Reply #21: I reject the notion that a state protecting its citizens . . [View All]

[msmcghee]

. . from violent attack could be described as a "violent" culture unless that defense repeatedly crosses over into an amount of violence considerably more than enough to provide that defense. Israel's defense against terrorist attacks is probably the least violent defense ever mounted against such attacks in modern history - by any measure.

The term "violence" is accurately applied IMO only to those states that initiate violence against others. Applying it to defending parties is not only grossly unfair in terms of liberal values but it justifies the initiating violence when that distinction is ignored and therefore contributes to a world where it is condoned more generally - as it is every day in this forum.