K&R if you support Obama's opposition to Arabs targeting Jewish children,

[garthranzz]

teaching their children to hate and kill and spewing lies about the Holocaust.

What the heck. As long as we have a stupid "K&R" that ignores half of what President Obama said and reinforces the worst stereotypes, why not one that seeks to balance the equation?

The "K&R" to which I'm responding is precisely what Obama is trying to avoid - hardline, intransigent, one-sided perspectives.

(Now let's see how many people misunderstand the above. Even if I added smilies. Betting pool, anyone?)

[JI7]

1. i think because most people would agree with this and openly condemn it

while the same is not true of what the other OP said.

[frogcycle]

2. I was all ready to call you an idiot

and respond that "no, of course I support targeting children :sarcasm:"

but I agree with you wholeheartedly

I'll take butter, no salt, please!

[cali]

3. I think your post is reactionary rather than thoughtful

one of the reasons that post was so highly rec'ed is that for so long the U.S. has had a one sided relationship with Israel and has ignored the abuses of the Israeli gov't against Palestinians. No one here supports the kiling of children by anyone.

[rasputin1952]

4. there are small sects in every society that finds "victims" to

browbeat. Of course, not all "Arabs" teach children to hate, it is small, but vociferous zealot sects that do this, and they need to be challenged at every turn.

We have plenty of these groups right here at home that do the same thing an a regular basis to various "groups" at varying degrees. the only way to counter this darkness is with the light of truth and reason. We have cut the #'s in the KKK, the American Nazi Party, and various other groups that exist off of the hatred of others. We may never eradicate them, but we can cut their #'s and their perceived "power" by open challenge to the insanity they espouse as "truth".

[karynnj]

5. I agree with your sentiment and I've always hated these simple

K&R threads on issues where things aren't that simple.

Obama has a tough task here, both in terms of fostering peace in the middle east and in the domestic reaction to what he does.

Internationally, both sides need real assurance that he does understand their concerns and grievances, which are real and rational on both sides. Only after they internalize and accept that he does will they be willing to also accept any criticism or call to change.

At a lower level, this is started. George Mitchell has support in the Arab world. The good news is that moderate Muslims at Jordan's World Economic Forum actually applauded Kerry after he called them on things like the text books that preach hate as part of a very balanced comment on the problems. (about 41 minutes in - http://www.weforum.org/en/knowledge/Events/KN_SESS_SUMM_28780?url=/en/knowledge/Events/KN_SESS_SUMM_28780 ) Jordan's King Abdullah later praised the comment.

What Obama - and everyone working with him - seems to be trying to do is to empower the moderates on both sides. Today's NYT has an interesting op-ed by Roger Cohen, who I usually dislike. It shows that part of the problem is how much our government shifted since the late 1980s. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/opinion/04iht-edcohen.html?_r=1&em I think there is disingenuous lumping of Clinton and Bush as the shift really occurred just since January 2001 here. It may though be seen as a way that Republicans could argue that Obama's position is the same as the "true" Republican one - as they disown W.

[Adelante]

6. K&R nt

[Occam Bandage]

7. I do, but that isn't a change from prior policy. That's like saying,

"K&R if you support Obama's belief in taxing workers to fund a Social Security program." No such thread would ever exist, because that's been the viewpoint of every President for decades.

It's assumed that the President will continue the policies of his predecessors (since realistically most American policies, both foreign and domestic, are not a matter of political dispute), and so it is far more noteworthy and admirable when he changes policies for the better than it is when he retains a good policy that has been held for decades.

But you knew that already.

[leftynyc]

8. I understand your feelings about that thread

And I agree but neither of these threads is really helpful.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Yes - all sides need to stop violence

But I think the point is that both Obama and Bush condemned Arab violence, but Bush seemed to actively egg Israel on to warlike actions (used it as a pawn IMO), while Obama is making serious efforts to push *both* sides toward peace. Wishing him all luck in his endeavors!