I'm going to delay comment on the life and legacy of Ariel Sharon until after he passes away, but I had to pass on what Andrew Sullivan had to say on the worldwide reactions to the news:
Here are the specific responses to Ariel Sharon's stroke by two leading fundamentalists in the world, Pat Robertson and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. Julian cites them below.I'm just glad Robertson isn't working to get nuclear weapons. Posted by Stephen Silver at January 6, 2006 01:45 AMRobertson:
"He was dividing God’s land. And I would say, Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the E.U., the United Nations or the United States of America. God says, This land belongs to me. You better leave it alone."Ahmadinejad:
"Hopefully the news that the criminal of Sabra and Shatila has joined his ancestors is final."The difference, of course, is that only one of these maniacs is on Karl Rove's A-list rolodex.
I don't understand why people make such statements. We are all gonna die someday. My father said to me today in the car, if a man lives to a very old age, does that make him a better person than someone who doesn't. I don't think so.
Sharon clearly got this stroke because he is extremely overweight any genetics. I don't think it has to do with anything else.