My comments and posts must be somewhat worthwhile, because I'm getting trolls, fake researchers, and accusations that I am 'anti-Israel.'
The idea of being anti-Israel is interesting. If I were anti-Israel, what would I be against? Several million people, a state apparatus, a military, an economy, cities, villages, farmland, highways? How can I be 'anti' all those things? They exist. And how can I be anti human beings? Humans are humans, with all their flaws.
I keep saying I am for the rule of law. Israel is a state defined by the United Nations in 1948. I don't see how one can be anti-Israel when Israel exists. I am no revolutionary. As a liberal, ecumenical, multi-ethnic person I believe from observing history that revolutions generally eat people like me first. Therefore I don't care to see violent overthrow of any government.
Furthermore, I don't like violent methods in struggle because they generally hurt innocent bystanders and produce unintended consequences. It's a seamless cloth, my argument. I don't support violent revolution and I don't support fascist violence trying to suppress people who just want basic human rights.
If that makes me anti-Israel in your book, well, you are the one defining Israel in such a way.
Re: anti-American - I love the US Constitution and the reality of America in all its diversity. I am also proud to be from a long line of American dissenters. We think it's truly American to protest the tyrannies of a state gone out of control. Our forefathers fought a revolution and wrote documents defining our right as a people to oppose our rulers when they misrule. My dissent makes me a real American. If you don't think so, then what kind of American are you? Not one Jefferson wanted here.
No need for justifying your stance, Leila, your words are crystal clear.
It is a great joy reading your blog. Your perspective differs from the traditional hard politics, and allows readers to view conflict from a human reality.
Unfortunately, such realities are often forced to sit backstage as the interests of power and politics take precedence.
If, for some, it makes you less patriotic to place the human interest above all else, then Leila I'm proud to be as equally unpatriotic as you.
Posted by: Antoun | January 08, 2009 at 06:58 AM