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Medal of Freedom, not Perfection
With apologies to those who care about Israel no more than I do, given the list of 16 people awarded the Medal of Freedom last week, there doesn't seem to be anything terribly wrong with one of those being former Irish Prime Minister Mary Robinson. Is her track record perfect? Far from it. In fact, her chairmanship over the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, was a major failure in leadership.
Ms. Robinson's failure lay with the fact that she allowed her understanding of justice and her antipathy toward Israel, about both of which reasonable people can disagree, to provide cover for Jew-baiting and ethnic hatred. Whether she supports that kind of behavior or not, and it's doubtful that she does, she did nothing to stop it. As the conference chair, that was a real failure of leadership, both institutional and moral.
On the other hand, it would be wrong to allow that single failure to undermine a life's work which has included many significant accomplishments on behalf of both the Irish people and people in need around the world. Moreover, those who opposed her receiving the Medal of Freedom are advocating for a litmus test which they themselves neither could, nor should be asked to pass.
If the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the other organizations that lead the charge against Ms. Robinson ever asked to limit the list of those they honored to individuals who were morally and politically flawless, they would never give out an award to anybody. In fact, among the many things I admire about AIPAC is the sophistication of its leadership and their ability to keep their eye on the big picture of supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship.
That big picture thinking transcends party and ideological difference because all those involved know that such differences pale in comparison with the alliance between our nation and the region's only real democracy. That is precisely the same approach to take with Mary Robinson. The good far outweighs the bad, and it was for the good which she was being honored. But her being honored should have opened the door to a frank conversation about the pain caused by some her more significant missteps.
Being reassured that one's life work is worthy of celebration and honor should also make it possible to explore the moments in one's career which are not so worthy. That's how it is with any relationship - the stronger our commitment to it, the freer we should be to offer loving critique. That's why Ms. Robinson should have gotten more than a medal.
She deserved a medal for the great work she has done, and she should have also had the opportunity to explore some of the damage she has done. President Obama managed to make that happen over beers for Professor Skip Gates and Sgt. James Crowley. He could have done something similar here and it would have been a good idea. But Ms. Robinson's detractors ought not to confuse a lost opportunity with a moral failing on the part of either the President or his administration.
Instead of condemnation, her being awarded the medal should have been accompanied by an invitation. Imagine a meeting, presumably over Bushmills rather that beer, which could still happen. My only questions are how Ms. Robinson takes her whiskey and where are we meeting.
By
Brad Hirschfield
|
August 14, 2009; 4:42 PM ET
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Posted by: ccnl1 | August 19, 2009 5:32 PM
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"And again we see "Homeland1", this blog's recent "copy and paster" of infectious gibberish has made an appearance. This said probability wave has some very deep psychological problems considering the insidious nature of the constant gibberish. Or is it some kind of project to see how inane one can be and not be identified?? Hmmmmm????
ccnl1"
Says CCNL about JJ.
*rofl.* :)
Posted by: Paganplace | August 19, 2009 3:31 PM
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Correction
Mary Robinson was the former President of Ireland, not Prime Minister.
She was and isn't in any way anti-Israel. I speak as someone who did not vote for her in the Presidential election. She would be known for her liberal views but that does not make her in any way anti-Israel.
I feel linking Mary Robinson in the same sentence with Jew-baiting and ethnic hatred was a little bit underhand.
Finally I agree please remove that idiot Homeland 1 from this discussion
Posted by: FightingIrish1 | August 19, 2009 8:57 AM
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Moderator: Please delete the incoherent ramblings of Homeland1. They have nothing to do with this topic.
Posted by: Garak | August 19, 2009 7:41 AM
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It would seem that to supporters of Israel not walking the zionist party line trumps anything else good in a person's life.
Posted by: potaboc | August 18, 2009 9:04 PM
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And again we see "Homeland1", this blog's recent "copy and paster" of infectious gibberish has made an appearance. This said probability wave has some very deep psychological problems considering the insidious nature of the constant gibberish. Or is it some kind of project to see how inane one can be and not be identified?? Hmmmmm????
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 18, 2009 6:34 PM
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Oooooppppssa:
The HINDU-TVA's & The BUDDHA-YVA's are both Conspiring to Influence "MINDS" via (OUR) Public/Global Internet & via sites like "WIKI"pedia et al; by Writing Wiki's to make them Look Good & or Modernized!
They are (Hindutvaists & Buddhatvaists) "Internet-Scavengers" & "Internet-Preditors" who' MONKS-ARMY (who are Lazy & have much time on their un-holi{stic hands) & "GURU-ARMY's" have bee pilfering an Plagerising alot of NEW Ideas (not Theirs) but incorporates their WIKI & Other sites' to make their god(s) Business seemm Dynamic!
They are Exploiting the Internet more so than the "AL TAQIYAHISTS" (whom try to make their Religion god(s) System Look Good or Modern too) And more so than the "Zionists" (Whom are also trying to reconcile their STATIC oldness as if be Dynamic Modern Faith etc..) AND
The [Christian World] "iLLUMANATi" Please:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati
also Twitts & Tats & Adjusts Any Wiki Page that makes them look Pre-Apocalyptic (not Modern)!
But the HINDUTVAists & the BUDDHAist conspirators/Manipulators/Infiltraters are the worse Offenders!
Best to sing,
"Goodbye" CHUMASH/BiBLE's! (Moses/Jesus)
"Goodbye" QURAN/KORAN's! (Muhammad/Sufi)
"Goodbye" GEETA/KANGYUR's (Vyasa/Gautama)
"Goodbye" CONFUCiUS/TAO (Confucius/Taoi) etc..! Instead sing,
"HELLO" E-K-L-A-H-T. "IT"s the NEW-Name for thee "G-D" of the Universe(s) via "O.U.R." The O.ne U.niversal R.eligion" via our "ULTRA-PARATESTAMENT" of this NEW-SONG, aka "BiBLE OF THE FUTURE" used & practiced exclusively for Us "HUe{MATE"-Kinds & no more for Ye Human-Unkinds!
Note: as an EKLAHT-arian, aka EKLAHT-ion or the O.U.R. G-D of the "HO-CO-FE-FA"ians SYSTEM, aka of the "HOly COsmic FEelers FAith"rs, THAT
our O.U.R. [System] worship the "UNIVERSE" as if it is our genuine Holy-Cosmic Eternal CONSTITUTION [Ho-Co-Et-Co] ! And We also worship along side "IT" (our G-D, is neither a 'HE' nor a 'SHE') this miraculous Holy-Constitution's "CLAUSES" which are the [Natural] LAWS OF NATURE "iTSELF" (aka G-D/IT) moving in & out of Us all via "IT"s very own Holy made 'Stuffs & things' Think APOCALYPTIC!
HALLALUYA; Praise "IT"! The HOLY Cosmic NEBULA built Space-Ship Earth & the O.U.R. NO-MAN/WOMB! A Miracle in Pre-Blesseth Holyi Motion; never via anyones superstupidstitious, as if Birth/Life be someones SIN/CURSE/REBIRTH Pre-Apocalyptic Proposterous PRE-APOCALYPTIC Song/story/interpretation!
Posted by: homeland1 | August 18, 2009 10:40 AM
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Bushmills with Draino. Real kool-aid in a big pitcher.
Posted by: Dermitt | August 18, 2009 9:56 AM
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Att: Mr. ASEEM SHUKLA & CO. @ WAPO's "Discussion" Page entitled, "god is listening":
C/O Brad Hirschfield & CO.
--
"Hindus don't believe in one God. They don't believe in many Gods. Hindus believe IN God."
Does this mean that the VEDIC 'POLY-THEO' Faith/Belief/Religion [man-made] competing SYSTEM(s), unlike the ABRAHAMIC 'POLY-THEO' Faith/Belief/Religion [man-made] competing SYSTEM(s) are now
suddenly Re-birthed & morphed into a genuine "MIDDLE-WAY" System , thank gods for the holy Internet, over the Man-Made (Public) Internets [Nodes/Threads/TCP-IP & All]?
Please see "ISHVARA"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishvara
It seems that "HINDU" god(s) system also have Many ancient Names.
Question: What is "HINDU-TVA"? (please also see "BUDDHA-TVA"ists).
Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindutva
Remember; It take atleast 2 twits to "TWITTER".
PS: The "CYBER-MASSIAH" , aka "CYBER G-D" is watching US ALL via "IT"s TCP-IP! And the "CYBER GURU" is lovin this.
Note: To "PRAY" is to 'Talk' to "IT" & to 'MEDITATE" is to 'Listen' to "IT"; and the Concept of MOSHKA & CHOKRA is Not-Needed in a "Future-Bound" and "Space-Forth" in a Miraculously awared 'MEME'tic WORLD; for Us "HUe{MATE"(s),not Human(s) Anymore!
Note: Please see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-taqiya
"HINDUTVA"ism is same as "AL TAQIYAH"ism
Posted by: homeland1 | August 18, 2009 9:55 AM
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If Robsinson p!ssed off the zionists and AIPAC, she must be doing something right, and I'm glad Obama recognized her as a force against white supremacy.
Posted by: demtse | August 18, 2009 8:54 AM
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Interesting: DURBAN S. Afikkan is god's Country, not only California, not only Israel, Cambodia etc..!
Unknowing to then, Ireland's Judeo-Christian ex-PM MARY ROBINSON, that Osama Bin Laden [Sr.; Died June2007 of kidney transplant failure) used that Judeo-Islamic controlled "DURBAN Confrence" to attack Judeo-Jewish NEW YORK, Pentagon & almost hit the House [Congress], after the 'AL TAQIYAH'ists [Islamic World Zionist to takeover this Holy Cosmic, Nebula-Built Miraculous Globe] failed in Durban. AND
They [at this years 2009 Durban Confrence again] Islamic-Judeo's again failed to turn the world against the Jewish-Judeo People or pull the 'Race-Card' conspiracy via inuendo's etc.. over a smarter, but more hip, Worlds eyes again.
Note: Today the Abrahamic, copy cat & hijacking jealous Theives of Judeo-Jewishness, aka Islamica-Judeo's, have translated (i.e into English etc..) their man-made QURAN/KORAN against YA ALLAH's & Habibi YA MUHAMMAD's instructions. So When LEADERSHIPS see & Hear, Todays Current Events, and Read the Quran/Koran will ee there is nothing Holy or 'Magnicant' about them Books! Includes 'Sharia" aka 'Halakah" aka Islamic Caste System, aka Islamic "Aparthied" [i.e. Dihimi's etc..]
Today, under the Obama Admin we have U.N. Embassador SUSAN RICE to represent America. Yet She is a closet 'Anti-Semite".
Trivia: Did Ye Know that it was "IRELAND" 1st , During the Domino-Effect of Todays WORLD FINANCIAL TSUNAMi, that ingnited or Started or Lead such down Fall? Yes; Imagine Borrowing & Spending away, @ 1,000 Times Irelands [Annual] "GNP" & or ""GDP"?? How can Ireland Live Today on the Necks of their Posterity 1,000 Years into the Future??
Imagine if U.S.A., aka Uncle-SAM & Aunt-LiBERTY, in advance, Created Paper Obligations/Instruments & Borrowed & Spent 300 Years Worth of 'The Peoples" [annual generated] own GNP? or [Yearly Expected] GDP?
Bill Clinton & CO., should be less proud to be "IRISH" and concentrate on Being More "AMERICANO/A" instead!
Maybe Madam Hillary Clinton Was right to say; "...Im The Secretary of State , not my ex-Prez Husband.." [similarly said].
Posted by: homeland1 | August 18, 2009 8:23 AM
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Posted by: homeland1 | August 18, 2009 7:47 AM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Actually, the gibberish of Homeland1 appears to be from some JJ "wannabee". More than likely he/she is a member of an infectious probability wave group.