A Little Respect for the Dead Please

When somebody dies, it is common courtesy to wait for a respectable period before badmouthing them, to give those who mourn a chance to grieve in peace. Now I'll admit it very well may be that period has passed in the case of Yasser Arafat (who probably died more than a week ago, not yesterday). But still I think that a reasonable period of respectful silence is in order. That is why I agree with President Bush's first reaction to Arafat's death, "God bless his soul." I think his later comments were also appropriate.

The death of Yasser Arafat is a significant moment in Palestinian history. We express our condolences to the Palestinian people. For the Palestinian people, we hope that the future will bring peace and the fulfillment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbors. During the period of transition that is ahead, we urge all in the region and throughout the world to join in helping make progress toward these goals and toward the ultimate goal of peace.

I think that some of the gushing that is going on out there carries it a bit too far however. Jimmie Carter's piece in the New York Times (reg. req.) goes overboard, especially in assigning all of the blame for recent terrorist attacks on Hamas when a significant amount of it has come from PLO factions.

But I really don't agree with this reaction at Little Green Footballs. I guess this article pretty much sums up what I don't like about LGF. Criticism is one thing but sometimes Charles (the proprietor) and regularly LGF commentators cross over the line into mean spirited inflammatory and even hateful rhetoric. It's too bad because other wise the site is a source of insightful commentary on Israel and the Middle East that you don't get very many other places.