Let's begin once again with your bent for the obtuse.
You said, "Also, are you seriously comparing treatment of Arabs in Israel with repressed societies elsewhere? There are Arab political parties, an Arab served on Israel's Supreme Court and basic rights are guaranteed. Thats not to sat there arent problems in Israel-- but what free country doesnt have problems. Ask Quebecois or Albertans in Canada, Hispanic and African Americans in the US or Basques in Spain and France, for example."
Huh? What in god's name is that all about? Let me tell you YET AGAIN - perhaps you'll catch it this time, although I'm not holding out much hope.
I am NOT INTERESTED--let's repeat--I am NOT INTERESTED in playing the numbers or comparisons game, for that's exactly what it is--a bloody game--YOUR game. Try to keep in mind that behind numbers and comparisons are individuals--let me repeat--individuals--who like you and me are complex human beings--flesh, blood, nerves, families, hopes, dreams, histories. When you reduce an argument to numbers you marginalize people. Numbers are abstract, faceless, and impersonal. They help you to minimalize the true character of suffering. You see this reflected in the news. 911. Reports come in, "The number of dead could be as many as 9-10,000 people. Yes, the number of people who are generally in the Trade Towers after 8 in the morning is approximately that number." Next report: "We are hearing from our sources on the ground that our earlier numbers may be a bit high, but we'll keep you posted." And on and on it went--the importance of the story were the numbers the media was able to deliver to the public sitting by their TV sets watching the horrors unfold. Watch the stories. In our society, numbers talk; numbers are used for exploitation on any number of levels.
We need to be far more interested in WHY these events take place at all. We need to focus on the origins of terror. We need to explore indepth what drives people to do the things they do. But, we're all surface--we like the rush--we like the drama. We love to obscure, beat around the push, spin, etc. Contrary to what the media feeds you, the numbers AREN'T the story.
I'm sure you don't mean to suggest that a Jew killed under the Nazis because he was one of 1,000,000 killed has more significance or importance than a Palestinian killed under the Israelis who's one of only 100,000 killed. But when you engage in numbers and comparisons I can only infer that that is exactly what you're saying. You are in essence minimalizing what's happening to the Palestinians.
What's going on with the Palestinians stems from the time when the Israelis muscled in on Arab land. What the U.N. did was wrong and everything going on today in that region of the world stems from that decision.
I offer the following for you to read:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/irae-j21.shtml
and
[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/isr2-j23.shtml
You said, "Also, are you seriously comparing treatment of Arabs in Israel with repressed societies elsewhere? There are Arab political parties, an Arab served on Israel's Supreme Court and basic rights are guaranteed. Thats not to sat there arent problems in Israel-- but what free country doesnt have problems. Ask Quebecois or Albertans in Canada, Hispanic and African Americans in the US or Basques in Spain and France, for example."
Huh? What in god's name is that all about? Let me tell you YET AGAIN - perhaps you'll catch it this time, although I'm not holding out much hope.
I am NOT INTERESTED--let's repeat--I am NOT INTERESTED in playing the numbers or comparisons game, for that's exactly what it is--a bloody game--YOUR game. Try to keep in mind that behind numbers and comparisons are individuals--let me repeat--individuals--who like you and me are complex human beings--flesh, blood, nerves, families, hopes, dreams, histories. When you reduce an argument to numbers you marginalize people. Numbers are abstract, faceless, and impersonal. They help you to minimalize the true character of suffering. You see this reflected in the news. 911. Reports come in, "The number of dead could be as many as 9-10,000 people. Yes, the number of people who are generally in the Trade Towers after 8 in the morning is approximately that number." Next report: "We are hearing from our sources on the ground that our earlier numbers may be a bit high, but we'll keep you posted." And on and on it went--the importance of the story were the numbers the media was able to deliver to the public sitting by their TV sets watching the horrors unfold. Watch the stories. In our society, numbers talk; numbers are used for exploitation on any number of levels.
We need to be far more interested in WHY these events take place at all. We need to focus on the origins of terror. We need to explore indepth what drives people to do the things they do. But, we're all surface--we like the rush--we like the drama. We love to obscure, beat around the push, spin, etc. Contrary to what the media feeds you, the numbers AREN'T the story.
I'm sure you don't mean to suggest that a Jew killed under the Nazis because he was one of 1,000,000 killed has more significance or importance than a Palestinian killed under the Israelis who's one of only 100,000 killed. But when you engage in numbers and comparisons I can only infer that that is exactly what you're saying. You are in essence minimalizing what's happening to the Palestinians.
What's going on with the Palestinians stems from the time when the Israelis muscled in on Arab land. What the U.N. did was wrong and everything going on today in that region of the world stems from that decision.
I offer the following for you to read:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/irae-j21.shtml
and
[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/isr2-j23.shtml
