Posted by
Maudie in Mandeville on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:00:45 PM
Dear President Obama,
My junior high school debate team would like to challenge you and your cabinet members to a closed circuit televised debate at our jr. high school. We came up with this idea after reading of your El-Arabiya television interview.
In it, you said that when it comes to Middle East matters, "all too often the United States starts by dictating". Instead, you had sent former Sen. George J. Mitchell on an eight-day trip to the region to talk to "all the major parties involved" and only after that would your administration craft an approach.
My classmates giggled when we read that. Even as young novices, we can only assume that every administration in history has spent at least eight days pondering subject matter and gathering information to present to their president. Will your dictating begin after your self-imposed eight day info gatherment?
To begin with, isn't it taking sides to grant the enemies of Israel the first interview? Isn't it taking sides when you suggested that Israel has hard choices to make and that your administration would press harder for it to do so? When you "press harder", isn't that dictating? Why nothing about pressing the Arabs? Isn't that rather one-sided?
"Israel has a right to exist" seems a rather moot point for beginning a dialogue until one realizes what the Jews are up against, but I guess you had to throw the secular Jews in Florida a bone, so I'll let it slide.
"We cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them" you stated. Then why gather the information? "They're going to have to make some decisions." Some? Who'll makes the others, Mr. President? Will they that make the other decisions for them, dictate those?
You added: "There are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side." Are there no Arabs who recognize peace is important? Is it only Israelis who will make the sacrifices? Why not even a mention about the other side?
As you know, in a Jr. High debate, one team takes one side of an issue and the other team takes the other. It's meaningless if you argue from the middle, it's like arguing with yourself. Luckily, it seems crystal clear whose side you'll take, Mr. President. We'll take the other.
Well, that's just a short critique of just one little article. Not bad for a group of 8th and 9th graders, wouldn't you say? Hope to hear from you in about eight days.