That isn't enough. A lot of atheists with Jewish blood are the targets of antisemitism. And of course we know the lesson of the Inquisition, when the Spaniards and Portuguese murdered all those Jews who converted to Christianity because they just couldn't trust that they were sincere. There really isn't any way to be accepted if you've got a drop of Jewish blood. Why bother.
Elan Journo is a fellow and director of policy research at the Ayn Rand Institute, and has authored: “What Justice Demands, America and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”, which presents an overview of the establishment of the state of Israel in modern times, and provides much needed information about the acquisition of lands by the state of Israel, and the moral justification for its right to exist.
Can one realistically expect to have an open, honest conversation with somebody who either was born to a religion that teaches elimination of another religion or with somebody that supports people raised with such a deplorable mindset? Personally, I feel that such communication is fool's play. Can somebody raised in a religion that commands doing good deeds to others have an honest relationship with somebody raised that it is honorable to kill another without provocation and for not reason other than the other person's religion (and then be rewarded with dozens of virgins to rape)? I know better. While I may not like, and even be suspicious of Moslems, I do not hate them (although they are pushing me towards that). I don't think it is a good idea to talk to a cannibal about why he would kill and eat you. At this point in time, it is perhaps better to prepare for battle than think about transforming the earth with good deeds. That may come at a later time.
What a thing for a diplomat to say to a parent of someone whose child is being held hostage?! Try to understand the other side?? Have they no hearts as well as well as brains? Try to understand the rapist, the kidnapper, ths killer - oh while this is happening to you. While you are actively being run over by a truck repeatedly day after day. What a heartless sentiment.
Why do we accept this as normal? Why do we acknowledge this as having any sort of wisdom? It doesn't. It is empty pontificating to people in pain. It does not make us more righteous or self aware.
I'm afraid I ducked out of trying to communicate with "the other" last November. At the end of a tetchy couple of years as my niece became aggressively "woke," and in particular at the end of a tetchy exchange of messages about Israel and Gaza which I described as complicated [at the least], my niece wrote, "For me there is nothing complicated about the rise of Hamas after the manner in which Israel have taken their land, their peoples and their freedoms for 75 years. Anyone who denies or avoids what Israel have been trying to do to Palestine for the last 75 years will never be able to persuade me otherwise". In the face of such wilful (she got a first class degree in Maths from Sussex Uni, but doesn't read) ignorance and absolutism, I have barely communicated with her since.
The premise of your interlocutor appears to be that you must renounce your Jewishness or be cast out from society. Judenrein!
That isn't enough. A lot of atheists with Jewish blood are the targets of antisemitism. And of course we know the lesson of the Inquisition, when the Spaniards and Portuguese murdered all those Jews who converted to Christianity because they just couldn't trust that they were sincere. There really isn't any way to be accepted if you've got a drop of Jewish blood. Why bother.
Elan Journo is a fellow and director of policy research at the Ayn Rand Institute, and has authored: “What Justice Demands, America and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”, which presents an overview of the establishment of the state of Israel in modern times, and provides much needed information about the acquisition of lands by the state of Israel, and the moral justification for its right to exist.
I agree we need to try to understand the other side. For this to be possible in dialogue, though, the other side needs to reciprocate that effort.
I’m currently in London and appalled by the number of Christian churches that are condemning the Jews.
I am of Polish origin and discovered that my grandfather was murdered by German cowards in Auschwitz.
None of them condemned the cowardice of Hamas when they murdered innocent women and children, not one.
In fact my brother in law claims it didn’t happen at all. He’s the highest educated person in our family.
When I show him evidence he claims it’s fake.
The only advice I can give is to ask him questions, don’t try to counter his arguments he won’t listen.
Ask him why Hamas considered kidnapping the hostages?
Ask him why they won’t release them?
Ask him what other responses Israel could have done?
Ask him if Jews feel safe in Britain today.
Personally I’m always very impressed with the Orthodox Jews who travel around today, they suffer so much abuse.
Just reading this gave me schpilkies.
Haters gonna hate.
Can one realistically expect to have an open, honest conversation with somebody who either was born to a religion that teaches elimination of another religion or with somebody that supports people raised with such a deplorable mindset? Personally, I feel that such communication is fool's play. Can somebody raised in a religion that commands doing good deeds to others have an honest relationship with somebody raised that it is honorable to kill another without provocation and for not reason other than the other person's religion (and then be rewarded with dozens of virgins to rape)? I know better. While I may not like, and even be suspicious of Moslems, I do not hate them (although they are pushing me towards that). I don't think it is a good idea to talk to a cannibal about why he would kill and eat you. At this point in time, it is perhaps better to prepare for battle than think about transforming the earth with good deeds. That may come at a later time.
What a thing for a diplomat to say to a parent of someone whose child is being held hostage?! Try to understand the other side?? Have they no hearts as well as well as brains? Try to understand the rapist, the kidnapper, ths killer - oh while this is happening to you. While you are actively being run over by a truck repeatedly day after day. What a heartless sentiment.
Why do we accept this as normal? Why do we acknowledge this as having any sort of wisdom? It doesn't. It is empty pontificating to people in pain. It does not make us more righteous or self aware.
I'm afraid I ducked out of trying to communicate with "the other" last November. At the end of a tetchy couple of years as my niece became aggressively "woke," and in particular at the end of a tetchy exchange of messages about Israel and Gaza which I described as complicated [at the least], my niece wrote, "For me there is nothing complicated about the rise of Hamas after the manner in which Israel have taken their land, their peoples and their freedoms for 75 years. Anyone who denies or avoids what Israel have been trying to do to Palestine for the last 75 years will never be able to persuade me otherwise". In the face of such wilful (she got a first class degree in Maths from Sussex Uni, but doesn't read) ignorance and absolutism, I have barely communicated with her since.
Not all that surprising.