...and I agree with your commentary on the current Jewish condition where this specifically pertains to Israel's blatant disregard for the tenets of humanity in conflict.
'The suffering of Jews throughout the holocaust is possibly the most callous and disgusting display of inhumanity in human history..'
Any argument on who had it worse would quite simply be crass - I won't go there. Suffice to say though, I would be remiss if I didn't speak up and remind you of how African's were abducted and enslaved in global and industrial fashion, and I think many a reparations campaigner may have something to say about that comment.
On a separate tack, I can sympathise with the Palestinian cause because both countries that spawned my parents were once colonies, and both suffered under apartheid regimes. Palestine is the modern equivalent of apartheid South Africa, and pre-independence Zimbabwe...only.. dare I say it, arguably worse, given their unique circumstances.
I also empathise with Israel's sense of forboding at being the hated unwanted villager marked for death in the village. They absolutely have a right to exist. I find the notion that this is even a topic of heated debate, symptomatic of the depth of feelings that lie on either side of the divide.
Richard, you say the Israeli's should know better than to treat other human beings as they do, given their own shared experience at the hands of the Nazi's. You'd think so wouldn't you? Yet if there's one thing that unfortunately unites all humanity and has been proven over again since time immemorial, it is our shameful need to express and/or force our superiority over anybody we deem is different, and therefore inferior to ourselves; and ironically, this is regardless of we ourselves may have been treated historically. Put differently, oppressed people never miss an opportunity to do a little oppressing of their own when given half the chance. We just get cleverer at justifying it all. Still think Israeli behaviour is shocking??
...and I agree with your commentary on the current Jewish condition where this specifically pertains to Israel's blatant disregard for the tenets of humanity in conflict.
'The suffering of Jews throughout the holocaust is possibly the most callous and disgusting display of inhumanity in human history..'
Any argument on who had it worse would quite simply be crass - I won't go there. Suffice to say though, I would be remiss if I didn't speak up and remind you of how African's were abducted and enslaved in global and industrial fashion, and I think many a reparations campaigner may have something to say about that comment.
On a separate tack, I can sympathise with the Palestinian cause because both countries that spawned my parents were once colonies, and both suffered under apartheid regimes. Palestine is the modern equivalent of apartheid South Africa, and pre-independence Zimbabwe...only.. dare I say it, arguably worse, given their unique circumstances.
I also empathise with Israel's sense of forboding at being the hated unwanted villager marked for death in the village. They absolutely have a right to exist. I find the notion that this is even a topic of heated debate, symptomatic of the depth of feelings that lie on either side of the divide.
Richard, you say the Israeli's should know better than to treat other human beings as they do, given their own shared experience at the hands of the Nazi's. You'd think so wouldn't you? Yet if there's one thing that unfortunately unites all humanity and has been proven over again since time immemorial, it is our shameful need to express and/or force our superiority over anybody we deem is different, and therefore inferior to ourselves; and ironically, this is regardless of we ourselves may have been treated historically. Put differently, oppressed people never miss an opportunity to do a little oppressing of their own when given half the chance. We just get cleverer at justifying it all. Still think Israeli behaviour is shocking??