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janc
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They Shoot Peacemakers
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Nov 4 22:20 UTC 1995 |
The radio says that the Prime Minister of Israel, Itzak Rabin, has been
assasinated.
This took place at a rally meant to show public support for the peace
process.
The gunman was an Jewish Israelli law student, connected with right-wing
anti-peace groups. One such group has claimed credit for the shooting.
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| 105 responses total. |
orwell
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response 1 of 105:
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Nov 4 22:31 UTC 1995 |
Oh my god. That's terrible. Has it really been confirmed?
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scott
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response 2 of 105:
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Nov 4 22:57 UTC 1995 |
as of earlier this afternoon, he was in serious condition in the hostpital.
Right now on TV, former President Carter is talking about the possible outcome
of Isreal's "great loss"... And now they word "assasination" has been used.
That's CNN, so I'd say it has been confirmed. :(
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scott
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response 3 of 105:
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Nov 4 23:19 UTC 1995 |
According to CNN according to the Israeli govt, the assasin is a 27 year old
law student who admitted killing Rabin, and even took credit, saying that God
had told him to kill Rabin, as a traitor to the Jewish people.
Sounds like an abortion killing in America. There just about *has* to be some
religious leader behind this.
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adbarr
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response 4 of 105:
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Nov 4 23:41 UTC 1995 |
My prayers for Israel, and all Jewish people. You will always have my
respect and love.
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kerouac
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response 5 of 105:
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Nov 5 00:50 UTC 1995 |
It was that peace treaty... there are many radicals on both sides
who believe that peace is an affront to their religion. Remember
after the last treaty, some radical egyptian muslim killed
Anwar Sadat.
Truly sad.
\.
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adbarr
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response 6 of 105:
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Nov 5 01:09 UTC 1995 |
Well, I assume you realize I typed Israel, not that %%.? You know
how I feel. I am terribly frustrated with the hate in this world...
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bry
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response 7 of 105:
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Nov 5 03:33 UTC 1995 |
Its a matter of fervent, fundamentalist defense of religious principles,
and bloody politics.... again. Nothing new under the sun, yet more
powerful as we dive into the 21st century, since thru the neutering effects
of merging markets (McDonald's, for instance) we are drawing closer to a
homogenized existance which spits in the face of individualism and self-
determination. Bad. However, many recognize this and react not with
thought and strategy, but with fanatacism.
"Jihad" refers to a "zealous, defiant struggle on behalf of faith," in
a mild sense. Too often this term is branded on Muslims. It becomes
ever clearer that this term can be applied liberally to many ethnicities
and militant supporters of bloody Holy slaughter, on behalf of a partisan
identity. Just look at Christanity. Thru history, look at Germans. Hindis.
Serbs. But you see, Its much easier for people to make decisions when they
have partisan politics and morals to buy into, that way they don't have to
think for themselves. If one would actually think on things, It's quite
probable that the outcome would not devitate far from another's point of
view. Kant's "categorical imperitive" is not far off the mark, I think.
(I must also add that I am NOT a Kantian. I do believe in circumstances.)
Just look at American politics. Its party coalition to the end, damn the
degree of silliness, or ridiculous stupidity. If you're conservative, you've
got your own prescribed personality, and thought process. Same for liberals.
Folks buy into something that sounds good for fear of making the wrong choice
and looking stupid, or losing friends.
Rabin was one to damn the dumbing down process. He went against the grain,
made his own choices. He was brave enough to view the Palestinians (and
Arafat) as human beings, and not killing machines. He was a peacemaker.
His love and dream of peace cost him his life. I saluted Rabin for his
courage, and mourn his loss.
Arabs are not the enemy. Serbs are not the enemy. Arafat is not the devil.
Gingrich is not the antichrist. Rush is not God. CNN is not the only source
of news. Etc.etc., what is the enemy is the brainwashing effect of
fundamentalism. The anihilation of individual thought. The encapsulation of
these evils into the vehicle of mass media, dumped down the throats of
all-too-willing viewers/listeners.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan predicted that the next 50 countries to be formed
on this planet would come into being within the next 50 years, and will
all come into being thru the catalyst of conflicting ethnicity. Eerie, eh?
Look at Bosnia. Look at Rwanda. Look at Yugoslavia. Look at the Soviet Union.
Quite a prediction. Ethnic membership gone to the nth degree. Its getting
worse. And we can see it much better now. Live cameras & correspondants
& everything.
Look what almost happened with Canadians and Quebecois.
Food for thought.....chomp.
Long live the peacemakers.
Damn the market imperitive of Mass Media.
Make your own decisions. Listen a lot. Read a lot.
Jews can kill as easily as Muslims or Christians. Good ol' American boys
can bomb buildings as easily as international terrorists. Its isn't who
you are, where you were born, or what religion you practice.
The future just might be murder if we keep up like this.
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giry
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response 8 of 105:
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Nov 5 04:46 UTC 1995 |
My thoughts are with all those who grieve for this setback...
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srw
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response 9 of 105:
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Nov 5 06:10 UTC 1995 |
Rabin gave his life for the peace process. I hope and pray that this
cowardly act will backfire to the ultimate benefit of Peace. If that
happens, he will not have given his life in vain.
There are fundamentalist enemies of peace on both sides, and they get all
the news. There is a vast reservoir of hope in the middle that peace
is desirable, and that it is possible to achieve in our time. On the basis
of that great middle, the Labor party took power and began the initiatives.
The suicide bombers sought to push those in the middle of Israel's
politics to the right, by killing innocent people. They have had some
small success in this, but have not been as successful as they might have
hoped. They have not forced a no confidence vote, for example.
Now someone has come from the other side to make Rabin a martyr for peace.
The Arab fundamentalists cheer this, but I think it may be their undoing.
The vast majority of Israelis will rally now to *defend* peace, because
they must to distance themselves from the assassin. With one assassination,
all of the political effects of all those bombings has been undone.
I hope I'm right, anyway.
I salute this great man, a Martyr for peace.
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beeswing
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response 10 of 105:
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Nov 5 11:53 UTC 1995 |
As if there weren't enough problems over there... it's gonna get pretty nasty
now. :(
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bry
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response 11 of 105:
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Nov 5 16:12 UTC 1995 |
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bry
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response 12 of 105:
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Nov 5 16:27 UTC 1995 |
Perhaps. But perhaps not. Even in the wake of the tragic death of Anwar
Sadat, the peace between Egypt and Israel has stayed firm. Even in the
looming shadow of the Gulf "war," the overwhelming majority of Arab
nations has honored the UN resolution against Iraq. The most honorable
Arab leader of all (I feel), King Hussein of Jordan, views Israel as a
neighbor, not an adversary.
Hopefully, a sense of synergy will develop. That is, Middle East nations
will realize that the value of the whole area, its culture, its history,
its colorful history and impressive potential, is greater than the sum
of its parts. The Middle East could be a most powerful and influential
world leader if united. On the other hand, if fundamentalism continues
to run rampant, beeswing will be right. ....pretty nasty.
The leaders of the world now converge on Israel to pay their respects.
Let's join them in spirit.
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bruin
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response 13 of 105:
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Nov 5 17:25 UTC 1995 |
Isn't it ironic that President Clinton is attending Rabin's funeral with past
and present rivals like Former President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bob
Dole, and House Speaker Newt Gigrich? Why is it that these people rarely
agree on what's best for America, but in times of crisis or grieving, they
all come together?
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srw
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response 14 of 105:
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Nov 5 20:48 UTC 1995 |
It strikes me as perfectly natural. Because American leaders are not
so far apart from each other when measured on the scale of global politics.
It is natural for them to put aside their differences on smaller matters,
like the U.S. budget, when confronted with a larger problem that they basically
agree on in the first place, like the issue of war versus peace in the
Middle East.
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ajax
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response 15 of 105:
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Nov 5 22:48 UTC 1995 |
Sad as I am to hear of Rabin's demise, I think it's a lot better for
the Middle East that a Jewish person killed him, rather than a Arab person.
I think it will direct a backlash against the right-wing conservatives,
rather than against the Palestinians.
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bry
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response 16 of 105:
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Nov 6 15:47 UTC 1995 |
Many in the region felt that way. At the news of Rabin's death, Palestinians
and other Arab ethnicities were in a panic. It would've been quite a blow
to mideast relations if the killing was a response to Israeli Intelligence
officers shooting down a prominent Islamic Jihad leader(which is what I feared
it was). Yes, it does put the tragedy in a different light. What should also be
noted is the fact that this kind of assassination is quite common; a reaction
within a specific group's interests and direction. Sadat was killed by an
Egyptian. Ghandi was killed by an Indian. Makes a sad sort of sense.
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ajax
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response 17 of 105:
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Nov 6 19:55 UTC 1995 |
Good point. Have any American presidents been shot by non-Americans?
If Rabin's assassin had been a Palestinian, security probably wouldn't
have let him get that close...he gave them an "I'm a driver" line, which
would might have been more suspect from a person who looked Arabic.
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bry
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response 18 of 105:
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Nov 7 05:03 UTC 1995 |
What is also interesting to note is the radical turnaround in Israel's
political dealings that Rabin introduced by his endeavors. Rabin was
a war hero. An Israeli army general. In fact, many victories for Israel,
including the '67 7-Days-War and the seizing of the Golan Heights from
Syria, were a direct result of Rabin's tenacity.
What we saw during his brief role as prime minister was a far cry from the
brutal general whose motto was "I'll crush their bones."
Rabin's genius was the tossing aside of the military solution. Israel had
become very accustomed to the military might strategy to get things done.
Partially because they were very good at it, and also because Jews
throughout history had taken punishment on the chin, and weren't successful
in retalliation.
Quite a difference. Truth is, although Jews preach and live by codes of
honor and compassion, Israel has remained quite a militaristic state.
Moderate military training is required of all young Israeli men. So, it
isn't surprising that many would get upset at a former war hero preaching
the benefits of diplomacy. It might appear to many as the preachings of
passivity. Through its military might and effective leadership, Israel
secured its borders (along with US $$$ and arms). Rabin realized that the
time had come to negotiate, rather than antagonize.
Now the world has to pick up where he left off, and honor the legacy of
this great figure in History. Like King Hussein emotionally stated at Rabin's
funeral, "we must not be afraid (to talk openly about peace.), We must lift
our voices high."
Let's.
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scg
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response 19 of 105:
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Nov 7 06:33 UTC 1995 |
There was an article in the Ann Arbor News today (lifted from the New York
Times, I think, but I'm not sure) by somebody who had interviewed Rabin
several months ago, as well as several other times over the years. In this
article, Rabin as described not as somebody who wanted peace for the sake of
peace, but as somebody who wanted peace because he thought that at this point
Israel was more secure with peace than with military defense. I hadn't really
been following what's been going on over there, but if that's true it makes
the transition from war hero to archetct of peace far more understandable.
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meg
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response 20 of 105:
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Nov 7 12:58 UTC 1995 |
Wasn't either McKinley or Garfield shot by a non-American? I am ashamed
that my history has left me at the moment.
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bruin
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response 21 of 105:
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Nov 7 13:08 UTC 1995 |
RE #20 McKinley was shot by Leon Csolgosz <sp>, a self-avowed anarchist who
desired to assasinate all world leaders, not just President McKinley.
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remmers
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response 22 of 105:
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Nov 7 13:47 UTC 1995 |
But was he a non-American?
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mwarner
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response 23 of 105:
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Nov 8 03:37 UTC 1995 |
An immigrant, I believe. Many Israelis are immigrants, perhaps even the
assassin? The issue in Israel seems to be Jewish on Jewish violence in
Israel. And in that country there has never been any parallel to this.
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freida
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response 24 of 105:
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Nov 8 16:44 UTC 1995 |
On Monday, my dad had been dead for one year...I thought the eulogy given by
the granddaughter was the most appropriate and the most touching. My heart
goes out to his family and personal friends.
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