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Gap People don't want to talk about it because it suits them
to hold the erronous ideas that they have about Israel. Israel scares the hell out of some people. It is like some people like to remain in the dark, if you know what I mean.
posted by
Norwood
on July 22, 2008 at 5:56 AM
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Re: gap
Thanks for that Naut. As I'll say (but I know YOU won't say
) "from your mouth to G-d's ears!" You have articulated my philosophy and based on your thorough research of Islam and the region, people should heed what you say. You are right - no one wants to talk about the civilizing influence Israel has had on the Middle East - and I'm sad to consider why that is.
posted by
gapcohen
on July 17, 2008 at 2:08 PM
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gap
In fairness, gomedome (whom I respect because he is thoughtful and articulate, and not only because he is a fellow atheist, lol, and who is definitely not anti-semitic) based his predicion of history’s judgment of Israel’s founding as a ‘blunder’ on the premise that it would ultimately lead to a major nuclear confrontation. He said “If [my emphasis] this happens [i.e. a nuclear conflict]... history will treat the formation of the state of Israel ... as the greatest blunder in recent world history.”
Now, my prognosis is an entirely different one, and it is based on the premise that not only will Israel not permit herself to be destroyed, but that sooner or later the civilized world will force the Arab world to accept Israel’s existence on that small sliver of land that is the ancestral Jewish home. And future historians will trace the beginnings of the end of Arab imperialism and the transformation of Islamist fundamentalism and intolerance into more acceptable forms to the founding of state of Israel and the civilizing influence it has had on the region, and that no one wants to talk about.
Throughout history, Jewish communities in the diaspora have contributed immensely to the commercial and cultural life of their communities, often in the face of barbaric persecution. (Did you know that the first mass-slaughter of Jews by Muslims took place in Yathrib, better known as Medina, where in 627 Muhammad had about 700 Jewish men dig trenches, then had them lined up and had them beheaded one by one? To this day, beheading is still the preferred method of execution in the Muslim world, out of deference to the ‘prophet’.)
Israel’s positive influence in the region will continue to be important, and will become even stronger, benefitting all, and especially Arabs, as soon as the fanatics will be forced to give up their phantasies of ‘wiping Israel off the map’, and they will be...
Of course, none of us may be around to witness that...
posted by
Nautikos
on July 17, 2008 at 1:17 PM
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Startling figures! I believe that knowledge is power, but wow, the suppressed trouble me! sam
posted by
sam444
on July 17, 2008 at 11:35 AM
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gapcohen, The facts and figures that you share in this post are staggering. I have been following the dialogue between gomedome and yourself and I find it very interesting. I am learning from both of you more about the problems we face today.
posted by
TAPS.
on July 17, 2008 at 7:29 AM
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gapcohen - here you go again with another blatant misrepresentation of my
words, it seems that my reluctance to continue dialogue with you was well founded.
You haven't been here that long so it may be possible that you do not know basic forum etiquette so I will tell you specifically why what you have put to print in this post is nothing more than a self serving lie.
You are referring to a segment that you have clipped from one of my comments as a "statement". Implying that the words you have selected and which are now completely out of context, form the complete contention and retain the original sentiment as their author intended. You even neglect to utilize proper paraphrase notation which looks like this: (paraph.) or in a pinch you can use italics in this manner " . . . preceding or following the portion of the comment you are using, denoting that more words precede or follow the cropped segment. The fact that you have not made direct reference to the author does not relieve you of your responsibility as a writer to these obligations.
This is what I actually said: HERE
Anyone can see that what you have construed them to mean is not even close to what was intended, stated or implied. It is probably advisable for us to go our separate ways at this point, I know from my perspective that this "debate" is over.
posted by
gomedome
on July 16, 2008 at 9:59 PM
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