h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks Infie for the link at 31. Informative and challenging. Compare this from the Los Angeles Times (and I think they were trying to be even-handed):

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-primer7-2009jan07,0,6700894.story

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"The revolutionary power of love has showed its face many times changing deplorable situations into satisfactory ones. It can´t be too late."

Thanks Mar for these words of sense and compassion in among the rhetoric of politicians and the unmoving entrenched stance of the protagonists. Please be assured that there are those on the ground in Israel/Palestine who are attempting just that.

I know it, elD. They deserve all kind of consideration. Most of them are religious people. So, although I´m not religious,nor a believer in God, I have a lot of respect for those ones so highly committed. Don´t know what is their force, why they risk their lifes, but I admire them a lot. As I admire those of the Liberation Theology and at the same time I despise the Vatican or the Spanish hierarchic church.

I could be named atheist, but then I find so many ignorant atheists, so irrespectful, so arrogant... that don´t know how should I be named.

It doesn´t matter, really, I think that there are good people, who are empathic and try to do what good is at their hands, and then there are those who do harm, finally those who do nothing, apathic,lazy selfish ones.

::
Jab, Infie, I´m glad the link was interesting to you. These days I remember a sentence from G.Orwell: (more or less, I translate from Spanish) "In times of lies, it´s a revolutionary act to say the truth"
To spread the word of what is going on has a meaning, a trascendence. Even if there are many possibilities of not being heard or read, but it´s better that to be silent.

So , Jab, thanks for this thread, at least help us to share our feelings.
and forgive the off-topic

Humble apologies, I posted the wrong link from the LA Times. It should have been:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-gaza10-2009jan10,0,5988020.story

(Although the one I did post was interesting in its own right I think)

Thanks for both links, el D.

"Don´t know what is their force, why they risk their lifes, but I admire them a lot."

Mar, I can only speak for the Quakers I know who have been, or are still on the "Accompaniers" scheme. They are committed to peace, justice and equality. These are embodied in our Quaker Testimonies and are at the heart of why we are Quakers in the first place. We consider it our duty and our purpose to uphold the rights and dignity of our fellow human wherever he or she may be.

Thanks, folks. I thought that, for a change, I would look at the Pro-Israeli side, so I turned to the blog of Melanie Phillips, arch dogmatic pro-Israel journalist, on the Spectator site. To see what she was making of this, perhaps the worst thing that Israel has ever done (or perhaps not, sadly, there's plenty of competition.)

And she spent her blog going on about how unspeakable the protesters were!!! That they weren't polite! That what THEY were doing was ugly!

I'm happy to say that this is not the line of The Spectator itself.

Here's the reference, although it's scarcely worth reading:

http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/3216626/and-even-uglier.thtml

Jabs

Like it or not, usually not, the US still carries a lot of clout in international politics and this is the message that's coming out of the US today - well yesterday now but current anyway:

http://rainbowwarrior2005.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/us-senate-endorses-israels-war-on-gaza/

Such a pity the protest ended in violence. So much more effect if it had remained peaceful:

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/article.aspx?cp-documentid=12651690

If you want to make a peaceful protest that will hurt, all Isreali goods in your local shops are marked with a barcode beginning with 729.

Find out about it (ant lots more interesting stuff) at http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/9

Well, you learn something every day!

Further boycott stuff, this from some British Jews:

http://www.bigcampaign.org/index.php?page=jews-for-boycotting-israeli-goods

no disrespect to anyone intended(as I never do)

but in any conflict throughout the world, how many USE it for their own agendas as to stir he proverbial pot of hatred

Too true Prof. Mankind was ever so.

Post 51 has an absolute knock-out link, Infie. Israel and many American Jews say of such people that they are Jewish anti-semites!

In fact anyone who criticises Israel at all is an anti-semite. If you consult the straight-but-mild- Ron Paul video, (link in Post 40) do scroll down to see the zionist hatred his remarks caused. He is an anti-semite. All sorts of things ought to be done to him.

Jabs

Note to moderator/censor - this posting protests against race hatred. It does not seek to promulgate it.

Thanks, Jabs.

Ron Paul is a bit of a hero of mine, so I watched the video, but I didn't think to go through the comments. So thanks for pointing me in their direction.

Infie

I am always hoping for peace in the middle east, and indeed everywhere. I find wars pretty incomprehensible. I have to be careful how much I read about warfare and the like, because when I get too upset, it can spill over into mania. I wind up thinking I can save the world or something, which can be dangerous. So I watch from a careful distance, and pray for things to get better.

He's a hero of mine too, Infie.

I hate to bear such bad news but according to Newsnight the Gaza atrocity is radicalising young Muslims. Assaulting a policeman may be nothing compared. Can't hit back at Israel? Can't hit the States? Hit Britain, Israel's nearest ally. Be prepared, folks.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/default.stm

Jabs

Ellen, it upsets me too. The answer is to NOT WATCH stuff that upsets you. I haven't watched much myself, for that reason.

You take care of yourself, now.



Jabs

Thanks Jabs. I try and walk that tightrope between between totally informed to being TOO informed. Luckily I live in a city that is hasn't seen direct fighting since the civil war -- and I am grateful for that.