Narrative and History
Last week we wrote about the United States casting its ballot in the election for Security Council seats without advocating or encouraging others to join us. We wondered whether the United States now sees itself as only one of 192 member countries, no different than say, Guinea Bissau, Nepal or Iceland. Are we planning to be only 1/192nd of the weight in the world – only 1/192nd of its moral, political or social strength? If so, we can assume that others will happily fill the void we leave. But with what will they fill it?
Last week we wrote about the United States casting its ballot in the election for Security Council seats without advocating or encouraging others to join us. We wondered whether the United States now sees itself as only one of 192 member countries, no different than say, Guinea Bissau, Nepal or Iceland. Are we planning to be only 1/192nd of the weight in the world – only 1/192nd of its moral, political or social strength? If so, we can assume that others will happily fill the void we leave. But with what will they fill it?
We are indebted to Middle East analyst Asaf Romirowsky and Shalem Center Founder and Provost Yoram Hazony for the following two thoughts:
Romirowsky writes that Israelis in the West Bank have to choose “Palestine” as their state, with no option for Israel, when filling out addresses on Facebook, as if there is a state called Palestine, which in fact – when facts matter – there never has been. “On Wikipedia,” he notes, “Palestinians have sown ‘destroyed villages’ and ‘war crimes’ allegations across the map, to the point of claiming that Tel Aviv was founded on the ruins of invented villages.”
Well, that’s how they see it, right? Aren’t they entitled to their view of history? Who knows what really happened, right?
Hazony parses the speech of President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Van Rompuy has his own narrative about European history since the end of WW II.
The European idea has been the most successful and most generous project in the world since 1945. It has united the whole continent and brought us peace and prosperity. [The] desire [of Balkan nations] to join our club follows a time of barbarism and violence… This should encourage us even further to welcome them. Why? Because almost all who are now part of Europe have experienced great upheavals within living memory. It is true for Germany, France and the other founders after the destruction of the Second World War. It is true for Greece, Spain and Portugal after the end of their dictatorships. It is true for the former communist countries which joined us after the Wall came down. In every enlargement, the Union has absorbed the shocks. As an anchor of stability. As a haven of prosperity and freedom. As a guarantee of peace.
Hazony writes, “Isn’t it American power that has been the “guarantee of peace” in Europe? Isn’t it the American nation-state that liberated Europe from imperial Nazi Germany, and then from the threat of the Soviet empire? Van Rompuy doesn’t remember any of this. In fact, in his 4,700 words marking the fall of the Berlin Wall, he doesn’t find space to mention the United States once.”
Well, that’s how they see it, right? Aren’t they entitled to their view of history? Who knows what really happened, right?
The Europeans are our friends, but they have an interest in reshaping history to tell their children what they want them to know – and it does not include their indebtedness to us. The Palestinians are not our friends, and they are unwilling to tell their children that the Arab world – by rejecting Israel – is responsible for the ruin of generations of Palestinians living in miserable conditions in UNRWA camps. And no, Tel Aviv was not built on “Palestinian” ruins.
Who will stand up for the truth?