israeloutlook.com

There is something about Jerusalem. It has this incredible power that wraps its arms around you and whispers in your heart that this is home. By comparison, everywhere else in the world is dim and gray.

Even other places in Israel do not shine like this. I once tried to move from Jerusalem to a lovely little apartment in Tel Aviv, five minutes walk from the sea – and found, to my chagrin, that I just couldn’t do it. I don’t know why, but when I’m in Israel, the only place for me is Jerusalem. Unfortunately, living in Jerusalem is expensive, so it’s hard to live there as much as I would like.

There is something about Jerusalem. It has this incredible power that wraps its arms around you and whispers in your heart that this is home. By comparison, everywhere else in the world is dim and gray.

Even other places in Israel do not shine like this. I once tried to move from Jerusalem to a lovely little apartment in Tel Aviv, five minutes walk from the sea – and found, to my chagrin, that I just couldn’t do it. I don’t know why, but when I’m in Israel, the only place for me is Jerusalem. Unfortunately, living in Jerusalem is expensive, so it’s hard to live there as much as I would like.

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I believe in track records.

For instance, I’m currently paying attention to Gerald Celente of the Trends Journal and David and Bob Wiedemer of Aftershock. They have a proven track record of getting it right on social, political and financial trends.

I don’t follow very much of the mainstream media because they do NOT have a proven track record for getting things right.

I trust computer companies like Asus and Acer, because they have a proven track record for producing quality products at reasonable prices.

No-name Chinese manufacturers? Not so much.

I believe in track records.

For instance, I’m currently paying attention to Gerald Celente of the Trends Journal and David and Bob Wiedemer of Aftershock. They have a proven track record of getting it right on social, political and financial trends.

I don’t follow very much of the mainstream media because they do NOT have a proven track record for getting things right.

I trust computer companies like Asus and Acer, because they have a proven track record for producing quality products at reasonable prices.

No-name Chinese manufacturers? Not so much.

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I’ve been saying for a long time that Islam needs to reinvent itself, if it ever hopes to integrate with the West. Of course, none of us are seeing any serious move on the part of Islam to make those steps to integrate, so we’ve been resigned to the inevitability of war.

In our hope for a different future, most of us have attempted to make parallels between the Catholic Church and Islam. Just like Islam, the Roman Catholic Church has been violent, legalistic and oppressive. And, just like the Roman Catholic Church, we argue that Islam too could reform and turn away from its violent past.

I’ve been saying for a long time that Islam needs to reinvent itself, if it ever hopes to integrate with the West. Of course, none of us are seeing any serious move on the part of Islam to make those steps to integrate, so we’ve been resigned to the inevitability of war.

In our hope for a different future, most of us have attempted to make parallels between the Catholic Church and Islam. Just like Islam, the Roman Catholic Church has been violent, legalistic and oppressive. And, just like the Roman Catholic Church, we argue that Islam too could reform and turn away from its violent past.

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Another interesting article by Raymond Ibrahim:

When reading Western reports dealing with Islam, one must learn to read between the lines.  Many of these reports do state the actual facts; but without providing proper context, Western readers are often left to interpret the information according to their own understandings.

One example: the ubiquitous term “sectarian strife” to describe Muslim-Christian clashes in the Middle East is factually correct; yet “sectarian strife” connotes comparable forces fighting one another, when in reality it is often nothing less than a vastly outnumbered Christian minority being grossly oppressed by Muslim majorities, as has happened for centuries.

Another interesting article by Raymond Ibrahim:

When reading Western reports dealing with Islam, one must learn to read between the lines.  Many of these reports do state the actual facts; but without providing proper context, Western readers are often left to interpret the information according to their own understandings.

One example: the ubiquitous term “sectarian strife” to describe Muslim-Christian clashes in the Middle East is factually correct; yet “sectarian strife” connotes comparable forces fighting one another, when in reality it is often nothing less than a vastly outnumbered Christian minority being grossly oppressed by Muslim majorities, as has happened for centuries.

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Tripoli has fallen and Gaddafi can’t be long behind.

The problem is that about 20% of the rebel forces in Libya are known to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and they now seem to have access to 15-25,000 shoulder-fired missiles.

Western governments say that they are working hard to keep those weapons out of Al-Qaeda hands, but with their current track record, do you really have much room for optimism?

I don’t.

Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport is well within range of these weapons if they are launched from within the Palestinian territories. It wouldn’t take much effort at all to bring down a 747 coming in to, or going out of, Israel.

Tripoli has fallen and Gaddafi can’t be long behind.

The problem is that about 20% of the rebel forces in Libya are known to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and they now seem to have access to 15-25,000 shoulder-fired missiles.

Western governments say that they are working hard to keep those weapons out of Al-Qaeda hands, but with their current track record, do you really have much room for optimism?

I don’t.

Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport is well within range of these weapons if they are launched from within the Palestinian territories. It wouldn’t take much effort at all to bring down a 747 coming in to, or going out of, Israel.

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