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Subject: 
Re: jumping to conclusions
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Mon, 22 Apr 2002 11:38:55 GMT
Viewed: 
1468 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Scott Arthur writes:

Here's an image for you:  Palestinians dancing and celebrating in the streets
after 9-11.  No sympathy here, buster.

I did not expect an answer from you on this. The reality is that anyone who
did celebrate the loss of life on September-11 probably would view those
killed as being supporters of the “Zionist oppressor/aggressor/whatever”.
That is, in the same simplistic manner you think all Palestinians are
terrorists; they may well have viewed all US citizens as their oppressors.

Having this discussion with you is futile-- I *never* said that I thought all
Palestinians are terrorists.

I said:

"My views on human rights and international law, together with my
understanding of recent middle-east history, leads me to sympathize with the
Palestinian people, not with "PLO terrorists". I hope you understand the
distinction between the two."

You said:
"Sorry, there isn't one."

ie: You think there is not distinction between the Palestinian people and
"PLO terrorists"?

Just what were your grounds for saying I support "PLO terrorists"? Do you
have any?


From your "sighs" in previous posts, it seems to
me that you think that you have such a superior command of facts.

Not really. I was disappointed by your view - that is all, but in the
remainder of this message you appear to think you have “such a superior
command of facts”(?).


Have you ever been to Israel?

No, but a fellow Scot recently tried to go:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1935000/1935195.stm


Have you ever even spoken with a Palestinian?

Yes.

Or
is *your* information simply your daily dosage of BBC poured down your throat?


No. But a recent report I read suggested that the media tended to have a
pro-Israeli stance. Rather than alleging some sort of international media
conspiracy, perhaps you should *consider* the argument that Israel is an
oppressor of the Palestine people?

It might surprise you to learn that I *have* been to Israel, I have met many
Palestinians, I have played basketball and soccer with their children in
Ramallah and Nablus, I have even studied the Arab-Israeli dilemma from a
professor at Beirzeit University-- so I have first hand knowledge of the
problems there.

The University Israel “blockaded”:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4152570,00.html

What did studying the “Arab-Israeli dilemma” do for you? Did it lead you to
feel that international law and UN resolutions should be upheld or ignored?



All of the Palestinians I met were fine and peace-loving people.  My point is
that they are not being well served by PLO terrorist leadership.  They have,
unfortunate as it may be, backed the wrong horse.  And they will continue to be
frustrated in their nationalistic endeavors until they choose peace over their
allegiance to Arafat and the PLO.  There could (should!) have been peace *
decades* ago!

Who else can they turn to? International law is on their side. UN
resolutions support them... but still justice has not been served.


Let's see the Palestinians take the "high ground".  No more terrorism, period.

I assume you mean from both sides?

And let's see an unequivocal acknowledgment from the Arab world of the right for
Israel to exist as a sovereign nation.

Is that not what is being offered right now? What has the Israeli response been?

It must begin with them, because it is
not reasonable for the world to expect Israel to answer terrorist attacks
against her citizens with inaction, or to expect them to negotiate peace with a
group who is simultaneously inflicting terrorist attacks upon them.

Nor is it acceptable to allow Israel to kill civilians in the manner they
do; an Israeli civilian is worth no more/less than a Palestinian. If you
have studied the "Arab-Israeli dilemma" you will know that Israel has been a
belligerent nation with a shocking record on human rights since its UDI.
Your view appears to be that this is a battle of good v evil - I reject that
notion totally.  I agree that Arafat is a problem, but the same can be said
of Sharon – both have blood on their hands. Do you deny that?

Who “started” the current round of violence?


But I don't believe it will happen, because the Arab world loves its hatred for
the Jews more than it cares about the plight of the Palestinians-- it's as
simple as that.  Unfortunately, the Palestinians are caught in the middle.


Your stated view is a generalisation. But why do you think that “hate” exists?

Time will tell, and the longer this drags on, the more I will be proven right.

Time will tell. Perhaps this will end when the USA stops funding Israel to
the tune of ~$2.5B pa. Perhaps that will force Israel to negotiate?

Scott A


-John



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: jumping to conclusions
 
(...) I think I clarified that. I said that if they *support* terrorists, they are as *culpable* as terrorists. Since the PLO represents them, they are in the unfortunate position of supporting terrorism. They are being woefully misled. Or (...) (...) (22 years ago, 22-Apr-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: jumping to conclusions
 
(...) Having this discussion with you is futile-- I *never* said that I thought all Palestinians are terrorists. From your "sighs" in previous posts, it seems to me that you think that you have such a superior command of facts. Have you ever been to (...) (22 years ago, 22-Apr-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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