israeloutlook.com

In the 1960s Europe made a fateful decision.

In the ’50s, Europe and Israel were friends. Britain supplied main battle tanks and the French sold light tanks and fighter bombers. They saw in Israel an embattled outpost of Western ideals in a blighted, backward Middle East.

Then, in the ’60s, before the Six Day War, the French reneged on their promises to deliver already-paid-for fighters and missile boats. The UK became reluctant to sell their latest tank.

In the 1960s Europe made a fateful decision.

In the ’50s, Europe and Israel were friends. Britain supplied main battle tanks and the French sold light tanks and fighter bombers. They saw in Israel an embattled outpost of Western ideals in a blighted, backward Middle East.

Then, in the ’60s, before the Six Day War, the French reneged on their promises to deliver already-paid-for fighters and missile boats. The UK became reluctant to sell their latest tank.

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Revolutions are chancy things. You never quite know what you’re going to get when you start one.

We think of the American Revolution as having had only one possible outcome, but that is just not so. For instance, did you know that we came perilously close to a monarchy? That’s right, many of the founding fathers wanted George Washington to become a king. And, it was his for the taking, except for the fact that he abhorred the idea.

Revolutions are chancy things. You never quite know what you’re going to get when you start one.

We think of the American Revolution as having had only one possible outcome, but that is just not so. For instance, did you know that we came perilously close to a monarchy? That’s right, many of the founding fathers wanted George Washington to become a king. And, it was his for the taking, except for the fact that he abhorred the idea.

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Drug resistant diseases are popping up all over the place, partly because we have misused the drugs that we have developed to fight them.

Here’s an example. I’ve known Fred (not his real name) ever since he was a kid, and when it came to taking medication he was a complete idiot. Mind-bogglingly stupid. Whenever he got Strep Throat, his parents would haul him off to the doctor, where he would get an antibiotic which would immediately start making him feel better.

Drug resistant diseases are popping up all over the place, partly because we have misused the drugs that we have developed to fight them.

Here’s an example. I’ve known Fred (not his real name) ever since he was a kid, and when it came to taking medication he was a complete idiot. Mind-bogglingly stupid. Whenever he got Strep Throat, his parents would haul him off to the doctor, where he would get an antibiotic which would immediately start making him feel better.

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On April 4^th, it was my birthday, and like every other April 4^th preceding it, I called my Dad because it was his birthday too. (Yup, I was born on my Dad’s birthday.) We talked for an hour and a half, and at the end of our conversation, my Dad said, “your mother and I watch the Glenn Beck show on the Internet.” I thought, “oh yeah, that Glenn Beck guy.” My Aunt and a couple other friends watch that show, too.

On April 4^th, it was my birthday, and like every other April 4^th preceding it, I called my Dad because it was his birthday too. (Yup, I was born on my Dad’s birthday.) We talked for an hour and a half, and at the end of our conversation, my Dad said, “your mother and I watch the Glenn Beck show on the Internet.” I thought, “oh yeah, that Glenn Beck guy.” My Aunt and a couple other friends watch that show, too.

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Magda raised a good point, as she does with rather disconcerting regularity.

The Roman Catholic Church HAS had a violent history. In fact, I suspect that its history has been even MORE violent than Islam’s history. However, I don’t believe that this actually points to the error of fundamentalism.

I just think that it points to the error of error.

Let me put it this way.

The Catholic Church suffers from some fatal flaws. (Flaws, by the way, shared by Islam). These flaws were built into the organization at its inception.

Magda raised a good point, as she does with rather disconcerting regularity.

The Roman Catholic Church HAS had a violent history. In fact, I suspect that its history has been even MORE violent than Islam’s history. However, I don’t believe that this actually points to the error of fundamentalism.

I just think that it points to the error of error.

Let me put it this way.

The Catholic Church suffers from some fatal flaws. (Flaws, by the way, shared by Islam). These flaws were built into the organization at its inception.

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