Dancing In The Streets

                                                                                        

Dancing in the streets. That's what is likely to happen every time a rocket from Gaza lands in Israel and kills someone. The more victims the better. And the same will probably happen if a suicide bomber in some Israeli city or town kills several people or if some other incident occurs which results in the death of anyone in the vicinity.

The dancing, of course, will be in the cities and towns of Gaza, as well as in other areas inhabited by Muslims. Perhaps it won't involve the majority, but it won't be discouraged by them either. The depth of hatred cannot be understated. And it may be felt by people who have never seen an Israeli or a Jew. From infancy there are so many who have been taught to hate, and their feelings are fanned regularly by their clergymen who should be teaching love and tolerance.

But the raw emotion and hatred may have other causes and other results:

LONDON -- The song Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead is on course to reach No. 4 on the United Kingdom's Official Singles Chart because of a Facebook campaign by opponents of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

The death Monday of Thatcher, 87, from a stroke has prompted celebrations among some Britons who despise her still 23 years after she left office.

That article appeared a few minutes ago on the USA Today web site, and there are numerous other similar stories. The singing seems to be the British equivalent of dancing in the streets. And it is occurring among a group including many who were not alive, or were not politically aware, during the time when Prime Minister Thatcher was leader of the country.

It is generally recognized that under her leadership Great Britain, which had been deemed an economic “basket case” was much strengthened. A few days ago USA Today told more about her:

When Margaret Thatcher came to power the United Kingdom was in the last chance saloon. Labor markets were highly unionized; the commanding heights of the economy were dominated by loss-making behemoths; marginal tax rates were eye-wateringly high; and the rich, famous and talented were fleeing overseas. Either the U.K. fixed it then or headed ever deeper into economic and social turmoil.

Some eleven years later she had put the great back into Great Britain.

Ms. Thatcher acted on her beliefs in free market economy and in firmness when involved in negotiations with the actors in British economic and political institutions. She was uncompromising when dealing with tax matters, unions, banks, and other forces in British fiscal life. Her firmness internationally, especially with the USSR and its allies, was also notable, earning her the title of “Iron Lady” from a Soviet journalist. Her stance, and her alliance with President Reagan, played a significant part in the end of the Soviet Union.

Her conservative outlook, especially vis-a-vis the labor unions, however, earned her the enmity of those to her left, and they have passed this view on to their political followers. They have educated those over whom they have influence to hate as they do. The issue is not the strength of their country, but the state of their bank accounts. It's the economy, stupid. Their interest is not what they can do for their country but what their country can do for them.

And the passion and vehemence of her opponents has led to glee over her death. They exult over the passing of “The Witch.” When you've been educated to hate, dancing in the street or singing in the flat will be the natural expression of your feelings. Even if your relief is justified, revenge is not a responsible human reaction. And sometimes, your feelings will not be warranted but will have been imposed on you by others, making the blood-thirst even more reprehensible.

Another Briton, John Donne wrote “any man's death diminishes me.” Those who are so convinced of their own virtue and the iniquity of those they oppose, that they sing their pleasure, should understand that even if they are not wrong, and that is not always the case, rejoicing should not be the reaction to the death or misfortune of another.