By that very same token, you're justifying the rationality for hijacking, suicide bombings and the like. What i think you're overlooking, is simply this. If you really are fervently peace seeking... anyone who is truly peace seeking, will ONLY follow in the path of Ghandi, and look to that end as the salvation for this situation. There is no justification for the acts or propaganda on both sides.diverdee wrote:This is similar to the Bush administrations reductionist mantra of 'they hate our freedoms', because they are essentially'ignorant' & hate filled due to their essential Islamic nature, whilst taking no account of specific circumstances & grievances
I can understand your sentiment about that, and knew you would bring that up, but i already explained that in a previous post in this thread. Please, go back through an read. Plus, you're making things out to be black and white and they're not.diverdee wrote:That's just a perpetuation of racial & cultural stereotypes that are used as justifications for (in this case) Israeli actions.
So what aother stereoptypes are true?
Lecherous itialians?
Priggish British?
Wine drinking arrogant gauls (french)?
Argumentative & prone to violence Irish?
The loud, obnoxious & insensitive american?
The lazy & slothful carribean?
The inability of africans (especially southern Africans) to rule tehmselves.
The avaricious & arrogant elistist jew/Israeli?
Hmmmm.....
So racial & cultural stereotypes are ok when they provide justification for your intended actions?
Interesting - you seem to be proving a point here.
Your characterisation of the arabs thus, which you previously said was not you personal viewpoint & you now seem to be saying is your personal viewpoint (but only because it is ostensibly self evidently true) could be used as evidence of you conforming to your own racial or cultural stereotype.
I know arabs, I have had dealings with arabs, as well as members of many other cultures.
Your viewpoint is bigoted however you try & sell it.
It's practically 19th century.
It begs the question, where do you draw the line between cultural trait and cultural stereotype? Is it it's capacity as a negative trait that turns it into a stereotype, and something that should not be discussed rationally?
I've read Said, and i own The Power of Nightmares. But, throughout all my reading of Chompsky, Said, Manbiot, and everyone else, i still don't understand how they can rationalize this type of behavior. Yes, there are always underlying reasons why people do the things they do. It's not something that's bowls you over when you hear it. 1+1=2. That's great. I'm glad that you went to university to understand that. But, there's no way they can condone this violent behavior. And it permeates arab society. It's not a bigotted to thing to say. It's part of their cultures. And must be understood. Additionally, it has permeatted Israeli society as well, which the result of being a hyper military state. It's not that hard to figure out. 1+1=2.
Here's where it gets more complicated. You can't claim the moral high ground. Sorry, palestinians can't do that. They haven't marched in peacefull protest without violence against the aggressor ever within their struggle. Once they do that, then the moral highground can be rightfully claimed. Otherwise, it's just tit for tat, and the situation will never be resolved.