Comments on: American misconceptions about U.S. exceptionalism

By: Suzie

Suzie — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:49:51 +0000

I suspect that if we started discussing timelines about when “now” began” we would have some disagreement.

Mark J,
I may owe your Eastern European chums an apology. Apparently they’re moving toward the free market while we’re moving away from it.

By: nosaj

nosaj — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:41:41 +0000

Frank at #32, I agree that the systems you identify are flawed, as are most systems, public or private, to some degree. Are they so flawed that they are not salvageable? I don’t think so, but like most things with worth, it takes hard work and collaboration to make improvements. So, now the question becomes do you want to be part of the solution?

By: Kristen

Kristen — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:04:46 +0000

Get over it, JohnW.

By: Ron May

Ron May — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:59:48 +0000

MarkJ,

I am aware that Israel now wants recognition of its right to exist as a “Jewish” state. The change in their position on that issue, from the right to exist to the right to exist as a Jewish state, reminds me of a certain blogger Dan has participate quite often here. They stake out a position until the opposition says okay, and then they shift position and say “what I really meant was this.” Since Biblical times the territory we now call Israel has been multicultural and multireligious. For the Israelis to now say, in effect, they want to “purify” the country to provide rights only to Jews is ludicrous on its face. It’s sort of like some in this country who try to say the United States is a Christian nation. I probably need to stop there before I get in too much trouble with some of my fellow bloggers.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:43:41 +0000

Thanks for always proving my point Frank.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:28:02 +0000

John Wilburn, the education system turns out illiterate and ignorant adults, the prisons hold our mentally ill and hundreds of innocent people have been convicted of felonies they did not commit, some being imprisoned for decades, pardon me if your constant whine about how put upon you are falls on mostly deaf ears.

By: Ron May

Ron May — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:03:37 +0000

MarkJ, Nosaj & others,

I will respond later tonight to Mark’s questions on the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Today, I’ve have had several meetings, a memorial mass and have one more meeting I’m headed to in a few minutes. My post will likely be after 9 tonight. My views on the subject are very personal and may not reflect the world experience Mark has.

By: Dan Casey

Dan Casey — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 22:34:39 +0000

Nosaj (and others):

Mark’s next post delves into the topic of drinking, and a very peculiar outside-the-U.S. cocktail. It’s far more entertaining than it is thought-provoking. It’ll be up first thing Wednesday morning. Enjoy.

By: Nosaj

Nosaj — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 22:31:51 +0000

Mark and Ron, thank you for a most enlightening discussion. You have surpassed the extent of my understanding re: Europe and the Middle East, so I will just continue to read with great interest. I will say that I find Ron’s positions feel solid to me, but Mark, you obviously have great insight. Great stuff, gentlemen!

By: MarkJ

MarkJ — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:54:10 +0000

Ron May # 29 wrote: “I believe strongly that Israel has a right to exist. However, as Mark implied in a comment yesterday, the pro-Israel lobby in the U.S. has jerked our chain just about any time it wanted and we usually respond the way Israel wants us to. I believe that Israel is capable of defending itself. I know some will accuse me of being an anti-semite. I’m not.”

Ron its been over a decade since Israel and its lobby stopped using the demand “Israel’s right to exist”. Araft & Co. agreed to that one in the early 1990s. The demand now is “Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.”.

Do you support this new demand? In your opinion, can this demand be met, while at the same time achieving a democracy as the U.S. understands the term?

In the U.S., white’s of European origin are on the verge of becoming a minority according to some projections. In Israel, counting the occupied territories, the Palestinian population growth threatens to overtake the Jewish population. Would it be equivelent if the US started to claim it has a right to exist as a white-bread state?

Former President Jimmy Carter regularly explores these topics and more. For example his New York Times Best Seller Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.

Looking forward to your thoughts.