FROM WHERE I STAND – July 13, 2002 Who could forget Colonel Henry Blake, the humble, loveable, bungling commander of the M.A.S.H. 4077 misfits?
Blake was notorious for not being able to ride herd on his non-conventional bunch of surgeons and nurses who displayed disdain for protocol and military discipline, ??? ??? unaware of actual conflicts.
But in spite of his flaws, Americans were shocked and dismayed when Henry Blake’s airplane would be shot down as he was on his way home to the States.
Yet if you follow the Middle East - especially Israel - the spirit of Henry Blake is alive and well within the confines of the Palestinian Autonomy.
Chairman Yasser Arafat has told the world he cannot control the radical elements such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, yet has appointed members of these groups to his advisory board.
Recently, the freighter Karin A, loaded with 50 tons of weapons, was seized by Israeli forces. Documents with Arafat’s personal signature were also found on board.
The invasion of the Ramallah compound yielded even more documents. Arafat’s signature was on approval of suicide bombings, and payment to martyrs families. Arafat now claims, like Henry Blake, that he signs so many documents he can’t be sure what he is signing.
So now Arafat is carrying on in the footsteps of Colonel Henry Blake, with the exception that he utilizes terrorists not pacifists - and we don’t laugh at the antics of his group, but rather weep for the loss of life.
The nation of Israel has never been safe from the threat of terror attacks, but the past 21 months have been especially brutal.
As I write this article, I have realized that with the almost daily bombings and terror attacks - we are seeing the truth about the Oslo Accord, Palestinians and Islam in general.
While I am saddened and angered by the relentless onslaught against the nation of Israel, it is good to see the truth coming out more and more.
Even with the truth coming out, there is still the harsh reality of the staggering losses that have been inflicted on the Israeli people. They are not put into proper perspective.
For example, as of June 21, 2002, there were 552 Israelis killed. Compared to the U.S. population that would be equivalent to 30,000 Americans killed by terrorism.
In the same time frame there have been 4,122 Jews injured in Israel - equivalent to 228,360 Americans for the same period.
Finally from September 29, 2000 to June 21, 2002, Israel has experienced over 12,000 terror attacks - ranging from stabbings, shootings, and bombings - equivalent to 660,000 in America.
As we look back at the 9-11 tragedy with the loss of almost 3,000 U.S. citizens, along with our anger and sadness, we must look at Israel’s ongoing battle with terrorism. We need to come to the realization that we must unite together against terrorists, and stop demanding that Israel make peace with a den of murderers.
The captivity of the children of Israel in Babylon shows us a great parallel to the spiritual condition of people’s lives in bad times.
As we read Psalm 137, the people wept, hung their harps on the willow trees and said they had no song to sing - as they were mocked by those that held them captive.
In exile, the children of Israel longed for the golden gates of Jerusalem, as they sat in the midst of a strange land, asking G-d for deliverance - who could blame them?
They were exposed to pagan idolatry and hedonism - isolated in a dark culture with no temple to worship in or a way to offer sacrifices. This, plus being so far from home, had to be hard on them.
But notice Dan. 1:17 “As for these four children, G-d gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
These four most famous exiles kept themselves clean in a filthy environment and Daniel was given understanding of visions and dreams.
How G-d desires for His church today to have more Daniels! Seeing, hearing from and knowing G-d - able to be wise and understanding all things both secular and spiritual…
Again, how G-d wants to see men and women raised up in these dark times to declare the Oracles of G-d and be able to answer those who have questions. The call and the challenge goes out today for a people to see, hear and respond to G-d’s call and vision in these last days - not to sit by the rivers and lament!
There’s an elephant sitting in our living room – it’s big , in the way and it refuses to move. So since there is this huge pachyderm that won’t leave, and can’t be moved, our family has to change.
We will now begin with abhorrent behavior, offering all types of excuses why my wife, my kids, and I can now act out and have excuses for our behavior.
If this seems off the wall, it’s really not - because this scenario is playing itself out on a continual basis in the media, regarding the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.
The Palestinians would have the world believe that Israel is the elephant in their living room. This mammoth beast is interfering with everything they do, therefore they can act anyway they wish because they are justified.
Yet history shows Mahatma Gandhi never used terrorism to gain independence from Britain, the Berlin Wall did not come down because of “freedom fighters” attacking innocent civilians, and Martin Luther King Jr. did not resort to terrorism in his struggles to gain equal rights for all Americans.
So as Arafat’s Task Force 17, Fatah’s Tanzin, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and all the other “freedom fighters” cry about the David and Goliath syndrome - we know otherwise.
Every time a bus, restaurant, or market place feels the blast of a suicide bomber, the Palestinian leaders defend and also condone these attacks as “justifiable rage”. In reality, they are little more than a license for excess and are not synonymous with the other efforts for peace.