Semitic non-semitic Perspective on recent events leading Earthers to ask Earthers for their view - Fall 2023
I’ll write my viewpoint on matters related to what’s happening and being influenced by what’s happening between Israel, Hamas, and the Palestinian people and their respective supporters abroad in the Fall of 2023.
In terms of personal bias and background there are a couple points to be cognizant of when it comes to characterizing possibly unique positions underlying opinions stated here and now. These points are not going to change.
My Father is Indian, from the country of India. His second wife is of Jewish descent.
My Sister’s first husband is of Palestinian descent.
With feet in both camps, one does not like to see civilians on either side being killed or injured in an indefinite sequence of cause and effect military actions. Yes they did choose to live there... but it's also not a good reason to die in someone elses fight.
I have a rather unique and longitudinal perspective on the matter as well because I share the name of an entity that humans have written into existence that takes the form of an ancient middle eastern God of Fertility, Agriculture, Storms, and who knows what else. The brother of El, that was El-ilah, that became Allah? Yes, you’ve probably been lied to about it all. Try to practice a little ontological independence.
Right then…
Stating the assumptions and "facts" disguised as unambiguous generalizations.
Israel has a recognized country. The Palestinians don’t. This sets up a relationship dynamic similar to that which existed and played out between America and the Native American tribes. One has rights, the other... really doesn’t. Howard Zinn’s book, A Peoples History of the United States of America is an excellent read on history from the perspective of the losers. Not calling you losers... just that they lost a large territory so I'm using the word pragmatically and figuratively, OK?
Groups such as the protesters like rooting for underdogs. I heard that idea on a conservative talkshow like an hour ago and it seems to make sense. The Palestinians are the underdogs. The Jews have been underdogs in the past.
Being Palestinian is NOT the same as being in Hamas. This is genuinely and widely accepted to be true.
Hamas operates in an area - which I really do not know much about the particulars - that is not governed where Palestinians and other people live. It has been populated for thousands of years since before the treaty of Westphalia and Rome cemented the notion of the nation-state as the ultimate meta-form to achieve successful large-scale population management of human beings. Religion is another of those that was useful for a few centuries while economies and science achieved their breakthroughs.
Hamas-aligned people attacked a festival and killed people. That's indisputably abominable. Music is sacred. In addition to being a criminal, you're also a shitty human being if you attack people at a festival. 'Nuff said. Israel responded. In the field of political science it is also understood that when a nation or its people are attacked is also the time when there is a very high level of unity and patriotism. It is an ideal scenario to respond without constraint for anyone in leadership. The book 1984 and writings about it discuss this concept at length, as well as some of the dangers of human machination. Those concepts can readily be applied to the situation in the Middle East as one of the most persistently conflicted areas on Earth. There were civilian casualties in both incidents. In the end, it’s likely Israel will kill more. That’s a tough call that makes the Israeli side an easy mark for absolutists and humanitarians and those who don't like to see power corrupting or being abused.
Not quite fitting neatly into the category of assumptions is this next paragraph.
I, Dagan K. Bora, do not know much about Israel or Hamas. I haven’t lived there, researched them, studied the language, or relate on a deep level with people on either side. I don't know anyone in Hamas. The reason I am writing about it now? It’s important to lend what you can to this issue that is causing a few deaths and much sorrow (car accidents and heart disease will dwarf the numbers, I promise you). Generally, it’s not really interesting to me as a topic but I do feel what I will contribute is DIFFERENT than others, and useful.
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I also believe it’s important to acknowledge one’s limitations… yes, this is somehow ironic given my namesake’s stated status. But that is also what allows me not to be swayed much or by other peoples’ agendas (hidden or obvert).
So… let's move on to the definitions of key words that will be used in the argument to come. The confusion about WHAT ARE the definitions is wholly unnecessary and honestly, worthy of ridicule, if such were the intent - which it is not. Thus, they remain a barrier to a real understanding of the elements while left unexposed.
Notwithstanding! Here are two important concepts to be wary of because these two words will likely "come up" in the conversation and as they do stand a likelihood of being used improperly to influence your and other peoples’ minds and behavior – and you may not notice if the truth of definitions and history is not acknowledged:
A: The word “solution”.
B: The word “semitic”. ???
Regarding A: The problem presupposing the need for a solution is the uncertainty as to how the popular nation-state model is being applied (NOT BEING APPLIED) to that little corner of the universe. The word solution in the context of Israel and Palestine is most commonly identified with the proposed TWO STATE SOLUTION.? It is not, as some would have it, referring to “the final solution”, a term employed by the Third Reich in Germany during a genocidal campaign that took place during the mid 1900’s “recently”. Mistaking protester slogans and reinterpreting them does not move us forward in our mutual understanding of the issues at play. It only serves to further advertisement of lingering persecution complexes and disguise and distort the issues at play. Further, the PROBLEM is not taken to be the latest military effort by Israel.
Regarding B: One appreciates the Jewish agenda to avoid being exterminated. However, the word semitic is being narrowly applied and used improperly ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME.
Semitic languages, languages that form a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language phylum. Members of the Semitic group are spread throughout North Africa and Southwest Asia and have played preeminent roles in the linguistic and cultural landscape of the Middle East for more than 4,000 years. In the early 21st century the most important Semitic language, in terms of the number of speakers, was Arabic. Standard Arabic is spoken as a first language by more than 200 million people living in a broad area stretching from the Atlantic coast of northern Africa to western Iran; an additional 250 million people in ...(100 of 5374 words)
?
Now then, the country of Israel has stated an objective regarding Hamas moving from a policy of contain to one of... I forget. Once upon a time America attempted something similar in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 incident. Yes, I was in High School in NY when it happened. The end result of the war on terror? Probably too multitudinous in its dimension for me to list here. A lot more guns in Afghanistan to be sure. I am trite. That is not the core issue but it is worth mentioning because of the similar difficulty level of the undertaking. Don’t get your feathers ruffled and continue reading.
I, with my very basic understanding, appreciate the need to ask some pertinent questions like: What happens afterward? How long does it take? Is it possible to see/predicate a full scenario and contingency plan and response matrix to bring the possible futures into the mindset of those present here and now?
IMHO, Religion isn’t supposed to be used as a tool for killing people, whatever your excuse. Be better humans. I’m seriously confused as to why ye are still only at one planet with the current level of technology.
Quit getting distracted!