This is the best piece I've seen yet from Timothy Garton Ash, and has actually pulled less rabid hate-mongering than his usual writings. It's about how he believes that Europe should bear some responsibility for Middle Eastern conflict.
Even as we criticise the way the Israeli military are killing Lebanese civilians and UN monitors in the name of recovering Ehud Goldwasser (and destroying the military infrastructure of Hizbullah), we must remember that all of this would almost certainly not be happening if some Europeans had not attempted, a few decades back, to remove everyone called Goldwasser from the face of Europe - if not the earth.
Posted by pearce at July 28, 2006 11:44 AMWell, yes. Europe does bear some responsibility for the problems of Israel existance.
But how does that help?
Could the problem, perhaps, be solved if Europe finished the job properly this time? (Perhaps, by totally exterminating one of the two warring cultures in the region?)
Otherwise, I can't see how guilt about the past will help solve the problems of the present.
Posted by: Scott A at July 28, 2006 1:58 PMSeems simple to me:
If you accept partial responsibility for a problem, you're more likely to help to rectify the problem.
There's a collective shrug of the shoulders coming from Europe, along the lines of "These Middle Easterners are crazy! Oh well, it's not OUR problem."
Solving a problem always starts with wanting to solve it. You know?
Posted by: Joey at July 28, 2006 3:40 PMBtw, I dislike the word "guilt" in this context. I prefer "responsibility".
Guilt means saying "Wow, I'm so sorry." Responsibility means saying "Hey, what can I do to help?"
Posted by: Joey at July 28, 2006 3:41 PM