Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Bringing Moderation Back

jorgelito · 09-03-2006, 10:56 AM

For awhile, all of our debates have been "stuck", going nowhere, dependent upon differnt news sources etc. This summer, I chose to see for myself. Some of you may know or maybe none of you (well, at least Elphaba does; much appreciated by the way), I was gone for the summer on a trip across Europe and the Middle East. I was in Egypt and Israel for the recent war and had a first hand experience. I was in Tel Aviv, Haifa, the border towns with Lebanon, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Eliat. My experience is mine, so it is entirely opinionated of course, but I am reasonable I think. We can debate that too if you'd like.

Anyways, it's been a long time coming but it is time consuming. I want to first post an illustration of the old adage, "There are two sides to every story" and try to find some points for civil discourse.

As a precursor, I will just put this out there. I am usually right of center but I try and keep an open mind (but not so open that my brain falls out). Take the info as you will, I didn't really want to say it but I felt it was necessary at this time. More to the point, I am a moderate. One of many. Yes, we are around in large numbers, often overlooked and not heard. I was inspired by the monster thread in Members - What happened to TFP so this is my small effort.

Here are some pics of the West Bank as of August 19th or so. One from the Israeli side, and from the Palestinian side.

From Israel:

From the West Bank:

I really like these pictures as they illustrate well the perspectives of the two sides. I also spoke with some Palestinians as well. It intersting how the same wall can generate such diametric views (sound familiar?).

The point: There's always more than meets the eye and sometimes, we are clouded by our own views.

My opinion: I understand the Israeli need for security, but I also see how it affects the Palestinians as well. What's interesting to me is, I sort of envisoned this wall as on we (the US) could conceivably employ with our border with Mexico. Then I realized how that would change the dynamic of the relationship between our two countries.

To me, the wall is very symbolic of the tit-for-tat nature of the Israeli-Arab conflict and how a few extremists on both sides have ruined it for everyone.

Thanks for listening.

09-03-2006, 10:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Bringing Moderation Back - Israel For awhile, all of our debates have been "stuck", going nowhere, dependent upon differnt news sources etc. This summer, I chose to see for myself. Some of you may know or maybe none of you (well, at least Elphaba does; much appreciated by the way), I was gone for the summer on a trip across Europe and the Middle East. I was in Egypt and Israel for the recent war and had a first hand experience. I was in Tel Aviv, Haifa, the border towns with Lebanon, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Eliat. My experience is mine, so it is entirely opinionated of course, but I am reasonable I think. We can debate that too if you'd like. Anyways, it's been a long time coming but it is time consuming. I want to first post an illustration of the old adage, "There are two sides to every story" and try to find some points for civil discourse. As a precursor, I will just put this out there. I am usually right of center but I try and keep an open mind (but not so open that my brain falls out). Take the info as you will, I didn't really want to say it but I felt it was necessary at this time. More to the point, I am a moderate. One of many. Yes, we are around in large numbers, often overlooked and not heard. I was inspired by the monster thread in Members - What happened to TFP so this is my small effort. Here are some pics of the West Bank as of August 19th or so. One from the Israeli side, and from the Palestinian side. From Israel: From the West Bank: I really like these pictures as they illustrate well the perspectives of the two sides. I also spoke with some Palestinians as well. It intersting how the same wall can generate such diametric views (sound familiar?). The point: There's always more than meets the eye and sometimes, we are clouded by our own views. My opinion: I understand the Israeli need for security, but I also see how it affects the Palestinians as well. What's interesting to me is, I sort of envisoned this wall as on we (the US) could conceivably employ with our border with Mexico. Then I realized how that would change the dynamic of the relationship between our two countries. To me, the wall is very symbolic of the tit-for-tat nature of the Israeli-Arab conflict and how a few extremists on both sides have ruined it for everyone. Thanks for listening.