<< And then, of course, it is quite easy to sit back in a comfortable chair,
far away on the other side of the world, five decades after the war, and criticise people for what they did or did not do during the Nazi occupation. Especially when you have never been in their situation yourself. >> And it's quite easy for people in Europe to sit back in a comfortable chair, far away, and criticize Israelis who are, after all, up against people who still in their official Arab publications teach the most filthy and disgusting lies about Jews and Judaism and still call for Israel's destruction. That said, criticism of Israel is valid, but should be twinned with a recognition of Israel's plight and criticism of Israel's opponents. That Europe mostly seems to do the former and not the latter is what riles me and, I suspect, some of the others on this list. Europe has a very dodgy history in its relations with its Jewish population, and this needs to be recognized and dealt with, not just wished away. America has a dodgy relationship with its native and black populations, and we don't talk about it enough either. Saying these things is not being "anti-Europe" or "anti-American". All I want is that people be fair and openminded. If you criticize one person/group/country for doing something, criticize everyone who does the same or similar things. Don't single out one and ignore the other. We all do it, but that doesn't make it right. Tom Beck "I always knew I'd see the first man on the Moon. I didn't realize I'd also see the last." - Jerry Pournelle
