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As someone with family in Israel and strong views on the ME conflict, I think this is great news. Anything which supports/encourages the Palestinians making th

by endtime 16y ago

As someone with family in Israel and strong views on the ME conflict, I think this is great news. Anything which supports/encourages the Palestinians making their own lives better and producing stuff which doesn't explode is a good thing for everyone in the region. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.

gabea 16y ago
I think that the part of your comment regarding "producing stuff which doesn't explode" is very unnecessary. Your level of bias is clearly evident here. Instead of trying to pull both sides together through the positiveness of such news you add fuel to the conflict. Having family in the region does not make your statement any more authoritative then it would for someone with family in Palestine. I hope you rethink your intentions here and in future posts about this terrible conflict attempt to be more evenly considerate. Remember there are always two sides to every story. Thank you.
- _pius 16y ago
  Comments like this stop threads from devolving into flame wars. Thanks.
- endtime 16y ago
  I made no attempt to hide my position; I actually intended to make it quite clear. The point of my comment is that this isn't Google taking sides, and that this should be seen as a good thing by people on both sides of the conflict, to one of which I belong. That's why I mentioned having family there - not because I think it makes my opinion correct, just because I think it makes the perspective from which I'm coming that much clearer. That said, the tone of equivocation you take is a great example of "pretending to be wise": http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/
talbina 16y ago
On the other hand, your government's policies have stifled Palestinians in both regions, in food, shelter, security, and basic medical care. It's kind of hard to produce anything when your house is demolished by bulldozers and your town's farm is burned. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.
- jacobmg 16y ago
  That is trolling. All you're doing is reciting your standard "Israel is evil occupier" routine typical of someone of a certain political bias. No sources or added incite. It is however a fact, that since a high percentage of suicide bombers came out of Palestinian territories when compared to other countries, it is accurate to imply that a different economic course could diminish the terrorist aspect of the Palestinian economy. endtime's comment may seem inflammatory to you, but it is only objective recognition of economic factors. Your's is analysis of far more complex issues and simplifying of the moral choices in the conflict.
  - mixmax 16y ago
    I've never writen a political comment on HN before, and probably never will again. But this is one of these rare occassions where I really feel the need to do so, knowing it'll probably cost me karma and goodwill. Anyway... Of course there's a high percentage of suicide bombers in Palestine - it's their only option against an oppressive regime. They don't have tanks, they don't have fighter planes and they don't have a navy. It's their last resort. They have nothing else with which to fight.
    - cool-RR 16y ago
      No one here said the Palestinians don't have a good reason for doing suicide bombings. We'll all just be happier if they'll have a good economy so they'll stop blowing up.
      - mixmax 16y ago
        I agree. And the first step to having a good economy is personal freedom and the ability to freely buy and sell goods across your border. All of which Israel denies the Palestinians.

by endtime 16y ago

gabea 16y ago

I think that the part of your comment regarding "producing stuff which doesn't explode" is very unnecessary. Your level of bias is clearly evident here. Instead of trying to pull both sides together through the positiveness of such news you add fuel to the conflict. Having family in the region does not make your statement any more authoritative then it would for someone with family in Palestine. I hope you rethink your intentions here and in future posts about this terrible conflict attempt to be more evenly considerate. Remember there are always two sides to every story. Thank you.

_pius 16y ago
Comments like this stop threads from devolving into flame wars. Thanks.
endtime 16y ago
I made no attempt to hide my position; I actually intended to make it quite clear. The point of my comment is that this isn't Google taking sides, and that this should be seen as a good thing by people on both sides of the conflict, to one of which I belong. That's why I mentioned having family there - not because I think it makes my opinion correct, just because I think it makes the perspective from which I'm coming that much clearer. That said, the tone of equivocation you take is a great example of "pretending to be wise": http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/yp/pretending_to_be_wise/

talbina 16y ago

On the other hand, your government's policies have stifled Palestinians in both regions, in food, shelter, security, and basic medical care. It's kind of hard to produce anything when your house is demolished by bulldozers and your town's farm is burned. This sort of thing is how a viable Palestinian state is going to come about, if ever.

jacobmg 16y ago
That is trolling. All you're doing is reciting your standard "Israel is evil occupier" routine typical of someone of a certain political bias. No sources or added incite. It is however a fact, that since a high percentage of suicide bombers came out of Palestinian territories when compared to other countries, it is accurate to imply that a different economic course could diminish the terrorist aspect of the Palestinian economy. endtime's comment may seem inflammatory to you, but it is only objective recognition of economic factors. Your's is analysis of far more complex issues and simplifying of the moral choices in the conflict.
- mixmax 16y ago
  I've never writen a political comment on HN before, and probably never will again. But this is one of these rare occassions where I really feel the need to do so, knowing it'll probably cost me karma and goodwill. Anyway... Of course there's a high percentage of suicide bombers in Palestine - it's their only option against an oppressive regime. They don't have tanks, they don't have fighter planes and they don't have a navy. It's their last resort. They have nothing else with which to fight.
  - cool-RR 16y ago
    No one here said the Palestinians don't have a good reason for doing suicide bombings. We'll all just be happier if they'll have a good economy so they'll stop blowing up.
    - mixmax 16y ago
      I agree. And the first step to having a good economy is personal freedom and the ability to freely buy and sell goods across your border. All of which Israel denies the Palestinians.