Zipperfish Zipperfish:
I'm interested as to why this low-level conflict half a world away inspires so much fear and loathing over here in Canada. Of all the left-right issues that come and go, this one seems to result in the most invective nad vitriol and even physical violence. I don't really get it.
From what I see the invective here is almost all from the pro-Israel side. From claiming that the posters questioning Israel are pro-Hamas, to Martin's full on charge of anti-semitism (but not willing to back it up) what I see is hard right pro Israel vs people who are more balanced. Even all the claims from Brah how biased the MSM is against Israel, when all I read in the MSM are op eds saying Israel has the right to defend itself. It seems just reporting on Palestinians casualties is deemed biased against Israel. Then somebody like Bart will claim the casualties are inflicted by Hamas themselves. FD is all over this of course with his bullshit sources and claims.
I think this comes from knowing that Israel is also culpable here, that there's no excuse for the settlements, and the cognitive dissonance that comes from knowing that but wanting to see Israel as wearing the white hat. And of course the sympathy that comes from seeing Israel as surrounded by enemies that want its destruction. The latter is a valid point, but when you start holding Israel blameless no matter what they do, it no longer is.