'An Eye for an Eye'?

The Hebrew Scriptures on retributive justice or lex talionis might sound harsh to us today:

'And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.' [Exodus 21: 23-25].

However, in its historical perspective, it may be viewed as a significant criminal justice reform for its time, actually placing limits on excessive vengence. So, someone who has had a tooth knocked loose in a fistfight may not demand the extraction of all of the teeth of his opponent's entire extended family.

This important precept of the Torah is ignored by the rulers of the Jewish State of Israel.

Tel Aviv's wicked and disproportionate mischief against Gaza and Lebanon is outrageous, sinful and criminal.

Just as Moses is ignored by Ehud Olmert's government, so too Jesus' more stringent Law of Mercy is drowned out by other voices heard by a puerile little man in Washington.

We must remember that our treasure was dropped on the airport in Beirut yesterday. Our earnings ripped through the bodies of innocent men and women in Lebanon. Our improved roads, new bridges, working subways (Oh, imagine!), books and libraries, effective schools, hospitals, national reputation and entire future are now crashing onto streets and homes in Gaza and Lebanon.

If we allow this today, our young people's blood will run through the same streets tomorrow.

Learn to analyze the media output about about this dire crisis.

Watch the film Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land.