Calling on John and Yoko.

I can't help but to think that we need some John and Yoko inspiration for Gaza.
Give Peace A Chance.
The dire consequences of no solution after so many decades, so embroiled in religious history and global politics - and so much ethnic cleansing, propaganda, lies, extremists against moderates and fundamentalists - on both sides. More than anything the extremists need to be removed from the equation, those on both sides who will NOT recognize BOTH Israel AND Palestine in 2009. The racism and bigotry will lesson when those extremists are removed from the picture. The most effective way to remove them is to not heed them. If they have no ears their voice is silenced.

What concerns me most in the peace process - that has achieved no far reaching, long lasting solution to date - is that those involved are so unable to be completely objective. We hear them make comments that tell us they are not objective, that they wear their bias on their sleeves. The US/Israel coalition is SO apparent and that most western countries follow them blindly, do not question that perhaps they may be wrong - is shameful.

There is such ignorance and stereotyping of Islam and Muslims. There seems to be recognition of extremist Muslims but not extremist Jews. There seems to be an acceptance that 'most' Jews are moderate, perhaps because they are westernised? and dress and sound more like us, and have been integrated and active in our western countries for longer, to the point where they have massive influence over western media and more. In contrast many Muslims don't embrace western ways to the same degree, and don't dress entirely like us. I think what fundamentalist Muslims reject from western life we would be wise to follow their lead - for it is these things that have damaged western countries the most - alcohol, drugs, a decline of religious and moral values. But they do follow the laws of their country of residence. Islam dictates that I beleive. Muslims and Islam have been demonised by western politicians in the same way communism was years ago. When one actually meets some Muslims, befriends them, and thinks ' oh they're nice people' for Muslims. They tend to see them as exceptions rather than very representative of most fundamental Muslims and feel all warm and fuzzy because they have become friends with a Muslim and can tell themselves they are not racist, they just don't like all the other Muslims because all the rest aren't like these I've befriended. Fundamental Muslims are as appalled by extremist 'Muslim' groups as us - and condemn them as much as we do - they are not following Islam. They are not real Muslims. Extremists, fanatics DO NOT follow religion, politics, laws, rules. Not the Jewish ones, not the Muslim ones. They are cancers growing on their stated religion.

Henry Siegman - Israel's Lies

Credible sources, credible argument, a 'must' read.
http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2009/01/25/henry-siegman-israels-lies/
Extract from conclusion -
Cordesman concludes that 'any leader can take a tough stand and claim that tactical gains are a meaningful victory. If this is all that Olmert, Livni and Barak have for an answer, then they have disgraced themselves and damaged their country and their friends.'

Let's Not Pretend.

Surely no one, not even Israelis can call this defense. To all Israeli's who say "we have the right to peace" "We have the right to defend ourselves" What about Palestinians? What rights do they have? Any????

HOLOCAUST 11

In reply to Michael.

Michael said

hmm...What exactly is palestine? or palestinians? What genocide? What drugs did you take darling?

Firstly I will address the 'What drugs did you take darling? question.
I do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs other than prescribed drugs from time to time for medical purposes, and even those as seldom as possible. My 'drug' is life, and by far the worst withdrawal symptom of that drug is seeing crimes against humanity, such as those in Gaza. I am guilty, however of using the drug caffeine on occasion, in tea, coffee, and mmmmmm chocolate, my weakness.

Secondly, I will address your use of the word 'darling' referring to me and I will do this in the form of a question.
Are you calling me darling because you have feelings of fondness towards me or do you call me darling to be condescending, to display a patronizingly superior attitude?

Thirdly, I will assume that you ask if I am on drugs to suggest that I am hallucinating when i speak of all matters concerning Israel and Palestine. I guess I've already discounted the drug/hallucination theory, and no I don't have any other medical condition that would cause hallucinations, just in case you were wondering.

As for the definitions of 'Palestine', 'Palestinians' and 'genocide', I'll assume you are asking because you are truly ignorant and are asking in good faith because you truly do not know the definitions and have never heard of Wikipedia. I'm making it easy for you, I'm providing you with the links.
On Palestine and Palestinians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine, and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_(disambiguation)

You will find additional links on that site. And of course you will probably find different definitions if you read the Tanakh or the Qur’an and related historical texts and teachings associated with them eg Hadeeth. I wish you well in your research. You may also like to look at world maps over the centuries - you will find them metamorphic and it's probably best to limit yourself to contemporary definitions of borders, countries and populations, no matter how steeped in history they may be.

On genocide:
Extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide
While precise definition varies among genocide scholars, a legal definition is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). Article 2, of this convention defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."[1]

I will add here a reply post of mine to replies on Laila's blog.
(Link on right of mine. This post. "In Zeitun, a massacre and its perpetrators desire for genocide")
My reply to post:
If the IDF destroys the tunnels, the rockets may stop. Preposterous as this may sound, they never wanted to achieve this. In fact they rely on allowing them to remain, so that the rockets will fire out in retaliation (of oppression of Palestine by Israel). Once again they will call Hamas terrorists and declare themselves victims. This will then justify their future incursions, probably already planned, into Gaza again. Israel does not want Palestine to exist. Their real objective/goal is to bring all Palestinians to their knees, this is what terrorists do. They cause their victims to 'give up' on hope. They WANT them to witness the most shocking, inhumane destruction of their homes and families. They WANT some to live and spread the word of such horrendous acts. This is what terrorism is. Not only does it cause their victims to give up hope of peace, but of a normal life, and to feel dreadfully mortal - to feel their life is of no more value than that of a fish and that the next bullet may be aimed at them, and be just around the next corner. And THAT, American 6103, is why that graffiti is so deplorable. Real armies are supposed to act with respect and embrace some moral fibre. The IDF behave like what they are, thugs and terrorists. That graffiti is part of the terrorist message.
Israel's goal is to extinguish Gaza, then later, West Bank, and incorporate them both into Israel. The United States knows this and backs them, their US-made strongest ally in the middle east. (edit: having Israel do their 'dirty work' takes the heat off them to a large degree)

The HEROES here are the Palestinians, who today, survive and defy Israel by existing and getting back to as normal life as is possible under the circumstances, eg school and rebuilding their lives.

I plead, beg anyone to tell me I'm wrong. I WANT to be wrong.

This is the definition of Genocide. Genocide is not a word limited to the Holocaust Michael.

Palestinians - don't count on Obama.

All Americans wanting Palestinian justice and peace should contact and comment, particularly on foreign policy and ties with Israel. I would be questioning what part my tax played in arming Israel. http://www.whitehouse.gov/

TALES OF IRAQ WAR by LATUFF: Two more cartoons

TALES OF IRAQ WAR by LATUFF: Two more cartoons

There are other very poignant political and humanitarian comments on Gaza made via cartoons by Latuff, visit his site. Some are posted in the right column of my blog here.