Ariel Sharon
A heartfelt wish that the Jewish hero, Ariel Sharon, should have a refuah shlaima. His brash courage as a war hero led Israel through its toughest times and forced the Arab world to think peace, when decades of poor leadership had led them to be intransigent. Ariel Sharon will always be the man who advocated peace through strength, and I, for one, thank him for the courage that took him across the Suez, stood firm against Arafat, and yet was willing to deal with any Arab leadership that might bring their people to a modern place.
Sadly, he may be remembered for the ill advised but inevitable Gaza evacuation. When he took office, Israel was experiencing bomb attacks almost daily. He sent troops 100 yards into Arab Gaza to the condemnation of almost every government. Through his initiatives, the army uprooted much of the terrorist weed in the West Bank, and won the respect of a US administration. Rather than calls to abandon and deal, the US responded that "Israel has the right to defend itself". Believe it or not, this is the first time that this was ever heard from a US administration, even in response to the most blatant aggression. His rash, blunt, arrogant pure sabraness won him many enemies and admirers.
And yes, the Jblog prophets are rearing up their foolish heads to tell us why this has befallen Sharon. But let's just put them aside for long enough to thank Ariel ben Vera, and pray that Hashem give him peace and comfort. Read a book about the war in 1973, and remind yourself what he meant to the Jewish people in their hour of need.
Sadly, he may be remembered for the ill advised but inevitable Gaza evacuation. When he took office, Israel was experiencing bomb attacks almost daily. He sent troops 100 yards into Arab Gaza to the condemnation of almost every government. Through his initiatives, the army uprooted much of the terrorist weed in the West Bank, and won the respect of a US administration. Rather than calls to abandon and deal, the US responded that "Israel has the right to defend itself". Believe it or not, this is the first time that this was ever heard from a US administration, even in response to the most blatant aggression. His rash, blunt, arrogant pure sabraness won him many enemies and admirers.
And yes, the Jblog prophets are rearing up their foolish heads to tell us why this has befallen Sharon. But let's just put them aside for long enough to thank Ariel ben Vera, and pray that Hashem give him peace and comfort. Read a book about the war in 1973, and remind yourself what he meant to the Jewish people in their hour of need.
posted by Rebeljew at
12:06 AM
7 Comments:
Ariel Sharon risked his life for the Jewish people. How can people forget that fact? - JF
By
The Jewish Freak, at 1:38 AM
http://bloggerai.blogspot.com/2006/01/gospel-of-political-correctness.html
By
Nathan, at 4:31 PM
- just not in the mood of repeating myself, sorry
By
Nathan, at 4:33 PM
Nathan
Why is it not the "pulsa denura" curse, finally taking a late and slow effect? Or maybe because of his constant affronts to Allah and Islam? Or perhaps, just perhaps, if he had accepted Jeeeeezus as his lord and savior, he might have been spared?
Or maybe, just maybe, a man in his late 70's, obese, under constant stress, and on blood thinners is a stroke waiting to happen.
At any rate, he has survived so far, and I am convinced that in the balance of hakaras hatov, this man deserves a heck of alot more praise than rebuke.
Your post notes that all leaders that have given away land have come to a quick loss of rule. I would point out that every single leader in the past twenty years has not held power for more than a few years. Sharon is probably the longest lived and he would be elected yet again, so it is likely that his policies will prevail.
Your post also notes that this stroke happend in the perfect time and place to be a punishment for giving land (my paraphrase). I'd say that the perfect time and place might have been at the moment that he announced this policy to the cabinet or the Knesset. Imagine, Sharon suggests this policy and in the middle of his speech, wham! Then, you might have a point.
I can only look at this man's heroic efforts, far more than mine and, I dare say, yours (presumptuous on my part) on behalf of shlaimus ha'aretz and on defending Israel and find admiration.
By
Rebeljew, at 8:42 PM
First of all, I am not coming out all out and saying with any sort of certainty that AS fell ill for this or that reason. It is acknowledged, unabashed speculation, and is meant to be taken that way.
That said, the model given fits better than "pulsa denura" - which, like you noted, would have been late and slow. The same goes for said affronts to Islam and nonacceptance of JC, which have both been happening for a long time; אדרבה, the affronts to Islam have been weakening, as previously noted.
As to the idea of the stroke occuring before the withdrawal rather than after, I have no single answer. As for partial answers, there are a few: For starters, only G-d knows what he would have further done once elected, and unhindered even by party constraints. Besides, punishment after the fact has unfortunately been the course on other occasions as well. Cf countless Chasidic stories, which I am aware that you do not respect; Pharaoh; destroyers of Batei Mikdash; thugs in Yevsektzia (Jewish Communists); etc. etc.
Please note that I am not in any way whatsoever comparing Sharon to any of the above; indeed, regarding a few of them, Lehavdil is in order. But the message is clear.
Any more and this will be a rant.
By
Nathan, at 4:06 AM
"countless Chasidic stories, which I am aware that you do not respect"
It is not that I do not respect them. I just think most of them are made up mashalim, not actual stories, and therefore, they are not worth basing your life decisions on. As the familiar saing goes, "anyone who believes all the stories of the Besht ..."
By
Rebeljew, at 7:42 AM
OK. Fair enough.
By
Nathan, at 7:39 PM
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