a news story that changed your politics.

[pnjsurferpoet]

Not long after I became interested in world events, the first female suicide bomber killed herself and others in Israel. At first I just saw her face, pretty, and thought God those people turn their people into nuts.


Then I read more about her. She was very Westernized. Wore blue jeans. And then I read something that really upset me: she had been an ambulance worker for the Palestinians. Years and years of cleaning up pieces of bodies, shot or whatever. How did a person go from trying to save lives to taking them? What turned a Westernized woman into a Muslim fanatic? Because I had read about her, when CNN had a little special about her and showed her little brother who kept going to her room to see if she was home yet, I paid attention. I thought I understand that suicide bombing works to hurt their enemies. I understand tanks coming into neighborhoods when all you have is rocks. But for Arab countries to assist in this carnage is inexcusible. And in 2001, I think it was, can't we do better for both sides? I thought of her pretty face when I saw Europe's peace protesters waving the Palestinian flag. I understood that they were waving it for people they see as downtrodden and at a lost to fight a better equiped enemy. But I think moderate Palestinians must be supported first and then quickly a Palestinian state. But supporting all Palestinians including those who admire teens for commiting suicide to fight Israel? No. I reject it. I reject that method for getting a state for the Palestinian teens who deserve a better future and for the innocents in Israel. And I believe the priority after Iraq is an unarmed, independent, sovereign, Palestinian state with no new settlements led by Palestinian moderates.

The focus of this was on the Palestinians because that was what the news article that changed my viewpoint was on.

[byny]

i guess the inconsistant dealing with terrorism after September 11th changed my view on the IRA...Why haven't they sent in people to get those terrorists when they have been making such a big fuss about the arab ones!?

[morrocan roll]

a news story that changed your politics....
dubya is president! before that i can remember the converstions down the pub; "fucking hell if this george bush character gets in the world will be at war...all over the place". we were praying that this guy could no way become the leader of the free world ...fuck, why does that have such a hollow ring about it now aye? oh pissinthepot, your countries leaders are going to have a lot to answer for. by association so will there supporters.

[pnjsurferpoet]

But MR, there were lot's of articles on the Internet yesterday about Americans being mistreated in Europe.

That's so silly. So many are Democrats who hate Bush. Many are anti-war, 66% of the Democrats. There's probably as many anti-Bush people in America as there are people in some of these countries in Europe. Most people voted for Gore...my dad did.

[Harmless]

Originally posted by byny
i guess the inconsistant dealing with terrorism after September 11th changed my view on the IRA...Why haven't they sent in people to get those terrorists when they have been making such a big fuss about the arab ones!?

Maybe because the IRA get their funding from the US?

But the IRA shut up after September 11th, think that was a wise move.

[morrocan roll]

Originally posted by pnjsurferpoet
But MR, there were lot's of articles on the Internet yesterday about Americans being mistreated in Europe.

americans unfortunately are going to be getting mistreated in more places more often because... you tell us why you think this is happening. keeping in mind that the soviet union invaded afghanistan to get rid of cia activities on it's borders to do with...a pipeline. the americans armed... the guys who ended up hating the americans. when bush senior was your great leader, statements such as "afghanistan is the prize... but iraq is the jewel", were meant to mean what considering the same old family and it's bin laden contracted family are back in the hot seat again? explain it to me ...yes i've seen the evidence of the cleverest inteligence people in the world was lifted from thesite.org fuck it i'm going to go back to talking to myself. this is virtual talking tomyself....but there are even more voices to listen to......some actualy make sense.

[Toadborg]

Can't think of one specific but the slow grip of realisation that New Labour are the same as the Tories over a period of several years is pretty important to me.........

[pnjsurferpoet]

And then today, of course Israel hits back.

It really never seems to end.

[Dear Wendy]

Originally posted by pnjsurferpoet
And then today, of course Israel hits back.

It really never seems to end.

When they haven't responded, that attacks got worse.

Regarding the suicide bombers; It's a new shock every time an attack occurs. Not only the act itself, but also finding out who the suicide bomber was.
I was in Israel when the attack which you are refering to happened. In Jerusalem, 10 minutes away from that supermarket. Until that point Israeli guards at malls etc hadn't checked muslim women throughly as a kind of respect. Just like they don't check orthodox jewish women. No one expected women to do such a thing.

It was at the same time that an Arab Israeli blew himself up in a restaurant owned by another Arab Israeli during the passover. Again, people were shocked. The fact that someone with a "blue passport", someone which people in general regard as "their own" could do this as unbelievable.

The fact that we would drive around the mall (the one time we were there during a three-week period, when we usually go at least 3-4 times a week), trying to find the entrance with the smallest queue so chances to get blown up would be smaller is bizarre.

Don't get me wrong, I feel sorry for the common palestinians who's been fucked by his allies and enemies. But Israel's first priority lies with it's citizens, and while Palestinian mothers are unhappy cause their sons haven't gained martyrdom, then you can't exactly expect Israel to welcome the Palestinians with open arms and oranges.

Israel is the land of milk, and honey... and suicider blood.

[Simbelyne]

Originally posted by pnjsurferpoet
Not long after I became interested in world events, the first female suicide bomber killed herself and others in Israel. At first I just saw her face, pretty, and thought God those people turn their people into nuts.


Then I read more about her. She was very Westernized. Wore blue jeans. And then I read something that really upset me: she had been an ambulance worker for the Palestinians. Years and years of cleaning up pieces of bodies, shot or whatever. How did a person go from trying to save lives to taking them? What turned a Westernized woman into a Muslim fanatic? Because I had read about her, when CNN had a little special about her and showed her little brother who kept going to her room to see if she was home yet, I paid attention. I thought I understand that suicide bombing works to hurt their enemies. I understand tanks coming into neighborhoods when all you have is rocks. But for Arab countries to assist in this carnage is inexcusible. And in 2001, I think it was, can't we do better for both sides? I thought of her pretty face when I saw Europe's peace protesters waving the Palestinian flag. I understood that they were waving it for people they see as downtrodden and at a lost to fight a better equiped enemy. But I think moderate Palestinians must be supported first and then quickly a Palestinian state. But supporting all Palestinians including those who admire teens for commiting suicide to fight Israel? No. I reject it. I reject that method for getting a state for the Palestinian teens who deserve a better future and for the innocents in Israel. And I believe the priority after Iraq is an unarmed, independent, sovereign, Palestinian state with no new settlements led by Palestinian moderates.

The focus of this was on the Palestinians because that was what the news article that changed my viewpoint was on.

Just a quick response to your post: Most of those people protesting would say they condemn ALL terrorism including the suicide bombings but they understand why they happen and they want to help stop that never-ending cycle of violence.

For me, I believed passionately in private enterprise etc. being involved in the health service until I saw an article by an MP that asked: How can taking Profit out of a company ever be better than not?

[pnjsurferpoet]

I almost don't allow myself to watch the follow up stories on the suicide bombers or their victims. It's easier to take the violence over there when you don't see the people as people but just as part of this never ending war. Even then, it's upsetting enough. And NOTHING changes.