Dang! I was just going to write about it myself! :p
Seriously, I'm very glad you posted about it. You saved me the effort. I've been blogging about it all morning on my own blog, in between being glued to the TV watching the footage. And talking on the phone with the family, exchanging views etc.
It has been such an emotional roller coaster of a day. Few days in fact. This has been going on since the news broke last week. The country is turning schizophrenic, with conflicting emotions of delight and relief that Gilad is home free, and anger and fear at what the future holds with all those murderous terrorists back on the loose again. Not to mention what this might mean for Israel's deterrence into the future.
Contrary to the generally accepted rule, it IS possible to hold several conflicting feelings at once and to argue with oneself for days without coming to any definite conclusion.
Thanks for the update annie. I was sitting here wondering what you thought about the whole affair and I can certainly understand your conflicted thoughts and feelings.
A comment I read somewhere else today said something like, Shalit looks like a Holocaust survivor and the freed Palestinians look like they just came home from vacation.
Nasty Jews, fancy treating their prisoners with decency, humanity, medical care and enough food. Tsk tsk.
Your point is valid, Dances. But there's no math here I think. It's those who value individual life, and those who don't. Examples of the latter abound, surround and attempt to envelope us.
I'm so thankful that he survived his ordeal and is back in the arms of his family. He is so gaunt and appears to be very weak.
I can't help but notice the busload of "exchange people" looked healthy and well fed. But then, that's how an ethical and moral people treattheir captives...
The cartoon you've posted reflects what I said over on Professor Jacobson's blog yesterday. Less than 1/10th of 1% is is the value ratio for one terrorist versus an Israeli soldier.
As a former soldier and veteran of an ugly war, I feel strongly about that factor. I know there were vile persons released, but it's not as if there aren't thousands more of equally vile people that have not yet been captured. You can't raise the dead, but you can save the living.
Anyone who holds Shalit or Netanyehu responsible for any follow on tragedy should reflect on how they'd feel if they'd been captive for 5 years. Netanyehu's brother Jonathon (sic?) gave his life rescuing many, so I'm pretty sure Netanyehu feels the conflict of emotions, but also had the fortitude to do the right thing.
As a former solider I can't hold any other opinion. Whether it's the US Marine corps' practice of never leaving a marine behind if at all possible, or a battalion of 173rd Airborne's stubborn resistance when surrounded on Hill 875 at Dak To, losing roughly half their men, but holding on until relived by another battalion, it is all the same to me. I have to respect the creed that values the soldier highest.
I agree with you about saving one life, Ari. But I, too, feel conflicted.
And what really hurts my heart is the healing that Gilad Shalit will have to do - if he can. Not only will he need to heal from 5 years as a mistreated POW, with all the disgusting things done to POWs by terrorist organizations, but the survivor's guilt aspect is often more crippling than any physical wounds.
I just wanted to hug him, and I'll admit I busted into tears when I saw him come home. Relief he's home, illness over those who were released, and sadness over the road Shalit still has ahead of him. It would not be unusual within the realms of PTS for him to internalize future terrorist attacks. After everything he's been through, it would not be unusual for him to still carry that burden as well.
It's all just so... much. The road ahead is just so long. For everyone.
Dang! I was just going to write about it myself! :p
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm very glad you posted about it. You saved me the effort. I've been blogging about it all morning on my own blog, in between being glued to the TV watching the footage. And talking on the phone with the family, exchanging views etc.
It has been such an emotional roller coaster of a day. Few days in fact. This has been going on since the news broke last week. The country is turning schizophrenic, with conflicting emotions of delight and relief that Gilad is home free, and anger and fear at what the future holds with all those murderous terrorists back on the loose again. Not to mention what this might mean for Israel's deterrence into the future.
Contrary to the generally accepted rule, it IS possible to hold several conflicting feelings at once and to argue with oneself for days without coming to any definite conclusion.
If I may take the liberty, here are a couple of things I wrote about Gilad Shalit:
ReplyDeleteHere are all the items I've written about Gilad Shalit.
The one I found most interesting (because it had some "original" stuff I received by email) is the latest one: religious perspectives on the Shalit prisoner exchange.
Thanks for the update annie. I was sitting here wondering what you thought about the whole affair and I can certainly understand your conflicted thoughts and feelings.
ReplyDeleteGilad looks gaunt and weak. Seeing him brings tears to my eyes; I'm so glad he's home with his family.
ReplyDeleteI fear that the price of this young man's freedom will be brutal and bloody. Negotiating with terrorists never seems to have a good ending.
1047 convicted murderers and conspirators in exchange for the freedom of one innocent man.
ReplyDeleteThat's hard math, but I think it adds up in the end.
I only hope Israel does not have occasion to regret some of these releases.
A comment I read somewhere else today said something like, Shalit looks like a Holocaust survivor and the freed Palestinians look like they just came home from vacation.
ReplyDeleteNasty Jews, fancy treating their prisoners with decency, humanity, medical care and enough food. Tsk tsk.
Your point is valid, Dances. But there's no math here I think. It's those who value individual life, and those who don't. Examples of the latter abound, surround and attempt to envelope us.
ReplyDeleteI can't not be happy that Gilad is a free man tonight. But I can relate to the conflicted emotion that annie refers to in #1.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually somewhat surprised - I didn't think he'd ever get to go home, much less do so alive.
All I can say is that I hope it all works out.
I'm so thankful that he survived his ordeal and is back in the arms of his family. He is so gaunt and appears to be very weak.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but notice the busload of "exchange people" looked healthy and well fed. But then, that's how an ethical and moral people treattheir captives...
I see I said pretty much the same things as lady red and Fay - I need to read the comments first - then post a reply...
ReplyDeleteTalking of the maths of this deal, I found this apt cartoon on facebook. Hope the picture posts...
ReplyDeleteimgw:"https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296579_10150332133596272_511046271_8265600_571347822_n.jpg"
Annie ...
ReplyDeleteThe cartoon you've posted reflects what I said over on Professor Jacobson's blog yesterday. Less than 1/10th of 1% is is the value ratio for one terrorist versus an Israeli soldier.
As a former soldier and veteran of an ugly war, I feel strongly about that factor. I know there were vile persons released, but it's not as if there aren't thousands more of equally vile people that have not yet been captured. You can't raise the dead, but you can save the living.
Anyone who holds Shalit or Netanyehu responsible for any follow on tragedy should reflect on how they'd feel if they'd been captive for 5 years. Netanyehu's brother Jonathon (sic?) gave his life rescuing many, so I'm pretty sure Netanyehu feels the conflict of emotions, but also had the fortitude to do the right thing.
As a former solider I can't hold any other opinion. Whether it's the US Marine corps' practice of never leaving a marine behind if at all possible, or a battalion of 173rd Airborne's stubborn resistance when surrounded on Hill 875 at Dak To, losing roughly half their men, but holding on until relived by another battalion, it is all the same to me. I have to respect the creed that values the soldier highest.
I agree with you about saving one life, Ari. But I, too, feel conflicted.
ReplyDeleteAnd what really hurts my heart is the healing that Gilad Shalit will have to do - if he can. Not only will he need to heal from 5 years as a mistreated POW, with all the disgusting things done to POWs by terrorist organizations, but the survivor's guilt aspect is often more crippling than any physical wounds.
I just wanted to hug him, and I'll admit I busted into tears when I saw him come home. Relief he's home, illness over those who were released, and sadness over the road Shalit still has ahead of him. It would not be unusual within the realms of PTS for him to internalize future terrorist attacks. After everything he's been through, it would not be unusual for him to still carry that burden as well.
It's all just so... much. The road ahead is just so long. For everyone.