the class to be awarded an 'A'.

His full and complete answer? "Grease 'em."

Think about it.

[Nachum]

A transfer bump

[SJackson]

You got that right, though you are firing into them, not "through" them.

[SJackson]

Empathy is a truely ennobling human trait, however it doesn't trump the very human imperative to survive.

It is quite possible, perhaps ennobling as well, to empathize with your enemy as he lays prostrate before you.

Better him than me.

[logos]

...though you are firing into them, not "through" them.

I know, but the question was written by a college professor, and I was trying to reproduce it as faithfully as memory allowed. What can I say? Considering the fact that it was (and is) a very liberal college, I'm amazed the LTC got an 'A' instead of being kicked out of the class. :)

[SJackson]

I know, but the question was written by a college professor, and I was trying to reproduce it as faithfully as memory allowed. What can I say? Considering the fact that it was (and is) a very liberal college, I'm amazed the LTC got an 'A' instead of being kicked out of the class. :)

Just kidding, not a criticism. Didn't want anyone reading it to think we can direct fire "into" but between the people.

I fear many IDF officers would have flunked that part of the exam (at least if I was grading), though that's a testament to their humanity. I want to see Americans continue to pass it, IDF people too.

[logos]

No problem - I didn't feel criticized. :) My response was just to clarify, and add a little - what was to me - interesting information that he got the only 'A' in a liberal college. I mean, you would expect that at the Army War College, but not at Benedictine College!

[Nix 2]

At some point that will end

Before the latest intifada, which is going on two years now, I used to wonder that myself. In the beginning I could not accept that all of the people around Arafat were evil to the core. I thought they were trapped in that horror. I felt sorry for the children and blamed the leaders. For quite a long while into it, I tried desperately not to hate or to let hate interfere with my common sense....
After a while, and with a lot of help from quite a few people here after 9/11, I learned how to hate. I learned that even the children are not innocent in Wahabi Islam and terror cults are death cults that are so barbarous that if you don't eradicate it from the planet, it grows like kudzu.

[hinckley buzzard]

Most moral tragedies arise from the loss of discernment of the boundaries between perpetrator and victim.

Israelis are not immune.

[ppaul]

[hinckley buzzard]

We did it in Europe during WW II routinely--strafing retreating German columns inextricably mixed in with fleeing civilians. Nobody called it a war crime then. But then the difference between good and evil was still acknowledged to exist, and ethical tinker toys like this professor's "question" were relegated to the luxury of peacetime.

[logos]

Agreed. In fact, I think the LTC's answer "relegated" the question quite nicely. :)

[brat]

"It is truly painful for me to read editorials like this. Every piece of writing wherein I see thoughtful Jewish people saying, essentially, "why??'' makes my stomach burn with outrage. Stop asking why, my friends. Because you are Jewish, that's why. There is no logic, there is no reason, there is only the hatred of those who cannot undermine your faith or your nation, and therefore seek to destroy you. If I believed in God, I would say he must have indeed chosen the Jews. As I don't, I can only say, fight! Fight, dammit! Who cares why? FIGHT!!"

Beautifully stated, lady.