csteele,

Have I lost a loved one:
to a drone missile,
to inhumane sanctions on my country,
through a phosphorus bomb,
waiting at a checkpoint for medical treatment that never came,
to a hijacked jet hitting their building,
to a roadside bomb,
to a bomb in a Bali nightclub?

None of the above.

Am I an Israeli?
No, nor a Jew as far as I'm aware.

Am I unstable?
Not as long as I keep taking my medication.

csteele,

May I introduce to an atheist stand-up comedian who holds Christianity and Islam in (almost) equal contempt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjS0Novt3X4&feature=player_embedded#!

I'm not sure what "drives (his) obvious deep anger, hatred, and possibly fear" of Islam,
but he certainly expresses his views (and mine) most eloquently.

Proxy: << Am I unstable?
Not as long as I keep taking my medication. >>

I figured it had to be pathological. Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about increasing the dosage? The current level seems inadequate to keep your symptoms in check.

Proxy..without even looking...that HAS to be PAT CONDELL ? :)

*checks the link*

YEP..who else could it be :) a very incisive and funny "Islamaphobe" if ever there was one.

If I was part of trying to destroy a particular country.. I would not be surprised if a relly or 2 was taken out by a drone.

Dear csteele,

I see no more reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus than I do to celebrate the birth of Osiris, Mithra, Buddha or other mythical or semi-legendary religious figures. I don't relate to the holiday. However, when I was in the army I would volunteer for duty on that day so other people to whom the holiday meant something could have time off. There is no more reason for a Jew to celebrate the birth of Jesus than for a Christian to celebrate the birth of Mohammed.

You also wrote: "Or can you have some sympathy for the Dickensian notion of a christmas spirit, one that is universal and even healing, where even overt religiosity is put aside for a day?"

I enjoyed Dickens’story but don't accept the idea of a spirit arising from a Christian holy day as being universal. Other religious traditions have their own festivals where families get together, exchange gifts and invite others to join in the fun. I celebrated Diwali with Hindus and Chinese New Year with Chinese. Jews have many joyous festivals during the year, Passover with two seders where strangers are invited to join, Purim where one drinks wine until one can’t tell Mordecai from Haman, Tu Bshvat, the New Year of the trees, where we have a seder and Hannukah where there is gift giving & jollity. I don’t suggest it should be universal but if you are in Brisbane next Passover I’ll see that you get invited to a seder.

csteele also wrote: Perhaps the government of Israel needs a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come to show them the "shadows of what may be." In fact the entire cabinet could benefit by noting the lessons in the book.

Considering the Crusades, the Wars of the Reformation, the Inquisition, British and other imperialism, the current destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan along their other record of violence I feel a Christian is not in a position to lecture Israel. In fact Christians might benefit from a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come themselves.

continued

continued

Dear csteele,

I am neither a citizen nor a resident of Israel. It is simply another country which does not have separation of religion and state and does not treat all citizens equally regardless of ethnicity or religion. They don't consult me as to what course they should follow, and I resent the flaws of Israel being put on me. It is no way my country.

Part of the Jewish tradition I hold dear is that one should not rejoice in a military victory. That is an old tradition. King David was not allowed to build the Temple because he was a man of war. The Talmud contains midrashim or stories about portions of the Bible. One of the stories tells when the waters of the Red Sea closed over the Egyptians the angels around the Lord cheered. The Lord wept because the Egyptians were also his children. Originally the holiday of Hannukah celebrated a victory over the Hellenic forces. The rabbis not wanting to celebrate a military victory emphasised the miracle of the lights. I feel Israel has violated that tradition. I am unhappy that so many of their political leaders have been generals.

csteele also wrote: I regard the notion of a christian act in much the same light. It is not a term I should expect you to be comfortable with but I am, it is part of the language of the people I know and I have yet to hear a convincing argument why I should not be.

OK, I answer you in a Jewish spirit.

csteele also wrote: My apologies for the rambling nature of this post but it is a little past my bedtime and I'm about to hand the computer over to another.

Maybe, in sleepiness, veritas.