This thread isn't me whining about why I got an infraction, I already know one of the pro-Israel/pro-war members reported my post and Rob just didn't feel like making an issue out of it and deciding whether it was actually racist, so he stuck it to me. I could care less about the infraction- keep it there if you like, what I'm asking is the principle of the matter, was this really a racial statement? "if Israel dies, that'll be the price to pay to get that ugly baby off our swollen tits." * This in response to the Joe the plumber thread, "Obama would be the death of Israel". I still stand firm behind that statement but that isn't the matter. You can say that was a stupid thing to say, I'll accept that, but racist? My point was concerning our foreign policy with Israel. I have no hate or malice for anyone in Israel just as I don't in any other country. Consider this, would my statement still be racist if I replaced Israel with Palestine? Again, I didn't make this thread to complain, this is purely a question for members to discuss - the idea just happened to come off my infraction. *Sorry I couldn't link to the actual post, it was deleted along with several other posts/threads of mine.
Not a mod so I can't really comment on the infraction, their boat I am just along for the ride. I am not a fan of how Israel became the place it is today, or even how the US got to where it is. And I don't like buying friends. I do not however think it is in the US best interest if Israel, a pretty stable ally in an otherwise unstable region of the world, dies. And war sucks.
Glad to see an opinion. But don't you think Israel is a big enough boy now to care for itself? How large is its military compared to everyone else in the region? I really doubt if we stopped funding them they'd just wither up and die. By the way if keeping "Israel alive" was our intent wouldn't it be smart to stop funding their enemies?
I think its the whole dying word that probably offended people. If I said I'd like to get America off my back, you'd probably take no offence. If I said to get America off my back, America must die - you'd probably take slighly more offense
LOL I agree it sounded pretty extreme, but that's just how I make points. Even so I don't see the racist connection..
I see nothing wrong with your statement. I think we should stop with all these alliances and support to nations.
Israel isn't strong enough without US support to survive. Israel faces a hostile Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. Their manpower pool is small. Without a qualitative edge in airpower, the Israelis would face contant harassment from missle and artillery attacks. The Marshall Plan saved Europe from communism. US aid is a king of Marchall Plan' to Israel that has allowed it to grow to the 19th largest US trading partner. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/U.S._Trade_with_Israel.html America should back its friends and not leave countries like South Korea, Taiwain and Israel to stand alone.
What's your take on the counterpoint that we also fund Israel's enemies at the same time. Wouldn't it be smarter to stop funding everyone?
The mental picture evoked was ugly, but tho I DO support Israel I didnt view the statement as "racist". All IMO (my opinion and about $5 buys coffee at Starbucks).
Racism isn't the word I would use either. But yes I think our foreign policy is fubar in this respect and in many others.
I don't believe that you had a racist intent. You could have phased it better though. Good point that the US funds potential adversaries like Egypt, Saudi and Jordan. One thing that I can say for the Israelis is that they are more than willing to fight their own battles and don't ask for American troops.