I know I've asked this before, but I'm curious to know if you've changed your ways, or if you're still an anti-Semitic cunt.

The Jewish people I know do not talk like that. You are the first I have ever heard degrade the Jewish tradition. Maybe you think it is smart. Maybe you want to show all us regular people that you can be as earthy as the best. Only You know who you are. I appreciate the respect for knowledge, that I have seen in my Jewish friends. I respect their appreciation of the arts and their joy in sharing.

I've never thought you to be an anti-Semite, but at times you do seem to be overly critical of Israel, and of the the monied Jewish interests within our nation.

Not that Israel shouldn't be rightly criticized at times, but it should also be remembered that they have been in a constant fight for their very survival since 1948.

This would naturally have a tendency to make them paranoid and a bit hostile. Their Arab neighbors have never accepeted them, or their right to exist, nor will they ever.

The Crescent had lagely been in control of the state since around 800 AD, at which time, and for hundreds of years to come,the Roman Catholic Chruch, which also laid claim to the region had always tried to reclaim the region in the name of Jesus..

A source of much bloodshed and violence in the name of God. By whatever name He was called.

The Jews had no political voice in any nation, having been dispersed by the Romans, and probably for sound political reasons, since 70 AD. They made their homes in many nations, often rising to prominence by being good citizens and businessmen in these nations.

Being an outcast people they would band together for their own welfare and protection, and were generally an asset to any nation they settled in.

To include our own nation.

They were also a target of persecution during hard times in most of the nations they settled in. Primarily because they were astute enough to look after one another, and remain prosperous, even during hard times.

History's proverbial whipping boys for every social ill that ever came down the pike, they were often terribly persecuted. Particularly by Christians, who held them accountable for the sins of their fathers, who had crucified Christ.

This persecution of course culminated with the Holucast in World War Two when Hitler tried to exterminate them as a race from the face of the earth.

Thus the great burning desire, which had never left them, to return to their ancestral homeland at the end of World War Two.

And since their return, they have been persecuted by their Arab neighbors, who would love to finish the job that Hitler started.

In short, a people with a long history of enslavement and oppression. From the time of the fabled exodus from Egypt to the present day they have been set upon their enemies within their homeland, and persecuted without.

Small wonder they should be a bit reactionary and paranoid. Which is why any good Jew outside the homeland will be supportive of their brothers in Israel.

And rightly so.

And if their Arab neighbors would ever quit trying to annahilate them and permit them to live in peace within their own borders they would probably find over the course of time that they actually had a very good neighbor in Israel.

For the Jews are a very bright and inventive people who are capable of showing great love and compassion towards their fellow man. Their own long history of persecution has made them so.

All their neighbors have to do is give them a chance.

Which is something that it would seem that history hasn't permitted frm day one.

Rob1, you have eloquently presented the Jewish perspective of world events, Now present the Palestinian perspective for the same time period.

I find it ironic that unebug would be against Jews.

50% of the Communist leadership are Jewish going back to LENIN'S forming a radical left-winged group called BOLSHEVICS who established the leadership of the Russian Revolution in 1917. Jews have held major positions in all communist countries pre/post WWII. except Yugoslavia. Joe Stalin's three wives were Jewish.and many of his top leaders were married to Jewish women.

Bravo Doctor Bill. I love smart articulate people and it is for moments like this that I put up with the negativeness that I experience on this fray at times.

Conflict generates thoughts and words and feelings. That is what life is all about. Like a love affair. Maybe I have a bit of Rudoph Murdock in myself. In the book THE Clash of te Titans I thought I read or heard that he had Jewish in his background.

I know the Jewish are a strong presence in the Democratic party. My neighbor Laurel 's dad was a card carrying Jew who had a background relating to the Palestinians. Balance. Now about the Jews fighting the Muslims or visa versa ; for centuries they have lived together doing business; it was in Europe that we had the Holocaust. When Isreal bombed the Dairy in Lebanon I see that as evil and just greed trying to keep the Lebanese from being able to compete businesswise.. My Jewish friend Peter Diamondstone said that the Catholic Church would not allow the Jews to own property so they became the Money lenders. Business. Did you read my neighbors comment about the Jews owned the Mayflower?

The Palestinian perspective is very simply to defend, Dr Bill. They had what they considered to be their homeland since about 800 AD taken away from them, and they want it back.

However after sixty years of fighting and butting their heads a gainst the proverbial brick wall, I would think that they and their fellow Arab nations would try to reach a peaceful accord with Israel here.

It might be arguably stated that Israel had the more ancient claim here, though the Palestinians are probably the children of the Philistines, Ammorites, Hittites, and other tribes whose claim to Israel was even more ancient than that of the Jews, who had forcibly evicted them from the land in the first place.

Israel's treatment of the Palestinians could be better. No one can argue that premise. But it should also be noted that the Palestinians should accept the reality of the present situation, and try to resolve any differences through peaceful, legal means.

And the Israelis have shown a willingness and inclination to negotiate here, and make concessions to the displaced Palestinis.

I'm no fan of Israel, Dr Bill. I wasn't even a fan of theirs before the incident involving the USS Liberty, but they have had their neighbors at their throats for 60 years now.

The reality of the situation is that Israel is militarily stronger, and has a nuclear capability as well. Despite this, they have been willing to negotiate and make concessions over the course of their 60 year history.

But they would in fact seem to be in their ancestral homeland to stay this time. If their Arab neighbors would acknowlegde that fact, and Israel's right to exist as a state, another reality is they would probably have a very good neighbor in Israel.

As a persecuted race, the Jews did learn to develop a tolerance and empathy for other races. In fact too much so at times, which would piss their God off when they started to adopt some of the habits and customs of their gentile neighbors.

But enough for fables and fiction.

All the Arabs have to do is acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a state, and leave them in peace.

If they were to do this, they might even be surprised to learn they in fact had a good friend and ally in Israel.

The Jews of Biblical times were an intelligent and enlightened people.

No reason to believe their descendents wouldn't be the same if given half a chance.

I wrote a post for OT a couple of years ago where I did my best to trace the history of the conflicts in the Middle East. What will make you tear your hair out is the number of mistakes made by everybody.

One of the strangest was the way pencils altered history. When the UN and other parties were dividing the land they used pencils that were very thick and had heavy lead. The width of the lines that resulted created borders that contained entire villages underneath the boundaries on the map. No one caught on to this until the shooting started.

There were any number of other screw ups; but historians are the only people that payed attention to the one that counted the most. None of the Arab countries would take in a single Palestinian because they had other plans. They forced them into refugee camps that bordered Israel and left them there to rot. A displaced and starving people are going to become very violent very quickly and the rest is history.

So much. it would seem, for compassion by the Arabs for their Muslim, Palestinian brothers.

I agree. A lot of mistakes here made all the way around.

Of course, in certain circles it will always remain the fault of the monied Jewish interests within this country, and the fault of the United States Government as well.

But the most damning testimony is the point your brought up. The fault of Allah's children in other Arab lands to look after their Muslim brothers from Palestine in their time of need,

So much for the "Religion of Peace".

I believe they do not take care of the Palestinians because they think eventually the Isrealis might be ashammed for treating the Palestinians so badly. If enough Jimmy
Carters speak up maybe they will wake up.

Actually, the other Arab nations wanted to see their Palestinian brothers wretched and misreable. They knew the Palestinians would vent their wrath upon Israel, and in so doing, give themselves an excuse to go after Israel for what they had done to their poor, unfortunate Muslim brothers.

Not that they gave a shit about the plight of the Palestinians. They were merely sacrificial goats to the "greater glory" of Allah. The other Arab nations would gladly sacrifice their own Muslim brothers just for the opportunity to point an accusatory finger at Israel.

Merely politics as usual in it's most disgusting form.