The Suicide Cultures

Obama, in his latest interview, said he wants a certain level of sacrifice from all Americans; he wants all of us to "have a little skin in the game." America will not fall under the weight of small tax increases or increased regulation, though these little interventions won't pull the nation out of her economic nosedive either. Americans have always been willing to shed their blood and give their treasure in the righteousness of the cause of liberty but when it comes to deliberately ending one's life for a cause, Americans don't hold a candle to some other societies. The Japanese in affairs of honor or in defense of the nation have always been willing to commit seppuku, hari kari, or serve as kamikaze. Japanese even killed themselves in tribute to pop stars who had ended their own lives or joined pacts as sorts of self-murder cadres. Of late fortunately, suicide has been less of a group activity and national pastime for the Japanese. Suicide bombers seem to have become all the rage across the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and directed against Israel. Muslim suicide bombers were relatively rare in Afghanistan although their number has spiked recently. Even London and a Russian rock festival felt the explosive sting of the ultimate Jihadist. The Islamists can not take credit (blame) for the innovation of the modern man-bomb. That distinction belongs to the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka who are not Moslem and who have also commonly used female bombers. But have no doubt, Muslims originated the martyrdom concept of shahid and are more than willing to place their own women, who are subject to honor killing, and children in harm's way. That can be observed in Gaza today.