Israel (now broader Mid East discussion)

livefromDC said
And I'm dismissing that "if" just as quickly as you dismissed the idea that white hate groups could be deported. You were very quick to say, they can't be deported. You laughed at the idea that they could be deported...because they're US citizens.

I laughed because because I wish they (the white supremacists yeah, the world would be a better place without em) could be deported. And the odds are far more likely they'll be citizens than Israeli and Palestinian college students. I worked on college campuses for 20 years. Most of the ones I knew were international students here on visas. I loved getting to know all of them. I had and still have regular contact with a good number of them, mostly from Lebanon and Syria. One of my best friends is Iranian. He's quite a character and I've learned a lot from him.

livefromDC said
You didn't include a "well if they're not citizens..." statement although the same could be true. They could very well not be US citizens, some of them at least. But you quickly dismissed the idea that any of them were without a second thought. And for good reason, they're likely not.

The undertone of your response (and frankly continued persistence to defend it) is imbued with a sentiment that only furthers the divide building in the USA. Among the rising tide of antisemitism, anti-Isreal, or Pro-Palestine ideas, there's also the notion that being Muslim or supporting Muslims is un-American. You may not realize it, but that qualifier, "if they're not citizens", when talking about college kids who are more than likely US citizens is sewing an idea that these aren't Americans with the same rights "we" Americans have. If we're discussing the norm, there's no need for qualifiers...unless you think there's a deviation from the norm.

You're reading way too much into what I said. There's not enough from what I said to draw "undertones" about anything. I made no mention of religion or ethnicity. You're drawing that out of thin air. At least from me. Maybe your conversations with other people are filling the blanks for you, but that would be presumptuous.

livefromDC said
Again, I'm not levying an opinion on what happened on this campus. But let's say the tables were turned. I think you say, "I hope these kids are charged, that's inexcusable" and NOT, "they should be deported". Why? Because you know as I know, these are likely all American college students who are either Jewish or support Isreal. I don't think you raise the idea of deportation.

I actually would. I stated as much in an earlier post.

livefromDC said
My friend, I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm just pointing out that the ideas we express and how we hold to them, consciously or not, can relay more than what was intended. We're living in crazy times and it doesn't take much to sew a seed of discontent.

I understand and I know you mean well. You're good people. I'll just say again, you're reading too much into what I said.

I realize there will be some of that conflict here over what's happening in their part of the world. We'll have to navigate that.

All that said, I'm pretty much a homebody these days would rather deal with my own battles without having to deal with everyone else's.