I have a bone to pick with the caption here, but since I don't have Agence France-Presse's email address, I'll just throw it out here for discussion: I'll grant that Hamas can certainly be described as a "radical Islamic movement." However, my guess is that they organized this event in their capacity as the ELECTED GOVERNMENT of the Gaza Strip.
@RubyPenelope: Right, as I said. My issue is that the caption fails to mention that Hamas runs the government. It'd be like saying a US government program was "organized by the radical Democratic Party." Given that this isn't Fox News ...
@Princess Leela: Yeah, the situation is Gaza is confusing when it comes to government and maybe they didn't mention that because some people don't consider that to be a legitimate government since Hamas is listed as terrorist organization. But you are correct they certainly are the elected power there.
@egg cream is here, is second tier, get used to it: Yup, we used to say their motto was "It might be late... but it'll almost certainly be wrong." Um, not though in front of my friends who worked there...
oooh, i've been there. during ramadan also. god, i have not traveled anywhere since way too long. it's inspiring but painful looking at these kinds of pics...you know that feeling where you want to travel so badly it actually hurts? damn recession.
@taranwanderer: Oddly enough I was only thinking today how the V sign in the UK must relate to legs being wide open to receive the penis, whereas the American single digit surely relates to the penis itself. Interesting how different societies develop different gestures for what is fundamentally the same abusive insult.
@lucy_van_pelt: many IDF soldiers are refusing to serve in the occupied territories, not because of the "cruddy job" but because they are sick of enforcing apartheid.
check out the Israeli human rights website Bet Salam for stories about the abuse that the Palestinian people suffer at the hands of hard line, right-wing Israeli policy, and the heroic IDF soldiers that take a stand.
@kristinab: If you guys are interested in Israeli conscientious objectors, Code Pink and Jewish Voice for Peace are bringing 2 Shministim, female high school students who refuse to enlist, on a speaking tour of the states.
www.whywerefuse.org
(This is my first comment, eek, but I'm part of the project!)
@Lana Leigh loves Meryl Streep: During the day. As I understand it the Ramadan fast permits minimal water and plain food at night during that month -- but not like a break-the-fast type indulgence.
@sportz.star: Oh, my biffers always breaks the day fast with fritos and bean dip. I asked her why she breaks the fast with such rich food and she always says its because she's part Mexican. Then I stop asking questions.
@CherriSpryte: She is too young to fast from what I can tell. Most Muslim childern start the fast at 9 or 10 and only on weekends or for 2 or 3 days at the most. That way they can get used the fasting and they can usually add more days as they get older or get used to the fast.
@KiddyKat: it's probably a scary, intimidating and all around overwhelming experience for a child to be searched by armed soldiers just to be able to go worship with her family. That's just a guess though.
@Beets.Go.On is the Fat Yogini: Yes, if only people would stop running around with bombs on them, blowing up buses, shopping malls, or hospitals. Or running around with axes and axing down innocent children. Or shooting down children at a school. Or using a forklift running into people, and killing them. None of these "scary", "intimidating" searches would have to be necessary, and this beautiful girl would be able to worship with her family at a mosque, not broken down after the conquer, on Israeli ground in peace.
Because no Jewish Synagogue, or any Jewish housing, has been kept in one piece once taken over by Palestinians.
@podbaydoor: WTF?! I wasn't making any sort of judgment call, just saying it's got to be scary for a kid to go through that, whether it's necessary or not. It's tragic that innocent children have to put through that and both sides are to blame in their own ways. Calm the fuck down.
@podbaydoor: Wow. Like this little girl is responsible for those acts. That means she deserves to be harassed and abused by the IDF like so many Palestinians at checkpoints? She doesn't have the same freedom of movement as most people in the world because she is Palestinian, nor does she have the same access to - let's see - health care, education, water, LAND, as Israelis. Maybe something to keep in mind.
You know, it would be helpful if pro-Israeli commenters would read about how BOTH Palestinian and Israeli children experience high levels of trauma/PTSD from the violence in the region. [www.sos-usa.org]
And it would be helpful if people didn't use terrorism as an excuse to justify the human rights abuses by the IDF. It's a completely disproportionate, not to mention often illegal, response. The use of checkpoints is a way to frighten, harass and subdue a population. Not ok!
@joops: "Like this little girl is responsible for those acts. That means she deserves to be harassed and abused by the IDF like so many Palestinians at checkpoints?"
Yes, THATs exactly what I was saying. Comprehensive reading much?
And I DO know what's going on with Palestinian and Israeli children. Unlike you, I actually volunteer working with them.
I think I understood the point of your first comment quite well. I don't think we will see eye-to-eye on this one. Let's just agree to disagree, shall we?
@joops: Please don't pretend you have manners, shall we? You clearly hate Israel. At least I care about Palestinians and Israelies alike. But you wish Israelies dead, using your own logic.
09/23/09
09/21/09
09/21/09
Oh well. Eid Mubarak, everybody.
09/21/09
09/21/09
09/21/09
09/21/09
09/21/09
09/22/09
09/22/09
09/16/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
09/11/09
check out the Israeli human rights website Bet Salam for stories about the abuse that the Palestinian people suffer at the hands of hard line, right-wing Israeli policy, and the heroic IDF soldiers that take a stand.
09/11/09
www.whywerefuse.org
(This is my first comment, eek, but I'm part of the project!)
09/10/09
09/10/09
09/10/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
09/08/09
09/08/09
I hope that disney princess bag on the left has presents for her!
09/08/09
09/08/09
09/08/09
09/08/09
09/08/09
09/08/09
09/08/09
09/04/09
09/04/09
09/04/09
Because no Jewish Synagogue, or any Jewish housing, has been kept in one piece once taken over by Palestinians.
09/04/09
09/05/09
You know, it would be helpful if pro-Israeli commenters would read about how BOTH Palestinian and Israeli children experience high levels of trauma/PTSD from the violence in the region.
[www.sos-usa.org]
And it would be helpful if people didn't use terrorism as an excuse to justify the human rights abuses by the IDF. It's a completely disproportionate, not to mention often illegal, response. The use of checkpoints is a way to frighten, harass and subdue a population. Not ok!
09/05/09
09/05/09
Yes, THATs exactly what I was saying. Comprehensive reading much?
And I DO know what's going on with Palestinian and Israeli children. Unlike you, I actually volunteer working with them.
09/05/09
I think I understood the point of your first comment quite well. I don't think we will see eye-to-eye on this one. Let's just agree to disagree, shall we?
09/25/09
09/02/09