Selling a Vision of Hope - The Means to an End

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Vision of Hope

file under: vision of hope, revolution, peace in the Middle East	27 Apr 2011 4:29 PM
The Means to an End	Posted by Nissim Dahan

Every once in a while we come to believe that the ends justify the means. But most of the time we scramble to find the means to a given end. And if we don't find the right means, then the end we seek will not be found, no matter how justified it is.

There is no question in my mind that much of what is happening on the Arab street can be explained as the fervent wish of some very well-intentioned people to shake off the oppressive yoke of the past, and to open the door to a brighter future. The people on the street have found the courage to embrace such noble aspirations as freedom and democracy. And to that end, they have put life and limb on the line, in an effort to dismantle established and entrenched regimes, in favor of new leadership which will be more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.

And yet, as justified as these ends are, the means to these ends do matter, because the wrong means could very well spell a dead end to even the most justifiable ends. A revolution, almost by necessity, brings with it a period of instability and even chaos. After all, you can't very well bring change without disrupting the status quo. After a while, a certain measure of battle fatigue is bound to set in, and the revolutionary fervor of the man on the street can easily be overtaken by the political ambitions of political factions which are averse to freedom, which are authoritarian in nature, but which promise to restore some semblance of stability to the nation.

The revolution of 1979 in Iran is a case in point. The Shah of Iran lost favor in the eyes of the people, due in part to his repression of dissidents, even as he ushered in an era of gradual reform. His removal from power brought Shapour Bakhtiar into power, for only 36 days, supposedly with a public mandate to usher in democratic reforms. A period of instability ensued, only to bring to the fore another revolution, by which Ayatollah Khomeini took hold of power, and put in place a regime that was far more authoritarian than anything that preceded it.

It would be a travesty of justice for the people of the Middle East to have shed their blood, and to have invested their hope, only to be overtaken by the insidious agendas of ideological extremists. One way to avoid this, in my opinion, is for people to focus on goals which are realistic, which can be achieved more easily, which are not overly threatening to the powers that be, and which can help to bring about reform that coincides with the aspirations of the people. In short, the aims of the revolutions may have to take current realities into account. Even if a dictator is toppled, there are still those left behind whose agendas and ambitions must be taken into consideration.

I would focus on growing the economy, instituting economic reforms, and guaranteeing personal freedoms, as realistic means to achieving the greater ends of freedom and democracy. Economic growth and job creation may not resonate as dramatically as freedom and democracy. However, it could well be argued that business can be used to create a neutral pathway to freedom and democracy. A good paying job can go a long way to ease the burden of a hard life. But in addition, the same conditions which are needed to grow an economy are the same ones which will allow a viable democracy to take root and to flourish.

Once people across the Middle East are making money together, their lives will gain a good measure of dignity, and gradually, each person will become more humanized in the eyes of the other. Along with the empowerment that comes from personal economic well being, comes a natural inclination to demand and receive greater personal freedoms, and eventually, with the requisite institutions in place, will come a transition to democratic rule, not just in form, but in substance as well.

The economic path to democracy may seem, at first glance, to be a more circuitous path. However, in the long run, it may be the best way to get to where we're going, while minimizing the risk of getting lost along the way. Business is ideologically neutral. Business is something that most people have come to understand. And business is less threatening to the powers that be, who may decide to support the effort, as a way of effectuating positive change, in a more gradual and moderate fashion, while side-stepping the prospect of chaos at their doorstep.

Comments (27) Add Comment

SO RIGHT
written by GABE1, April 27, 2011

Based on the past short period of time: this is exactly what they will get. More of the same with bigger doses if insidious.

What is happening in Egypt and Lybia and Tunisia and Yemen and Syria. I do not see any changes, just more of the same.

You certainly will not affect any change sitting in comfort in the good old US of A.

Ready, Willing and Able to Travel
written by Nissim Dahan, April 28, 2011

I am comfortable here in the U.S. but I would not hesitate to travel if people are willing to give me a shot.

It's not easy, Gabe, to get into some of those "hallowed halls." And even if you get in, most people in power will be curteous, but that's the extent of it.

I would agree with you that these revolutions are not going well at the present time. And to be quite honest, the chances are good that most of these efforts will be hyjacked by the extremists.

The extremists are smart. They let the students and such do the heavy lifting, and once the regimes are undermined, they step in, supposedly to restore order. The people on the sidelines may even buy in, only to find themselves even more opporessed than before.

That story is getting old.

Why not bring a happier ending this time around? Why not do what it takes to turn the region around economically, and strategically, so as to stabalize a part of the world that has the potential to bring us all down?

It's going to take vision, and courage, and the willingness not to accept the past as prologue. But considering where we're heading, what do we have to lose by at least trying to bring about a new result this time around?

NO
written by GABE1, April 28, 2011

The Middle East will not bring anything down if we push back. Obamination and his settlements policy did not bring negotiations even with the 10 month moratorium. Clan societies only pocket acts of appeasement and than ask for more.

If you confront them and show them that there are consequences to their actions than you can stabilize or even correct their actions.

There are many thing that I want. I want world peace: I want prosperity for all human beings: I want and end to disease. I would even sacrifice for that.

But being the realist that I am , I know that it is an impossibility and anyone that says anything different must be a Martian. It never existed and never will.

Armageddon
written by Nissim Dahan, April 28, 2011

The subtitle of my book is "A Refreshing Alternative to Armageddon."

The minute you say, "It never existed and never will..." you are spelling out a dead end for the destiny of man.

If things are getting dicier my the minute, and if there's no way out, then what are we saying about our collective future?

You day we should fight back, and "...show them that there are consequiences to their actions..."

I would agree with that, believe it or not, but I would position that fight within a Vision of Hope. I would elevate the fight on the ground to a higher moral plane by giving the fight a moral clarity of purpose. People will fight harder if they know what they're fighting for. We are not fighting a "War against terror." We are fighting a war to realize a Vision of Hope. There's a big difference.

If you want to win this fight, you have to give it some measure of credibility and legitimacy. Selling a Vision of Hope can do that for us. We have two hands. We will fight with one, and invest with the other. The willingness to invest will buttress the willingness to fight, and will give the fight an ideological underpinning which makes more sense.

PURE BUNKUM
written by GABE1, April 28, 2011

Do you even believe this nonsense? The reality is that war, poverty and oppression in one way or another has been with us since the beginning of time. Why are you ignoring what I have been saying and you just mouth slogans that you and I know is just high piled horse manure that you want to somehow call perfume.

We know exactly what we are fighting for. Democracy and the right to life without terror. I am talking about the Western way of life and not just Israel's.

You just want a neat little package that will in fact not create any hope or any vision other than more murder and more maiming. It is precisely the culture of death ideology that is driving the Muslim masses and the thirst for power over all the infidels.Look at some of the USA home grown terrorists with one even being a Psychiatrist.

Your outlook is nothing but delusional, your book notwithstanding. I have no desire to appease or cuddle the "misunderstood" "poor' Muslim and am prepared to visit extremely harsh treatment on the terrorist and his accomplice and facilitator. I do not want to reform them as it is an impossibility. The average JOE understand that but the ELITE have not grasped this concept yet. But a tiny miniscule Leftist coterie that is very shrill is driving this demented agenda. Do not be a part of it or it will devour you.

If it's good for us, it's good for them as well.
written by Nissim Dahan, April 29, 2011

"We know exactly what we are fighting for. Democracy and the right to life without terror. I am talking about the Western way of life and not just Israel's...I do not want to reform them as it is an impossibilty."

If you're fighting for democracy and for a life without terror, you're going to have to sell that to the Arab and Muslim world, because if you don't sell that notion, then they will come after you as they did on 9/11.

This is not a normal fight. In a normal fight you have two armies facing off against one another, and one side wins.

This is different. This is a war between us, and a bunch of extremists who are living among civilians, and who are working feverishly to disrup our way of life, while convincing as many people as they can to join their ranks.

When we foung in Viet Nam, we had to learn to contend with guerilla warfare. It was something new and different and required a different approach.

This fight is differnt, and requires a different approach as well.

In this fight, the vision you're selling is as important as your willingness to fight on the ground. The extremists are selling their vision. You had better sell yours as well. You have a better vision, a better way of life, then sell it to the man on the street, and if you do a good job, he will help you win. In knows where the enemy is, and he can help you defeat him if you give him a good reason to join your team.

I also reject the notion that its impossible to bring reform to the Muslim world. The Nazis and Japanese were total loonies in World War II. They too were hellbent on world domination and the like. You defeated them, and what did you do? You launched the Marshall Plan, invested in job creation, sold them on democracy, and brought about total reform. You sold them on a new vision, a vision of hope, and delivered on that promise with economic growth and jobs.

What I am suggesting is not all that different. As we fight we invest, and as we invest we fight, and the two will complement one another, and increase our chances of turning this thing around.

TOTAL LUNACY
written by GABE1, April 30, 2011

The Nazis were soundly defeated before anything was launched. That is not the case here and in fact the West acts as if it were defeated by these sub human terrorists. If that was tried in Germany and Japan we would be speaking Japanese or German if we would even be alive. Germany and all of Europe hunts down their Nazis as should the Arab states and not expect jobs and investments.

You have it all ass backwards and you fight both the terrorist rats as well as their enablers and facilitators and if the Arab street wants to join in than they can if not treat them as co conspirators.
You should know this concept if you are a lawyer as you say.

NO QUID FOR QUO as far as I am concerned, just defeat them.

MY FRIEND
written by GABE1, May 09, 2011

HAVE YOU FINALLY SEEN THE LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

I have seen the light, but I don't know if I have what it takes to sell it.
written by Nissim Dahan, May 11, 2011

The idea of the Marshall Plan was introduced, as you suggest, after Germany and Japan were soundly defeated.

However, those were relatively conventional battles, in which you could easily tell, after it was all over, who won, and who lost.

This is a different situation. Here you have a small minority, in a region of the world which has not, as yet, entered the 21st century, and in which most of the people want a chance at a better life,namely, a jobs, and the personal freedoms to live their lives as they see fit.

However, the small minority is trying to do what it can to capture hearts and minds, and to take the region back to the Middle Ages.

Therefore, in order to win this thing, we're not going to be able to rely stricly on conventional warfare, as we did in World War II. The enemy is not going to fight in that manner. He will use terror, and he will reach out, with ideological nonsense, to win hearts and minds. His abilility to succeed is directly related to the attitude of the man on the street.

If the man on the street continues to have nothing to lose, he may well be won over, not because he is inherently evil, but precisely because he has nothing to lose, and in that state of mind, you're willing to try anything, anything that promises a better life, even if it makes no sense.

If, however, in additional to waging the fight that must be founght, we also attempt to Sell a Vision of Hope, in other words, to position the fight within a Vision of Hope, they we are more likely to win hearts and minds, and in the process, win the battle as a whole.

In other words, different situations require different responses. I'm not saying not to fight, and to fight hard. I'm saying to fight with everything you've got. And part of what you've got is the ability to create jobs. And that weapon, in and of itself, can be just as powerful, if not more, than the rifle, or a canon, or a jet, or whatever we're using the wage the battle on the ground.

Fight with one hand, and invest with the other. You're increase your chances of winning this thing.

Realism
written by GABE1, May 11, 2011

05/12/2011 01:2305/12/2011 01:2305/12/2011 01:23

That my friend is the capsule of what Arabs think about other Arabs, No billions or single dollars for jobs or anything else.

THAT IS THE STARK REALITY.

Fayyad urges donors aid
Following Israel's decision to suspend PA's tax funds over Hamas-Fatah deal, Ramallah PM Salam Fayyad urges Arab world to 'rescue' PA's employees. 'We need your help more than ever before, this is the moment of truth,' he says

WHAT?
written by GABE1, May 11, 2011

Your theory is simply unworkable and in fact downright dangerous. Pray tell me what has changed in Egypt, Syria, Libya,Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain and elsewhere in the Arab world, since that so called "Arab Spring". Frankly nothing and it would seem that the USA under Obamination understands it quite clearly and that is why they have backed off, the only exception being Libya. There will be no money that will pour into the Middle East by the USA, The EU or your Palestinian billionaire. He is happy making money and chances of him giving any of it to the PA is zilch. He did not do it since 1993 and will not do it now. In fact he is hedging his bets and investing heavily in Jordan and outside the Middle East.

You are either very naive or just plain gullible and the sad part is that at your age you learned nothing about human nature or the Muslim religion and values. I am aware that neither of us can make a difference either pro or con, but you must stare reality in the face and take a grip of yourself and realize that you are dreaming in techicolour.

I wish that Israel would be located in North America and have to deal with the USA and Canada as neighbours but that is not the case and we cannot allow ourselves to think in terms of Westerners as THIS IS NOT WHAT THE MUDDLE EAST IS!!!!!!!

SPINELESS
written by GABE1, May 12, 2011

Nissim.

This is what Sussan wrote at MEWAR:

Reply by Sussan 16 hours ago
'Inventing the Jewish Nakba' would be a more appropriate title for this discussion.

This just shows that people like you are simply Spineless Jelly Fish with no Backbone who cannot even reply to the antisemites spreading their lies. How can you sit by and have your wife's life history being trashed and in fact she is being called a liar. You would rather tell us stories as to how you will bring the restless beast to become human rather than bring to life the wrong that was done to your wife and countless other including my wife by these so called beaceful people in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world.

You should be hiding your head in shame and before you indulge yourself in these worthless semantics at least try to hide your bias by even feigning to defend the Jewish refugees that are being slandered by your friends at MEWAR. SHOW SOME INDIGNATION even if FAKE!!!!!!

Show Some Indignation even if FAKE!!!!!!
written by Nissim Dahan, May 12, 2011

With all due respect, Gabe, that would seem to me to be a waste of time.

I don't really follow the discussions on "MEWAR". I realize that people have all sorts of feelings and beliefs about all sorts of things.

As I've told you before, I tend to put my feelings on hold, for the most part, and I tend to believe only what makes sense to me.

I believe that instead of jumping to false belief and rationalizing why we're right, we should use rationality in the first place to arrive at what is worth believing in.

In a more perfect world, common sense, the collective wisdom born of shared experience, will inspire our thinking and inform our speech.

In our fractured world, common sense is the common denominator.

My wife, whom you refer to, was exiled out of Egypt, and her family lost everything. But for the most part, I think she agrees with most of what I have to say.

Gabe, I don't mean to be arrogant, but in my opinion, there is no alternative to inspiring a sense of hope for the Middle East, and delivering on that promise with good paying jobs.

It's not a payoff, Gabe. It's a strategy that can inure to the benefit of all concerned, including Israel, and the West.

The Palestinians are headed toward statehood. How would you advise Israel to adjust to that reality?

As for the "Arab Spring," it's true that it hasn't brought a great deal of positive results as yet. But to my mind, that is up to us, and to all those who believe that every person on earth is entitled, by virtue of being human, to the dignity of a decent job, and to the personal freedoms to live his life as he sees fit.

The animals among us should be fought head on, every step of the way. But those who remain open to suggestion should receive the benefit of the doubt, and deserve a chance at a better life.

Millions of Western jobs could be created in the process, and to my mind, it could well be a win-win situation for all concerned, including Israel.

JUST LOOK
written by GABE1, May 13, 2011

...You are so self absolved with an idea ,that will not and cannot bring anything that is positive, that you are willing to forgo the demonizing of Israel, Jews and yes even your own wife and her family, just to have that idiocy you call a plan, accepted.

Did you see the demos in Alexandria and Amman against Israel? Must be as a result of having jobs but not good paying jobs that these people ( a slight misnomer) are demonstrating and also even killing non Muslims Copts and Jews if there were any there to boot.

You talk about common sense but I am sorry to say that you do not exhibit any with your wild obsession in lieu of that vaunted common sense that you so often bring up.

A win-win situation would be when the Arabs embraced the diversity of the "other" instead of their Islamic extremism. Than perhaps peace
or better still acceptance would reign supreme and co-operation would be the order of the day and prosperity would be at hand.

Your appeasement and yes buying of temporary alliegance is just a very expensive and impractical pipe dream. But again common sense is not at work here, IS IT?

It's not enough to see what's wrong, you have to make it right.
written by Nissim Dahan, May 13, 2011

"A win-win situation would be when the Arabs embraced the diversity of the "other" instead of their Islamic extremism. Than perhaps peace
or better still acceptance would reign supreme and co-operation would be the order of the day and prosperity would be at hand."

Yes, I agree. Now, Gabe, how do we make that happen?

You see the problem pretty clearly, but seldom do you offer a solution, except to say that the Arabs should do this or that, before anything good should come their way.

My approach is slightly different.

I say, yes, there is a big problem in the Arab world. So, how do we fix it? Don't we need a mechanism of some sort that would pave the way for the kind of change you are calling for?

Wouldn't you need a vision, and a willingness to deliver on that vision.

Say, for example, that Martin Luther King saw the racism that was prevalent in his day, and that all he said was, "Well, the white man shouldn't be a racist." Would that have been enough to effectuate positive change.

But Gabe, that exactly what you're doing. You're saying that the Arab world should be more tolerant before we give them the time of day.

Martin Luther King was not satisfied with calling it as he say it. He effectuated change. He had a vision, a big vision of hope, a vision of equality under the law, and equal rights, and opportunities, and he brought about the change on the ground that filled up the space created by his vision.

As an example, Rosa Park refused to give up her seat on the bus. Normally a non-event. But Dr. King was no ordinary man. He took that incident on the ground, and grew it to fill the space created by his vision, a vision of hope.

That's what has to happen in the Arab world. And we're not going to get there simply by calling a spade a spade. We have to do something about it. We have to inspire with a vision, and deliver with jobs. And Arab capital, along with Westernt knowhow, including Israel, is what can make it happen. Nothing more is needed, and nothing else will suffice.

And then, if you do that, then you have the credibility to take on the bad guys, because people will see that it's not only about fighting terror, it's about fighting to realize a vision of hope, a vison of peace, prosperity and freedom.

...
written by GABE1, May 15, 2011

Yes, I agree. Now, Gabe, how do we make that happen?

You see the problem pretty clearly, but seldom do you offer a solution, except to say that the Arabs should do this or that, before anything good should come their way.

YOU ARE SO CONDESENDING and oh so predictable.Who in the hell do you think you are that you presume to try to teach anyone about something that you seem to have no grasp.

The nonsense that you are spouting is simply nauseating. There are more important problems in the world than your precious Arabs or Balis.

Grow up and act like a man and stop being that spineless jellyfish without a backbone that you are. Defend what is the Jewish Naqba rather that trying to buy or appease the terror worshiping masses in the Arab world.

I AM GETTING TIRED OF YOUR CIRCUITOUS ANSWERS OR THAT "IF MY GRANDMOTHER HAD BALLS SHE WOULD BE MY GRANDFATHER" ARGUMENT.

Where is the beef?
written by Nissim Dahan, May 16, 2011

You're great at hurling the insults, but when push comes to shove, you seem mentally bankrupt when it come to actual solutions to the problems we face.

You call me "...a spineless jellyfish without a backbone..." because I don't agree with you. Well, you may well have a backbone, but it has become so stiff, and inflexible, that it has rendered you "stiff-necked" as the Torah says of the Jews crossing the desert.

You cannot even imagine that there is something we can do, to protect ourselves, that doesn't involve war and violence. You are a prisoner of the past, a man blinded by his biases, and not serious when it comes to effectuating real change, even at a time when the whole world is calling out for an answer.

What is your answer? The same old right wing platitudes that get us nowhere fast.

I am not saying that mine is the only way forward. I am saying that it is an approach which is reasonably thought out, and which is calculated to move us forward.

But you prefer to satisfy yourself with ideological dead ends.

You say that my answers are circuitous. On the contrary, I see your retorts as circuitous because they go round and round, and end up where we started.

My arguments are not circuitous. They move us forward, step by step, to a place we've never been before, a place that has at least a chance to accomplish something positive, instead of keeping us inundated with the same diatribes that have kept us trapped in the same position, from generation to generation. It's time for something new, for a change.

MORALLY BANKRUPT
written by GABE1, May 17, 2011

You're great at hurling the insults, but when push comes to shove, you seem mentally bankrupt when it come to actual solutions to the problems we face.

It is important to note that you cannot defend anything other than your Arab friends by offering them "good jobs" and "prosperity". Two pillars of your appeasement and buying of a temporary "peace" that the people that you want to buy and appease are not buying. You call me bankrupt of any solutions that I maintain do not exist at this stage and so fighting antisemitism and Israel and Jew bashing is the only option. The solutions will come when the Arabs learn to co exist and/or are soundly defeated. I see no value in any appeasement or purchase. So I will stiffen my back until and unless the Arabs start acting as humans instead of trying to kill me.

But you are such a boneless jelly fish that you cannot even bring yourself to defend your own family honour. That is a real pity as your blindness prevents you from saying anything less it offends the sensibilities of your mortal enemies.

So please do not flatter yourself. You are not a paragon of anything and not only can you not make your Arabs behave humanely but you have no pull with any self loving Jew to help their enemy.

You want something new than defeat your enemy before you are destroyed. You would not know anything about that as it would offend your sense of some perverse morality.

Don't Lump Everybody Together
written by Nissim Dahan, May 17, 2011

Gabe, you talk about Arabs as if all Arabs are the same. They're not.

People talk about Jews that way and it's just as wrong as lumping all Arabs into one group.

There are extremists within every religion, and there are moderate people as well.

I had a bunch of meetings today and I can tell you that most Arabs I speak with are very open to a two state solution, with both states living in peace, side by side.

In fact, I recently met one young man, a Muslim with a Pashtun family from Afghanista, who loves Israel, and who speak of Zionism more fervently that most Jews I know. He is a bridgebuilder who seeks to bridge the ideological divide for the sake of peace.

If I didn't see with my own eyes that there are such people, than I wouldn't bother to push the type of ideas I push. But I have seen them with my own eyes, and I will work for peace as long as it seems reasonable to do so.

That may make me a dreamer of sorts, but it doesn't make me a "jellyfish" as you say. In fact, I think it takes more courage to promote peace, than to wage war. In war, we fight for what we believe in, and we feel good about doing so. To make peace, we are often called upon to give up on some of what we believe in, for the sake of something we can believe in even more, like peace. And it's hard to give up what we believe in. It's like giving up a part of oursleves, but that's the price we're called upon to pay if we really believe in peace.

In any event, how about commenting on my most recent blog. I hope you're not starting to sleep on the job.

SUCH BUNK
written by GABE1, May 18, 2011

My father was in the Polish Army in Sept 1939 and was a Prisoner of War when the Germans invaded. He escaped as a result of a German soldiers assistance.I also know quite a few Iranians and Afghanis who are more Zionist than some Jews. Lets not forget the Righteous gentiles as well as the Christian Zionists. They are appreciated by people like me and demonized by the Leftists.

My actual problem is with Jews like you whose spine is so jellied that they cannot even see the evil against their own family members and who will not lift a finger to defend their honour. People like that cannot see past their self serving agenda.

Look at What You're Saying
written by Nissim Dahan, May 21, 2011

You're saying that a German soldier saved your Dad's life, instead of sending him off to a concentration camp to die.

You're saying that you have met Iranians and Afghanis who are more Zionist than some Jews.

You say you admire the righteous gentiles and the Christian Zionists.

In other words, you admit that there are, and have been people who defy the normal conventions when it comes to hate and bigotry.

And yet, when it comes to the Arab world, you can't even imagine that there may be those who are moderate, who seek a better life, and who may be willing to partner with us to that end.

You can't even imagine that possibility. Can you?

That's the difference between you and me. I remain open, until proven otherwise, that there are people, among all groups, who are basically good, and who remain open to the possibility of positive change.

The minute we write these people out, is the time that we lose all hope, and I for one choose treasure the possibility of hope, despite the injustice of the past.

Given what happened to your Dad, you should see that. The soldier who saved him defied what was expected of him, probably at his own risk, to do the right thing. I am with that soldier. Who are you with?

MORONIC
written by GABE1, May 22, 2011

That is the most moronic post that I have seen yet even by your standards. I am not denying that there are some good people around. DUH!!! I am also trying to pound into your thick skull that the vast majority of Germans were not good people and ergo over 20 million people lost their lives including 6 million Jews. Arabs by a large Percentage are extremists and I have an aversion to helping such people.

You on the other hand, are so enamoured by the sound of your theory that you would kick your own people down a flight of stairs and deny your own wife's history as well as 700,oo people in the same boat as she was in.

That my friend is the simple truth even if all others think that you are simply a buffoon by making outlandish claims.

WHENEVER
written by GABE1, May 23, 2011

Whenever you grow some balls and are ready to fight for Israel, that send me an E-mail. Otherwise continue your Chamberlain like ways without me.

If you choose to quit, then quit. But remember, you quit. You weren't kicked out.
written by Nissim Dahan, May 24, 2011

Gabe, I understand you choose to quit this site, but I'll respond to your comments nonetheless.

The Man Upstairs has given you plenty of evidence, in your own life, that it is possible at time, even against all odds, to make something good happen. And yet you choose to box yourself in, in your own little and narrow cocoon.

I'll make it simple. Your attitude would have gotten your Dad killed. He was a Jewish soldier in Polland, when that country was overrun by the Nazis. He could have been shot, or sent off somewhere to eventually die. And yet, against all odds, and contrary to your depiction that "...the vast majority of Germans were not good people..." a lone German soldier chose to save his life. If your Dad had your attitude, and had he discounted this possibility, and had he spoken to his captors the way you speak of Arab, then his life would have been lost.

Another example is your own life. You say you grew up under Communist rule. Well, the communists weren't that nice either, especially to the Jews. And yet, through the hard work of some very persistent and imaginative people, the Jews were allowed to go free, and eventually, the Soviet Union itself fell apart.

These were big changes. As were the fall of Apartheid in South Africa, and the challenge to racism in the U.S. by people like Martin Luther King.

And that brings us to the Middle East. I'll say it straight. The vast majority of Arabs are good people who want a decent life. If we can deliver on that, we can turn that region around, and defeat the extremists. And the people on the street will help us to do that, because they will have been given a place at the table, a stake at the table. And in fact, it is only with the help of the man on the street that you can defeat the extremists.

Your way, Gabe, is a dead end, as is your thinking.

As for the size of my balls, if I can accomplish even a small fraction of what I want to do, then I will be very satisfied with the size of my balls.

The first billionaire who has joined our team lives in the West Bank. My wife and I visited him there. Did you visit the West Bank, Gabe. Are your balls big enough to do that. Or do you just talk big?

WHOOPEE DO. DUH!!!!!
written by GABE1, May 24, 2011

Since 1967 I have been to Israel a total of more than 35 times and at least a dozen times in Judea and Samaria and the so called "refugee" camps. I have met with ordinary folks in Jericho, Nablus, Ramalla, Hevron, Kalkiliya, Jenin and small villages in most cases with an Army escort. I have also been up to the Suez Canal and even up to Kuneitra.

So that smugness and smirk of yours should be by now wiped from your face.

As I told you I have attended a party where both Ashkenazi and Barak were guests.

Frankly, you are but a fool and a spineless Jelly fish and definitely NO BALLS.

I thought you quit this site.
written by Nissim Dahan, May 24, 2011

What are you doing back here? You can't help yourself, can you? There's something about this site that keeps you coming back for more.

You've visited Israel and the West Bank more than 35 times and all you have to show for it is comparing people to invertebrates and questioning whether their sexual organs measure up?

I don't know exactly where you're coming from, but one thing I can be sure is that I'd rather not go there.

You have met people, people on the ground, people who need some help, on both sides of this conflict, and you see nothing wrong in sticking to your guns even if it means letting the whole place burn.

I have met people like you, stiff-necked people, who believe what they want to believe, and for whom the truth is just a side issue.

Even Netanyahu, who is certainly not a left-winger, spoke today to the U.S. Congress, and at least pointed to the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

Is he a jelly fish too?

You think you're protecting Israel. You're not. You're selling Israel down the river. Anyone who refuses to contemplate the possibility of peace, and who refuses to consider ways to get there, is a blind fool, a fool with little concern for anything or anyone that is not in line with his point of view.

I would not be particularly proud of that, Gabe. If that's all there is to you, it is time to enlarge your horizons. Come up with a solution that can work. Don't content yourself with the insults that you so cavalierly hurl at others. Show that you have some sense of imagination, for God's sake.

...
written by yushumei, June 17, 2011

http://www.nikerift-shoes.com/

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