Without forgiveness

[Ron Green]

Is there anything in the belief systems or ethics of either Israelis or Palestinians that goes beyond retribution? How can there possibly be a peace process unless someone is willing to forgive another who has wronged him? Isn't the very essence of diplomacy the willingness to give up something to achieve a greater success? In this case what will not be given up is revenge for a past action.

Children behave this way until taught otherwise: a shove on the playground brings a shove in return (or even a punch), or else one child runs away in defeat. As adults we learn to work things out, to speak assertively for what we need and to negotiate. In the process we have to forgive slights against us along the way and be transformed in the process of growing wiser.

Help me understand: is "forgiveness" an alien concept in the Middle East? If so, it seems even more incumbent on the U.S. to impose enough diplomatic pressure to avoid all-out war.

[snappyturtle]

1. I'd be happy if there was just some......

tolerance.

[Ron Green]

2. Tolerance would seem to be a limited step toward forgiveness, for people

who are limited in their moral reasoning.