tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post738201166563278363..comments2024-03-26T07:51:43.186+00:00Comments on Mabinogogiblog: Is Israel racist? Yes, but there is a peaceful solution.DocRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-84352537417733160902010-01-18T12:15:48.884+00:002010-01-18T12:15:48.884+00:00Hello Aquatic Gardener
You say "OK, but the...Hello Aquatic Gardener <br />You say "OK, but the fact is that the kill ratio is more than 10 Palestinians dead for every Israeli dead."<br /><br /> This does not indicate racism. It's indicates that Israel has a better defense. <br /><br />I did not advance the kill ratio as evidence of racism. This is what I said: "The Israelis would say that much of their oppressive behaviour (e.g. Gaza 2009) is because of Palestinian provocation. OK, but the fact is that the kill ratio is more than 10 Palestinians dead for every Israeli dead)"<br /><br />This is the problem with deeply polarised debates like this: each side projects onto the other side their memories of past debates, not what is being said now.<br /><br /><br />You say: "The better question is "Which side has declared as it's stated goal the destruction of the other?"<br /><br />OK, that would be Hamas, in its deeply unpleasant Charter, which some parts of the Hamas spectrum would like to revise, so I believe. <br /> <br /><br />Then you say: "The Israelis have the ability to destory but no desire, while the Palestinains have the desire but no ability".<br /><br />Nice bon mot, but weak in the "but no desire" department. Looking at the history of Israel, we see continual expansionism, and looking at Operation Cast Lead, we see the ability to destroy acted out, and looking at the continued blockade, we see a policy that is designed to impoverish, disempower and punish an entire people.<br /><br />Before you respond to this, please understand that I am not a rabid pro-Palestinian leftie destroy-Israel apparatchik. Equally, I am probably seen as a right wing, pro-Israeli, pro-US stooge by the Pro-Palestinian lobby.<br /><br />What I am is a political ecologist, a Green, who happens to believe that human life must be founded on the ability of the land to sustain our needs, and that co-operation in securing those needs holds the key to peace and sustainability.<br /><br />Shalom. Salaam.DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-69733134058079052382010-01-17T20:47:57.963+00:002010-01-17T20:47:57.963+00:00"OK, but the fact is that the kill ratio is m..."OK, but the fact is that the kill ratio is more than 10 Palestinians dead for every Israeli dead."<br /><br />This does not indicate racism. It's indicates that Israel has a better defense. The better question is "Which side has declared as it's staed goal the destruction of the other?"<br /><br />You're confusing ambition with ability. The Israelis have the ability to destory but no desire, while the Palestinains have the desire but no ability.The Aquatic Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697362010044402731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-18171981383955310672009-04-22T12:23:00.000+01:002009-04-22T12:23:00.000+01:00Hi Adrian,
Thanks for commenting. My reply is lon...Hi Adrian,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting. My reply is long, and I have posted it as a new piece - see above.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />RichardDocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-55607591897367714192009-04-21T23:41:00.000+01:002009-04-21T23:41:00.000+01:00If you think Israel is racist because it is a Jewi...If you think Israel is racist because it is a Jewish state, then what of the Islamic states; Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia... Are you willing to attack all of them? <br /><br />Ahmedinajad is just a politician saying what his people want to hear. Judge Iran after reading http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2004/06/06/dead-their-coffins 'The Iranian authorities have managed, in the span of four years, to virtually silence the political opposition within the country through the systematic use of indefinite solitary confinement of political prisoners, physical torture of student activists, and denial of basic due process rights to all those detained for the expression of dissenting views.'<br /><br />'Has Israel treated Palestinians unfairly?' I think you need to look at more than this years war to answer that. Read this http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/mf18.html<br />'Arabs in Israel have equal voting rights; in fact, it is one of the few places in the Middle East where Arab women may vote'Adrian Windischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16306364832746111534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-28567042748171265552009-04-21T23:39:00.000+01:002009-04-21T23:39:00.000+01:00I may (or may not0 be pompous, but I am definitely...I may (or may not0 be pompous, but I am definitely not anti-Israel. In the deeply polarised debate, I am very much trying to see both sides. The Gaza action has radicalised me a lot.<br /><br />I am definitely not making the case for Ahmedinajad; just saying that he has a point about Israel and racism. Israel needs to make some radical reforms to its behaviour; and the Water Project will help this to come about.DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-56116353062993669162009-04-21T23:08:00.000+01:002009-04-21T23:08:00.000+01:00Unfortunately Richard people like you are the reas...Unfortunately Richard people like you are the reason people like me will not be voting Green. Despite being an old labour 'socialist' and agreeing with a lot of green policies, when you get on your pompous anti-Israel horse I just switch off and feel quite antagonistic. Ahmedinejad is a foul man, get over it and stop all the middle class apologism. You can advocate a 'progressive' approach to the middle east without making a case for a gay-hating, jew-hating loon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-79234886496816720862009-04-21T23:00:00.000+01:002009-04-21T23:00:00.000+01:00Words are loose cannons. I often look up the preci...Words are loose cannons. I often look up the precise meaning of words when reading such posts, particularly on this subject, but I don’t blog about it. Nor do I assume that the writer has used the precise definition.Alice [W]noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-39722262735425341222009-04-21T22:17:00.000+01:002009-04-21T22:17:00.000+01:00Nuanced: " a subtle difference in meaning or opini...Nuanced: " a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude".<br />(This dictionary stuff is habit-forming).<br /><br />Well, the difference between the two communities are anything but subtle.<br /><br />When highly charged words like racism are being used, it is vital to keep an eye on what concepts exactly are being signified by the words. It was interesting that one of the dictionaries suggests that the race word has no precise meaning, and should be avoided.<br /><br />I start here btw:<br />http://www.onelook.com/DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-24120727730491052982009-04-21T21:31:00.000+01:002009-04-21T21:31:00.000+01:00I've been undertaking a Masters Degree in National...I've been undertaking a Masters Degree in Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict. Who knew all the answers could be found in dictionaries?!<br /><br />I'd say the reality of the situation is more nuanced than even the most verbose dictionary might be capable of describing.Green Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00213685949038895130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-75431482916535885292009-04-21T20:10:00.000+01:002009-04-21T20:10:00.000+01:00Hi Anon
I meant the suggestion that the Green Par...Hi Anon<br /><br />I meant the suggestion that the Green Party should run this line in the Euro election is getting its first public airing here. Sorry if this was unclear. If you follow the "water" label, or the linked sentence about harvesting every drop, you will see that I have referenced the FoE Middle East work, and it is this work that I believe the Green Party should foster, encourage, and expand on.<br /><br />I've amended the line now, but you're right, the read it here first is a bit pompous, and I will not use it again. Promise.<br /><br />Thanks for the link to the PLO site; it is very encouraging that they are working on it too.DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192922.post-44406111969635313892009-04-21T12:05:00.000+01:002009-04-21T12:05:00.000+01:00"Remember you read it here first."
Are ..."Remember you read it here first."<br /><br />Are you sure you are not just slightly arrogant? Do you really think that Israelis and Palestinians are waiting for you to engage in collaboration on the theme of the environment and water?<br /><br />Just one example here:<br /><br />http://greensengage.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/friends-of-the-earth-middle-east-receives-award-for-water-and-peace-activities/<br /><br />And another here:<br />http://www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=3&id=1358Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com