Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Invaders, Conquerors, and 'Gentle' Expansionists. Introduction: I was born in and have travelled through or lived in Many areas of the world where aggression was used to occupy. Areas are taken over by another, generally, Because of politics, history, religion, or for natural resources. The means and methods of these conquests Will usually determine the ultimate outcome. These are the basic thoughts I have when I ponder this human trait. Now, we are living through the present Gaza-Israeli War With all its complications to sort out for proper comprehension. Going back to historical examples, we have the Gauls, Gengis Kong, and Alexander, among others, Who basically invaded and conquered outright, Often leaving military to continually oversee the vanquished population. The Romans had a different approach: they conquered, then offered citizenship-- 'Join the military, serve Rome, and retire with rank and property.' This method of conquest incorporated the losers into the system, with all its benefits. William Penn, a Quaker, 'created' Pennsylvania by negotiation, bargaining, And thus demonstrated that two 'opposing' groups could actually survive together. Then, there is the other side of the coin, those using blatant invasion and force alone. A tiny example is the Scottish attempt (1695) to create a trading post in Darien, (Panama). Today, we hear of the dense, miles-long jungle through which migrants now must encounter. The Scots lasted a few years, politically alone, with no backup From possible forces (England, Germany, Netherlands), Which could have aided a forceful establishment in Darien-- The native people felt threatened and thus destroyed the whole project. A second attempt was finalized from an attack by the Spanish! Another--England desired a foothold in Ireland and carved out Northern Ireland; The brutal takeover was so severe, augmented with tremendous religious difference That only hundreds of years later was the continual smoldering hatred softened. No group can knowingly take over another, to be occupied territory, Without expecting violence and continual hatred, unless there is Gentle and negotiated preparation for a population's entry. Israel, where I have lived for a while is today manifesting The horror of rebellion, because of a lack of proper planning. With only a surrogate US/British/UN force for backing, The State was created by placing the 'conquered' population Into segregated camps, where they just simply languished. (I remember my grade school weekly newsreels clearly depicting these scenes.) By not properly preparing the existing population and surrounding Muslim countries, It was only inevitable that continual hatred and violence would endure. Demanding, for good reason perhaps, a one-religion state, Plunked into the middle of an 'adversary' religious melieux, Could one have not, without good introductory 'PR', expected anything else? (While touring around Jerusalem (1970's) with a fellow professor, He showed me many neighborhoods, explaining that it was his opinion That the black segregated Jews in ghettos, the division of Orthodox and Reformed Jews, and the Arab-Israelis with lesser status, Juxtaposed with the arrogance of the European Jews Towards those other non-European believers of the same faith, All, he felt, would be the possible internal reasons Why Israel might fail as an experiment.) Religion-wise, look at the cleverness of the ever-spreading Catholic Church. They 'conquered' (sometimes with an army) many areas With their brand of a pathway to god, But as they infiltrated, they merely renamed the native religious ceremonies, Saying that they were basically the same (as they might have been!), But the acceptance of the new names would include those conquered In the greater power now available to them with this new religion. To remain a conqueror with unwavering, complete purist dogma, often leads to downfall-- A successful conquering group must always compromise in order to reign, Even if it results in a new reality for both groups--the conquered and the conquerors. Frank Maurer 25 February 2024 1010 Hours.