One more thing saying that a people who live under occupation (meaning extreme difficulty in accessing medicine and clean water because of blockades-- and having food rationed by CALORIES by an occupying power and so much more) elected a violent armed resistance group *out of nowhere* because they are 'by nature' terrorists is to one: ignore the horrific ONGOING injustice and crimes that BRED the violence and two: is the equivalent of saying that hungry and disadvantaged people ignore the food and medicine (and in many cases threats--that's right, Hamas kills Palestinians too) they received-- and made a rational, informed and totally independent decision when they voted because most of them are inherently violent psychopaths this is the same reason I don't support missionary work and charity in the name of any religion. by the way, as an Arab, I feel I have to point out this doesn't mean I want to kill missionaries (hell, I don't even bother arguing with them). maybe in some cases, conversions are truly of a person's own volition and maybe sometimes they're swayed by arguments and not food-- but I suspect in many cases they aren't. and to argue 'well at least it's aid' both ignores the fact that there are many development/aid organizations that don't have a religious banner AND it propagates, weakly defends and prolongs the practice --- I know I've been posting about politics a lot --but it's not a mental exercise to me. I know people in Gaza. People who by the way, don't all support Hamas. And I post about religion because I've recently refined my beliefs and because I've come to recognize the seemingly innocuous ways it contributes to these tragedies. |