07-19-2003, 05:54 AM
I didnt read the particular peice you linked to. Im really responding to am attitude in many of the responses.
The roots of the current situation are a tangeled mess. Not just in Isreal/Palistine, but in the whole middle east. Britain is rightly bashed for its ill concieved national boundries and poorly chosen leaders(thanks Lawrence). The truth is the Middle east was a mess before the 20th century, but less people cared because it was a poor mess rather than an oil rich mess.
We need to look at what we have now.
Israel - a relatively progresive democracy, hated by it neighbors for relegious reasons. It feels insecure because of this and keeps an hand of opression on the Palastinians because where they live serves as a spacial buffer to agression..
Most Middle East counties - Despotic regimes where the leaders live well and the people(often the "people" are not even called citizens) are poor. Leaders use religion and ethnic hatred as a tool to help control unhappy subjects.
Palastinians - The most screwed over of all. Poor and trapped in the middle. Other Arab nations refuse to legitimize any of thier leaders who potentially could build a peaceful society.
The roots of the current situation are a tangeled mess. Not just in Isreal/Palistine, but in the whole middle east. Britain is rightly bashed for its ill concieved national boundries and poorly chosen leaders(thanks Lawrence). The truth is the Middle east was a mess before the 20th century, but less people cared because it was a poor mess rather than an oil rich mess.
We need to look at what we have now.
Israel - a relatively progresive democracy, hated by it neighbors for relegious reasons. It feels insecure because of this and keeps an hand of opression on the Palastinians because where they live serves as a spacial buffer to agression..
Most Middle East counties - Despotic regimes where the leaders live well and the people(often the "people" are not even called citizens) are poor. Leaders use religion and ethnic hatred as a tool to help control unhappy subjects.
Palastinians - The most screwed over of all. Poor and trapped in the middle. Other Arab nations refuse to legitimize any of thier leaders who potentially could build a peaceful society.