I don't know that I would go so far as to say it's a mirror image, but it is damned close. You are right that not all of us support Israel any longer because of what it has become.

@kauva -- I am utterly tired of hearing this weak-assed cop out. The 'nature' of human beings has been in a constant state of change since before we came down out of the trees and occupied the African savanna. If this were not so, there would be no cultural differences in the world, just one homogeneous group still swinging in the trees and throwing feces at one another. No one would ever quit smoking or drinking or using drugs if that cop out held any weight. No one who was raised in a religion would ever become an atheist -- or even question anything they had been taught. It is not the nature of human beings to fear anything different. It is just another of our habits that can be broken with conscious effort.

@evidentialist well, you may be as tired of it as you like but it is a fact. I am tired of world hunger and poverty. I am sorry but your entire diatribe speaks of someone who doesn't understand the human mind at all. We constantly do things that are inherently bad for us physically, mentally and/or socially. I useta think that education should just eradicate it all - but it doesn't. It does help alleviate some of it, but it doesn't take away initial reactions ... those take a long time and a lot of practice to get past if the person can at all. Often we are unaware that our emotions have already been triggered before we even had a chance to react so your whole "think past it" scheme never works. The executive portion of the brain (pre-frontal cortex) hasn't even received information as our amygdala has already activated the adrenaline and put us in our fight or flight mode - which itself changes our emotions. So don't be mad at the people and call them just weak. It is part of our design for the body to respond to danger even before we can make rational or logical thought. Stay up on your modern psychology. namaste.

@kauva -- I am 'up on my modern psychology'.

@Athena -- Yes, it is. The truly sad thing about it is that no one in positions of power is trying to make it better. Trump has decided to take a hard line on the side of Israel rather than embracing the larger situation. Netanyahu certainly doesn't want to look at that bigger picture. Both sides in the immediate conflict are taught at home and in school that the other is not to be trusted and with that in mind it is no wonder very few on either side have a tolerant attitude toward the others. This is, of course, just the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Now, take an attitude that already exists (us and them) and add yet another us an them to the mix. This is what we get.

The times they are troubling.

@evidentialist
So very tragic. It makes me feel sick.

This is an example of why Mother Teresa died with doubts about God. She wrote letters about how she couldn't believe a God could exist, given all the tragedy and suffering she'd witnessed. Either he didn't have the power to change things, or he didn't care to.

So why would anyone worship him if either one of these were the case?

And Trump. I refrain from using epithets to describe him, as I'm terrified of the venom that would come out of me.

@Athena -- Mother Teresa was no angel, either. Indeed, she was the cause of much misery and suffering. It is one of the unfortunate results of doing the work of the almighty.

As for our Trumpenfuehrer, he grew tedious early and I would ignore him if he and his myrmidons weren't so dangerous.

@evidentialist
No angel indeed!

@evidentialist
And the discomfort this video brings is anxiety provoking. So upsetting. I wish I could take all these people in, myself.

@Athena -- I've decided that, if things get bad enough that there is no hope of changing things for the better, moving to Canada where many of my friends are will be my best course of action. I shall present myself to the first RCMP representative and request asylum.

@evidentialist

I live in Canada and can't imagine living anywhere else. Start looking into it now!

@Athena -- Already begun. I have friends in Markham (you probably know where that is), Fredericton and surrounding areas, NB, Whitehorse, YT, and several places in BC. I'm so old now that they (the powers that be) won't want me, so I've convinced my children that it's a good idea and that they should take me with them.

@evidentialist
You're not too old for anything until you're dead.

@Athena -- I know that, but it's always a good line when seeking sympathy. Sadly, I must go as I need to get my beauty sleep. It hasn't worked yet, but I keep hoping that the next time a mirror presents itself it won't frighten me. G'night and trust that there are folks out here working for the betterment of the world in spite of the odds.