Abused partners in a relationship act this way. The abuser makes threats, acts thin skinned, has a fit over minor and unimportant things, and the victim responds with an apology and a plea for understanding.
As long as we know our role in this drama, we’re all right. Until the day the abuser decides to finally go the distance and kill the victim.
Hanson's observation reminds me of a galling and comical illustration of it by John "Cougar" Mellencamp shortly after 911. The singer-songwriter-political guru told his fellow Americans that we must regard Osama as our "little brother who made a mistake." He needs love, Mellencamp averred, not discipline.
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Links: FR Index of his articles: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson
His website: http://victorhanson.com/
NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp
Pajamasmedia: http://victordavishanson.pajamasmedia.com/
I was busy and did not ping in-time to these Hanson's articles - see if you've read them
Revisionism and The Iranian Non-Bomb
NRO ^ | 12-3-07 | Victor Davis Hanson
Posted on 12/04/2007 2:35:23 PM EST by rightinthemiddleThe Looking-Glass War in Iraq
NRO ^ | 30 nov 07 | Victor Davis Hanson
Posted on 11/30/2007 8:20:39 AM EST by rellimpankA Few Good People(Victor Davis Hanson)
realclearpolitics.com ^ | November 29, 2007 | Victor Davis Hanson
Posted on 11/29/2007 10:55:16 AM EST by kellynlaGood-Guy Tour
NRO ^ | 29 nov 07 | Victor Davis Hanson
Posted on 11/29/2007 8:55:53 AM EST by rellimpankOf Teddy Bears and Cartoons
NRO ^ | 06 dec 07 | Victor Davis Hanson
Posted on 12/06/2007 8:44:05 AM EST by rellimpank
Thanks to rellimpank, rightinthemiddle, neverdem and kellynla for pinging me.
Religion is involved, of course, but only as the cause of generating the grievance, not as the source of the violence. And grievances are easy to contrive where they do not exist in reality. The attempt to address "root causes" in this case is a wasted effort - should those be the focus of efforts at remediation more will be found. The real "root cause" here isn't the grievance, it is the success that results from violence. At a bare minimum that success must be denied, because if that doesn't work the only recourse will be violence in return. That cycle of violence can last for generations.
That's what is at stake here. Toleration of this bullying, negotiating at its behest, and placation of its grievants is not a safe course of action. It is a dangerous course of action because it blurs the threshold beyond which the killing becomes very difficult to stop.
Finally, someone really gets it.
“Weaning ourselves off imported oil and therefore the need to appease those who have it.”
YES