Can someone help me understand why Republicans hate Palestinians

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

Yesterday I got into a major, major argument with a friend of mine who is a Republican. Whenever we try and have a conversation about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it invariably ends up being one-sided: the Palestinians (read: Muslims) are evil-doers who deserve to be destroyed. Israel is only protecting itself, he says. The Palestinians aren't rising up and protesting Hamas; therefore, they must coondone what its government is doing...and therefore, they should be destroyed, including a regardless of the number of civilian casualties.

Now, the Republican Party has a history of anti-semitism. They never gave a shit about Jews or Israel because American Jews tended to vote Democratic. Now, suddenly they are fervent supporters of the Jews and of Israel. Their utilitarian view towards the Palestinian and the Muslim world is baffling: they don't care about the suffering of innocent people. When I attempted to explain to my Republican friend that there are Israeli's and Palestinians who are working towards peace and reconciliation, he would hear nothing of it. He cheered as the attacks on Gaza continues and he has no concept of human suffering.

(To Add: This person exhibits this same attitude against human suffering when we discusse the unions and people losing their jobs. It's the same attitude against the working poor, this "ends justify means" mentality. Essentially, to save the few, it is necessary to punish everyone. For example, on the issue of racial profiling, it's o.k. to single out Muslims or "Arab-looking" people because that is necessary to keep the country safe. It is unconscionable why many Republicans are so cold-hearted and don't care about people losing jobs, suffering, innocent people being bombed, etc. I have a difficult time understanding the hatred that these people have for other human beings.)

[riverdale]

1. It's not just Republicans

That's basically the position of all American politicians

[ShortnFiery]

48. USA's few Politicians don't support this Gaza incursion are labeled "crazy" and not taken

seriously by the M$M, i.e., Cynthia McKinney and Dennis Kucinich.

[bunnies]

2. I think you answered your own question.

" the Palestinians (read: Muslims) "

The enemy of my enemy and all that. Just a guess.

[SoCalDem]

20. If you don't love Jesus, you deserve to die

and if you don't support the militaristic US ally/outpost in the "arab" world, you deserve to be shouted down and/or ignored..

[bunnies]

22. bingo.

Oh and it doesnt hurt to support torture. No, not "real" torture - just soft torture. Things like withholding food, water, electricity and medical assistance.

That'll show 'em.

[madeline_con]

52. How do I turn it off?!!

[SoCalDem]

59. mea culpa.. just keep clicking & it goes away..

sorry.. It's gone now.. I mistakenly thought it was funny..:spank:

When my son sent it to me, I just turned the speakers down & let rick sing his heart out, and it eventually stopped:)

forgive me? please..?

[Cant trust em]

3. "They should be destroyed, including a regardless of the number of civilian casualties."

was this the literal argument?

Wow.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

Yes. He could not comprehend that it is the Palestinian government, not the

innocent people who should be the target. He just didn't seem to understand nor care about the suffering of civilians. He just kept asserting over and over again that Palestine needs to be taught a lesson; that Israel has been subjected to daily rockets and now they have to do whatever is necessary to destroy Hamas. If civilians are killed in the process, then so be it. The ultimate goal is Hamas. And since the people don't rise up against their oppressive government, they either flee or be destroyed along with it. No matter what I said, he continued to repeat this meme over and over again.

THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS!

ETA: I noticed a lot of typos in OP. Forgive me for that. I have just been so angry about this situation...

[Cant trust em]

27. He sounds like Osama bin Laden.

It's an argument on why it would be OK to smash planes into WTC.

[StreetKnowledge]

31. I can top that even.

Some people I know agree with that statement, but also say that Israel should tell the Arab world "whichever one of you supports terrorism, you're next."

Considering the crap they spewed about Obama being a Muslim, I don't think its so much about terrorists at all. They just hate Muslims. The sad part of that is that Islam and Christianity (and Judaism) are all based on the Old Testament. They are more similar than most think.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

33. Yes. That's what I think it is. This is about hating Muslims. Period.

He has no issue with racial profiling at airports, for instance. Like many people--both Repukes and Democrats--the argument is couched in terms of "protecting America against terrorists." That most terrorists--they say--are Muslim, then ALL MUSLIMS must be terrorists. That most suicide bombers are Muslims, then ALL Muslims are suicide bombers. And the argument that most Muslims and citizens of the Arab world (even though many are Christian), do not rise up against the terror attacks, then they must necessarily condone those attacks; therefore, Israel is justified in any and all acts of aggression.

Please understand that I support Israel 100% and that I am NOT an anti-Semite. But to assert that everything Israel does is right and justifiable and everyone else is evil, and if one does not support Israel in everything it does, then one does not support Israel and is an enemy of the Jews, is horrible and short-sighted. I think that kind of mentality fuels the hatred around the Muslim and Arab world against the Jews.

[ShortnFiery]

51. I can hear some of my GOP acquaintances now ...

Don't ya see that the A-Rabs are "tribal" and "primitive" people who only understand FORCE. :puke:

GAWD! The willful ignorance is palatable. :(

[Gwendolyn]

67. Republicans hate Israelis and Jews in general, as well.

At the present moment, they're just useful is all.

There are apparently plenty of Dems, or DUers at least, who think it's perfectly fine to target Jews for violence in other countries as punishment for the current Israeli/Palestinian situation. There are quite a few posts proposing that "guilt by association" is justified. That and the fact that Jews just don't seem to be shouting condemnations loud enough. Ergo, Jews worldwide deserve to be beaten or killed. I really don't see how that's any different. It just goes to show that even some Dems don't particularly care about justice or human suffering either. Like everyone else, they care that their "side" wins.

[hlthe2b]

4. because they are a convenient alternate focus...

Just a substitute focus for their hate. They really hate black people, but to say so has (some) consequences and they really MUST hate SOMEONE. Defending Israelis makes them seem less the total hate-filled bigots that they are--at least in their little minds.
:shrug:

[TheWraith]

5. They're brown-skinned and mostly non-Christian.

For that matter even the Christian ones don't really count to Republicans.

The evangelicals have a lot to do with this because they think that Israel needs to be there (and control all the territory around it) for Jesus to come back. (At which point all the Jews are supposed to die or convert, showing you the limits of the evangelicals' love of the Jews.)

[JuniperLea]

19. Yep... it's like that Twilight Zone episode...

But the Jews don't get that "it's a cookbook" deal... or they are ignoring it in disbelief because of the extra efforts and $$ going to their support.

[TheWraith]

24. There's a great scene in the last season of The Sopranos...

(One of the few great scenes in that season, but I digress...)

They're talking about an evangelical preacher Tony met, along with Hesh Rabkin and a friend of his. She says that whatever you might think of the evangelicals, they're great friends of Israel.

Hesh just looks at her and knowingly replies. "Wait."

[JuniperLea]

37. Wow...

I wonder how many viewers got it.

[T Wolf]

6. WHY is this person still a friend? Seems like everything they believe (or at least,

what you cite) is very hateful.

Why do you waste your time with them?

[Dennis Donovan]

15. TMBG break:

This is where the party ends
I cant stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

It was the loveliest party that Ive ever attended
If anything was broken Im sure it could be mended
My head cant tolerate this bobbing and pretending
Listen to some bullet-head and the madness that hes saying

This is where the party ends
Ill just sit here wondering how you
Can stand by your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
You and your racist friend

This is where the party ends
I cant stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

Out from the kitchen to the bedroom to the hallway
Your friend apologizes, he could see it my way
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking
Cant shake the devils hand and say youre only kidding

This is where the party ends
I cant stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

:rofl:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. I agree. Why I waste my time trying to educate him is beyond me.

I should give up.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

30. That's what I don't understand. Other than his political views, he is a good person...

He's not greedy or spiteful as many Republicans are. It baffles me when we get into political discussions because it's like all reasoning and empathy for others go out the window. He doesn't live his everyday life as his political philosophy dictates. He volunteers for public schools; he speaks about helping the homeless, needy children, etc. But when it comes to having conversations about politics, he becomes this cold-hearted, mean-spirited person who has this "fuck 'em" attitude. Anyone who is down on their luck should be blamed for their plight in life. The unions are despised by this person, no matter what facts are presented. It's un-American! Protect foreign companies because he thinks they make better products...that capitalism at work. Whoever loses out took a gamble and lost. Too bad for them. That's how he thinks! Again, it's baffling!

[n2doc]

7. They don't give the Rebub party enough $$$

If they did (or could) outspend the various Jewish lobbies, they would be our best buddies, just like the Saudis and Kuwaitis....It really only comes down to that.

[Sanctified]

8. Remind them that there are more Christians living in Palestinian territories than in Israel. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

36. I did. There are many Christians living in the Arab world.

[Sanctified]

41. Well Christianity did start there. A lot of Republicans like to think Christianity started in Europe

and Christ had blond hair and blue eyes.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. I expect that of Republicans. They hate everyone who isn't them

But it sickens the hell out of me when I see it from alleged "Democrats".

When I see people claiming to be Democrats, even "liberals" and "progressives", cheering on the carnage in Gaza, hoping for a Netanyahu election in February, and openly salivating over that lunatic genocidal bastard bombing Iran.... well that makes me wanna puke :puke:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

40. I kicked a couple of them out of my house last week. They were cheering

and pumping their arms as we watched CNN's coverage of the bombings. I threw them out of my house, along with my Republican "friend". These were indeed liberals like myself. It was the first time that I witnessed Republicans and so-called liberal Democrats agree on anything and celebrate.

[nxylas]

10. Muslims are the new Jews

Plus it ties into their wacky religious eschatology where Israel has to...I dunno, something to do with the rapture.

[ShortnFiery]

46. Bingo! And the crazy wing of the GOP dreams of "Delta Force" killing them all.

:crazy:

[Democrats_win]

11. I feel sorry for anyone who must deal with such a mindset.

My uncle is the same way. No point in arguing with them. Just nod and move on. Or celebrate the power that they will be losing in 15 days.

[Az]

12. The simple answer is

Jews are seen as allies as they are the religion from which Christianity sprung. Muslims are seen as the enemy because they are a corruption of Abrahamic beliefs. Furthermore Christians believe that Jews are still needed in God's greater plan. Muslims they tend to associate more with Satan or evil.

So while Jews do not agree with Christians (read Republicans in the short view) they are seen as important in the history, tradition, and prophecy of Christianity. Islam is seen as an aboration and as a primitive belief by short sighted people.

[rateyes]

13. It has to do with a whacked out theology called "dispensational premillenialism."

"Left Behind" books spout it all the time. That's why Lieberman loves Pastor Hagee.

[MadHound]

14. Interesting, I've seem much of the same mindset around here

Why do so many Democrats hate the Palestinians?

[bunnies]

17. thats the million dollar question. nt

[Cleita]

16. They don't like Israelis either. Too Jewish for them. They are only backing

Israel right now because it has a conservative government that our neo-cons love.

[Hawkowl]

18. No money and No oil means no use nt

[Idealism]

21. Very, Very simple

It is a mix of ideologies coming together:

One:The GOP is for military aggression, usually, but more so than anything they are a religious "Christian values/Conservative values" party.

Two:The Israeli state is in the deep throes of the military-industrial complex, and they have had a long standing dislike of all things Muslim (they targeted mosques early on in the bombings of Gaza, often while people were in prayer).

Three:The GOP, being a Christian party, dislikes Muslim's because they think they are wrongfully living in the Holy Land.

Thus, the GOP does not tolerate Muslims, which also plays to the latent racism of the Republican Party, and their "Southern Strategy"

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. I couldn't articulate it better if I tried.

[Idealism]

42. Thank you, sir!

I take pride in my snap-analysis.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. You're welcome. I'm bouncing my boobies because I'm very much a girl. :)

[Idealism]

45. Maybe you could explain that to me

Randi Rhodes always plays that song every Friday(?) and I never get why or where it's from. Can you enlighten me, ma'am?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. LOL!! Not really sure, but Randi does play the song every Friday

She makes fun of her large breasts. I guess it's just a celebration of being a girl and it's fun...

http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=477

Released: 1961 (Stavro Arrgolus)
Author(s): Rusty Warren (Stavro Arrgolus)
Producer:
Released By: Jubilee 2039 (Stavro Arrgolus)



Reviews:
Facts:
From the album "Rusty Warren Bounces Back" (Stavro Arrgolus)

Web pages about this song:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounce_Your_Boobies (MarlinsGirl)
Where to Buy:

Song Lyrics:
You know girls, it's great to live in a democracy today, where freedom is everywhere. But girls, we often take this freedom for granted: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and freedom of action. But you know gals, just because a bunch of men signed that Declaration Of Independence in 1776, doesn't mean that freedom was for men alone. Oh no, you take Tom Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Hancock - he's a helluva guy for you right there! All these men had wives. They probably had a few broads on the side too. These women wanted freedom just as much as their men did. But gals, I wonder, do we? I think it's time that we women thought about it a bit. Hell, I think
it's time we did something about it. So come on, fellow females of the 20th century! Be glad that you're an American! Proclaim your freedom! Stand at attention! Pledge Allegiance! And...

Bounce your boobies, get into the swing.
Bounce your boobies, the swing is everything.
Makes no difference if they're big or small,
As long as you - ooh! - give 'em your all.

Bounce your boobies.
Come on, honey, bounce 'em up and down.
Bounce your boobies.
Come on, bounce your boobies, honey. Come on.

Loosen the bra that binds you!
Take it off if you feel like it!
Come on, bounce your boobies.
Here we go. Doesn't that feel good?
Bounce your boobies.

You know girls, men aren't the only people in the world today that have something to give, but it sure looks like it sometimes. Just look around you - men stick out all over the place. Big fat cigars. Big fat stomachs. And just where they should stick out - phhbtt! - where is it?!

Yes, girls, we know what we've got, and we know what they're worth. So come on, gals, let's get into the swing of things. Give your boobies some freedom! All together now!

Bounce your boobies, let 'em rock 'n' roll.
Nudge your knockers, keep 'em hot and so.
Just admit it, gals, it sure feels great
To feel them swingin', ooh, titilate!

Bounce your boobies.
Come on, bounce 'em up and down, honey.
Bounce your boobies.
There, look at that gal, she's goin' at it.
Bounce your boobies.
Oh, doesn't that feel good?
Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce,
Bounce your boobies now!

Bounce your boobies everybody!

[Idealism]

63. LOL Well done

Meticulous and rich.

[treestar]

23. Where they are fundie Christians it is a natural part of the end of days

:rofl:

Others have egos that benefit from US butt-kicking abilities, and the Muslims are the current enemy (now that there are no more communists) and the Israelis obviously are on the same side, so there you go.

[madrchsod]

25. yup it`s the rapture folks...pat robertson started the ball rolling

i remember jews could`t join country clubs and were pretty much second class citizens with "money". course republicans would never want their wasp daughter or son marrying one of "them". our society has benefited from many great jewish intellectuals, artist, a political leaders.

[killbotfactory]

26. They don't understand or believe that the environment a person lives in can effect their behavior

If you are a criminal, you are a criminal, and it's no use trying to understand why. If you are lazy, or unemployed, or poor, or sick, it's your own fault for not doing whatever the hell they think you should have done to prevent it. It doesn't matter what challenges you've faced, or the people you've relied on for guidance, or anything else that obviously effects the way we behave.

It partly why they hate seeing "their" tax money go to social programs. They don't understand how the environment they were born into has effected them or influenced them to make the decisions they have made, and do the things they have done.


They basically fail to show empathy or understanding towards those they view as the enemy. Whether that be muslims, jews, minorities, gays, the lazy, poor, sick, drug addicts, criminals, liberals, etc.

[John Q. Citizen]

28. Christian evangelical ideas about Armageddon

[TahitiNut]

29. Ask Michael Ledeen, Richard Perle, R. James Woolsey, Dick Cheney, John Bolton, Douglas Feith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Institute_for_National_Security_Affairs
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20020902/vest

For example, the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board--chaired by JINSA/CSP adviser and former Reagan Administration Defense Department official Richard Perle, and stacked with advisers from both groups--recently made news by listening to a briefing that cast Saudi Arabia as an enemy to be brought to heel through a number of potential mechanisms, many of which mirror JINSA's recommendations, and which reflect the JINSA/CSP crowd's preoccupation with Egypt. (The final slide of the Defense Policy Board presentation proposed that "Grand Strategy for the Middle East" should concentrate on "Iraq as the tactical pivot, Saudi Arabia as the strategic pivot Egypt as the prize.") Ledeen has been leading the charge for regime change in Iran, while old comrades like Andrew Marshall and Harold Rhode in the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment actively tinker with ways to re-engineer both the Iranian and Saudi governments. JINSA is also cheering the US military on as it tries to secure basing rights in the strategic Red Sea country of Eritrea, happily failing to mention that the once-promising secular regime of President Isaiais Afewerki continues to slide into the kind of repressive authoritarianism practiced by the "axis of evil" and its adjuncts.

Indeed, there are some in military and intelligence circles who have taken to using "axis of evil" in reference to JINSA and CSP, along with venerable repositories of hawkish thinking like the American Enterprise Institute and the Hudson Institute, as well as defense contractors, conservative foundations and public relations entities underwritten by far-right American Zionists (all of which help to underwrite JINSA and CSP). It's a milieu where ideology and money seamlessly blend: "Whenever you see someone identified in print or on TV as being with the Center for Security Policy or JINSA championing a position on the grounds of ideology or principle--which they are unquestionably doing with conviction--you are, nonetheless, not informed that they're also providing a sort of cover for other ideologues who just happen to stand to profit from hewing to the Likudnik and Pax Americana lines," says a veteran intelligence officer. He notes that while the United States has begun a phaseout of civilian aid to Israel that will end by 2007, government policy is to increase military aid by half the amount of civilian aid that's cut each year--which is not only a boon to both the US and Israeli weapons industries but is also crucial to realizing the far right's vision for missile defense and the Middle East.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

32. Because they hate Muslims and poor people.

It's not that hard to figure out.

[EFerrari]

34. Because most of them are racist assholes. n/t

[anonymous171]

39. They are brown, poor, and foreign.

Need I say more?

[Rockholm]

43. A Saudi Princess explained it all to me one day.......

A couple of years ago, I knew this girl from Saudi Arabia. She was a customer of an employer that I had. One day we started talking politics, as this was right before the 2004 election. She and her family loved George W. Bush. We started talking about the Palestinians. She said that most Arabs hated the Palestinians. She equated them to gypsies. She said the only reason why they were tolerated is that they hated Israel and only used the Palestinians to fuck with Israel.
Whether true or not, it seems to me to be somewhat accurate.

[rvablue]

49. Because one rich, privileged, elitist person told you something it is "accurate"....fascinating

kind of seems counter-intuitive, given what we've been through the past 8 years.

"She and her family loved George Bush." What a rounding, freakin' endorsement.

[ShortnFiery]

54. I'm sad to have to admit ...

I've run into some of those rich, privileged and elitist people who happen to CLAIM themselves to be democrats. That's a damn shame but Lieberman and DiFi are part of this small CLUB. :(

[rvablue]

55. Don't do that...your post has nothing to do with my response and while I'm no fan of

Traitorman, this post is about Democrats.

It was about using a "Saudi Princess" who "loved George Bush" to make a point of how the Arab world views Palestinians.

Don't fucking hijack my comment into your agenda.....whatever it may be?????????????

[ShortnFiery]

58. Wow! You're spicy with seemingly everyone this evening.

:wow:

[Rockholm]

61. Thank you for commenting.

I almost deleted the Bush lover line, but as we were right at the election, I thought her Bush love was relevant. I guess my point was that some in the Middle East see the Palestinians as the means to an end, and are being manipulated and used by the powers who really don't give a fuck about them.
It really is quite sad.

[Indenturedebtor]

56. That my friend is why Egypt didn't want Gaza, and also why there is a West Bank

The rest of this thread I'm not commenting on.

Or did no one notice that Egypt machine gunned a bunch of people the other day for trying to leave Gaza?

[Raskolnik]

66. I think there is more than a small amount of truth in that. If Arab Muslim state gov'ts truly cared

about Palestinians, they could have built every Palestinian a house with running water, built a school and health care system, and met the basic needs of every man, woman, and child refugee without making the slightest dent in their pocketbooks.

Instead, the House of Saud spends tens of billions every year on more gold toilets for their palaces. Not to put too fine a point on it, but fuck them.

[Marr]

47. 1) They're the weaker party. Bullies always side with power.

2) They're brown.

3) They're Muslim.

And most of all, Republicans hate Palestinians because:

4) They were told to.

[ShortnFiery]

53. Yes, I would only amend your number 4 to the GOP faithful love of Authority Figures.

IMNSHO our shameful GOP is "The Quintessential Bimbo." :wow: :P

"Daddy (Authoritarian Leaders)? - keep me safe and TELL ME what to do? You do love me more than "the others," don't you? I'm the most special, aren't I? OMG, I don't want to THINK for MYSELF because, deep down, I'm a little girl (emotional maturity of a young child)."

[madeline_con]

50. I don't know your friend's religious affiliation, but...

I hear a lot of blind support for Israel over something God supposedly said a billion years ago when I try to discuss it. :eyes:

[Sultana]

57. Don't Republicans generally hate Jews too?

but they support them (Israel) when its them a/g the Arabs, Muslims & Iranians

[LeftishBrit]

60. I suspect that a lot of it is really about hating Iran

The Palestinians are seen as on the same side, so the Republicans hate them. (Some years ago, one could have said the same, but substituting 'Soviet Union' for 'Iran'.)

I am sure they would be just as ready to turn on Israel, if they formed an alliance with the 'wrong' side.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

64. Update on this issue: The Republican wants to know what alternatives

Israel has besides "defending itself" by bombing defenseless civilians? I explained that the ends do no justify the means. Perhaps I need to understand this more: what other alternatives do Israel have at their disposal? I didn't have a response for him other than the UN's involvement, which is a moot point because the Security Council rejected a cease fire today. :(

[Marrah_G]

65. Many people do not see such foriegn looking/sounding people as humans

They are "other" and therefore easily hated, feared and blamed.

All Muslims become the Taliban in their minds.

All Africans become crazed 14 year old madmen with machetes.

All south Americans are illiterate and live in huts- except the pretty women in Brazil who are okay as long they just hang out and look pretty at the resorts.

There are a million different sterotypes out there.

They exist to separate us from them.

No matter who the Us or the Them are.