Ariel Sharon - Good Riddance!

He was a murdering, thieving scumbag. Good riddance to him!

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/1/13/noam_chomsky_on_the_legacy_of

NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, you know, there is a convention that you’re not supposed to speak ill of the recently dead, which unfortunately imposes a kind of vow of silence because there’s nothing else to say—there’s nothing good to say. What both Rashid and Avi Shlaim have said is exactly accurate. He was a brutal killer. He had one fixed idea in mind, which drove him all his life: a greater Israel, as powerful as possible, as few Palestinians as possible—they should somehow disappear—and an Israel which could be powerful enough to dominate the region. The Lebanon War then, which was his worst crime, also had a goal of imposing a client state in Lebanon, a Maronite client state. And these were the driving forces of his life.

The idea that the Gaza evacuation was a controversial step for peace is almost farcical. By 2005, Gaza had been devastated, and he played a large role in that. The Israeli hawks could understand easily that it made no sense to keep a few thousand Israeli settlers in Gaza using a very large percentage of its land and scarce water with a huge IDF, Israeli army, contingent to protect them. What made more sense was to take them out and place them in the West Bank or the Golan Heights—illegal. It could have been done very simply. They could have—the Israeli army could have announced that on August 1st they’re leaving Gaza, in which case the settlers would have piled into the trucks that were provided to them, which would take them from their subsidized homes in Gaza to illegal subsidized homes in other territories that Israel intended to keep, and that would have been the end of it. But instead, a—what Israeli sociologists call, Baruch Kimmerling called an "absurd theater" was constructed to try to demonstrate to the world that there cannot be any further evacuations.

The farce was a successful public relations effort. Joseph Biden’s comments illustrate that. It was particularly farcical when you recognize that it was a virtual replay of what happened in 1982 when Israel was compelled to withdraw from the Egyptian Sinai and carried out an operation that the Israeli press ridiculed as Operation National Trauma 1982: We have to show the world how much we’re suffering by carrying out an action that will benefit our power and our security. And that was the peacemaking effort.

But his career is one of unremitting brutality, dedication to the fixed idea of his life. He doubtless showed courage and commitment to pursuing this ideal, which is an ugly and horrific one.

Comments

  • Byrnzie,

    I find you conflicted in principle with matters related to Israel.

    While I don't disagree with you... I find it ironic that your heart turns cold for Sharon and can celebrate his death, when at the same time you admonish society for, say, executing Steve Smith (the Ohio rapist and murderer of a 6 month old).
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • goodnight bulldozer.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    No real strong feelings on this topic except to say, hey, at least is doesn't appear to be "Good Riddance Byrnzie" (you mentioned leaving this place. Yeah, I've done the same a few time but here we are- smile smiley).
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037

    Byrnzie,

    I find you conflicted in principle with matters related to Israel.

    While I don't disagree with you... I find it ironic that your heart turns cold for Sharon and can celebrate his death, when at the same time you admonish society for, say, executing Steve Smith (the Ohio rapist and murderer of a 6 month old).

    Sharon wasn't executed. As to how I differentiate between murderers, rapists, and war mongers, that's a good question. But I'm still opposed to the death penalty. I was opposed to the execution of Sadaam Hussein, and I would have been opposed to the execution of George W Bush for his war crimes too. But if Bush, or Cheney were locked up in jail and eventually died of natural causes, then I'd probably celebrate their passing too. But I still don't condone State-sanctioned murder.


  • Byrnzie said:

    Byrnzie,

    I find you conflicted in principle with matters related to Israel.

    While I don't disagree with you... I find it ironic that your heart turns cold for Sharon and can celebrate his death, when at the same time you admonish society for, say, executing Steve Smith (the Ohio rapist and murderer of a 6 month old).

    Sharon wasn't executed. As to how I differentiate between murderers, rapists, and war mongers, that's a good question. But I'm still opposed to the death penalty. I was opposed to the execution of Sadaam Hussein, and I would have been opposed to the execution of George W Bush for his war crimes too. But if Bush, or Cheney were locked up in jail and eventually died of natural causes, then I'd probably celebrate their passing too. But I still don't condone State-sanctioned murder.


    I understand the difference between the two deaths. It's more the 'spirit' of your first post which seemed to be rejoicing the death of a questionable individual. You said it here in this response as well (I'd probably celebrate their passing too). This would imply a level of hatred and devaluation of human life that you typically advocate vociferously for in the worst of circumstances.

    Hey, don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm opposed to what you have said. I just find it interesting the depth of hatred you carry for such individuals.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    edited January 2014

    Byrnzie said:

    Byrnzie,

    I find you conflicted in principle with matters related to Israel.

    While I don't disagree with you... I find it ironic that your heart turns cold for Sharon and can celebrate his death, when at the same time you admonish society for, say, executing Steve Smith (the Ohio rapist and murderer of a 6 month old).

    Sharon wasn't executed. As to how I differentiate between murderers, rapists, and war mongers, that's a good question. But I'm still opposed to the death penalty. I was opposed to the execution of Sadaam Hussein, and I would have been opposed to the execution of George W Bush for his war crimes too. But if Bush, or Cheney were locked up in jail and eventually died of natural causes, then I'd probably celebrate their passing too. But I still don't condone State-sanctioned murder.


    I understand the difference between the two deaths. It's more the 'spirit' of your first post which seemed to be rejoicing the death of a questionable individual. You said it here in this response as well (I'd probably celebrate their passing too). This would imply a level of hatred and devaluation of human life that you typically advocate vociferously for in the worst of circumstances.

    Hey, don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm opposed to what you have said. I just find it interesting the depth of hatred you carry for such individuals.
    I don't devalue human life, but some humans are scum. I regard most politicians as scum. As for any individual, or State, having the right to snuff out the life of a scumbag, I oppose it. Nobody has that authority. But once a scumbag dies, I will celebrate it - for two reasons: one reason being that I'm glad there's one less scumbag in the World. And the other reason being that if an individual has lived a life that has caused countless suffering to many, many people, then they should be vilified and held up as examples of the scumbags they are.
    Much of the Western media has been paying it's respects to Ariel Sharon in the aftermath of his death, and this disgusts me. The mans body should have been burned in a trash bin.

    Post edited by Byrnzie on
  • Byrnzie said:

    Byrnzie said:

    Byrnzie,

    I find you conflicted in principle with matters related to Israel.

    While I don't disagree with you... I find it ironic that your heart turns cold for Sharon and can celebrate his death, when at the same time you admonish society for, say, executing Steve Smith (the Ohio rapist and murderer of a 6 month old).

    Sharon wasn't executed. As to how I differentiate between murderers, rapists, and war mongers, that's a good question. But I'm still opposed to the death penalty. I was opposed to the execution of Sadaam Hussein, and I would have been opposed to the execution of George W Bush for his war crimes too. But if Bush, or Cheney were locked up in jail and eventually died of natural causes, then I'd probably celebrate their passing too. But I still don't condone State-sanctioned murder.


    I understand the difference between the two deaths. It's more the 'spirit' of your first post which seemed to be rejoicing the death of a questionable individual. You said it here in this response as well (I'd probably celebrate their passing too). This would imply a level of hatred and devaluation of human life that you typically advocate vociferously for in the worst of circumstances.

    Hey, don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm opposed to what you have said. I just find it interesting the depth of hatred you carry for such individuals.
    I don't devalue human life, but some humans are scum. I regard most politicians as scum. As for any individual, or State, having the right to snuff out the life of a scumbag, I oppose it. Nobody has that authority. But once a scumbag dies, I will celebrate it - for two reasons: one reason being that I'm glad there's one less scumbag in the World. And the other reason being that if an individual has lived a life that has caused countless suffering to many, many people, then they should be vilified and held up as examples of the scumbags they are.
    Much of the Western media has been paying it's respects to Ariel Sharon in the aftermath of his death, and this disgusts me. The mans body should have been burned in a trash bin.

    Well then... I guess in reality... we're not that far apart you and I. I hold much contempt for scumbags as well.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
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