ISRAEL UPDATEMarch 14, 2004 - Call it a fence, a wall, a divider, or a partition, but you can say the hotly contested wall built by the Israelis - separating them from the Palestinians - is a cause of disagreement.
One Israeli leader put it succinctly, “The offensive is reversible, but human life is not.” Since its erection, the Israeli fatality rate has dropped significantly.
So why the contention? Israel is retreating behind the fence, so this should not be controversial – considering it is a defensive measure - but the Palestinians have cried foul.
The Palestinian leadership says the fence prohibits their people from crossing over to Israel to work - thus creating financial hardship.
However, why hasn't Arafat established an economy for the Palestinians? It is simply because the billions of foreign aid he has received has been pocketed, or used to buy arms and munitions.
Of course, if the wall was left up and the construction continued at the present rate, the casualties would decrease even more – but it would give the U.N. observers that much less to do.
The harsh reality of this current construction in Israel is due only because the Palestinians have not lived up to their end of the agreement. It is safe to say that if, and when the Palestinians would stop the violence, incitement, and unrestrained hatred, this wall would come done.
As has been stated so many times in the past, it is time the pressure and accountability is put on Mr. Arafat. If he is unable to control the terrorism, at least he should share in the expense and help Israel build the wall rather complain. That is if he truly wanted peace. . .
March 14, 2004 – Soon after Adam and Eve committed sin in the Garden of Eden, G-d began inquiring of Adam. He promptly blamed the woman G-d gave him. Genesis 3:12
Today, if not careful, the “generational curse” concept can be taken to the extreme, such as not holding people accountable for their actions.
For example, is a person that continually falls into abusive relationships experiencing a “generational curse,” or do they run specifically timed cycles of learned behaviors?
Is the obese person another in a long line of cursed generations, or are they just undisciplined - refusing to make the appropriate changes?
Are patterns of substance, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, because of “generational curses,” or do these people continue in these patterns because they choose to?
Truthfully, human and pastoral experience has shown me that while there are things present in people's families - most problems in life come from our own doing.
John rebuked the religious people, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of G-d.” Luke 3:18
Christianity is not based on a generational cursing, i.e., “I’m nasty because of my grandparents or parents. . .” it is an individual choice. The same is true when referring to “generational curses,” we cannot say this just happened… or didn't happen… because of past generations.
To be continued . .