Hi Lawry!
Roger, I think it is important to confirm facts before posting them here,
especially on a subject as tendentious as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
And it is the obligation of the person asserting a fact, as the source of
it, to back it up, not the person questioning it. The reason for this
obligation is simple: you presumably have at least one example of such a
textbook, and all you have to do is point to it, provide a three line
citation. If you put the burden on your readers of disproving your
statement, you are of course suggesting that the reader search all
Palestinian textbooks, and only after this immense labor, assert that
nothing that supports your assertion could be found. No, the burden of
proof must rest with the person making the assertion. Can you imagine it
being any other way?
Lawry,
I find this discussion kind of bizarro (due to no fault of yours though).
First, Gav, David and Rod write in that those that disagree with them are
victims of Orwellian brainwashing. In response to this unsupported
rhetorical *assertion,* I collected a series of what I believed to be facts
and presented them up for criticism, specifically asking them exactly where
they see me as being brainwashed. They of course won't answer my post. You
graciously jump in, but are now asking me to support the facts that I got off
the popular news. All I can do is point you to sources on the internet.
This of course doesn't prove a thing.
As for the specific question, I found dozens of sources on Palestinian,
Syrian and Arab textbooks, including an article on CNN where MS. Clinton
expressed her dissapointment with the Palestinians on the issue. (and she is
to the left of Gav)
Here is one source:
http://www.edume.org/
More are available if you want. It seems unlikely that the story could be
completely manufactured, but again, let me know if you think it was.
L:
When you say, a 'muslim textbook', you must say what you are referring to,
if not the Qur'an. Look at it this way: if we saw a high school textbook
about American history, would it make sense to characterize it as a
'christian textbook'? Please be aware that about 40% of the Palestinian
refugees are Christian. Or would you say that Palestinian kids study from
textbooks that are '40% christian and 60% muslim'? You see, it makes little
sense. Now, factor in the reality that of all the Arab populations, the
Palestinians are probably among the most secular. Why not just say 'a
textbook' -- why slip in the note that it is 'muslim' when that is
inaccurate?
R:
More Bizarro! I never wrote a "muslim textbook." Nargess wrote that!
Please go back to the original text which was pasted at the bottom.
As for your comment that "The future will not be brighter until both
Palestinians and Israelis
decide that a negotiated compromise peace settlement is best, and they
pretty much have to decide this at the same time," I must disagree with the
practicality of this idea. As stated earlier, there are too many forces that
don't want peace. A settlement won't be reached with the current players.
This is why I support starting off by giving them something significant and
working toward final borders over time -- based upon peaceful behavior and
control of terrorism.
Finally, you write " More will die, yes. But millions? What is your thinking
on a scenario
that leads to millions dying?" My reasoning is that in 20 years or less one
of the unstable states in the region will get a nuclear weapon (or extensive
biological/chemical capabilities) and use it against Israel. Israel will
strike back. Unless peace is attained and democracy is spread in the region,
I see this scenario as frighteningly possible. Don't you?
Rog
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