This is probably ill-advised, but that has never stopped me before 😉 . Actually I find this to be a deadly (literally) serious issue, and one with all kinds of ethical considerations. On the one hand there are the people who are suffering on both sides, and on the other hand there is a movement that is highlighting one side of that coin to the negation of the other. In other words, there is the Palestinian “people” who are definitely living in a terrible situation; and then there are the Israelis who also must live in constant fear that a rocket could land in the middle of their kids school playground fired from the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. This whole thing is an utter geo-political humanitarian dilemma. Nevertheless, the move in the international community (esp. representative at the UN) to paint Israel as the new Hitler (which is being done — look at the little cartoon in the video itself), and to borrow the rhetoric of holocaust and ironically pin that on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is exactly what’s happening. If you haven’t been paying attention to this you should. There is simply no easy answer to this! But it is utterly naive to think that when what is being communicated in the song below is some sort of answer, then we indeed have major problems; and more importantly the Nation of Israel has severe problems, as far as their continued existence. Clearly the song below is only suggestive (actually on second thought, it’s more, watch the little cartoon embedded in the video), and if it was presented in a context devoid of the one we currently inhabit internationally; then it could be seen or heard as something that is truly inspiring. But given our current context — the one where President Obama just engaged in a test of sorts (to see how folks would respond to his suggestion that Israel go back to the 67 border-lines) — a song like this is probably not as innocent as one would hope (just think of the planned/forced border crossings that happened back on May 15th, and the one planned for this Sunday, as well as the Flotilla planned for sometime either later this month or this Summer). Do we want to see Palestine and the Palestinian people given freedom? Absolutely! Do we want to see Israel recognized as a sovereign State by all those Nations surrounding them (including Palestine — who have vowed to wipe them off the face of the earth)? Yes! A dilemma. Anyway, here’s the new song:
Do you think this video serves as a form of propaganda?
Duh! Oh yeah that’s postmodern propaganda big time! Did I see Jim West in there? 😉 The Christian can really only stand somehow with Israel! It’s not easy, but we must!
This propaganda counts on ignorance of history. There is already a 2 state solution. The other state is Jordan.
So sad that we don’t know the history of less than 100 years ago. .
Craig
@Fr Robert,
I think we need to stand with both peoples, but try to not mix politics with theology per se. Since the Gospel is trans-national. I think though that Israel is actually being set up by the world. I also think that this fits with how the “final battle” (Nations against Israel), Jacob’s Trouble (Jer 30:7) is going to play out eventually. Which to me makes this an amazing time and situation.
@Craig,
Yes, the surrounding Arab and Persian nations are simply using Palestine as their proxy beach-head of sorts. The history is available. There is blood on both sides, actually; but if I’m not a pacifist or Anabaptist, which I’m not, per se, I will argue that Israel has a right to protect herself from certain annihilation (viz. if unqualified “freedom” was provided for the Palestine — and I mean since the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have joined hands, and Hamas’ charter clearly states that their prime objective is to wipe Israel off the face of the earth or into the Mediterranean). Here are some of Hamas’ principles from their charter:
This is who the leadership of Palestine is formerly associated with. Would you make peace with Palestine if you were Israel? Would America make peace with Al Qaeda? The unfortunate thing (understatement) is that there are real live people caught on either side of this disaster. I think the Christian response should be to pray for both Palestinians and Israelis; that salvation would come to all. I don’t think the Christian response should involve political actions or even gestures.
Bobby,
Ethical dilemma? Nothing a couple hundred 30-megaton thermonuclear devices couldn’t solve. Right? (Tongue inserted firmly in cheek, although this is actually a proposed solution by some people)
Bobby,
Indeed Israel and really true Judeo-Christianity can never make peace with Islam, and those that hate Israel! This is really the bottom line. I have lived in the region. We really are seeing some of the pieces coming together that will be part of the diatribe against Israel! In the Middle East we can see the hatred on both sides, but the question is who does God stand with? And who really does HE favor? And does God have a social answer here? The real answer lies of course in God’s Salvation History, which btw will finally include the Land! God does love this creation, but sadly many are going to die in that region, and the End will be Israel and Jerusalem centre stage! We simply cannot push out the eschatolgical Covenant/covenants and the Land here!
@Steve,
That is scary. Yeah, that sounds like Iran’s solution.
@Fr Robert,
And of course how once conceives of creation and recreation, and the continuity therein, is always going to be a point of contention in relation to the Land.