It doesn't matter who's right: What should everybody else do about the Mideast?

Apr 19 04:29 UTC 2002

We all know what's going to happen.  At least, what will happen if some
catastrophe or bizarre situational adjustment doesn't occur first: Racial war.
It's the Jews against the Arabs in Wrestlemanie 2002.  Loud demonstrations
in favor of both sides (and, obviously, against the other side) have broken
out in hundreds of communities across the globe.  We are on the brink of the
great pay-per-view, the soccer riot gone wrong, the matchup even Mike Tyson
won't accept.  OJ Simpson trial be damned, this will be the television event
of the Millenium.

Wait, different Millenia!  We have peaceful coexistance.  Yeah, sort of. 
Anyway, since racial war seems to be the destination that we're heading
toward, what should the less violent, more enlightened civilizations of the
world do about it?  There are two problems:  The war in the middle east, and
potential confrontations in our own streets.  What are now (relatively)
peaceful demonstrations can quickly become brawls and full-scale riots if
things get *really* heated, even in supposedly uninvolved cities like New
York, Detroit, and Toronto.  Clearly, we cannot allow actual physical conflict
to occur, but what is the best strategy to prevent it?  Simply load up on
police?  Break up the demonstrations "as they become unruly?"  It will be a
challenge to avoid the inevitable questions of bias and suppression of free
speech, and I don't know whether there's a way to dodge that question or not.

Then there's the inevitable bloodshed in the actual Middle East, which can't
avoid being a global problem.  At this moment, I don't believe that there is
any way an outside military force can possibly do any good without completely
subjugating both sides, and I thus think it's probably better if the powers
that be remain militarily uninvolved with the area.  Diving in is a recipe
for a SERIOUS international incident.  What happens if the US sends troops
to the West Bank, and Russia and China strongly object?  There's no turning
back from that, and I don't want to give either side the satisfaction of
knowing that their petty real estate squabble has put the stability of the
*civilized* world in jeopardy.  

My opinion is just that:  My opinion.  It is also expressed with the tongue
firmly glued to the cheek in this item, by the way.  This item has a special
stipulation:  It is not to be sued for the discussion of whom is correct and
which side is more victimized and more justified.  That is not relevant to
the subject matter of the item, and the first person to use this item as a
forum to express opinions for justification loses.  Additionally, it doesn't
look too bright--how rational can one be if one cannot even follow simple
instructions when one's "honor" is not even being challenged?  No opinions
concerning the justification of either side are expressed in this #0, and the
only potential piece of offensive material is the "petty real estate squabble"
clause.  Frankly, if you cant' read that and keep your fingers shut, you need
to grow up. :)

response 2 of 31:

Apr 19 07:26 UTC 2002

I thik that Israelis tis a great THUGS of Palestines, he kill Palestines with
HITLER kill they in the PAST, the diference that the PAlestines reaction cause
more deads...It's so GOOD...blood's ISRAELIs, hey i'm BRASILIAN.

response 4 of 31:

Apr 19 10:54 UTC 2002

re2


awesomes that wuz!

eyE hAM yo0peR!

response 6 of 31:

Apr 19 14:03 UTC 2002

The problem is you usually can't *create* peace by treaty.  You can only
enforce a peace that already exists.  So until one side wins, or they
fight to a standoff, there probably isn't going to be an agreement that
will stick.

The disturbing thing is that Israel's neighbors are starting to get
involved again.  Lebanon has been shooting rockets over the border, for
example.  This could turn into a wider conflict.  What happens then? 
Israel is also a nuclear power -- how will the world react if they
launch a nuclear strike against one of their enemies?

response 8 of 31:

Apr 19 20:14 UTC 2002

i would like to take thi opportunity to applaud colin powell for his speedy
and highly effective visit to the middle east in an effort for peace. if the
US wasn't the ones in charge of peace negotiations over there, i dont know
WHAT would happen!

response 10 of 31:

Apr 19 21:06 UTC 2002

<waves her mini US flag on a stick>

response 12 of 31:

Apr 19 21:08 UTC 2002

kinky!

response 14 of 31:

Apr 19 21:12 UTC 2002

you didn't cornhole your corndog?

response 16 of 31:

Apr 19 21:33 UTC 2002

OK, this is getting kinda M-Nut.

But I did laugh.

So watch it next time, willya?

Cause I don't want to have to rough you up or anything.

response 18 of 31:

Apr 20 03:47 UTC 2002

It's a chance for them to demonstrate their superior rationality and
intellect, mary.  

Bzzt, Mvpel loses, nobody is surprised.

response 20 of 31:

Apr 20 13:16 UTC 2002

high vill sent yoor corndogz to zuh russian front.

}{
--

response 22 of 31:

Apr 21 02:17 UTC 2002

Ok, that's the second recommendation for "Fresco" in the last week.  I'm 
gonna have to try it.

response 24 of 31:

Apr 21 05:18 UTC 2002

I've found Tepper so irritating in the past that it'll take more than a couple
recommendations to get me to pick one of her books up again.