Israel's policy in Palestine

The amount of time that we waste on that part of the world is ridiculous.

Muslims and Jews have been killing each other for centuries. They are not going to stop.

You forget the Christians, Mary.

What is the solution to the problems of Jews and Palestinians both claiming the same land and the same capital city?
It is hard to see how this problem will ever be solved.
That means the risk of another war, sooner or later.

War?! What is it good for, Jenny?

Well most of the modern technical innovations that we now take for granted came into being as a result of war. And most democratic governance owes its origins to wars against tyranny and despotism. If, on the other hand, you mean are the benefits of war worth the horrors carnage and sacrifices that are part of war, then that's another matter?
You might ask is it better for people to suffer the horrors of war for few short years, or to suffer centuries of despotic abuse with the ignorance, poverty and misery that is the result of such abuse? As we see in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Somalia and so many other places where the people have not stood up and fought for their freedom.

To be or not to be that is the question.

Spot on Shereen, but not sure how it applies to the Israeli/Palestinian problem

Israel is right in going to war when people do not recognise its right to exist.

Shereen, the atomic bomb was a fantastic invention. I mean this ironically. Napalm was another beauty. Though, man is naturally inventive and competitive; and therefore war brings out the best in man, not quite.

Nothing is built by war except weapons of war and tyranny. Israel was built by war and it shows in its budget and its constant fear of attack.

The Catholic Church finds just cause for war, and then rails against it. Its actions are entirely understandable in this. No-one likes war, except madmen; nevertheless, sometimes there is no choice; and when there is no choice, things are grim.

Hope is the biggest killer. Marx railed against religion. Orwell railed against the lotteries. I have given up. The task is futile.

It is said that God loves children, for in them is hope; and because of them, there will always be a future. It is a beautiful thought not brought out by reality. But I cannot see how you can live without hope, even though it just might kill you.

On St. Paul, he was a queer. I wouldn't pay too much attention to him, just as I wouldn't pay too much attention to the President of Iran, he is a maniac, he moves, he dies along with millions of innocents: a strategic strike just won't do it.

'Blessed are the peacemakers.' Jesus, he got that right!

History shows us that humanity advances more during war than at any other time.

The invention and development of the jet engine as well the development of flight all had their beginnings through the needs of war.

Radar, without which commercial airlines could not operate as they do, also had its beginnings in war. The discovery and development of antibiotics came about because of the need to shorten the time it took to get wounded service people back into action: Florey

Four wheel drive vehicles came about because of the needs of war, microwaves, lasers, the first computers.

There are many others.

You must be the dumbest ---- that I have ever known, Peter.

Tut tut .............such language and this is a religious site I'll have you know.

This site is no such thing, now piss off.

My grandfather caught a piece of shrapnel in the First World War. The doctors patched it over and sent him back to the frontline. The key to war is manpower, not mercy.

I lost my temper back there. I will not let it happen again if I can help it.

I have a flaming headache now. Thanks, Peter. I am desperate to get off this subject.

I am an egomaniac. You people are not present at all. They say that war is long periods of boredom broken by terror. I might just have to face it, this is a real war.

carusmm I wish you wouldn't take everything so seriously I'm only joking with you.

I can see it now, I could not see it then.

"History shows us that humanity advances more during war than at any other time."

Peter you think that jet engines, microwaves, computers etc, are all advances for humanity.
These things are still only available to a minority of the world's people, yet all the people especially the poor in the third world suffer the consequences of war.

What about advances in human relations, philosophy and in people's ability to live in peace, look after their kids and so on.
Don't you set any special value on these.

I have noticed that the people most fond of war have never been in it or near it.
It is not as much fun as you may think.

siliboi9, violence is regrettable but we cannot live with regret. I think that there is something in that for all of us.

I am trying to lighten up the situation. But I suppose that I am just being annoying; tensions are very much running high in this blog. There are times when comedy just does not cut it, and those times are depressing beyond measure.

How sad that although we live in an age where information is so readily available to ordinary populations, we still have people who dream of utopian societies where everything is perfect.

And whether they call themselves Humanist or not, those dreams are just as much pie-in-the-sky nonsense as those of the tambourine bashers, who talk about a perfect paradise somewhere over the rainbow. However life, nature, existence, call it what you like, is just not like that and let’s be thankful that it is not.

Much as we are horrified by the pain life inflicts upon us, without such experiences, life would be meaningless. Just as the hot summer heat makes us appreciate the winter rain and the cold makes us look forward to the coming of spring, so the horrors of life give us hope for better things, that might come. For they are just as meaningful to our appreciation of life as the varying pitch of notes are vital to the appreciation of a beautiful piece of music.

Life is striving, hoping, longing not a sick world where nothing ever changes.

I think that we can do without pain, thanks William.