Irminsul wrote:I hear you, but I do not consider the desire to live in one's own nation and have a home, family and a job as "extreme" at all. And that is all the Palestinians really want. The number of them that still harbor any notions of taking all of Israel back is, well, negligible. The majority of Palestinians recognize that they will have to live in peace with Israel and want to do that - as long as they have a state of their own. It may surprise you to know that a healthy chunk of the Israeli people want to see a state of Palestine as well. The actual people aren't the problem - it's the fanatical politicians there and here in Washington that are mucking things up.
The "offered state" that you are referring to was called the Barak Plan. And it was a f**k insult if I may say so. Have you ever seen the proposed map of it? You gotta be kidding..splotches of land here and there, impossible borders, and the Israeli govt wouldn't even agree on a time table of handing over complete control of those territories to Palestine. It was just nuts. When Yassir Arafat was presented with this plan at Camp David, he knew his people would never accept such a stupid idea, and looked at Bill Clinton and said "If I sign this, will you come to my funeral?"
Anyway, as you can see its murky beyond belief. Until people see that Palestinians' desire for a homeland and self determination are not extreme at all, there is not much hope to settle this.
Their desires are not extreme, their ways of handling it are. Suicidal tendencies are not helpful, killing yourself solves nothing. Extremist only breed more hate that is not necessary in a world full of it already.
I remember those maps somewhat, I think, I may be wrong and thinking of something else. Yes, there needs to be a fair division. The people have never been bad, you are right, it is the freaking governments from Hell. I want to see Palestine have peace and Israel, I support both nations in that light. Arafat though was a rather psychotic nut job. He seemed fine at some points and then spiraled out of control. He was behind many of the terrorist attacks in Israel, and like I said, I do not support terrorism.
Israel is a stubborn country and sometimes overreacts, or should I say a lot of times. The government is just as corrupt as ours. Look at Olmert running around with a scandal with Leumi Bank. So yeah, that is an issue. We have the most corrupt president of all and yet he is still in office, no impeachment.
What can I say, this world needs major help. I feel bad for anyone who has to suffer, I feel horrible for the Iraqi people, but I think it is time their government, what has been established thus far, take charge. Our men are dying left and right and it is driving me nuts. I know the casualties are nothing like they were in many other previous wars, like Vietnam. On the other hand, the injuries are extensive and the toll of Iraqi deaths is surging in the millions now. Our country has so much corruption in it, it is pathetic at times.
Sad, sad society.
Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.
"I am the Unforgiven"
