Disequilibrium!
I find myself just about recovering from a state of disequilibrium. That is, a psychological state of crisis induced by an external event so foreign to the subject that he/she has no prior learned coping mechanism to handle it. The magnitude, severity and duration of the of the state varies with the nature of the event and the subjects prior experience, coping strategies, and mental and physical health. The symptoms of psychological disequilibrium may be feelings of anxiety, fear, inadequacy, helplessness, agitation, confusion, and disorganization.
Just what was the event that triggered this state in me? It was the Bush administration's reaction to Israel's massive retaliation against Lebanon for the taking of 2 IDF troops hostage and the subsequent killing of several other IDF troops during an illegal incursion into Israeli sovereign territory by some Hezbollah terrorists.
In the face of the entire world recognizing Israel's right to defend itself, probably a first in itself, the US stood alone in refusing to call for an immediate end to the mayhem and a cease fire to save the lives of innocent Lebanese and Israeli civilians and stop the destruction of the infrastructure of Lebanon and Israel, and the leaving of many more civilians injured, homeless and without food, water, shelter or adequate medical care.
And so, to hear news reports of the whole world calling for an immediate cease fire while the US is calling for a continuation of the mayhem is to me without precedent and totally disequilibriating.
I know that this opinion is not one held by many of the people on my mailing list. And I do have more to say about this situation. The most frequent counter arguments that I hear from people in opposition to this point of view are:
Oh! Bye the way, I am not a pacifist. There are times when war is just and absolutely needed. But when war is needed it must be a last resort, with the full cooperation of our allies, and with full force (with the possible exclusion of nuclear.)
My Blog: http://myweb-blog.blogspot.com
Just what was the event that triggered this state in me? It was the Bush administration's reaction to Israel's massive retaliation against Lebanon for the taking of 2 IDF troops hostage and the subsequent killing of several other IDF troops during an illegal incursion into Israeli sovereign territory by some Hezbollah terrorists.
In the face of the entire world recognizing Israel's right to defend itself, probably a first in itself, the US stood alone in refusing to call for an immediate end to the mayhem and a cease fire to save the lives of innocent Lebanese and Israeli civilians and stop the destruction of the infrastructure of Lebanon and Israel, and the leaving of many more civilians injured, homeless and without food, water, shelter or adequate medical care.
And so, to hear news reports of the whole world calling for an immediate cease fire while the US is calling for a continuation of the mayhem is to me without precedent and totally disequilibriating.
I know that this opinion is not one held by many of the people on my mailing list. And I do have more to say about this situation. The most frequent counter arguments that I hear from people in opposition to this point of view are:
- What would the United States do if a Mexican (Cuban, Canadian, Venezuelan,...) terrorist group made an incursion and kidnapped/killed several of our border guards?
- What did we do when the Twin Towers were hit?
- Doesn't Israel have the right to protect themselves from future attacks from Hezbollah? Are they just supposed to take it?
- What would you do leftist wimp, just turn the other cheek?
Oh! Bye the way, I am not a pacifist. There are times when war is just and absolutely needed. But when war is needed it must be a last resort, with the full cooperation of our allies, and with full force (with the possible exclusion of nuclear.)
--Michael
My Blog: http://myweb-blog.blogspot.com
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the Government for a redress of grievances."