The Rintrah Perspective

The problem with Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Canada, Quebec, the US and any other “nation” is the notion of “nation.”

Provide me with a definition of “nation” and I will provide you with an exception. Do the exeptions prove the rule? Generally this is not true of a definition.

The problem with an imaginary line as the defining factor of a nation is that there may be groups within that nation who do not see such a line as important. This is the problem in the Middle East. The middle eastern goal is, as I understand it, ultimately Jerusalem. As long as imaginary lines are the definition of nation there will be conflict.

Israel did not always believe in such lines. In fact they still do not entirely believe that. Israel, as a nation, existed before they had some real estate to call home. Now that they have that sod to trod, they want to defend it and its borders. Good fences may make good neighbours, but this is not always true. A fence with armed guards preventing any outsider from eating from your apple tree may keep the apples at home but will likely get some people riled up. Stolen apples (or pears) are the sweetest. Just ask Augustine of Hippo

Israel insists that Hezbollah should be dealt with by Lebanon because Lebanon currently owns the lot on which Hezbollah is squatting. This is the problem with the idea of Nation-State. Hezbollah wants something and is trying to get it. When Israel wanted something in 1967 they destroyed their opposition, but not to Biblical perportions.

Seems they don’t believe in the Old Testament either. They should have anihilated the Palestinians. That is Old Testamently Biblical. And not leave any survivours.

I am a pacifist and will not support any war or killing of any human being. But I applaud the wars that go on. Keep up the good work.

As a Mennonite I can say that pacifism does pay. During the Reformation there were many, many Anabaptist sects. Most were militant and desired to bring on the Apocalypse. The only groups that ended up surviving were the pacifists.

Zionism is basically about the same thing. If all the militant groups can continue fighting, eventually they will all be dead and we pacifists can live in peace.

As a bonus, this would help solve many of the world’s food and population issues. And would help the environment.

One thing that could definetely help the environment is the eroding of the notion of nation-states. A countries issues should not end at the imaginary border. Every country, nation, group and individual is a stake hold not only in the grouping to which they are a member. But stakes holders in the earth and in each other.

Until then . . . my grass; my trees; my dirt; my water; my oil; my air; mine; mine; mine. Oh, and my Uzi and my tanks.

And my bombs.