Also I just found out that Israel is having an election in February 10th....
I am going to play my cards on this and I wonder if this attack in Gaza was politically motivated to get Israeli support the for election. I hear that Ehud Barak, Tzivpi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu are those that are running.

Hmm.....

Thanks for the remark/advice; I do take it into account and I will look into working at a school or some other type of work in a foreign country while I learn WHO people are. Especially the Middle East. I have a question to pose though and that is: What do you think of the Hamas organization? Do you think they are equally to blame?

I have read a little lately about Hamas and a website stated that Hamas has a military faction which is taking out retaliatory attacks against Israel. I also know that there are other factions over there that are doing attacks as well. If this is the case then why is Hamas always in the news?

Statesman

P.S.
Mizo, I checked out most of the websites and I printed out the material in regards to the maps of Israel-Palestine. There were two links that cannot be found. And I will have to watch the google clip tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

Hey statesman, your year abroad programme is a good start but if you are travelling under an organisation you will be subject to rules and regulations(decorum) etc in exchange for your grant.
So use that first year as a feeler,just to settle in to travelling and LIVING abroad,getting to know various people,cultures,languages etc.You will have a FANTASTIC TIME and so much to do and see,even if the rules of the programme restrict you a bit.But that doesn't matter because those guidelines can be a security for you until you REALLY feel ready to spread your wings independently.
But I get the feeling you are young,thankfully,so after that one year programme,take another year,at least, To 'fly off'(with stronger wing lol)in an area/field you may find you like in that FIRST year,or feel an inkling for.
You have so much time and two years,at LEAST,is not much to invest in(24 months only,excluding vacation time home to see your folks or visits to OTHER PLACES).
And never fear the Middle East,it's the root/bedrock of civilisation,science,history,culture,fun,intellect.
LOL! You will need more than 2 years to live amongst it and soak it up,and you will always be welcomed by wonderful people(they are NOT all "terrorists" LOL).
Working in schools,clinics,colleges would be VERY SPECIAL,and you would learn SO MUCH too,from them,especially the children,bless them.
It would be fantastic MUTUAL learning experience that you will never forget,and it will stand you in good stead in your diplomatic career later,because you will REALLY understand,remember,know from FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE.
Heck,even part-time jobs in restaurants,cafes,shops,hotels etc,can put you right in the hub of cultures and FUN.
You will never be short of work,or friends,and some of the friends,globally, will last a lifetime.
But use that first year on the programme,as a FEELER,to acclimatise,and it will gradually come to you,what you want to do,and which direction to move in.There will be SOME area/field that you keep latching onto,that says,"this is me",or "this is what I want to do". It will feel right.
If you have contacts abroad already,good!
Nurture them,see if they will let you stay with them for a while,on your travels.
If you do not,then START some friendships BEFORE YOU GO,without being TOO imposing.
Start your travels by moving amongst the multi-cultures HERE in the States.It's one of the melting pots of the world already.
Be willing to learn and absorb everything,without PUSHING yourself on others.
Just be a sponge and absorb all the treasures the world has.
And don't take MUCH with you lol!
Just basics.
The most important things ARE OUT THERE.
You'll have a GREAT TIME and then make a great Statesman!LOL!

By the way Statesman learning English in Middle East is very expansive when taking about privet schools, then you could teach English for a lot less and still living a good life there.

After reading what Grassroots wrote I don't know Statesman what else I can say. But in case traveling isn't possible or easy to know and see the real world outside, still you can be an activist in your community or your city, I think that every where there are people whom need someone to speak up on their behave, you know Obama himself was a community organizer.
And taking of Obama, it is a great moment in US history, but I believe it is the system who needs to be changed, also real change starts with acknowledging the real issues, and to be honest with you, I see only Ron Paul, Ralf Nader, and few American politicians speak up about what the US doing really in this world, plus Obama' cabinet bring a lot of question marks, even if he has a plan for a "change" he won't have a chance with this cabinet.
And finally regarding the UN reform, a complete new UN is going to happened when group of countries, and human rights organizations and groups start to demand a real active NEW UN, US still has the power, and by itself, to be the one who is pushing for it, because US IS the biggest obstacle to UN, it tries to protect only its interests instead of looking for the common ground for all and with balance, and it is going to be more difficult in future to do so when start to have the rising new powers like China, and Russia looking also to protected their own interests too. I believe we are in this point of history because of the cancer called CORPORATION and its relation with corrupt governments. And "The Corporation" is THE movie to point to the source problem and I am glad you saw it Statesman.

Grassroots, thanks for the reply. I have to do a year abroad program but I do wish to travel longer and to many places. Now I just need to figure out what job I can do overseas that will keep some type of roof over my head, maybe some relief work. I would love to travel in the Middle East. I like the history and that is my minor. Again thanks for the reply grassroots.

statesman

RE-EVALUATE the US 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP' WITH Israel:
This is from Barack Obamas change.gov website.
There were so MANY anti-Israeli comments posted on this 15 pages,that they took away the button to "post comment" lol!
It's REALLY worth reading through ALL fifteen pages to see how the ORDINARY PEOPLE(forget the Politicians,they are NOT paid to be 'ordinary')really feel about,AND are outraged by Israel's PERPETUAL war crimes toward,and human rights abuses of,OTHERS.
It's GOOD to know that this information of "we the people" will be getting through to Obama.
Already we can SEE BIG semblances of "CHANGE" in his Presidential actions/orders.
So keep at him folks.
Keep him on his PUBLIC SERVANT toes!
LEST HE FORGET!

http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004lmt&srPos=1&srKp=087&srS=1

Peace,Salaam,Shalom.

Statesman:
First you have to TRAVEL,TRAVEL,TRAVEL.
And preferably NOT in uniform,because that is alienating,and aggressive,and isolating. Go and travel as a CIVILIAN,and the world is open to you,and welcoming.
Go amongst the worlds people and live,eat breathe as they do every day,in THEIR LANDS,and amongst their culture,history,habits.Learn their languages and customs.
Treat them with civility,respect,humility and LEARN,LEARN,LEARN from them.
They have SO MUCH to teach you,and the more you travel,the more you will realise how ALL ALIKE we are underneath,and ALL want such simple,but IMPORTANT things in life,FREEDOM,RESPECT,RECOGNITION,DISCUSSION,HUMOUR,PEACE,LOVE,FRIENDSHIP and SANITY!
Then come back to your people,especially the children who are the SPONGES of knowledge,waiting to soak up everything you have to teach them,and educate them about the world and ALL its peoples.
Because if they do not KNOW,then they cannot DO,and CHANGE,or protect and sustain.
People have to KNOW truth first,then they can do something to change for the better.
That's why politicians DON'T LIKE people KNOWING too much,because then we question their actions and motives MORE,and they can't get away with blue murder,and corruption LOL!
Work for the PEOPLE.
Speak for the PEOPLE.
Never lose touch with the PEOPLE.
It's the PEOPLE who employ you,to do your best for them, and ALL.
Go out of America,travel the world and CHANGE PEOPLE'S IMAGE of America through your communication/relationships/trust with them.The world is a WONDERFUL place,and you will NEVER know it if you don't go for a while.
Then come back when you find the hook you prefer to hang your professional 'coat' from,and EDUCATE the people to KNOW!
If you want to represent AMERICA,first you must leave America for a while and you will learn MORE about America by being OUTSIDE OF THE BOX,for a while.
You will NEVER regret it,and it will help you in any diplomatic post thereafter.
Good Luck,
Peace,Salaam,Shalom.

I have been still thinking about the whole diplomatic, who am I going to work for. Here is my thing with the U.S. State Department; I think that a lot of the presidency are just there to do a few things and that is really it. I mean we all know George W. Bush was a horrible president due to his actions and policies. When it comes to Barack Obama...its kind of hard for me to put my finger on this "historic" situation. I am a black man and I voted for him BUT not because he is black but because I think he can change a lot of things when it comes to America's image in the world and even do some good socio-economic reforms to help the people here and in the world. My snag with him is this and that is that he was over-hyped because he was an articulate, well spoken, black man and the media played on that just to get their ratings. The media is concerned about the money.

My thing when it comes to who I wish to work for in the diplomatic scene is that I can't work for an organization that doesn't do nothing for people, that doesn't condemn acts of violence especially when it is well known that crimes were committed.

So where I am stuck at is this. I BELIEVE that diplomacy is effective from a POLITICAL ORGANIZATION to help the people, to have power to make things happen. I am looking for an organization like that.

Now mizo (if you are reading this) when we discussed this last week you stated that the United Nations would have to be a new reform in order to have real reform.
If this is the case then how would I do that? This is something that I am DEAD serious about in my life.

Would I have to be UN Secretary General to do that? Do I need a lot of money to do that? This is another place that I am lost at.

I had talked to one of my political science instructors last year and I asked him about running for office and things along that line and he told me that the greatest power comes from the people. I assume that if you have the backing of the masses then no government can really stand against the masses, unless they decide to engage in order maintenance against the people.

So then my question is this. How do I get the support of international, regular people? Let me say that I am not trying to grab power to rule the world or nothing but that this war and greed and destruction is EXTREMELY OLD in mankind's history and that if nothing is done, in my opinion mankind is not going to have very much time left in this world.

Sorry for the long post, I am trying to be like Grassroots :) joking.

Take Care
Statesman

Thanks mizo. I will look into these links tomorrow on my day off.

Hey Statesman, there a huge different between Judaism and zionist gangs. Here is a good link for a website who would show how zionist used Judaism and what are the differences.
http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/
And here is again what the first zionist prime minster had to say and I believe it is the best defense to the Palestinian side:
"David Ben-Gurion told Nahum Goldman before he died:
"I don't understand your optimism.," Ben-Gurion declared. "Why should the Arabs make peace? If I was an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have taken their country. Sure, God promised it to us, but what does that matter to them? Our God is not theirs. We come from Israel, it's true, but two thousand years ago, and what is that to them? There has been anti-Semitism the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They only see one thing: we have come here and stolen their country. Why should they accept that? They may perhaps forget in one or two generations' time, but for the moment there is no chance. So it's simple: we have to stay strong and maintain a powerful army. Our whole policy is there. Otherwise the Arabs will wipes us out".
"But how can you sleep with that prospect in mind," I broke in, "and be Prime Minister of Israel too?"
Who says I sleep? he answered simply. (The Jewish Paradox by Nahum Goldman, p. 99)"

And about the real history, the Canaan people, based on archeology, were living in this region, ( Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine) and they build the first know city" Jericho" around 8000BC. Here is link about this:
"Early History of the Region
Before the Hebrews first migrated there around 1800 B.C., the land of Canaan was occupied by Canaanites...."
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/origin.html#early
Also:
Israel deliberately forgets its history
Zionist nationalist myth of enforced exile
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/forget.html

More links:
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/Maps/Map%20I,%20First%20Zionist%20Colony,%201878.pdf
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/Maps/Map%20II,%20Zionist%20Colonies,%201920.pdf
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/Maps/Map%20III,%20Land%20Ownership,%201945.pdf
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/Maps/Map%20IV,%20Population%20Distribution,%201946.pdf
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/Maps/Map%20V,%20UN%20Partition%20Plan,%20Nov.%201947.pdf
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/Maps/Map%20VI,%20Military%20Operations,%201948.pdf
http://www.palestine-studies.org/enakba/history/Morris,%20Falsifying%20the%20Record.pdf
http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/pdf/imgreality/introduction.pdf
http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Maps/Story1261.html
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=1259454859593416473

......and there are a lot more.

I am going to play devil's advocate for a bit here. Let's say that I am a person who sides a little more with the Israeli's, to paint the scene....

Okay guys, what about all the money that was given to Yasser Arafat in the 90s' to help the people?

Why is it that when Hamas was elected into office, democratically by the people, are they not deserving of retaliation by Israel for Hamas' terrorist actions against Israel?

Why should Israel negotiate with terrorists?

Are you really believing all of the media propaganda from the Middle Eastern news agencies?

Weren't the jews really there first?

If the Palestinians want peace then why did they vote Hamas in office. Why not Fatah?

Why should the wall be torn down if Palestinians are going to constantly attack Israel?

Why remove the Rafah crossing? So they can sneak in more weapons?

Why are they deserving (Palestinians) to live there?

Why don't they move to another Arab country?

Why can't Israel attack Hamas leaders who are terrorists?

I am just asking these questions to make myself a better arguer with others that I go to school with and these are some of the questions that I have gotten from those who support Israel. What I have been thinking about for the last day or so is that, I believe that those who support Israel in America is solely due to the whole Hebraic influence on American religion.

In other words a lot of people side with Israel because they have been taught that the promised land is for the Jews. Hook, line and sinker mentality and there is no room for objectivity. But thats just me talking.

"Wanted fr War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity"
If you see this man(you'll probably rcognise him,lol) OUTSIDE of Israel,there is a warrant from the ICC for his arrest for accusations of war crimes.
http://www.wanted.org.il/ehud_barak_en.htm

It is very good documentary, thanks Grassroots.

And for Statesman here is a new interview with Noam Chomsky if you missed it.

Noam Chomsky On Gaza
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21788.htm

Very good video/documentary on how much Israel needs America,but NOT VISA VERSA.
Israel is NOT "in the interests of America's National Safety".
Cut the umbilical cord of the "special relationship" between the two before Israel destroys our USA.
If Israel is an independent,viable,Constitutional "Democracy" it will survive without AMERICAN'S taxdollars,AND MILLIONS MORE.
If not.......?

It is a FOREIGN,SEPARATE State,not a State of the USA,and its star DOES NOT fly on OUR Stars and Stripes,and never will.
Because Israel is Israel and the USA is the USA.
Watch and listen to this doc.VERY CAREFULLY,and think about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N294FMDok98

Peace,Salaam,Shalom.