Lexi,

I agree but why does the state of Israel's propaganda machine continually use the European holocaust to attempt to generate sympathy in the west.

Why don't the survivors and their friends ever raise or compare the European holocaust with Israel's very own 45 year holocaust?

Common decency means they would naturally support others who are subject to a genocide and rail against it's perpretrators.

Don't you see that?

imajulianutter,

To compare Israel's fight for survival with the Holocaust is not only totally insane, but is extraordinarily insulting and heartless.

Consider: Virtually all other races and cultures have a 'homeland' (and many people can lay claim to more than one), but throughout history Jews have been expelled and worse. But the Jewish people once had a homeland, from which they were evicted, and it was in Palestine.

The Jewish faith now extends to many races and ethnic groups - just as does Catholicism, Islam, and Buddhism. But it remains that Judaism represents an original ethnic group and culture with ties to Palestine as its original homeland. However, Jews have not been aggressors waging war, colonising or overthrowing other cultures or races - as so many other races and groups have done. They have not sought empire, have not dominated or persecuted others, and still do not. They have only sought a small parcel of their original homeland to call 'home'. How terrible is that? Particularly when you consider what this group has suffered over time, and more so when you consider the final straw, the Holocaust, the attempt by the 'master race' at total annhilation. So, who is the big bogey here?

Maybe they could have offered to buy a portion of Palestine (as the US bought Alaska), but lacked the means. In any event the Palestinians probably would have refused. An opportunity arose, and was taken. Attempt made to coexist, but with much resistance, and the situation has deteriorated. But, it remains that Israel has never tried to eliminate the Palestinians, has not embarked on genocide, and has not even evicted masses of 'others' (as so many 'others' have done in similar situations in the past).

Did the Brits 'buy' Australia from the indigenous inhabitants? Was Hitler invited into Poland? Did Russia get approval from the East Germans to annex their country?

A solution to the Israel-Palestine situation is needed, but there is no comparison here with 'the final solution'. Live, and let live - enough is enough already!

A moving article of personal struggle - and of triumph.

I agree with Lexi - why do people need to bring in their own political views insted of just reflecting on Celia's personal story.

Dear imajulianutter,

We have no way of knowing what the author of the book
supports or doesn't support - and frankly I find that
irrevelant. I imagine that after what she's been
through - politics would be the last thing on her mind.
However if we were to read her book - I am sure that like
other survivors of genocide - we would find that she would
not (could not) ever condone man's inhumanity to man. That
would be a given.

BTW - What a certain government or regime does is not the
fault of the average person living under that regime. As
we all know - there are many Israelis who do not agree
with what their government is doing to the Palestinians.
I find it difficult to understand when people tar groups
on the actions of a few - be it governments, cultures,
or religions.

Anyway, I'll get off my soap-box now - and go out and
try to get hold of a copy of that book.

Lexi,

'...we would find that she would not (could not) ever condone man's inhumanity to man. That would be a given.'

I'd totally agree and I think Babette would also suppport improving everyone's knowledge of any current ongoing inhumanity.

Here's an idea ... perhaps it would be relevant to also go and research and read the literature of the currently oppressed Palestinians. They have their historic stories as well as new ones ... daily.

Saltpetre,

'To compare Israel's fight for survival with the Holocaust ...'

I'm not doing that. You've cited twisted truths and read and write only as one who accepts Israeli propaganda. There is another side. Is it too hard to at least acknowledge that? Exploring the experience of the other side is what I did.

I'm comparing the European holocaust with Israel's very own 45 year holocaust? The one the Palestinians are currently suffering.

As lexi seems to accept.

nutter,

You state: "I'm comparing the European holocaust with Israel's very own 45 year holocaust?"

There is no "comparison".

Please cease in your denigration of the suffering and loss experienced by so many through no fault of their own; suffering of which you obviously have absolutely no appreciation. Your persistence in this vein is an insult, not only to those lost but to those who have survived unimaginable atrocities, and to the living memory of the greatest act of abomination ever enacted in the history of the world.

Let it go.