Random Tolerance Stuff
The problem is that the Haradis in this instance are the ones not being tolerant -- I mean, spitting on a woman for dressing slightly differently than they would like or segregating buses because they're taking advantage of the situation. I could make this point akin (although this example is a bit extreme compared to the Haradis, but I have no better examples atm) to saying that you should have been tolerant to the views of the KKK in the early- to mid-1900s because they are entitled to their own view of life and condemning them is wrong, despite the fact that allowing them to exist ultimately leads to more intolerance. Making informed and fair judgments about a group of people based on their actions and beliefs is not wrong -- you can't paint all such judgments with such a broad brush and call it intolerence, because sometimes it's just a simple combination of logic and personal morality.
I think, reading this article, that it's obvious that Israel feels great pressure to stay unified under the threat of common extinction by the hands of Iran, and the more radical sects to impose their vision of what Israel should be. It's the same old song and dance that's been done for...well, forever, like when a country goes under martial law in times of crises. You could point to hundreds of books and movies that address this same issue: Fear drives many people to compromise their own beliefs in favor of what they think will ensure their survival, and while they may personally be against the series of events, they dare not speak out against it. And once the sects get in charge, they also get the power of authority on their side. I bet the government backs them simply because they think they'll anger their constituents if they don't or will look like they don't support the Torah or something akin to that. It's a bit of a vicious self-sustaining cycle.
I hardly believe that most Isrealis agree with segregation and spitting on 8-year-olds, but Cocaine hinted at their viewpoint -- they feel like they can't overthrow the current religious regime because a civil war (or hell, even a civil conflict) will be the sign of weakness that ultimately leads to the end of the Jewish state. And if you think I'm wrong, look at that first article...how many anonymous quotes are in there, despite the fact that what they said is hardly controversial?
Realistically, it may be entirely possible that the Islamic states that want Israel to disappear off the map could win without even declaring direct war with the country. The threat of destruction may cause the state to rot and crumble from within if the Isrealis aren't careful -- and no military support from countries like America can prevent that from happening; only the Isreali people themselves can.
Of course, maybe I'm just blowing this out of propotion. It's hard to make a truly informed decision without actually being there.
Edited by Kngt_Of_Titania, 30 December 2011 - 10:32 PM.
