As the Democrats begin their final push to pass a health
care bill that the American people don’t really want, that they
themselves haven’t read (let alone understood), and that is bound
to hurt them very badly in upcoming elections, it seems
worthwhile to pause for a moment, and consider the role of the
irrational in human affairs.
What really motivates human actions — a straightforward
calculus of gains and losses, or unconscious desires that the
actors can’t acknowledge even to themselves, let alone admit to
in public? How much of a role do hatred, fear, and a thirst for
glory and revenge play in the minds of politicians? Is it
possible that Dr. Freud wasn’t such a quack, after all?
These grim musings are prompted not only by current events
in Washington, but also by the death in Israel last week of
86-year-old Ike Aranne, who captained the Exodus
back in 1947 — a ship whose fate played an important role
in the birth of Israel a year later.
The story of the Exodus (the ship’s
full name was Exodus from Europe ‘47) is
almost unbelievable. After World War II, Britain was nearly
destitute. Food, clothing and fuel were all rationed. But led by
Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin, the British government saw fit to
blockade the coast of Palestine with 45 of its most advanced
warships. These ships had only one mission: to prevent the
survivors of Hitler’s Holocaust — the very people Britain had
just helped save — from reaching safe-haven in the Land of
Israel.
Why was Britain — generous, stout-hearted, fair-minded
Britain — so determined to keep the Jews bottled up in Europe?
Why did the Charity,
Ajax, Chieftan,
Childers, Chequers
and Carrigan Bay ram the rickety
Exodus in international waters? Why did the
British kill or wound about 100 of its 4,500 passengers, deport
the remainder to Germany, and incarcerate them in Camp
Poppendorf, a former Nazi concentration camp near Hamburg?
(Ironically, after they had forcibly removed the Jews from the
Exodus, British sailors gathered up the
cans of kosher meat that the desperate passengers had flung at
them, and shipped them to their own needy families back in
Britain.) It reminds me of what Benjamin Franklin once said about
John Adams: “He means well for his country, is always an honest
man, but sometimes, and in some things, is absolutely out of his
senses.”
The British were out of their senses in 1947, just as the
Democrats are out of their senses today. Britain’s madness helped
make the rise of Israel inevitable, and the Democrats’ madness is
making a Republican majority inevitable. Ernest Bevin was
probably motivated by primitive anti-Semitism, and Barack Obama
is probably motivated by primitive anti-capitalism. Anti-Semitism
and anti-capitalism are not the sorts of impulses that civilized
people admit to in polite society, but they are two of the most
potent forces in world affairs, and probably have much more to do
with the actual course of events than the seductive arguments
drafted by clever speechwriters, or the ingenious analyses
devised by learned historians. Or so, at least, Dr. Freud would
argue.
Marc Jeric| 12.28.09 @ 6:25AM
How come komrad Bevin did not get the Nobel Peace Prize? Other anti-semites like Arafat, Carter, and Obama did!
Northern Rebel| 12.28.09 @ 11:29AM
Another excellent history lesson! Those who don't learn from it, are destined to repeat it.
Al Adab| 12.28.09 @ 11:32AM
We have indeed entered into an irrational world, one the Left sees through their faith in moral equivilance as a guiding principle. Until we face the reality that there is evil in the world and that, in part, that evil manifests itself in a belief in central control by government, we are in danger. It is the duty of government to protect the rights of Citizens, not to establish an equality of servitude among them. Indeed, those in control today are out of their senses.
Franklin| 12.28.09 @ 3:53PM
Yes, and evil is the 'father of lies'.
What about lies and people who believe them? A lie is the truth mixed with just enough lie that it is easily believed. The more they believe, the more truth can be eliminated and it just becomes a lie. But the people don't see it that way; they see it still as truth.
They have chosen the lie over the truth. God knows what they have chosen; he gave them that choice (free will). Once they have chosen, God allows them their full delusion, he won’t intervene.
Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done.
2 Thessalonians 2:10b … They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Al Adab| 12.28.09 @ 3:58PM
Yes, Franklin, and that is what we fear. If He has given us over to depravity and the Assyrians are at the walls, what prophet will arise to lead us back to a right path. Our idolotry is rampant.
He judges the nations and while a remnant of His people will survive, yet may our nation be weighed in the balance and found wanting.
loulou| 12.28.09 @ 12:11PM
The author is generous. In fact, Obama is both anti-Capitalist AND anti-Semitic.
The Brits are traditionally Jew-haters. It's in their mother's milk.
Margie| 12.28.09 @ 3:44PM
Eph 6:1 "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
It goes deeper than even Freud.
The Bible tells us that the Ruler of this world is the Devil. He hates the Jews (God's chosen people) and he hates any kind of freedom.
Anti-Semitism and anti-Capitalism are borne along by the same spirit.
Liberalism=Socialism=Communism=Satanism.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
~Ronald Reagan
"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."
~Ronald Reagan
Onward conservative Soldiers!
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 3:47PM
Post-Modern Jen: The Next Step Towards My Health and Fitness Goals … | Military Fitne links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Al Adab| 12.28.09 @ 3:49PM
Thanks Margie,
You manage to remind us that the wisdom of the ages stands on our side. While this world is often irrational and ruled by evil, we can stand in our Kingdom for the Liberty "wherin He has made us free."
Margie| 12.28.09 @ 9:44PM
Al Adab,
I deserve no thanks.
You're a kind man.
Happy New Year to you & yours.
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 7:30PM
The American Spectator : The Force of the Irrational links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 7:30PM
The American Spectator : The Force of the Irrational links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Rich Rostrom| 12.28.09 @ 7:36PM
"to prevent the survivors of [the] Holocaust... from reaching safe-haven in the Land of Israel"
Jewish refugees (such as the passengers on EXODUS) were in no danger in 1947 Europe. If anything, they were in greater danger in 1947 Palestine, where they were exposed to hostile armies and paramilitaries.
I don't claim that Britain was acting to keep them safe; but there is no evidence that Britain was doing the opposite.
As for the British government: in 1917 they made an impulsive and ill-considered pledge, and they spent the next 30 years veering between half-hearted fulfillment and attempted reneging; thereby satisfying no one. Bevin is no more to blame for that than any other British leader; such as Herbert Samuel, the Zionist who appointed the infamous Amin el-Husseini as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.
philfl63| 12.28.09 @ 8:34PM
No, Obama is most probably anti-Semitic. He is a Kenyan and a Muslim. His entire life (those shadowy parts of which we know) is fraught with anti-Semitism. His father was a Communist. His step-father was a Muslim, and Obama attended a Muslim school. His guardians, mentors (Davis et al), and his preacher (Wright) were all anti-Semites. Thus far, his actions and words as President have all indicated anti-Semitism. This man is no friend of the Jews or Israel.
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 8:35PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : The Force of the Irrational [spectat links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
gaia gold | 12.28.09 @ 8:47PM
Another excellent history lesson! Those who don't learn from it, are destined to repeat it.
Osamas Pajamas| 12.29.09 @ 12:18AM
And then there are legions of bloodsucking socialists who claim to "believe" in the productive efficacy of socialism --- but who believe no such thing --- they simply yearn for your wallet and will say "anything" to get at it.
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Jews are very clever people. Jew's mother will be able to sell
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