“And my question to you was what would make it ideal for the most successful, wealthy and powerful ethno-religious group in the US? “ Keith
I will answer that although not for your benefit as you parrot Shahak and Finkelstein like these two discovered the cure for cancer. In reality Jews are not “wealthy” and powerful but almost exclusively middle class individuals who often chose professions such as law, medicine, architecture, finance etc. That’s because Jews place a high value on education and financial stability. In your world being a doctor is “privilege”. The reality is that it is hard to be in the professions. As someone at a pretty high level in government finance I can tell you that my decent salary comes at a very high price – many years of education, responsibilities that often make me lose my sleep. Getting a little more money and an office can be soul crushing, and yes, abilities, ambition, luck come into play too. What doesn’t is me being Jewish as there are no other Jews to “help” me. Now, these billionaires you keep talking about are statistical aberrations. Take 10 million people who have good professions and you will see that a tiny number of them will rise to the very top of the food chain. Then people like you and various bigots focus exclusively on these exceptional one- in -a -million tales (Zucherberg, Ellison) and draw incorrect conclusions. Part of the problem is the weak math abilities of the general population who do not understand statistics. It’s like drawing conclusions about blacks from Scotty Pippen.
“American Jews are the most successful, wealthy and powerful ethno-religious group in the US.” Keith
And that has nothing to do with their education and professional success but it is because they run secret networks of prefential treatment. And Asians do so much better than blacks why?
“when I was growing up in Ukraine, a word “Jew” was a dirty one, admission of Jewishness was done with a whisper.””
It was similar in Bulgaria – the word has awful connotations there as well. It actually sounds like an insult which always made me feel like crap. It is not ideal in the US although of course better. But as you can see from the comments in this blog, there are a lot of “Jews are rich and powerful and stingy and run the banks” sterotypes. New Mexico is better though because most people are Hispanic or Native American and generally seem to be indifferent towards Jews. It’s too multicultural for anyone to stand out.
“Note should be taken that US persons (natural & legal) advocating or supporting Zionism are almost certainly all in violation of 18 U.S. Code § 1091 (Genocide),” yoni
The irony of a self admitted murderer of babies calling for posters on web sites to be prosecuted. The empty threats also show the weak underbelly of the bds movement.
“Is anyone campaigning on a promise or a plan for an agreement or peaceful future with the Palestinians? “ MHughes
It is not possible to have a peaceful future as the demands of the BDS movement – entry in Israel by 10 million descendants of refugees; imposition of the Partition borders thereby removing about half of Israelis from their current homes; and changing the constitution of what remains in Israel – are completely a non-starter. Since BDS is going to continue until these demands are met what is the point of talking about peace? Note that Hamas actually does not accept this list of demands and will continue to fight for an Islamic state in all of Palestine. I think that Israelis are simply not even interested in talking about “peace” given what the other side wants. But the BDS movement should also take credit for this definitely. If you want everything you get nothing. It’s called growing up.
“What is it you think will ACTUALLY happen?”
I think the conflict will continue for the foreseeable future in the same state. I suppose at some very distant point either there will be a compromise or one side will win. Given population trends the world population might be 15 billion in 50 years with half or more Muslims. It’s probably going to be very tough for Israel to withstand an attack of that magnitude. Or we may run out of oil and that may cause drastic decline in the strength of the Arabs and Iran. I don’t know – I do know that the Palestinian dream – partition borders or more, full repatriation of millions of refugees, and control over the future laws of what little remains in Israel will not be something Israel ever agrees to, no matter how much Starbucks is boycotted.
“What’s your vision of the endgame?”
Borders based on 1967 with agreeed upon modifications. Financial arrangements for the descendants of Palestinian refugees including the right to citizenship in the countries where they are. Basically something along the lines of the Olmert or Barak’s negotiations. But I am pessimistic that will happen. My prediction is that the situation stays more or less the same for the foreseeable future. There is too much stupidity and anger for compromise to form. Crazy is the norm now – so much nonesense gets said and written daily that common sense is out of the picture.
“Netanyahu was echoing Hitler. And Stalin. He too said that the weak get beaten and the strong are respected”
I also echo all three of them. The weak get beaten (I was a small kid and got horribly bullied).
“The irony is that this very same psychopathic view “
I believe in a two state solution in the Middle East along the 1967 lines. Why is that view psychopathic? Because I don’t do BDS and drink at Starbucks and shop at the Gap? Or because it’s not based on the Partition lines? But virtually all countries, even Iran view the 1967 lines as the basis for negotiations. Is the whole world psychopathic then? Are you saying that Abbas is a psychopath because he declared the Palestinian state on the 1967 lines? And what does mental health have to do with borders anyway?
“It ist obvious that I was talking about the Jews behaviour towards Palestinians. “ talkback
Ok well I have no behavior towards the Palestinians except occasionally visiting some Palestinian restaurants in Albuquerque. I can assure you that I am always corteous and leave tips etc. I was assuming that you are blaming me for something. You were saying “Jews” so I thought you are referring to me. Perhaps you should specify Israelis or Israeli Jews. Since most of us in America don’t have any behavior towards the Palestinians except business dealings.