Comments on: View from here http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:09:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: DB http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89675 DB Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:38:44 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89675 Hey Danny the Admin! Why didn't you publish my answers to your questions? Hey Danny the Admin! Why didn’t you publish my answers to your questions?

]]> By: Erick S http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89673 Erick S Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:28:50 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89673 Dean: Since you've been occupying our land for the last 60 years, you've been treated far better than you deserve. All of the solutions you suggested are pretty good. I hope god will heed your words and will make the Israeli government do as you suggested. Perhaps you should consider going back to your own lands - you know, the big sandy deserts with the ever so expensive oil in them. Dean: Since you’ve been occupying our land for the last 60 years, you’ve been treated far better than you deserve.
All of the solutions you suggested are pretty good. I hope god will heed your words and will make the Israeli government do as you suggested.
Perhaps you should consider going back to your own lands – you know, the big sandy deserts with the ever so expensive oil in them.

]]> By: Dean K http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89633 Dean K Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:17:38 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89633 We have been "mortal enemies" for the 60 years your people occupied our land. Is this the definition of a "mortal enemy"? Please detail your comprehensive plan to expel us Arabs from the remaining land left to us. Does it involve murder? Are you going to come in and arrest us all? Are you going to dump us into the sea? What is your "final solution"? We have been “mortal enemies” for the 60 years your people occupied our land. Is this the definition of a “mortal enemy”?

Please detail your comprehensive plan to expel us Arabs from the remaining land left to us. Does it involve murder? Are you going to come in and arrest us all? Are you going to dump us into the sea? What is your “final solution”?

]]> By: Erick S http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89615 Erick S Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:30:41 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89615 Danny: You may have to repeat that for the millionth time too, but it's a good thing. It will have no effect on the people who will continue to argue with you, but it might help those poor innocents who are brainwashed since childhood to see any act of self-defense as monstrous genocide 'just like the Nazis did'. They need to hear these words. Danny: You may have to repeat that for the millionth time too, but it’s a good thing.
It will have no effect on the people who will continue to argue with you, but it might help those poor innocents who are brainwashed since childhood to see any act of self-defense as monstrous genocide ‘just like the Nazis did’.
They need to hear these words.

]]> By: DB http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89606 DB Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:20:17 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89606 Sorry for the typos in the last few sentences. Would appreciate correction: ... cannot be vague. You have.... Sorry for the typos in the last few sentences.
Would appreciate correction:
… cannot be vague. You have….

]]> By: DB http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89605 DB Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:16:37 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89605 Response to your post from Sept. 27th. (Have been busy I guess!!) 1. I believe I explained Jewish Universality very precisely, without inferring that this universality precludes existence as a separate identity. Please re-read my post on this - and, if necessary, I can try and explain again. 2. When I wrote: "Moral superiority cannot be based on values and/or practices that have been the cause of so much JEWISH suffering throughout the centuries." I was referring to values and practices of those who persecuted Jews. I did not mean that it was Jewish values and/or practices that were the cause of persecution. I was voicing a fear that some of us are adopting the same values and practices of our persecutors throughout the ages. 3. I did not call to abandon the practices which defined Jewishness, I wrote "In order to remain distinctive a group needs to keep certain historically distinctive traits, although these may be adapted to meet life in a continuously changing environment." Response to your post from April 28th: (BTW, I did not see the word "liberalism" anywhere in the previous post so I do not know why you used the word unless you needed to label something or stereotype someone). 1. You wrote that Judaism is not a democracy. True, but Israel is a Jewish democracy. Now some people may not like this but it is (as far as I know) a fact. There are many religious democracies in the world (Denmark, Argentina, etc) - nothing new or impossible there. However, a Jewish Dane is not a second class citizen. Unfortunately, since we are at war, the Arab citizens of Israel need to be treated with care and suspicion - until we cease to be at war. There is a difference between this and expelling them or revoking all their rights. I tend to agree with you regarding the necessity to be cruel to anyone who shows himself to be an enemy. That does not mean collective punishment of Arab Israelis. 2. I submit that "German" is a much vaguer term than "Nazi". "Arabs" is a vaguer term than "Israeli Arabs". When you want to be cruel - you cannot be vague otherwi. You have to be precise, you have to make every action count and you need to set an example. Just out of curiosity, do you consider Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as Arab countries? Response to your post from Sept. 27th. (Have been busy I guess!!)
1. I believe I explained Jewish Universality very precisely, without inferring that this universality precludes existence as a separate identity. Please re-read my post on this – and, if necessary, I can try and explain again.
2. When I wrote: “Moral superiority cannot be based on values and/or practices that have been
the cause of so much JEWISH suffering throughout the centuries.” I was referring to values and practices of those who persecuted Jews. I did not mean that it was Jewish values and/or practices that were the cause of persecution. I was voicing a fear that some of us are adopting the same values and practices of our persecutors throughout the ages.
3. I did not call to abandon the practices which defined Jewishness, I wrote “In order to remain distinctive a group needs to keep certain historically distinctive traits, although these may be adapted to meet life in a continuously changing environment.”

Response to your post from April 28th:
(BTW, I did not see the word “liberalism” anywhere in the previous post so I do not know why you used the word unless you needed to label something or stereotype someone).
1. You wrote that Judaism is not a democracy. True, but Israel is a Jewish democracy. Now some people may not like this but it is (as far as I know) a fact. There are many religious democracies in the world (Denmark, Argentina, etc) – nothing new or impossible there. However, a Jewish Dane is not a second class citizen. Unfortunately, since we are at war, the Arab citizens of Israel need to be treated with care and suspicion – until we cease to be at war. There is a difference between this and expelling them or revoking all their rights. I tend to agree with you regarding the necessity to be cruel to anyone who shows himself to be an enemy. That does not mean collective punishment of Arab Israelis.
2. I submit that “German” is a much vaguer term than “Nazi”. “Arabs” is a vaguer term than “Israeli Arabs”. When you want to be cruel – you cannot be vague otherwi. You have to be precise, you have to make every action count and you need to set an example.
Just out of curiosity, do you consider Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as Arab countries?

]]> By: Danny the Admin http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89593 Danny the Admin Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:15:57 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89593 "You will need..." Cut down on arrogance. Judaism is not a democracy or liberalism. I hate repeating this the ten thousandth time. Try thinking a bit before sprouting nonsense. Germans (not some vague Nazis, but the Germans most of whom were not Nazis) murdered Jews who sought no harm to Germany. Israel will be expelling her mortal enemies, the Arabs. “You will need…” Cut down on arrogance.
Judaism is not a democracy or liberalism.
I hate repeating this the ten thousandth time. Try thinking a bit before sprouting nonsense. Germans (not some vague Nazis, but the Germans most of whom were not Nazis) murdered Jews who sought no harm to Germany. Israel will be expelling her mortal enemies, the Arabs.

]]> By: Dean K http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-89404 Dean K Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:15:38 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-89404 You will need to learn to accept coexistence with Arabs. Its not a matter of if, it's when. Denying rights for certain individuals based on racial background, religious affiliation, etc. is against the principles of any democratic government, which is by and for the people. If the people happen to be Arabs, then the government needs to be representative of the populace. What you remind me of are the Southern whites in the United States during the civil war era who wanted to count Blacks as 2/3's of a person in order to diminish their rights and representation, and similarly the actions of Germany when they wanted to diminish the control and influence of Jews and other ethnicities who weren't Aryan by putting in place various restrictions similar to those that you are suggesting be placed upon Arabs. I'm not sure what and where in the Torah it says that this kind of behavior is acceptable. You cannot use the same rationale that caused your people great suffering as a means to justify the continued subjugation of a people which had you neither any quarrel with or claim prior to the holocaust and its aftermath. The projection of Jewish anger from those who perpetuated those crimes to Arabs is absolutely ridiculous. Eventually, hardliner Israelis such as yourself will have to come to a realization that they can't exterminate Arabs like the Nazis did to Jews. We are a people who deserve the right to live free and prosper as well. I am finding that many Israelis are waking up to this reality, and that in fact they are warm/kind people who wouldn't mind negotiating with the "Arabs" for a comprehensive peace deal. You will need to learn to accept coexistence with Arabs. Its not a matter of if, it’s when. Denying rights for certain individuals based on racial background, religious affiliation, etc. is against the principles of any democratic government, which is by and for the people. If the people happen to be Arabs, then the government needs to be representative of the populace. What you remind me of are the Southern whites in the United States during the civil war era who wanted to count Blacks as 2/3’s of a person in order to diminish their rights and representation, and similarly the actions of Germany when they wanted to diminish the control and influence of Jews and other ethnicities who weren’t Aryan by putting in place various restrictions similar to those that you are suggesting be placed upon Arabs. I’m not sure what and where in the Torah it says that this kind of behavior is acceptable. You cannot use the same rationale that caused your people great suffering as a means to justify the continued subjugation of a people which had you neither any quarrel with or claim prior to the holocaust and its aftermath. The projection of Jewish anger from those who perpetuated those crimes to Arabs is absolutely ridiculous.

Eventually, hardliner Israelis such as yourself will have to come to a realization that they can’t exterminate Arabs like the Nazis did to Jews. We are a people who deserve the right to live free and prosper as well. I am finding that many Israelis are waking up to this reality, and that in fact they are warm/kind people who wouldn’t mind negotiating with the “Arabs” for a comprehensive peace deal.

]]> By: Danny the Admin http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-63171 Danny the Admin Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:23:33 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-63171 1."Jewish universality" is an oxymoron. Where've you got it from? Any group has to be distinct from others, or it ceases as a separate entity. Jews place great emphasis on havdala, isolation, and despise "universality." What value does Judaism ascribe to the Ancient Greek culture? Or to the Polynesian aboriginal culture? To Arab culture? 2.But you have just asserted that in your previous comment. 3.But you have just called to abandon the practices which defined Jewishness throughout the history. 1.”Jewish universality” is an oxymoron. Where’ve you got it from? Any group has to be distinct from others, or it ceases as a separate entity. Jews place great emphasis on havdala, isolation, and despise “universality.”
What value does Judaism ascribe to the Ancient Greek culture? Or to the Polynesian aboriginal culture? To Arab culture?
2.But you have just asserted that in your previous comment.
3.But you have just called to abandon the practices which defined Jewishness throughout the history.

]]> By: DB http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm/comment-page-1#comment-63145 DB Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:56:44 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/view-from-here.htm#comment-63145 1. Jewish universality recognizes the significance of nations and the value of their cultures as a manifestation of the natural order of creation. It forbids the assignment of humans as judges of nations, and rejects any forcible coercion of faith and morals on other nations. This is specifically a manifestation of Torah and Am Yisrael 2. Yes & No (Mainly no). 3. No. In order to remain distinctive a group needs to keep certain historically distinctive traits, although these may be adapted to meet life in a continuously changing environment. 1. Jewish universality recognizes the significance of nations and the value of their cultures as a manifestation of the natural order of creation. It forbids the assignment of humans as judges of nations, and rejects any forcible coercion of faith and morals on other nations. This is specifically a manifestation of Torah and Am Yisrael
2. Yes & No (Mainly no).
3. No. In order to remain distinctive a group needs to keep certain historically distinctive traits, although these may be adapted to meet life in a continuously changing environment.

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