I ear a button With two kids, one, in stereotyped Arabic desert clothing holds a Palestinian flag, crossed with another in stereotypical Chassidic clothing (just as most Arabs do not wear white robes and headgear meant for the desert, Chassidim are NOT Orthodox Jews, some would say not Jews of any kind, but members of one of several semi-mystical 18th C. sects, but , hey it's a 2.5" button) holding an Israeli National flag.

Around the central circle are the words (in varying order) Salam, Shalom, Peace - and I regularly find myself defending it to one who flies one of the two flags, saying "No, It does not mean go back to 1967 borders!" or "No, it does not mean expell all non-Jews from the region" followed by "what part of PEACE don't you understand. I am NOT a negotiater, I don't live there and the people who do have to work things out, and have taken to quoting a 2-year-old or so NY Times Op-Ed column, saying Israel can be two of the following three things if it does not give back some of the West Bank: 1, A Democracy; 2, A Jewish State; 3,Continue present policy in the West Bank. (I'm personally for 1 & 2). BUT the size, nature and scope of a Land for Disarmament and Borders as Open as US/Canada (which as deteriorated when some 'States fools voted for Homeland <spit> Security.

Why do I rant? Because of the inclusion of "West Bank" as a choice of Nation; A choice that can cause even more anger than a button saying "Peace" in English and two very closely-related languages.

There was SUPPOSED to be, in 1948, a big state to take any Muslims who did not wish to live in a Jewish state, called Jordan. There was also a state for the Christian community who cannot stand folks of other faiths too, called Lebanon. The two states were supposed to be the end of a battle that began when Israel was taken by the Roman legionaries and made part of the geographic region Palestine they called Palestine", followed by the Crusades (still going on, have you noticed) of @1000 ce. Jordan refused refugees, as did the new nations of Syria, currently led by a guy with a photo of Pol Pot behind his desk. Lebanon took some but gave aid only to cross-wearers.

Jump to the present: Personally I say "Give Gaza back to the Egyptians" and let them create a state big enough to hold that hellish place along the Sinai coast, and give everything West of Jerusalem back to a government which drops demands Israel be destroyed (still held by the current regions) and let the residents choose names other than the one imposed on them by ONE of its first invaders. Oh, <btw> Jerusalam remains 100% open (except for the interiors and immediate exteriors of a few religious shrines/long-used meeting places for prayer, open to all who observe the rules of decorum (Leave shoes behind in a mosqe, cover your head in a synagogue, and bust equally fanatics of all faiths (starting with the alleged Jews whose name translates as "those who fear the divininity" which they say gives 'em the right to call little girls in little girl clothing "whores" and stone and kill Jewish physicians answering (as required by Rabbinic law) anybody who cuts down one of "their streets" on Saturday. And Muslim West Bankers, let the crazies build their settlements, and demand they be left intact if the settlers chose to leave the new state, please not called Palestine.

But you are in "occupied" lands now, and, fair or not, stop your own crazies from suicide raids. Choose NO nation, not a name that will not survive independence.

---

Winston Smith, Room 101, MiniLove

I do not like boarders, never have and never will. Your personall property is a different story. That needs to be respected.
I was raised in Germany and evenso, we are not Jewish,my Family paid dearly.
I understand Jiddish, can read it, but don't ask me to answer in it beyond a few words.
I was raised to respect all Religions, even the ones that are hard to except due to cultural differences.

---

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

I Love the thread title!

A prayer

Let me do my work each day. And if the darkened hours of despair overcome me, may I not forget the strength that comforted me in the desolation of other times.
May I Still remember the bright hours that found me walking over the Silent hills of my childhood, or dreaming on the margin of a quiet river, when a light glowed within me, and I promised my early God to have courage amid the tempest of the changing years.
Spare me from bitterness and from the Sharp passions of unguarded moments. May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the Spirit.
Though the world knows me not, may my thoughts and actions be such as Shall keep me friendly with myself.
Lift up my eyes from the Earth and let me not forget the uses of the Stars. Forbid that I Should judge others lest I condemn myself.
Let me not follow the clamour of the World, but walk calmly in my path.
Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am and keep ever burning before my vagrant Steps the kindly light of Hope.
And though age and infirmity overtake me and I come not within Sight of the castle of my dreams, teach me Still to be thankful for Life, and for time's olden memories that are good and Sweet. And may the evening's twilight find me gentle Still.

Max Ehrmann

2. Too many fights basically between different religions, occasionally over land areas.

You can add in the tribal nature of many communities as well; even within adherents of a particular sect, there is violence.

---

My Detailed BOINC Stats

Yes, let's, Shall we? :)

Thanx for accepting my friendship request, Winston.

Still +1'ing the title there.

Truth is the greatest virtue, thanx Irving et others.

Winston said it's a good idea! Even if you're the sole survivor of a plane crash, peace is a good thing try..

Truth is the greatest virtue, thanx Irving et others.

Hm..

If you think in terms of solutions, peace is always the best thing to try.

Thinking in Solutions Always works! Abiding is the message, ask the Dude.

We must endure and make the best out of our current incarnation to be able to have an easier spiritual life for now and the times to come in our possible future incarnations.

Attaining en sending out good energy is our commission.

Good Karma or good energy is all positive in whatever form it takes.

It is not yet time for benevolent beings or spirits to be here.

Not agreed on this Chris. A lot of people need guidance in their ignorance these days.

Welcome to the Peace thread CharisVera41. Winston will be pleased with your presence I'm sure. :)

Not agreed on this Chris. A lot of people need guidance in their ignorance these days.

Yes they do, but that is as much necessary in everyday life as well as spiritually. As you know I fully respect your beliefs, but I would like to reserve my judgement and take a rain check on it all. Open minds R us :-)

I completely respect your opinion, Chris.

Outside-the-box-thinkers R us ;)

I got bored after I ear....

From this day forth, I'm going on a hunger strike for peace.

Truth is the greatest virtue, thanx Irving et others.

Hm..

Like I said, hmmmmmmm.................. I stand corrected for the above quote. Schrödingers cat leaps to mind..

[edit] Btw: Not on that hunger strike anymore.