The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - 5B VIEWPOINT To fight or not to fight: I By CHRIS FARAI Something amazing is taking place in Israel right now. I can guess what you must be thinking. It has something to do with violence. Someone, from some group, be it Pales- tinian or Israeli, committed a new, even more egregious act of violence. Something worse than what we've already wit- nessed for over a year now, since the most recent Palestinian uprising. Someone was bombed, someone was shot, some- one was killed. The beattoes on. After all, happens every day over there, right? Well, not this time. The amazing thing happening in Israel right now is that a group of people - a group of sol- diers no less (imagine the audacity!) - has actually decided that they've had enough of all the violence; enough of all the reprisals and all the killing. A group of Israeli reservist sol- diers have decided to take a novel approach to dealing with the pattern of increasing bloodshed that's become so famil- iar in Israel and the occupied territories. What could they possibly do? How could this group of just over 200 average, normal men possibly conceive of a solution to a problem that has seemingly stumped the "greatest" leaders of both Palestinian and Israeli sides? Simple. They decided not to fight. They are "conscientious objectors;" a term we haven't heard much of around here since the Vietnam War. In a statement released to the entire world, the reservists declared that they'd had enough - not enough of fighting to defend their cpuntry. Don't misunderstand. These men are Israeli patriots - in the truest sense of the word. No, they've had enough of what they call "commands and directives that had nothing to do with the security of our country and that had the sole purpose of perpetuating our control over the Palestinian people" In other media reports, these soldiers have detailed commands from superiors that included firing on civilians and peaceful demonstrators, as well as orders preventing Palestinian ambulances from treat- The best patriots ing the wounded. Orders such as these, the soldiers claim, against government policie were not the exception to the rule, but were part of an estab- immoral. You're either forL lished routine for dealing with the Palestinian uprising. your country or against you As far as these Israeli soldiers can tell, such policies do criticism is termed as an ac not in any way serve to defend Israel as a nation and do not We have all seen over t protect Israeli civilians from terrorist attacks. If anything, of this kind of mindset. Wh such tactics do further damage to hopes for peace by fan- just react, they get killed an ning the fire of Palestinian anger. The conscientious objec- beat goes on. tors recognize that violence is spiraling out of control and So. Here we are. The f they want to put an end to it. Are these conscientious o Not surprisingly, to say that they have received a mixed Consider it. Consider that1 response from other segments of the Israeli public would be supposed to be democracy. a massive understatement. Members of the Israeli govern- angry mob who'd rather sh ment, the military and many average citizens have called about it later, maybe then th their decision - to refuse to serve in the West Bank or Gaza is not to blindly obey, but to - undemocratic and unpatriotic. During times of crisis, as we Americans are finding out after Sept. 11, when a nation feels threatened, it becomes extremely difficult and nearly impossible to voice protest Farah is a Nea don't s, even when 'they're unjust and us or against us. You're either for ar country. Any voice of reason or A of treason. the past year and a half the result en people don't think and instead nd they kill other people. And the final question. The big decision: bjectors being anti-democratic? maybe, just maybe, when what's turns into nothing more than an oot first, ask questions and think he best way to support democracy challenge it. ar Eastern Studies graduate student. AREZIA MERCHANTS olp Hair Shop Welcome Back! Voted Best Haircut in Ann Arbor Thinking about cutting class? Or how about just cutting your hair?! 1214 S. University - 930-1892 ANN ARBOR REALTY 616 CHURCH STREET 1,2 & 3 BEDROOMS ROOMS & EFFICIENCIES FURNISHED & UNFURNISHED GREAT LOCATIONS 734-663-7444 ann ip A V r 4 THE TOTAL COMFORT SHOE STORES Off IN THE STORE! Good only at South U location " Offer expires Sept. 30, 2002 Vans " Puma Dr. Martens Earth Adidas e Sugar * Birkenstocks Rocket Dog 1200 5. University * 734-994-9401 1 We Deliver Prescriptions! We Acept4 nsurance - presCXl$'0 -refils The Village Apothecary 1112 S. Univ. A2 48104 Phone: 663-5533 Fax: 663-6973 r L.