Rob Olson’s April 5 column “The Israel Question” touched on some interesting points. Yes, dialogue and context is necessary in any situation. Yes, both Palestinians and Israelis have their faults. But there are certain facts that can not and should not just be pushed under the rug. College students may be liberal thinkers, but giving gays and women rights does not cover up the fact that Israelis are stealing land from those who were there before them and putting Palestinians through the humiliation and torture of check points, arrests, and limited rights. College students should be discussing how the world has allowed Israel to carry on in such a manner. Why does the U.S. send over $8.2 million dollars of military aid per day to Israel when right in our backyard, education at all levels is suffering and we have yet to recover from the housing crisis? We should be discussing how the world’s hegemonic power, that which prides itself on equality, liberty, and freedom for all, can support a nation that segregates people based on race, down to the license plates on the cars and the roads they can travel on. Israel puts on a good front, but their true intentions are to continue building scattered and expanding settlements, despite the United Nations condemning them, making the goal of a Palestinian state ever more difficult to reach.
LYLA RAYYAN
Junior, International Relations
The percentage who have committed terrorist attacks is indeed small but those who set the stage for terrorist attacks are quite large. You know, people like you whoe do their utmost to deligtimize the state of Israel while ignoring Islamic violence no matter how inhumane it is.
Here’s a survey which says something like 50% of Muslims support Osama Bin Laden. What does that say about your silly claim?
http://www.rightsidenews.com/201003229181/world/terrorism/the-myth-of-qthe-small-fringeq.html
Just to note quickly:
Jon Stewart has been one of the biggest critics of Israel’s policies towards Palestinians.
Source: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8184141336093332984#
Wow Arafat.
A) None of any of your links list legitimate sources where I can look up anything you said. The quotes? Here’s one of the quotes embedded:
16. Jon Stewart on Islam
“The nation of Dubai banned the movie Charlie’s Angles because it’s ‘offensive to the religion of Islam.’ Apparently, the religion of Islam is offended by anything without a plot.”
The fact that this was used as an insult against Islam is comedic and doesn’t require me addressing the rest of those quotes since none can provide a source and/or context in which they were said.
B) This isn’t about religion. Yes I’m Muslim. Some of my dearest friends are Jewish. Some are pro-Israeli policies, some (here comes the surprise!) are anti. Doesn’t change my relationship with any of them.
Again, your ad hominem attacks are making this into a child’s debate. No one here has tried to attack you nor your beliefs personally in any way. Yet, that’s the only thing you seem to be able to come up with in response. Please start referencing sources if you want to point something out.
develop your own OPINION******
autocorrect grr -__-
treat him like an annoying kid and ignore him, he’ll go away****
I would like to commend the Author of this well written and thought out piece and those in support of peace. No where in her article did she address RELIGION. This Arafat dude has done nothing but attack ISLAM and not said any factual information.
the links are ridiculous. If you cant argue your point then please stop replying with links. just stop replying. You have honestly made a complete fool of your self. I doubt you would win in an argument in person so i guess we should just let you be a man on the internet and cyber bully ppl–please see a psychiatrist for that.
for those of you who feel the need to respond to Arafat, please treat him like an annoying kid. You can never change the opinion of someone who doesn’t want it changed so lets ignore him and he can stop stroking his ego.
Weather its a an equal one state or an equal two state solution, the deaths of both Palestinians and Israelis need to end.
that being said i urge people to pay attention to the news from both sides and use your logical UCD education and develop your own permission.
I end with this. THANK YOU LYLA, free Palestine, ignorance is bliss, and Justrg123 for your sensible response.
Long live Palestine. Free Gaza. Free Palestine. Free all those who are under oppression
Removal of settlements, finding a solution to the refugees question, and making Jerusalem an international city. This is all it takes for a Palestinian state and an Israeli state to coexist side by side.
To all of you arguing about Religion, you should write a different opinion and discuss that there.
First, since you chose to bring religion into this, let’s look at some numbers. Considering there are approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, the percentage that have committed terrorist attacks is minuscule. Look here:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/01/06/muslim.radicalization.study/
and here: http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/not-all-terrorists-are-muslims/
On another note, this article discusses how other great men, aka Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, were for religious tolerance and studied Islam. http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/special_feature_400/465_islam-5-things-you-didnt-know.html
Next, Arafat, the reason no one cares to comment on what you post is because the majority of it is pure bigotry. You have unnecessarily made this a religious issue, rather that an issue between Palestinians and Israelis. There are Jews out there that feel differently about the situation, as seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA2PsnNGGl0
And Palestinians are not just Muslims. There is a large Christian population within Palestinian territories – are you saying they deserve better than the Muslims there? Because in that case, you admit that Israel is an oppressive power putting Palestinians under occupation.
So if Israelis really, truly, honestly wanted peace, I have a simple answer for them. Treat Palestinians as equals.
you dont do your own homework, you only quote from racist bigoted websites and sources, and it clearly shows, and i laugh because of that. any scholar knows those websites are one-sided. I dont know if you attend uc davis, i highly doubt it, who knows if youre even educated. regardless, you came here with your mind made up already. you think islam is evil adn all muslims are evil, and any chance you get, youd like to point it out. go ahead and think that way. but youre really doing nothing for the greater good of humanity or America with your lack of dialogue. but have a good day sir, and try to get to know a Muslim in your community, go to the local mosque or something, maybe you’ll learn something.
Finally, finally, IB keeps laughing at my links but never tells us anything specifically about them that she finds so laughable.
Why, do you suppose, she refuses to debate anything specifically but prefers to keep things on a more superficial and general level?