re: #4 Locker

Calling a blockade illegal doesn’t sound racist and it seems like something that can at least be discussed. There is no room for discussion on swastikas, hate, etc but some of those other topics (just the topics, not the content of the links) seem perfectly valid for conversation.

Sarah Palin isn’t off limits to criticism and neither is Israel. I reject the notion that any discussion or opinion that isn’t 100pct pro-Isreal makes someone a racist or an anti-semite, not saying you are making this statement but it’s out there loud and clear.

This entire situation is fucked up and the probability that one side or the other is completely innocent of any wrong doing or mistakes approaches 0.

As you noted, I am not saying that Israel is above reproach. What I am saying is that it does deserve the same consideration as any of our other allies. We can disagree with actions of the British, but that seldom devolves into suggestions that British should not exist or adoration of the IRA (example). The very idea of that conversation is absurd.

But in the context of Israel, there are people calling for the removal of Israel as a country, comparisons to Hitler’s Germany (which is vile on many levels) and remarkable statements like “I <3 PLO”.

I am fairly confident that much of the frothing at the mouth comes from a point of ignorance to middle eastern relations and history; that that does not excuse it.

You don’t need to wear a pointed hood or shave your head to be biased. IMO, willingness to laying full blame for all of our issues in the middle east on Israel’s shoulders is antisemitic. In the same way that blaming issues in urban communities on minorities is racist…