I don't understand this....

[Mark42]

I have heard on the news radio and read a few articles about Amdrican parents who encourage their teens to go to Israel to join the army and fight for the "home land".

Then the parents are in total shock when their boy comes back in a body bag and they wonder why this happened.

I don't understand why Jewish Americans feel the need to send their children to die in a foreign war. Then display total total shock when the kid is killed. I blame the parents.

I noticed this seems to be a NYC phenomenon.

Would you send your kid to join a foreign army to fight a foreign war for the "curtural experience" ?

Not me.

I'm Irish. No way in heck will I send my kid to Ireland to fight the British no matter how much I support the IRA. (and just for the record, I don't support the IRA) No way, no how. I'm an American citizen. If my kid is going to serve and die, it will be in the the US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines.

These parents have to be total kooks.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: I don't understand this....

Its because they are not real Americans. A real American will accept that no matter where they may BE from, they are HERE now.

 

[JB]

Re: I don't understand this....

Neither of you appear to have a clue what the survival of Israel means to jews. . . any jews. . . wherever they are and whatever nation they live in. It's dual citizenship. There is nothing foreign about Israel and nothing foreign about their wars. Many of my Jewish friends held or hold commissions in the IDF. When war breaks out, as it often does, off they go. It was the same with many Americans in 1940 who went to join the British to fight Hitler.

As for shock and dismay that their sons may die in battle, that seems to be an American phenomenon. We have become a nation of wimps who want what we want but don't want to pay the price. If it isn't quick, cheap and easy we want to quit and run. It's damned embarrassing.

Freedom and liberty are not free. They must be bought with blood and retained with blood. It is the same with freedom and liberty for Iraqis, Israelis, Afghanis, or Americans.

If you wonder what the freedom of Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq have to do with your freedom you need to study the history of the 20th century.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: I don't understand this....

So the mexicans with their flags are ok too JB?



Sorry Mark, I can't pass it up.

 

[LFK]

Re: I don't understand this....

So the mexicans with their flags are ok too JB?



Sorry Mark, I can't pass it up.

How is that even close to the same thing?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: I don't understand this....

I think shock and dismay at the death of a child are the least you should expect from parents who have lost a child in battle under any circumstances. I don't think it necessarily diminishes their support of or belief in the cause. Anger is a stage of grief and there's always plenty of blame to go around. I don't think these folks should be judged for their natural reaction to an unthinkable tragedy.

 

[JB]

Re: I don't understand this....

I don't see any comparison, KB.

Is Mexico at war?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I don't understand this....

I consider it this way... If Alaska or Hawaii was attacked Americans would line up to defend those states even though they do not live there. There are VERY strong religious ties around the world. I would imagine strong catholics would defend the Pope in Italy.

I have a sister who is American born and raised. She is married to a man in Israel and they have 4 boys. When the first Gulf War was in progress I called her and asked her why she did not come home? I was told by her that she was "home". I have a good grasp on how she feels and I can only support her decision.

Mark - Keep in mind your statement "If my kid is going to serve and die, it will be in the the US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines". Sadly that risk could be in any country for any cause.

I guess being retired from the Army has given me different view.

Bob

 

[Mark42]

Re: I don't understand this....

"Neither of you appear to have a clue what the survival of Israel means to jews. . . any jews. . . wherever they are and whatever nation they live in."

I think you are right. it's a Jewish issue, not an American issue.

" It's dual citizenship."

Dual citizenship is unamerican. You know it, I know it, we all know it. You just won't admit it. I don't believe Dual citizenship is legal in the US unless they changed the laws in the last few years.

"There is nothing foreign about Israel and nothing foreign about their wars....."

I don't know where you got that idea. It is a foreign war, in a foreign country. Regardless of how much money we spend on Israel every year, It is still a foreign war and calling it something else, or denying that fact does not make it so."

That is my rebuttal to your statements. I'm not going to argue these points any further because it is obvious that it will make no difference in the scheme of things.

Regards,

Mark42

 

[Ron G]

Re: I don't understand this....

As for the parents IMO they need to be in the ,they walk among us thread.as for isreal i think the us should leave them alone and let them do what they need to do,they can kick the sh#t out of any of them countries if we would just let them.and it is a tricky situation but it is a foreign war imo.and like i said before i think we should leave iseral alone and let them whoop some butt.just a farmboys 2 cents worth.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: I don't understand this....

I don't believe Dual citizenship is legal in the US unless they changed the laws in the last few years.

Wrong again, Grasshopper.

 

[JB]

Re: I don't understand this....

"Dual citizenship" is not necessesarily legal, Mark. It is in their hearts. Same with viewing Israel and her wars as foreign. Israel is the spiritual home of Judaism and of almost all Jews. Attacking Israel is attacking them.

I have no argument with your point of view, I am simply explaining how Jews feel...at least how my Jewish friends have explained it to me.

Jews have been rootless and persecuted for millenia. Now they have a home. . . a reality. I think we should respect their determination to keep it.

 

[technostingray]

Re: I don't understand this....

Hooray for Hollywood, hip hip hooray for Hollywood....

 

[KaGee]

Re: I don't understand this....

A Jew is one by blood not paper. Even if they are American citizens they will always be a Jew first in their heart as JB said.

As for shock and dismay that their sons may die in battle, that seems to be an American phenomenon. We have become a nation of wimps who want what we want but don't want to pay the price. If it isn't quick, cheap and easy we want to quit and run. It's damned embarrassing.

Freedom and liberty are not free. They must be bought with blood and retained with blood. It is the same with freedom and liberty for Iraqis, Israelis, Afghanis, or Americans.

So true JB, so true.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: I don't understand this....

I'm going to have to go with JB on this one. Especially about what a nation of wimps we are. I myself can't imagine losing my son but as JB pointed out freedom is not free. When I was a young man during the Viet Nam era I really didn't want to go there but I would of if I had to. I was in the Navy and I realized when I joined it was a possibility. That is what a lot of the ex hippies and people that went to Canada to escape the draft don't understand. That is part of the reason we have done so poorly in the last few ground wars, everyone wants the American way of life but very few any more are willing to risk or sacrafice to keep it. I'm sorry I am way off topic here but to segway back I think the people in Israel have the mind set to accept that, where the Jews living here want to do the right thing for Israel but don't have the mind set to accept it when their child is killed. We have somehow gotten the idea that if we have enough smart bombs, planes and the other modern warfare equipment we can go in, kick butt, and leave with no blood shed. It isn't realistic to believe there can be a war with no one dieing!