I must voice my support of Wendy's contention that this list seems oddly skewed, but would say to her that she should stay as long as she can stomach it and argue it out, or it will be even mor skewed.
Part of the problem [perhaps the crux] is that BOTH sides polarize and come out with unsupportable rubbish, and a resolution requires them to be willing to venture towards the middle ground.
Paul
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What is skewed about suggesting that there are two sides to a question? What is skewed about suggesting that people should look at another point of view. My analysis of Wendy's position is that she was upset if people said things with which she was uncomfortable. It is truly amazing how, on these lists, people argue strongly and continuously against Israel often misquoting facts and history (I made a similar mistake early on here when I said there were 400 million Arabs in 1945 - slip when should have said 40 million) but if one disagrees, suggests that there may be fault in Israel's opponents or suggests that other factors are relevant the original people get upset by making accusations of "skewing" and descend to ad hominem attacks. If one makes a statement on a list like this they must expect it to be countered by people who think differently - and no matter how uncomfortable it may be the problems in Israel have many varied and complicated causes but are likely to continue so long as one side has the aim of destroying the other - and that aim is a matter of actual, real solid historical and current fact. Once Israel knows that its opponents are no longer bent on its destruction it too can start to work, more than it has, towards a solution. And if recognizing and actual existing fact and taking it into account is skewed the I guess that I too am part of the skewing. And, if there is something that anyone says that is rubbish, come out and say why you disagree - that is what adult rational debate is about.
Garth Cartledge
" Despotism sits nowhere so secure as under the effigy and ensigns of Freedom", From Imaginary Conversations of Greeks and Romans (1853) by Walter Savage Landor 1775-1864
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