Teribus,

I didn't mean to be writing or re-writing history. I was only trying to point out what the conflict looks like from a Palestinian point of view. Palestinians aren't a bunch of towel-headed, camel jockeying, sand n****rs, they are an ancient and vital people who have been seriously f***ed over by the rest of the world for at least as long as the Jewish people have been f***ed over. Niether group is derserving of the hatred often aimed at them.

Your historical examples, while accurate by themselves, are a couple of incidents in a much bigger picture. Your examples contain facts but I find them somewhat lacking in truth. For a surprisingly neutral albeit high-level account of events in the history of Palestine, check out some of the articles on the history of Palestine at Arab.Net and especially, the article entitled Jewish-Arab Conflict. These articles aren't the ravings of mad terrorists but studied and reasoned accounts by professional journalists in the Middle East.

To be sure, the Israeli-Pelestinian conflict is extremely complex and probably won't find a just and lasting solution in our lifetime or our children's children's lifetime. One idea that people everywhere need to let go is the idea that God likes some people more than others or supports particular political causes. Another idea that isn't helpful is the largely American fantasy that every problem can be reduced to good guys and bad guys.

The present situation was largly created by the world community and isn't going to be solved without help from the world community. But to take sides in the conflict or simply permit the extermination of one group by the other is not the way to peace.

      - Mark