Civilian Voices

That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.

???Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.???

Emperor Haile Selassie I
Kings of Kings
Lord of Lords

People,Today we have more proof that Hamas is using the Palestinian people as human shields again. Witnesses have come forward and stated to AP by phones from the UN school site that they did. Does the Arab nations care at all. the answer is NO. Do they acknowledge it NO. Do they call that a so called war crime NO. Seems funny to me that the Arab nations only acknowledge what they perceive as helpful. another thing there is NO proportionate response in war times. there is NO time to stop and set up food lines either. In WWII people hid as best they could and took protection as well as they could for their families. Today we have HAMAS a TERRORIST ORG the Palestinians voted in to lead them HIDING in civilian clothes and from behind the civilians used as shields than publishing picture they take to make other unsuspecting sheep take up their side. People Don't be a sheep!

There can be no peace for a faction that wants no peace. Israel has every right to defend itself and if attacked they must not stop until the enemy that wants to bring an end to Israel is destroyed by any means possible. Is it a tragedy? yes but hamas is too stupid to live in peace Israel must invade and remove hamas by force before those monkeys in iran provide them with much larger weapons.

You are extremely ignorant abbreviate. I was only stating the facts of history, of which you are obviously not well read. Mein Kampf you obviously never read either or you wouldn't have made such a stupid comment. I am as far from racist as one can be and you obviuosly didn't listen to what i had to say. As far as the spelling mistake, it was one, the word grateful, sorry i am not as perfect as you.

I am responding to Rasham's comments. I do not think Israel is using a disproportionate or exessive use of force against Hamas. It is absolutely absurd to suggest this. Let's bring this a little bit closer to home for you, wherever home may be. Let's just say your neighbor who hates you unto death has 10 kids and he begins to attack your home by throwing explosive rockets that can kill you and your family and then hide behind his family so you can't get him, what would you do, Mr. Rasham? I want peace, but not at the cost of my family living in constant fear for their lives. By the way, I am not a Jew and I don't live in Israel. This is not a display of might on the part of the Israelis, it is a display of their right and resolve to defend their civilians against terrorist attacks from Hamas. I think the Palestinian people should revolt againts Hamas and put in a new government that will lead them in the path to a lasting peace and prosperity!

I am responding to Rasham's comments. I do not think Israel is using a disproportionate or exessive use of force against Hamas. It is absolutely absurd to suggest this. Let's bring this a little bit closer to home for you, wherever home may be. Let's just say your neighbor who hates you unto death has 10 kids and he begins to attack your home by throwing explosive rockets that can kill you and your family and then hide behind his family so you can't get him, what would you do, Mr. Rasham? I want peace, but not at the cost of my family living in constant fear for their lives. By the way, I am not a Jew and I don't live in Israel. This is not a display of might on the part of the Israelis, it is a display of their right and resolve to defend their civilians against terrorist attacks from Hamas. I think the Palestinian people should revolt againts Hamas and put in a new government that will lead them in the path to a lasting peace and prosperity!

I am responding to Rasham's comments. I do not think Israel is using a disproportionate or exessive use of force against Hamas. It is absolutely absurd to suggest this. Let's bring this a little bit closer to home for you, wherever home may be. Let's just say your neighbor who hates you unto death has 10 kids and he begins to attack your home by throwing explosive rockets that can kill you and your family and then hide behind his family so you can't get him, what would you do, Mr. Rasham? I want peace, but not at the cost of my family living in constant fear for their lives. By the way, I am not a Jew and I don't live in Israel. This is not a display of might on the part of the Israelis, it is a display of their right and resolve to defend their civilians against terrorist attacks from Hamas. I think the Palestinian people should revolt againts Hamas and put in a new government that will lead them in the path to a lasting peace and prosperity!

Furthermore I have heard a lot of criticism towards Israel but no one on any internet post or TV or an editorial I???ve read has yet to offer an idea as to what they should have done instead. Maybe someone on here can come up with a better way to deal with fundamentalist extremist who place their own people at risk, consider it a privilege to die for Islam. Pick fights they know they can???t win just so people all over the world like mesonto down here see images of dead kids and hate Israel for it. Meanwhile lobbing missiles aimed at civilians into Israel on a daily basis. What you have done Mesonto or any of you other retards out there?

Your a simple moron Mesanto. This isnt about fairness it is about stability, which Hamas clearly doesnt want. Yes the fight is unfair, well done, gold star for u.

It is tragic and terrible but we are talking about placing blame here and looking at the social and historical impacts of this conflict, not just the size of the weapons each side has. A hamas rocket landed in an Israeli kindergarten yesterday. No kids were present but if they were and 60 of them died would you still be singing the same tune? My point is that just because Hamas lacks the capacity (right now) to hurt Isreal that doesnt mean Isreal shouldnt defend herself, hello it is in their charter that calls for their destruction! . Maybe read some history or look at the situation not just the terrible pictures on TV. If it was a fair fight Isreal wouldnt have had the chance to negotiate because Hamas would blow them away without any disregard for peace or civilian life. There religion and charter calls for it. Dumb A** stay away from things you dont understand or are to stupid to comprehend

Simply put, if the Palestinians stop supporting terrorism, then they can dramatically change their lives for the better.

Amen patriot - Well put this is religious intollorence and nothing more, Why do you think the other moderate Arab nations arent helping in Gaza? -Because they arent in the mood for fighting a religous war. Your also right about the Gaza population blowing themselves up in Isreal but lets not forget that Isreal also walked out of Gaza in 2005 to much sadness of the Isreali population living there. Why didnt the other Arab nations take in the Palestinians just as Isreal took in Jews from all over the world? And the final question? If Hamas had nukes would Tel Aviv be around today? No it wouldnt be they would fire on Isreal without a second thought until nobody on any side was left because they are simpltons obsessed with a fantatical religion. Simply put if they had Isreali military capactiy they wouldnt hold back yet Isreal is able to show at least moderate restraint and co-oporate on a 21st century level. F*ck em

Majorie Cohn: Of the Huffington Post Today Writes...


The targeting of civilians violates the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Since the rockets fired from Gaza into Israel cannot distinguish between civilians and military targets, they are illegal.

But Israel's air and ground attack in Gaza violates Geneva in four ways.

First, it constitutes collective punishment of the entire population in Gaza for the acts of a few militants. Second, it targets civilians, as evidenced by the large numbers of civilian casualties. Third, it is a disproportionate response to the rockets fired into Israel.

Fourth, an occupying power has an obligation to ensure food and medical supplies to the occupied population; Israel's blockade has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israel's airstrikes and ground assault on the people of Gaza have little to do with the Gazan rockets, which hadn't killed any Israelis for a year before Israel's current military operation. Israel's leaders are bombing and attacking Gaza in order to gain an advantage in the upcoming Israeli elections in February.

Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni is locked in a tight race with Benyamin Netanyahu, who has criticized Livni for her "soft" treatment of the Palestinians.

The Israeli government seeks to do as much damage as possible to Gaza while Bush is still in office. The New York Times cited several Middle East experts who "believe that Israel timed its move against Hamas, which began on Dec. 26, 25 days before Mr. Bush leaves office, with the expectation of such backing in Washington." Obama, in spite of his unequivocal support for the policies of Israel during the campaign and his deafening silence about the recent casualties, is an unknown quantity.

Israel would be unable to carry out its aggressive policies in Gaza without the support of the United States, which gives Israel $3 billion in U.S. taxpayer money each year. The F-16 bombers and Apache attack helicopters Israel is using on Gaza were bought with U.S. money.

The War on Gaza also Violates U.S.Law.

The Human Rights and Security Assistance Act mandates that the United States cease all military aid to Israel, which has engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

The Arms Export Control Act prohibits U.S. weapons from being used for any purpose other than inside the borders of a country for self-defense.

Targeting schools, police stations and television broadcast centers is not self-defense.

Majorie Cohn: Of the Huffington Post Today Writes..

Since Israel began its War on Gaza 11 days ago, more than 560 Palestinians -- about a quarter of them Civilians -- have been Killed. SomeTwo thousand Gazans, including hundreds of Children, have been wounded.

Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" marks an escalation of Israel's two-year blockade of the Gaza Strip which has DEPRIVED 1.5 million Palestinians of necessary food, medicine, fuel and other necessities.

Extermination: Israel is allegedly using White Phosphorous Gas, an Illegal Chemical Weapon that Burns to the Bone. Dr. Mads Gilbert, a member of a Norwegian triage medical team working in Gaza, has documented Israel's use of Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME), which cuts its victims in to PIECES and reportedly causes CANCER in SURVIVORS. Gilbert, who has worked in several conflict zones, said the situation in Gaza is the worst he has ever seen.

Two United Nations schools have been hit by air strikes, killing at least 30 people. The New York Times reported on Monday that Gazan hospitals are full of civilians, not Hamas fighters.

Big Note: The targeting of civilians violates the Fourth Geneva Convention. Since the rockets fired from Gaza into Israel cannot distinguish between civilians and military targets, they are illegal.

But Israel's air and ground attack in Gaza violates Geneva in four ways.

First, it constitutes collective punishment of the entire population in Gaza for the acts of a few militants. Second, it targets civilians, as evidenced by the large numbers of civilian casualties.

Third, it is a disproportionate response to the rockets fired into Israel. Fourth, an occupying power has an obligation to ensure food and medical supplies to the occupied population; Israel's blockade has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.