Thank you for one of the most cogent thought out responses that I've heard or read. I agree 100%. An I for an eye and a tooth for a tooth makes us all blind and toothless.
explanation on is, and isn't, happening in this story. We can be so thankful for a deliberate, restrained, thoughtful and mature President like Biden.
As someone close to his age, I can attest to the fact that, as we mature, we are more careful in our decisions. Our past experiences inform us that we must consider all the ramifications of our decisions. As we calm down and look at the whole picture or situation, what actions we decide to take are usually wiser and less inflammatory than they might have been had we acted in haste.
You put it very powerfully and your message is a very effective carrier of the power you point to. One by one we will leave war behind as beyond useless to what the world needs now. Thank you for this!
How right you are, Elliot, leaving your emotions to a good night's sleep often resolves the situation, I'm afraid Netanyahu is just a younger, smarter, wilier Trump. He emotes first and thinks later. He is as bad for Israel as Trump is for us. And, like Trump, he'll do anything to stay out of jail.
I was watching PBS last night with the Iron Dome on full display and drones being shot down outside when it occurred to me that this has been my whole life. I was born 3 months before Hitler invaded Poland. My father was a late conscript ( he had 2 children) and was supposed to go to Japan but the bomb ended that so he was sent to Germany for a year. I was 12 when The Korean War broke out and
then then I married a boy who was on active duty and then there was Vietnam with all the lies and madness, and then Grenada and the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan and a few minor skirmishes like Cuba and Panama. Then Ukraine and now Israel. I am so sick of this ! When I watched last night it was with a feeling of doom. I will go out as I came in. No one has really learned anything at all my whole long life through. No one wins anything.
Joan, I know what you mean. My grandfather fought in WWI, my father drove a tank that liberated Dachau, my husband fought in Vietnam, two uncles fought in Korea, and my nephew fought in Iran and Afghanistan. They all came back more than they were , and less than they could have been. All family members also suffered from the horrors of war. Yet, as time has gone on, I feel like I have lived multiple lives, I remember when some didn’t want to invest in a TV because surely it was a passing fade, now we have AI and quantum computers. Sometimes I catch myself missing parts of the past, but then I consider the many things that are better. Rather than wishing for the past, I hope I am looking forward to what my next decade of life will be.
VS Iran conflict I took issue with the characterization of the Iranians as terrorists and the Israelis as legitimate defenders.
My reasoning? To the West Iran is evil, their military is illegitimate they are terrorists. But Israel attacked one of Irans embassies and killed seven people. Isn’t Israel bombing an embassy a terrorist attack? Does the fact that it was an enemy of Israel justify it? Is it only terrorism if the act is done by an enemy of the other side. Who then determines the righteousness of heinous acts of war.
Iran says we are the righteous we must fight, we must kill the evil “other” side no matter what it takes. Israel says no we are the righteous, you are the evil that we must destroy.
Do I like the way Iran brutalizes their own people who don’t tow the party line? Of course not. Do I think that Israel is justified in the murder of over 33,000 citizens, predominately women and children? Hell no! But do we try to destroy what we find despicable by joining the fray?
In the animal kingdom people are the most dangerous. We don’t have claws or sharp teeth, we have something far more dangerous. Our minds. We have the ability to create incredible beauty, to solve suffering, to ponder the universe. We have split the atom and reigned down hell in Japan. The world’s superpowers have enough atomic weapons to completely annihilate our beautiful planet.
Our minds are our greatest gift and our most dangerous asset.
Ponder, think, set aside, and think again before reacting.
Good morning Elliot. After reading by chance your column proceeding the delightful lesson on magnolia trees, I became a subscriber. However, after reading today’s offering, I’m getting a little nervous. Are you actually psychic? Today’s email brought your comments on restraint. Quite recently daily events, both worldwide and locally, have forced me for sake of my sanity to stop reading any and all rants against the Orange Man, including dear Robert Reich. I’m now resorting to the ancient custom found in Africa, North America, and probably elsewhere: the talking stick. I was astounded to find many examples in Amazon for goodness sake. Thus when I hold the stick I talk and then I pass it on and whoever is at the other end, their chance. It’s working beautifully for me. I am now handing the stick back to you with gratitude for your wit,humor,basic common sense and more 🙏❤️
Once again Elliot, your piece shows the depth of your thinking as you share your wisdom. In the Middle East, all sides must show restraint so we don’t slide into a deeper conflict. President Joe Biden projects great strength through his restraint and I hope his actions are infectious.
A huge thank you for today’s “power of restraint” it is exactly what I thought when the news broke.we wouldn’t have been here if Israel hadn’t bombed the embassy. So all in all I think things could have been much worse in the Iran response.
I like the reference to "never sent or signed" by my favorite President. Also, I have often thought of the song Let It Be by the Beatles to remind myself of the value of restraint.
Your message reminds me of a quote from Gandhi: “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” How we feel is important, but ultimately peace is not about how we feel. Peace is what we do.
I hope the Biden Administration is not merely giving advice to the Israeli government but also giving the subtle messages that conditions will be imposed on the use of future weapons deliveries if the advice Is ignored . I totally agree with your point about restraint. I suggest that it is imperative for both Israel and Iran to heed it.
Thank you for today's posting. Forbearance is a powerful and liberating skill. Any person or nation that can exercise restraint has left all options still open and they are still able to gather new information, insight, understanding; new perspectives. We all need this skill! Thank you.
Thank you for one of the most cogent thought out responses that I've heard or read. I agree 100%. An I for an eye and a tooth for a tooth makes us all blind and toothless.
I agree!
Beautiful Dan. Thanks
Thanks for another thoughtful
explanation on is, and isn't, happening in this story. We can be so thankful for a deliberate, restrained, thoughtful and mature President like Biden.
As someone close to his age, I can attest to the fact that, as we mature, we are more careful in our decisions. Our past experiences inform us that we must consider all the ramifications of our decisions. As we calm down and look at the whole picture or situation, what actions we decide to take are usually wiser and less inflammatory than they might have been had we acted in haste.
My respect for Biden just keeps growing.
Same here… from one who’s only 4 years younger than he. Wisdom usually does come with age.
Well said. I shudder to think what would have occurred if this conflict happened under Trump's watch.
You put it very powerfully and your message is a very effective carrier of the power you point to. One by one we will leave war behind as beyond useless to what the world needs now. Thank you for this!
Very thoughtful essay, at a time that we may not want to hear it but we need it. Thank you.
How right you are, Elliot, leaving your emotions to a good night's sleep often resolves the situation, I'm afraid Netanyahu is just a younger, smarter, wilier Trump. He emotes first and thinks later. He is as bad for Israel as Trump is for us. And, like Trump, he'll do anything to stay out of jail.
I was watching PBS last night with the Iron Dome on full display and drones being shot down outside when it occurred to me that this has been my whole life. I was born 3 months before Hitler invaded Poland. My father was a late conscript ( he had 2 children) and was supposed to go to Japan but the bomb ended that so he was sent to Germany for a year. I was 12 when The Korean War broke out and
then then I married a boy who was on active duty and then there was Vietnam with all the lies and madness, and then Grenada and the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan and a few minor skirmishes like Cuba and Panama. Then Ukraine and now Israel. I am so sick of this ! When I watched last night it was with a feeling of doom. I will go out as I came in. No one has really learned anything at all my whole long life through. No one wins anything.
Joan, I know what you mean. My grandfather fought in WWI, my father drove a tank that liberated Dachau, my husband fought in Vietnam, two uncles fought in Korea, and my nephew fought in Iran and Afghanistan. They all came back more than they were , and less than they could have been. All family members also suffered from the horrors of war. Yet, as time has gone on, I feel like I have lived multiple lives, I remember when some didn’t want to invest in a TV because surely it was a passing fade, now we have AI and quantum computers. Sometimes I catch myself missing parts of the past, but then I consider the many things that are better. Rather than wishing for the past, I hope I am looking forward to what my next decade of life will be.
In a Washington Post article about the Israel
VS Iran conflict I took issue with the characterization of the Iranians as terrorists and the Israelis as legitimate defenders.
My reasoning? To the West Iran is evil, their military is illegitimate they are terrorists. But Israel attacked one of Irans embassies and killed seven people. Isn’t Israel bombing an embassy a terrorist attack? Does the fact that it was an enemy of Israel justify it? Is it only terrorism if the act is done by an enemy of the other side. Who then determines the righteousness of heinous acts of war.
Iran says we are the righteous we must fight, we must kill the evil “other” side no matter what it takes. Israel says no we are the righteous, you are the evil that we must destroy.
Do I like the way Iran brutalizes their own people who don’t tow the party line? Of course not. Do I think that Israel is justified in the murder of over 33,000 citizens, predominately women and children? Hell no! But do we try to destroy what we find despicable by joining the fray?
In the animal kingdom people are the most dangerous. We don’t have claws or sharp teeth, we have something far more dangerous. Our minds. We have the ability to create incredible beauty, to solve suffering, to ponder the universe. We have split the atom and reigned down hell in Japan. The world’s superpowers have enough atomic weapons to completely annihilate our beautiful planet.
Our minds are our greatest gift and our most dangerous asset.
Ponder, think, set aside, and think again before reacting.
Thanks Elliot, you did it again.
I agree. We will either learn to live together and save this planet or we will cause our own extinction. Only time will tell.
Good morning Elliot. After reading by chance your column proceeding the delightful lesson on magnolia trees, I became a subscriber. However, after reading today’s offering, I’m getting a little nervous. Are you actually psychic? Today’s email brought your comments on restraint. Quite recently daily events, both worldwide and locally, have forced me for sake of my sanity to stop reading any and all rants against the Orange Man, including dear Robert Reich. I’m now resorting to the ancient custom found in Africa, North America, and probably elsewhere: the talking stick. I was astounded to find many examples in Amazon for goodness sake. Thus when I hold the stick I talk and then I pass it on and whoever is at the other end, their chance. It’s working beautifully for me. I am now handing the stick back to you with gratitude for your wit,humor,basic common sense and more 🙏❤️
Once again Elliot, your piece shows the depth of your thinking as you share your wisdom. In the Middle East, all sides must show restraint so we don’t slide into a deeper conflict. President Joe Biden projects great strength through his restraint and I hope his actions are infectious.
A huge thank you for today’s “power of restraint” it is exactly what I thought when the news broke.we wouldn’t have been here if Israel hadn’t bombed the embassy. So all in all I think things could have been much worse in the Iran response.
Yes, perfect and so thoughtfully stated. Thank you so much!
…… and here in the UK we’d agree with that.
War is for sissies. Restraint for the courageous. Thanks. That was a refreshing read
I like the reference to "never sent or signed" by my favorite President. Also, I have often thought of the song Let It Be by the Beatles to remind myself of the value of restraint.
Your message reminds me of a quote from Gandhi: “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” How we feel is important, but ultimately peace is not about how we feel. Peace is what we do.
I hope the Biden Administration is not merely giving advice to the Israeli government but also giving the subtle messages that conditions will be imposed on the use of future weapons deliveries if the advice Is ignored . I totally agree with your point about restraint. I suggest that it is imperative for both Israel and Iran to heed it.
Thank you for today's posting. Forbearance is a powerful and liberating skill. Any person or nation that can exercise restraint has left all options still open and they are still able to gather new information, insight, understanding; new perspectives. We all need this skill! Thank you.