Originally posted by daniel_m
I wasn't talking about Israel deliberately seeking to force a mass exodus of Arabs from Palestine.
Ok...guess I was wrong. I thought that was EXACTLY what you were saying. After all, you said I was delusional for saying that the arabs were NOT forced to leave Israel.
"..as they have been all along"? I'm not really sure what you're trying to say there, but if it means that the Arab Palestinians don't deserve or desire the right to self determination, well, that is just complete BS.
I NEVER said that. I do believe they have and deserve and desire the right to self rule. I just said that Arafat turned down the opportunity because it did not give him 100% of what he asked for (right of return). If you think the "right of return" is not unreasonalbe, then we can't go on with this discussion.
America screwed the "indians" (native north americans)...No doubt. But it is a little late for them to expect the return of Manhatten for instance. Is it a sad and embarassing chapter in our history? Absolutely. Worse, to me, than the treatment the arabs got in Israel. They (the arabs) were NOT forced to leave. They always had rights as citizens if they wanted. UNLIKE American Indians.
The reservations they were relocated to in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada are the most inhospitable desolate and depressing parcels of land I have ever seen. The beautiful land they got in Colorado and Montana is just that. Beautiful, but not liveable. Oklahoma? Never been there, so I can't say. At least they got some oil there. But if the oil was known about then, you can bet they wouldn't have gotten it.
You also said I put forth that "jews are good and arabs bad". Where did I say that? I think the arab leaders are self serving and not good for their people. I think a lot of Israels leaders are guilty of terrorism and worse. I don't think that too many leaders (heads of state) anywhere really are representative of their populace. Including here.
My best friend in the world is Syrian. He now lives in Brooklyn. He has relatives in Israel as well as Syria. But he can not go to Israel to see them. If he does, he can never re-enter Syria. I could go on for quite a while about how he feels about al-Assad and the rest, but this is getting old.
All I ever meant to say was to resolve the crisis in the middle east would take money and education. If you don't agree, then there is nothing further to discuss. Keeping the "palestinians" and the Iraqis and Libyans in line requires them to be kept un-educated.
And yes, terrorism does pay. Not for the suicide bombers (maybe a little for their families), but they are just brainwashed pawns.
If you don't believe that there is a profit motive for Saddam and Arafat, then I suggest you give it a little more thought. You see them on the front lines? How many times has Arafat run away? Where was Saddam during the gulf war? Where was Bin Laden when the bombs fell? Sure as hell not leading the troops!