by Attack Ships on Fire » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:25 am
I find that when people discuss the Israel/Palestine issue, it's very easy to react based on emotion and then the discussion becomes polarized and a emotional landmine. Most of the time it's better not to weigh in because the discussion has been already lost to rhetoric.<br><br>Personally, I've read enough about the state of affairs over the years that I feel both sides have blood on their hands. Any sane person will agree that Israel shelling a beach and killing Palestinian children is wrong. So is killing Israeli children travelling home from school by bus as the result of a Palestinian suicide bomber. The problem is, the Israel issue has 60+ years of complicated history associated with it, and that's overlooking the 3000+ years of Jewish hatred that went on before the founding of Israel. Blood spilled atop blood atop blood, and where you draw the line at where the conflict started is different depending on who you ask.<br><br>The leaders of both sides need to agree on the basics: hatred is wrong. Killing is wrong. Hell, start with the principal that killing little kids is wrong if it makes it easier for both sides to agree on *something*. This war between the two groups is generations long and pulling apart the fundamentals as to why it's happening is near impossible -- but not totally impossible. Shoot me, I'm an idealist I guess.<br><br>I can't agree to any statement that says "all Israelis are guilty", just as I can't agree with the opposite statement levelled against all Palestinians. Fathers and mothers love their kids, no matter what group they are. There are also monsters out there disgused as human beings, and they too also don't seem to come from just one particular ethnic, religious or political affiliation.<br><br>Of course, it's easy to say all these words when I can go to a beach, or ride on a bus, and I don't fear for my safety too greatly.<br> <p></p><i></i>