Israeli kids send gifts of love to Arab kids

I SPY, I've pointed out before that making comparisons between Israelis and Nazis is widely considered to be antisemitic. Please just stop.

Claus, this, of course, should not be taken as representative.

Well enlighten us ignoblus. What is the name of this cell/unit that makes the Members wear Brown Shirts ? Its obviously related to the military. Or is it just a Playground putsch

"Brown shirt" - would that be an English term for "Hitler jugend"?

No need to mention the similarity in this case!

Calvin, the entire conflict is quite polarizing, and so some official leeway is called for. But what I said is not that we know I SPY's position already and we can move on. I said that using comparisons to Nazi Germany, as he did with his comment about Brown Shirts, is widely regarded as antisemitic, and that he should stop on those grounds.

Yep, two settler girls (note the orange hair accessories, the color of the Israeli hawks) being goaded by their political parents into writing on artillery shells is exactly the same as thousands of peaceful Muslim demonstrators in the streets shouting "Death to Israel" and Hezbollah firing hundreds of randomly directed rockets at civilian population centers.

RegBarc, at least you put some thought into your commentary. Now, how about some facts and events to support your view(s)?

Gladly.

Hezbollah in the United States

According to U.S. intelligence officials, Hezbollah maintains agents and sleeper cells in the U.S. ready to attempt terrorist attacks should this become an objective of the group. The organization is considered to have an operational capacity in the U.S. similar to that of AI Qaeda. Detroit has been cited as the main center of Hezbollah's fundraising activity in the U.S.

The extent of Hezbollah activity in the U.S. was first exposed when two Charlotte, North Carolina, brothers, Mohamad and Chawki Hammoud, were convicted in June 2002 of providing material support to Hezbollah through a cigarette smuggling ring that knowingly directed money to the terrorist organization.

The terror cell reported directly back to a senior Hezbollah military commander in Lebanon and was part of a larger North American network responsible for raising funds and procuring dual-use technologies for Hezbollah. Items were purchased in both the U.S. and Canada and included goggles, global positioning systems, stun guns, naval equipment, nitrogen cutters and laser range finders.

"Hezbollah demonstrated twice in Argentina that it has global reach and can turn so-called support cells into action cells to carry out its trademark catastrophic bombings," said Tom Diaz, co-author of the forthcoming Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists on American Soil. "It is absolutely clear that Hezbollah has similar cells in the United States right now. It is fully capable of making those cells operational if and when Hezbollah's or Iran's leaders decide to flip the switch."

The U.S. designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997 and listed it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2001. Three members of Hezbollah - Imad Mughniyeh, Hasan Izz-al-Din, and Ali Atwa - are on the FBI's "Most Wanted Terrorists" list for their role in the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847 during which a U.S. Navy diver was brutally murdered.

Honestly, the brutal execution of a U.S. servicemember. A terrorist is still a terrorist (invoking Shakespeare) by any other name.

So what the hell someone calls a terrorist a savage and he is a horrible person. Since when do these terrorist deserve any respect. I mean give me a break. It almost seems to me newsvine is sliding further and further from "get smarter here" and dangerously close to "get bias here". I mean honestly when is this nonsense going to stop.

Calvin,

I totally agree with RegBarc.
Hezbollah = terrorists. They are sub-human. Like, I was in the shower this morning and found an small mole on my arm. The integrity and moral aptitude of that mole on my arm was greater than the collective integrity of Hezbollah.

You're right, they're not savages - that denotes some form of humanity still in them. They're like viruses. They live off of the pain and misery of others, and cannot survive without perpetuating their own pain and misery. Good riddance to each and every one of them.

You need facts?
Just listen to the worlds that come right from Hezbollah. Visit their official websites.
Their main purpose is "eliminate Israel".

Have some guts and pick a side.
Want more "savage" remarks, go here.

So what the hell someone calls a terrorist a savage and he is a horrible person. Since when do these terrorist deserve any respect. I mean give me a break. It almost seems to me newsvine is sliding further and further from "get smarter here" and dangerously close to "get bias here". I mean honestly when is this nonsense going to stop.

Terrorism: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

I think it can be agreed that both sides are engaging in the above-mentioned activities.
To those who aver that Israel, somehow, escapes this designation by some semantic or ethical arguement, you might do well to remember that Israel has been a pioneer in the "art of terrorism."
Israel first hijacked a commercial jet, paving the way for future generations of asymetrical conflict tacticians. Israel first used timed explosives on civilian targets. Israel first committed genocide.
I think that western interventionist attitudes have only ever served to prolong and exacerbate these issues and I refuse to be a part of this trap of moral obligation to one side or another.
We are obligated, first, to the well-being of our own. I am neither Israeli nor Arabic.

A terrorist is still a terrorist (invoking Shakespeare) by any other name.

You mean like Pirates and Emperors?

Have some guts and pick a side.

News should be objective and tell us about both sides. Somethng that seems to be a BIG problem in Israel:

The israeli tv does not show dead lebanese. it shows destroyed buildings, but not dead bodies. so no one has a face of the dead in their minds.

Simon, decisions on when to show dead bodies are difficult, and hardly unique to Israel.

ignoblus, do you think the Israeli media is objective and really show both sides of the story if they don't show any dead bodies at all? I for one doesn't think that.

I believe every news media company around the world has showed pictures of dead people. Why hasn't Israel done that? Hmm I really wonder why....

Simon, you should try the Israeli media. (Haaretz.com is far and away one of the best sources for information on the conflict.) Reporters Without Borders lists Israel (47) just three spots below the US for overall freedom. As you might note:

The Israeli media were once again in 2005 the only ones in the region that had genuine freedom to speak out.

And, while there are still problems, expect them to get much better with Peretz rather than Mofaz as Defense Minister.

As to the issue of pictures of dead bodies, my personal preference is to show them at least sometimes. However, not showing is not merely something that happens in Israel. Very few news outlets are willing to show dead bodies ever, and with good reason. (Indiscriminately showing dead bodies would probably be far worse.) Just don't go blaming Israel for something everyone does, as if it were unique to Israel.

The Filipino and RegBarc are engaging in the same sort of thought process that led to the Holocaust, and they are doing it for the same purpose.

What warrants this type of attack on anyone? Give me a break!

I love ambiguity. ;)

I love ambiguity. ;)

Yeah, whatever.

GFY.

Oh, I'm sorry, am I supposed to like it when people say my postings are kin to starting the holocaust?

Bull@!$%#. Utter bull@!$%#. I'm glad you are complacent in that.

I love ambiguity. (No smileys for you)

As to how you derive the conclusion that I am complacent in whatever is beyond the greatest realms of the art of extrapolation. I heard spin-doctoring is on the next decade's top 10 list of hot jobs.

Because the GFY was directed at the asshat who said I was the ilk of beginning the holocaust. Apparently, you didn't like that.

Why did you assume what I said to was when I said GFY was what you meant when you said GFY to that someone else? All I meant was "Good For You"

Ambiguity can be good or bad - depending on the end (giving or receiving) you are on.

In other words, it was a joke that you decided to take seriously.

Uh huh - coming from the man who said "no smileys for you". Nice try, though.

Holocaust crap directed a each other has a unique way of tainting humor attempts. If we can keep people from inflamatory Nazi-calling we can probably laugh about all the stupid ambiguous meanings of GFY.

As far as I'm concerned... Goats Fart Yellow.

Thanks, egon, that is useful information. However, as much as I despise RegBarc's comments, that sort of dehumanization is going on all around here. If we consistently applied those standards, we probably wouldn't have much of a discussion.

The only sub-humans I see around here are the ones trying to dehumanize others...

Are serial killers and terrorists technically human? Yes.

Do they deserve to live? No.

End of story.

Do they deserve to live? No

That, my friend, is for a jury of peers to decide.

Haven't you heard? I'm the arbiter of all that is good or evil.

That, my friend, is for a jury of peers to decide.

Or, a Hellfire missile.

Anyone who gives aid and comfort to terrorists are on an equal footing with terrorism itself. That includes terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Anyone who gives aid and comfort to terrorists are on an equal footing with terrorism itself. That includes terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

The US Government has supported terrorists. Being a democracy, doesn't that implicate it's citizenry?

hell, the Boston Tea Party was a terrorist act.

the Boston Tea Party was a terrorist act.

No it wasn't.

Just because a group does an act in protest of the government in control does not make it a terrorist act. A bunch of guys dressed up as Indians throwing boxes of tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of a tax does not automatically make it an act of terrorism.

A terrorist act is something (as the name implies) that is intended to cause terror among the population at hand (and cause it to a very large degree relative to the amount of actual damage caused by the act itself).

The definition of terrorism has changed since the Boston Tea Party. Or at least, governments are trying to redefine it. These days Greenpeace activists putting up a banner risk terrorism charges.

Yeah... I was using the dictionary definition. Maybe I was pushing it with the Boston Tea Party example but I'm sure you wouldn't have to look far to find a more suitable example from the American Revolution, if it pleases you to do so.

The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

but I'm sure you wouldn't have to look far to find a more suitable example from the American Revolution

Right - except it would likely be a British act. There are many of these examples in history during the American Revolution. The Brits terrorized the colonies (specifically New York) in an effort to de-moralize the people so they would turn against the rebellion that was going on.

Fine. Then the British are evil and should die too (Or so I am led to assume, by the arguement I was addressing.)

Comparing acts from 230+ years ago to acts of 2 days ago is no way to advance your argument.

Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. -- Santayana.

terrorism is being redefined mainly so as to exempt "state terrorism" from the lablel. Considering that the word was originally invented to refer to state terror

Terror is nought but prompt, severe, inflexible justice; it is therefore an emanation of virtue; it is less a particular principle than a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to the most pressing needs of the fatherland.

Robespierre (genocidaire in chief)

British Loyalists were driven out of the new republic by terrorism during the Revolutionary War.

You get a tip-o-tha-hat for that contribution. A very interesting perspective.

The problem is that these bombs kills ordinary innocent civilians and NO hezbollah.

collateral damage is expected in any military operation. israel has gone out of its way to warn the civilians who are in hezbollah buildings and neighborhoods to get out -- 3 hours warning.

without the bombs, how else are they going to destroy the buildings that store the rockets hezbollah is using to kill israeli civilians?

3 hours. Oh my god. Why didn't you say that before? Those lazy Lebaneses.

Do you really think it's easy to escape the bombings from a suburban when Israel has bombed away all the infrastructure. And where should the people go? To Israel?

Simon,
did you say "innocent"?
These Innocent people have a terrorist group in their government. The UN sent resolution after resolution ordering the Lebanese government to disarm and take control of the terrorists.

They did nothing. Why?
They had two years to do something. Now they are at war.
It is sad, yes - put they were in control and are now.

They just have to give back 2 soldiers, and say the words "Israel has the right to exist".
When they do that, they will teach their children that Israeli children have the right to exist.

I love how my comment got collapsed.

Seems we have a few terrorist sympathizers and enablers lurking about, reporting posts.

I hope they are proud of themselves.

(The comment I am referring to is in the above thread not this one. ;)

Tentoglou, have you ever thought beyond your hate/nose why Hezbollah are so strong?

I'm not going into a long discussion here because I know you won't accept any of my remarks. But.

Couldn't the big and rich country of Israel help the re-construction of Lebanon. Giving them aid and support instead of just being hard against them.

Don't you think the Lebanese people rather want to keep Hezbollah when they are a big help to their very own social welfare and daily life, something that the real government of Lebanon can't give them?

Do you think UN will care about Israel when Israel don't care or respect them back? And then I think about the illegal wall you are building that breaks the UN laws and a bunch of other international laws.

And do you really think that you will get your two(!) soldiers back after your attacks on innocent people?

And do you really believe more people will accept Israel after this?

It still got ten votes.

And my comment got 10 votes. You're batting 0/2 here.

RegBarc, you're a victim of oppression. You try to tell the truth and get shut down. Martyrdom is never easy.

That makes absolutely no sense. My passport says "United States of America". One of the most free countries in the world.

...that, or you were making a (poor) effort to say I am somehow playing victim. Which, equally, makes no sense.

Don't you have some apologizing for suicide bombers to do?

I was going to write a pretty nasty reply Filipino, whereby I attacked you without thought or feeling for being... a filipino, irrespective of who you are, but purely based on cultural stereotypes, but tbh, it was far more satisfying reporting your comment for just that reason.

RE the photos, as another person said on this thread - both sides are indoctrinated into hating the opposing side from a young age.

Those where not pictures of corpses of Hezbollah children, they were used for affect (read the article)

If you read the comments you will see the links:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060717/481/c8723701e8f644f0b5befd7df750e8ea

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060717/481/f9bc38f9a3a9401fb864a02b3a24f678

it's interesting to see that 2000+ years haven't taught anyone anything and the status quo remains that same.

Are you forgetting what started this latest round of fighting? What is Israel supposed to do? Negotiate with people who want every Israeli killed? Complain to the UN who doesn't care? Let it happen? Israel has the right to defend itself. If Hamas and Hezbollah really cared about their civilian deaths they would give the prisoners back. Until they do I hope Israel continues the attacks.

Israel is small. Everywhere is a residential area. However, they are not firing from the front of your apartment, near your food stand, or from the top of you apartment building. Those kids probably walked half a kilometre-to a kilometre to get to those soldiers.

Also, I guarantee you that their parents are not encouranging this. Kids in Israel are not on a leash. Parents let them outside and don't monitor them.

SpookyET: your psychic powers are impressive. Can you find lost keys as well?

Maybe, I have spent a few years there?

OMG that's even worse Yaakov.

I SPY - I have noticed that you are in the habit of writing short sentence condemning a position that you disagree with, without backing it up. Doing so makes people look at you and your comments as being uneducated and without having basis (otherwise you would have provided the basis). Just a tip - if you want people to listen to what you have to say, then please, say something of meaning rather than just writing simple condemnations. I mean this sincerely.

Keld, and many of the commenters above made the assumption that the Israeli kids were sending "gifts of love to Arab kids" or writing hate messages to the Lebanese people. I think that it is worth noting that they may have been encouraged in this to some degree by the presence of the press, and that their messages were written to Nasrallah (not Arab kids or the Lebanese people), the person who is behind the hundreds of rockets and missiles that were fired into Israel during the last week.

Yaakov
After seeing the picture and explanation that Keld seeded and reading all the comments above - my only thought was that this whole story had to be fixed, but I couldn't figure out how. Thanks for the link of explanation. I think it is a real tragedy that people have to post and make up false information to create hatred. It demonstrates the author(s) have an agenda and it is just pure evil in my book.

The only good that comes out of this is that Keld's seed demonstrates a perfect example of bending the truth (and lying) to conform to ones agenda (not Keld - but the author of the article/blog). This of course happens on all sides of extreme political views.

The correct thing to do here at Newsvine is for Keld (or Newsvine) to post the correction to this seed. It is disappointing that posters are allowed to seed false (or not researched) propaganda here as you never know if you are reading a made up story or not (from both sides). At minimum they should be required to post the correction and the true story once the facts are exposed.

This did a lot of damage in people's minds before Yaakov was able to dig up the truth and it should not be taken lightly.

Thanks Lufbery.

I was actually considering posting the link that I gave above this morning...I was pretty sure that someone would seed this picture (with a headline like the one above), and I thought that maybe a "preemptive-seed" would have been appropriate. Maybe next time...

Thanks for the correction Keld.

I have posted an article here with links to a more thorough recap of the context behind the photo, along with some questions that this whole episode raised for me.

Djehuty, I continue to appreciate your balanced perspective on such emotional and heated subjects. We are indeed witnessing a prolonged dehumanisation process as you put it, that is unfortunately carried from generation to generation.

I'm not sure what sides you may feel more support for in this particular conflict, but I have held a perspective since the early 80's when much of this violence escalated in a similar way as we are seeing over the past week.

I would love to see the region or the world provide the government of Lebanon the ability to control Hezbollah within their own sovereign borders. I would love to see the PA now run by Hamas operate like a sovereign government, again with the ability to control their borders and restrain the extremists among them. And likewise I would love to see Israel uphold ceasefires that can actually be binding on a sovereignty not hot-headed terrorist groups.

As long as groups are acting anti-societal with impunity from within nations that take no action to put down anti-societal behavior, in my view a response is necessary. Neither I would I fault Mexico for attacking the United States if after 20 years of provocation by a gang in Arizona the US has done nothing to stop violent attacks on Mexico. After so many years it becomes an issue between sovereignties not gangs, and a responsibility of Mexico to put down such attacks until the US takes an interest in governing anti-societal behaviour within its borders.

Analogies are not without flaws, but any cease-fire, agreement or guarantees need now to be made only between sovereign nations not UN resolutions of Israel and Hezbollah. What a crazy day if the world insisted on binding UN resolutions between France and angry immigrants in a certain French housing district.

It's not surprising that it's such an emotive issue, but I think it's important that people practise a little self-restraint in directing comments at people with differing points of view.

Calvin's done a great job here of calming things down without squashing the conversation, but that's only going to work if people make an effort to moderate personal attacks.

Neither I would I fault Mexico for attacking the United States if after 20 years of provocation by a gang in Arizona the US has done nothing to stop violent attacks on Mexico.

So you understand the reason for Palestinian attacks on Israel.