NOT TO BE POLITICAL, BUT I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND

[Bob Denman]

Why do we, who have no direct interest in this conflict, either as individuals or as a country, align against an oppressed people who are 'yearning to be free'? Why are we aligning ourselves with the oppressor rather than the oppressed?

So since you have no direct interest: why is it so important to you, to identify one group as an oppressor, and the other as the oppressed?
Why not just say that there's more than enough hatred on both sides, to keep the violence fueled for another couple of thousand years? :banghead:

 

[UtahPete]

I'm sorry to see this thread die from lack of interest in the topic. I thought the premise was good; outside of politics, why are the Palestinians subjecting themselves and their children to danger for their cause?

Is there a reason people would risk everything for a cause that is not 'political' (i.e. a struggle for governmental power)?

Some would suggest the Palestinians are protesting because their religion demands it. I reject that. I think they are protesting because they want a better life and future for themselves and their children. Isn't that what has caused all oppressed people throughout recorded history to rise up against the oppressors?

 

[Bob Denman]

They're doing it for all of those virgins...

 

[Bob Denman]

But the Hef has an unpleasant surprise for them! :roflblack:

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

I'm sorry to see this thread die from lack of interest in the topic. I thought the premise was good; outside of politics, why are the Palestinians subjecting themselves and their children to danger for their cause?

Is there a reason people would risk everything for a cause that is not 'political' (i.e. a struggle for governmental power)?

Some would suggest the Palestinians are protesting because their religion demands it. I reject that. I think they are protesting because they want a better life and future for themselves and their children. Isn't that what has caused all oppressed people throughout recorded history to rise up against the oppressors?

I don't agree, if they want a better life for their wives & children they wouldn't have them with them at the protest putting them in
danger. my original question is more of a psychological question of why. whey do people act like ants and just follow or destroy with
no true chance of gain outside of personal satisfaction of destruction.

 

[UtahPete]

I don't agree, if they want a better life for their wives & children they wouldn't have them with them at the protest putting them in danger. my original question is more of a psychological question of why. whey do people act like ants and just follow or destroy with no true chance of gain outside of personal satisfaction of destruction.

Maybe because they feel they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Isn't that what has fueled uprisings and insurrections throughout human history?

I think ants are actually pretty amazing creatures that sacrifice 'soldiers' for the good of the community. Most societies do that.

Unfortunately ours is a society that sacrifices soldiers for purely political reasons, having nothing to do with self-defense, but that's another topic.

 

[UtahPete]

It may seem so to 'them'. But in our revolution we did not seek to destroy the British nation. Nor did we chant, 'Death to all Englishmen'. It's hard to negotiate with a group of people who's primary and unwavering goal is your extinction... Once this is understood. I think their actions become much more understandable.

This is the 'political' explanation (right or wrong). OP was asking what motivates the individuals to sacrifice themselves and their babies for this 'cause'?

 

[johnsimion]

I'm sorry to see this thread die from lack of interest in the topic. I thought the premise was good; outside of politics, why are the Palestinians subjecting themselves and their children to danger for their cause?

Is there a reason people would risk everything for a cause that is not 'political' (i.e. a struggle for governmental power)?

Some would suggest the Palestinians are protesting because their religion demands it. I reject that. I think they are protesting because they want a better life and future for themselves and their children. Isn't that what has caused all oppressed people throughout recorded history to rise up against the oppressors?

I think they're protesting because they were kicked out of their own land and herded into Gaza. Quoting Wikipedia: "The majority of the Palestinians descend from refugees who were driven from or left their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War." Look at the area on Google Maps and you might understand why they'd protest: Large farms, few people living on the Israeli side of the border while there are almost 2 million Palestinians packed into a tiny area with no resources. They're still considered to be part of Israel, and Israel retains the right to enter whenever it feels like it, but if you're a Palestinian living there, you can't go into Israel. What hope do these people have for the future under those conditions? And the world seems to think this is just fine.

 

[Easy Rider]

Why do we, who have no direct interest in this conflict, either as individuals or as a country, align against an oppressed people who are 'yearning to be free'? Why are we aligning ourselves with the oppressor rather than the oppressed?

Maybe that fact that for about 6000 years those rolls were reversed.
Just maybe.

 

[UtahPete]

Maybe that fact that for about 6000 years those rolls were reversed. Just maybe.

Could you explain that please? Thanks.

 

[Easy Rider]

but if you're a Palestinian living there, you can't go into Israel. What hope do these people have for the future under those conditions? And the world seems to think this is just fine.

It wasn't always like that.

If you really care about this situation, you need to read unbiased history about what has gone on in the region since 1948 and 1967.
But before you do that, you need to have a general understanding about what went on in the region for a few thousand years before that.

In the history of the world, more people have died at the hands of religious zealots than in all of the declared "national" wars combined.

And that is still going on in the middle east and Africa mostly. Some really bad stuff in Africa. Most of the world REALLY doesn't care what happens in Africa.

 

[Bob Denman]

...In the history of the world, more people have died at the hands of religious zealots than in all of the declared "national" wars combined.

Yup! :agree:
Most of Man's worst inhumanity inflicted on his fellow Man: has been done in the name of God... (Or whatever you wish to call Him.) nojoke

 

[UtahPete]

It wasn't always like that. If you really care about this situation, you need to read unbiased history about what has gone on in the region since 1948 and 1967.
But before you do that, you need to have a general understanding about what went on in the region for a few thousand years before that. In the history of the world, more people have died at the hands of religious zealots than in all of the declared "national" wars combined. And that is still going on in the middle east and Africa mostly. Some really bad stuff in Africa. Most of the world REALLY doesn't care what happens in Africa.

I understand.

Without getting into the role of religion in human misery over the millennia, let me ask you; do you think people today should be condemned and penalized for what their ancestors did?

 

[Easy Rider]

do you think people today should be condemned and penalized for what their ancestors did?

Only if they continue to do it.......or insist on seeking revenge for transgressions that ended long ago.

What people really should be "condemned" for is teaching their children to HATE.

 

[UtahPete]

Only if they continue to do it.......or insist on seeking revenge for transgressions that ended long ago. What people really should be "condemned" for is teaching their children to HATE.

:agree: I just don't believe the Palestinians are any different than anyone else in that respect.

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

Only if they continue to do it.......or insist on seeking revenge for transgressions that ended long ago.

What people really should be "condemned" for is teaching their children to HATE.

That is what i believe is happening when you bring children to a riot.