This Reuters article made me sick. Trying to find a negative aspect of a gun range, run by settlers in the Efrat area, the most damning they could come up with was:
What is so shocking about yelling "terrorist" before shooting at a cardboard cut-out of a soldier? How is that morally questionable?
What would he have preferred they yelled?
Freedom Fighter!
Criminal!
Bad Person with an Axe!
Humus!
I'm sure he would find it even more shocking and racist that the IDF actually trains counter-terror forces in mock Arab villages! (And the IDF also makes its soldiers yell "terrorist" before shooting at a target. The reason is to alert other soldiers why he is shooting, as well as to reinforce to the solider what his target is.)
Here's a picture from one my milluim/reserve duty stints in the IDF. I guess this must be shocking as well.
James, an Ohio native who did not want his family name published, took the course earlier this month while visiting friends in Israel after a business trip in the West Bank.The parents were stupid for not correcting their kids about who they are shooting at but that has little to do with the shooting range...and the title of the Reuters post was: "Terrorist" targets popular at West Bank gun range
"The most shocking part was when they had us shout 'terrorist' before getting into shooting position," he said.
He enjoyed the course and felt it was safe but morally questionable. "It could indoctrinate children with racist beliefs. It was sad to hear young kids express such racism. It makes the likelihood or reaching a peaceful settlement to the (Middle East) crisis seem more difficult." In the group before his, James said, excited children shouted to their parents about being able to "shoot the Arabs."
What is so shocking about yelling "terrorist" before shooting at a cardboard cut-out of a soldier? How is that morally questionable?
What would he have preferred they yelled?
Freedom Fighter!
Criminal!
Bad Person with an Axe!
Humus!
I'm sure he would find it even more shocking and racist that the IDF actually trains counter-terror forces in mock Arab villages! (And the IDF also makes its soldiers yell "terrorist" before shooting at a target. The reason is to alert other soldiers why he is shooting, as well as to reinforce to the solider what his target is.)
Here's a picture from one my milluim/reserve duty stints in the IDF. I guess this must be shocking as well.
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I guess this must be shocking as well.
ReplyDeleteWell that yellow is kind of bright.
How come Reuters thinks that the word "Terrorist" could indoctrinate kids to "racist beliefs".
ReplyDeleteAre they implying that all Terrorist are Arabs (or maybe even all Arabs are Terrorists)?
What, no hat-tip?! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL Freedom Fighter- I think that "militant" is also the word of choice these days. But I like "Humus" the best.
I think the gentleman from Ohio would have preferred that the instructor yelled, "disenchanted youth of Arab descent exercising his right to resist the occupation!"
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, Midwestern mores have no place in the Middle East.
Michael Sedley: How come Reuters thinks that the word "Terrorist" could indoctrinate kids to "racist beliefs".
ReplyDeleteAre they implying that all Terrorist are Arabs (or maybe even all Arabs are Terrorists)?
Of course they are.
Why else would they have an official policy of never using the word "terrorist" or "terrorism"?
I'm wondering what somebody who finds it "morally questionable" to shoot terrorists was doing taking an anti-terrorism shooting course in "the Israeli-occupied West Bank"
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was wondering the exact same thing...
ReplyDeleteI just took my 3 sons to a shooting course there during our summer trip in Israel, and they did a great job. As an ex infantryman, I admired their professionalism, and I heartily recommend their services.
ReplyDeleteI always yell watermelon!
ReplyDeleteMuch less inflammatory, unless you happen to be a melon lover.
DoubleTapper
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DoubleTapper, blogging on Guns Politics Defense from Israel
Actually, this was the most offensive part:
ReplyDelete"The usual Jew abroad is not like us," he says. "They learn to be doctors and lawyers. There's an impression that they want to earn money and not that they're strong people.
Anonymous: Don't hold back. Let us know what you really think.
ReplyDeleteps: what's an "israelian"?