When did Hamas become secular?

[shira]

If one reviews the rhetoric of the liberal "resistance" supporters, especially after the escalation of violence in Gaza, you'd think that Hamas is a liberal or secular group, not an Islamic faction.

During the nearly two years of systematic and brutal killing by the Syrian regime of the Syrian people who are resisting tyranny, many Arabs preferred to remain silent, justifying their denial by fear of the Islamists. But suddenly, when Hamas decided to respond to the Israeli attack on Gaza, this reaction was cheered as the ultimate resistance. It didn't matter who is resisting here and why. The Islamic nature of Hamas does not matter, only because it is against Israel.

This juvenile attitude of having one enemy, Israel, and justifying all other kinds of brutality and tyranny in the name of resistance is very common among many Lebanese and Arab leftists and liberals.

Do they ask if Hamas has been the best example of governance in Gaza, the way they question the Syrian opposition day and night? Never. At least Hamas had the chance to demonstrate what kind of state it envisions, and it has been obvious that it is not the secular, civil state the opposition is demanding in Syria.

This is not fair to the Syrian people who are trying, while dying by the hundreds every day, to prove to the world that they are not crazy fanatics. But it is also unfair for the Palestinians in Gaza. Leftist Arabs are clearly fine with an Islamist rule in Gaza but not in Syria. So the Palestinians do not deserve a secular or civil rule as the Syrians do?

To read more: http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=458240#ixzz2CiLUuue7

Word.

[shira]

1. Conclusion of article:

Unfortunately, the Arab awakening did not eliminate these moral double standards. The Syrian opposition can resist Assad as much as they want, but their cause will not be recognized by these leftists as long as some Islamists have joined them. Meanwhile, Hamas and Hezbollah can be as Islamist as they want; they will be forgiven, as long as they resist, or say they are resisting, Israel.

Hamas has not gone secular, but the leftists have long ago lost their compass.

To read more: http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=458240#ixzz2CiMRowcb

It's these "leftist" cheerleaders for Hamas who Marx, Engels, Kausky, and Luxemberg would never recognize as their political allies.

[Ken Burch]

7. Marx, Engels, Kautsky and Luxemberg would ALL denounce the attack on Gaza

They would oppose Hamas, but they would reject the argument that Hamas justifies everything that's being done. And they would be outraged at the suggestion that the people of Gaza should have to suffer because of the actions of the Hamas leadership.

[King_David]

9. You had a seance and asked them? nt

[Ken Burch]

12. You could ask that question of shira-she was the one who stated with certainty what they'd think.

I base my interpretation on the consistent opposition to militarism and territorial conquest all of those people held thoughout their lives.

Nice that, for once, she's not demonizing Marx, though. He was no more responsible for what happened under "actually existing socialism" than Jesus was for the Inquisition.

[ret5hd]

2. Quit taking their land.

[shira]

3. Helen Thomas, is that you? Israel left Gaza 7 yrs ago. n/t

Last edited Mon Nov 19, 2012, 09:30 PM - Edit history (1)

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. LOL

Do you ever check your sources before posting, or do you just assume that if an Arab is spouting blatently conservative and/or Saudi/Israeli talking points then it must be good?

[shira]

5. Fail. All ad hominem. No substance. n/t

[Alamuti Lotus]

6. No that was actually something of a serious question

Last edited Tue Nov 20, 2012, 02:06 AM - Edit history (1)

Are you much familiar with that site? Like, what party it speaks for, just how much funding they get from the Saudis and the US embassy to operate, etc?

[Ken Burch]

8. Fill us in...shira needs to know and the rest of us would like the details.

Likud apologists always give the Saudis a pass on human rights issues.

[Mosby]

10. yeah, they don't like hezbo and support march 14

So I guess that makes them biased.

[Ken Burch]

11. I don't know what march 14 is.

And I'm not part of "you guys". I just speak for myself, thank you.

[Scootaloo]

13. It's Quincy Jones' birthday

Aside from that? I got nothin'

[Ken Burch]

14. It's some sort of anti-Syrian political alliance in Lebanon...the poster who referenced it

no doubt brought it up to repeat the false accusation that critics of Israeli security policy are all pro-Assad(something he knows perfectly well is bullshit).

I'd actually be glad to see Syrian influence out of Lebanon. And a guarantee that the IDF will never attack Lebanese territory again, for that matter, since that's just as bad as the Syrians trying to influence Lebanese politics.

[Scootaloo]

15. Oh, so, same ol' same ol' from Mosby, gotcha.

Well, at least the mystery is solved.

[oberliner]

16. That says a lot

Were you out of town during the Cedar Revolution?

[Ken Burch]

17. I've since researched the term.

I knew of the Cedar Revolution, of course, and support the removal of all Syrian(as well as Israeli)influence from Lebanon. I simply hadn't heard the term "March 14" used as though everybody, everywhere should autumatically know what it means.

It was presumptuous of the other poster to assume that I and others who oppose what Israeli is doing to Lebanon would be pro-Assad, OR would oppose the concepts behind March 14.

[oberliner]

18. Israeli influence in Lebanon?

What are you talking about?

What is Israel doing to Lebanon?