Comments on: OTF in the WSJ

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

I just read Sarah Ellison's article. Excellent story.
One can only hope that “our community” as Lisa calls it is not COMPLETLY torn apart by the time this mess is over.
And I have hope that we can and will rebuild it, after time has healed some of the wounds that are currently being inflicted on everyone.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

You and me both, my dear. Thanks for sticking around and for all your support in this horrible time.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Facinating stuff.
Keep up the good work!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

The wounds this time are very deep.
(notice the words 'this time'…when will be the 'next time'?). We all know the 'previous' times.
Good luck.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Hy.
Some puts tremendous efforts to build links, ties e-friendships, trying to bring out common points and sense. At every Israel-Arab conflict, initiatives tries to put people together. Voices explain that “we” are neighbours, and that “we” build together “our” future.
Like in the past six years, i have heard about joint Israeli-Palestinian concerts, peace conferences, seminars, journeys, fiestas, fund raising… Did i miss one?
I wanted to know if you don't feel frustrated, that individual gestures get crushed by decisions taken by much larger institutions or organisations. Some live in a e-future-middle-east, but aren't e-links just vain when facing the real world? Why is there a need to bring several people from each side together, each one talking to himself, pulling out his passion, theories and stories?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Man's inhumanity to man is universal, and has been going on for long time past. It is only hope, faith, and love that will change all this. Someday we will all realize that nothing truly exists but compassion, and it is compassion that must eventually be what brings about this change in man. Adam Kadman

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Why is there a need to bring several people from each side together? There isn't such a need. In the end it doesn't produce anything.
The issues separating certain groups of people are far larger than some people think. It isn't an issue of I hate you and you hate me and if we just realized that we are both humans we won't hate each other and we would all live in peace. That is a childish view of world affairs. There are large and complex forces keeping certain peoples apart that no person to person individual contact can change.
Any relationship between citizens of two warring countries is just bound for tragedy. Only when the complex issues are solved can true and lasting friendships between individuals of the two countries can be maintained.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Actually, there have been examples of communication between individuals and even institutions on each side of a war in almost every instance. Usually it is through academia and the arts, now electronic media has become increasingly important. It is thought that these connections, while strained during wartime, and of course occasionally broken, help to normalize relations much more quickly once war is over by providing a common platform.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

I have never seen such communication as being benefitial in normalizing relations much more quickly once the war is over.
What does normalize relations much more quickly after war is ironically demonizing the enemy during war.
When you make up names for your enemy like Jap or Krout then when the war is over you can separate the actions of the “Japs” or the “Krouts” from the Japanese and German people you meet because even though they are actually the same people, emotionally you can separate them as the enemy and them as the people who now you are trying to normalize relations with.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000

Here in North America we put our japs and krouts into internment camps in WWII, regardless of their politics or generations removed from the enemy country.
I can't imagine that helped normalize anything once the war was over.
Can you – can anyone please think of a war other than WWII when drawing examples? That template for warfare no longer exists.