blog one (10-18-11)

A blog unrelated to material in class today, but rather regarding a current event:

What is ones life worth? An Israeli man by the name of Gilad Shalit was released in exchange for letting nearly one thousand Palestinians free. Those Palestinians included hundreds who were accused of murder and charged for life sentences, yet are now free. Gilad, this young man, was unexpectedly captured nearly five years ago, and immediately restricted from talking to anyone. No one, as in not his parents, not his friends, no one. With these deprivations comes mental damage for good; Gilad was slightly less capable of making important and smart decisions because of all that he went through. He (the victim) did not have a say in the outcome of this ongoing dilemma, which was a good and bad thing. Through these five vague and harsh years, not only the people of Israel, (but especially them), were anxious. During a controversy like that, peoples initial feeling is most likely anxiety because they have their own opinions and hopes, yet they do not know how everything will turn out. Throughout history, how could people have a say in what they wanted? What can you do in the moment to share your ideas and get the result you want? Besides a democracy, it is hard to make a difference, but at the same time it is easy... The good thing is that he would not have to carry that guilt or burden on himself if he made the decision himself. In other words, since he did not have to decide, no one could blame him personally and he would not have to deal with regretting a final decision. On the other hand, the bad component to this is that if he had the opportunity to make the decision he could have sacrificed himself. He could have said "You know what, maybe my life is not worth thousands of dangerous people released and freed into the world." Maybe he would have taken his life in order to save his people and to save others; to show a sign of courage, bravery,  and loyalty. "1=1,027. "This is a meaningful "equation" that makes you stop and think... Additionally, Israel was extremely happy about the news of Gilad coming home, because it was almost like an accomplishment and a reward for Israel as a country. An accomplishment like this, especially for a country like Israel is strictly a time for happiness, unity, and celebration, (plus this occurred right near the holiday of Sukkot.) Either way, when they made a decision about this topic, it still would have been a big deal and there would still be people that disagree. After five years of being held captive by Hamas, Gilad finally returned to his family. Life will probably never be the same for Gilad Shalit. He is damaged in the brain because of the torture he went through and all the pressure, as well as physically because he did not eat as much and his life style rapidly shifted. History is complicated. Decisions are complicated. War is complicated. People are completed. Life is complicated.The fate of what lies ahead because of this decision is unsure. For now we know that Israel is celebrating, meanwhile some people out there are concered about the violent freed Palestinians...What is one life worth...