tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post2167468084810444021..comments2023-06-16T15:35:36.718+03:00Comments on Jeha's Nail - مسمار جحا: Gimme a Freakin' BreakJehahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-80985012826001335522007-01-30T22:31:00.000+02:002007-01-30T22:31:00.000+02:00...I "can't force them anymore to think diffrently...<i>...I "can't force them anymore to think diffrently even if [I am] right", but they cannot do that either...</i><br /><br />That goes without saying.<br /><br />I will be the first to admit that the failing of Hezbollah is its inherent deeply religious nature.<br />It's exclusive by its very nature.<br />But again they represent a major sect of a population that considers itself Lebanese.<br />And contrary to what most people say, their goal is not a greater Islamic Republic of Lebanon. I find that charge absurd, in that 27% of the population, which is incidentally the poorest, have such aspirations.<br /><br />But I will end this discussion by saying that were it true that as you said in point 3 about their allegiance to another country, then they don't have my support. <br />And I am not oblivious to their Iranian military ties as well as that of the Syrians. I see it as a lifeline necessary to fight the occupation of the enemy from the south. And that's a giant topic in its own right.<br />Much more can be said, but I will leave it here and grant you the last word if you wish with no retort.<br />After all it's your blog. :)<br />Peace to all.runnerbrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199822093421499104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-32087347150607677932007-01-30T13:52:00.000+02:002007-01-30T13:52:00.000+02:00aboujahl,
When you described objectivity as "a fi...aboujahl,<br /><br />When you described objectivity as "a figment of human imagination", you were careful to point out that this was restricted to "matters of opinion".<br /><br />This is a crucial distinction few ever make.Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-83610400610980940752007-01-30T12:19:00.000+02:002007-01-30T12:19:00.000+02:00hezbeleb,
You make a good point; in all fairness...hezbeleb, <br /><br />You make a good point; in all fairness, I "can't force them anymore to think diffrently even if [I am] right", but they cannot do that either. <br /><br />The trouble with Hezb is that their actions violate at least 4 "principles"; <br /><br />1- Our modern understanding of Democracy is not centered on numbers, it is centered on pluralism and individual freedom. While numbers allow majorities to emerge or fall, and reach or lose power. In this manner, there are checks and balances in modern "representative republics". But they never, ever control everything. Being in Canada, you understand the concept of checks and balances. Without checks and balances, excesses of "number rule" can give you results where people like Hitler can be democratically elected (he was) to Chancellor, only to use the exclusive power of the government to become a dicator. Incidentally, Germany is a federation today. Incidentallt, much of today's understanding of modern democracy is inderectly derived from the reading of Thycidides' "The Pelopponesian War"<br /><br />2- It is a fact that the "people have already spoken and in huge numbers", but it is also a fact that the current situation is a product of the Leaders they have trusted are the ones who cooked up this mess with Hariri and Jumblat. They are as disingeneous as the leaders they "elected"; Hariri did not bequeath us the 40 Billion debt alone. Berri, Nasrallah, Tufaili, Jouzou (he's against them this time)... all have had their share of the pie, a big share. You cannot trust the thieves of the past, only because you happen to like their present speech. There are others...<br /><br />3- Hezb cannot be in a country and give his allegiance (not support) to another country, and a religious allegiance at that. The Pary Quebecois in Canada is "Souverainiste", but the highest authority is not the french president, and its ideology is not "totalitarian". Hezb cannot be ultra-sectarian and be surprised that the Druze, the Christians, the Sunnis each establish their own state...<br /><br />4- There is a system in Lebanon. It is not a good system, but it can be made to work. You do not impose your will on others by blocking roads and stuff. There are ways to do it.Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-39041048101720762572007-01-30T07:47:00.000+02:002007-01-30T07:47:00.000+02:00...But as long as we talk without listening, this ...<i>...But as long as we talk without listening, this will remain an empty slogan. Keep this in mind...</i><br /><br />That's a very good point and I am really gaining apreciation and respect for you despite our difference of opinion. Don't underestimate this.<br />But what I would like to say here, is that some people have already spoken and in huge numbers. They deserve to be heard and their demands be fulfilled.<br />You're a man of Science and you should know better about Statistical samples. Whatever the number is of the opposition and I think it's just a touch higher than 50% (by my own estimates), it's a large enough number to be given relevance and credibility.<br />This only from the basis that it's a large community that chose to put its trust in a certain leader who trumpets a certain belief.<br />You can't force them anymore to think diffrently even if you are right.runnerbrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199822093421499104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-89202673301279842132007-01-30T07:36:00.000+02:002007-01-30T07:36:00.000+02:00Making the claim of non-objectivity doesn't make y...Making the claim of non-objectivity doesn't make you objective, it makes you honnest. <br />There's definitely a difference.<br />This, notwithstanding the fact that he goes on to tell lies. (There I covered my angles :) )<br />I have already started asking my Maronite friends here in Canada about the claims of Hezbollah attacking Christian areas in the country. So far it doesn't look good, but they are Aoun supporters.<br /><br />PS: I have already visited Totten's blog once, 2 months ago and thought him a quack. I will take your advice and read him again, but I have to be really desperate for information.runnerbrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199822093421499104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-79799383238595568902007-01-30T06:04:00.000+02:002007-01-30T06:04:00.000+02:00Hezbeleb,
I think that you are a bit confused and...Hezbeleb,<br /><br />I think that you are a bit confused and there is no harm in that. Actually, objectivity in matters of opinion is a figment of human imagination. All is subjective, but one can be objectively (read "honest") subjective and this is what is all about people like Totten. And, before you jump to conclusions, I do not know the man nor have I ever met him...<br /><br />aboujahlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-85367135582223245962007-01-30T01:24:00.000+02:002007-01-30T01:24:00.000+02:00hezbeleb,
You raise an interesting paradox; when...hezbeleb, <br /><br />You raise an interesting paradox; when someone claims "right off the bat that he's not objective when it comes to the Lebanese issue", he's being objective. <br /><br />My suggestion that you look at MJT's website was especailly because he provided elements of the proof that you requested. Whatever one thinks of his ideas, he did a good job reporting facts that area rarely heard. I urge you not to discount him based on indirect evidence from another source, but to go straight to the horse's mouth and to make up your own mind. <br /><br />I will keep searching for answers, But while I may find mine, it appears that I will never find answers that will satisfy you. I cannot force you to consider all the relevant facts.<br /><br />"No war" indeed. But as long as we talk without listening, this will remain an empty slogan. Keep this in mind; <br /><br />"dans un dialogue de sourds, ce sont les mains qui parlent"; Les mains, les poings, les armes...Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-7492994111071785242007-01-30T01:03:00.000+02:002007-01-30T01:03:00.000+02:00totten???
He was a the subject of debate on
Angry...totten???<br />He was a the subject of debate on <br /><a href='http://angryarab.blogspot.com'>Angryarab's blog</a> a couple of months ago for claiming right off the bat that he's not objective when it comes to the Lebanese issue.<br />I ask for objectivity and you give me Totten.<br />Keep searching my dear compatriot.<br /><br />Long live a free and peaceful Lebanon.<br />No war.hezbelebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06176001948882222658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-34583376730740550812007-01-29T21:58:00.000+02:002007-01-29T21:58:00.000+02:00Hezbeleb,
the answer to your question is right i...Hezbeleb, <br /><br />the answer to your question is right in front of you. All you have to do is look. As a (small) sample, Michael J. Totten posted about Hezb's actions at length, as an example; <br /><br />http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001373.html<br />http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001369.html<br />http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001362.html<br />http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001363.html<br />http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001367.html<br />http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001369.html<br /><br /><br />I had to remove Anonymous 20:04 and 14:22. While I have no objection to "Making peace with Israel", I hate being talked down to. especially twice. Consider it my reactionary Lebanese genes at work...<br /><br /><br />aboujahl,<br /><br />Thanks for the suggestion. I will ook it up.Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-57680372737986074562007-01-29T19:09:00.000+02:002007-01-29T19:09:00.000+02:00"But they certainly have accumulated a bad reputat..."But they certainly have accumulated a bad reputation with not much evidence to back the claim such as the charge of being an international terrorist organization when the state department itself cannot provide evidence"<br /><br />I can. I was a student of Haifa University when Hizbullah hurled rockets at the city.Andrew J. Brehmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13058608736862971026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-55246072560809944512007-01-29T18:59:00.000+02:002007-01-29T18:59:00.000+02:00"...Directly, they did fight during the civil war,...<i>"...Directly, they did fight during the civil war, and few of us will never forget what we've seen back then. More close to current events, they used it quite well against Christians and Sunni Moslems in Southern Lebanon. Go there, and ask the people...."</i><br /><br />Jeha, I am earnest in the search for truth and I am not an apologist for Hezbollah or any other faction.<br />Please provide proofs about the Hezb's involvement in wars against Lebanese Christians. I have never heard of this, but I would like to find out. As for the Sunni Muslims, this claim is a bit far-fetched and can be easily rejected as mis-truth because the only major Sunni population is in Saida and Hezbollah had never had any major presence there.<br />Also bear in mind, that this faction had metamorphosed quite a bit and is now a different organization under the leadership of Nasrallah regardless of what you think of the man.<br />Still, I will not be queasy about the possibility of finding out that they have had a dirty past.<br />But they certainly have accumulated a bad reputation with not much evidence to back the claim such as the charge of being an international terrorist organization when the state department itself cannot provide evidence (check link).<br />Let's move beyond rhetoric and hearsay and anecdotes.<br />Let's make of an inexact science the most we can to make it quasi-exact and remove all prejudices and deal only with empirical data.<br /><br />My pessimism spawned by the grim outlook of last week's events is peppered by optimism that we at least have started talking about it rather than fight.<br /><br /><br />http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/65472.pdfhezbelebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06176001948882222658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-12807353387320918162007-01-29T18:27:00.000+02:002007-01-29T18:27:00.000+02:00"had we not existed the pan-Arabist nationalists w..."had we not existed the pan-Arabist nationalists would have probably invented us. ;)"<br /><br />I think the Zionists the nationalists have in mind have pretty much been an invention of theirs.Andrew J. Brehmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13058608736862971026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-89956517664588884532007-01-29T18:11:00.000+02:002007-01-29T18:11:00.000+02:00well-said Roman Kalik; this reminds me of Brecht e...well-said Roman Kalik; this reminds me of Brecht enticing the totalitarian East-German government to reinvent or dissolve the people and its problems would be over!<br /><br />aboujahl<br /><br />aboujahl@gmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-37843779218499703442007-01-29T17:38:00.000+02:002007-01-29T17:38:00.000+02:00Jeha,
Read (if you have not already done so) Gera...Jeha,<br /><br />Read (if you have not already done so) Gerald Edelman's paper "naturalizing Consciousness: a theoretical framework." Your quest for universality has my deepest sympathy...I guess this is not as far a destination as some might think when we realize that "high-order consciousness" is a property of every human mind, except that this would never come only from education or experience but from learning, from active engagement with experience like the sort of things you are doing. Hats Off. Thank you. <br /><br />aboujahlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-18798926028953539092007-01-29T17:30:00.000+02:002007-01-29T17:30:00.000+02:00"Al-Bashir says all them death-tolls and rapes and..."Al-Bashir says all them death-tolls and rapes and ethnic cleanings in Darfur are all made up by us Zionists."<br /><br />At least his victims will notive that it's not made up.<br /><br />Maybe the Zionists were made up?Andrew J. Brehmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13058608736862971026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-66481167852152909892007-01-29T15:41:00.000+02:002007-01-29T15:41:00.000+02:00Hezbeleb,
Don't just dismiss a major atte...Hezbeleb,<br /> Don't just dismiss a major attempt at deception and fabricating evidence by saying, "Tayyar has admited that one picture was doctored". It would be logical to assume that this evidence was doctored by Tayyar and possibly ordered by Aoun himself who was more than glad to parade it as evidence on TV. But what is even more disconcerting is your initial attempt not to even consider the evidence and later on when the party higher ups had to admit their wrong doing you still feel obliged to make light of this major event. Furthermore I would have expected Tayyar members to show some outrage when falsified evidence is used by their leadership to make a point. Actually I believe that the use of fabricated evidence is considered a punishable crime.<br /><br />I would have loved to see you and others show some spine and protest the use of such unethical and immoral evidence fabricating schemes. Your silence after all is nothing short of your lending these shameful acts your full support. And that is a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-5394632292124309932007-01-29T13:04:00.000+02:002007-01-29T13:04:00.000+02:00"you must admit that up to this point and I hope t..."you must admit that up to this point and I hope that it will always be that way they haven't used it for the internal struggle."<br /><br />Do you believe Hizbullah could do more damage to Lebanon by directly attacking other Lebanese than by getting the Israelis to do it?Andrew J. Brehmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13058608736862971026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-2635663924528263172007-01-29T12:41:00.000+02:002007-01-29T12:41:00.000+02:00hezbeleb,
I used to think this way, until my mem...hezbeleb, <br /><br />I used to think this way, until my memory "resurfaced" and my skeptic mind came back with a vengeance... I cannot "admit that up to this point [...] they haven't used it for the internal struggle"; they did, both directly and indirectly. <br /><br />Directly, they did fight during the civil war, and few of us will never forget what we've seen back then. More close to current events, they used it quite well against Christians and Sunni Moslems in Southern Lebanon. Go there, and ask the people.<br /><br />Indirectly, the threat of their weapons have allowed them to push the envelope and increase their role in government. This is not to say that Shiites do not deserve their fair share, but Shiites deserve the option not be represented by Hezb. <br /><br />Still, you do have a point when you say that "Zionists are the [supreme] liars"; they tend to tell a few doozies. But one should objectively so do all others; this is politics, after all. Worse, this is Middle Eastern politics. I feel that the use of the word "supreme", however, may not apply to Israelis; wouldn't a worse liar be the one who lies to his own people? In that case, our current crop of leaders would all be contenders, as shown in the video in the previous post. We have to realize that the worse modern Israeli leader has yet to massacre his OWN KIND; there was never a Hama in Israel.<br /><br />In any case, the Israelis told the truth about the ballons (and a few other things). I look at hard evidence, and I analyze accordingly. In addition, I know that there are far more efficient methods to release poison gases than those crappy balloons. And far more efficient gases I can think of. 8 people? surely they have the means to kill more people.<br /><br /><br />Roman, <br /><br />In Lebanese, "Ha'Ir" and "Ha'Ayr" have a sightly different meaning; "Ha'Ir" means "lowlife", and the others is more prejorative... It was the first that came to my mind when I heard the story and realized how many otherwise smart people bought into this affabulation. Has we stooped so low, are we in such "Ha'Ara", that we need to invent such stories to distract ourselves from our sorry predicament?Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-43183231442777847882007-01-29T07:37:00.000+02:002007-01-29T07:37:00.000+02:00Well, I see your point about Hezbollah being an ar...Well, I see your point about Hezbollah being an armed militia, but you must admit that up to this point and I hope that it will always be that way they haven't used it for the internal struggle. You just can't ignore the strong message by Nasrallah making it a religious duty *NOT* to engage in an armed struggle.<br />As for the balloon story, I admit it's not solid with proofs, but it also cannot be discounted on the premise that the Zionists are the supreme liars in my books because their lies can go unchecked. So it is a charge and not a conviction.hezbelebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06176001948882222658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-65410055264261665452007-01-29T07:25:00.000+02:002007-01-29T07:25:00.000+02:00"Jeremiah 5:21" :)) Says it all indeed."Jeremiah 5:21" :)) Says it all indeed.Free Cedarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02756694854364805544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-86557702004825027442007-01-29T07:23:00.000+02:002007-01-29T07:23:00.000+02:00Hezbeleb,
That's not my point. My point is that ...Hezbeleb, <br /><br />That's not my point. My point is that they are all lying; look at the balloon story, the many pictures... <br /><br />But Tayyar has done it more blantantly than others, Hezb style. And for the oppostion to complain that there are armed militias is, at best, hyprocrical; Hezb is a militia, after all, whether you call it "resistance" or otherwise.Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-9016910672207424902007-01-29T07:13:00.000+02:002007-01-29T07:13:00.000+02:00I just read that tayyar.org did mention that one o...I just read that tayyar.org did mention that one of the pictures they displayed was doctored.<br />I will assume it's the one you displayed in that little video.<br />It shocks me though, because it's clear to me that the picture is blatantly a fake.<br />Having said that, do you have any other proof that the perpetrators were not who the opposition claimed they were, or is that it???runnerbrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199822093421499104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-62047072579875391122007-01-29T07:04:00.000+02:002007-01-29T07:04:00.000+02:00Jeremiah 5:21.Jeremiah 5:21.Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-44179961258143456922007-01-29T06:40:00.000+02:002007-01-29T06:40:00.000+02:00you proved nothing.
General Aoun could have been t...you proved nothing.<br />General Aoun could have been talking about something completely different.<br />I will believe you if you showed Genearl Aoun while illustrating the picture you displayed.<br />As far as I am concerned you provided no proof.runnerbrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199822093421499104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32255069.post-79559504856300139582007-01-29T03:23:00.000+02:002007-01-29T03:23:00.000+02:00Ghassan,
you make a helluva point. I think this ...Ghassan, <br /><br />you make a helluva point. I think this goes along the nature/nurture debates. I personally think that there is a lot of evidence to support a balance between both nature and nurture. There are 3 key elements to this; <br /><br />1- studies do indeed show that an infant mind is shaped by the language they hear. A french speaking baby progressively loses more ability to discern tonal nuances that a chinese baby learsn to distinguish. This is also illustrated with the trouble many Arabs have in pronoucing "p", or the habit of hebrews in turning "h" into "kh"... The brain apparently loses the ability to process those sounds.<br /><br />2- This filtering has an effect of more than just sound processing. When shown a the drawing of a cube in a given context, Lebanese students tend to think "cartboard", while Americans tend to think "box"... The emphasis in one mind is on "material", while the other mind thinks about "functionality". This does have far reaching implication that we are only now beginning to comprehend, hence part of the new interest in "diverse"companies...<br /><br />3- Even colour processing is affected by this, to some extent. There was a recent study that appears to discuss this, but I had no time to read in detail yet.<br /><br />Still, when it comes to basic right and wrong, there is only one human mind. Countless studies have shown that most phobias (snakes, for example) and revulsions (theft, murder...) are essntially universal. In this, George Bush was right (statistically, it was bound to happen); <br /><br />There is a universal sense of right and wrong... I think that this was Nadine's main point.<br /><br />This truth applies across cultures, and some studies even show that this applies even in the animal kindgom. The exception is in the context of some "social studies" academic departments, especially those who strictly follow the "nurture" creed.Jehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714767132428450071noreply@blogger.com