I found the following video clip online this week, along with a story about it in Haaretz. Please view the clip before reading the rest of this piece. . . The tune is catchy and the kids are cute, so what is wrong with this video? First of all, the blatant use of children for political propaganda purposes. Second, teaching children to value martyrdom. Third, the message that childhood has no meaning without one's country. That's nonsense. Children do not need to identify with a nation or a people to be happy and fulfilled. It's one thing to teach children to be proud of their heritage, their country, and their religion. It's quite another to twist that pride into a morbid desire to prematurely meet one's maker. This video, this song, this phenomenon all should be condemned at the highest levels of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim society. And if similar propaganda is being generated on behalf of Israel, that too should be condemned at the highest levels of Israeli and Jewish society. Too many children have already died on both sides of Arab-Jewish conflict in the Middle East. We don't need more martyrs. We need for there to be no more martyrs. ** To read more from Michael Lame, click here
