Letters posted here are associated with the following article:

989
Letters
Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:00 AM

Orwell, blinding tribalism, selective Terrorism, and Israel/Gaza

Extreme emotional and cultural identification with one side leads people to believe that X is good when done by them and evil when done to them.

The letters thread is now closed.

View:
Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:41 PM

@Littlebrother

I've been a devout Trollshunner for years,

All in all, that is the best policy, and I wish I could stick to it. But when the subject is Israel it's like my relatives talking to me. And most of all with Zionism it's the infuriating vicariousity of it. There's no way to respond to that rationality. All these brave IDF commandos-by-proxy! All these "displaced" and "persecuted" Jews, complaining vociferously about their oppression on the public Internet.

Who do they think they are?

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:42 PM

Daer Satan

Thanks for the rally info.

Why not attend?

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:46 PM

Dear Satan

As you wish...please just piss off.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:46 PM

@pete b

Your chief mistake is thinking that Israel declared a blockade on Gaza. They did not. They controlled entrance and exits of good based on the solid evidence that Gazans were smuggling terrorists and terrorist weapons, but they in fact had declared a blockade as you assert, Gaza would no longer be a problem because everyone would have died of starvation.

You're just as bad as Greenwald in your inability (or unwillingness) to make logical distinctions.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:46 PM

Hamas Rocket Causes Devastation In Israel! (gotta see the photo)

http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/searchpopup?picId=7701736 or click sig

It is a cop looking where the thing hit a street and did not even leave a pot hole!

It is must see.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:48 PM

@meenecat

I'm speaking in simple English. But, let me repeat myself in even simpler English.

You say in your comment that "Jews in Arab countries were robbed of their land."

Well, I'm telling you that you are mistaken because 90% of the Jews living in Israel have NO historical ties to the land there whatsoever.

Historically Israel was occupied by Semetic people (Semetic people meaning people of ARABIC decent- this includes mostly Muslim people, but also a small portion of Christians and Jewish people- roughly 10%) The other 90% of the Jews living in Israel are of EUROPEAN or CAUCASIAN decent and NOT of ARABIC decent. Thus 90% (i.e. the ruling class of Israel) have NO historical claim to the land. So when you say that "Jews in Arab countries were robbed of their land"...you are mistaken, it is actually the other way around...It is Arabic people who have historical claim to the land, NOT European Jews.

Do I need to further simplify my explanation for you, Zenwick? To others who can understand what I am saying, am I making any sense, or is this guy just lacking on his comprehension skills?

Sorry, thought you might have something interesting to say, but it turned out not. The old historical argument again, and you want to make it between Semites an Indo-Aryans, instead of just Jews, Arabs, Turks, Canaanites, Philistines, etc. I can go back to sleep now.

[Note: Most people don't realize that the phrase "anti-semite" as it is used to refer to Jewish hatred or bigotry is a bit of a misnomer. "Semite" refers to people of Arabic decent. Thus a more correct phrase for Jewish prejudice is "anti-Jewish".]

And yes, we've all, each and every one, heard this particular bit of stupidity, but it's usually stated as, "I can't be an anti-semite because, as an Arab, I'm a Semite." So fine, you're not an anti-semite, you're a moron.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:48 PM

@maureen

I don't know. I remember being astounded when I found out how much the Irish revolutions and uprisings were influencing revolutionary and anti-colonial thinkings around the world.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:48 PM

@ Indiana Bob

Quote:

"From our declaratio of independence:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

_____________________________________________________________

I assume you are referring to our present day govt .......

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:51 PM

Zenwick's still here?

I thought that troll had gotten bored and moved on to other posting spaces to bug.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:51 PM

Well lemme see

I'm half Egyptian and half Libyan...so what what does that make me...Cryto-Egypto-Mephisto-dipped in Crisco?

I'd better figure that fucker out fast..

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:52 PM

@- maureenodonnel

??

What did I write that so provoked you? Your comment left me confused, but you seem to believe I've said something very wrong?

Or am I missing irony?

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:53 PM

My Father Would Whistle . . .

. . . then rotate his right index finger around his right ear. He might even roll his eyeballs upward and shake his head sadly. But that was back in the 1950s when PC wasn't a deal, and Israel was 'plucky' little Israel. Times have changed. The Howling Hammer Of Hades / aka The Screaming Hollywood Jew demonstrates his distress: "Why would anyone pay me to litter this column when it's read by 50 people? What would be the return on that?" Nothing, but the question begs, why would any sane human being spam entire articles, paste fishy links, and follow it up with disturbing (and disturbed) remarks. I mean, for the money, I can see it though a decent human might think twice before stooping that low . . .

you obviously have some issues, and a little bit too much time on your hands. Then again, as mentioned, you could be doing a double whammy, the over the top act could actually be . . . sheesh, now you've got me going . . .

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:55 PM

The holocaust happened

And I'll be goddamned if there aren't other hellacious happenings in the world going on right now as well, just as we jollily peck away at out computers.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:55 PM

heru-ur

I just looked at that photo you linked.

My immediate first thought before I even had time to start thinking was - its a plant.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:55 PM

FOX News Sunday, LOL!

Another gem from Kristol (not an exact quote) speaking on Fox News Sunday:

"I believe this war can have a positive outcome"

"Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, and Hamas launched a coup in 2007 and took over Gaza."

Zing!

Once again Kristol proves himself to be the Oracle of the Opposite. Everything he says, the opposite happens.

Sunday, January 4, 2009 03:56 PM

Satan of Hollywood's reward

for littering this blog with his racist Nazi-like rubbish must be seven israeli virgin female soldiers just out of boot-camp, sponsored by AIPAC.

Most Active Letters Threads

530

Do Obama officials know what his Afghanistan plan is?

What explains the completely contradictory statements from key aides on a central plank of the war strategy?
128

Is my kids making me not smart?

Stay-at-home fatherhood dulls my intellect to a nub. Excuse me while I ponder the subtext of "Hippos Go Berserk"
126

Trig, the anti-abortion straw baby

Sarah Palin's son is being used to demonize pro-choicers
113

I survived Glenn Beck's Christmas spectacular

The preposterous showman brings his holiday book, and waterworks, to the stage and screen. Lights! Camera! Jesus!
99

I live in a van down by Duke University

How do I afford grad school without going into debt? A '94 Econoline, bulk food and creative civil disobedience

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon