Comments on: Family of Palestinian Boy Killed by IDF Donates His Organs to Israeli Children http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/ Pro-Jewish, Pro-Arab, Pro-Peace Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:47:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Steffi http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/#comment-839 Steffi Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/#comment-839 guns and kids<br />I've never been one of those people who thought kids should never be given toy guns. But two events have changed my thinking on this: the one you write about, and the appearance at my door on Halloween of a kid dressed up, literally, as a tank with full armament. (It was some sort of blown-up plastic costume which made him look like a tank with only his head sticking out of the top, and his feet on the bottom.)I was tempted to refuse to give him a treat -- but then I thought, he's only a kid. His parents are responsible for this. I am not in any way meaning to imply that the parents of the child who was killed by the IDF are at fault because their child had a toy gun. The IDF ought not to be shooting to kill at little children under any circumstances, even those of high tension. But I guess I'm commenting more on the notion that the manufacture and sale of such toys conveys that war and killing are games, play, pretend. What we should learn from the incredible and very moving gesture of these Palestinian parents is that we need to turn all of the guns and tanks back into plowshares. guns and kids
I’ve never been one of those people who thought kids should never be given toy guns. But two events have changed my thinking on this: the one you write about, and the appearance at my door on Halloween of a kid dressed up, literally, as a tank with full armament. (It was some sort of blown-up plastic costume which made him look like a tank with only his head sticking out of the top, and his feet on the bottom.)I was tempted to refuse to give him a treat — but then I thought, he’s only a kid. His parents are responsible for this.
I am not in any way meaning to imply that the parents of the child who was killed by the IDF are at fault because their child had a toy gun. The IDF ought not to be shooting to kill at little children under any circumstances, even those of high tension. But I guess I’m commenting more on the notion that the manufacture and sale of such toys conveys that war and killing are games, play, pretend. What we should learn from the incredible and very moving gesture of these Palestinian parents is that we need to turn all of the guns and tanks back into plowshares.

]]> By: Andrew Schamess http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/#comment-840 Andrew Schamess Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/#comment-840 Guns are not toys<br />Yes, you're right. Among other things, I feel for the soldiers who did this, who have to go to sleep at night knowing they shot an innocent boy. We should not have put them in this position. I rather regret the "And us?" part of the post above. It's true that Israel is engaging in collective punishment of the people of Gaza, terrorizing children who have nothing to do with any violence against Israelis. But to highlight it here trivializes the real message: not the misdeeds of the IDF, but the amazing caring and forgiveness of the parents' act. Andrew Schamess Guns are not toys
Yes, you’re right. Among other things, I feel for the soldiers who did this, who have to go to sleep at night knowing they shot an innocent boy. We should not have put them in this position.

I rather regret the “And us?” part of the post above. It’s true that Israel is engaging in collective punishment of the people of Gaza, terrorizing children who have nothing to do with any violence against Israelis. But to highlight it here trivializes the real message: not the misdeeds of the IDF, but the amazing caring and forgiveness of the parents’ act.

Andrew Schamess

]]> By: Anonymous http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/#comment-846 Anonymous Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://semitism.net/2005/11/05/OLD252/#comment-846 guns and kids<br />Steffi, I can see on the one hand your concern about this sort of plaything, yet on the other, you must remember that there is a tradition in the Mediterranean culture (even from the shores where my father was a lad, in Sicily, where Carnevale was what would here be Eid Mubarak) that at certain festivities, the toy that is given is indeed a toy gun. There are not necessarily connotations of war (although in Palestine and Israel, with the IDF everywhere, the connection must be made), but of something closer to playing bandit. It is usual that there are two children, each with a toy gun, and they see who is the most clever bandit, getting to somehow make claim to a treasure that has been decided upon. I think that any attempts at suggesting something about the boy, the family or the society from this is really wrong, (which I realise you are not doing at all, although I have heard it quite a few times since this tragedy, and I state this here merely because this is being discussed) because this is the context of the Mediterranean, and this cultural tradition may continue as long as boys continue. thecutter (peacepalestine) guns and kids
Steffi, I can see on the one hand your concern about this sort of plaything, yet on the other, you must remember that there is a tradition in the Mediterranean culture (even from the shores where my father was a lad, in Sicily, where Carnevale was what would here be Eid Mubarak) that at certain festivities, the toy that is given is indeed a toy gun. There are not necessarily connotations of war (although in Palestine and Israel, with the IDF everywhere, the connection must be made), but of something closer to playing bandit. It is usual that there are two children, each with a toy gun, and they see who is the most clever bandit, getting to somehow make claim to a treasure that has been decided upon.

I think that any attempts at suggesting something about the boy, the family or the society from this is really wrong, (which I realise you are not doing at all, although I have heard it quite a few times since this tragedy, and I state this here merely because this is being discussed) because this is the context of the Mediterranean, and this cultural tradition may continue as long as boys continue.

thecutter (peacepalestine)

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