I'll Buy Your Children [WSJ Letter Mentioned by Rush]

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Wednesday, June 26, 2002 | Scott Miller

[TroutStalker]

I want to buy your children. As I understand it, you have seven children still alive (your son Mahmoud killed himself, I'm sorry to hear). I'll offer more than Saddam Hussein has offered; he'll pay $25,000 each, if they are willing to turn themselves into human bombs, but I'll pay $30,000 each.

[martin_fierro]

Excellent article.

[JulieRNR21]

Excellent! Thanks for posting. This brilliant letter really says it all.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Joliet Jake?



BTW, that is an excellent article, certainly makes the point, doesn't it?

[Bahbah]

Mr. Miller in Atlanta is one super guy.

[McGavin999]

That letter gave me chills. You can hear the sincerity. What a difference there is between the voice of love and the voice of hate. Nobody can tell me that all Palestinians are willing to kill their children. To those who are not, I sincerely hope they hear this voice of tremendous love this man has shouted out to be heard above the destruction and dispair that is being peddeled to them by those who worship death.

[sanchmo]

BIG bump

[MoJo2001]

BTTT!!

[Defiant]

I appreciate the sentiment, and Scott Miller is quite a guy, but the fact is, their kids are not worth $25,000. They are damaged goods. If we had to pay $25,000 for each potential Palestinian suicide bomber kid, we'd go bankrupt. I'd rather pay far less, and carve out a homeland for them in the desert somewhere.

[BibChr]

Okayfine, I'll be the lone dissenter.

I do find it a stirring letter, arresting, impressive essay, and a heart-warming offer.

But it does also give example of and unintentionally identify a weakness which is also America's weakness in this war. Here it is. Some of you will see it right off, others will find it offensive and terrifying, but it will stand regardless:

It attempts to oppose and conquer SOMETHING with NOTHING

The writer says, "I want your children to stop being Islamists. I have no compelling truth-system to replace what they will leave — maybe they'll be Christians, Buddhists, athiests, I don't care — but I just want them to leave what you all are so devoted to that death is no obstacle to you."

It's only half the deal. We're a spiritually and morally bankrupt and clueless nation, fighting with people who are dead-wrong, but committed to a belief-system. To their something, we bring nothing -- but weapons.

We'd better pray that's enough.

But in the long run, it won't be.

Dan
Biblical Christianity message board

[Defend the Second]

You are probably correct that paying for the children will be expensive. However, there is no way a "Palestinian homeland" will ever be anything but a) a huge welfare case, primarily paid for by us, and b) a launching pad for more terrorists. I say no Palestinian state ever as long as they exist only to kill Israelis. Since that is the reason the Palestinian cause exists, then no Palestinian state ever. Sorry, G.W., but you rewarded terrorism big time.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Yes, he is! Kudos to Mr. Miller! God bless him!

[Miss Marple]

Personally, Dan, I think the reason the letter writer phrased it the way he did was to show the difference betweeen a culture that values life and one that values death. I also think Mr. Miller is sincere.

[Defiant]

OK, you're right, they don't deserve a state. They will need to be resettled elsewhere, however, and that will be messy. Can you imagine going into the cities to round up the Palestinians so they can be herded into trucks, and transported to Sinai, or Jordan, or the Arabian peninsula? That will keep the jew-haters in hysterics for years.

[valkyrieanne]

God love him.

[TADSLOS]

I want to buy them away from the god of death you worship. Perhaps I can help them convert to traditional Islam, a religion that abhors murder and suicide

An otherwise excellent letter except for the insinuation that "traditional" Islam is somehow a better choice. I fail to see the distinction of the two or the outcry by "traditional" muslims to cease using their religion as a foundation of terror.