Celebration
Cidu Bill on Sep 3rd 2010
Tuesday, Hamas gunmen opened fire on and killed four Israeli civilians, including a pregnant woman, in the West Bank. Following the attack, more than three thousand Gazans held a celebration in the streets.
Three thousand Gazans celebrated the murder of four civilians.
Now, I understand there are two sides to almost every issue, and I even understand what leads people to commit acts of terrorism… but I’m sorry, these people aren’t human beings. Aside from the fact that feeling pride over the murder of four civilians is kind of pathetic, how twisted do you have to be to take to the streets and hold a mass celebration?
As of this morning, international outrage still seems to be on hold.
Filed in Bill Bickel, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, politics, terrorism | 44 responses so far
Paul Sep 3rd 2010 at 09:26 am 1
“These people aren’t human beings”–dehumanizing a population is a great first step to making their continued subjugation an easy thing to do.
Is there any real difference between these people’s reactions and, say, the way in which we honor our veteran Second World War bomber pilots whose chief mission was to attack civilian populations (for example, Dresden, the firebombing of most of Japan’s urban centers, Hiroshima, etc…)?
War is horrible aand always brings out the worst in “human beings.”
Blinky the Wonder Wombat Sep 3rd 2010 at 09:35 am 2
Bill-
Do you have some links to articles about the celebrating on the street? I’ve found one blog mention it, but that did not have a link.
Father Bruno Di Frocco Sep 3rd 2010 at 09:36 am 3
It all depends upon one’s point of view, doesn’t it. Upon whose ox has been gored. Fact of life: one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter.
Daniel J. Drazen Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:01 am 4
Being outraged about Middle East insanity is rather like being outraged about the sky being blue.
Tim Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:11 am 5
Bill, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Horrible things are done in war, but it seems that the atrocities done by the West result in prosecutions for war crimes, and the things done by the other side result in celebrations.
Igelino Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:19 am 6
I definitely agree with Paul and Father diFrocco. I would defend their humanity but not the killings. Killing people has become all the rage, with many countries doing it.
If we (the USA) can’t avoid killing civilians and justifying it as correct, how can we expect a place like Gaza to do it? They have had import restrictions on FOOD for heck’s sake! I’m not justifying the Gazans. Just saying that our USA kills civilians without regret, so I can’t point my finger at Gaza.
David Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:37 am 7
Here’s CNN’s article on it:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/31/west.bank.shooting/index.html?iref=allsearch
The NY Post website also has an article, heavy on the fierce rhetoric.
My thought on the celebration is that it shows either a wish for martydom, or an acknowledgment of superior restraint (or maybe even morality) on the part of the enemy. 3000 people essentially made themselves targets, and the IDF could have wiped them all out without breaking a sweat. Yes, Israel would then take all the international criticism, as usual, but how many terrorist groups would pass up such an easy cluster of people who hate them so much?
Blinky the Wonder Wombat Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:54 am 8
@David #7-
The CNN article (at least the version I got) doesn’t say anything about a celebration, but just quotes a Hamas spokesman as congratulating the attackers. Without an independent first-hand report of the celebration, I take this with a big grain of salt, sort of like those exaggerated reports of Palestinians “dancing in the streets” after 9/11.
Winter Wallaby Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:58 am 9
This is patently untrue. Can you actually name a single Western military or political leader who has been prosecuted for war crimes, other than Nazis who were prosecuted by their victors? In actuality, modern-day war crimes prosecutions are only carried out by Western courts against defeated non-Western powers. (After Abu Ghraib became public, Americans were willing to scapegoat a few low-level functionaries, but pretending that systematic American policies are the result of the actions of several privates can hardly be called a war crime prosecution.)
mitch4 Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:58 am 10
Editorial cartoons trying for topical relevance will naturally come up with similar ideas, guided by the news, so it doesn’t make for striking synchronicity worth submitting to Bill here. Still, I’ll note that over two days I’ve seen three cartoons depicting the peace talks as jigsaw puzzle pieces. (With different takes on whose problem it will be.) Was there something like that in the announcements, or is it just cartoonists heading along the same path?
Mark in Boston Sep 3rd 2010 at 11:01 am 11
Do they celebrate every time? That’s a lot of celebrations.
James Schend Sep 3rd 2010 at 11:29 am 12
I like when there’s comics.
David Sep 3rd 2010 at 11:29 am 13
Blinky (8) true enough. The NY Post article reporting the celebration is definitely written for emotional hype, while the CNN article is sticking to more clinical facts and doesn’t say anything about celebrations. The NY Times article does say that “hundreds of Hamas supporters took to the streets” in Jabaliya in northern Gaza.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/world/middleeast/01settlers.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gaza%20hamas&st=cse
CIDU Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 11:39 am 14
Father Bruno, please don’t take this the wrong way, but “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” is really about the most ridiculous cliche in the world. If you really, really don’t understand the difference, here’s the very simplistic rule of thumb: a terrorist will kill you and be proud that he did so. A freedom fighter won’t.
CIDU Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 11:43 am 15
Sorry, Paul, but the street celebration warrants that. Every up to that point, including the ambush murder of four civilians, that’s fine, “business as usual,” and I wouldn’t even dehumanize the gunmen.
The street celebration crosses the line.
Blinky the Wonder Wombat Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:12 pm 16
David @ 13
From the artilce:
“In the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, hundreds of Hamas supporters took to the streets after the evening prayer to celebrate the news of the attack, urged on by the calls of an imam over the loudspeaker even before Hamas had officially said it was behind the killings. ”
Hardly 3,000 people celebrating in the street. Sounds more like a political rally of like-minded extremist supporters and/or compliant sheep doing what they are told.
Do we expect international outrage when wackos from Westboro Baptist celebrate the death of American soldiers in combat?
Pinny Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:15 pm 17
From an Associated Press article on NPR::
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129492849
{paragraph #6}
“About 3,000 people joined a rally in Gaza to celebrate the attack. Hamas military wing spokesman Abu Obeida was among them and told The Associated Press: “The Qassam Brigades announces its full responsibility for the heroic operation in Hebron.”"
[Also see AP photos 3 & 4 with their captions]
Pinny Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:17 pm 18
From Reuters:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/07BE3Lc0lF5HP
Caption of photo:
“A Palestinian boy holding a toy gun is carried by his father as they celebrate the shooting attack in the West Bank, in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip August 31, 2010. Four Israeli settlers were shot dead in their car in a drive-by attack in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, on the eve of a U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace summit in Washington. The armed wing of the Islamist Hamas movement, the Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip and opposes peace talks, claimed responsibility for the shooting in a statement.”
Pinny Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:19 pm 19
From Getty Images (#1):
http://www.daylife.com/photo/06bE2oE4U70ez
“Palestinians celebrate in Jabalya Refugee camp northern Gaza Strip on August 31, 2010 after an attack in Hebron. Four Israelis were shot dead nearby in what police and the military said was a Palestinian ambush, just ahead of renewed peace talks. The military wing of the Islamist Hamas said it was behind the killing of four Israelis in an attack near the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba today.”
Pinny Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:19 pm 20
From Getty Images (#2):
http://www.daylife.com/photo/00KBcjT26N2wP
“Palestinians celebrate after an attack in Hebron on August 31, 2010 in Jabalya Refugee camp northern Gaza Strip. Four Israelis were shot dead nearby in what police and the military said was a Palestinian ambush, just ahead of renewed peace talks. The military wing of the Islamist Hamas said it was behind the killing of four Israelis in an attack near the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba today.”
Winter Wallaby Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:25 pm 21
Bill #14, I don’t think that rule of thumb actually works. Whether you classify someone as a “terrorist” or a “freedom fighter,” they, and the people who support them, are probably going to be proud of the killings that they carry out. As Paul pointed out, we (Americans) were and are generally proud of WW2 veterans who firebombed Dresden and Japanese cities too numerous to count.
I’m not saying that WW2 veterans are morally equivalent to Hamas. But the main thing that separates “terrorists” and “freedom fighters” is what one thinks of their cause - not whether they do horrible things in wartime and are proud of it. Everyone does horrible things in wartime, and is proud of it.
Pinny Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:32 pm 22
This discussion kinda reminds me of this:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,34187,00.html
Arafat Horrified by Attacks, but Thousands of Palestinians Celebrate; Rest of World Outraged
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
[extract]
As thousands of Palestinians celebrated in the West Bank and in Lebanese refugee camps, governments across the globe offered condolences to an America that looked more vulnerable than ever after Tuesday’s terror attacks.
People on every continent watched in horror as astonishing images of terror in the United States filled their television screens. But in the West Bank town of Nablus, Palestinians cheered and distributed candy to passers-by, and Iraqi television played a patriotic song that began “Down with America!” as it showed the World Trade Center towers collapsing.
About 3,000 people poured into the streets of Nablus shortly after the attacks began, chanting “God is Great” and - in their traditional gesture of celebration - handed out candy.
———————————
Here are some pics from BBC…:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1538664.stm
[see pics #9 & 10]
———————————
…and an article about the Palestinian officials trying to hide those imagess:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,34346,00.html
Palestinian Officials Quash Pictures of Arab Celebrations
Thursday, September 13, 2001
By Catherine Donaldson-Evans
FOXNews
The Palestinian Authority has warned journalists they might be in danger if they continue to use images of Arabs celebrating Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.
PA officials allegedly have threatened journalists who continue to show Palestinians rejoicing and dancing at the news of the devastation caused by hijacked jets in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania.
The Foreign Press Association of Israel said the PA sent armed police to block camera crews from photographing Tuesday’s rally in the West Bank town of Nablus — where thousands filled the streets to celebrate.
In addition, PA officials have reportedly phoned TV stations and other media to caution them their safety would be in jeopardy if they aired the segments.
Officially, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat condemned the hijackings that demolished the World Trade towers in New York, damaged the Pentagon in Washington and claimed thousands of victims. Arafat publicly criticized Tuesday’s acts of terrorism soon after word of the Arab celebrations leaked.
The images of exuberant, cheering Palestinians - some of them children and teens - when they heard news of the tragedies angered and horrified people worldwide.
As early as Tuesday afternoon, TV stations everywhere were broadcasting footage of revelers in the streets of Jerusalem and Nablus, in refugee camps and in coffee shops. Some joyously fired rifles in the air, laughed, handed out sodas and candy and made signs of victory with their fingers.
Most American networks, including Fox News Channel, aired the images.
In addition, many newspapers, magazines, Web sites and wire services ran photographs of the festivities.
The Associated Press would not confirm reports that it had stopped broadcasting film of the celebrations. “I have nothing to say about this matter at this time,” AP Israel Bureau Chief Dan Perry told The Jerusalem Post.
But one foreign correspondent told the Post that AP producers had been threatened by PA Cabinet Secretary Abdel Ahmed Rahman, who told them their safety couldn’t be guaranteed if they insisted on broadcasting the images.
Characterizing the threats against such footage and photos as “censorship,” the Foreign Press Association of Israel released a statement expressing its “deep concern over the harassment of journalists by the Palestinian Authority.”
“We strongly condemn the direct threats made against local videographers by local militia members and the attitude of Palestinian officials who made no effort to counter the threats, control the situation or guarantee the safety of the journalists and the freedom of the press,” the FPA said.
The FPA also said it holds the Palestinian Authority fully responsible for the safety of journalists working in areas under its jurisdiction.
——————————–
James Pollock Sep 3rd 2010 at 12:58 pm 23
I can think of a Westerner tried as a war criminal… Lt. William Calley, for My Lai. There were also war crimes trials following the Yugoslavian civil war. Activists sought, but have not yet achieved, war crimes trials for Darfur.
There is a difference between killing noncombatants as collateral damage and intentional targeting of noncombatants. (This is the usual distinction between “freedom fighters” and “terrorists”) but to celebrate terrorist, as opposed to military, victories is, at a minimum, not the ideal way to build international support. There are Americans who cheered the attack on Baghdad during the “shock and awe” portion of the invasion at the start of the war. This certainly killed more than four noncombatants, despite our efforts and high-tech weaponry. I suspect that many, if not most, of the celebration of the attack on Iraq was due to the mistaken belief that Iraq had been involved in the 9/11 attacks.
CIDU Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:24 pm 24
Winter, first you have to separate “war” from “non-war”: If “Gaza” ever declared war on Israel, that would be a whole other (and very short) story.
Beyond that, a terrorist will regard me as a primary target (and feel pride in having killed me). A freedom fighter might kill me as collateral damage and might or might not lose sleep over it, but he won’t celebrate the fact that he killed me.
Yes, in fact, it is all about me.
Winter Wallaby Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:31 pm 25
James, your examples support my comment, rather than contradict them. In Yugoslavia and Darfur, we’re willing to prosecute others for war crimes. The one case where you give where we prosecute our own - Calley - falls into the same category of what I said about Abu Ghraib: “pretending that systematic American policies are the result of the actions of several privates can hardly be called a war crime prosecution.”
Yoav Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:43 pm 26
I think that you are looking at a specific event which is part of a very big and complex picture.
Murder is never justified, however I think it is a neutral reaction to celebrate your oppressor failures.
You also have to take into consideration that there are extremists organizations on both sides that are really scared that the current talks will actually result in any thing and would like to strengthen the fear and hate between the two nations.
CIDU Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:50 pm 27
Blinky, a big difference of course is that the 9/11 celebrations never happened.
Actually, those “celebrations” got me fired from About.com. They always seemed fishy to me, and by the afternoon of the attacks, reports were coming in that the images weren’t what they seemed. I wrote an article about how the media was manipulating facts to stir up hatred against Muslims.
What I didn’t know was that one of the About.com editors, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, read the article (badly, apparently) and concluded I was saying Muslims were out in the streets celebrating. Instead of saying something to me, he went on the internal About.com bulletin board and started a thread called “This Afternoon’s Hateful Article.”
I spotted this later in the day, and read several comments about how awful the article was (apparently written by people who just took this editor’s words for its content rather than, you know, reading it), and how surprised they were because they knew they guy who wrote it and he’d never written anything racist before, before I realized they were talking about me.
So I had to spend the next few days defending myself even though what I’d actually said was right there in black and white and seriously, anybody with a third-grade education could see that the article was criticizing racist news coverage. This wasn’t my frequent sarcastic, “a modest proposal” sort of article, but a clear “this is terrible, irresponsible journalism” complaint.
Well, it all blew over eventually, and I learned an interesting lesson about how easily people can be manipulated into believing something other than what’s right in front of their faces (Obama’s religion, anybody?), but this idiot editor seriously hated me from that point on. I never knew whether it was because he still thought I’d written a racist article or because he came out of this looking foolish, but I guess it hardly matters. He made several unsuccessful attempts to get me fired, and in the meantime made sure my articles stayed buried (on a day when I wrote about the verdict of a trial that was front page news everywhere else in the world, he made sure About.com’s front page featured an article about learning Chinese — just to show that he could do it). Finally, as About.com’s fortunes waned and editor after editor was let go, he remained (of course) and now had the authority to rid himself of me.
Blinky the Wonder Wombat Sep 3rd 2010 at 02:23 pm 28
CIDU Bill-
Serendipitously, snopes.com addressed this tendency yesterday:
http://www.snopes.com/info/notes/kagan.asp
Keera Sep 3rd 2010 at 02:37 pm 29
WW @9, Serbian leaders have been sought for trial or tried for war crimes after the war in Bosnia. And I agree with your comment @21 to Bill about freedom fighters not killing. Bill, I think you have them confused with pacifists.
Having recently seen the excellent Norwegian movie on one of this country’s most important members of its underground resistance, it’s darned hard to be involved in an actual fight for freedom without being willing to do some nasty or desperate things, like sabotage, which may kill people. Also, you can’t afford to let the enemy live, if you know that he will capture you and torture you and make you reveal where your buddies are hiding. The real difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist is that the former does not want to attract attention to himself; he is usually operating in secret. Killing the enemy may therefore not be the best plan and is therefore avoided.
Keera Sep 3rd 2010 at 02:41 pm 30
Bill @23, hasn’t Hamas, who is in charge of Gaza, declared war on Israel and all Jews (just to sure, I’m sure)? Certainly they have stated, publicly, that they want to see Israel cease to exist. If those aren’t fighting words (and please don’t ask me WTH Norway was thinking when it chose to recognize the Hamas government), I don’t what are.
paperboy Sep 3rd 2010 at 03:01 pm 31
CIDU Bill#26- It’s sad when people believe an opinion about an article, and don’t go the actual thing (and worse when it’s misunderstood by one’s boss), but people don’t have all the time in the world to read everything, and the charge of “racism” usually causes automatic acceptance of it, not further inquiry.
CIDU Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 03:13 pm 32
Keera, there’s a difference between “fighting words” and a legitimate declaration of war. If Gaza officially declared war on Israel (assuming they actually can, since it’s not clear to what extent they’re a country), they’d be rubble by nightfall.
And I’m not sure I understand your comment about pacifists.
Winter Wallaby Sep 3rd 2010 at 03:57 pm 33
Keera@28 - again, you’re talking about prosecutions of other countries for war crimes. I’m not opposed to it, but being willing to try other nations for war crimes is not particularly morally impressive.
Cidu Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 04:25 pm 34
Pinny, you lost me at “Fox News.”
CTew Sep 3rd 2010 at 06:22 pm 35
CIDU Bill, I have no problems with your feelings and share many of them, except “but I’m sorry, these people aren’t human beings” is just plain wrong.
If those people were not human beings, there’d be no need to feel sorry for making the statement. They are, however, and your apology reflects your unease. If you perceive them as less than fully human because of what they celebrate, then you need to review history a bit more. Members of every religion and every ethnicity that I know of have celebrated at the deaths of real and perceived enemies sometime in their history. Sad but true, this is what human beings have done, and fortunate are the peoples who can pretend they will not do it again. Those among us who shed a tear while killing are few and far between.
I an also not comfortable with the distinction between terrorists and freedom fighters. Examples: each Hanukkah recreates the temple celebration of the Jews’ “freedom of religion” when the statues of Greek and Asiatic deities were removed from the temple in Jerusalem and the sole worship of Yahweh restored, but accompanying that “religious freedom” was the wholesale slaughter of Jews and non-Jews who had adopted Greek religion and customs and participated in public worship, baths, and games. The French Maquis celebrated - literally - not only killing German soldiers and civil officials and sabotage against the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, they also celebrated - literally - the murders of French conservatives who were their political opponents and anyone else who collaborated with the German occupiers.
I think “freedom fighter” is too often a crutch or excuse rather than an accurate choice of terms.
Cidu Bill Sep 3rd 2010 at 06:36 pm 36
CTew, “I’m sorry” was directed toward anybody who might be offended by my comment. I stand by the statement for this reason:
First of all, this is not a war, so wartime comparisons are all invalid. No matter what or how the Gazans feel, if they actually did declare war on Israel, the situation would resolve itself in a matter of hours.
To the matter at hand: If Hamas had blown up half of Tel Aviv, or the Knesset, or taken down the Israeli equivalent of the Twin Towers, this would be a reprehensible act of terrorism but I could understand a street celebration.
Celebrating in this matter over the ambush murder of four civilians is something I simply can’t reconcile with normal human behavior.
James Pollock Sep 3rd 2010 at 08:34 pm 37
Bill, I think it IS a war… a civil war (ironically, these are the most barbaric and incivil) and it is the unequal military strength which forces the weaker side to resort to terror. You could see the same thing in Vietnam, in N. Ireland during the Troubles, and in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Arab powers thought they could win the war by attacking on the Sabbath, and got badly surprised when they learned that enough Israelis would, in fact, fight on the Sabbath. The attack was repulsed, the territories captured, and… for over 40 years Israel has vacillated on what to do with the territories. It won’t give them back because they don’t want to be attacked again, and it won’t absorb them because, as a democracy, they won’t take the risk of becoming the minority (you can see the danger… Hamas won in fair elections in one of the territories.) So they hold on. Because that war has never truly ended, the majority of the people who live in the territories have lived in a state of war for their entire lives. A few thousand years ago, this would have been settled by a genocide. And THAT’S why they celebrate the taking of innocent lives… they don’t see anyone as innocent.
Not one word of the preceeding is intended as an apologia for the Palestinians… abject surrender, though distasteful, has remained an option for a very long time, and they have chosen to continue the struggle. I won’t waste my tears on people who choose their fate.
Lola Sep 3rd 2010 at 10:22 pm 38
If I’m understanding the circumstances correctly (and that’s not necessarily so), then the 4 civilians were settlers. If that’s so, then they were probably seen not as settlers but more akin to invaders. In a twisted sense, this made them fair game. Unfortunately this IS a part of human nature. Not one of its nicer parts, but part nonetheless. We form groups and cheer when our side scores. Doesn’t matter if it’s high school basketball, NFL, NHL, boxing, states, countries, space race, religions, political parties, and on and on.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if every time there was a civilian casualty in any conflict then the agent(s) involved would be prosecuted as murderers. Would all the fighters become more careful? The end of wars and fighting would be nice and it’s something worth aspiring to, but I have serious doubts it could ever be achieved while we are still humans.
Tim Sep 4th 2010 at 08:47 am 39
When the Abu Grahib story broke, there was outrage in America and a call for the prosecution of the people involved.
When American prisoners are mistreated, dragged through the streets, or beheaded, what kind of reaction does that have among Muslims?
There’s the big difference.
Powers Sep 4th 2010 at 09:51 am 40
The Muslims I know are horrified, Tim.
Igelino Sep 4th 2010 at 11:39 am 41
Tim, the outrage didn’t result in any significant CONVICTIONS. Actions (or in this case a lack of) speak louder than words.
And your post is almost like saying, since KKK were Christians, their actions were condoned by all Christians.
Araxie Sep 4th 2010 at 11:56 pm 42
To me this- and most of the radical anti-west groups- simply tell us just how much many Palestinians and Middle-Easterns have taken from the West. The resentment just builds and builds- in areas that have histories of being very culturally proud in the first place.
When an entire culture is subjugated AND is generally poor to begin with, violence and anger are final defense mechanism.
Does this excuse their actions? Of course not- it’s no more appalling when the Middle East does it than when it’s Jewish soldiers taking pictures of themselves next to a dead Palestinian with a boner (yes, this really happened). But it’s the way some groups of any society would react, depending on the history and degree of their scarring. It’s simple psychology (anthropology?).
sjelly Sep 5th 2010 at 03:00 am 43
I recommend that each and everyone of you use this amazing tool, the google, I think it’s called, and check out how many Palestinian civilians were kill this year by the Israeli government versus how many Israelis, whether civilian or military, were killed by Palestinian militants. Check out how many olive groves, homes, and businesses of Palestinians were destroyed by the Israeli government. The google can tell you about the blockade which is keeping FOOD away from all Palestinians, not just the “radicals.” How many illegal (by which I mean illegal according to ISRAELI law) settlements were built this year. Perhaps by using the google we might learn that the deaths of Palestinians (like those of Iraqis and Afghans) don’t matter at all. Israel’s actions are always right and righteous, and the acts of militant Palestinians are an exact reflection of the sentiments of ALL Palestinians. You know, the way a single violent act by radical violent Muslims reflects the intentions and beliefs of all 1 billion+ Muslims. Or the way one violent Christian who slaughters a doctor in church because that doctor provides abortions, absolutely reflects the thoughts and beliefs of every Christian. Or the way one xtian group which turns up at military funerals declaring that the dead are dead because “God hates fags,” are absolutely the emblem of xtianity everywhere in the world. Child raping priests are proof of what all Catholics are. Hate. It’s not just for breakfast anymore.
sjelly Sep 5th 2010 at 03:22 am 44
***I am submitting this again as I think a couple of words my prevent it from being posted. If it appears twice, please excuse me.***
I recommend that each and everyone of you use this amazing tool, the google, I think it’s called, and check out how many Palestinian civilians were killed this year by the Israeli government versus how many Israelis, whether civilian or military, were killed by Palestinian militants. Check out how many olive groves, homes, and businesses of Palestinians were destroyed by the Israeli government. The google can tell you about the blockade which is keeping FOOD away from all Palestinians, not just the “radicals.” How many illegal (by which I mean illegal according to ISRAELI law) settlements were built this year. Perhaps by using the google we might learn that the deaths of Palestinians (like those of Iraqis and Afghans) don’t matter at all. Israel’s actions are always right and righteous, and the acts of militant Palestinians are an exact reflection of the sentiments of ALL Palestinians. You know, the way a single violent act by radical violent Muslims reflects the intentions and beliefs of all 1 billion+ Muslims. Or the way one violent Christian who slaughters a doctor in church because that doctor provides abortions, absolutely reflects the thoughts and beliefs of every Christian. Or the way one xtian group which turns up at military funerals declaring that the dead are dead because “God hates f***,” are absolutely the emblem of xtianity everywhere in the world. Child r***** priests are proof of what all Catholics are. Hate. It’s not just for breakfast anymore.