Danielle,

I thought you said you'd ended the discussion. Guess you can't even lie straight in bed either.

You are thinking of Tetum-Praca, or "town Tetum" which does include a great deal of Portuguese loanwords as opposed to Tetum-Terik and other dialects thereof; it is however, neither a Creole or a pidgin language. Please look up what those terms actually mean, you might learn something.

I also find it necessary to mention that Bahasa has only one 's'; and that Bazaar Malay (aka Pasir Malay, Low Malay etc) is merely a derivative dialect of high regional variation. I am a little surprised you even made these basic mistakes for one who was allegedly fluent.

As for the UN Security Council resolutions, I also recommend that you check what the UN Security Council can actually pass resolutions for. It is not surprising that there seems to be a great deal directed towards a country which criminally occupies the land of others and is prone to invading their neighbours. The situations in Somalia and Dafur do not represent fifty years of disregard of international law.

Your random quotes, as usual, are grasping at straws and of marginal utility. Using the Weismann-Faisal is particularly amusing, because it was agreement for a Jewish homeland in Palestine; which is exactly what the "single state" solution argues for! Congratulations; you now support a single state solution!

Yes, the majority on both sides wanting a two state solution, and that may very well preceed a single-state solution, especially when it is realised when the Palestinian state of the Gaza strip and the "pastrami" of the West Bank is not viable..

You can be impressed with my qualifications when you've achieved a similar standard. ;-)

Danielle,

It is pointless arguing with Lev, he isn’t the type to be convinced by a better argument. He actually believes in dismantling all states and I suppose, one world gov’t. There is simply no place in policy discussions for such fantasy. It makes a LOT of sense to learn that Lev is a sociologist. I myself studied the social sciences for a couple of years before becoming an engineer. They are the MOST out of touch people you will ever meet. The whole PC movement was a social sciences initiative.

An equitable and peaceful solution to the conflict in Israel/Palestine will not emerge without compromise on both sides. However I am extremely doubtful the militant Palestinian groups are capable of any real comprise.

I am yet to see ANY evidence that Hamas would be capable of living peacefully, side by side with the Israelis, no matter what the solution. Certainly their ‘manifesto’ would seem to rule this out.

Many of the leftist supporters of the (Hamas backed) one state solution simply wouldn’t care if all the Israelis were driven out of a unified Palestine. Witness the complete lack of interest from the left as the white farmers were driven out of Zimbabwe.

The last refuge of a floundering leftie is to label you a racist. Lev actually labelled me fairly quickly, which surprised me. I thought he had a little more class. I was also amazed that he pulled you up for spelling errors, if in fact they actually were errors, when his posts are riddled with them.

Anyway, I have enjoyed reading your posts and strongly encourage you to continue.

Thank you for your kind words.

Paul,

Thank you yet again. As you say, it is impossible to engage in any rational discusion with Lev. His extreme immaturity and lack of reality beggars belief. I suspect he wears “superman” pyjamas to bed.

But far worst of all, he is a self-important bore, a bully and a braggard (unfoundedly so) - unforgiveable sins.

I am taking your advice and not responding to him in future. However, I have one last parting comment to him ...

Lev,

I am not at all impressed with your qualifications; many here have better.

You have an honours degree ... repeat ... an honours degree ...

In academia, Sociology, also known as “underwater knitting”, is identified as a “soft” discipline that requires no academic rigour, research skills nor forensic analysis; not even mental challenge. A colleague assumed a position at another university. She observed that members from that particular department were so feral, unpleasant, and aggressive, that they even fought over control of the tea-trolley. You demonstrably fall into this pathology.

I would suggest you show your OLO comments to your supervisor/s and get feedback ... assuming, of course, you have a supervisor or supervisors. You should definitely show these to an academic linguist if you are relying on your knowledge of this subject in any way.

Philosophers should be read in the original language where possible. German philosophy, particularly, needs to be read in the original; philosophical subtlies of meaning do not translate correctly into English.

Having no knowledge about computers, I asked my elderst son (who not only taught computer science at tertiary level, but also is a boffin in cutting edge technology in this field), what a systems administrator does.

I remain unimpressed with your qualifications

Paul,

Au contraire, the *only* thing I am convinced by is the better argument. I cannot be bribed, I cannot be bullied, and appeals to my nationality, my religion or whatever have no effect. The only validity of propositions I accept in this situation is the moral rightness of a law, and the effeciency of social system. To claim there is no place in policy discussions for world governance is certainly to miss the point, and in particular in this case. This is a topic that concerns universal human rights, international borders, multilateral agreements, international criminal law.

Suggesting racism in a person is not axiomatically an attack of aggresssion; it also have thereapeutic value; I noted you have a very similar attitude towards Arab Muslims as pro-apartheid supporters had towards blacks. I can only suggest you consider that proposition and consider what you have written in that context.

Dannielle,

It is rather tragic that when confronted with grounded reasons and empirical evidence you have had to resort to ad hominen responses and most extraordinarily irrelevant anaecdotes. Whilst you attack sociology (but not philosophy and politics, of course), it is most relevant here. The systematic study of social institutions, cultural norms, their contradictions and the results are requsite for any just solution in the Middle-East.

Perhaps the my comment on your relative feelings towards my qualifications was too subtle. To make it clearer; you can be impressed or unimpressed with them when you have reached a similar standard.

Good luck.

Paul,

I am wryly amused that, Lev, an adult - presumably - has resorted with the schoolyard challenge: "I'll show you mine, you show me yours."

Unlike you, and others OLO, who do not resort to such childish, indeed, distasteful behaviour - Lev has subjected readers to "his" ... ad nauseum. An embarrasment to all.

By his insisting on a comparison - the irony is not lost - Lev has demonstrated that his qualifications are not only anaemic, but also wanting, and inadequate.

As evidenced, we are not prepared to vent our own academic achievements needlessly, and in inappropriate ways. There is no place for this here ...

Whilst a curtain should be discreetly drawn over Lev's "show 'n' tell" - not exactly an embarrassment of riches - undoubtedly, he will respond, yet further confirming what we already know ...

Danielle,

It was not I who raised the issue of academic qualifications. That was you, on October 16. On November 14 you wanted to know the general faculty. So don't be such a princess when you get answers.

Other readers will go through this thread and they will read how you have either (a) confirmed that legal discrimination is widespread, not only the occupied territories but also the State of Israel itself and (b) that in lieu of providing criticism of facts you engage in ad hominen responses.