Imminent Violence in a Violent Region
In the Middle East, specifically the region of Israel and its borders, violence has been the major means of action for attempted change. Between terrorism, rioting, and war, there's no debating that violent outbreaks have been a common occurrence. Numerous external forces have tried to quell the fighting unsuccessfully. Internal forcers have attempted the same, often through violence. Sadly, however, the raging violence in the Middle East could not have been prevented. In this paper, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians will be assessed from the vantage point of a number of different theorists: Socrates, Thoreau, Fanon, and Gandhi. Their beliefs will give light to the notion that there are no alternatives to violence in the Middle East. The struggle between Jewish and Arab interests over the area of Israel, previously Palestine, has origins stretching back hundreds of years, though the most important events have taken place within the last century. The creation of Israel was the culmination of the Zionist movement, whose aim was a homeland for Jews scattered all over the world following the Diaspora. Previous to independence, the Jewish people had a long history of being oppressed through exile, slavery, and m
In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever. "Strength does not come from physical capacity. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction. Peace is still a goal, if not the goal. " (Fanon, page 70) For the Palestinians to gain their freedom they must fight an!d for Israel to survive they must retaliate and when all the fighting clears, then, and only then, will peace prevail. Radicals don't try to bring about change through lawful means but rather use their defiance as a tool to voice their opposition. Maybe they will become Gandhi's satyagrahis. But when it comes to actually being oppressive, Israel doesn't deserve the title the media issues. It does mean, however, that while violence rages in the region, it's inaccurate to expect peace negotiations to suddenly reach "final status" and for the fighting to come to an immediate stop. In addition to the military violence which takes place in the Middle East, the region is known for its terrorism and mass riots and for the radicals who do as they feel is right and will go to any means for their ends. Oddly enough, the violence is sometimes what brings the people together. Thoreau, unlike Socrates, believed in this method of rebellion as a means for change. The people are fighting; they a!re being violent, and not just the radicals.
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Acceptance Essays
