IMPORTANT - Uniting DUers on the conflict in Israel/Palestine/Lebanon.

[benburch]

Friends,

I would like to find one thing that we ALL agree on in the present conflict.

And I think I have one. Can we all agree to this?

All sides need to stop killing people and start negotiations towards a lasting peace NOW.

Can we all agree to that?

If so, post your assent to that statement.

Lets make this the longest thread in DU history.

IM your DU friends and ask them to visit this thread and post in it.

Peace!

-Ben Burch
White Rose Society Webmaster

[MamaBear]

1. I'll sign on to that Ben.

This insanity needs to stop so people can live their lives and raise their kids and just be.

Thanks for the thread.

[cdsilv]

2. I, for one, agree.

Israel should stop. The arabs should stop.

but neither will

Thus, the 'lords of war' will make money. THAT is what it is all about.

[Mass]

3. Agree -

[Truthiness Inspector]

4. Agree, but what you suggest is simplistic

If both Lebanon and Israel got together to eradicate Hezbollah, that would be a huge leap towards realistic peace.

Nice sentiment, one I share. I just wish it was that simple, as do we all.

[benburch]

6. Hezbollah has to stop the hostilities too.

Eradication is just what we need to end.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. I agree.

[Spazito]

7. Consider me signed on! n/t

[Bjornsdotter]

8. Works for me n/t

[DemFromMem]

9. Sure.

Lebanon and Syria are Israel's two neighbors who still don't recognize their right to exist and have yet to sign a peace treaty. Israel would love to have peace with these two neighbors so this current conflict is a great excuse to move the peace process along. As for the chances that these two countries are interested in a peace treaty right now - very fat. But one can hope. Maybe this is just the thing to shake things up. A lot of people think it was the 1973 Arab-Israeli war that finally convinced Sadat that peace was best.

[Bluerthanblue]

10. killing must stop, negotiations must begin, in earnest- on both sides.

you can never give up on peace through negotiation- it is the only peace which has any value.

peace to us all- everywhere.
blu

[Ignoramus]

11. Without justice, there can be no peace

So, yes all sides need to stop killing people. That requires there to be justice. There must be no legal policy that discriminates against an entire population of people. There must be no policy that "defense" includes collectively punishing a population.

The typical Bush non-sense about, first everyone stop being evil, then we'll stop killing you, must be made illegal. Then progress can be made toward peace.

[Selatius]

12. I am more than happy to accept this statement.

[libnnc]

13. I agree totally. Stop the killing. Just stop it.

I like to think that what separates us from wild animals is the fact that we as human beings CAN sit down with each other and reason--IF we WANT to.

This blood lust must end.

[Mojambo]

14. On board. n/t

[EFerrari]

15. No focus right now, but bookmarking to help in the a.m.

Good idea.:)

[The Magistrate]

16. I Would Certainly Agree With That, Sir

And would venture to say that most of the people on all sides of the conflict would do so as well.

[Radio_Lady]

17. Hi Ben. I'd love to think your suggestion is remotely possible.

I hope and pray that we remain optimistic.

I'm trying really hard to lose myself in simple things -- hugging my grandkids, for example -- and my husband is tending to his flowers and trees in a small garden.

Everything outside our own little personal world is so frightening.

Stay well and calm everybody. Fomenting anger on this board is very sad. I refuse to engage in it.

Good night and good luck.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Agreed. There's nothing I wish more for that region than a lasting peace.

Period.

[blonndee]

19. I agree.

With no qualifications whatsoever.

[chimpymustgo]

20. I'm in. Peace.

nt

[Gregorian]

21. I raise my peace sign. Celebrate humanity.

[proud patriot]

22. Agreed

PEACE

[knowbody0]

23. can't we all please EVOLVE!

[nashville_brook]

61. can't EVOLVE without l...o...v...e

[benburch]

73. :-)

[eridani]

24. Yes. I agree

At bottom, this is a game of "I got you last," played by adults with serious weapons instead of by kids with their elbows in the back seat.

[Mythsaje]

25. Absolutely...

I think rewarding criminal behavior with military response (and believe me, on some level it IS a reward) is stupid and irresponsible.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

26. Agreed!

And no conditions. Unconditional PEACE. The killing ends at a stated time as near to "NOW" as we can make it.

That, or it gets REALLY ugly.

That's when we start playing the Yoko Ono recordings at maximum decibelage to all factions.

Don't.Make.Us.Do.It! (We also have Slim Whitman)

[Mythsaje]

29. Oh, please, not Yoko Ono!

Of course, I'd sign on to the plan to drop super-sized speakers over there and play Twisted Sister's "We're not going to take it" for as long as it takes to end the conflict.

Heh heh. That just gave me an idea.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

34. See what I mean?

The mere mention of Yoko Ono was enough to bring you to the table!


:toast:

[Mythsaje]

36. Catfights sound better than Yoko Ono...

I've got the chills now.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

38. And just think

You've heard her before. They haven't.

I know exactly where I was the first time I heard Yoko. And I never went back.

[Mythsaje]

50. A friend of mine told me about her solo stuff

and I made the mistake of asking "how bad can it be?"

Yeesh. I hadda ask.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

51. Answer?

"Even worse than ever I might have thought."

I know my suggestion was flippant on a very sincerely offered topic. But underneath my suggestion lies the kernel of a truth: Peace, apparently, will only come on the wings of a surfeit of agony for Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon's agony, of course, simply doesn't matter to either side. Bastards.

The one place in the Middle East where a culture of tolerance was finally growing, and the world lets Israel, Iran and Syria fuck it up.

[benburch]

57. As bad a Vogon Poetry is...

...VOGONS flee when anybody suggests playing Yoko.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

83. There's method to my madness! n/t

[mopinko]

96. sticking up for yoko

no, i don't find the recording pleasant. but i always have to put in a good word for her. she has been vilified because she is a brilliant woman, and she works for peace. her performance work was central to the development of an entire new genre of art. and she has worked tirelessly to continue john's work. she is a genius.
it is a shame to see her slammed in a thread about peace.
just sayin.

[benburch]

114. Oh, I love her to death as a person.

I just cannot listen to ANYTHING she records.

[mopinko]

115. i agree

i just have to point that out. lots of people don't even know that she is a visual artist at all. and most people don't really know much about performance art, let alone how much of an influence yoko had on it.
stickin up for the gifted kids.

[H2O Man]

142. Yoko is a class act.

Years ago, friend David Peel gave me a few things she and the Plastic Ono Band had recorded. There was some interesting stuff there.

Two of my nephews work for her. They are good judges of character. She treats them very well. They have nothing but good to say about her.

[mopinko]

149. she is a genius.

can i touch your coat?

[Mythsaje]

170. We're slamming her singing...

I've no issue with her as a person whatsoever.

But, gawd, the woman can't sing.

[benburch]

205. Yoko is to singing as...

...George Bush is to Diplomacy.

Both try to do it, but everybody else wishes they would leave it to the professionals.

[Catherine Vincent]

27. Amen!

[Swamp Rat]

28. Now here's a thread I can post on! ... PEACE!!!...

:grouphug:



:grouphug:

:kick:

[Generic Other]

60. And more peace

[tnlefty]

97. Oooh, I love that - it's gorgeous.

Oh, and I'm in ben.

[bleever]

30. We The People (global superpower) say: Cease fire.

More deaths won't help the eventual resolution.

Time out. The USA commits its resources and political might to a resolution.

Everybody shut up, and sit down. There will be time for everyone to talk. First:

Tea? Water? Coffee?

Now: The United States is bringing the parties together, under our auspices, and with the full commitment of our resources, for the difficult task of sitting together with people who may be enemies, so that we can find our way through this without the loss of any more children.

Israeli children, Lebanese children. Young or old.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

31. I agree with you, but Bush is helping Israel with our satellites and

intelligence info. This may be a premeditated effort to attack Hezbolla with horrible consequences to Lebanon. This is our tax $$$ at work and it sucks big time. So many innocents being killed on both sides makes me so sad.

[Mabus]

32. I agree

Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.

lyrics from "One Tin Soldier" by Lambert-Potter and copied from The National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services website. The NIEHS website has the lyrics printed below this message: "This song has a lesson to it -- violence is not the way. Please visit the DOJ Justice for Kids and Youthlink to a non-NIEHS site website for information on what you can do!"

edited to make it clearer that the non-violence message is from the NIEHS website.

[Mythsaje]

37. I'd really like to hear a good rockin' cover of that song...

<sigh>

[Mabus]

53. by Yoko?

:P

Just kidding. :rofl:

[vickitulsa]

169. I would too! I used to perform that one a lot,

but could hardly ever get through it without crying, so my voice would crack. People didn't seem to mind.

Wasn't that song made popular (possibly written for) the first "Bily Jack" movie? I recall the song playing as good ol' violent-as-hell Billy Jack "walked away" -- in handcuffs to be jailed for having killed the guy who raped his lady ... plus several other bad guys along the way, including a sadistic, molesting father.

Yeah, that always bothered the crap outta me, too. The movie was Tom Laughlin's "masterpiece" which on first take seemed to be profoundly pro-peace. The best lines in the movie are when Billy's girlfriend talks to him (just before he surrenders and after much bloodletting) about her pacifist beliefs. He's been shot and is bleeding, things are grim, and he tells her how he always loved and respected her so much because, how did he put it? -- "Your soul is so pacific in you..."

But she interrupted him, even swore a bit, got mad at him and told him off, even though she loved him. Told him she got angry too.

"Don't you think I get angry? Don't you think I hate? Don't you think I hated that slob when he was grunting on top of me? I hate ... but I don't believe violence is the way to solve our problems in this world."

That's pretty close to what she said. So what she was saying was she got angry and felt hate, justifiably so, which is what many here are saying when they -- perhaps I should say "we" -- stick up for one side or the other by explaining legitimate grievances. She simply seemed to "get it" -- that using violence to try to resolve differences or work out problems or effect peace just does not work. --Or if it ever does work, it's the sorriest, most sadistic, most cynical, and surely the most painful way to reach a solution to human disagreements there could possibly be. I see those photos of babies' bodies lying broken and battered, face-down in the dirt, the tiny beings we sacrifice in the name of ... WHAT? Religion? Ownership? Pride?

But back to Billy Jack to finish my story. I took a couple of people to see that movie when it was in theatres way back when. I think it was released in 1969 or 1970. But then because I saw it several times, I couldn't help noticing something that really bothered me. Here was our hero, Billy Jack: the noble, selfless, fearless former Green Beret who followed Indian ways now and had helped build a school for orphaned or troubled children on a reservation. He'd done the Sun Dance, and sat in sweat lodges, and learned all about rattlesnake venom visions and all sorts of cool Indian stuff.

But then, with all the songs and dialogue about peace in the movie, what was it that really got the audience fired up and actually standing and CHEERING?? It was when Billy Jack kicked ass! When he found some of the bad guys in a public park or town square, and he strode toward a group of them, just he alone to fight against about 10 other guys -- and he stopped on the way and took off his boots.

Man, you just KNEW he was gonna kick some ass bigtime when he took off his boots! Martial arts and all that, ya see....

So the more I thought about it, the more it disturbed me that the entire audience, including moi, got happy and excited and stood and cheered whenever Billy Jack stomped all over the bad guys in the most violent ways possible! Including killing some of them with his bare hands (and feet).

So wait a sec, then. This was a movie that preached and taught PEACE, right? This was a movie that was meant to promote non-violence! Yikes! Cognitive dissonance attack! I thought my head would explode!

I guess I'm telling this tale to explain how I sometimes feel about the whole Israel/Lebanon thing, not to mention how I felt back then about the nasty America/Vietnam thing, and every conflict and war before and after them both. It's hard sometimes to really STICK to our principles about peacemaking and non-violence, about deliberately and determinedly choosing NON-violence, when violence can be sooooo satisfying!

Probably we just have to work a lot harder at it, ask ourselves the hard questions, make the difficult -- not the easy -- choice....

Anyway, with that song, "One Tin Soldier," in mind (and I urge people to look up the complete lyrics online, they're just great), here's a protest song, a demand peace song that I wrote last summer. It's about Iraq, but I think you'll all see why I decided to post it in this thread anyway.


STOP THIS WAR

We are standing on the rock
We've got to bring the killing to a stop

Sooner rather than later
We are late already alligator

We've got to stop this insane nightmare war
Like we did when they had one like it before

The pointless slaughter of brown-skinned children
Makes the blood boil hot, no more senseless killin'!

So let's get the attention of the man with the key
To the war machine, turn it OFF! Let them be!

STOP -- THIS -- WAR!
FOR -- EVER -- MORE!

BRING OUR SOLDIERS BACK!
LEAVE IRAQ, LEAVE IRAQ!

We have ravaged their land
For the oil buried deep in their sand

Our troops are compelled to kill
Based on lies from the Big Lie Mill

It's way past time for us to come awake
We can't just steal what we want to take

My brothers and sisters didn't sign up for this
They hoped to help at home when a need exists

If a hurricane washed out the Florida coast
We'd have no National Guard when we need them most

Because they're all toting guns in faraway Iraq
We want them HOME, bring them back, bring our soldiers BACK!

STOP -- THIS -- WAR!
FOR -- EVER -- MORE!

BRING OUR SOLDIERS BACK!
LEAVE IRAQ, LEAVE IRAQ!

So Mr. Bush, get the key to your killing machine
And turn the damned war OFF, make your conscience clean

You have done us wrong and you've wronged them too
There are some things that a president just should not do

So we are standing on the rock
We're gonna make this killing stop

There is so much on the line
And we don't have much more time

STOP -- THIS -- WAR!
FOR -- EVER -- MORE!

BRING OUR SOLDIERS BACK!
LEAVE IRAQ, LEAVE IRAQ!


(C) 2005 Vicki Spencer


THANKS FOR THIS THREAD, Ben! I'm on board!

:hi:

[livvy]

33. Signing on here!

[autorank]

35. I agree. Thanks for doing this Ben K&R

[RB TexLa]

39. And who do you suggest negotiate on behalf of Hizbollah?

[benburch]

40. That can be the first thing we negotiate. OK? nt

[RB TexLa]

41. how about we think about it after their arsenal is taken out.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RB TexLa]

46. No reason to be degrading

[High Plains]

52. A vote for more war. Bring it on, he said.

[benburch]

56. Disgusting, isn't it? nt

[lastliberalintexas]

103. No matter how many die in the process?

Nice sentiments on a thread for peace. There have been plenty of other threads expressing plenty of pro-war sentiment on DU of late, I'm certain you could have posted there instead.

[BooScout]

186. agreed n/t

[BooScout]

187. I take it you don't agree?

Sickening.

[Bretttido]

42. Agreed!

And gather up all the children and let them play together; it's a lot harder to make war when your children are friends.

[rug]

43. Peace

[Der Blaue Engel]

45. Amen to that n/t

[Tinksrival]

47. Great thread Ben!

Lately when I check on the DU I am left with the feeling of no hope for the human race.
I keep holding out hope for evolution to bring us all to a level of relative peace but I guess having to worship gods and kill for beliefs is too ingrained in our chemical make-up.
I didn't get the religion gene so it is all very difficult for me to relate.

I had read this earlier today on FDL and I thought I would share with you.

For those of you keeping score, here’s the breakdown, as far as I can tell. Hezbollah is Shia (Shiite), with support and backing from Iran, Syria and the Iraqi government sitting inside the Green Zone. Hamas is Sunni, with the support of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the Palestinians, Syria (playing all sides), Iraq insurgents and Egypt. That’s simplistic, but you won’t hear it explained on cable, with the nitwits and wingnuts cackling about how Arab leaders are condemning Hezbollah. Well, no kidding, because most of them doing the condemning are Sunnis. The Sunni - Shia showdown could one day be the Israeli - Palestinian conflict on steroids, if we’re not careful. The situation is getting more complicated by the minute.

The post is, While Lebanon Burns, by Taylor Marsh and I thought it was pretty good.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/07/20/while-lebanon-burns/#comments

While people go back and forth fighting on the DU with who started what and when and who is dead and how, I can't help but feel this all will not ever end. It's a human condition and can't be helped.

Depressing huh? Sorry, I didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer!

[Jara sang]

48. Yes, all sides need to stop the violence.

[cry baby]

49. I'm there! nt

[Zhade]

54. Agreed.

To hell with both Hezbollah AND the Israeli government.

Peace to all innocents, Arab and Israeli.

[havocmom]

55. Yep - I'm in

Time for the world to stop, breathe deep and acknowledge that violence does not solve anything.

[DanCa]

58. I agree but...I want to add can we unite for the midterms as well. (nt)

[MarkDevin]

59. Both sides, please: stop the violence!

[Rex]

62. Diplomacy is the way to go, not bombs and bullets.

Would it be a miracle if suddenly everyone in the ME embraced each other as brother and friend! Move past the hatred and follow the true path; mercy and forgiveness. Unconditional love. Lebanon and Israel, rise up and stop the murder! Wouldn't it be a sight to see these two nations bring the rest of the world into peace and harmony! Can you imagine!?!?!

Someone has to be the first.

[unkachuck]

63. agreed....n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

64. Cease fire? Negotiations? Stop the killing? Peace?

What a silly idea. We need to be TOUGH! We need SHOCK & AWE! We need Body Counts and Collateral Damage!

What kind of unMANLY message is peace, negotiations, cease fire?

You must be like that long haired, hippie, girly-man, who said, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

Sign me on.

[Luna_Chick]

65. Imagine. Dream. COEXIST.

Goodonya, Ben. And thanks for your post. :grouphug:

[Lilith Velkor]

66. Yes & I don't care who started it

Excellent thread, bb. :toast:

[PsychoDad]

67. I agree.

[LeftofU]

68. This is the best answer. nt.

answer.

[me b zola]

69. I'm signing on for peace

STOP THE KILLING

[ErisFiveFingers]

70. Killing bad.

Step 2: ?

[Raksha]

71. I can agree to that. War SUCKS! n/t

[k_jerome]

72. from your keyboard to gods ears my friend. nt.

[hippywife]

74. Most definitelty agree, Ben!

Thanks to you and once again to all others here calling for peace and sanity.

[theHandpuppet]

75. AGREED!

Peace!

[PA Democrat]

76. I vote for PEACE!

This perpetual cycle of killing is not the answer.

[muriel_volestrangler]

77. I agree with that, and so does most of the world

Here's the front page of Today's Independent in the UK:

[mmonk]

89. Great cover.

Nothing sums something up as unvarnished truth.

[stop the bleeding]

78. I'm down with that

[ulysses]

79. agreed.

:thumbsup:

[NotGivingUp]

80. Definitely agree.

[H2O Man]

81. Yes.

It amazes me that anyone who sees the suffering being inflicted upon the families on both sides can come to any conclusion other than the violence needs to stop. It is also important to remember that the United States does have people who are capable to taking a leadership role in the peace process. They will not be found promoting Halliburton, or working in the "power positions" in this administration. But they exist.

[Little Star]

82. Yep, I'm in.

[spanone]

84. Peace.

[stepnw1f]

85. Signed On, Ben

Good post.

[mmonk]

86. Such a scenario will require a new power in the world

that has moral boundaries and a way to win the day. Seems impossible to me since the US is currently the world's superpower and has a different agenda than peace which quite frankly, is control. I thought a good idea might be for a group of American citizens request directly to the E.U. to attempt to assume this role. Anybody with me on that?

87. Peace

[lonestarnot]

88. Yes without a doubt! Stop the killing!

[ShockediSay]

90. I agree.

[Cooley Hurd]

91. 100% in agreement.

K&R.

[johnnie]

92. Be pro-peace

Now!

[LeftHander]

93. I'm for peace....nt

[reprehensor]

94. Can't argue with that.

But some will.

[The Stranger]

95. CEASEFIRE NOW.

[Warren Stupidity]

98. I agree.

A complete unconditional bilateral cease fire.

[il_lilac]

99. Please

let there be peace

[bdamomma]

100. Stop the Killing now

we have all seen too much of it, already, our troops are involved in civil war, and innocent people are getting killed.

we have some very sick and dangerous people in power, who do not diplomacy or a ceasefire, when will someone challenge this regime.

[Midlodemocrat]

101. Absolutely. Stop the slaughter now. Peace Now.

[sweetheart]

102. whatever, the drugs war has greater death tolls

AIDs has much greater death tolls, avoidable ones, avoidable tragedies.

I'm for pulling all resources, television cameras, focus and airtime from
war, from discussing other people's most degenerate tendencies, towards
looking at how we can sort out issues where we are politically empowered.

The solutions we have for the other side of the planet are virus's sapping
goodwill in to the neocrim game. Why go there?

[sendero]

104. Absolutely...

.. nothing is going to get better in the ME until both Israel and it's enemies decide that a negotiated settlement is best for everyone, and comes to the table in good faith.

Now that we are where we are, I don't expect this to happen soon, but hope springs eternal.

[Mass]

105. kicking - it is really sad that there are less than 100 people ready to

unit to ask for peace. It certainly says a lot about DU.

[Mass]

121. kicking,hoping more people want peace.\nt

[benburch]

123. I hope so too.

There are several thousand of us who post here on a regular basis, but so far I only count 82 here.

[sabra]

106. keep this kicked

:kick:

[Major Hogwash]

107. Nice post, ben. I voted for it. I always vote for peace.

That's why I didn't vote for Bush.

Either time.

Or his dad.

Or for Reagan.

Either time.

[Pacifist Patriot]

108. I'll sign on for peace.

[Laotra]

109. Hear hear! n/t

[canadianbeaver]

110. Peace must be the only answer.......no question about it!!! eom

[Xenotime]

111. Negotiations are the only answer...

Israel needs to stop it's violence and work towards peace. Only when that happens can the healing begin.

[Donnachaidh]

112. Unconditional peace

I like the sound of that ;-)

[no_to_war_economy]

113. peace now

[Beelzebud]

116. All we are saying... Is give peace a chance.

[benburch]

117. That is EXACTLY what we are saying.

Give Peace A Chance

John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Two, one two three four
Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

C'mon
Ev'rybody's talking about Ministers,
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, evolution, masturbation,
flagellation, regulation, integrations,
meditations, United Nations,
Congratulations.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,
Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper,
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer,
Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare, Hare Krishna

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

etc.

[RandomKoolzip]

118. Absolutely. Count me in as a vote for peace.

[robbedvoter]

119. Hell, yeah! Peace Now!

[Felinity]

120. Peace, baby. N/T

[Pathwalker]

122. Peace is a wonderful thing.

Too bad it's gotten such a bad reputation lately. I blame the Republicans.


Edited because my hands hurt so bad I can't type.

[dpbrown]

124. I assent

Let peace begin.

[helpman]

125. Yes

well said Ben.

[helpman]

126. Yes

well said Ben.

[G_j]

127. agreed....

[MissWaverly]

128. yes, save the children, diplomacy works

[puffthemagicdragon]

129. peace n/t

[readmoreoften]

130. Agreed. /nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

131. Absolutely. Ceasefire NOW. n/t

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

132. How could any rational person no agree ? n/r

[wicket]

133. Agreed

n/t

[leftupnorth]

134. Peace! I agree

[mom cat]

135. Agreed. The slaughter must stop!

[BluePatriot]

136. Agreed! (nt)

[katinmn]

137. Cease-fire now. Send in some REAL diplomats.

Not Condi and Bolton.

[Wisconsin Larry]

138. Absolutely agree and I called Harry Reid's office asking tor

the Dems to sign on to pushing a cease fire. But his aide said that the Senator "supports Israel's right to defend itself." ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Full report of the phone call here.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=138262&mesg_id=138266

[brer cat]

139. Always voting for Peace. Please stop killing children and their parents!

[philly_bob]

140. Cease Fire first step /NT

[WilliamPitt]

141. Amen

I am praying my ass off that this "imminent invasion of Lebanon" stuff is a hard-assed attempt to scare someone to the negotiating table. A foolish wish, to be sure, but there it is.

[Ariana Celeste]

143. Absolutely.

:thumbsup:

[Poll_Blind]

144. Agreed. n/t

PB

[Martin Eden]

145. The sons of Abraham

must learn to live together as brothers.

[Name removed]

146. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[benburch]

147. Are you saying that you want the manslaughter to continue?

Is that what you just said?

[truedelphi]

150. Could be that the poster means

That right now in reality this Administration is in strong support of Israel.

And if Israel is a friend of Bush, and Bush is a friend of Israel, opposition
is a non-Bushite's immediate gut response (I know it is mine.)

Hopefully they will come aboard.

We have to move away from the madness of war.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

156. Notice that the poster uses "Jewish community" and "Jewish lobby"

and not 'Israel.' Those are terms that are used on certain unsavoury sites.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

157. It seems that the poster is calling for war

Notice the terms he uses.

[Meshuga]

179. The Jewish community...

...has not chosen Bush's side. If they chose any side it was Kerry's in 2004 who enjoyed 80% of the Jewish vote. The sentiment has not changed since, I don't think. I am an affiliated Jew and I can tell you that in the non-orthodox circle (90% of affiliated Jews in the US) the sentiment does not seem to be changing.

I am sad to learn that someone here in DU doesn't agree that the killing should stop on all sides.

[mikelewis]

148. I wholeheartedly post my assent...

I'm so tired of these fucking warmongers, I can't stand it.

[freedomfries]

151. Agree 100%

Thanks for this thread.

[femrap]

152. agreed. Stop the killing.

Stream today's Democracy Now! Listen to one of the co-founders of Combatants for Peace...Mr. Shapira, a captain of the Israeli military.

He gave me hope. HE GETS IT!

[ismnotwasm]

153. Agreed!!!

The dying, the pain and suffering on all sides makes me sick.

I know it's unlikely, maybe impossible, but I will wish for peace until the day I die. I'll work for peace every time I can. I have tried to raise my children the same. My daughter after her deployment in Afghanistan, now uses one of my little mantra'--s "killing begets killing Berget's killing-- I have two grandchildren (so far) that I will try my best to influence to think of peace as the solution.

Let the killing stop.

[annabanana]

154. sign me up too. . . . n/t

[Anarcho-Socialist]

155. I agree!

The best OP I've seen posted on this topic. :thumbsup:

[etherealtruth]

158. Sign me on

[MadJohnShaft]

159. One last pee on Tucker Carlson and I'm on board

[BigBearJohn]

160. Here's a big "AMEN" on that!!! I'm all for peace.

[teach1st]

161. Another vote for peace

Please

[NNadir]

162. War is always WRONG. I'm in Ben.

[stillrockin]

163. This is my prayer: cease fighting, start talking.

I agree and assent to your statement.

[Laurab]

164. Agree!

and recommended. Killing people solves NOTHING.

Thank you, benburch!

[jdadd]

165. Count me In..

:thumbsup:

[AntiFascist]

166. Do we really want to start World War III ?

I'm so sick of the media treating a Middle East conflict by calling it "WWIII" as if it is going to be some sort of localized event. The risk of something far worse than 9/11 within the US, North Korea launching missles at Japan, India and Pakistan finally exchanging their nuclear weapons, China and Russia being forced to take sides. This is what WORLD WAR is going to be all about if and when it happens. The chickenhawks in Washington D.C. have no experience and probably no concept of what such a war really entails. You want the draft? How about fighting for your own survival?

[benburch]

182. What the heck do they think "World War" means, anyway?

These people never studied history.

[spindrifter]

167. Stop the killing, start the negotiations! Do it now!

I do not accept the BushCo strategy for the Middle East.

[Mike Nelson]

168. I agree...

...but I don't think Hezbolah or Israel want peace. Like Bush and Rice, they WANT war. They hate each other and want to wipe out the other side. The kidnapped solders meant nothing.. they kill many more instantly. I think they have a leader like Bush.

[dweller]

171. is this the line for the express ticket

from all points away from the handbasket to hell? may i stand here with you for the time being? i'll be glad to give up my place to several children as we near the train, but for the moment if i could just stand here with you all?

you see, i was over in the line for those who are not their brother's keeper, and i was trampled in the rush to the front when the conductor called 'all aboard for Armageddon' for i thought i could convince some to stay here, and find another way home on the

Peace Train

Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on now peace train

Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too
Cause it's getting nearer, it soon will be with you

Now come and join the living, it's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer, soon it will all be true

Now I've been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating, why can't we live in bliss

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

i'm tired, and i miss my cat.

Peace.
dp

[benburch]

172. :-)

[patdem]

173. Gotta keep this post running...the BEST so far

I personally am VERY confused at the wars on DU regarding this horror show unfolding...but PEACE IS THE ONLY WAY...

[benburch]

176. What I cannot believe is that anybody wants the violence to continue.

IM everybody you encounter on DU and send them to this thread.

[goclark]

174. Sign me on, please~ nt

[troubleinwinter]

175. Peace.

http://www.crafts-gifts.com.nyud.net:8090/peace-pipes/indian.jpg

[americanstranger]

177. I'm in. In the words of my boy TR...

Love Is The Answer

Name your price
A ticket to paradise
I cant stay here any more
And Ive looked high and low
Ive been from shore to shore to shore
If theres a short cut Id have found it
But theres no easy way around it

Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer

Who knows why
Someday we all must die
Were all homeless boys and girls
And we are never heard
Its such a lonely world
People turn their heads and walk on by
Tell me, is it worth just another try?

Tell me, are we alive, or just a dying planet?
What are the chances?
Ask the man in your heart for the answers

And when you feel afraid, love one another
When youve lost your way, love one another
When youre all alone, love one another
When youre far from home, love one another
When youre down and out, love one another
All your hopes run out, love one another
When you need a friend, love one another
When youre near the end, love one another
We got to love one another

Light of the world, you got to shine
Love will be a means, yeah, yeah
Shine on us all
Know that love can save the day
Just give it one more chance
Lord you just cant let it stop lord
Love is the answer
Got to be free to let love into your life
Let it shine

---

- as

[sinogirl]

178. Agreed

but how do we move on from here???

[Mass]

180. kick for peace\nt

[benburch]

184. Make love.

Not war!

[Scoot420fla]

181. agreed nt

[Blue_Tires]

183. that has always been my perspective

ttt!

[porphyrian]

185. Yep, it's gone on way too long. - n/t

[Biernuts]

188. Here's my view

All this talk about Israel - what's REALLY driving it? Intuition says a couple things. Democrats support Israel and have ever since Harry Truman. Republicans support Israel. American Jews not only support Israel overwhelmingly but also vote Democratic by large margins and have been loyal contributors. If Democrats oppose Israel just because George Bush supports them, it is exceptionally short-sighted and a piss-poor election strategy.

I believe without reservation that American Jews are Americans first and foremost and wouldn't support Israel in a conflict with the US, but woe to any administration that abandons Israel in their fight to exist in a sea of neighbors that have vowed Israel's annihilation since reconstituting as a nation on May 14, 1948.

Which hate is stronger - Islamic nations hate for us because we support Israel, or their hate for Israel because it represents an enclave of the West in the middle of what they consider "their turf"? I believe it's the latter. After education of their women, the thing the Islamic nations fear most is modernization & reform throughout "their turf" that threatens the Islamic hold over their people, in short, freedom to reject Islam.

Back to domestic politics - with very few exceptions, Democrats that don't support Israel will lose their races. Good or bad, right or wrong, that's the ground truth. Republicans that don't support Israel might not lost, but will have harder races.

[benburch]

190. I wasn't talking about "Supporting Israel"

I was talking about an immediate cease fire and negotiations towards a lasting peace.

Seems to me that this supports everybody.

[Biernuts]

203. That works only if all parties REALLY want peace. If, however,

Hezbollah uses the pause to rearm and regroup, then the cease fire is a BAD idea. Peace ususally follows victory, not a stalemate.

[countingbluecars]

189. I'm all for peace. n/t

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

191. signing on for peace

kick

[OhioChick]

192. Peace

[mogster]

193. Kick for peace!

[benburch]

195. Great Kitty Pictures!

Did you take them?

[mogster]

202. No, lol

They were among a load I found at the net back home. Very cute, though :-)

[benburch]

204. Ah, OK.

You take great pictures, which is why I wondered.

[mogster]

206. Thank you, benburch

I'll kick your thread for peace once more in return for that compliment. You are a good man, benburch. This is an important issue :-)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

194. Kick for peace.....

We need to stop the violence: Lebanon/Israel, Iraq, Darfur, everywhere.....

[kentuck]

196. One more vote for peace...

A ceasefire immediately and start talking instead of killing.

[Jawja]

197. Yes,

that's the bottom line.

[hopeisaplace]

198. a kick for peace, n/t.

[Pepper32]

199. Agreed

[Maestro]

200. I'm in.

Stop the slaughter and I'll add, jail *, Sure Shot, Rummy and Wolfie just to name a few. Oh and Rove and Libby too!

[tocqueville]

201. Agrees completely nt