Andy @ andrewrgross @slrpnk.net

Posts

41

Comments

1,072

Joined

2 yr. ago

This is a key comment, right here.

I am grateful that Kaine's comments show a slow pivot taking place in Washington. But we should all be clear that Democrats in congress like Kaine are engaged in a PR exercise to cover the fact that all that has changed is their recognition that they aren't going to be allowed to participate in genocide.

Really, Tim? We gave them all those bombs to convince them NOT to flatten Gaza?

To quote Principal Skinner: "I was only in there to get directions on how to get away from there!"

Biden wasn't played, he was on board. And he still is. But at least Kaine is workshopping excuses for him to jump off the train he was helping drive.

I'm just going to answer you and @JustZ@lemmy.world 's comment above at the same time.

What's the hell is your point?

Generally, when someone mentions something like the existence of some admirable quality in a country facing criticism or a terrible quality in a different country, it's irrelevant to the point at hand. It's either to derail a conversation or terminate it.

The conversation thread is about the fact that Israelis should not be held responsible carte blanche for atrocities committed by their government, because many lack political representation and face extremely oppressive prejudice from their government.

If you're arguing that the presence of any Arabs within power at all disproves their overall repression, in this context you're arguing against my point that they should NOT be held responsible for the crimes of their government. Is your point that Israel Palestinians are guilty of genocide in Gaza? Think about how inane that is.

And if you're pointing out that regionally, Jews are an oppressed group... well then what? What does the fact that Qatar and UAE and Jordon are repressive mean in this context? It is wildly off-topic, and also utterly irrelevant that Israel's neighbors suck too. You know what? I don't think we should send weapons to Iran or Egypt or Saudi Arabia either. That's not exactly a hot take.

Figure out what the hell your point is.

it’s a democracy

Israel has been rocked by protests and strikes for the last year. Tens of thousands of Israelis are in the streets demanding an election. But lets set that aside for a second.

Try to explain your whole attitude to the TWO MILLION PALESTINIAN CITIZENS OF ISRAEL. I'm not talking about the people living under occupation. I'm talking about people with Israeli citizenship who are Palestinian. Do you want to guess how the police in Israel treat you if you're an arab citizen and go to a protest? I'll give you a hint: their head of police is Itmar Ben-Gvir. He was convicted of terrorism by his own country. His public position is that he would like to ethnically cleanse both Israel and the occupied territories. And he runs the national police.

Think about what you're saying when you damn everyone in Israel because "it's a democracy" when it's an apartheid police state.

That's an interesting take.

I think it helps to remember that these decisions are often made by people who have very specific goals that aren't aligned with the nation itself. Generals who want to get promoted to higher levels, government ministers looking to curry favor with their patrons.

You might be right, but they're likely not trying to improve Iran's standing. They're looking to each improve their own. Also, most people in these positions, in my observation ARE very dumb.

Listen: I get it. But I've spent the last 6 months telling people that no matter how angry you get, saying this about Gaza is a call to genocide, and is an impulse we must all recognize and reject.

So I have to say it to you too. "Leveling the whole country" is always an endorsement to kill every child and otherwise powerless person in that country. Hell, two million Israelis -- 20% of Israel's population -- are Palestinian.

If you're mad about what Netanyahu and the Zionist movement are doing, call for JUSTICE, not retribution against the innocent.

I was thinking the exact same thing!

Oh man... I wonder what the next Captain America is going to be like. Supposedly, they were planning to introduce Sabra... 😬

That's good to know. Say that. Try saying, 'This guy, _____, gives a great explanation of why ________.'

Without context, I have no ideas what I'm watching.

Look at foggy: now I know this beau guy is a popular commentator on military and foreign policy, but is controversial to some due to personal run ins with the law. That's good context.

Just type your thoughts as words or paste a link to an article.

Ain't nobody got time for your links to long ass videos of strangers talking (timestamped to the got-dang middle ass of the video).

This whole thread is spitting facts

I think that's a bit naive.

The constitution is advice. It's only as powerful as its interpretation and enforcement, and the Supreme Court has shown themselves wildly comfortable writing new flagrantly unconstitutional loopholes when it suits them.

This is very funny and also very sad.

That's sad to hear.

I went to De Moines for work once, and to their credit: the place has charm. It's got more going on than I expected.

Coming from the west coast, I'll totally own up to my preconceptions, but a bunch of the businesses and signs made it clear that De Moines has a far more open-minded, fun-loving modern culture than I was expecting.

Still, I can't say I'm surprised at this. Especially on Facebook. I don't think the people who run the hip microbreweries and rad clothing stores I saw are commenting on Historical Society Facebook posts.

The comedic momentum of the story is excellent.

In my head, I can hear the foot going through it. FWOOMP! "Do you want me to take the others?"

I came to ask what it is.

I think the mainstream Santa lore is dogshit.

I know a pro Santa, and as an actor he has to have his story straight. And if you ask him his life story, it basically starts as a mortal man in ancient Turkey with the story of the original St. Nicholas, and then proceeds to his gradual ascension to demigodhood through devinely favored acts of anonymous charity around the world.

Eventually, his aging slows down and stops, and he makes his way to the frozen north where the ancient, immortal elves have retreated to enjoy their hobby of crafting far from the bother of humans. They become friends, and he begins a routine of spending his time wandering the earth looking for the needy and deserving and passing along recommendations to the elves. What they build, he offers to deliver. And in the process, he inspires hundreds of millions to pretend to give on his behalf so that no one ever knows if he is real or which gifts came from him.

He doesn't judge each of us, and he doesn't actually give presents to most people. He just wanders the world every day looking for those in need. And he doesn't command the elves, he just furnishes them with requests which they oblige at their discretion.

It's such a better story, isn't it?

This is so disgusting to read.

I look at her comments -- she doesn't deny that it's ethnic cleansing -- and I am disgusted to be associated with this woman as a Jew. Her vision is just vile. I've known many liberal zionists who seem confused or cowed, but these far right nationalists have a vision for domination that is completely indistinct from any nationalist movement (Nazis included). It's just horrible to watch how gleeful she is to see these people die or forced off their home at the barrel of a gun.

These people cannot be allowed to win.

First one; then the other.

They do it because they can.

Netanyahu in particular is famous for asserting that policy control flows from him to the US, not the other was around.

He believes that Israel controls the US, and he controls Israel. And for decades, that insane belief has been shown largely accurate.

I am a Patreon supporter of the developers. It's that the best way to support the project?

(˵ ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°˵)ﾉ⌒♡*:･。.