I Don't Get It

[thedivahrrrself]

I don't get America's blind support for Israel.

I get why we need an ally in the Middle East. I get why some Americans identify with the plight of the Jewish people. I get why Israel exists as a state.

But I don't get why, when they shoot one of our own unarmed citizens at almost point blank range, on video, why our diplomats don't go postal on them, why our people don't get up in arms about that.

I don't get why we can look at the human rights injustices (which are, admittedly on both sides, but Israel is the more powerful player here) and just turn a blind eye, and keep sending more cash and weapons. I don't get why Palestinians aren't allowed to have things like band-aids and basic building materials.

I don't understand this game we play with Israel. It's like an accepted American position that we all support anything and everything the State of Israel does. Why do we get to question every other country's motives, but not theirs?

When the Arab Spring happened, everyone cheered for Muslims in Egypt, in Yemen - YAY! They have a right to democratically elect their own leaders! - but no one made the connection to Palestinians. I don't understand why they don't also have that same right.

I just don't get it.

[thedivahrrrself]

I also didn't get Napoleon Dynamite.

That movie made me feel old. I scratched my head through the whole thing.

[Turtle]

...and I sure ain't gonna be able to starighten any of it out...and, by the way, I originally put this in "The Emperor's New Clothes" threadspace and June moved it, but maybe I should have put it in "The Red Zone" for no moderating...

For me, I grew up in very pro-Jewish, pro-Israel space...

well, for me, this brings in a mixity of race, ethnicity, religion, power, privilege, politics, and hegemony in my background...

...and family...

I grew up in very pro-Jewish, pro-Israel space...and as time has gone on the reality of events in the real World... and my point of view...have changed over time.

When I read accounts of ambulances with Palestinian People in them being held in lines at the border or Palestinian People being forced to go to a specific hospital for Palestinian People....and that People die...it also reminds me of how this country has been in the past and is moving toward again.

When I read or hear about the government of Israel wanting Palestinian truck drivers to were identification badges...and then I hear that the Israeli truck drivers started wearing ID badges too - to make a point....and help People remember...

When I hear jingoistic rhetoric in any form I think there is a problem. Automatic defense of anything or anybody, in my opinion, can be problematic.

As an individual, I have the easier job of making my own opinion and living with a mixity...as a government making political statements and trying to form alliances (which I think are very problematic) it is not so easy...people get pissed off, we try to act like grown-ups, but we can't, we get dug in, defend our "friends" and "family"...if it's us being the rebels it's OK - if it's somebody not us, it's not OK...

just my opinion..

Originally Posted by thedivahrrrself

I don't get America's blind support for Israel.

I get why we need an ally in the Middle East. I get why some Americans identify with the plight of the Jewish people. I get why Israel exists as a state.

But I don't get why, when they shoot one of our own unarmed citizens at almost point blank range, on video, why our diplomats don't go postal on them, why our people don't get up in arms about that.

I don't get why we can look at the human rights injustices (which are, admittedly on both sides, but Israel is the more powerful player here) and just turn a blind eye, and keep sending more cash and weapons. I don't get why Palestinians aren't allowed to have things like band-aids and basic building materials.

I don't understand this game we play with Israel. It's like an accepted American position that we all support anything and everything the State of Israel does. Why do we get to question every other country's motives, but not theirs?

When the Arab Spring happened, everyone cheered for Muslims in Egypt, in Yemen - YAY! They have a right to democratically elect their own leaders! - but no one made the connection to Palestinians. I don't understand why they don't also have that same right.

I just don't get it.

[Turtle]

pinkgeek..." illusions of perfection," what an interesting phrase...trying to be...what we think we should be or what is expected...and what happens if we don't make it....

"Re: Death of a Salesman - I can't help but think of Eugene O'Neil and Long Day's Journey into Night (written close to the same time period I believe). The Tyrones are another family suffering under the disillusionment and imperfections of life.

In my experience the value in these tragic plays is that they do mimic real life. If anyone could "just stop" or "just don't" etc. etc. there would be less poverty, disease, abuse etc, but that isn't how humans are wired. Perfect logic is interrupted by dreams, lust, greed, fear, shame and thus often imperfect choices are all that can be seen and certainly what is chosen.

If the only stories we told in theatre and books were stories of Happily.Ever.After where all the characters made all the logical choices it would not be art reflecting life - it would be art reflecting an illusions of perfection. (I'm sure the right wing would just love this concept!)

Your mileage may vary."
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cinnamongrrl563 - I think... :-) that people get fundamentalist about all sorts of things...and it's that pointing out a speck in someone else's eye with a freakin log sticking out of your own...


"I dont get....vegetarians who berate NON vegetarians for eating meat..to the point of leaving a dinner party because of the bad mojo at being around meat eaters..and yet they have down comforters and leather shoes...do they really think that the animals VOLUNTEERED these things for their use?? And just by the by....i am mostly vegetarian...and will attempt at being vegan soonly...but i refuse to be a nazi about it....I just cant stand hypocritical better than thou types....irks me to no end..."

[Turtle]

Hurray for shared space and plenty of space on the barbeque grill...

bathing suits can be helpful in some places and skin is great in others...I sure got a kick out of the "holding boobies down" thing...

I don't get the "cult of celebrity" thing either - the couple of times I've gotten an autograph, it wasn't really for the signature, it was because I was curious about what the person might say...

Oh to ponder....


...I'm seeing a bit of a theme of self-acceptance....except in the frozen PB&J sammiches ;-)

PS - there's no such thing as a perfect body.

[thedivahrrrself]

nude feels great as long as no one else is looking! LOL

sorry, just not into public nudity. I was just teasing about if I was skinny. I'd probably still not skinny dip in public. I always used to say if i'd been born skinny, I might have stripped through college, and I wouldn't have to worry about student loans!! My cousin used to clear a six-figure income that way.

[RockOn]

I don't get why the media writes articles about Charlie Sheen ... and then why anyone reads them.

Baffling to me.

[Turtle]

Yeah, I don't understand the attention Charlie Sheen gets.


Today I am brought back to wondering why the job keeps around a person who:

~ doesn't communicate
~ sends people on wild goose chases
~ says things that aren't true
~ makes other people's jobs much more difficult
~ creates much frustration around her

Why do they keep her around???