The Blame Game

Where do I even start with this? Americans blame Usama bin Ladin for the World Trade Center attacks. They blame fundamentalist Islamics who have completely desecrated the core religious values of Islam. They blame the CIA for getting involved in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1990s. They blame the policies of the US in the Middle East, especially towards Israel. They blame the US and its lack of an energy policy. They have only themselves to blame for not being more proactive in American democracy that depends on the votes of its electorate. The blame lies with those who think that others have made the decisions for them when they have chosen not to decide for themselves.

But, this is not about bashing the US for its faults and failures at international relations and American foreign policy. The US doesn't hold the monopoly on bad acts or on blame. There's plenty to go around.

Let's look at the Palestinians. They blame the US for meddling in the Middle East and taking sides with the Israelis against their national interests (despite the US claims that they were ready to announce that they would want a Palestinian state prior to the 9-11 attack). They blame Israel for existing on the same holy land that they themselves hold holy. One group they apparently don't blame are their fellow Arab brethren who have not found it in their hearts to extend homelands too. They have only themselves to blame for not choosing the difficult path to recognizing that they must seek peace by peaceful means. They also have only themselves to blame for not speaking out at others who use violence to further their goals or corrupt their religion.

Many in the Arab world blame the US for meddling in the region and corrupting the values of those living there. They see the US as an extension of the colonial era and the US is the last superpower standing. They blame the US for keeping them down even though they have always had the ability to pick themselves up and reach tremendous heights in the arts and sciences.

Now, Israel isn't blameless either. There are those that blame Israel for simply existing. They blame Israel for using too much force to keep Palestinians down. They blame Israel for continuing to maintain punishing sanctions that prevent Palestinians from getting jobs, money, and educations. Israel has done many things wrong, but existing isn't one of them. Every nation has a right to exist, no matter how the nation was created. It's a principle that has been tested in blood for hundreds of years. National sovereignty and protecting its citizenry are core values. Just don't go blaming Israel for the World Trade Center coming down because they had nothing to do with it.

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