11 ms·

As an Israeli who was involved in Gaza Sky Geeks but didn’t get to follow up with mentees I just wanted to share that your story is inspiring and encouraging an

by inglor 6y ago

As an Israeli who was involved in Gaza Sky Geeks but didn’t get to follow up with mentees I just wanted to share that your story is inspiring and encouraging and congratulations on your hard earned job. It’s shameful we have so many bright Gazans but stupid politics prevents the natural technical collaboration that could arise. I work with many Arab developers (in a big company) here and the divide between Gaza/West Bank/Israeli Arabs is so frustrating and upsetting to me. Best of luck and keep inspiring!

Udik 6y ago
> but stupid politics I wouldn't call 800k Israelis living on Palestinian land "stupid politics". That's a bit dismissive of the issue, don't you think?
- dang 6y ago
  "Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - Udik 6y ago
    I didn't mean to criticise, I actually appreciate the spirit of the comment I replied to. But I do think- and wanted to point out- that waving it off as "stupid politics" is maybe a form of self-deception, when you live in a country that hugely profits from the situation.
    - accounted 6y ago
      It really is. Like "haha, we just took over your country, destroyed your homes, killed your families, and called your land ours, gee those politics are ridiculous!"
      - dang 6y ago
        Please don't post in the flamewar style to HN. We're trying to avoid sinking deeper into hell here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
    - inglor 6y ago
      I think you are barking up the wrong tree. First when you take our extremely complicated political situation and shove it into a 1d box it comes off as both condescending and paternalistic. The situation is complicated and difficult, I am not denying there is a problem. Second - I am volunteering in organizations like GSG, I am not for the west bank settlements and I vote left. That’s mostly irrelevant though - since I am not “Israel”, like the OP I am just one human living my life out trying to be better. Third - the “complicated politics” in this case does not refer to West Bank settlements. It refers to my inability to hire, mentor, collaborate and befriend Gaza engineers easily. I am a hacker, I am not trying to solve “peace in the Middle East” and I think I am entitled to feel frustrated by this :)
- poweronselftest 6y ago
  Wondering why you think 800k Israelis live on Palestinian land and not 5-6 million?
DSingularity 6y ago
It will be great if you can speak these opinions out loud in the office and in public. I know it’s hard because so many Israelis have strong opinions about regarding Zionism and the native population which Jewish immigrants displaced but the only way people will stop ignoring the injustice is if people like you speak out in public. It is also nice to read your comments here also.
- revnode 6y ago
  > the native population which Jewish immigrants displaced This happens everywhere, at all times. People are constantly moving around. Yet you seem to be fixated on the Jews. Is there a reason for this fixation?
  - woah 6y ago
    This is a thread on that part of the world. It’s insane that you would insinuate antisemitism because someone made a relevant comment about the region.
    - revnode 6y ago
      Can you point me toward other threads about other parts of the world where a particular ethnicity is singled out in a negative light for immigrating? I'll take back everything I said if you can find ONE.
      - woah 6y ago
        Han Chinese in Xinjiang today? Anglo Americans immigrating to Western North America in the 1800's? Germany's failed attempt to immigrate to eastern Europe in the 1940's? All of these are rightfully singled out in a negative light.
        revnode 6y ago
        Here is the link to today's discussion of what is happening in China: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26253886 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26253886 There is not a single mention of Han Chinese immigration to Xinjiang, in either positive or negative light. The Jews who immigrated to Israel were fleeing persecution at home and you chose to attack them. That is shameful and you should be ashamed of yourself. All people have the right to live wherever they choose, whether they be Jews, Arabs, or any ethnicity. Singling people out based on their ethnicity ... well, that's just racist, isn't it?

by inglor 6y ago

Udik 6y ago

> but stupid politics I wouldn't call 800k Israelis living on Palestinian land "stupid politics". That's a bit dismissive of the issue, don't you think?

dang 6y ago
"Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- Udik 6y ago
  I didn't mean to criticise, I actually appreciate the spirit of the comment I replied to. But I do think- and wanted to point out- that waving it off as "stupid politics" is maybe a form of self-deception, when you live in a country that hugely profits from the situation.
  - accounted 6y ago
    It really is. Like "haha, we just took over your country, destroyed your homes, killed your families, and called your land ours, gee those politics are ridiculous!"
    - dang 6y ago
      Please don't post in the flamewar style to HN. We're trying to avoid sinking deeper into hell here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - inglor 6y ago
    I think you are barking up the wrong tree. First when you take our extremely complicated political situation and shove it into a 1d box it comes off as both condescending and paternalistic. The situation is complicated and difficult, I am not denying there is a problem. Second - I am volunteering in organizations like GSG, I am not for the west bank settlements and I vote left. That’s mostly irrelevant though - since I am not “Israel”, like the OP I am just one human living my life out trying to be better. Third - the “complicated politics” in this case does not refer to West Bank settlements. It refers to my inability to hire, mentor, collaborate and befriend Gaza engineers easily. I am a hacker, I am not trying to solve “peace in the Middle East” and I think I am entitled to feel frustrated by this :)
poweronselftest 6y ago
Wondering why you think 800k Israelis live on Palestinian land and not 5-6 million?

DSingularity 6y ago

It will be great if you can speak these opinions out loud in the office and in public. I know it’s hard because so many Israelis have strong opinions about regarding Zionism and the native population which Jewish immigrants displaced but the only way people will stop ignoring the injustice is if people like you speak out in public. It is also nice to read your comments here also.

revnode 6y ago
> the native population which Jewish immigrants displaced This happens everywhere, at all times. People are constantly moving around. Yet you seem to be fixated on the Jews. Is there a reason for this fixation?
- woah 6y ago
  This is a thread on that part of the world. It’s insane that you would insinuate antisemitism because someone made a relevant comment about the region.
  - revnode 6y ago
    Can you point me toward other threads about other parts of the world where a particular ethnicity is singled out in a negative light for immigrating? I'll take back everything I said if you can find ONE.
    - woah 6y ago
      Han Chinese in Xinjiang today? Anglo Americans immigrating to Western North America in the 1800's? Germany's failed attempt to immigrate to eastern Europe in the 1940's? All of these are rightfully singled out in a negative light.
      - revnode 6y ago
        Here is the link to today's discussion of what is happening in China: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26253886 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26253886 There is not a single mention of Han Chinese immigration to Xinjiang, in either positive or negative light. The Jews who immigrated to Israel were fleeing persecution at home and you chose to attack them. That is shameful and you should be ashamed of yourself. All people have the right to live wherever they choose, whether they be Jews, Arabs, or any ethnicity. Singling people out based on their ethnicity ... well, that's just racist, isn't it?