News- no, it's propoganda

[scaeagles]

never mind

[innerSpaceman]

granted, mousepod. But perhaps the conflict is usually put in those terms, because - unlike with the Russians or the French - - the Arabs have been fighting the Jews for century upon century.

In fact, while the conflict in the middle east used to be quite sectarian and nationalist, things have shifted quite a bit since the death of Yassar Arafat and the demise of nationalist organizations like the PLO.

Hamas and Hizzballah, on the other hand, are quite Islamist - - as are their patrons, Syria and Iran. It represents quite an ominous twist, I fear.

And I daresay the enemy is thought of as "jews" ... as everything is conceived of in religious terms ... and we plunge barbarically backward in time, holy frelling DoubleYou Tea Aich

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

granted, mousepod. But perhaps the conflict is usually put in those terms, because - unlike with the Russians or the French - - the Arabs have been fighting the Jews for century upon century.

eh, yes and no. To go back to your Spain example, Moorish-controlled Spain was historically one of the friendliest eras/areas for Jews to live in.

[Gemini Cricket]

To be honest, I don't know how to feel on this subject. I feel numb. I'm just stunned at all this killing. Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, etc. Makes me sad.

[scaeagles]

WB brings up a very valid and oft overlooked point about Africa. What is the reasoning there, where the bloodshed has been far greater? There is international condemnation of it, no doubt, but where has the intervention been? 500,000 dead? I'll admit that it isn't all an Islamic thing, but much of it is Muslims killing Christians. While the tragedy of what is happening in Israel and Lebanon is very real, it is nothing close to what is happening/has happened in Africa.

Radical Islam does not go away if Israel simply ceases to exist, regardless of what the international community has to say about justification.

[Gemini Cricket]

I have an answer for you regarding Africa, scaeagles, but maybe I should just keep it to myself.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I have an answer for you regarding Africa, scaeagles, but maybe I should just keep it to myself.

I'd be interested in hearnig. Seriously. Unless you're afraid you're too uneducated and might receive a rebuke.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I'd be interested in hearnig. Seriously. Unless you're afraid you're too uneducated and might receive a rebuke.

Well, I know I'm not all that edumacated. No delusions there.

I think it's a race thing. Totally. I know I may get lambasted for that, but I think it's true. I think as enlightened as we seem to be, this country still has many problems. Race is one of them. If there was genocide going on in a white country where the people getting slaughtered looked like people in one's own suburb, the television coverage of the events would hit home to many more people. I'm not saying everyone in our country is racist, but I'd say a good portion of it is.

Sorry for the derail.

[Stan4dSteph]

Which African conflict are we discussing? A lot of the conflict in Africa is traced back to tribal conflicts, pre-colonization.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

Which African conflict are we discussing? A lot of the conflict in Africa is traced back to tribal conflicts, pre-colonization.

I was talking about pretty much all of it. I was referring to the lack of focus the US media and politicians seem to have about the thousands and thousands of people dead from genocide, disease, famine... ie. Rawanda, Somalia.