See this page for links to articles on OpEdNEws that articulate both sides on the issues in the middle east. It is the goal of OpEdNews to air opinions from both sides to stretch the envelope of discussion and communication. Hate statements are not accepted. Discussions of issues and new ideas for solutions are encouraged. .In a gesture of "good faith", Rice delivers blankets to Lebanon. This gesture reminded me of another gesture of good faith that occurred in America in the summer of 1763 during the Pontiac Rebellion. This gesture is documented in general Amherst's letters to Captain Ecuyer at Fort Pitt.
The commander encouraged the distribution of blankets to the Ottawa Indians. There was just one little problem with the blankets: the Fort had just dealt with an outbreak of smallpox.
Afterwards, these contaminated blankets were given to the Indians in a gesture of good faith. Documented in his letters, General Amherst sentiments were, in his own words, "...their Total Extirpation is scarce sufficient Atonement....".
My question is, Could Rice's symbolic gesture in fact represent this very sentiment? She has already stated that this is "the birth pangs of a new Middle East." Much like Bush's well known Dredd Scott answer when asked about the kind of judges he would appoint during a debate, this too is a coded message to the radical Christians of this country, we are ushering the coming of the Rapture.
This symbolic gesture towards Lebanon along with the "green light" for Israel to continue their aggression against Hezbollah, IMHO, tells me our government's true sentiment: nothing but total extirpation for Hezbollah, Iran, and Shi'ites will be acceptable to the neo-cons.
