Thank you my friend for making a place for both arguments to be heard
Can I ask what draws you to this topic, considering it doesn't concern your everyday life? Is it out of guilt and a need to prevent history from repeating itself?
The desire for knowledge, and an open, honest discussion. This is something that I've found lacking in many public forums. Most often, a conversation gets shutdown when either it becomes "too heated" according to some mod, or it ventures too far against someone's bias.
I've always been told that if you want to know what's going on in your country, read a foreign newspaper. The problem, in this case, is that there are too many biases or the fear of stepping on somebody's toes. In the US, if you too loudly take Palestine's side, you risk being called an antisemite. Together with anti-BDS legislation going through various states outlawing essentially free speech, this throttles fair discussion. Now, I'm not saying Palestinians are free of guilt either, but this endless game of tit-for-tat must be called out at least in an open dialog.
I am hoping to provide a place where toe stepping and heated discussions are not just tolerated, but encouraged. This is a contentious topic, and I expect some discussions to become heated, but better a heated voice, than a heated barrel.
As for guilt, I have none personally, as I was born decades after the war ended. This does not mean that I feel what my countrymen did should not be paid for, though. Those who would consider that the sins of the father should be visited upon their sons, should be careful that the skeletons in their own closets not be rattled.
Israel and Palestine Politics Discussion
The sole purpose of this community is to discuss Israeli and Palestinian issues. It is not the place for hurling insults, rehashing grudges, or making up history. Any conversation that veers into the "if only your people had" realm will be deleted or locked right away. I started this community in the potentially fruitless hope that we may have a civil conversation about this issue.
Rules:
- References to historical events must include a reputable source. The definition of reputable is up to the mods. Keep that in mind.
- Articles from reputable sources only.
- No name-calling. That's what DMs are for. /s
- Keep it in English. If I don't understand the word, it gets removed. Obvious exceptions would be the use of proper names and references. For example, "wadi" when used to refer to a place is acceptable.
- Discussions that are heading into the probability of becoming a flame war will be locked.
- Repeat offenders will be forced to find another community.
- Anti-Zionism is ok. Anti-Semitism is not.
- Whataboutism is for toddlers. Try to grow up.
- Posting articles about current events is encouraged. Posting the same story from 20 different sources is not.
- Posting an article purely for the purpose of saying "Look what monsters they are" is discouraged unless it can generate an honest discussion. This is probably the most difficult rule to follow.
- No calling anyone a terrorist.
- No YouTube links. Some of us can read.