Friday, January 2, 2009

The hedgehog knows one big thing

Since Isaiah Berlin's essay, Hedgehog and the Fox, this old fable has gained greater publicity. Bret Stephens of WSJ recalls the tale, " The fox, said the greek poet Archilocus, knows many things, while the hedgehog knows one big thing." 


This parable is often mentioned while eulogizing Ronald Reagan's anti-Communist focus. But, Bret Stephens sees the terrorist organization Hamas as the hedgehog. 

He accurately puts his finger to the problem, "It is merely to point out that no ingenious conceit can disguise the fact that war offers no outcome other than victory or defeat."

Hamas knows that. Lashkar-e-Taibba knows that. Naxalwadis know that. Maoists know that. We don't. Ever wondered why the assorted leftists and seculars ever exhort Indians(read Hindus) alone to give, give, and then give some more? Yes, because they know it, too. 

The Lashkar types scored a major win in the recent terrorists attacks on Mumbai. They have not suffered any worthwhile consequence so far. One only has to guess that their fury will only increase as they start seeing their goal in sight. The seculars have already raised a white-flag as far as Kashmir is concerned. Who knows what's next in the line? Perhaps Mumbai. Hey, don't be surprised if they sell out their mothers for "peace" and "sadbhavna." What you and I call motherland is "real estate" for them.

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