en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/532771 Comments by Craig11 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/obama-to-netanyahu-dont-build-here-netanyahu-forget-about-it.html#IDComment27703030 Pollard is a convicted spy and he belongs right where he is in prison. Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:39:15 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/obama-to-netanyahu-dont-build-here-netanyahu-forget-about-it.html#IDComment27703030 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/i-passed-along-a-false-report-re-ethan-bronner.html#IDComment27702855 Or, I should have said, Bronner denies having a son in the IDF, so it's sensible for Phil to apologize for making the claim when he has no proof to support it, whether in fact it is true or not. We don't know that it's false. We just know that Bronner denies it. Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:36:04 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/i-passed-along-a-false-report-re-ethan-bronner.html#IDComment27702855 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/i-passed-along-a-false-report-re-ethan-bronner.html#IDComment27702755 Bronner is biased and unprofessional. He just doesn't have a son in the IDF. Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:33:59 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/i-passed-along-a-false-report-re-ethan-bronner.html#IDComment27702755 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/washington-post-assails-justice-ginsburg-for-saying-abortion-reduces-problem-populations.html#IDComment27535845 Well, I understood her just fine, as apparently did the interviewer. If you didn't, that probably says more about you than about her. Intelligent, educated people don't always speak literally, nor are they obliged, even in interviews, to communicate in baby-talk or take into account that a fair portion of the people reading the interview are likely to be cultural illiterates. Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:54:57 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/washington-post-assails-justice-ginsburg-for-saying-abortion-reduces-problem-populations.html#IDComment27535845 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/washington-post-assails-justice-ginsburg-for-saying-abortion-reduces-problem-populations.html#IDComment27534311 One could turn this around and say that she was giving an interview, not writing a legal opinion. I don't expect people to speak in interviews as if they were writing mathematical proofs, and in any case Supreme Court justices are in a very different position from elected officials. Do you really think interview subjects never make use of irony or sarcasm? Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:31:22 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/washington-post-assails-justice-ginsburg-for-saying-abortion-reduces-problem-populations.html#IDComment27534311 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/scratch-jerusalem-barack-its-chinatown.html#IDComment27534011 I'm sure it would be blamed on a "lone gunman" and every effort would be made, not just in Israel but in the American mainstream media as well, to emphasize that Israel should not be blamed for the "unfortunate tragedy." Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:25:47 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/scratch-jerusalem-barack-its-chinatown.html#IDComment27534011 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/olmert-oped-uses-the-word-jewish-only-once-and-hints-at-onestate.html#IDComment27533704 I agree that one state that is neither a "Jewish state" nor a "Muslim state" is the best long-term solution. However, it's going to be a long time before the Israelis are ready for that, if they ever get there at all. I don't agree that a real Palestinian state would require "ethnic cleansing" of Jewish settlers. For one thing, "ethnic cleansing" is an emotionally loaded term that implies forcible evacuation or slaughter of people who have a right to be where they are. But the settlers have no right to be where they are. They are invaders, living outside the legal borders of Israel in Palestinian territory, and the repulsion of invaders is very different, by any sensible moral standard, from "ethnic cleansing." But furthermore, I don't see a need to expel the settlers. Instead, they should be given a choice: They can voluntarily move to Israel, or they can stay right where they are as long as they accept that in doing so they will become citizens of the state of Palestine living under Palestinian law. Most of them will probably prefer to move to Israel, but that's their choice, not something forced on them. There is a further complication here that some of the settlements are not new construction, but occupations of Palestinian villages. What to do about these becomes a matter to be settled through negotiation if the Palestinians are willing to compromise in order to reach a lasting peace more easily. It's simplistic, though undeniably tempting, to be morally absolutist and say, "All the settlements must be abandoned and all land stolen from Palestinians must be returned," but politically it might be sensible to compromise to some extent, with some Palestinian families receiving compensation in cases where it's easier to arrive at a resolution that way. Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:21:14 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/olmert-oped-uses-the-word-jewish-only-once-and-hints-at-onestate.html#IDComment27533704 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/washington-post-assails-justice-ginsburg-for-saying-abortion-reduces-problem-populations.html#IDComment27531988 The basic issue here is who Ginsburg meant by "we" when she spoke of populations "we don't want too many of." Literally one would expect that "we" includes herself, but expecting people to always speak literally is naive and suggests an inability to understand nuanced speech. I still think she was speaking ironically (Jews are known to do this on occasion, you know) and in reference to the historical supporters of birth control who explicitly argued that contraception, abortion, and voluntary sterilization would reduce "undesirable elements" of the population. Yes, it is odd that you now find yourself "in bed" (as you put it) with people like Jonah Goldberg and Michael Gerson. This isn't, by itself, proof that you're off the mark on this issue (even someone like Goldberg may be right once in a blue moon), but it is something that ought to cause you to think carefully about the situation. When you find yourself in bed with pigs, the likelihood is that you're lying in mud. Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:55:10 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/washington-post-assails-justice-ginsburg-for-saying-abortion-reduces-problem-populations.html#IDComment27531988 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/can-we-start-a-brushfire-re-ruth-bader-ginsburgs-weird-statement-about-abortioneugenics-.html#IDComment27352764 If you think Ginsburg's comment (which I thought was obviously a sarcastic reference to how some people saw abortion at the time of Roe v. Wade) was outrageous, you should research the background of Planned Parenthood, and in particular Margaret Sanger, who founded the organization that eventually became Planned Parenthood. The idea of encouraging abortion and voluntary sterilization among certain "undesirable" segments of the population goes back a long way, and Justice Ginsburg is probably quite aware of that fact. I don't see any reason to think that her comment indicates that she supports that sort of "negative eugenics" herself. If Bazelon didn't dig deeper into the question, it's probably just because she understood what Ginsburg was saying as she intended it. Jonah Goldberg, as a neocon propagandist, simply wants to stir up controversy in connection with someone who, as a liberal jurist, he considers his enemy. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:31:44 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/can-we-start-a-brushfire-re-ruth-bader-ginsburgs-weird-statement-about-abortioneugenics-.html#IDComment27352764 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/ajc-slags-author-ben-white-and-refuses-him-the-right-to-respond.html#IDComment27216929 What, you expect integrity from Zionists? Who are you kidding? Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:10:53 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/ajc-slags-author-ben-white-and-refuses-him-the-right-to-respond.html#IDComment27216929 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/hoenlein-no-daylight-between-us-and-israel-obama-i-disagree.html#IDComment27216829 What do you mean nothing got accomplished during the Bush/Cheney years? The settlers accomplished quite a lot. :( Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:09:04 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/hoenlein-no-daylight-between-us-and-israel-obama-i-disagree.html#IDComment27216829 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26989521 Again you show yourself incapable of understanding what you read. If Phil were not concerned about the "direct object of Zionist violence", he would not see how Zionism, which is intended to be good for the Jewish people, is instead damaging them. That awareness underlies this post. The point here is basically that when Jews defend Zionism they are defending something that is hurtful not only to others, but even to the Jews themselves; in harming the Palestinians, the Jews harm themselves as well. This is a point worth making, particularly considering that Zionism is often defended on the ground that it is seen as necessary to protect the Jewish people. When you challenge this awareness on the ground that we are "all one people" you are just showing that you miss the point. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:20:03 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26989521 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26988889 You seem, like many idiots, not to be capable of parsing sarcasm or satire. The idea of burning people for denying Unitarianism is so obviously snide that it's almost unimaginable that anyone could think it was meant seriously, yet you seem to have taken it seriously. That's really pathetic. The problem here is not my honesty, it's your inability to either understand what you read or see the pomposity or grotesque level of spiritual pride that you displayed in your original comment in this thread. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:08:58 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26988889 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26980105 You mistake amusement for anger. That says a lot right there. You're so convinced of your spiritual superiority to the rest of us (which is quite evident in your preachy attitude) that you end up making a complete fool of yourself. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:30:16 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26980105 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/why-are-some-men-afraid-of-hijab-and-why-are-feministwomens-organizations-silent-about-it-.html#IDComment26977197 In America we like our women half-naked and sexually available. Muslim ideas of proper female dress are, from that perspective, almost as bad as lesbianism. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:31:23 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/why-are-some-men-afraid-of-hijab-and-why-are-feministwomens-organizations-silent-about-it-.html#IDComment26977197 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26977050 How about that: a dogmatic, evangelistic universalist. What next, people burned at the stake for denying Unitarianism? You know nothing about absolute truth (I doubt anyone does) so your "swearing" is just pompous grandstanding. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:27:49 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/this-makes-my-heart-hurt-what-has-zionism-done-to-my-people.html#IDComment26977050 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/israel-lobby-group-says-removing-settlements-is-ethnic-cleansing.html#IDComment26864799 Not quite. They want to remove all Israeli settlements, which amount to outposts of Israel in Palestinian territory. Personally, I think that if the settlers are willing to live where they are as citizens of the future Palestinian state, under Palestinian law, then they should be allowed to remain. However, they insist that they are Israelis, so they should move back into Israel. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:36:35 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/israel-lobby-group-says-removing-settlements-is-ethnic-cleansing.html#IDComment26864799 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/israel-lobby-group-says-removing-settlements-is-ethnic-cleansing.html#IDComment26862013 We're talking about illegal settlements in the West Bank. That is not legally part of Israel and it's ridiculous to suggest that it is. I certainly agree that Jews should be able to live in the West Bank, just as they should be free to live anywhere. The problem is that when a Palestinian state is finally formed, Israel and the settlers will argue that these settlements belong to Israel even though they are in Palestinian territory. Ultimately, either these settlements should be evaculated or the people living in them should accept that they are living in the Palestinian state under Palestinian law, not in the state of Israel. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:38:57 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/israel-lobby-group-says-removing-settlements-is-ethnic-cleansing.html#IDComment26862013 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/selfhatred-smear-suggests-zionism-has-a-glass-jaw.html#IDComment26861779 No, they didn't. Go look at a map of Palestine in the time of the histories in the Tanakh (translation for Christians: the Old Testament). It wasn't all one country populated by one group. Even the stories in the Tanakh, without a map, should make that perfectly obvious. Don't you even read your own holy books? Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:34:12 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/selfhatred-smear-suggests-zionism-has-a-glass-jaw.html#IDComment26861779 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/selfhatred-smear-suggests-zionism-has-a-glass-jaw.html#IDComment26861585 The 1947 UN partition plan for Palestine specifies which areas belong to Israel and which to the Palestinians. Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory are an illegal occupation. Those areas are not accurately described as "disputed" because there is no dispute among honest people about them. They are not part of Israel, period. If someone comes in and occupies a room of your house and refuses to leave, it would be unreasonable for them to insist that they are not "occupying" or "squatting" in your home, but instead the room is "disputed", as if there was actually room for disagreement over whose house it was. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:30:31 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/07/selfhatred-smear-suggests-zionism-has-a-glass-jaw.html#IDComment26861585