Letters to the Editor
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To Verelse
Verelse writes"
The article is about the death of a child and the impact of that tragedy on the child's family. It is not about apartheid, real or perceived anti-semitism or any particular individual outside the scope of the story.
Can you take an honest look at the story? It is easy to become defensive and easy to become offensive if one feels threatened."
I don't have a problem with story. I do have a problem with the left-wing anti-semitic nutjobs who pile on. Hence my posts have been directed at them. I've written no criticism of the article itself.
"I must confess a desire to disregard your quoted text in your last post; it did not seem relevant to the topic within the article. If someone points out the tragedy of a child's death does it amount to an attack on Jews? I don't think that is the case. I did read your post, however, and just ordered the book from Amazon. Still, I want to stay on topic for now.
I am sure the artillerymen regret killing a child; I guarantee it was not their intention. This story is pointing out the tragedy that is Palestinian. It is not anti-semitic to do this, no matter how it is spun. An interesting companion piece to this Salon article would be an interview of the artillerymen, ask how they feel about the tragedy and see how it has affected them. Better yet, ask them in front of their own children. Would it be anti-Palestinian to do that piece? Again, I think not."
But for balance, don't you think such an article should include an interview of parents who support their kid blowing his or herself up? Why must only the Jews explain themselves? Don't the Pals have to explain themselves too?
Or how about interviewing the terrorists that fire rockets into civilian areas?
Perhaps you reveal your own biases here.
And I can tell you what they would say. That if they don't shell Pal rocket positions, they will simply move them closer to Israel making them more accurate and hence more lethal. Its an easy question to answer. Sure they regret the fact that Palestinian militants use children as human shields, but its either Pal kids or Israeli kids.
As Golda Meir once said
"We can forgive you for killing our children, but we will not forgive you for forcing us to kill yours"
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READ IT!
that url from Kasimira http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/845995.html and this was Ramle! in Israel! 12 miles from Tel Aviv! if you can kill your sister for talking with a boy, what else are you capable of? these are people who really have *no* point of connection with *anyone* from salon. yet Salon DEFENDS THEM! (DON'T tell me not "everyone" - understand the social situation, READ IT!)
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"susan sunflower"
"(Reminds me a bit of the East and West Pakistan of my childhood who simply could not get along ... )" you are from PAKISTAN. someone from Bangladesh would not refer to an invasion, first killing anyone with a university degree, then indulging in mass rape and murder as "not getting along". i seriously doubt that you are a woman - if you are, you are like one of the cowed ones in the article - but nevermind, you TOLD ON YOURSELF! and with the new policy can't change your alias. you better change your email and reregister to skulk around. bye bye "susan sunflower".
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bigdakine! you have to read up to current before you post!
you are talking about not "yesterday's news" but "yesterday's person". READ before WRITING!
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Sugarman
There are some pretty cool heads and reasonable people among the Palestinians, and they did run in the last election. Unfortunately, because they don't run militias, they neither have much influence, nor can they offer the law and order that the Palestinians need. Money talks and all of the money lies with Fatah and Hamas, from a combination of Western aid money and the backdoor arms money they get from other parts of the Arab World. Right now Egypt is busy training Fatah "soldiers".
One of the most important things the Palestinians need, apart from a functioning economy, is efficient police and law and order independant from particular groups. That however is not on the visible horizon.
Jordan is a very different animal, because of the stability that the King brings, Jordanians frequently talk about someone "watching the henhouse". To be honest, the West got really lucky in who ended up ruling the country, it could have ended very differently.
I would be more concerned about Egypt. It is a powder keg waiting to explode. The economy is a shambles, Mubarak rules with an iron fist, and the Muslim Brotherhood is large and increasingly radicalized. Egypt is also restless that Iran is flexing its muscles. Their street talk is that Egypt has to go nuclear if Iran goes nuclear. Egypt has the potential to become an enormous mess. And no one is paying any attention.
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very discouraging, AnthonyB
it seems the only hope for the palestinians (did you read that url from Kasimira? http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/845995.html it seems to offer *no* hope, but forget that for the moment) is the U.S. supporting the "pretty cool heads and reasonable people" but they seem to be supporting Fatah, which seems like Arafat-lite. still even the palestinian situation is more encouraging than your depiction of the egyption. you paint mubarak as saddam-lite (saddam-ite? sorry, though i *did* have a point, most of this was just in service to that awful pun, sorry, i like words more than deeds) the egyptians had even *more* experience with foreign aid (more bread subsidy -> more egyptions) they have an enormous population and even if they get an education, they have no jobs (unless they have gov't connections) they seem to be getting more and more furious, more and more islamic - and we all know who's going to be the scapegoat. i don't know how israel's going to "duck" if missiles are flying overhead from iran to egypt and back. ugh. a doomsday scenario.
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david - I would really appreciate it if you would in fact ignore all my posts ... and I will do my best to ignore yours.
I was referring to Gaza and the West Bank possibly becoming politically separate entities from EACH OTHER. They appear to already have quite different politics and economies ... possibly cultures as well.
In short, I was not talking about Palestinians and Israelis. The subject was Palestinian unity or rather the lack thereof.
Nuff said.