Here's the straw "Or maybe there are so few Palestinian Arab peace groups because they don't feel what the Jewish and Gentile peace groups feel. Compassion, guilt perhaps, empathy, even a sense of fairness. Maybe that just isn't a part of their makeup or maybe they feel justified in murdering women and children with bombs in the name of "self-determination" or whatever."

Despite all the spin, I can see how, on it face, it could be taken as racist,

How anyone who knew you only from this forum would leap jump to the assumption that it "proves" that you are racists requires of leap of illogic that amazes me but then I have the added benefit of personal knowledge.

On the other hand, and in part because we are brothers and I do know you, it was an incredibly stupid way to say what you meant to say. The later explanation could (and in CarolC's case did) seem like "spin" as opposed to the explanation you intended.

In the spirit of Kevin's question.

For what its worth, I think there that arguing degrees of evil is futile. The point when there was a "right" and "wrong" side past long ago. The Only rational choice I see is for those nations that retain any sense of rationality and decency at all is to go in and stop the killing of men, women and children on all sides. Preferably yesterday.

Neither side, or at least none of the leadership, seems intent on doing anything but having their own way. Despite all the "spin" out there, neither side has done a lot to resolve anything beyond some basic lip service.

There is plenty of blame to go around. Stopping the killing needs to be our first priority, with or without the cooperation and consent of the Israeli's or the Palestinians.

There really does (IMO) come a time when a nation or group crosses the line and abrogates the right to self-determination. I suggest that all sides to the conflict (as the Arab world is as much a party to this as Israel and Palestine) long ago stepped over the line and the point of compromise is past.

What sane nations remain in the world need to step in and settle it by fiat. Such would be temporary, would require a foreign military presence in the area, would include (for Palestine) something similar to what MacArthur did for and to Japn after WWII) and would probably offend everyone. But it would stop most of the killing and maybe start a real peace process.

I will now go back to what I've been doing for some tine know: Enjoying the music threads (as a professional audience with severely limited musical talent I almost never comment but do enjoy) and avoid even reading the political threads.

Regards

John