Imagine That -- I’m Still Anti-War

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  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    edited July 2014
    brianlux said:

    It really is so easy to get caught up in the politics here and as much as the whole mess is terrible and appalling, the message of this thread was originally about having hope for peace, ending war, spreading love.

    Let's get behind those thoughts here and take the political volleys back to AMT where it is better suited.

    Sorry, but your passive hippy approach solves nothing. It achieves nothing.

    Feel free to listen to John Lennon's Imagine if you wish, but people are being massacred. And passing flowers around and talking about love and peace is a fucking cop out.

    image

    You like American Indians, right? You think the American Indian Movement just sat around smoking peace pipes and banging drums? You think Leonard Peltier sat around getting stoned and listening to John Lennon singing 'Imagine'?

    Post edited by Byrnzie on
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    edited July 2014
    BS44325 said:

    Some of the images will be the "die-in's" and "the children being told to carry signs" that you are fond of. Some images will be of protestors attacking synagogues and businesses. Other images will be of boobs. People tend to gravitate towards boobs.

    Because there's any comparison between a Synagogue being attacked - a building - and human beings, including children and babies - being murdered by the hundred?

    Racism against Jews is perfectly understandable at this point in time. Only a fool would believe otherwise. It's only to be expected that Jews will be subjected to racial hatred whilst the Israeli's are busy carrying out their latest spree of mass murder.


    '...the real scandal today is not antisemitism but the importance it is given. Israel has committed war crimes. It has implicated Jews generally in these crimes, and Jews generally have hastened to implicate themselves. This has provoked hatred against Jews. Why not? Some of this hatred is racist, some isn’t, but who cares? Why should we pay any attention to this issue at all? Is the fact that Israel’s race war has provoked bitter anger of any importance besides the war itself? Is the remote possibility that somewhere, sometime, somehow, this hatred may in theory, possibly kill some Jews of any importance besides the brutal, actual, physical persecution of Palestinians, and the hundreds of thousands of votes for Arabs to be herded into transit camps? Oh, but I forgot. Drop everything. Someone spray-painted antisemitic slogans on a synagogue.' - Michael Neumann

    Post edited by Byrnzie on
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    edited July 2014
    BS44325 said:

    Absolutely heart breaking and the second video says it all. Both sides are guilty. Making this thread about Israel only without any mention of Hamas does an injustice to the Anti-War message at the top.
    Sure, Hamas has fired rockets at civilian areas, and this is a war crime.

    But let's not pretend that we're talking about a level playing field here. The so-called 'level playing field' you're pretending exists currently contains over 1000 bodies of dead Palestinians - 90% of them civilians - and looks like this:

    image

  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    edited July 2014
    brianlux said:

    I'm still going with what Ed said and promoting this thought, no matter how much ya'all want to talk about war here: I’m Still Anti-War.

    It's not a war, it's a massacre.


    Let's not pull any punches here, Ed's comment, and his singing of John Lennon's Imagine in Portugal, was a fucking cop-out.

    He was back-pedalling into sentimentality because he feared being labelled an anti-Semite.

    And if he was worried about alienating a section of his fan base, well, so what? At least he would have kept the good ones. Those who care about human rights, justice, and equality. Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand. Muhammed Ali could tell you something about that.

    Meanwhile, many other artists are taking a firm stand on this issue, standing by their principles, and doing something constructive. http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/amena-saleem/rock-stars-peter-gabriel-and-bobby-gillespie-urge-arms-embargo-israel

    Rock stars Peter Gabriel and Bobby Gillespie urge arms embargo on Israel
    07/25/2014


    The rock star Peter Gabriel and film-maker Ken Loach are among 21,000 people who have signed an open letter to David Cameron, the British prime minister, demanding an immediate halt to the arms trade between the UK and Israel.

    The letter was delivered today, directly to Cameron’s residence at 10 Downing Street in London by Loach and three members of parliament — Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and Jim Fitzpatrick.

    Prominent signatories included fashion designer Bella Freud, journalist and activist Jemima Khan, musicians Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, Brian Eno and Bryan Adams, the writers Will Self, Hanif Kureishi, Ahdaf Soueif, Esther Freud, Laura Bailey and William Dalrymple, and the actors David Morrissey, Maxine Peake and Alexei Sayle.

    Academics Karma Nabulsi (a PSC patron), Ghada Karmi and Steven Rose and human rights lawyer Geoffrey Bindman also signed the letter.

    The letter was posted on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s website earlier this week and gathered 21,000 signatures in just two days.

    Speaking outside Downing Street today, Hugh Lanning of the PSC said: “Our aim is to stop the Israeli government getting military aid and equipment from the British government. Our aid and arms help kill innocent Palestinian civilians. We need to isolate apartheid Israel now and impose sanctions now.”

    ...In an email message to the PSC, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, wrote: “Our hearts and love are with the Palestinian people. We support their continuing fight for human rights and dignity and righteous resistance to Israeli imperialism, occupation and war crimes.”

    Jemima Khan said: “Where is the world-wide uproar? Shame on our leaders who would speak up if this were happening to any other country on Earth.” Bella Freud spoke of the upcoming demonstrations across Britain on Saturday: “We will not stop protesting until Gaza is free.”

    Jeremy Corbyn told journalists today: “The UK has a very close relationship with Israel, including buying and selling arms, and it’s time that this relationship was brought to an end since Israel is now under investigation for war crimes over the bombing of Gaza.

    ...Ken Loach told reporters: “It’s disgraceful that our government is arming the State of Israel to continue its slaughter of civilians, of women and children. Everyone must be devastated by the sight of the maimed and the dead in Gaza, and everyone must direct their anger towards the Israeli war machine.”

    ....
    Post edited by Byrnzie on
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    image

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  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Our heroes are heroes for a reason.


    “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.”

    ― Muhammed Ali
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,662
    ^^^Aw shucks, Jimmy! No, really, cool. Thanks for keeping it going. :-)

    I was just thinking that one good place trump peace over war and all this whirly world-craziness is right here. Maybe if we worked on being OK with respectfully disagreeing, and turning hot energy, anger, frustration and fire in a direction toward solutions. Otherwise we are all f-u-c-k-e-d.

    And go with another great Ed phrase:

    "Everybody's' good here... right?"

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    image
  • eldarion75
    eldarion75 Posts: 2,488
    was just going to post that byrnzie
  • eldarion75
    eldarion75 Posts: 2,488
    Hamas is offering Israel a 10-year truce if it accepts 10 conditions. The Jerusalem Post reports, based on an Israeli Channel 2 newscast.

    1. Withdrawal of Israeli tanks from the Gaza border.
    2. Freeing all the prisoners that were arrested after the killing of the three youths.
    3. Lifting the siege and opening the border crossings to commerce and people.
    4. Establishing an international seaport and airport which would be under U.N. supervision.
    5. Increasing the permitted fishing zone to 10 kilometers.
    6. Internationalizing the Rafah Crossing and placing it under the supervision of the U.N. and some Arab nations.
    7. International forces on the borders.
    8. Easing conditions for permits to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque.
    9. Prohibition on Israeli interference in the reconciliation agreement.
    10. Reestablishing an industrial zone and improvements in further economic development in the Gaza Strip.

    Are these demands unreasonable or extreme ?
  • eldarion75
    eldarion75 Posts: 2,488
    edited July 2014
    aka 'can we be treated like humans please and have relatively normal lives'?

    it says a lot they have to even ask for these things.
  • badbrains
    badbrains Posts: 10,255

    aka 'can we be treated like humans please and have relatively normal lives'?

    it says a lot they have to even ask for these things.

    Ya. No doubt. It's 2014 and people have to actually ask for this? SMH
  • eldarion75
    eldarion75 Posts: 2,488
  • BS44325
    BS44325 Posts: 6,124
    Byrnzie said:

    BS44325 said:

    Some of the images will be the "die-in's" and "the children being told to carry signs" that you are fond of. Some images will be of protestors attacking synagogues and businesses. Other images will be of boobs. People tend to gravitate towards boobs.



    Racism against Jews is perfectly understandable at this point in time. Only a fool would believe otherwise.


    Let it be clear to everyone here what Byrnzie just wrote. Not anger at the State of Israel but racism against Jews.
  • BS44325
    BS44325 Posts: 6,124
    Byrnzie said:

    brianlux said:

    I'm still going with what Ed said and promoting this thought, no matter how much ya'all want to talk about war here: I’m Still Anti-War.

    Let's not pull any punches here, Ed's comment, and his singing of John Lennon's Imagine in Portugal, was a fucking cop-out.

    He was back-pedalling into sentimentality because he feared being labelled an anti-Semite.

    ....
    Again you are projecting on what you thought his initial message meant. There was no back-pedalling. His two messages are consistent. No one who truly follows this band would accuse Ed of lacking courage.
  • badbrains
    badbrains Posts: 10,255
    BS44325 said:
    Ya the shit happening in syria is off the wall no doubt. But you know what I noticed in those pics in the article, not a child was killed. Imagine that, a Syrian army is capable of hitting places and KILLING adult men but not kids or women. Interesting. They must have better equipment then Israel which if it is the case, better call the military complex of America and get a refund. Or that Israel is targeting women/children intentionally. Which is it???

    And just for the record, can we stop with the racist labeling. We all know byrnzie isn't an anti-Semite. He made a comment as to people feel that way towards Jews. He didn't say HE FEELS that way just that with what Israel is doing, he's stating that they shouldn't be surprised that people feel that way towards them. That's what I think he meant. I know byrnzie on here for awhile, he's not an anti-Semite or racist towards Jews. I'm sure he also has some Jewish friends. Zionism and Judaism are 2 different forms. One can have anger towards one without being a racist.
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,673
    edited July 2014
    BS44325 said:

    Byrnzie said:

    BS44325 said:

    Some of the images will be the "die-in's" and "the children being told to carry signs" that you are fond of. Some images will be of protestors attacking synagogues and businesses. Other images will be of boobs. People tend to gravitate towards boobs.



    Racism against Jews is perfectly understandable at this point in time. Only a fool would believe otherwise.


    Let it be clear to everyone here what Byrnzie just wrote. Not anger at the State of Israel but racism against Jews.
    Yep. So should we keep just assuming he's anti-Semitic at this point, or consider it a fact? I guess that comment could be interpreted in a way to excuse him from actually being racist towards Jews himself, but really just saying that anti-semitism is understandable and only fools wouldn't agree says quite a bit. (And i guess I am a fool).

    Anyone actually taking to heart the things Byrnzie says on this topic, please just bear his comment here in mind first. Take his posts with a grain or chunk of salt.
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • BS44325
    BS44325 Posts: 6,124
    badbrains said:

    BS44325 said:
    Ya the shit happening in syria is off the wall no doubt. But you know what I noticed in those pics in the article, not a child was killed. Imagine that, a Syrian army is capable of hitting places and KILLING adult men but not kids or women. Interesting. They must have better equipment then Israel which if it is the case, better call the military complex of America and get a refund. Or that Israel is targeting women/children intentionally. Which is it???

    And just for the record, can we stop with the racist labeling. We all know byrnzie isn't an anti-Semite. He made a comment as to people feel that way towards Jews. He didn't say HE FEELS that way just that with what Israel is doing, he's stating that they shouldn't be surprised that people feel that way towards them. That's what I think he meant. I know byrnzie on here for awhile, he's not an anti-Semite or racist towards Jews. I'm sure he also has some Jewish friends. Zionism and Judaism are 2 different forms. One can have anger towards one without being a racist.
    1) The third picture from the top is a kid on a stretcher. Either way if you are suggesting children have been spared in Syria you are either a fool or a liar.

    2) Byrnzie has made multiple posts saying basically that Israel is made up of Jews and therefore Jew hatred is bound to escalate. He then goes on with the suggestion that if somewhere in the world one or two jews is attacked for being jewish why should anyone really care because look at the devastation in Gaza. So we can be completely clear on this point...THIS IS NOT OK.
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