It sounds like youre quite busy these days. I cant say the same thing as Im doing some vacationing and enjoying such much needed time off. If you find the time id realyu appreacaite it if you responded to some of the questions i posed under that offensive kid with the bare shoulders post. I see that you sort of dodged them the first time, so i restated them. Mucho appreaciated, take it easy

Posted by Ahmed at August 25, 2006 01:07 AM

Ahmed, it's not from G.M., but there's a pretty tough response from Seth to you at that post.

Sometime back, you asked me a question about whether or not I condemned Israel for some wrongs. I condemn all wrongs, but I have no heritage considerations and only a minor stake in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict--so, I don't get passionate about that. However, if Scotland goes to war with England again, I'll have more to say.

Posted by Woody at August 25, 2006 09:15 AM

Woodruff i was asking Gm Roper about a specific but very important claim he made which ive argued is not only totally false but also quite revealing in its dishonesty and historical ignorance. As for your buddy Seth i read that convaluted rant, which had nothing to do with anything i wrote but responded to it regardless. Thats it for him though. I dont consider him a serious person at all. By the way I have no heritage claim in the israeli/palestinian conflict either and ive long argued that at its core its not about religion but dispossesion, land, resources and competing narratives. I count people like the late Edward Said, Christopher Hitchens, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu as well as Israeli jews like Uri Avnery, Amira Hass, Gideon Levy and the refuseniks on my side. But lets suspend this particuloar discussion for the time being

Posted by Ahmed at August 26, 2006 08:43 AM

Ahmed, I know G.M. well enough to assure you that dishonesty is not a word that defines him. I think that it is more appropriate to say that you two are working from different perspectives, different sets of information, and/or different belief systems.

In regards to Seth, he can take up for himself; but, while I see a lot of passion in him from one side, I'm not sure that what he wrote is inaccurate, even if it doesn't satisfy your answer requirements.

While I agree that some of the Arab-Israeli conflcit is over land and resources, the hostilities between the groups extend to lands throughout the world where they have no economic stake in the matter. There definitely is a religious war between those sides.

I'm not sure what you meant by "competing naratives." As far as who is "on your side," I wouldn't want to be on the same side of everyone whom you named.

When G.M. gets back in circulation, he can take this up further with you. But, rest assured, he discusses issues honestly and intelligently. If you dispute his facts, then clear those up. If you dispute his honesty, then that "fact" of yours is wrong.

Posted by Woody at August 26, 2006 12:41 PM