and bring a great contribution to our society, or it might be a disaster if they brought the angst and hatred that forced them here with them. In any case it would be what is known as a historical discontinuity..that is to say, an oops in the graph of the line of human progress and development.

Every action has consequences, both forseen and unforseen. We can look at Iraq and see that. Or, if you prefer look at home and ponder on the attitudes in the south after the Civil War towards the freed slaves. Fear breeds hostility and hostility breeds inhumane social and political "solutions" to the perceived problems as defined by the elite.

The potential electoral power of the blacks was thus trumped by the development of barriers to black voting registration, let alone exercise of the vote. Poll taxes were enacted, cut off dates for registration before elections established, voting places made barely accessible. A greatly favored tactic was to make the elections registra an elderly white lady and have her maintain the registra office in the parlour of her house. Few blacks raised in the old south would penetrate that barrier.

On the news today I saw Lebonese carrying not only the flag of Lebanon, but the yellow banner of Hezbolla. This would not be a good consequence for Israel if their retaliation for Hezbolla activity served to endear and unite them with the Lebonese people. I can only hope this was an isolated example and not a general feeling in Lebanon.

Publius