Jewish Identity Can't Depend on Violence

Arun Gandhi

Jewish identity in the past has been locked into
the holocaust experience -- a German burden that the Jews
have not been able to shed. It is a very good example of a
community can overplay a historic experience to the point
that it begins to repulse friends. The holocaust was the result
of the warped mind of an individual who was able to influence
his followers into doing something dreadful. But, it seems to
me the Jews today not only want the Germans to feel guilty
but the whole world must regret what happened to the Jews.
The world did feel sorry for the episode but when an individual
or a nation refuses to forgive and move on the regret turns into anger.

The Jewish identity in the future appears bleak.
Any nation that remains anchored to the past is unable
to move ahead and, especially a nation that believes its
survival can only be ensured by weapons and bombs.
In Tel Aviv in 2004 I had the opportunity to speak to
some Members of Parliament and Peace activists all of
whom argued that the wall and the military build-up
was necessary to protect the nation and the people.
In other words, I asked, you believe that you can
create a snake pit -- with many deadly snakes in it
-- and expect to live in the pit secure and alive?
What do you mean? they countered. Well, with
your superior weapons and armaments and your
attitude towards your neighbors would it not be
right to say that you are creating a snake pit?
How can anyone live peacefully in such an
atmosphere? Would it not be better to befriend
those who hate you? Can you not reach out and
share your technological advancement with your
neighbors and build a relationship?

Apparently, in the modern world, so determined
to live by the bomb, this is an alien concept. You
don't befriend anyone, you dominate them.
We have created a culture of violence
(Israel and the Jews are the biggest players)
and that Culture of Violence is eventually
going to destroy humanity.