# Ask the "crazy" settler **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889 "2010-09-15T21:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/201 "2010-10-01T02:52:19Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > He accidentally the whole bris. I beg your pardon? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/202 "2010-10-01T04:54:32Z")
1. What made you decide to live over the green line instead of on “undisputed” land? And as a follow up question, if you have moved because you view it as a moral imperative, what do you view as the “correct” borders of Israel? And if it is a moral imperative to move, why couldn’t you select a less controversial location instead of having somewhere “nice” that still fulfills your wishes - isn’t this to a certain extent an easy way out? 2. What did / do your (non Jewish) friends stateside think of this? 3. As a non religious person, I don’t understand the imperative to return “home”. How do you view the imperative, as something for your religion or something for your race? 4. Are you willing to give a potted synopsis of your family background? i.e - were your parents also Jewish, were they pious, what about grandparents, did you come back to the faith later in life…this is a bit of a rude question I realise, but I am curious about it, particularly in relation to why you see it as your right to occupy land beyond the green line - on what basis do you personally have that right? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/203 "2010-10-01T06:22:46Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > > [@These are my own pants](#): > > > > I thread extremely distasteful. > > I beg your pardon? > 🙂 This thread, the way people are fawning over someone who is quite happy to live somewhere against international law and common decency in extreme detriment to the local population. He says it’s not ideological and he does it for the quality of life, but that quality of life is on the back of the misery of others. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/204 "2010-10-01T08:12:21Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > We would leave. \*\*It’s not so pashut (obvious)\*\*that where we are would be handed over; many of the articles and maps I’ve seen show our area as staying under Israeli rule, with equivalent land being exchanged in other places. But we would not stay, and I don’t know anyone who would. Is this some sort of new york thing ? Why use a hebrew word, followed by the english translation in brackets, when you simply could have used english only. Declan ---
**Author:** ![shamblesmaybe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@shamblesmaybe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamblesmaybe)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/205 "2010-10-01T08:42:55Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > Restating my question from post #129: If the land you currently occupy is given over to the Palestinians(a distinct possibility), will you move out of the area, or will you stay? > > We would leave. It’s not so pashut (obvious) that where we are would be handed over; many of the articles and maps I’ve seen show our area as staying under Israeli rule, with equivalent land being exchanged in other places. But we would not stay, and I don’t know anyone who would. Where is your area, perhaps there are some maps that will make you think again? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/206 "2010-10-01T12:08:53Z")
Can you paint a picture for us about the great quality of life you mentioned? I ask because any images I see of that region (not that I am paying a whole lot of attention to the crazy settler issue )is of a rocky, dusty, treeless shantytown. What do you find inspiring or beautiful in your physical surroundings? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/207 "2010-10-01T13:02:03Z")
How troublesome is it to travel from a settlement to Israel proper, and what would you see out of the bus / car window as you drive? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/208 "2010-10-01T17:22:13Z")
Actually, that’s a pretty good idea, Chela. Hey Shinna, got some snaps to show us? ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/209 "2010-10-03T14:41:53Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Can you paint a picture for us about the great quality of life you mentioned? I ask because any images I see of that region (not that I am paying a whole lot of attention to the crazy settler issue )is of a rocky, dusty, treeless shantytown. What do you find inspiring or beautiful in your physical surroundings? Our yishuv is on a mountain that’s about 300 meters above sea level. One side is surrounded by (Arab) olive groves, and the other side falls away to a wadi. That’s the side we say has a “million dollar view,” because you can see other mountains, the wadi, other settlements, and it’s beautiful in general. We have palm trees here (and one in our front yard), as well as all sorts of citrus fruits growing in yards. We are most definately not a shantytown. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/210 "2010-10-03T15:27:35Z")
Some pictures, please! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/211 "2010-10-27T06:36:08Z")
Yo Shinna, where are ya? ---
**Author:** ![shamblesmaybe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@shamblesmaybe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamblesmaybe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/212 "2010-10-27T07:43:54Z")
How does it feel to know that your choice and the choice of the Israeli government to restart the building of further illegal settlements will stall the peace process and doubtless cause the deaths of innocent Israelies and Palestinians? ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/213 "2010-10-27T07:53:28Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > my oldest is in midrasha (a post-high school seminary) where she will study for up to a year. Then, she will be in the army for two years > > […] > > I’m as concerned as any other parent that would have a child entering the military. Since you apparently are not concerned about the morality/legality of Israeli settlements in contested areas, are you concerned about possible psychological damage to your daughter from being obliged to harass Palestinian civilians at checkpoints? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/214 "2010-11-03T13:02:49Z")
Hmmm…what’s going on? It’s been a month since Shinna deigned to reply to this thread. Would it be too much to hope that an attack of conscience was had, and guilt was felt about doing something most consider at the least immoral and inflammatory if not (at least in spirit) illegal? Then shame was felt?.. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/215 "2010-11-03T13:27:47Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Hmmm…what’s going on? It’s been a month since Shinna deigned to reply to this thread. > > Would it be too much to hope that an attack of conscience was had, and guilt was felt about doing something most consider at the least immoral and inflammatory if not (at least in spirit) illegal? > > Then shame was felt?.. You mean that the Palestinians stopped firing rockets at him or her? I doubt it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/216 "2010-11-03T14:04:23Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Hmmm…what’s going on? It’s been a month since Shinna deigned to reply to this thread. > > Would it be too much to hope that an attack of conscience was had, and guilt was felt about doing something most consider at the least immoral and inflammatory if not (at least in spirit) illegal? > > Then shame was felt?.. _You_ consider immoral, inflammatory, and illegal. Remember, this is an MPSIMS thread about his day-to-day experiences. If you want to discuss the big picture stuff, start a thread in GD or the Pit and link to it from here, don’t resurrect a thread to take potshots at the OP. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/217 "2010-11-03T14:11:59Z")
Or maybe I could ask, Shinna, how many times has a mortar fallen within earshot of you? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/218 "2010-11-03T14:14:40Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > _You_ consider immoral, inflammatory, and illegal. > > Remember, this is an MPSIMS thread about his day-to-day experiences. If you want to discuss the big picture stuff, start a thread in GD or the Pit and link to it from here, don’t resurrect a thread to take potshots at the OP. > > **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator Err…I seem to recall earlier in the thread, it was noted that it is a significant time in Israel right now, and that for a few weeks Shinna may not be around. Fine, there are many questions I here I want to see answers to, questions that I have been waiting patiently for however it is now one month since the OP came back, is it so wrong to give the thread a bit of a jog? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/219 "2010-11-03T16:29:25Z")
No problem with bumping it – just keep your editorializing out of it, please. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889/220 "2010-11-19T09:30:35Z")
Now that Shinna is back on line - Bumpity bump bump bump… Perhaps you would care to come and answer some questions Shinna? even if we’re not all willing to blow sunshine up your backside on what a brave blow you’re striking for freedom [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-crazy-settler/553889.md?page=12)