Israel is Coming Apart at the Seams, It Seems

From another website, a commenter answering my question about what the pro-Palestinian protestors want:

"They want the future of Palestine to be determined solely by the Palestinian people. They want a Palestine that controls its own territory as opposed to now where Gaza's airspace and water are controlled by Israel."

Sounds nice, but what about when this free Palestine elects Hamas or another whacko set of religious fundamentalists? Are all those college students going to be cheering that momentous act of self-determination on while actual students in Palestine are oppressed? Is anyone protesting actually thinking through what a free Palestine means? I don't think so. I can only hope they realize at some point that a a free Palestine run by Palestinians would be extremely hostile to anyone who isn't Muslim and Palestinian. The evidence? Hamas has been in power for years, and is fairly popular!

Why don't you ask Ancalagon of five months back? Because in post #1926 you stated that you were working on a reply. Then in #1931 you said that you could get more into the details later. Before sexual exhaustion somehow robbed you of the ability to ever revisit the topic.

Presumably your reply would have been to the part where I'd "already addressed it above" in some detail (that's post #1920) not the brief addendum about Africa that you now want to pretend is all that I had said. (I wonder what you think of the Srebrinica Genocide? The absolute numbers are also smaller than some major wars but it still a genocide and it's still deserves the attention it got.)

If the pending reply was to the "other parts of my post" about apartheid, then that never materialised either. So then that's two topics you ducked out of just in this thread when presented with any substantial objections to your talking points.

I mean, you don't have to respond. You can be busy, not interested, not think the points worthy of a response or whatever. That's the stance I'm taking to the dishonest ahistorical bullshit posted in the last 24 hours. Life's too short. But it's sauce for the goose. You're not entitled to demand homework assignments in response to your gotcha questions.

Anyway, I went to see Bassem Youssef in Dublin last night. He's an Egyptian comic and has been very prominent in his support for Palestine. Worth watching his stuff. He added Ireland to his tour because of the strength of the support towards Palestinians during all of this. It was excellent. Probably most of you would have been horrified.

Oh, and this. Jesus Christ.

What they're in favour of is to "ask the police to protect campuses from violence" - who the fuck is ever going to be against that?
Presumably the 10% who say they aren't realise that it's going to be used in this kind of slippery way to justify its opposite.

Want to do the stats on voter opinions of the genocide?

No, you are trying to impose a simplistic belief that is not mine because you are shit at arguing. I support palestine existing and being allowed to have resources and self determination. I do not support them violating the social contract based on their religious views any more than I support Isreal. Sometimes both sides are wrong.

I am not here to be told that discussion on the matter has to be pro-isreal because otherwise it is anti-semitism and needs to be punished.

"Hey guys! I went to a comic yesterday. You probably haven't heard of him. You have to be in the know to know, you know? But he wouldn't go to America anyway because, well, you guys just aren't as with it as we are in Ireland. I thought it was awesome, but most of you would have been, like, waaay offended by him. But not me, cause I'm super cool, yo.

Please think I'm cool."

Rick Dickhard should have asked Mr. Youssef how willing Egypt would be to take in Palestinian refugees.

He lives in California.

So is he Egyptian or American? Asking for a friend. Because it seems to me you waved the flag for convenience's sake. It's also interesting that an Egyptian comic would choose to live in the United States of America, where free speech is protected.



From the river to the sea, stand-up comics won't be free!

It must be hard for him, living in such a den of iniquities.

I can't imagine why he'd ever leave Egypt.

Those students need to respect the rule of law!

Meanwhile...

That's exactly what that statement amounts to.

Lmao.

You think people come to the US because we have free speech?!?!? My response would be shock that anyone thinks the US is still a haven for people who want to live free. In fact, most people here, who wish to “live free” are looking at other countries. NZ seems to be the most difficult. I considered Belgium for a while. But, I’d have to check with a person’s psychiatrist to find out why they would think the US in 2024 is the place to go for freedom.

Sure, the U.S. has a ton of problems. But if you think it's less free than places like Egypt, Iran, Syria, etc., etc., etc. then you really need to up your meds.

Well, there must be some reason people come here.
In terms of "freedom", at the most basic level yes, the USA is a freer country than just about anywhere outside of Europe, Australia, and Japan.
Also safer. Better infrastructure. More stable. Better economic opportunity.
Sure, America has plenty of problems. But, as someone who's literally a first-gen American that has been around the world, it's still a hell of a lot better than most of the alternatives.

But even if that wasn't the case, it still raises the question of why that comedian would live HERE.

Definitely some cognitive dissonance here, but I haven’t seen anyone in this thread make the argument that Israelis are killing Palestinians because the Palestinians hate the LGBTQ community. Israelis are killing Palestinians because Hamas, and its adherents, launched the most incredibly stupid attack in modern times on October 7th.

I totally feel sorry for you.

Good for you. Do you have anything interesting to say? It is nice that you have these feelings, but how does that effect me?

What? In your opinion interesting? Trust that you are no barometer for the interpretation of the content of my posts. Do try to control yourself. I realize it's a bit difficult, but give it a whirl.

OK, but what is in it for me? You are fucking lame. You are boring and stupid. It is fucking hard to be walked over in this place, and yet no one plays with you.

Here is what you do. Make a sock of me over in your TK, and pretend you have me doing whatever you want. IDGAF. You are a dud. I tried to play with you and you have no flare. I could light a fart that has more fire than you do.

But do hang around, and maybe you will say something interesting.

^^^^^^^^^^^

nah, pretty sure she means that as far as what qualifies as "free" countries go, the US is pretty low on the list.
for instance, in 2023 Canada was 15th for a free press whereas the USA comes in at number 45.

likewise, it appears academic and political freedom there has dropped to trail the western world...
first map is academic, second is political...

Jesus, dude.

Why don't you zoom in on the parts of the map that are just northeast of Africa. That was the point.

No. The point is that there are many more free places in the world than the US.

And even if there weren’t. The US is fast becoming a Christian version of those countries to the north and east of Africa.

Agreed. While I'm glad to be at the bottom of the blue side at least, it would be impossible not to acknowledge that we have a LOT of room for improvement.

Depends on how you load the term, I guess.

Or, which freedoms are most important to one. When it’s time for the vote who gets to keep their guns, don’t count on women to back you guys up.

“Fast becoming” means being in the bottom of the blue will soon be top of the red.

I’m old. I’ll be dead soon. But good luck to you guys and the world you’re helping to create.

See that dump truck of caveats, nuances, and conditions? That's how it's gonna be loaded