Comments on: Besen: The mess in the Middle East

By: Jared

Jared — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:31:31 +0000

thank you for this article which puts things into perfect perspective. I am also glad and relieved to see most gays siding with the only place in the region where gay pride marches could even be fathomed, let alone occur, instead of being caught up in the Gaza hype that tends to lend support to a regime that would squander human rights instead of fostering them as Israel does. I am also glad and relieved to see some leftists like me who side with Israel, as too many times I am confronted with virulent and often unnecessary anti-Israel libel when with my leftists comrades.
again, thank you.

By: Wayne Besen

Wayne Besen — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:10:26 +0000

“Religion doesn’t kill people. People kill people.”

Yes, this is true. But radical versions of religious allow these people to justify murder.

By: John in CA

John in CA — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:50:57 +0000

When you look at these pro-Hamas rallies in New York, San Francisco, and other cities, you’d notice that more than half of the protestors are middle-class white people. I wish I could say this was an unusual occurence, but it certainly isn’t. And quite frankly, the meddling phenomenon has always annoyed me. If you’re one of these perpetually outraged activist busy bodies, please go away.

Your tired “White Man’s Burden” cliche of charging to the rescue with token protests isn’t really helping anyone. You’re not an expert on Tibetan Buddhism, Zimbabwean Politics, Marine Biology, or Gaza. If you were, you’d be advising Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama right now, instead of playing terrorist dress up in the middle of the street. Besides, within a few weeks, you’ll have some sort of new “pet project” you want to promote. So, lets not pretend that you actually care about the Palestinians. Or the Dalai Lama. Or the whales.

This is about leftists being “trendy” and “counter-cultural” (in an alarmingly conformist sort of way). Nothing more.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:04:45 +0000

That’s kind of what Israel is doing. You think their “smart bombs” are solely killing Hamas terrorist. No, as they’ve done before, they’re systematically destroying the infrastructure, health care, safety and economy of the Gazan people. Israel’s done this time and time again. How does this violence not embolden terrorists and foster a growing hate of Israel? When you have nothing to live for, you have everything to die for. If Israel built schools, roads and didn’t cripple the Gazan economy, Hamas wouldn’t have such a grip over the people of Gaza. I don’t understand how people can be so insanely biased in their views. Violence is rarely the answer to solve the world’s problems. EVER.

By: Dave W

Dave W — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:22:28 +0000

Jeff, I think I read the same article? It wasn’t anti-religion, Mr. Besen laid out the argument for how grave religious differences in the area are causing tensions, but he didn’t attack religion, even though it probably was tempting.

Imagine no religion: Where would this conflict be? Would there be a need for a Jewish state? Would we cling to this holy land concept or just see it for what it really is: an interesting collection of ancient sites with human interest.

But I post for another reason, I have to disagree that religion doesn’t kill people, people kill people.

Actually, people created religion so that they could use it to justify killing people.

Slight change, but very enlightening.

By: Jud

Jud — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:24:50 +0000

Paul. I read that article. I dont think it really seems to gives any support for its claim that Israel lacks a strategy. In my opinion it was a strawman argument against support for Israel. Perhaps you should consider where YOU are getting your information. Wake up, Hamas is anti-gay…have you forgotten what kind of site you are on ???

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:49:15 +0000

The officially secular republic of Turkey and republic of Azerbaijan(bordering on Iran, Georgia and Armenia) are two Islamic majority countries where homosexuality is not illegal. Not favored, but not illegal. Lebanon was the only Arab country I believe where gay was not officially illegal, but I would not go to Lebanon.
Turkey is a fairly large and modern country that has gay bars even near Islamic mosques. I read that the gay bars are usually full. Turkey is a safer neighboring country where Iranian gays try to escape to, as even though they are not allowed to work in Turkey, they are not executed in Turkey unlike in Iran, But still a difficult place for a gay refugee with no work, cold, snowy winters and as Turkish language and Persian language (Farsi) are from very different language families
and not at all related.
I personally know and am friends with a gay male couple who went to Istanbul, and a few other places in Turkey. They said that most of Turkey is safe. And they were on the European as well as on the Asian side of Turkey.

Turkey is the only country I would go to in the region. That and Israel. I met a Jewish family from Haifa who were staying in San Francisco. Husband said that Haifa is beautiful, hilly and a coastal city like San Francisco but with the Meditarannean Sea close by.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:23:43 +0000

Although we don’t have complete equal rights in Israel, there is no other place in that part of the world where we are not being persecuted or decapitated for living our lives as openly Gay people.

Therefore as a non-Jew Gay man I’m going to stand with Israel one hundred percent.
No Ifs, Ands, or Buts!

By: Jeff Barea

Jeff Barea — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:48:27 +0000

Just what is needed.

Another long, whiny, nasally diatribe against religion.

If only religion didn’t exist we would all live hopey changey unicorn lives…

Religion doesn’t kill people.

People kill people.

By: Trace

Trace — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:08:01 +0000

Let us all hope that Israel does not succumb to the pressure to stop this fight. Hamas has to be eliminate or destroyed.

Their terrorism and tyranny has no place in a civilized world.