Watching the news can sometimes be so unbearable

[Lady's Human]

As to the problem being men in charge, let's look at a little history.......

Queen Elizabeth
Boudica
Golde Meir
Indira Ghandi
Tsarinas Catherine (I and the great)
Isabella of Spain
Joan of Arc
Queen Victoria
Margaret Thatcher
Janet Reno

There is also a long list of female regents (place holders for underage monarchs to be) who were absolutely brutal in ensuring that their child made it to the throne.


Hardly a batch of peaceable rulers. It has NOTHING to do with testosterone.

[sasvermont]

Although it is not realistic, I meant that women only would be in charge/ruling! No men in the cabinets, senate etc. Just women. Totally unlikely, I know. These women just listed in the above post, including Janet Reno (??/what the heck????) did not rule the world. I meant women as a group, not as individuals. Collectively.

[jackie]

I cannot help but feel that if these victims were 'someone else', or if Israel was 'someone else', the global response would have been completely different.

PCB, your post made me cry and the above excerpt sums ups my exact feelings about the whole situation.

I am so angry that the American and especially the Canadian governments are not condemning Israels attacks.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Hardly a batch of peaceable rulers. It has NOTHING to do with testosterone.

Oh please. Testosterone makes for aggression and strength. Women with more testoserone are more aggressive. Men with higher levels of testosterone are more aggressive.

Don't be so think-skinned. What did Janet Reno ever do to you? And Queen Victoria...alright she wasn't very nice sometimes.... especially to her children, but you put her on a scale with Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussien, Pol Pot, etc., etc.

Which of those women murdered, raped, pillaged and plundered to ACHIEVE power, vs. those who found themselves through marrigae, birth, or election IN power?

[Lady's Human]

Sara,

Peter the Great's mother was ruthless in her pursuit of power. Because of her maneuvering, thousands of Russians died.

As for the Tsarinas, every time the Russian crown tranferred up until the latter part of the 19th century there was incredible bloodshed and maneuvering. The succession was laid out on paper, but there was always a fight for the crown.

Boudica was a warrior who took power and launched a revolution against the romans.

Queen Victoria was every bit as ruthless as her male (and female) contemporaries. For 75 years the sun never set on the British Empire, regardless of the body count (which was never kept)

Queen Elizabeth guarded her power ruthlessly as well, directing the execution of those who disagreed with her rule.

Isabella directed the conquest of the New World while in power in Spain.

Joan of Arc makes a nice story, but while she was leading the French army she gave no quarter.

The only difference between modern rulers and rulers from earlier times is the fact that weapons have gotten more efficient. If Sophia (Peter's regent) had had modern weapons in her arsenal the body count would have been just as high as Herr schickelgruber's.

(BTW, I just threw in Janet Reno as a tweek, I knew it would get a rise out of you)

[sasvermont]

Lady's Human, I think you have missed my point and obviously, v.v.

I still stand on my comment/feelings about women being more compassionate and less violent than men, in general, therefore would make, as a group, a less violent group of leaders. Of course there are violent women.

I am not going to argue or debate with you. I think you have missed the point of this very serious thread....and have taken it in a direction it was not intended to go. I was not asking for a lesson in history. I merely stated my feelings - and at the time mentioned that it had nothing to do with what I had read (or not read)........

This will be my last post on this very serious topic.

[popcornbird]

Men, women, whatever...there are good and bad in both genders. I agree that women tend to be more on the compassionate side, but there are men out there who also have very tender hearts. I don't think its that. It is the wicked regimes that commit these crimes.

AND...without mentioning who this is directed to, let me tell you this.

If any nation came and invaded any other nation, and started bombing their towns and killing their people, the inhabitants of the 'attacked' land have every right to fight back and defend themselves, their wives, children, people, and ANYONE would do that if their land has been invaded. ANYONE. When a nation oppresses and kills mercilessly, they deserve a return in the treatment. Lebanon did not invande Israel. Israel invaded Lebanon.

Anyone who thinks Israel is not being the world's biggest terrorist has major issues, and a biased nature. Its not like its anything new though. They have always been like this, and they will always be. It is nothing new. Nothing new. They have always bulldozed neighborhoods of innocent families, and left those people either dead or injured. They have always targetted innocent civilians mercilessly. I have friends of Palestinian origin who have witnessed with their own eyes, Israeli troops pointing their guns at Palestinian children and laughing. I don't care what anyone says to me for saying this. It is the plain truth. The people in that region have suffered tremendously over the decades in the hands of Israel, and it is completely unjustifiable. The saddest part is the whole damn world has their mouth shut as we sit here, enjoying our luxurious lifestyles, while so many are being killed for no reason. I cannot even bear the thought. We cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering those people are going through. These people who are being killed are not soldiers there to fight. They are not strong men. They are innocent children. Innocent women. Old men. Innocent children, toddlers, babies.

[caseysmom]

PCB, Have you read the autobiography of Queen Noor. She was the American who married the king of Jorday. I think she is pretty eloquent about the problem of Israel and what it gets away with.

[lizbud]

AND...without mentioning who this is directed to, let me tell you this.

If any nation came and invaded any other nation, and started bombing their towns and killing their people, the inhabitants of the 'attacked' land have every right to fight back and defend themselves, their wives, children, people, and ANYONE would do that if their land has been invaded. ANYONE. When a nation oppresses and kills mercilessly, they deserve a return in the treatment. Lebanon did not invande Israel. Israel invaded Lebanon.

Anyone who thinks Israel is not being the world's biggest terrorist has major issues, and a biased nature. Its not like its anything new though. They have always been like this, and they will always be. It is nothing new. Nothing new. They have always bulldozed neighborhoods of innocent families, and left those people either dead or injured. They have always targetted innocent civilians mercilessly. I have friends of Palestinian origin who have witnessed with their own eyes, Israeli troops pointing their guns at Palestinian children and laughing. I don't care what anyone says to me for saying this. It is the plain truth. The people in that region have suffered tremendously over the decades in the hands of Israel, and it is completely unjustifiable. The saddest part is the whole damn world has their mouth shut as we sit here, enjoying our luxurious lifestyles, while so many are being killed for no reason. I cannot even bear the thought. We cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering those people are going through. These people who are being killed are not soldiers there to fight. They are not strong men. They are innocent children. Innocent women. Old men. Innocent children, toddlers, babies.

How incredibly naive for a grown woman. I wish you had as much knowledge
as you have passion. Israel is not the aggressor in this fight.

[Lady's Human]

Less than 24 hours after Israel was created as a nation it was attacked by the combined armies of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. This most current round of middle eastern violence started in 1948, not 2006.

Under a UN resolution, Syria agreed to leave Lebanon, and Lebanon agreed to police its interior and rid itself of terrorist groups, most notably Hezbollah. Syria complied with the resolution, and left Lebanon in 2004. (They had no choice, they were getting hammered in the news because they got caught assasinating the Lebanese Prime Minister) Lebanon failed rid itself of hezbollah. Two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped, one on the northern border and one near Gaza, and numerous Katyusha rockets were fired into Israeli territory from Lebanon. The last Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas came back to his family in pieces.

Lebanon failed to police itself, and Israel was attacked from Lebanese soil. No nation can sit idly by while it is being attacked, and Israel has taken action.

Hezbollah has used civilians as shields, and continues to do so, as shown in numerous photographs smuggled out of the war zone by various correspondents. Israel, like the US, has not DELIBERATELY targeted civilians. Hezbollah has deliberately put civilians in harm's way.

The UN outpost that was hit by Israeli aircraft was being used by hezbollah as a shield, and was broadcasting troop positions on an unencrypted channel, thus giving hezbollah intelligence information on where the Israeli troops were. Israel has lodged numerous complaints with the UN on this issue in the past, and the complaints have gone unheeded. No commander in their right mind can allow their troops to be compromised. The UN forces are supposed to be neutral, and encryption is readily available. They could have complied with Israels requests, they didn't. The UN put their own forces in harm's way by failing to practice what any soldier could tell you is basic operational security.

[sirrahbed]

The saddest part is the whole damn world has their mouth shut as we sit here, enjoying our luxurious lifestyles, while so many are being killed for no reason. I cannot even bear the thought.

Poppy - I have to respond to this, particularly the comment that the whole world is sitting by with their mouths shut.....
You began a very eloquent thread with your viewpoint of what is happening in the mideast...you are an individual part of the world as I am...I am sad and hurting just as you are. People I know are just as upset and concerned....but MY viewpoint is just as valid as yours.

"Anyone who thinks Israel is not being the world's biggest terrorist has major issues, and a biased nature"

This happens to be my viewpoint and it is no more biased as your viewpoint Poppy. Honestly....

I don't like war either....but I am not sitting around happily enjoying my freedoms while the "other" side of the world is in turmoil.

"We cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering those people are going through. These people who are being killed are not soldiers there to fight. They are not strong men. They are innocent children. Innocent women. Old men. Innocent children, toddlers, babies."

This is happening on both sides of the war. The news continually shows us videos taken in Lebanon - but these same things are happening down in Israel. Those same innocent children, women, toddlers and babies who are Israeli civilians are also being killed and hiding in fear....enduring pain and suffering also....the awful reality of war. The difference is that the Israeli civilians are not being hit because they have terrorists hiding in their midst.

I agonize as I review history and try to be informed - I try to see both sides, but I do not see in any way that Israel can be described as terrorist. Come on. If I was a Muslim, I would no doubt have my loyalties with my Arab background....and yes I can certainly see the anger at the Jewish Nation......of course...but that view must be made more clear and informed with the awful reality that the Arab countries are home to the biggest terror threat to our world as a whole.

Maybe you don't have the same ties I have with my homeland which is America...I read in another post that you do not have that same pride to call yourself American...but you ARE American. You enjoy the same freedoms that I do and while your loyalty may or may not be what mine is....you cannot deny that what we have in our democratic government is a wonderful blessing.

Please know that the rest of the world is not necessarily being silent. People of all views have to be in agony as you are. I can't get into who attacked who...there is no fair comparison to defending freedoms and wanting the same security for another people (the reasonable people of Lebanon), with a people (Hezbollah, Hamas, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt...) who harbor the evil of terrorism. They simply cannot be compared rationally.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Deb...very eloquently said. (Okay....everyone's jaw back up off the floor.... )

I hate war...and I have been taken aback by some of the draconian responses of Israel.....and I have been taken aback by the suicide bombers who, for example, enter a restaurant...in Israel...where people going about the ordinariness of life....and die....horribly....without regard to age, gender, religion, nationality, or occupation.

I remember the Yom Kippur War. The people of Israel observing the most sacred holiday...the Day of Atonement....attacked when they were at worship...most vulnerable. Women, children, old people. Their land was invaded, their people attacked. Can you imagine an attack on Eid?

"There are three sides to every story....his, hers and the truth..."

I don't know exactly where the truth is here...nor what the solution is...but there has been too much killing. I would hope a person of true compassion would look at ALL the sides to this issue and not simply accept propaganda....regardless of from whom it comes or for whom it is felt.

To brand Israel "the world's biggest terrorist" is just that...propaganda.

[MajesticCollies]

OK lets all take this in to perspective on the innocent. I am an ex US Marine. I was in 1st Battalion 8th Marines in Beruit in October 1983. I was there to watch Hezballah blow up the HQ's Facility. 241 Marines and hospital personel, men and women alike died for being there to help. What about all those innocent sons and daughters of parents in the U.S. Remember we were there for a Peace Keeping mission. I lost some good friends that day!!!! Isreal has a right to defend against these terrorists. They have been getting bombed for years and just taking it. All the civilians were worned with leaflets dropped in the areas that were going to be invaded. Perhaps the ones that didn't flee to the refugee camps were Hazbollah followers. Its a shame these people didn't protect thier families and leave! Not trying to upset anyone with my personal thoughts but they are what they are. Semper Fi

[mugsy]

Here, here Richard! No mention that Hezboullah (sp?) struck first and kidnapped the Israeli soldiers...nope...just make the Israelis into monsters because they defend themselves and then make a big deal about the weapons that they use being from the U.S. That's it...the big bad U.S. The country that can't win for losing because if we don't go in then we're being selfish and unwilling to help and if we do go in then we are imperialistic bastards for going into stop the violence.

Then our illustrious leader decides that we need to send troops to Lebanon and doesn't realize that he is playing directly into the terrorists' hands by spreading our military too thin. ACK!!!

There always has to be 2 diametrically opposed sides and I don't understand it sometimes....it would be nice if we could just get along, but, even on here people can't agree, so why should we think that we could ever globally agree?

Oh well, there's my soapbox and I'll be stepping down now!

[RICHARD]

Men with higher levels of testosterone are more aggressive.


Which of those women murdered, raped, pillaged and plundered to ACHIEVE power, vs. those who found themselves through marrigae, birth, or election IN power?

True, men with more testosterone kick arse in bicycle races!


Which women?

Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi!

Sara,

we are seeing eye to eye way too much lately....DROP THE KNIFE!




MC,
Thank you for your service.

Mugs,

Everyone love the underdog in a fight.

I do happen to remember a story about an IDF soldier that was wounded in a homicide bombing.

A bone fragment from that idiot went thru the soldier's body, severly wounding him....

Now he has to be tested for HIV for a while to make sure the killer wasn't infected.

Nice,
friggin scars and the thought that you still may die from some poor AH that was brainwashed to blow himself up.

And I do remember the wedding that was interrupted by another idiot who blew himself up at the ceremony.


How soon we forget.