Thanks for that. Well worth the read. I have been moving away from blaming Zionism solely to the conclusion that Jews and Judaism must take more responsibility for the horror that is Israel because the State was invented in their name and most of them have funded, supported and enabled its creation and its barbaric function for nearly 80 years. Yes there are exceptions but the reality is most Jews have not known or not cared that Israel has treated the Palestinian with savage, bestial and sadistic barbarism. In some ways it is worse if they did not know because the truth was never hard to find.
It's a definition worthy of debate, and I'm glad you raised it. As a child of the Apartheid state, I've considered the same situation. Blame is difficult when born into a situation, and there are nuances between getting a job from it versus a daily struggle to economically survive (as is the case for humans in many places).
But voting for South Africa's National Party in the 80s would be a clear crime, as is those who have voted for Netanhayu today. A 71% turnout that delivered radicalism makes many citizens culpable, but not all. It's hard to be a believer in human rights and survive such toxic situation.
I don't think the Knesset has any true liberals to counter the religious nuts. I'm unaware of a party promoting Palestinian equality, but rather pretending to believe in a two-state solution which is impossible and thus politically and morally convenient.
The small Moslem parties don;'t win my sympathy because they're simply a religious response to opposing religion. And I despise that, for example, gays aren't considered worthy of equality. Either you fight for equality for all, or you're a hypocrite only for the sake of oneself.
Israel is screwed.
But, as I've previously stated, my belief in human rights comes before my opinion on religion. And the right of children to safety is ultimate. Thus. it's easy for me to stand on the side of Palestine.
If you spend time in Israel and with Israelis it is easy to see the depths of their terrible bigotry toward Palestinians because they are non-Jews and because they exist. They truly do believe they are subhuman. Anyone who believes another group is less than human will be able to commit the most terrible atrocities.
The irony of course is that in this age most people are horrified at any perceived ill-treatment of animals and yet, here are many of them, promoting and gloating in face of the most terrible atrocities against the Palestinians.
If Jews were being subjected to the horrors the Palestinian Muslims and Christians experience there would be global outrage.
Sympathy for Muslim parties is not required but sympathy for all Palestinians, including Muslims is demanded. People when they are persecuted and abused tend to become more religious and more fundamental in belief. Palestinians have a long history of education and sophistication combined with a generally moderate and tolerant culture. They have needed it over centuries of occupation.
A two state solution is impossible because the Israelis are mentally ill and incapable of reason or discipline. They would never stop attacking the Palestinians or seeking to destroy them. That is why Israel must be dismantled. Those who wish to remain and be Palestinians will be the moderates. Most will go back to where they came from.
If one is afraid of a religion, then one should be more afraid of radicalising it. That easy logic miraculously fails to connect in the brains of the majority.
And it's not like people are being taught in schools that Iran had a democracy overthrown by the USA, or that Iraq was one of the more liberal Muslim countries for women before it was invaded, or that Syrian women have been seen in bathing suits. Instead, there's a stereotype convenient for that dehumanising you speak of - all men are terrorists, and women are culpable for marrying them.
Totally agree but we are dealing with the twins of bigotry and ignorance. Bigotry creates ignorance and ignorance feeds bigotry. The haters do not want to know and refuse to know the truths you have stated here. I know them, you know them, informed open-minded people who care about truth and facts know them but the haters do not.
Radical Islam, remarkably small considering, has been created by the US and its allies, particularly Israel, but all allies who have supported its wars against Muslim countries, and one can only think that was their ultimate goal. Destroy a society and make life unbearable and people will turn to religion. Keep it up and the religion will become more and more radical.
Then again, information on the radical nature of Islam comes from politicians and mainstream media who lie. We have seen the lies Israel has told about October 7 so why believe anything any of them say about Islam and Muslims on any count?
It's a stupid hate loop manufacturing faith as resistance to despair that generates new helplessness creating self empowerment through hate for others...
Humans are complex. For example, I despise blatant racists and corruption but I've met likeable racists and criminals. I briefly met a murderer whose honesty I appreciated. Sure gets more complicated for folks with big families.
I try keep it simple, and don't needlessly argue with a stranger, and walk away from those I know well who are bigots.
Being alone is preferable to being religious, like a bikini is better than a burqa, like democracy without ideology, like...
I follow no religion but have studied many and worked for a Catholic newspaper for some years. A job I loved. Great people. But there are Catholics and Catholics. The Italians are better than the Irish and the Irish are better than some others.
I am not sure being alone is better than religion because it depends on the religion. Some are very supportive, caring, embracing, inspiring and healing. But we are all different.
A bikini is good if you have a body for it and a burqa is good if you don't want sunburn or like to hide. :)
Thanks for that. Well worth the read. I have been moving away from blaming Zionism solely to the conclusion that Jews and Judaism must take more responsibility for the horror that is Israel because the State was invented in their name and most of them have funded, supported and enabled its creation and its barbaric function for nearly 80 years. Yes there are exceptions but the reality is most Jews have not known or not cared that Israel has treated the Palestinian with savage, bestial and sadistic barbarism. In some ways it is worse if they did not know because the truth was never hard to find.
It's a definition worthy of debate, and I'm glad you raised it. As a child of the Apartheid state, I've considered the same situation. Blame is difficult when born into a situation, and there are nuances between getting a job from it versus a daily struggle to economically survive (as is the case for humans in many places).
But voting for South Africa's National Party in the 80s would be a clear crime, as is those who have voted for Netanhayu today. A 71% turnout that delivered radicalism makes many citizens culpable, but not all. It's hard to be a believer in human rights and survive such toxic situation.
I don't think the Knesset has any true liberals to counter the religious nuts. I'm unaware of a party promoting Palestinian equality, but rather pretending to believe in a two-state solution which is impossible and thus politically and morally convenient.
The small Moslem parties don;'t win my sympathy because they're simply a religious response to opposing religion. And I despise that, for example, gays aren't considered worthy of equality. Either you fight for equality for all, or you're a hypocrite only for the sake of oneself.
Israel is screwed.
But, as I've previously stated, my belief in human rights comes before my opinion on religion. And the right of children to safety is ultimate. Thus. it's easy for me to stand on the side of Palestine.
If you spend time in Israel and with Israelis it is easy to see the depths of their terrible bigotry toward Palestinians because they are non-Jews and because they exist. They truly do believe they are subhuman. Anyone who believes another group is less than human will be able to commit the most terrible atrocities.
The irony of course is that in this age most people are horrified at any perceived ill-treatment of animals and yet, here are many of them, promoting and gloating in face of the most terrible atrocities against the Palestinians.
If Jews were being subjected to the horrors the Palestinian Muslims and Christians experience there would be global outrage.
Sympathy for Muslim parties is not required but sympathy for all Palestinians, including Muslims is demanded. People when they are persecuted and abused tend to become more religious and more fundamental in belief. Palestinians have a long history of education and sophistication combined with a generally moderate and tolerant culture. They have needed it over centuries of occupation.
A two state solution is impossible because the Israelis are mentally ill and incapable of reason or discipline. They would never stop attacking the Palestinians or seeking to destroy them. That is why Israel must be dismantled. Those who wish to remain and be Palestinians will be the moderates. Most will go back to where they came from.
If one is afraid of a religion, then one should be more afraid of radicalising it. That easy logic miraculously fails to connect in the brains of the majority.
And it's not like people are being taught in schools that Iran had a democracy overthrown by the USA, or that Iraq was one of the more liberal Muslim countries for women before it was invaded, or that Syrian women have been seen in bathing suits. Instead, there's a stereotype convenient for that dehumanising you speak of - all men are terrorists, and women are culpable for marrying them.
Totally agree but we are dealing with the twins of bigotry and ignorance. Bigotry creates ignorance and ignorance feeds bigotry. The haters do not want to know and refuse to know the truths you have stated here. I know them, you know them, informed open-minded people who care about truth and facts know them but the haters do not.
Radical Islam, remarkably small considering, has been created by the US and its allies, particularly Israel, but all allies who have supported its wars against Muslim countries, and one can only think that was their ultimate goal. Destroy a society and make life unbearable and people will turn to religion. Keep it up and the religion will become more and more radical.
Then again, information on the radical nature of Islam comes from politicians and mainstream media who lie. We have seen the lies Israel has told about October 7 so why believe anything any of them say about Islam and Muslims on any count?
I get you.
It's a stupid hate loop manufacturing faith as resistance to despair that generates new helplessness creating self empowerment through hate for others...
Humans are complex. For example, I despise blatant racists and corruption but I've met likeable racists and criminals. I briefly met a murderer whose honesty I appreciated. Sure gets more complicated for folks with big families.
I try keep it simple, and don't needlessly argue with a stranger, and walk away from those I know well who are bigots.
Being alone is preferable to being religious, like a bikini is better than a burqa, like democracy without ideology, like...
I follow no religion but have studied many and worked for a Catholic newspaper for some years. A job I loved. Great people. But there are Catholics and Catholics. The Italians are better than the Irish and the Irish are better than some others.
I am not sure being alone is better than religion because it depends on the religion. Some are very supportive, caring, embracing, inspiring and healing. But we are all different.
A bikini is good if you have a body for it and a burqa is good if you don't want sunburn or like to hide. :)