Ya know, Rolen’s gonna be back at the Vet tonight, for the first time since the trade to St. Looey. Sure hope the Philly Phans don’t live down to their reputation; all the press flacks seem to be salivating over the idea that ‘D’ batteries are gonna come cascading out of the stands the moment he arrives at third.
Me, I think the Phils made a reasonable deal. Timlin, even if he is a bit suspect, still brings some much-needed reliability to the 'pen. Polanco may be less of a presence at third, but just look at how the rest of the team has lit up in the past couple of weeks; like they had a load lifted off their shoulders. It’s just too bad all this didn’t happen back in April.
I pick up the paper this morning and see an article to the effect that a pretty much non-political Palestinian kid has been “induced” by the IDF to but on a flack jacket and go talk to a Palestinian gunman holed up in a house. The kid, according to the AP story ended up being shot in the back of the head, shot dead. The story doesn’t say who did the shooting, but conclusions can be drawn. A spokesman for the IDF is reported to have defended this by saying that it is a tactic that has been used for years and that it saves lives. Well, yea, whose life is it saving? At least they put the kid in a flack jacket—going up to a cornered gunman wearing a big peace of Israeli uniform may not be a good idea. A Palestinian spokesman characterizes the whole thing as the IDF using local civilians as human shields. I’m not at all sure that the characterization is wrong. Where does this put us in our little discussion about the value of life?
Um…GB, in point of fact, many Jews (my parents among them) consider Israel as their homeland too. This is hard to explain…call it a “spiritual” homeland, perhaps. In addition, it’s kinda nice to know that should there ever be a second Holocaust, or a new wave of anti-semitism, there’s a country that will accept me, no questions asked. One needs only to look at the fate of those poor souls about the St. Louis (my dad and his family almost ended up aboard!) to see why this matters to Jews, American or otherwise. This does not, in and of itself make one racist.
That said, I want it clear that I completely disassociate myself from everything December utters “as a Jew” or as a conservative. He does not speak for me in any way.
The Cards are winning too, though I don’t know that Rolen has had that much to do with it.
Say, since it’s his homeland and all, maybe we could trade december to the Israelis for a couple of decent pro basketball prospects. The Knicks need help.
Though that deal wouldn’t be so great for them. Almost as bad as the Red Sox getting Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe in exchange for Heathcliff Slocumb.
december, you are a worthless bigotted cunt. stop fucking polluting the boards with your ignorance. You refuse to answer a simple question about the equality of lives.
go fuck yourself, and everything you believe in. Your ignorance offends everyone who believes in a fair discussion and debate on matters. You allow your petty little bias to cloud any judgement.
I cordially invite you to bite me.
I realise this is ad hominem, but your sheer offensiveness over many, many threads is beyond my ability to refrain.
Well, I’m glad I’m going home. I’ll get to put some distance between myself and “supporters” like december.
On the other hand, I think I’ll answer JJimm’s and Guinastasia’s question myself: yes, to me, the lives of Israelis are more important than the lives of Palestinians. To me. I fully expect that a Palestinian asked the same question would give quite a different answer. I’m sorry…
I’m sorry I’m not objective, but then, objectivity is highly overrated - outside the academic and legal worlds it has remerkably few practicle applications. If you’ve noticed, I rarely take part in Israel-centered debates. That’s because unlike in other threads, my goal is not to achieve some sort of enlightenment, truth or consensus, but rather to win. And that’s not really what the Straight Dope is all about.
You see, unlike all of you - december definitely included - I don’t take sides. I am a side. That’s a completely different thing.
I am a side because I am an Israeli. I was born there, I lived there for 20 of my 28 years, and in a couple of weeks I’ll be going back for good after 2 years abroad.
Religion has nothing to do with it.
Twist, do you love your family more than you love strangers? Do you care for them more? Do you feel a greater responsiblity? Would you help a family member more than you would help a stranger? Would you save their lives first? Do you, in fact, see the life of life of a member of your family to be above someone else? Because that’s how I see my country - as a form of extended family.
Want another reason? Ok, here’s one - no Palestinian has ever vowed to protect my life at the risk of his own. In Israel, OTOH, I have an entire army which has sworm exactly that.
december If you have answered my next question, either in this thread or in another, please excuse me for asking.
What is your answer to those of us who read your original thread title, only to come inside and discover that your are little better than many of the trolls who come and go from this board?
This thread is but one of the best examples. As many an eloquent poster before me has said/asked, why do you post a lie in the title to the thread? Why do you feel the need to do this? I can see some high school kid or college kid home on vacation goofing around. That’s part of being young and stupid. They, at least have an excuse. But WHAT is your excuse? You’re mature(?), age-wise at least, you’re obviously intelligent, you’re in a profession that takes some smarts. But you continue to exhibit anti-social behavior that defies logic.
Quite often, you seem to redeem yourself within the thread, willingly admitting to the logic of some posters who have the opposite point of view, actually exhibiting an ability to be swayed by the well-reasoned opinion of others. For that, I salute you. True trolls would never allow themseves to be seen as accomodating within the thread.
I know that writing the title to the thread is important. Many a poster here never learns how to do it, and I don’t read their threads because they don’t grab my attention.
But, why, oh! why, must you lie in the title? I think this is your biggest problem. You’re better than that(I think).
Am I just wasting my breath, or are you aware of this?
For what it’s worth, I don’t think it will. I’d be willing to bet that it’ll never happen in the USA. There are too many safeguards and protections, too many good people. But I’d also be willing to bet that just about every Jew out there occasionally thinks “Yeah, but what if…”.
And thanks for the offer!
**
Yup, I know exactly what you mean.
BTW: Anyone have any clue as to what was meant by his handi-wipe comment? It seemed less coherent than his usual stuff.
I was gonna ask about that one myself, (my ‘december/english’ translator is on the fritz).
and gosh, Fenris just cuz gobear sprints in here more quickly w/the offer of lodging, you’re gonna cast away all we’ve meant to each other? sniff sniff. the nights, the peanut butter, the memories, the condiments…
I took the handi-wipe comment to be a response to “That said, I want it clear that I completely disassociate myself from everything December utters “as a Jew” or as a conservative. He does not speak for me in any way.”
Y’know, washing your hands of him.
Then again it could have a deeper meaning. Maybe the man himself will explain it.
