Dancing, Spitting, Stabbing

MEMO to Israel: What do you expect?

Better to taste this reality now than later when it could really hurt:

Israel was left fuming over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invite Palestinian poll winners Hamas to Moscow, slamming the move as a “knife in the back” from a key negotiator for Middle East peace.

The invititation was later backed by France as potentially positive for the peace process.

But it puzzled Washington and delivered a blow to the Jewish state’s appeal to the international community to isolate the radical movement as it prepares to form a new Palestinian government.

“This initiative is a real knife in the back… because it aims to give international legitimacy to a terrorist group and we must oppose it with all our means,” Education Minister Meir Sheetrit told public radio on Friday.

“What would Moscow say if we invited Chechen representatives (to Jerusalem) in response?” the minister asked.

“Putin is dancing with wolves,” charged Housing Minister Zeev Boim.

“Anger in Israel: Putin is Spitting in Our Face,” read the headline of the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

Tony Snow(fall)

I enjoy listening to Tony Snow. I just wish my local station would be able to air him live, but I suppose that would conflict with BillO’s show.

But I object to a little piece in this paragraph from today’s Snow article:

But another explanation fits the facts. The mayhem has centered in four nations: Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria. Each has a double-digit unemployment rate, and poverty rates between 32 percent and 52 percent. All have large pools of idle men who can show up for a mob activity at a moment’s notice. In short, they’re havens for losers, uniquely equipped to stage such spectacles.

Interesting facts. (At least, I assume them to be such.)

Except for his characterization of these countries as “havens for losers.”

As one human speaking to another, I say all countries are havens for losers.

Can We Care?

I think we can. So . . . .

Outside our own little coocoon, someone is in danger:

Terrorists have kidnapped one of Gospel for Asia’s missionaries in India’s east-central Chattisgarh state.

GFA President K.P. Yohannan is calling for a prayer vigil for Pastor Subhash, a young single missionary who has already started five mission stations with 28 believers.

According to Yohannan, Subhash was returning home in a taxi with five other people, but the group never reached their destination. Both the taxi and the group disappeared, and have not yet been found. That caused a great deal of concern, which was heightened when family members got the next communication the following day.

A Note to Hamas

I commend the Catholics and others for promising cooperation, presumably within the confines of what is right:

The patriarchs and heads of the Christian churches of Jerusalem told the newly elected Palestinian leadership that they extend their cooperation for the public good, but said they wanted full religious freedom.

In a Jan. 31 message, the religious leaders told the leadership of the militant Islamic group Hamas that they would cooperate “for the public good and the national Palestinian aspirations together with the cause of justice and peace in a nonviolent way.”

The emphasis on “public good” and “justice and peace” and “nonviolent way” all seem good bail-out clauses in any agreements with Hamas!

What’s the Difference?

Cal Thomas makes some observations here regarding the Muslim carryings-on over those cartoons:

At the National Black Fine Art Show, a painting by Harlem artist “Tafa” depicts an upside down “Christ-like” figure with a face that resembles Osama bin Laden. No Christians have threatened the artist, or bombed the building where it is displayed, or attacked the city government.

Throughout the Middle East, state-controlled newspapers regularly depict Jews and Israeli leaders in despicable, stereotypical and anti-Semitic caricatures. These cartoons show Jews with hooked noses; Stars of David morphing into swastikas; Palestinian and Arab blood drips from Jewish hands and Jews are blamed for creating AIDS. Neither those newspapers, nor Arab embassies have been attacked by Jewish mobs.

When a Danish newspaper publishes several political cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, riots ensue and the artists and newspaper receive death threats. When newspapers in France and Germany courageously (and unexpectedly) reprint the cartoons as a demonstration of their right to free speech, further demonstrations occur and threats are made against those newspapers.

What’s the difference here?

Is there an inherent “betterness” of people, religion, government, or nationality?

Above all, love God!

since November 9, 2005
Private