I've possessed a neutral standpoint on the Middle Eastern issue for a long time. I am recently formulating my opinion on this matter, although I find it unnecessary considering my lack of care for the Mesopotamian people. Anyway, I live in the State and have heavy influences from my Jewish friends and Christian media. If I make any mistake, please correct me on my attempt to shed light on this matter.
First off, I'm not a religious person, so I obviously have no interest in superstitious ideals like 'Zionism.' However, I do believe that Israel is an important economic partner and have much to contribute to the economy of the nations I care about (when compared to the Arab states). For that sole reason, I do not support the abrupt end to Israel's existence as it would be a sting to the global economy.
Naturally, as I do not believe in the Torah, I also believe that the concept of a Jewish race is moot. It was incorrect for Hitler and the Nazis to brandish the Jewish religious group as inferior race; the blood of a Jew is the blood of an Asian. Jews are no more of a race than Arabs or Christians. Granted, sons and daughters of Jewish mothers are Jews, but only if the offspring are to remain
religiously Jewish, which would make them Jews due to religion, not blood.
Now:
The Jews have:
1. A common culture
2. A common language (Hebrew)
3. A common history
I have no idea where you live, but as an American, I an assure you that these traits are all but fantasies in my country. Considering that the U.S. has as much if not more Jews than Israel, I believe that Jews in America represent an important case of study.
The common culture of the Jews is vastly exaggerated. Sure, many celebrate Hanukkah and such, but it is heavily Americanized. Many non-Christians and even Jews in America celebrate Christmas, but that does not make them automatically religious Christians. Just because one practices something does not necessarily make the practitioners possess a genuine cultural commonality. Many of the Jews have lost meaning in the culture, especially since many are not even religiously Jewish. They are adherents of American culture, not Jewish culture. Due to the melting pot nature in America, we were able to keep the Jewish practices intact, just like any other cultural practices. However, this also means that practicing the old Jewish culture in modern America is simply giving lip-service without the belief in Judaic religious reasons.
Second, the common language is also extinct. Jews can barely write their names in Hebrew here in America. Like the entire modern Zionist movement, Judaism in America is frighteningly watered down. The Jewish 'people' today make Moses and Abraham look cute.
Thirdly, their 'common' history is a foreign history. For example, the Chinese working in railroads in America does not make the events part of the Chinese history. It is part of American history. The Great Leap Forward and Tienanmen Massacre are Chinese history. The Jews, in contrast, have very little
national history. Their religion has a history in other parts of the world, but they are just that: histories of those other parts of the world, not the histories of the fertile crescent. As much as you want to make it, the Holocaust is part of
German history that
involved the Jews. It is not part of some fantasy Jewish national history. Again, if one is religiously Jewish, I can understand why you would believe that the Holocaust is part of the religiously Jewish history. However, if one is not religious, there is no reason to attach oneself to a religious history.
Your history is way off, driven hatred of Israel. Why can't you understand that both people have suffered, and both have legitimate claims. No conflict has one side.
No. Both people have suffered, agreed. However, both have no legitimate claims as they are both claiming to land based on religion. We don't live in the Medieval Age any more. Move on. Mixing superstition such as religion to real world politics is dangerous, as the Middle East has already become. Thank Europe for not declaring a crusade or else they would wipe out both the Jews AND Arabs within a week. However, the Europeans have learned form their past and have made secular national state, not religious ones.
The Jews don't deserve a homeland based on religion no more than the Christians of the past or the Muslims of today. The Zionist movement today has lost its meaning from the past as the entire faith is even dieing, especially in the States. What we have left is a made-up ethnicity that claims ancestry to a blood of some fanciful 'chosen people.' Little do they know that the entire concept of Jewish blood is legitimized only be the Torah. No religious faith=No right to claim Jewish 'blood.' If one IS to possess religious faith, I would argue against Judaism as a religion that the concept is unfounded. However, as that is dealing with faith, I would argue over at the Agora section of the forum.
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