2008.12.30
Hey, Olmert, listen up
I'm all for public protests. As long as they don't turn all Kent State, they can be a good way to spread a message. You have to choose your place, though, and I'm just not buying this one.
From: xxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 10:51 AM
Subject: Peace Protest in ChristiansburgCommunity members and members of the Virginia Tech Muslim Student Association will hold a vigil to call for peace in the Middle East:
WHEN: December 31 (Wednesday), 1-3 pm
WHERE: On the sidewalk that runs along the main road (North Franklin Street) in the area in front of Panera Bread and Olive Garden in Christiansburg.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN SIGNS and we hope you can join the call to end the violence in the Middle East.
Questions? Contact Autumn Taylor at taylorbeji@msn.com
The organizers have been given a permit to hold this vigil.
Who do they think they are going to reach in Christiansburg? I'd buy this one on the Virginia Tech campus where international students might hear the message, but I don't think Israeli Prime MInister Ehud Olmert, breadstick fiend that he is, has scheduled a late lunch at the OG.
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It would have made a better impression if they had protested against the earlier rocket attacks from the Gaza into Israel.
I wonder if they will protest the attacks on Palestinians by Egyptian fotces.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/RMOI-7MRMKQ?OpenDocument&RSS20=04
Comment by Henry — December 30, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
I'm not really sure of the point of this either. I'm also hoping that the protest doesn't wind up all aimed at calming the Israeli side of the conflict, seeing as how Hamas was the instigator this go round. Both sides in the matter seem equally content at letting things rest for a short period before launching off a few rounds toward each other for a few days or weeks to let the other side know that they are still hated.
I agree that if the protest was held while students were actually in town, it might make a dent in the sentiments of international students from that region. It's just senseless that the folks over there can't just decide that living peacefully is better than lobbing bombs, grenades, and small arms fire at each other. It's an essential stalemate like the trench warfare of WWI and WWII, with both sides dug deeply into defensive positions with little ground gained in any offensive attacks, only piles of bodies to show for the efforts. Truly senseless.
Comment by Other John — December 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
While I can't speak to exactly what they may be trying to accomplish, I would guess that they picked the busiest intersection around for maximum visibility. Around here, that would certainly be that one.
Comment by Joe (not the plumber) Merola — December 30, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Going off campus is going into Indian territory though.
Zbigniew Brzezinski steps in it with both feet.
But alas, its Israel's fault for defending herself. Zbig recalls that the 2,000 missile, rocket, and mortar attacks have been "provocative, harassing, annoying but not lethal".
http://aprpeh.blogspot.com/2008/12/jews-chill-out-zbigniew-brzezinski.html
Comment by Henry — December 30, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
To answer everyone's q's:
They chose to not wait until students come back, the message was too urgent....they are planning something for campus IF this madness lasts any longer....
They chose that location because it was a very busy and visable area today.
Palestinians support Hamas because NO ONE ELSE will defend them from the occupation and starvation they are facing due to the POLITICS in Israel.
A question for you:
Why won't the US step in? We stepped up to bat in Iraq because we claimed there needed to be peace there....why doesnt this area (BOTH SIDES) deserve a neutral mediator?
Comment by In Attendance — December 31, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Why didn't we need a neutral mediator when Palestine was rocketing Israel? Why do we only need one when Israel defends itself?
Comment by Henry — January 1, 2009 @ 8:31 am
Christian, what's the matter with you? Last I heard, Christiansburg was in the United States and there are American citizens there who vote. If anything ever brings peace to Palestine, this is where it will happen. When the American people wake up and realize it's US support of Israel that's causing this mess.
Comment by Ed H — January 1, 2009 @ 9:24 am
2009 marks the return of the "It's Always America's Fault" liberal.
Comment by Henry — January 1, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
I wasn't surprised when I read the news article and saw the pictures that the protesters were one-sided. Both sides in this mess share the blame. For this particular round of aggression, Hamas deserves the bulk of it. If Hamas would not launch rockets at Israel, the Israeli's would not launch counter-attacks to defend themselves. Likewise, if the Israelis would recognize that the Palestinians have the right to live, and ought to have a place where they can peacfully call home, Hamas would not feel the need to use aggression. The only problem is that this is a never ending circle between these two groups because neither side wants to compromise. In understand where both the Israelis and Palestinians are coming from, but both sides are completely at fault for all of the avoidable and preventable civilian casualties. Until one side in the matter decides to take a more peaceful and proactive approach, neither one will be taken seriously by the outside world as truly wanting peace, and peace will never come to that region.
Comment by Other John — January 1, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
Other John, the protestors aren't the only ones that are "one-sided", are they? "Israelis. . . defend themselves" -- "Hamas. . . use aggression"?
Why is Israel never using "aggression" when it restricts supplies to the Palestinians, forcing them to live in squalor? When it allows Zionist settlers to gobble up Palestinian land? Why are Palestinians' protests never heard until they get fed up enough to resort to violence?
How can it be the Palestinians' fault when the Israelis have all the power?
Comment by Ed H — January 1, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
Other John,
With much, much less at stake, I don't see willingness to compromise on issues in this blog. Is it any surprise that you don't see it in the Middle East?
Comment by Joe (ntp) Merola — January 1, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
I don't know, Joe. Henry hasn't called me anti-"Semitic" yet.
Comment by Ed H — January 1, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
"Why is Israel never using "aggression" when it restricts supplies to the Palestinians, forcing them to live in squalor? "
Why don't they get their goods from Egypt or Jordan? Why does Israel have to supply them with everything?
Comment by Henry — January 1, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
Um, because Israel won't let anything in from Egypt or Jordan?
Comment by Dan Radmacher — January 1, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Ed, is you look at what I wrote, the only side I'm on is for peace...not for Israel or the Palestinains. Both sides in this conflict are at fault. I take great issue with Israel for its poor treatment of the Palestinian people. If they would simply recognize that they are fellow human beings and should be treated as such, perhaps there would be no need for conflict in that region. Likewise, is Hamas and the Palestinians would use other means necessary to accomplish their goals, rather than launch rockets at civilian targets within Israel, there might be a willingness to negotiate. The only problem is that BOTH sides must simultaneously decide to take the peaceful solution route, and COMPROMISE. Neither side has had any willingness to stick to a cease-fire or other peace agreement, so both are to blame for every round of agression and the deaths that follow. I don;t see both sides ever willingly coming to the table to discuss a peaceful solution and compromise in the fashion that they need to, so I do not see the conflict in Gaza ending anytime in the near future. This is very much a situation that will continue as long as both sides are completely unwilling and/or unable to change how the deal with the other side. Some sustained good faith efforts by BOTH sides are needed. Instead, one side shows good faith and the other takes advantage, so there is less willingness to make such efforts later. It's really quite pathetic, especially considering that both Judaism and Islam were born in that region and are so very similar. To waste so many lives, shed so much blood, and never know what its like to live in peace and be able to thrive as a people, it's just sad.
Comment by Other John — January 2, 2009 @ 12:33 am
Dan
Are you aware that Egypt and the Gaza share a border? Egyptian troops fired weapons when Palestinians tried to escape into Egyptian territory when Israel hit the Gaza. The Palestinians are not land-locked by Israel.
Comment by Henry — January 2, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Henry,
Are you aware that Gaza is within Israel's boundaries? Yes, Israel pulled out its troops from the territory, but Israel still controls the border.
Comment by Dan Radmacher — January 2, 2009 @ 9:45 am
The only reason that Israel controls the border is that Islamic Fascists will do anything they can to devastate Israel.
Israel wants peace but Hamas does not at any cost.
Now Hamas has rockets that can reach the Israel nuke facility.
Where did they come from. IRAN. That will be Israel's next target.
This has to stop. The only way is to irradicate the Terrorists.
THEY DONT WANT PEACE,THEY WANT CONTROL OF THE WORLD.
Comment by HERB KREBS — January 2, 2009 @ 10:54 am
Secretary of State Rice rightly blasts Hamas. Hamas broke the cease-fire and now they blow up their own and blame Israel.
http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/06/13/hamas_admits_to_blast_truce_still_on/4553/
Comment by Jim — January 2, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
Dan
If Israel controls the border, how are they getting all those rocket parts and terrorist materials into the Gaza?
Comment by Henry — January 3, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Henry, a border is kind of hard to seal up completely. And Israel does patrol the Gaza borders to try to stop some of the smuggling. Just the other night they attacked a ship trying to bring humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
It's understandable why they would want to stop food and medicine from getting in: without those things, the people would have to leave, which is what Israel has always wanted.
I'm not so sure they would try too hard to keep the rockets out, considering how little damage they can do and how much propaganda mileage Israel is getting out of them.
Comment by Ed H — January 3, 2009 @ 2:14 pm