The Un-US Politics Discussion Scenario

[Mouse]

Nov 8, 2023 21:11:58 GMT -4 @fitz said:

Im going to try and likely fail to word this next bit properly or as coherently as I wish.
Do not associate an entire country or its citizens with whatever terrorist or political regime they might have the unfortunate situation to share a nationality or country or divisive region or territory with.
I stand with Palestine but condemn Hamas thats allowed, as is being completely horrified at the the Israeli response but not losing compassion for the people in in Israel

The ordinary citizens of Palestine and Gaza are not Hamas nor are the citizens of Israel the IDF or Netanyahu with his genocide intentions and yes I don’t see what Israel are doing as self defence but barbarism but I know it’s not done in the name of every Jew or Israeli. I lived in a world where my nationality came with the association of terrorist ideals.
I spent far too many conversations with randoms on my travels in my 20s explaining I was Irish as in U2 / Thin Lizzy as in music and not the IRA, well if I only had a dollar for each assumption made I’d have travelled far and wide.

Naively, it might be but I can never see what violence towards each other can achieve at all, there is a stunning documentary on Northern Ireland recently released out there Once upon a time In Northern Ireland ( brilliant doc one of the most even handed as it has contributions from all in invoved on all sides)eta warning it is an intense and difficult watch should any of you do so.

Fitz, whenever I think of Ireland, I think of the music, the scenery, and the culture. Not the Troubles. IIRC, Bono dragged the IRA in Rattle and Hum. Someday, I would like to watch that documentary you mentioned. Everything I've read about the Troubles has made me sad, and I know this will be tough to watch.

I would consider myself to be both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian. Also very much against the leadership on both sides. I'm disgusted by Netanyahu and Hamas alike. I believe in a ceasefire and I also believe it should involve the return of the hostages.

As a side note, I wanted to point out that Israeli Jews are not all of European origin. According to the Pew Research Center, 45 percent of Israelis are Ashkenazi (of Eastern European descent) and 48 percent are Sephardi/Mizrahi (of Iberian/Middle Eastern/North African descent). Millions of Mizrahi Jews were expelled from their home countries, which is how they ended up in Israel. I just wanted to throw this detail out there.

[cremetangerine82]

North Korea closing embassies around the world amid suspected financial crisis.

I'm not sure what this means, but hopefully not another possible battleground between China/North Korea against Japan/South Korea.

Germany's far-right party now polls higher than the three parties in government.

OK, is ChatGPT is just drafting World War III at this point?

[Mouse]

Nov 11, 2023 20:57:05 GMT -4 @fitz said:

Nothing says self defence like targeting babies, premature babies at that, all 4pounds 2 ounces at birth of me says fuck Isreal.
Pure and utter Savagery and Barbarism at this point by Isreal. Aided and abetted by EU, UK and US
Shame on them all. Shame on them all.


37 prematurely born babies detached from their incubators at Al Shifa Gaza hospital under attack

Bibi saw the Hamas attacks as a golden opportunity, didn’t he?

I’m fucking angry and broken at it all, and at a complete loss as to what little I can do, typing, posting stories of the worst of humanity and marching for the innocents is all we can seem to able to do.
And while we are looking at Gaza and the horrors inflicted there, The Congolese are also in another hell on earth.


Here’s where I am tonight.
The earth is dying and humanity is dead.

Bibi saw October 7 as a golden opportunity, didn’t he?

[cremetangerine82]

I don't understand why a ceasefire is so unthinkable.

[Karrit]

Nov 13, 2023 10:18:32 GMT -4 @fitz said:

On phone so will tidy up later.

Things not on my Brit politics mayhem and madness bingo card for2023 was the return of ex PM and ex MP Lord David Cameron as Foreign Secretary yes that's Lord he was made a life time peer this morning by The King to reenter the cabinet as he is no longer a sitting MP
www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-67370421

They'll dig up Thatcher next....


And as for ceasefire being seen as a no go it is said by some that it would only give Hamas a chance regroup and reorganise so the relentless bombing can't stop.

The cabinet shuffle included sacking the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman. I would celebrate this, but each successive Home Secretary is worse than the previous. I shudder to think how horrible the next one will be.

[tabby]

Mar 15, 2005 14:32:04 GMT -4 Karrit said:

The cabinet shuffle included sacking the Home Secretary, Stella Braverman. I would celebrate this, but each successive Home Secretary is worse than the previous. I shudder to think how horrible the next one will be.

When I heard the this story this morning on the radio, I legit thought that it would end, "...former Prime Minister Boris Johnson." So, yes, it could absolutely be worse.

[prisma]

I have been in anguish over the Palestine/Israel conflict and wanted to offer two podcast episodes that were extremely helpful to me. Ezra Klein did two episodes last week that are meant to be companions. Both talk about the narrative of the conflict (historically, not just Oct.7): one episode is from the Palestinian perspective and the other is from the Jewish perspective. I really appreciated both because it gave room to move into a lot of the complexities and nuances that completely get missed in the hot-take culture that social media sadly encourages. One thing that struck me as that both men at some point in their respective episodes expressed admiration for the other side. I honestly feel like I need to go back and listen to both again. They left me feeling more than a little depressed because there seems to be no long-term clear-cut solution, but both men are very thoughtful, genuine, and articulate and they do point to areas where progress could be made.

You really need to listen to both, but maybe not in one sitting. It is a lot to digest.

Why Palestinians Feel They've Been 'Duped' (with Palestinian policy analyst and writer Amjad Iraqi)


What Israelis Fear the World Does Not Understand (with Israeli writer Yossi Klein Halevi)

[cremetangerine82]

Great resources, prisma.

U.S. reps say hostage deal is "very close"; WHO criticizes Israeli raid on Gaza hospital.

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny declared missing days after Putin announces presidential bid.

[Mouse]

The admittedly feeble excuse for US voting against it is that it doesn't condemn Hamas. Not an excuse. Look, I'm aware Hamas needs to be stopped. But they're bombing civilians, not members of Hamas.

I'm calling it: Bibi played right into the hands of Hamas.

[cremetangerine82]

Important elections around the world.

Hopefully India can drop Modi, the way the country runs elections is so fascinating!

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un says he will "thoroughly annihilate" U.S., South Korea if provoked.

CW: knife attack*

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stabbed in the neck during Busan visit.*

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