http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/12/meanwhile_in_gaza Comments On: Meanwhile in Gaza... by Brendan Kiley en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
The Israelis are obsessed with making sure that every Israeli death is avenged many times over because of what has happened to them historically, to the point that they're willing to obliterate anyone loosely affiliated with the people who wronged them, thus perpetuating their stereotype as a bunch of sadists.

Tell me which is better? Tell me which is worse? Can you tell me logically, without resorting to rhetoric that calls either side "disgusting" or "evil?" Because no one has made a compelling argument on either end to me.

The whole reason that nations build themselves and their defenses up is so that they don't have to suffer equal amounts of casualties in a war, to keep their people safe. Can Israel be faulted for that? Would you fault the Palestinians if they had the same weapons and used them against Israel? Arguments about "fairness" are moot; the US teamed up with the Soviets and British and combined we steamrolled Nazi Germany... was that unfair of us?

By the same token when a nation builds up their strength to such levels, is it necessary for them to act like a banana republic armed with AK47's and blind faith and start going head-on, balls-out war whenever a nation threatens them or makes a aggressive movement? Is it necessary to kill civilians with fairly wanton abandon to get at the source of the problem? To me that's like shooting a kid in the head to show you mean business.

For the life of me I can't tell, and so I won't be so ignorant to refer to either side as any more "disgusting" or "evil" than the other. It is simply a disgusting, evil situation all around.
Posted by Tristan]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:20:23 -0800 The Stranger
@35: I actually don't think belief in God really has much of a role in this conflict. If anything, it's just the opposite. I say more God, less nationalism.
Posted by lady_cow]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:13:31 -0800 The Stranger
Re: The Promised Land. As an atheist, I firmly believe that both sides are fucking retarded, and when's the last time a large group of atheists started a war with anyone about anything?

Can we move on from this shit, already?
Posted by bearseatbeats]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:56:17 -0800 The Stranger persecution and murder and are no longer willing to take shit off of non-Jews. Especially the non-Jews who want them to die.
Posted by yucca flower]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:00:46 -0800 The Stranger They look like this:
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3755/…

Posted by K X One]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:48:59 -0800 The Stranger thanks Abby for being perceptive enough to admit that the situation is complicated.
Posted by onion]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:44:53 -0800 The Stranger Posted by sockpuppet]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:22:58 -0800 The Stranger
I would say trying to have a discussion about Palestine/Israel, or more appropriately; the issue of a Jewish State, and not starting the discussion around 1,350 BC and moving forward is "retarded".

Whatever the case... I think it's a very fair statement that there would be very few people available that would have an informed opinion on this subject.
Posted by Paul in Ballard]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:21:57 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Abby]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:16:37 -0800 The Stranger
Posted by Stoppin ze throwinze]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:12:26 -0800 The Stranger
Unfortunately, they're toast with nuclear weapons and, given their lack of proportion or temperament, they're going to take everyone else down with them.

I recommend offering refugee status to all Israelis, freeing the Palestinians from their ghettos, and finally giving them their land back. If anyone can argue with that as the best middle east peace plan, I'd love to hear what's wrong with it.
Posted by Stoppin ze throwinze]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:10:55 -0800 The Stranger
To quote from Billy Madison: what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. "
Posted by Paul in Ballard]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:04:41 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Jigae]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:37:27 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:11:56 -0800 The Stranger
Cause there's a new sheriff in town after that ...
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:11:12 -0800 The Stranger
I understand your anger and revulsion, believe me. However, it's crucial to understand that many--if not most--Israelis oppose the current war and also opposed the last one.

They have a psycho, out-of-control, right-wing foreign policy and military apparatus in place that they don't have direct control over--just like the situation we have right now in the US.

It's a very sad, systemic democratic failure, and it's a lose/lose situation for both of our countries.
Posted by Original Andrew]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:09:43 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Vince]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:03:05 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Josh]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:49:30 -0800 The Stranger Posted by daniel]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:35:42 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Abby]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:27:53 -0800 The Stranger
Both sides are being manipulated by bad leadership. I don't think the Israelis are right to do what they're doing. But I don't see why they should be more vilified for doing what just about every other country has done, when faced with the same kind of fear. And I don't think it's helping. The more Israelis are allowed to believe that they're victims- of Palestinians, of Iran, of world opinion that isn't believing what they're believing- the worse they'll get.
Posted by Abby]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:24:32 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Original Monique]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:23:38 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Original Monique]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:20:54 -0800 The Stranger

Posted by Original Monique]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:13:09 -0800 The Stranger Posted by cressona]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:12:24 -0800 The Stranger