A Little Perspective on Health and Wealth Around the World

[tom502]

Itz all da wite mans falt.

[Roo]

The difference between Hamas and Hezbollah is a very important distinction, as they are fighting for entirely different factions of Islam and different interest groups, with financial backing from entirely different... ah who am I kidding, nevermind. You guys don't give a shit about Sunni vs. Shia, Arab vs. Persian, they are all the same, maybe as much as any Asian from a 5,000 radius is called a Jap. Research it yourself if you care.

[truthwolf1]

[sgreger1]

The difference between Hamas and Hezbollah is a very important distinction, as they are fighting for entirely different factions of Islam and different interest groups, with financial backing from entirely different... ah who am I kidding, nevermind. You guys don't give a shit about Sunni vs. Shia, Arab vs. Persian, they are all the same, maybe as much as any Asian from a 5,000 radius is called a Jap. Research it yourself if you care.

I understand the difference. And while that is all nice and fun to discuss the intricacies of the two opposing groups, they mean the same as far as this discussion is concerned. They are both militant groups who use civilians to forward their goals, and serve as defacto politicians in some regions. They steal aid money and kill their own citizens if they don't follow the rules. Some behead barbers for giving western haircuts, some kill women who are accused of being unfaithfull, etc etc, but at the end of the day they are the same in my book. They war with each other over whether the Shia or Sunni way is better, but they are both fighting for roughly the same thing.


Imagine if the catholics and the protestants were to set up armed militias. They both fight against non-christians, but also fight amongst each other as to who's version of christianity is correct.

[Roo]

Imagine if the catholics and the protestants were to set up armed militias. They both fight against non-christians, but also fight amongst each other as to who's version of christianity is correct.

Hopefully Frosted will handle that one...

Re: Hezbollah and Hamas I wasn't defending their methods, just pointing out that it does make a difference to your discussion to get the name of these groups right. No big deal.

[devilock76]

Itz all da wite mans falt.

Why not post a picture of someone in black face when you say such things. Wouldn't that just be icing on your cake?

Ken

[tom502]

You need to lighten up, and get that Trotsky out of your head.

[devilock76]

You need to lighten up, and get that Trotsky out of your head.

Time to go back to the kiddie table and let the adults talk again.

Ken

[sgreger1]

Hopefully Frosted will handle that one...

Re: Hezbollah and Hamas I wasn't defending their methods, just pointing out that it does make a difference to your discussion to get the name of these groups right. No big deal.

Sorry, did I get the names wrong? Last I checked Hamas runs Palestine and hezbollah shares their anti-Israeli sentiment and runs operations out of gaza. Iran backs hezbollah while Hamas has other more lucrative backers.


Ether way, both groups are the same as far as i'm concerned. I am aware of their inner religious conflict, but for the most part they work against us and the well-beign of their people.

[sgreger1]

I just want to stop for a second and congratulate Tom on his posts. A solid A for effort. I couldn't imagine a more successfull racially based troll than slowly accumulating 7,000 posts just to get your message about Hitler aliens out to the masses. lol

[raptor]

Hamas runs Gaza after being legitimately elected, an election which Bush really pressured the Israelis and Palestinians to allow. Since then Hamas is somewhat trying to be a legit political entity, although they still have done some pretty dumb stuff such as throwing the convicted off buildings. Hezbollah is in a similar situation, where the militant portions of their organization have been segregated from the political faction which runs southern Lebanon. They are two different entities and not outright terrorist organizations like al Qaeda.

[Roo]

^ right, it's trickier than the picture you paint sgreger. Hezbollah's message speaks loud and clear to its Shia constituents in the south of Lebanon as schools go up, infrastructure expands, and clean water reaches villages. To quote wikipedia: "Although Hezbollah originally aimed to transform Lebanon into a formal Faqihi Islamic republic, this goal has been abandoned.[9] Since that time, Hezbollah has transformed from a revolutionary movement to a socio-political movement of Lebanese Shi'a and has accepted the multi-cultural situation of Lebanon."

[sgreger1]

^ right, it's trickier than the picture you paint sgreger. Hezbollah's message speaks loud and clear to its Shia constituents in the south of Lebanon as schools go up, infrastructure expands, and clean water reaches villages. To quote wikipedia: "Although Hezbollah originally aimed to transform Lebanon into a formal Faqihi Islamic republic, this goal has been abandoned.[9] Since that time, Hezbollah has transformed from a revolutionary movement to a socio-political movement of Lebanese Shi'a and has accepted the multi-cultural situation of Lebanon."

I hate having to go through a history lesson after every post. I understand who the two organizations are, and how they are not just a bunch of ragheads with rockets. Specifically Hamas, who has become more "legit" since it got legally elected in 2006.

I suppose this all breaks down to how we define words. One one end you have terrorists, militant organizations etc, and on the other end you have "legitimate" governments such as that of America. The question is, what defines bad. What defines terrorist or militant. The US gov is both militant in it's actions and also uses fear and force to subdue foreign governments into doing what they want (we would typically call this terrorism).


Hamas in particular is not a "terrorist" organization, but rather a form of government which we in America are just not accustomed to. They are a little more hardcore over there than we are used to, but they are a legitimate government as far as middle eastern governments go.



Anyways, I understand that in those regions these organizations are seen as legitimate entities rather than terrorists or extremist organizations. Hamas especially since it won a democratic election. I am just saying that I do not view these groups as being filled with good people. Everyone talks about how draconian israel is, but these regimes aren't exactly bastions of freedom in the desert.

[devilock76]

and on the other end you have "legitimate" governments such as that of America.

Perspectives change, 234 years ago our "legitimate" government was domestic terrorists who didn't want to pay their taxes. The point is the line between a terrorist and a revolutionary is often nothing more than the end result.

Ken

[Roo]

Would you prefer the lessons I teach your Mom then? lol give me a break. We're both at work, bored, and posting. And I like history. And.... if you want your posts to be the last and final statement on any given matter without retorts in the interest of accuracy... write a ****'n book.