Quote from traderfut2000:
I am not talking hundred of years. Till the late sixties there was a discrimination against black people and the colonization of many countries ended only in the sixties.
.During the inquisition and even during the second world war jews were protected and not killed by muslims. .
Here is my point exactly. I say you use incidents from hundred of years ago, and then you say "no..not talking hundreds of years". But then in the very next paragraph, you bring up the inquisition. I don't think you are talking about the inquisition of the late 1980's when they were trying to track down disco musicians and send them into exile
So the other inquisition I know about was a little further back.Now what does the "discrimination against black people and the colonization of man countries" in the sixties have to do with Israel? Or the Jewish quest for a secure homeland?
But the bottom line here is that I totally AGREE with you that the Muslim people are NOT the universal enemy of western society or of Israel specifically. obviously the extremist do NOT represent the vast majority of peace loving Muslims. Is there a danger to the easily misinterpreted (or is it correctly interpreted) teachings of the Koran? Well you and Daniel M have debated this at great length, and still, it is way over my head to try and figure out what exactly is meant by "kill the infidels". Does this mean something other than what the words say? certainly there are many contradictions in religious teachings. "An eye for an eye" vs. "turn the other cheek" stands out as an obvious one. So, I have no clue how to interpret religious contradictions. Not my field of expertise (not by a very long shot).
But still, it seems to me that the Palestinian issue is not about Muslims fighting Jews because of religious beliefs or differences. It seems like just a good old fashioned land war. And so why can't there be an agreement? What is wrong with the Camp David Accord.
The Western Wall has been desecrated by Palestinian terrorists. The Church of the Nativity was held under siege by Palestinian terrorists. The dome of the rock has been protected by Israeli troops. So tell me about the morality of the Palestinian terrorists. Tell me how they cannot be ashamed to try and claim themselves as "victims". This is not about religion. This is not about ancient territorial claims (as much as that tactic has been tried to be exploited). This is really about a bunch of people that would simply rather "reclaim" the barren land they fled after it was turned into an oasis in the desert by hard working industrious and educationally driven settlers.
If these Palestinians spend a bit more effort on education than on suicide tactics and terrorist training, their plight would be quite different. I am sorry. I know this sounds harsh. But I have seen these little palestinians roaming he streets trying to hustle up a few dollars by begging and stealing and intimidation. Would their time not be better spent getting an education? Well obviously the culture does not encourage this as it should. And this leads to the deteriorization of an culture. Learn and go forward....advance your cause by advancing your position in society. Or, like the Gypsies, define who your "marks" are, your enemies, and strive to keep the social advancement at zero. To me, it seems like the Gypsies and the Palestinians have much in common. No desire to go forward.
Clearly there are exceptions. And this approach is NOT one that is taken by the Arab world in general. Or at least not the few who are prosperous enough to further their educations and open their minds to the possibility of peaceful coexistence. It is really so sad that the lack of democracy in the middle east restricts so greatly those who have the opportunities to advance. So the leaders, the royals, and the minor amount of well heeled non royal arabs...all those who have no material need get exposure and opportunity to advance in their quest for knowledge and modernization are sadly very few in number relative to the entire population of the arab world in general. Traderfut...you of all of us should be able to explain this clearly, for obviously you are an enlightened and prosperous example who can explain to the rest of us why this situation exists as it does. Is education truly reserved for the privileged only? What gives?. Is it really a part of the culture to keep the masses uneducated? I know there are nomadic arabs that live similarly to the gypsies.. But where do the Palestinians fit in here?
Peace,
rs7