Theos-Talk Archives (May 2002 Message tt00123)

leonmaurer@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 05/10/02 12:16:11 PM, bartl@sprynet.com writes:
> 
> > From a Roman point of view, the Jews and the Jewish cult of the Failed
> >Messiah (later to become Christianity) were terrorists (of course, one
> >must remember that, until the last half century or so, terrorists tended
> >to stick towards military, industrial, and governmental targets, as
> >attacking civilian targets is ultimately self-defeating). I probably
> >should not have said "only fault." The real point is that Nero was not
> >the monster that he has been painted as by history. His targeting of the
> >Jews/Christians was not due to irrational hatred or calculating
> >scapegoating, but due to his attempts to protect his empire.
> 
> Does that make it any the less reprehensible? Or is this just another
> justification of bigotry and hatred of those who upset materialistic
> applecarts? 

It is hard to say. What is the moral responsibility of someone who does
not know any better, never had any opportunity to learn any better, and
truly believes that they are doing the moral and correct thing, but
which, by most current standards, is reprehensible? Material
responsibility is much easier.

> Could it also be that from the Hebrew-Christian viewpoint, the
> Roman persecutors at the command of Nero were the real "terrorists"? 

Not terrorists, but tyrants. 

> Could
> It also be true, as you say, that their "attacking civilian targets" was what
> ultimately led to the fall of the Empire? 

I think the Goths and the Vandals had SOMETHING to do with it. One
theory that I happen to like is that the multigenerational use of lead
plates and plumbing among the upper classes had something to do with it,
too.

> I wonder how that situation
> compares to what is going on in Israel today, and what happened to the
> terrorizing Empire of the Third Reich? 

I have an interesting question about the situation in Israel today.
When Jordan was occupying the West Bank, Syria the Golan Heights, and
Egypt was occupying the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians were far more
oppressed under those regimes than they were or are under Israel
occupation. Yet, their terrorist activities were directed not against
their oppressors, but Israel. This was the major motivation behind
Israel's occupation of those territories; to be in a position where they
could take action against the terrorists. So, if the motivation of the
Palestinian terrorists is the oppression due to the Israeli occupation,
then what was their motive BEFORE the Israeli occupation, when they were
being oppressed by Jordan, Syria, and Egypt?

> to do about it -- as a consciously aware, wise (but not too "smart" :-) and
> active group working toward peace and brotherhood -- instead of constant
> bickering with each other over matters of personal opinion.

One problem in the Middle East is the differing goals of the parties
involved. Israel wants to continue to exist, and the powers that be
among the Palestinians will settle for nothing less than the destruction
of Israel. It would be very easy to just give up Israel, except for the
minor problem that Israel has a nuclear "spoilsport" system, and if
they're backs are against the wall, they will feel forced to use it.

Bart Lidofsky