Psalm 137:1-6 (King James Version)
“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”
How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.”
I got out at about six this morning and placed the Star of David on the north column of my front porch. It now waves proudly in the hot Kansas wind, letting everyone who passes by 919 Neosho where I stand in this conflict. It’s only a symbolic gesture, I realize, but it expresses what I’ve felt ever since Hezbollah and Hamas attacked Israel. I also realize that in many ways I’m far from this conflict, but yet not so far that it hasn’t stirred my emotions and feelings for the people of Israel. In much the same way John F. Kennedy expressed his solidarity with the people of Berlin in 1963, I, in some small way, am expressing my solidarity with the good people of Israel today.
The Star of David will fly here until Israel has won the victory.
Recently the Jerusalem Post made the following observation about Israel’s battle against terror:
“The near-miraculous turnabout in June 1967, when Israel went from being on the brink of destruction to total victory over multiple Arab armies, inspired Jews the world over – particularly Soviet Jews, who discovered their dormant identity and viewed Israel’s history as a blow to their oppressors.”
“Our refusal to be cowed by Hezbollah’s missiles, and our attempt to destroy Iran’s external terrorist arm, should inspire the international community to similar acts of courage.”
“In recent years, Israeli courage and decisiveness has, paradoxically, mainly been channeled into territorial withdrawal. Now we are displaying a more classic type of fearlessness, which is showing signs of greatly improving our military and diplomatic position.”
One of the things that’s very clear to me in this conflict is that Israel’s battle should also be ours. The free world needs to do much more in support of this just cause. Clamoring for unilateral cease fires or using them as a surrogate to do the dirty work is not enough. As Israeli peace activist Ami Isseroff noted yesterday:
“There is not the slightest chance of making these groups “peace partners.” The only “dialogue” they will engage in is a dialogue on how to meet their demands: annihilation of Israel.”
“Hamas and Hezbollah insist on wiping out Israel by force. Their “grievances” are the existence of Israel and of a peace process. While they exist, there can be no peace.”
“Unless these groups are stopped, there is no chance that moderate forces will be empowered in Middle East. Their success, and the international legitimacy that is granted to them, will be the inspiration for similar tactics all over the Middle East, and will lead to many more “generic wars.” However, it appears increasingly doubtful that Israel alone can stop the Hezbollah. Stopping the Hezbollah requires a determined international effort. Iran and its allies have mobilized a massive and vociferous campaign to bring about a cease fire under terms that would leave the Hezbollah intact and force Israel and Lebanon to surrender to continued Hezbollah extortion.”
Israel has taken a stand against terror. They’ve taken their harps down from the willow trees. It’s now time for my country and the international community to do likewise. The world must see that this confrontation with evil and terror is not Israel’s alone; the battle is ours as well as theirs. While symbolic expressions of support are important, the need for the world to put hands and feet to its prayers and gestures has come!
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