Professor’s Classroom
Subject: Middle East Conflict
Note: Repost…..This is something I wrote about 3 years ago on my now defunct blog entitled Studies And Observations…..I thought I would try to post on International situations on Wednesday, if there is enough crap to make it interesting……
To answer my question…..It seems so and why is that, Professor?
INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CONFLICT
First, let us begin with a few definitions–institution–a tradition or custom, now conflict–a clash of ideas or interests. Now we can continue with the thoughts.
It is 1920 and most likely a lively day and a British mandate over what is known as Palestine. Jewish settlers start trickling into the country and almost immediately the conflicts between Jew and Palestinian begins. Most of them were small clashes here and there and occasionally the Brits were involved. These differences in opinion continued as well as the settlers entry into the country. And then in the year 1936, an Arab revolt began against Zionists and the Brits. The revolt continue for some three years of bloody confrontations. Nothing was really settled by the revolt and nothing really changed. Clashes between the two antagonists, Jew and Arab continued with more bloody conflicts. After WWII, Jews had an exodus to Palestine and the clashes became bigger and bloodier. Then Israel declared itself a country and nation in 1948 and then the real crap hits the fan. It becomes a moral imperative to crush one another. Shortly after the statehood declaration the 1st Arab-Israeli war began. It was not a pretty thing. The conflict ended but the hatred simmered. And simmered. Conflicts, attacks and brutalities continued on b oth sides of the issue. Then 1967, a really big show, the 6 Day War; Arab arnies and the Israelis clashed and death was everywhere. At the brokered end of the war Israel annexed the West Bank and Gaza, but the end of the war did not cease the hatred or the violence. This is a simple history lesson that deserves more depth, but for the purposes of this piece it will be sufficient.
Let’s be honest, there were other minor wars like Yom Kippur and the like. Do not misunderstand me, any and all these conflicts and confrontations were bad for both sides, many bad and unfortunate incidents occurred from both antagonists. That in itself is just ducky, but I would like to concentrate on the concept of conflict now.
Since the beginning of the Jewish migration there has been anger, hatred and conflict. These conflicts have caused lasting divisions and lasting hatreds. Father passed on stories about the other side’s atrocities to sons and sons to sons and sons to………….on and on. Both Palestinian and Jew is guilty of this. Stories of stolen land, killed loved ones. destroyed house and farms, and the list continues. Because of this word of mouth story telling the hatreds just build and continue for decade after decade. As the stories are past down the hatreds are past down and thus clashes between antagonist continue from year to year.
Both sides know their families stories and then firearms enter the picture and now the clashes become deadly. With each clash a new chapter is written in the hatreds. The more one acts the more the other reacts and it just keeps escalating; the death tolls escalate and sorrows escalates.
Because of the continuing escalation decade after decade, generation to generation, the conflict becomes a tradition, a custom, which after 60 yrs of escalation will be extremely difficult to break. It has become an institution, something that has a mind of its own and left unchecked will ruin both sides of the conflict. Because of the escalation over several generations the conflict has become institutionalized.
The only way this institution can be broken is with the work of both antagonist trying to end the hatred; both have got to desire peace at all costs, without a mutual desire for peace the institution of conflict will destroy both. Only the people can break the tradition, the custom of conflict. Some wealthy second or third partner cannot bring the institution to an end by throwing money at it or threats tossed around. These techniques only strengthen the institution. The people have got to want to live in peace and security. Without that desire all that is accomplished is a minor ceasefire that awaits the next act to ignite the fires of conflict once again.
CHUQ
13/02/07
Oh, I agree entirely. In fact, however, much they all profess otherwise, I believe that almost none of the leaders, wingnuts an zealots (as distinct from normal decent people) on both sides wants pece in any shape or form – conflict is what they live for and what gives them their power and importance.
The trouble to some extent comes from the idea that a different religion makes Zonists into a different race – which it total bullshit! In fact, most Jews (the real ones, not the converted and naturalised ones) actually ARE Arabs – you only have to look at their features and their own history to see that – they’re simply a splinter group based on religion… ah, we’re back to religion – the followers of the various gods that are each of them the one true god and all are vengeful and yet full of love!!!
Where DOES all this illogical crap come from?
I am guessing that you appreciate the institutionalization thing……..it has become a way of life that NO one has any idea how to change it……basically, you are saying it is a civil war among the faithful……I speak a little Arabic from my days working in the ME for a Spanish newspaper, there are many words in both Arabic and Hebrew that sound alike and mean the same things….to me it is dialects of the same language…..to answer your question…it comes from, who else, politicians…..
Oh yes, I didn’t say but yes of course, you’re right and I get the institutionalisation thing – it’s much like the acceptance of lies and lying in politics.
Yes, I agree it’s the politicians that keep what WOULD be little more than a row between zealots going at the level it does. However, those zealots have a hell of a lot to answer for!
The world would be a great place for humanity to live, flourish and go forward – if it were not for organised religion and politics. Let’s face it, without organised religion people could behave as themselves and just be ‘normal’ (and mostly nice I’d guess) and without politicians, there would be few lawyers, bureaucrats and other assholes like them….
Aaaaahh – Utopia – just a dream, eh? 😆
also the aid that is given to both sides of the argument is also an institution……as long as the conflict continues the cash just keeps flowing…..bet without the cash advances then an agreement could be reached fairly easy….
But doesn’t Jewish voting power in the US more or less guarantee aid for Israel?
Yes it does….but not completely…..but after all money talks….campaign funds and out right bribes….
The sad thing is that while majorities in Israel and Palestine may desire peace, it won’t happen while the leaders on both sides are unwilling to show weakness in negotiations or anything else.
And of course right now, Israel is run by a near-fanatical rightwing regime that seems intent on ending any possibility of a two state solution. Ironic since the Palestinians have returned to more moderate leadership.
Isn’t it ALWAYS in the personal interests of such leaders to keep things going like that? Without the conflict, they wouldn’t have a job!
Yes……and as with ALL governments…it is what is desired by the leaders….seldom what the people want….