I have read over 50ish of these comments below. I have not seen anyone talk about actual experiences working in the Middle East (ME) or in Palestine. I personally worked in the ME through multiple deployments and worked side by side with individuals and groups. The cultures, religions and ways of thinking is very different than what we do in the Western World (WW).
I think the two guests are subject to the Ivory Tower fallacy, working and researching within the safety of the WW. Along with all the privileges accompanying WW citizens at home and abroad. My guess is they have never been told to their face "It is my duty as a descendent of Mohammad to kill you and all Americans" while in conversation during a routine patrol in Southern Iraq. For further context I knew others who loved me like a brother and would die or kill for me but if it was any other American they would kill them without a second thought just because they were American. This is a cultural complexity we in the WW have a extremally difficult time understanding.
On the grandest scale this is a fight of ideas, of a way of life, of how societies should function and on the Palestinian/Hamas verses Jew/Israelis front the right for the Israelis to exist in the ME.
The act of October 7, 2023 was not a political act, a terrorist act, it was an act of genocide. A violent political act/terrorist act is one in which the aggressor is wanting to make a societal change not the eradication of a whole people denying their right to exist at all no matter the location. Which is what Hamas has stated many times as their perfect end state.
genocide /jĕn′ə-sīd″/ noun
1. The systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of a national, racial, religious, or ethnic group.
2. The systematic killing of a racial or cultural group.
"the Nazi genocide of Jews left few in Germany or Poland after World War II"
Similar: race murderracial extermination
3. The systematic killing of substantial numbers of people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, political opinion, social status, or other particularity.
4. Acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or a significant portion of, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
5. Systematic killing of a racial or cultural group.
I have placed the definition of genocide in this comment to show the guests of this episode because it seems they have forgotten what the word is, means or blindly look the other way feigning ignorance of the difference between the two groups currently in conflict. I suggest they go back to their respective colleges where they received their degrees and ask for a refund.
Actions speak louder than words. In this conflict Hamas/Palestinian people have almost always killed indiscriminately both military and civilian targets and done so in the most barbaric way possible. Doing it with glee and malas. The Israeli Défense Forces (IDF) have not. Granted the IDF have made mistakes but as a whole they do at least try to look like trying not to kill civilians. Yes, I know some of the IDF Commanders and the Prim Minister have said some very horrible things but I would say look at the actions. If the IDF wanted to truly kill all Palestinians they could do so but they do not.
Whether you want to believe it or not the Palestinian people and Islam in the ME in general, is a culture of never questioning the teachings of their religious leaders, political leaders and local leaders. To do so would be blasphemy on many levels. Hamas has done nothing to make the Palestinian peoples lives better, but I can guarantee within the school system and workforce Hamas beats it into their heads all their suffering is not because Hamas is not trying its because of the Israelis. A prime example of this brain washing can be seen/heard in the recording of one Palestinians communication with his parents during the Oct 7th attack. Sam Harris describes the communication verbatim in one of his podcasts and so do many others who have confirmed the communication is legitimate.
This got very longwinded.
I could do more but at the end of the day in my opinion (IMO) and experience these so called experts are missing a vast majority of the information to make a real opinion on this conflict and should have more dialectics with people they do not agree with and have more knowledge than them.
There is a good and bad side of this conflict.
If Hamas were to lay down its arms and profess peace, there would be peace. If the Israelis were to lay down its arms and profess peace, their would not be a Israeli state nor would there be a Jew between the "River to the Sea". Ultimately, its all any lay person needs to understand. IMO
I have read over 50ish of these comments below. I have not seen anyone talk about actual experiences working in the Middle East (ME) or in Palestine. I personally worked in the ME through multiple deployments and worked side by side with individuals and groups. The cultures, religions and ways of thinking is very different than what we do in the Western World (WW).
I think the two guests are subject to the Ivory Tower fallacy, working and researching within the safety of the WW. Along with all the privileges accompanying WW citizens at home and abroad. My guess is they have never been told to their face "It is my duty as a descendent of Mohammad to kill you and all Americans" while in conversation during a routine patrol in Southern Iraq. For further context I knew others who loved me like a brother and would die or kill for me but if it was any other American they would kill them without a second thought just because they were American. This is a cultural complexity we in the WW have a extremally difficult time understanding.
On the grandest scale this is a fight of ideas, of a way of life, of how societies should function and on the Palestinian/Hamas verses Jew/Israelis front the right for the Israelis to exist in the ME.
The act of October 7, 2023 was not a political act, a terrorist act, it was an act of genocide. A violent political act/terrorist act is one in which the aggressor is wanting to make a societal change not the eradication of a whole people denying their right to exist at all no matter the location. Which is what Hamas has stated many times as their perfect end state.
genocide /jĕn′ə-sīd″/ noun
1. The systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of a national, racial, religious, or ethnic group.
2. The systematic killing of a racial or cultural group.
"the Nazi genocide of Jews left few in Germany or Poland after World War II"
Similar: race murderracial extermination
3. The systematic killing of substantial numbers of people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, political opinion, social status, or other particularity.
4. Acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or a significant portion of, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
5. Systematic killing of a racial or cultural group.
I have placed the definition of genocide in this comment to show the guests of this episode because it seems they have forgotten what the word is, means or blindly look the other way feigning ignorance of the difference between the two groups currently in conflict. I suggest they go back to their respective colleges where they received their degrees and ask for a refund.
Actions speak louder than words. In this conflict Hamas/Palestinian people have almost always killed indiscriminately both military and civilian targets and done so in the most barbaric way possible. Doing it with glee and malas. The Israeli Défense Forces (IDF) have not. Granted the IDF have made mistakes but as a whole they do at least try to look like trying not to kill civilians. Yes, I know some of the IDF Commanders and the Prim Minister have said some very horrible things but I would say look at the actions. If the IDF wanted to truly kill all Palestinians they could do so but they do not.
Whether you want to believe it or not the Palestinian people and Islam in the ME in general, is a culture of never questioning the teachings of their religious leaders, political leaders and local leaders. To do so would be blasphemy on many levels. Hamas has done nothing to make the Palestinian peoples lives better, but I can guarantee within the school system and workforce Hamas beats it into their heads all their suffering is not because Hamas is not trying its because of the Israelis. A prime example of this brain washing can be seen/heard in the recording of one Palestinians communication with his parents during the Oct 7th attack. Sam Harris describes the communication verbatim in one of his podcasts and so do many others who have confirmed the communication is legitimate.
This got very longwinded.
I could do more but at the end of the day in my opinion (IMO) and experience these so called experts are missing a vast majority of the information to make a real opinion on this conflict and should have more dialectics with people they do not agree with and have more knowledge than them.
There is a good and bad side of this conflict.
If Hamas were to lay down its arms and profess peace, there would be peace. If the Israelis were to lay down its arms and profess peace, their would not be a Israeli state nor would there be a Jew between the "River to the Sea". Ultimately, its all any lay person needs to understand. IMO