My Turn: Why we stand with Israel
Among the nations in the Middle East there is one democracy — one country that respects the rule of law and acknowledges basic human rights. There is one small island of humanity formed by legitimate legal processes and established by international law that is recognized by every other democratic nation in the world. Since formation on May 14, 1948 this tiny nation of just nine million people has been surrounded by a boiling cauldron of hatred and evil that has promised to destroy it and slaughter its people. Those who oppose Israel and promise to eradicate it are pariahs. A few are recognized nations like Iran, but they are not democracies. They allocate basic human rights based on gender or status that honors an elderly religious fanatic while incarcerating, torturing and murdering an accomplished young woman who dared to show her hair in public.
Sadly, many young Americans side with Israel’s opponents. They lack perspective and an understanding of the nation’s history, its core values, and, more importantly, the evil that opposes it. To be a young person in Israel today is little different from being a young man or woman in America. Israel is not only a democratic nation, but its citizens also benefit from a capitalist, free market economy like that in the United States. Entrepreneurs are free to establish businesses. Home ownership and freedom of choice regarding professional pursuits are available to everyone as they are in America. Leaders are elected in free elections. None of this applies in the lands ruled by Israel’s fiercest enemies.
Those who are ambivalent toward or even supportive of Israel’s enemies site Israel’s posture toward their Palestinian and Arab neighbors. They are wrong. Arabs and Palestinians who live peacefully and work productively in Israel enjoy the same privileges as other citizens. But when Hamas attacks Israel as they have recently and frequently over the past twenty years, Israel must act to protect its people and nation. There is not a single act of violence against Palestinians or Arabs taken by the government of Israel that has not been in direst retaliation to acts of violence by Hamas or Hezbollah or its legion of zealots. Israel has never thrown the first punch.
To my young friends, I offer this suggestion. Read the history of the formation of Israel. Understand the motivations of the misguided and misinformed zealots who vow to destroy it. Examine the hearts of those who attack and the courage of those who defend their country. Talk to women who have escaped the religious zealotry and violence of oppressive Middle East theocracies. Compare life in Israel with life in Iran or Afghanistan or even Saudi Arabia. America stands with Israel because Israel is a legitimately established nation, a democracy, and an ally. We are overwhelmingly united in this position. In a diverse nation like ours we can never reach 100% agreement on anything. But the right position is unwavering support of Israel and the absolute defeat of her enemies.
Michael K. McMahan is a resident of Gastonia.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: My Turn: Why we stand with Israel
