First controversial post of 2009, I'm sure not the last

I am pissed about the way the media is handling the latest round of violence in Israel. Maybe it is my 'blue and white' tinted lens but it looks like every report is showing Israel's 'aggression' towards the Palestinians and reporting little to nothing on why Israel is doing this. Notice I used the term 'doing this' because here is where one of the controversies seem to lie. Apparently, many factions in the world believe Israel is being the AGGRESSOR and attacking the Palestinians where a smaller group (U.S., Jews and Israel, and some 'friends') see that Israel is PROTECTING her people on her OWN soil.

Here is the RUB for me and my beef with my fellow citizens who are supporting the 'War on Terror' yet seem to have an issue with Israel's right to secure her borders.

We, as the U.S., is off fighting a 'war' on foreign soil with no real enemy, no clear directive with no clear goal, except to protect democracy, our safety and end terrorism...

Imagine, for a moment, you lived in a 'border town' like El Paso, TX. El Paso, like every other Texas town was once part of Mexico just 200 years ago. In swoops the European setters and in a battle they 'win' that territory and claim it for their own, call it Texas, make it a sovereign State of the U.S. and here you are in 2008. Well...a group of Mexicans are not happy some 200 years later and they start raining BOMBS on your town for YEARS. Night after night, bombs fly, sirens go off and people DIE. During the day, you walk outside and you have 10 seconds to find COVER if you hear a siren. For years you live in fear for your life and your family's. Your Government, in reaction to protect you fights back. How would we as the U.S. be fighting back? Based on historical evidence at this point we would be attacking overseas (based on 9/11) and I'm sure we would focus on the 'local issue' as well.

Well, Israel is ONLY focused on the local issue. She is fighting HAMAS where they are. She is not running around the Middle East picking fights with the Saudis (that we know finance MUCH of this terror), she is not going after Al-Queda or any other Organization except those that are an immediate threat.

Back to the El Paso comparison...would we as the U.S. ever decide to give back parts or all of Texas to Mexico for peace? I think not! In Israel, this has already happened. Israel has returned much of the area of Gaza to the 'Palestinians' (whoever they even are is a whole different discussion). Yes, she occupies the territory and 'rules' it very strictly but that is a tangled mess which includes the threat of terror. Israel is open to discussing a TWO State answer despite the threat to her security as a nation. Do the Palestinians even want that? In my opinion the answer is no. They, like the majority of the Arab/Islam world want TWO things - the destruction of the State of Israel and the eradication of the Jewish People. From this, they get the THIRD thing they want - control of JERUSALEM.

These things must never happen. We ALL have the right to live in peace and freedom, we all have the right to PURSUE happiness and find our own way.

The next time you see a news story about what is going on, swap out your hometown for whatever town in Israel they are showing and ask what would YOU want your country do to protect you and your family? Put yourself in the shoes of the countless innocent Palestinians as well, it is horrible on their side as well, no doubt, but somewhere, somehow the fear and loathing must give way to acceptance and humanity.