[Paleopsych] Mideast polarization

[Michael Christopher]

>>It is also a fact that almost everybody in the
region blames this situation on the United States, on 
Israel, on Western Civilization, on Judaism and
Christianity, on anyone and anything, except
themselves.<<

--And to make things worse, Israel and the West are
quick to embrace extremists on their own side who
believe in an ultimate confrontation with Islam.
Suicide bombings work because they empower the most
rigid, uncompromising elements on both sides, keeping
the extremes in business and locking out the
moderates. It has become very difficult for moderates
on either side to advocate for their counterparts on
the other, without being painted as weak-willed
appeasers, collaborators or dangerously naive
peaceniks. So greater and greater sacrifice becomes
almost inevitable as time passes without resolution.
Nobody wants to feel vulnerable, lose face, or deal
with the possibility that God will not avenge their
losses. 

It would be bad enough if all sides were dominated by
pragmatists with a goal of security. But when you add
religious extremism, the view that God himself has
predicted a bloody clash of civilizations (who will go
against "God's infallible word"?), the logic of the
pragmatists only accelerates an amplifying spiral of
mutual paranoia and one-sided blame. 

Then, add the weight of collective insanity. Walk into
a Jewish or Islamic chatroom, and watch the insults
fly. Watch the moderates leave in frustration. The
grassroots virus of anger, anonymous fire-setting, and
projection of faults will ultimately push leaders on
all sides to posture against moderacy and in favor of
"final solutions". You'd be shocked how many
Christians in the US believe the "final solution" will
involve all Palestinians being removed from the land
given to the Jews by God. And we know the final
solution envisioned by Islamic extremists. How to
oppose them, while locking out each side's religious
extremists, enabling the moderates, and reassuring the
security-minded pragmatists?

Michael



		
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