Comments on: Some Israelis Do the Right Thing, But Shin Bet Dithers

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:38:15 +0000

Some define a “troll” as anyone who writes anything opposing their pt of view. We know better.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:27:56 +0000

As Shirin would say, THEIR. THEIR THEIR THEIR English!!!!! :)

The thing is, these things, these little misspellings and grammatical gaffes, detract from a person’s credibility.

As does making unfounded statements, especially with regard to the blog host.

I define “troll” as someone who surfs the net, comes across comment threads such as this one, makes deliberately noxious and contrary remarks for the purpose of creating meaningless discourse, and then disappears.

See ya, Josh.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:25:39 +0000

no one has to justify anything to you here

This blog is based on EVIDENCE. If you don’t provide any no one will believe you. Since you bothered to take the time to comment here I would think you’d want people who read yr comments to believe them. If you don’t, then don’t bother supporting any of yr claims & no one will.

Richard apparently couldn’t care less about dealing with internal issues within the Jewish community

More utter ignorance on yr part. Why do you think I critique the settler movement & the American Jewish leadership & the Israel lobby? So yes, I care deeply about internal issues within the Jewish community. But if you mean I should care about whether there’s an eruv around Beverly Hills or whether my local supermarket stocks kosher food or whether you’re a kosher Jew because you do or don’t go to shul on Shabbat–then you’re right, those are issues that don’t hold much interest for me.

Tikkun starts at home.

Blatantly false. You are a Jewish chauvinist who only believes in caring about Jews. Jeremiah, Isaiah & Amos would disown you & rightfully so.

A throwback to my childhood is that I’m quite sensitive

If you’re so sensitive then you ought to try to pay closer attention to what you write and what people write back to you. If you were using yr brain why would you write that I don’t want to hear opposing views when there are thousands of comments on this site including many fr. yrself which oppose my views? Do you think saying something like that shows intelligence?

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:15:48 +0000

what kind of host insults the guests about there [sic] English

A host who cherishes the English language & winces when it is abused by mispelings (*!$!).

By: josh

josh — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:51:24 +0000

FWIW,
I’ve unsubscribed from the two threads I had commented on here so you don’t have to reply. Really, what kind of host insults the guests about there English? C’mon. Otherwise, I’ve seen a few good people posting on this site, it would be good if you left the comfort zone here and went elsewhere. If it seems that I am getting the last word, please accept my apologizes. I’ll probably be lurking in the background. I now give you the last word.

By: josh

josh — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:45:47 +0000

Ah, this is great. Without bothering to tell you what I’ve done in the past, cuz really, no one has to justify anything to you here, we have the host telling us that conflict resolution is only when you are dealing with other peoples besides yourself. Richard apparently couldn’t care less about dealing with internal issues within the Jewish community, and I suppose that he does not have to say anything about Arab doctors only giving time to Arab patients, or a Xian chiropractor coming to Israel but only going to volunteer in Naztrat. Richard, I know that some people like you are so weighted by the diaspora that you feel you need to fix the world before, or at the expense of not fixing your own community. That is too bad. Tikkun starts at home. For that matter, my Muslim friends taught me that Jihad is not only (really) blowing up bombs in school buses and it similarly starts at home and in the community. I look at your type as being Jewish fundamentalists (without the physical violence).

Really, can’t you use a bit more brain power to understand how foolish some of the things you say are?

A throwback to my childhood is that I’m quite sensitive and feel slighted again by the continued immaturity of the host.

On the other hand, I was not insulted by Mary’s troll comment, just never been called that and I’ve been on the net for about 15 years and surfed to many sites. I suppose that someone coming with different views is considered hostile.

Why so surprised? “2nd class citzens” – there is a line of Palestinians who have married Israeli spouses (Jews or Muslims) who are struggling to get blue identity cards.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:18:18 +0000

How does one engage in conflict resolution if one does not go where there is conflict? It’s easy to be, say, a Jewish dentist performing work for Jews, but can you mediate an argument between a Jew and a Palestinian? Can you bring them together and help them to see the humanity of each other and thereby seek common ground? If you never step out of your comfort zone, how can you claim to resolve conflicts?

This is where peace begins, not in politicians dickering with each other using human lives as bargaining chips but when there is human-to-human contact and an effort at understanding.

Forgive my harshness earlier, but how do you expect people to react when you make such rash statements as “Palestinians are happy to be second class citizens”? It sounded so much like the old “good n***er” comments from the Old South that this comparison was the first thing that came to mind. It was also a confrontational remark meant to shock and annoy, and it certainly served its purpose. In light of this, Josh, perhaps you should apologize for having made it.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:55:52 +0000

What specifically have you done to promote conflict resolution?

In this day and age when most people are happy to be couch potatoes and shy away from challenges, we should be happy with anyone who is willing to volunteer time and effort for any good, whether it is a dentist who works only with Jews in Dimona or a pediatrician travelling to work in Jammain

I completely disagree. In fact, good deeds performed by Jews who refuse to perform similar deeds for non-Jews have diminished value for that reason.

that does not help conflict resolution at all and not wanting to hear opposing views

This is beyond lame. Conflict resolution is not the same as losing one’s sense of judgment, justice or critical faculties. A Jew who only helps Jews deserves only as much praise as this limited set of values merits. A Jew who helps Jews and Palestinians is truly fulfilling prophetic values. Conflict resolution is a total non sequitur. As for not wanting to hear opposing views–what do you think I’m doing in reading yr views & responding to them? And why do you think I created this blog & the comment threads? To hear myself talk? Of course I want a debate or there would be no comments here at all. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to get a free ride or special dispensation.

Really, can’t you use a bit more brain power to understand how foolish some of the things you say are?