Gilad's home!

Gilad’s home!
But at what cost?

His freedom’s worth the cost – whatever the fullness of time shows that cost to be.

P.S. The graphic is from the Jerusalem Post website.

farmdoc's blog post number 591

I know it’s weak, but I must start with this. Question: How did 7-Eleven get it name? Answer: Because when the true price is seven, they charge eleven. Ho hum. Anyway last Monday evening Sweetheart Vivienne bought a few things in a 7-Eleven outlet. And she was given too much change. Much too much. What should she do? She and I discuss this sort of thing frequently. And we agree that in any dilemma, the proper course of action is the ethical and decent one. Currently Vivienne’s sensitised to such matters because sales of her book are important to her. Fair enough, too. But it’s amazing how often moral dilemmas crop up in the course of everyday life: Should I copy a CD owned by someone else, into my iTunes? Should I download computer freeware without making a voluntary donation? Should I use photographs from the internet whose copyright status is unclear? I’m sure you can add dilemmas you’ve experienced in your life. On first look these seem difficult questions. But choosing the ethical and decent course is always the good choice. And the right one. Even if you know you won’t get caught if you make the other choice. So what did Vivienne do on Monday evening? After a second or two of think time, she gave back the surplus change. Which was the right decision, of course. Good for her. And good for 7-Eleven. No matter what their prices. Everyone wins.

farmdoc's blog post number 88

I subscribe to ABC Radio National’s [RN] weekly Newsletter which provides 3-4 lines about each of the coming week’s RN programs. In yesterday’s edition I saw that the 19 July 2008 The Philosopher’s Zone programme is titled ‘Damned If You Do and Damned If You Don't’, and its accompanying snippet asks ‘What happens if you're in one of those situations where you're faced with a choice and whatever you choose it's going to be a bad choice? This is what's known as a moral dilemma; but do moral dilemmas actually occur in real life?’ Yes they do. The ABC need look no further than the dire ethical dilemma Israel faced this week regarding the Goldwasser and Regev exchange. To maximise its leverage, Hezbollah wouldn’t disclose whether the two Israeli reservists were alive or dead. Israel agreed to a deal which provided, among other elements, for the release from an Israeli prison of Samil Kuntar who was serving multiple life sentences for what is widely acknowledged as one of the most brutal terrorist attacks in Israel’s history. Those, including Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, who rejoice at Kuntar’s release are repugnant savages. Israel, unlike her enemies, values human life and is ethically responsible and accountable. The Israeli cabinet members who made this morally courageous decision are heroes. My heart bleeds for the Goldwasser and Regev families.