Cages, Inmates and Spectators

Golan Heights Arabs and Druze are angry that Facebook now lets Israelis who want to check that they live in the Golan to indicate that it's part of Israel. Being that they're in the majority on that small volcanic plateau, that's reasonable.

What's funny is the anger from the non-Jewish Golan Heights residents, who think this infringes on Syria's claim to that disputed territory.

I'm not getting into who should have which piece of blood-soaked land. The point is that here, just like with American pro-Communists during Stalin's time, the Syrian-loving folks in the Golan Heights should reflect for a moment. After all, if they lived in Syria, they wouldn't be complaining: Syria doesn't allow Facebook into their country. Had Syria owned them, they wouldn't have the freedom to complain. Instead, they'd have to worry about Syrian Intelligence disappearing them in the night.

Maybe they should complain about things that make more sense, like getting a fair share of the pie in terms of municipal dollars and services, better schools and a stronger market for their products. From Israel, sure, but also from Syria. And maybe, just maybe, letting Syria permit them, through Facebook, to communicate with their families on the other side of this Middle Eastern Faraday Cage.