You would think a country created as a homeland for a people who were massacred and abused for so long would be more empathetic towards the plights of others.

Instead, America sends them billions in military “aid” every year. How very backwards.

There is no rationalization, excuse, or a justification, for racism and intolerance, and there is no rationalization, excuse, or justification, for a racist and intolerant state.

It is entirely possible that the state of Israel and the people who live there are walking in a totally different direction than their mainstream supporters abroad, and ultimately that will prove to be [far] less than helpful to them.

A new survey of American Jewish opinion, released by the American Jewish Committee, demonstrates several important propositions: (1) right-wing neocons (the Bill Kristol/Commentary/ AIPAC/Marty Peretz faction) who relentlessly claim to speak for Israel and for Jews generally hold views that are shared only by a small minority of American Jews; (2) viewpoints that are routinely demonized as reflective of animus towards Israel or even anti-Semitism are ones that are held by large majorities of American Jews; and (3) most American Jews oppose U.S. military action in the Middle East — including both in Iraq and against Iran.

>There is no rationalization, excuse, or a justification, for racism and intolerance,

There are certainly excuses for intolerance; I decided to be intolerant of the cultures which treat children and women as second-class or non-citizens (which nearly all cultures have at one time done, but some are more stubbornly resistant to change and egregious than others, and there are now too many good examples for those cultures to feign ignorance or fear of change) a long time ago. All cultures have at least some redeeming qualities and beauty, but for some there is not enough to mitigate the dark side. I do not care to tolerate them; I prefer to marginalize and change them. I despise them.

As for “racism”, it’s a broad brush. In the sense I think you mean it, I agree. But “culturalism” - social practices as opposed to inherited characteristics - is fair game.

Dagh–nammit b!! Did you forget to check your luggage again? You know how Lily gets when you bring back troles from these little jaunts of yours, you better have got her something really nice this time ’cause she’s pi$$ed.

…… a brand new batch of mead, just delivered yesterday, in REAL OAK barrels even, and she’s storming around the Hall of Heros kicking things and muttering “propaganda indeed, I’ll show them propaganda!!” in that scary voice of hers — and fresh mead or no me and treehugger is just plain afraid to go down there this time so you get over here quick and give her her present already; we’re thirsty!!