JPost: PA: Non-violence encouraged pullback

The protests helped mobilize Arab and European pressure on the US to get Israel to withdraw, he said. The peaceful protests brought the "humanitarian crisis" caused by the IDF siege and curfews to the forefront of television coverage, Hourani said.

"The majority of Palestinians just want to be able to go one with their normal lives. We need to convince the Israeli peace camp that Palestinians want to solve the conflict peacefully."

Nabil Abu Amr, a Fatah legislator from the Gaza Strip, said peaceful protests would improve the image of Palestinians that has been tainted by suicide attacks against civilians, and would show the Israeli peace camp that there is someone to talk to.

Nice to see some signs of sanity.

All parents know the scenario. Your kid wants something and throws a tantrum. She wails, stomps her feet, falls down on the floor, and makes a big nuisance of herself.

What to do?

As a modern, liberal parent, I try to talk it out. Figure out what gross insult generated this reaction. Typically, her pretzel broke or she didn't get the ice cream we promised three weeks ago. If fixing the problem isn't dangerous, fiscally irresponsible, morally repugnant, or flatly impossible, she gets what she wants: "Yes, I did promise you ice cream and I forgot. We've got plenty of time and you ate a good lunch, so once you calm down, I'll get you some."

Often enough, it's more like: "No, I was joking when I said you could drive the car. You're six. You can't drive the car. It's not safe."

Or: "If I had a magic wand, I'd put the Mariners in the playoffs this year, but I don't and they didn't make it."

Sometimes words work. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes the kids gets so out of control and violent that you have to physically restrain them. You have to hold them tight so they don't keep hitting you (they hate this).

The problem with negotiating with a tantrum is that it has the tendancy to encourage more tantrums. If I can kill one of her tantrums within 30 seconds, Ella's likely to get what she wants. If she pushes it much beyond that, it becomes a situation. I'll usually tell her flat out that she's not winning. Period. And once I say that, game's over. It may last another half an hour, but she's not getting what she wants.

And so it is with the Palestinians. They've throw tantrums of one sort or another since 1948.

When Ella starts hitting, I have to make her stop. If she gets out of control at the top of a stairway, I have to move her to a safer place. I do what I need to to protect my safety and hers.

My daughter is six. Six is a tantrum-y age. I'm confident that she will grow out of it. We can hope that more-moderate Palestinians will gain ascendency and can steer a less-violent course.

Tantrums are not necessarily bad things. You could think of the Civil Rights movement in the United States as a controlled, prodominantly non-violent tantrum. Ella often throws a mini-tantrum as I put the car into gear. "Daddy! I'm not clipped in!" She does not inform me of this fact in measured tones. It's a holler. And I'm grateful for it. I don't want to start driving until she's safely belted in.

If the Palestinians can organize peaceful protests against curfews and other restrictions, then they've proven that they can control their populace. When that happens, I'll be the first to call for Israel to step back.

If I had a magic wand, I'd reconfigure the area. I'd create vast tracts of land out of thin air. I'd create a way for every displaced Palestinian to have their home back. Unfortunately, what the P's want is unrestricted right of return, and that's impossible. Flatly impossible. "Sorry, honey, I can't get you the big toy. We don't have enough money. I offered you a smaller toy 20 minutes ago, but because you've had such a big tantrum, I won't even give you that. You need to calm down...."  

11:28:38 PM  comment []