http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Tue, 6 Apr 2004 15:10:00 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-56342 Bravo! Some one has noticed that most Catholics don't know about their own Church. It is just sad that there is no recognition, tough, to the fact that Jesus only founded one Church and to the fact that the only one Church, which can link itself to the one Jesus founded upon Peter, is the Catholic Church. Catholics are the only ones that can say that they can link Pope John Paul II, to Peter. 263 Popes in between in a direct chain. 56342@blogcritics.org Tue, 6 Apr 2004 15:10:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50474 Dear Cameron, as for your response, I feel that Eric has answered it. While it's not a policy of the Army to purposefully harm the innocents, not all the Israeli soldiers are angels, and things are getting worse from day to day. Remember that not long ago an young Jewish Israeli was shot by an Israeli soldier, and wounded, while demostrating against the Wall. Remember on the other hand the young woman at the Gazza post (where Palestinians leave for work in Israel) who told Security that she has some metal implanted in her knee, which will cause the alarm to ring, was let in - only to blow herself up. It is an insufferable and most painful situation. If indeed the army is about to leave behind the Gazza strip, and the Palestinian Authority will take charge, then maybe we are about to witness a change for the better. The Israel soldiers and their parents will be for sure only happy. I'm not that sure the Hamass & Co. will happily accept unemployment, as the Madrid tragedy yesterday proved. As for my writing, if you'll click on my name you'll be taken to my multilingual web-site wich has a large English section and gives lots of information about my writing. 50474@blogcritics.org Thu, 11 Mar 2004 19:45:34 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50465 Oh, sweet Shaun, why is it worst to have understanding? Isn't it something one should strive for throughout life? And don't you fear that when questioning Eric's right of opinion because he is not from my region, you deny yours as well? Now, take three days to meditate honestly and in depths on these, and then respond, please. You might be surprised how different your response will be by then. Keep growing! 50465@blogcritics.org Thu, 11 Mar 2004 19:14:24 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50446 "Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ" Where did all the posts go? 50446@blogcritics.org Thu, 11 Mar 2004 16:59:48 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50415 Eric what gives you the right to say cameron is wrong. You have no idea what it is really like over there. He lived there!! The only person i have seen that has any right to argue with cameron on this topic is corinna because she lives it every day. And the worst part is that she seems to be the most understanding one on this site. 50415@blogcritics.org Thu, 11 Mar 2004 15:33:49 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50411 Eric, why are some of the Passion of crist sites people were posting on showing zero posts 50411@blogcritics.org Thu, 11 Mar 2004 15:29:23 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50221 No, they most certainly do not murder innocent civilians, in fact they go out of their way to avoid such a thing, sometimes to their own physical detriment. Are their mistakes, accidents, civilian casualties? yes, and this is always tragic, but it is not intentional, it is not a policy of the state and the people. 50221@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 19:29:47 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50220 "Cameron, that is exactly your problem: that you cannot differentiate between the methods and ideals of the Israelis and the methods and ideals of Hamas and its ilk."... How is that a problem? I think both groups murder innocent civilians. Are you suggesting that i support the methods of the IDF? As if their methods do not just add to the cycle of violence. 50220@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 19:26:29 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50216 Cameron, that is exactly your problem: that you cannot differentiate between the methods and ideals of the Israelis and the methods and ideals of Hamas and its ilk. 50216@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 19:06:12 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50206 "The point is not the Hammas via IDF - I agree with you that Hamas via innocent children is a much easier task. Are the Hamas intent of liberating Palestine from Israeli children, women, the old and the innocent?"... Yes, unfortunately it probably is their atrocious method, just as the muder of the innocent is the IDF's method in the Palestinian territories. I cannot even differentiate between the 2 groups when it comes to the death of civilians. I am also interested to know what you usually write about. Because I have been indulging in a little writing lately also. 50206@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 18:07:46 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50200 I agree with you Shark re the Internet. I'm daily gratified. How could I otherwise have met you people? You can imagine what a great contradiction it is to the lonelines experienced here, and how much it empowers me to be able to reach out to the world. In my Hebrew blog not only am I able to voice my support for peace and nonsupport for the goverment, but also somehow with the Internet we are able to learn how many we are, and how much room there still is, thanks to this, for better times. I also agree with you re the indigenous, I believe we all are the indigenous of the same planet, the only problem makers being the ones who must have it all and do not hesitate to gamble with our lives, not theirs. Now I must go back to my writing. I've been running wild for too long and am about to be fired by Corinna Hasofferett... 50200@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 17:47:07 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50191 Dear Cameron, I'm not telling you what you are thinking or feeling, I'm telling you how your statements are perceived when ambivalent. If you percieve my writing as aggressive, then maybe it's time you visit my website and get to know me a bit better. I do appreciate your compassion and hope that your next visit to the region will be longer and to both Palestine and Israel and then you'll be able to learn the mirrored situation on the other side of The Wall The biblical name is "the land of Canaan". That's the Promised land Moses led the tribes of Israel to. The Pleshet family tribe, is mentioned in the Bible as making a pact with Abraham. Can you imagine a large population making a pact with this small family of Abraham? Originally from the neighboring Northern islands of the Mediterranian the Pleshet were too weak to fight the Greece invasions and drifted toward the seaside of Canaan in growing numbers until they outnumbered the 12 tribes of Israel now settled in regions of Canaan/The Promised Land, following Joshua's conquest. After the 7th century AD, with the Islamic conquest, Canaan became known by the Arabic word - philistinne. (I hope I'm spelling it correctly in English). Hence the word Palestine, coined much later by the Western world. During the British colonization every resident here, Jewish, Arab, Greek, Turkish, was considered Palestinian by the British Authority. For the people of Israel their ancestors' name held a much greater appeal. Indeed my argument was that we shouldn't readress the historical/biblical names. A name is one's identity. With all the indigenous people of old gone, there remained here two nationalities, the Arab Palestinian and the Israelis. It so happens that those names are manipulated by fundamentalists on both side as an argument for sole ownership of the sunny region. Please do go thorough your writings and see why I was misled into believing you have adopted the Islamist slogans crying aloud: We've been here before, it's our land from time immemorial, we alone own this land and not those foreigners, who have recently appeared here out of the blue. Only because of this I'm dealing with the names issue. In my opinion it is a private issue and not an argument. The real issue is the Present and how can we deal with it in a rational way. The point is not the Hammas via IDF - I agree with you that Hamas via innocent children is a much easier task. Are the Hamas intent of liberating Palestine from Israeli children, women, the old and the innocent? All they achieved was to bring enough people to such despair and mistrust that enabled Sharon'e election and goverment. Same goes for the horrible situation in the Palestinian Authority regions. For me and for Both our peoples here those are not arguments but fateful issues touching our very existence. So I always appreciate clearly and well informed attitudes. I'm happy we seem to have now so many points of mutual agreement. If only Sharon and Arafat were doing half that well. 50191@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 17:28:53 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50130 Shaun Right back at ya buddy. I was being sincere and generous, but hell if you are too ignorant to know the definition of ignorance, let me provide it for you: igˇnoˇrance [ ígnərəns ] noun 1. lack of knowledge: lack of knowledge or education 2. unawareness: unawareness of something, often of something important Have a nice day. 50130@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 15:51:20 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50127 "that by using it you appropriate old and undying slogans of fierce Palestinian and Arab fundamentalists?"... Palestine was the name before any of that even existed. So would you like me to readdress the documented historical name just because some people take pride in it? Good one. "You state that throughout history people were wandering to new places and countries, that the conquest of America was part of this trend, and then you bring into this crowd the fortunate children of Israel. Is it so?"... Yes. doesn't history state so? Jewish/Hebrew history even proclaims that. & I am not condemning the "fortunate children of Israel" for living there under any circumstances whatsoever. Again. what is your arguement? "Were the European pioneers in America stateless people discriminated against and living daily in fear for their lives? Had the Anglo Saxons etc. prayed "Next Year in New York"? Had they among their rituals fasted in memory of expulsions and the destruction of the Temple of Columbus?"... No. Where in any of my comments do i even give this impression? "Everywhere, and for two thousand years the Jewish people were subserviant to the kings and lords, sometimes somehow suffered, allways derided. debased, used as the scapegoat to manipulate peoples' frustration and anger away from the real cause."... I never denied this. So, again where is the arguement? "Then, the first part of your argument states that "The Palestinians are descendants of the Philistines, Canaanites, and even the Phoenicians. So the Jews technically were not the original inhabitants, but the indigenous peoples had no problem with the Jews living there, in fact they lived together in harmony.""... The indigenous people consisted of everyone. I am in no way saying the Jews should not live there! You are quoting me, and giving no real alternative arguement to my comments. "You claim time and again that the Palestinian terrorists are not terrorists, all they want is to liberate their country. It it were true, they would have fought the army and not antagonize the whole people of Israel."... Hamas vs. IDF...hmmm. No need to even reply. "They are blunt/honest enough to declare that the Land of Israel from sea to sea is theirs alone and that they won't accept less than Everything."... Everyone knows this, so why are you re-stating this? Did i deny this fact? "In such an atmosphere of complete misery, despair and mistrust, is it a wonder that Sharon came to be chosen? He can only thank Hamas & Co."... Again, did anyone deny this? Hamas & Co. could also thank the Israeli government for their existence. "The Occupation is not a major factor but a symptom"... If the occupation is not a "major factor", then why is there fighting? That is the main factor. & no one is saying it is not the governments fault. "In a fierce debate, it takes action - not words - by either a real leader from among the two (like Saadat) or an outside Moderator (like Carter) or both, to cut in and stop those horses leading us, and not only us, to a horrible disaster."... Agreed. "Judgemental attitudes against one of the parties are futile and contribute no good, to say the least."... Also agreed. I have to say that in all of your "arguements", i did not see any real opposition to anything i had to say. They were more like aggressive reiterations. 50127@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 15:37:56 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50117 Corinna, thanks for the lessons. You give me hope, just the tiniest, but any amount is rare these days. I had to pause for a moment to consider the internet --- what an incredible blessing it is to be able to have a real-time conversation with an Israeli citizen. How the riotous rabble of a typical 'message board' knee-deep in impersonal accusations and abstractions can play host to the real words of a real person living in that 'abstraction' and reporting the concrete realities to the faceless disembodied. And how that could divert the flood of evil, one drop at a time. Shalom. PS: re.#4 - In the long march of history, there really are NO "indigenous" peoples, as we're all from somewhere else--- and great-great-grandfather was probably the same guy. 50117@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 15:21:18 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50107 Bowing deeply in all directions while heavily bombed with flowers... 50107@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 14:57:21 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50093 I'll second that Eric...ty Corinna 50093@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 14:31:55 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50061 Thanks Corinna, reasonable, knowledgable and authoritative. I am pleased to hear my conception of the situation is not inconsistent with your own. 50061@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 12:28:40 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-50054 Hi Cameron. Is there a rational reason to communicate not that politely, to put it gently? Will it help you argument or harm it? I've read and am reading you in full. I feel that one half of each sentence and paragraph of yours pulls to one direction while the other half seems to push it's conclusion to an opposite one. It's bound to be misguiding, especially as you enforce your statement with the pronounciation of a Witness. I'm living here, not on a short visit, so I had the opportunity to witness, and quite actively, the reality in both Israel and the Occupied Territories. 1. You pronounce that "Palestine is the name of the country recorded in the history and scriptures. It derives from the name of its ORIGINAL inhabitants, the Philistines, which the Old Testament books of Genesis, Deuteronomy and Joshua acknowledge." History and the scriptures have it wrong when they call parts of it The Land of Israel? Don't you realize that this argument leads to denial of the right of Israel to revival and return to their homeland, that by using it you appropriate old and undying slogans of fierce Palestinian and Arab fundamentalists? 2. You state that throughout history people were wandering to new places and countries, that the conquest of America was part of this trend, and then you bring into this crowd the fortunate children of Israel. Is it so? Were the European pioneers in America stateless people discriminated against and living daily in fear for their lives? Had the Anglo Saxons etc. prayed "Next Year in New York"? Had they among their rituals fasted in memory of expulsions and the destruction of the Temple of Columbus? 3. Everywhere, and for two thousand years the Jewish people were subserviant to the kings and lords, sometimes somehow suffered, allways derided. debased, used as the scapegoat to manipulate peoples' frustration and anger away from the real cause. 4. Then, the first part of your argument states that "The Palestinians are descendants of the Philistines, Canaanites, and even the Phoenicians. So the Jews technically were not the original inhabitants, but the indigenous peoples had no problem with the Jews living there, in fact they lived together in harmony." So who are the indigenous? The invaders? 5. As for "harmony", rest assured that the British and the Arab fundamentalists created as much harmony as possible with their Divide and Rule methods. All these in a time when there was no State of Israel, no Israeli Greatest Army in the World, and a definite agreement was reached by the Israeli community and leadership to have "two States to two Peoples". 6. You claim time and again that the Palestinian terrorists are not terrorists, all they want is to liberate their country. It it were true, they would have fought the army and not antagonize the whole people of Israel. They are blunt/honest enough to declare that the Land of Israel from sea to sea is theirs alone and that they won't accept less than Everything. This is the goal of their liberation struggle, of their killings within Israel - to terrorize the innocents into despair and "return" to the Diaspora's joys. 7. In such an atmosphere of complete misery, despair and mistrust, is it a wonder that Sharon came to be chosen? He can only thank Hamas & Co. no less than Arafat, Hamas & Co. owe their thanks to the present goverment (and both to the man who assasinated Rabin) for their popularity. 8. The Occupation is not a major factor but a symptom and outcome of two goverments far from being benign, intelligent and farsighted. 9. In a fierce debate, it takes action - not words - by either a real leader from among the two (like Saadat) or an outside Moderator (like Carter) or both, to cut in and stop those horses leading us, and not only us, to a horrible disaster. The situation is insane, with extremists on both sides driving us, Israelis and Palestinians, madly into a vicious cycle. Judgemental attitudes against one of the parties are futile and contribute no good, to say the least. 50054@blogcritics.org Wed, 10 Mar 2004 12:14:01 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-49976 "Do you mean the immigrants who settled in North America? They were also pegged pioneers while they were killing and robbing the American indigenous."... That is exactly what i mean. What's the argument? "Your honest conclusion should be to pack and go back to the country you or your ancestors immigrated from and return the land to the remnants of the indigenuous who, as far as I know, live in "reservations"."... Nowhere in any of my comments did i suggest anyone return to "the country your ancestors immigrated from". So you are not reading previous commentary. "Both the Palestinian and the Israelis have right to the land of Canaan. There is enough room for everybody."... Again, what do you think i have been saying for the last 3 or 4 comments? Jeez read them thoroughly or don't comment. 49976@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Mar 2004 22:25:57 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-49953 Should be of course not BC but: "7th century AD The land of Canaan, including the Land of Israel became a predominately Arab and Islamic country by the end of the seventh century with the Arab Islamic conquest." 49953@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Mar 2004 20:43:38 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-49934 "the Palestinians, who are ruled with a iron hand, threats of vigilante murder, by a corrupt gang of thieves."... Who told you Palestinians were ruled by an iron fist? Have you been there? Have you seen this? I was just there a couple of months ago and saw nothing of that sort, nor did i hear any Palestinian complain about how the PA is mistreating them, in fact the PA is not governing enough, so how can it rule with an iron fist? However, they did complain about the ongoing Israeli occupation that has devestated the political, economic, and social infastructure in the areas. The Palestinians cannot even begin to feel the effects of the PA's supposed "iron fist" whith the Israeli military breathing down their necks. I am totally opposed to the Palestinian Authority (absolutely despise them, as do most of the Palestinians themselves), & nobody is denying the fact that there is corruption, but can you honestly say there isn't any corruption in the Israeli government (i.e. Ariel Sharon & his son taking bribes from businessmen, Sharon's war trials, etc.) I am sure every Palestinian would tell you he would rather have the freedom or right to be ruled by the iron fist of his own people, rather than the iron fist of a foreign people. "state sponsored terrorism against Israel"... Hmmm...and the IDF is not a state-sponsored terrorist wing of the govt? "what they really want is the eradication of the state of Israel"... I have already responded to virtually this exact comment that you have previously posted. "What Israel wants at this point is security - only the Palestinians can give it to them. Only the palestinians can stop the dance of death, Israel isn't going anywhere."... Of course Israel wants security, but the Palestinians want the security of knowing they will not be shot for getting milk from the grocery store, they want the security of knowing their house will not be confiscated to build more settlements for foreign-born Jews, they want the security of knowing they will not be spit on, beaten up, and humiliated for no reason. You actually think that a people that is going through all these things & have absolutely no power & freedom can provide security? or is it the wealthy occuppying power (that has one of the strongest militaries in the world) that can actually provide it? 49934@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Mar 2004 19:42:40 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-49931 Oh, my! I feel like a little child sitting under the table and listening to the adults discussing her in different terms... Just a few examples, as I cannot write too much (being a writer I am my own boss, and I might be fired if I take too long). 1. Tyra. "...Anyone who says the Jews were not responbsible for Jesus' death obviously did not read the same bible I did." Can you bring me a quotation from the Bible I've been reading all my life or from the New Testament stating that the Jews were responsible for Jesus death? How many Jews did it take to kill our Joseph? There might have been then only a few hundred thousands Hebrew people. Probably not enough since some Romans had to chip in and do the job... Do you realize that this is a generalization, the same one that was instilled in yours and your ancestors' teaching generation upon generation? Are you going to pass it on to your children and grandchildren? 2. Cameron: "...When the Americans were fighting for independence from the British, they used many unconventional methods of fighting, hit-and-run attacks, & self-sacrifice missions, but they were pegged freedom-fighters." Do you mean the immigrants who settled in North America? They were also pegged pioneers while they were killing and robbing the American indigenous. "...Palestine is the name recorded in the history and scriptures of the country. It derives from the name of its ORIGINAL inhabitants, the Philistines, which the Old Testament books of Genesis, Deuteronomy and Joshua acknowledge." Let's face history: 3000 - 1100 B.C., Canaanite civilization covered what is today Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon and much of Syria and Jordan... ca 1,800 BC., Israeli conquest of Canaan. 2nd century AD: Romans destroy the second Temple and expell the Israelis. 7th century BC The land of Canaan, including the Land of Israel became a predominately Arab and Islamic country by the end of the seventh century with the Arab Islamic conquest. Cameron, we have a proverb in Hebrew: "Whoever lives in a glass house, should not throw stones". Your honest conclusion should be to pack and go back to the country you or your ancestors immigrated from and return the land to the remnants of the indigenuous who, as far as I know, live in "reservations". Both the Palestinian and the Israelis have right to the land of Canaan. There is enough room for everybody. The majority of people in Israel want peace, do not support the settlements and are fed up with the situation no less than the regular Palestinian. Right now we are ruled by insanity and fanatic extremists. Don't ask what the Middle East can do for you. Ask what you can DO for both thy Palestinian and Israeli neighbors. 49931@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Mar 2004 19:40:40 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-49922 Whether or not the settlements are illegal, I disagreee with them and think they are bad policy. So do a large number of Israelis. I do not think the government of Israel is perfect or above reproach, and neither do the Israeilis themselves: they are among the most contentious electorates on earth. But they are an electorate unlike any other country in the Middle East, or certainly the Palestinians, who are ruled with a iron hand, threats of vigilante murder, by a corrupt gang of thieves. The Palestinians have every right to negotiate for the best deal they can get - it's a political not military matter - but in order to do so they must stop what amounts to state sponsored terrorism against Israel. Will they get exactly what they want? No, because a) what they really want is the eradication of the state of Israel b) if they do finally negotiate in good faith, no one ever gets everything they want. What Israel wants at this point is security - only the Palestinians can give it to them. Only the palestinians can stop the dance of death, Israel isn't going anywhere. 49922@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Mar 2004 19:01:43 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/03/01/013127.php#comment-49876 "The Isrealis will dismantle the settlements, pull back some and agree to be good neighbors."... "Figures released by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics show that new building in Jewish settlements increased last year by 35%. Human rights organisations say that there are around 400,000 settlers in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza living in more than 120 settlements. Under international law, the settlements are considered illegal...the increase, in what is known here as 'settlement activity', confirms what everyone here already knows: that in this particular area, Israel has ignored its obligations as set out in the international peace plan, the roadmap...the news that settlement housing has increased would seem to be odds with the fact that Mr Sharon has recently pledged to evacuate settlers from the Gaza Strip as part of his own so-called disengagement plan...certainly, many Palestinians are sceptical that a full withdrawal from Gaza will ever take place." - By James Reynolds BBC correspondent in Jerusalem Now I know you are going to reply and say "well the Palestinians have not owned up to their part", but how are the Palestinians going to have the desire to do their part when the Israelis are still conducting land confiscations and expansion of ILLEGAL settlements on Palestinian territory? 49876@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Mar 2004 16:28:36 EST