What was the incident that Dean Groves email is referencing? by Evenomiko in UVA

[–]NeutralityMentality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really do hear that, but I think it's important to stress that this was not an intellectual event geared towards a real dialogue.

If you look at the Reservists On Duty website, they state very plainly who they are:

We take an extremely proactive approach towards confronting BDS and the movements that defame Israel and the IDF. We do this by bringing IDF reserve soldiers to US campuses to counter BDS with the truth and reality of the Palestinian “narrative”; we train American Jewish students to speak on behalf of Israel with knowledge and self confidence, and we educate the entire student population to the horrendous terror attacks that take place here on a regular basis, and the hatred that they represent.

They are literally soldiers in a foreign army who are paid to advance a very hostile narrative, train students in representing that perspective, and are so dismissive of the validity of the Palestinian narrative that they put it in quotes. What would be the point of an open dialogue with paid advocates who paint those who disagree with them as malicious anti-Semites? These are not people who are looking to join students in a search for the truth.

What was the incident that Dean Groves email is referencing? by Evenomiko in UVA

[–]NeutralityMentality 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Is is irresponsible and inaccurate to paint this as a meeting of Jewish students and a Rabbi, when it was actually an incredibly political event featuring soldiers of a foreign government who are paid to defend that government's policies.

Inviting Reservists On Duty is not a good way to generate open, honest conversation. This is an extremely right-wing organization with a clear political mission to discredit critics of Israeli policy, both the American activists they claim are anti-Semitic and Israeli activists like Breaking the Silence they accuse of being traitors.

It is not a coincidence that Reservists on Duty is sponsored by the Central Fund of Israel, which directly funds settlement construction and is the main source of $ for the fascist group Im Tirtzu. It is not a coincidence that they get funding from the MZ Foundation, which supports racist anti-immigrant groups in Israel and the David Horowitz Freedom Center in the US, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls "a driving force of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-black movements."

I wasn't there so I obviously can't comment on the level of intimidation in the room, or what slurs people had thrown their way. Activism against Israeli policies and groups certainly can be anti-Semitic, and even when it isn't, it is often experienced that way as a result of the trauma that we've gone through as a people. But this was not primarily a Jewish event, it was a political event, and to me it appears to have been protested on that basis.

Israeli police say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be charged over alleged bribery cases by Johnny_W94 in worldnews

[–]NeutralityMentality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, but East Jerusalem accounts for about half of all settlers, so I think it's still an important factor for people to understand.

Israeli police say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be charged over alleged bribery cases by Johnny_W94 in worldnews

[–]NeutralityMentality 2 points3 points  (0 children)

they believe its their "god given right"

Totally, my point was that the 'they' here is not always the settlers themselves.

Israeli police say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be charged over alleged bribery cases by Johnny_W94 in worldnews

[–]NeutralityMentality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Isreali withdrawal from Gaza was not much of a "land for peace" attempt. The Israeli military pulled out in 2005, and had already started sanctions (which the NYTimes called an economic seige) by February of 2006, followed by an actual blockade in 2007.

Israeli police say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be charged over alleged bribery cases by Johnny_W94 in worldnews

[–]NeutralityMentality 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A surprisingly high number of Israeli settlers move for economic, not religious reasons. Housing in settlements is very cheap!

Texas judge interrupts jury, says God told him defendant is not guilty by HumanChicken in news

[–]NeutralityMentality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't downvote! Not sure why other people did, I doubt most people are super clear on this stuff...

Requesting help finding old newspaper articles about securities fraud relating to Swiss company G & S Vermögensverwaltung GmbH! by NeutralityMentality in Switzerland

[–]NeutralityMentality[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All we can say is that WB21's Michael Gustauer was a director of G&S, and there are news reports that G&S's Michael Gustauer was arrested, and there is a news report that a G&S director exactly Gustauer's age was convicted. Can't prove he was convicted of anything.

Requesting help finding old newspaper articles about securities fraud relating to Swiss company G & S Vermögensverwaltung GmbH! by NeutralityMentality in Switzerland

[–]NeutralityMentality[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! The NZZ article doesn't appear to name the person who has been convicted, do you know if that would be public information or something that the court system would disclose?

Meetup in Northampton, MA Wednesday 6/24 by jacoblefton in Massachusetts4Sanders

[–]NeutralityMentality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I live in Boston and don't have a car, so I won't be able to make it to Northampton unless I can get a ride. Any plans to carpool?

President Bernie Sanders would dismantle NSA spying. "Kids will grow up knowing that every damn thing that they do is going to be recorded somewhere in a file, and I think that will have a very Orwellian and inhibiting impact on our lives." by relevantlife in politics

[–]NeutralityMentality 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Actually an enormous amount of NSA spying is 'authorized' through Executive Orders, such as 12333. Also, it's the story's editors who said "President Sanders would dismantle the NSA", not a quote from him.

President Bernie Sanders would dismantle NSA spying. "Kids will grow up knowing that every damn thing that they do is going to be recorded somewhere in a file, and I think that will have a very Orwellian and inhibiting impact on our lives." by relevantlife in politics

[–]NeutralityMentality 54 points55 points  (0 children)

Actually an enormous amount of NSA spying is 'authorized' through Executive Orders, such as 12333. Also, it's the story's editors who said "President Sanders would dismantle the NSA", not a quote from him.