Hamas War

Monday, June 18, 2012

Am I a "Sell-Out" to Go to Peres's President's Conference?

As a blogger who (among other specialties) is considered a political observer, I've received invitations to the Annual President's Conferences.  I always plan on attending, but somehow it just doesn't work out. 

Israeli Presidential Conference Facing Tomorrow 2012, under the auspices of the President Shimon Peres

This year I decided to really attend, even though when I look at the program and scheduled speakers, I wonder if I really want to listen to what they have to say.

The Israeli Presidential Conference 2012 - Schedule
The program is subject to changes
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Doors Open & Registration
16:00
17:00 – 18:30
Reception
18:30 – 20:00
20:00 – 21:30
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Gathering & Registration
08:30 – 09:30
09:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 11:30
11:30 – 13:00
Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:00
14:00 – 15:30
15:30 - 15:45
Break
16:00 – 16:30
with Guy Rolnik
16:30 – 18:00
Enter the Plenary
18:00 – 18:30
18:30 – 20:00
20:30


Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Gathering & Registration
08:30 – 09:30
09:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 11:30
11:30 – 13:00
Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:00
14:00 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 16:00
16:00 – 17:30
Enter the Plenary
17:30 – 18:30
18:30 – 20:00

But then, again, how reliable and knowledgeable can my opinion be if I keep myself in a hermetic homogeneous bubble?  I'm not free and available for the entire three day conference. I davka won't be able to get to the session with the title that attracts me the most:


So many times I've wondered if Shimon Peres and his Leftist followers and fellow travellers  have learned from their mistakes or even recognized that they have made mistakes.  It is so clear to me that Peres's entire mindset is based on something so terribly unrealistic and dangerous.

For almost the entire history of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres has been a leader of the Israelis who believe that it's possible for Israel to "make peace" with the Arabs.  They are constantly trying out inevitably unsuccessful "experiments" in their quest for peace.  All we here in Israel get is war, terrorism and foreign criticism and pressure to try harder.

I'm a pragmatist, not a dreamer.  I see these consistent and progressively worse failures as proof that their entire philosophy is faulty.  It is based on a lie, not on history nor on human nature.

The truth is that we won't have peace, true peace --the fake stuff is what makes war and terror-- until the Arabs want to live with us in peace.  All the while that Arabs indoctrinate their children to kill us, we have no "peace partner."

I'm not naive.  I don't expect to hear my point of view at Peres's President's Conference.  But to be intellectually honest and informed, I must listen to what the other side is saying, even if it just gives me fuel to use against them. 

I just wish they'd listen to my point of view just as carefully as I'm going to listen to theirs.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Go along and get them to listen to your views in the Q&As

Batya said...

a, good idea, thanks