Dear Israel: Listen up, please. You've got to stop using the word "terrorism" in connection to all the... well, terrorism, you endure day after day.
The word "terrorism" or "terrorist," in your case, doesn't travel. It doesn't sell. Anyway, when you send it over here after yet another atrocity, we (AP, Reuters, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, etc.) swiftly change it to "militant" or "activist" or even "freedom fighter." We in America own terrorism. It's our word -- as in "Our war on terrorism." You're not included.
So it's not working for you here and frankly, in case you haven't noticed, it's not exactly working for you there, either. What you're facing is something else and I'm sure someone else has thought of this before me, but what the heck, here goes.
I have a plan. But before I get ahead of myself I'd better warn you that my plan could change your entire legal system, even your culture.
Listen, I don't think it?s about the "occupation" and I don't even think it's about the Arabs wanting the Land. That's already been tried under Ehud Barak. He gave them land, even a healthy chunk of Jerusalem, and they said, ?No, we'd rather just hate you. Keep the land... we prefer killing you.?
So it's about nothing but Hate. That's the word. Hate. That's all it is.
Back here in the United States there's a whole hullabaloo about Hate Crimes. There, I've gotten ahead of myself. The plan's out of the bag, and it is my Big Plan. Already, you're shaking your head.
Regardless, here in the United States we do not tolerate Hate Crimes and not even Bias. This next paragraph is a bit dull, but a must read, as it is the official position coming from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS):
Hate Crime is defined as "the violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability."
Nothing subtle about that, huh? We don't put up with that garbage. Go directly to jail.
One more: "Over the past 12 years Congress has passed many pieces of legislation to help shape the future of Hate Crime initiatives and preventive measures." (Recently, "Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999.")
Is there anything like that in Israel and if not, why not? After all, it's Jews they're after, these rock throwers and suicide bombers (Note: religion). But you put up with it. Why? Shouldn't it be illegal? I?m no lawyer, but I'm talking legal stuff here. Killing Jews should be illegal!
Over here, we have special people who do nothing but sniff out Hate Crimes, namely the FBI's "Bias Crimes Unit." Over here, people can be arrested, prosecuted and sent to prison for bias or hatred against a person because of religion. That?s our "initiative." What?s yours?
Come on, Israel. Wake up... and think about this proposal for an "Israel Hate Crimes Prevention Act" that stops all this. This should not be the business of the IDF. Send in the police and the prosecutors. This isn't war. It's prejudice.
Funny (not really), but here in America, a mostly Christian nation, if someone utters a slur against a Jew he can get into big trouble. In Israel, a mostly Jewish nation, it's okay. In Israel, you wait until the bomb goes off, taking with it dozens of innocents. Then, you again attack the same empty building in Gaza. That's pointless.
Imagine if you tried this proposal in Israel -- enacting Hate Crimes legislation. Create a Mossad "Bias Crimes Unit." A mother who gloats about "my son the suicide bomber" -- are you kidding? I don't have to tell you how our FBI would react. She'd be cuffed and arrested in a New York Minute.
Naturally, you'd be hearing from civil rights activists. We also have Civil Rights, but we also have limits to Civil Rights as: "a person may not use civil rights to justify actions that might seriously harm the health, welfare, safety, or morals of others." If that's good enough for America, it should be good enough for Israel. True, if you adopt my plan, your entire police enforcement system, court system, legal system -- your entire culture would have to be transformed.
Another phrase to replace terrorism might be Zero Tolerance. That's pretty much what we've got here in America when it comes to hate and bias. Zero Tolerance. You don't have that in Israel. Not even close. Actually, you tolerate just about anything.
Anyway, that's my plan. Forget terrorism. Instead -- Hate Crimes Legislation.
Won't work? Well, what's working now?
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Jack Engelhard is the author of the international bestseller Indecent Proposal and is a former radio and newspaper editor covering the Mideast, as well as a former American volunteer in the Israeli Defense Forces. His columns can be read online at http://www.comteqcom.com/jackcolumn.php and he can be reached at JackEngelhard@ComteQcom.com.
The word "terrorism" or "terrorist," in your case, doesn't travel. It doesn't sell. Anyway, when you send it over here after yet another atrocity, we (AP, Reuters, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, etc.) swiftly change it to "militant" or "activist" or even "freedom fighter." We in America own terrorism. It's our word -- as in "Our war on terrorism." You're not included.
So it's not working for you here and frankly, in case you haven't noticed, it's not exactly working for you there, either. What you're facing is something else and I'm sure someone else has thought of this before me, but what the heck, here goes.
I have a plan. But before I get ahead of myself I'd better warn you that my plan could change your entire legal system, even your culture.
Listen, I don't think it?s about the "occupation" and I don't even think it's about the Arabs wanting the Land. That's already been tried under Ehud Barak. He gave them land, even a healthy chunk of Jerusalem, and they said, ?No, we'd rather just hate you. Keep the land... we prefer killing you.?
So it's about nothing but Hate. That's the word. Hate. That's all it is.
Back here in the United States there's a whole hullabaloo about Hate Crimes. There, I've gotten ahead of myself. The plan's out of the bag, and it is my Big Plan. Already, you're shaking your head.
Regardless, here in the United States we do not tolerate Hate Crimes and not even Bias. This next paragraph is a bit dull, but a must read, as it is the official position coming from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS):
Hate Crime is defined as "the violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability."
Nothing subtle about that, huh? We don't put up with that garbage. Go directly to jail.
One more: "Over the past 12 years Congress has passed many pieces of legislation to help shape the future of Hate Crime initiatives and preventive measures." (Recently, "Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999.")
Is there anything like that in Israel and if not, why not? After all, it's Jews they're after, these rock throwers and suicide bombers (Note: religion). But you put up with it. Why? Shouldn't it be illegal? I?m no lawyer, but I'm talking legal stuff here. Killing Jews should be illegal!
Over here, we have special people who do nothing but sniff out Hate Crimes, namely the FBI's "Bias Crimes Unit." Over here, people can be arrested, prosecuted and sent to prison for bias or hatred against a person because of religion. That?s our "initiative." What?s yours?
Come on, Israel. Wake up... and think about this proposal for an "Israel Hate Crimes Prevention Act" that stops all this. This should not be the business of the IDF. Send in the police and the prosecutors. This isn't war. It's prejudice.
Funny (not really), but here in America, a mostly Christian nation, if someone utters a slur against a Jew he can get into big trouble. In Israel, a mostly Jewish nation, it's okay. In Israel, you wait until the bomb goes off, taking with it dozens of innocents. Then, you again attack the same empty building in Gaza. That's pointless.
Imagine if you tried this proposal in Israel -- enacting Hate Crimes legislation. Create a Mossad "Bias Crimes Unit." A mother who gloats about "my son the suicide bomber" -- are you kidding? I don't have to tell you how our FBI would react. She'd be cuffed and arrested in a New York Minute.
Naturally, you'd be hearing from civil rights activists. We also have Civil Rights, but we also have limits to Civil Rights as: "a person may not use civil rights to justify actions that might seriously harm the health, welfare, safety, or morals of others." If that's good enough for America, it should be good enough for Israel. True, if you adopt my plan, your entire police enforcement system, court system, legal system -- your entire culture would have to be transformed.
Another phrase to replace terrorism might be Zero Tolerance. That's pretty much what we've got here in America when it comes to hate and bias. Zero Tolerance. You don't have that in Israel. Not even close. Actually, you tolerate just about anything.
Anyway, that's my plan. Forget terrorism. Instead -- Hate Crimes Legislation.
Won't work? Well, what's working now?
--------------------------------------------------------
Jack Engelhard is the author of the international bestseller Indecent Proposal and is a former radio and newspaper editor covering the Mideast, as well as a former American volunteer in the Israeli Defense Forces. His columns can be read online at http://www.comteqcom.com/jackcolumn.php and he can be reached at JackEngelhard@ComteQcom.com.