Moral Sentiment and Fairness

People of my generation are adopting a kind of moral sensitivity that precludes politics and political action. This moral sensitivity praises fairness and fair treatment and blames all unfair action, whether that be killing innocent people or even inconveniencing the innocent. As nearly all political action, especially war and violence, but also tax law, inconveniences some who are not deserving of inconvenience, the moral sentiments of my companions are constantly insulted. This is nowhere more apparent, perhaps, than in Israel, where people, following wars and terrorism, and in the undying, overwhelming shadow of the holocaust, pay constant and serious attention to their moral sentiments. Yet, at this point in time, the politicians cannot (or at least do not) speak honestly or frankly about what political actions they intend to take. In the previous election, as in many elections, Israelis voted on the Palestinian issue; yet the candidates avoided precisely this issue. When Israel went to war with Lebanon, Olmert and Peretz talked of returning captured soldiers to Israel; yet an examination of the action of the war indicate that this could not have been a serious goal. Similarly with Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Israeli moral sentiment, like that of so many Westerners, cannot handle the thought of committing oppression, even oppression that leads to the greater good.