tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post5891994910394177198..comments2024-03-26T11:27:35.814-07:00Comments on Tom Stephenson: No excusesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-30376679353921579052014-08-02T07:56:02.130-07:002014-08-02T07:56:02.130-07:00My unreal job has taken over a bit recently, but I...My unreal job has taken over a bit recently, but I could not help but comment on the Gaza business. The trouble is that if I write at night, I tend to have just come back from the pub, so become a little generous with the 'cunt' word. It's the company I keep.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-36515130770233325752014-08-02T07:51:03.422-07:002014-08-02T07:51:03.422-07:00Sometimes all that is left to you when faced with ...Sometimes all that is left to you when faced with the bastards that grind you down is impotent anger.<br /><br />It's not as if the Israeli drone-strikes and bombardments are carried out with any heated passion, they are done very clinically and dispassionately - that's what makes them so utterly disgusting.<br /><br />The 'anger' shown by Israeli politicians is 80% fake, for the sake of foreign Media. The parents of those kid conscripts who are fighting on behalf of all the old men are the only ones who feel any real sorrow. The politicians just feel outrage at the cheek of the Palestinians for fighting back - it is an insult to the Israeli military, more than anything else.<br /><br />I have a good Israeli friend of about my age, and he was told that he must have a military assault rifle with ammunition in his house at all times. <br /><br />It took months before they agreed to take it away. He knew it was to shoot Arabs, not Israeli burglars, and he didn't want to shoot anyone.<br /><br />I called the idiot Christian a 'cunt' at one point, but I thought that might not be too useful, despite being quite accurate.<br /><br />Anger has its uses, but - like fire - it is a good servant and bad master. Thanks to a few beers last night, it flared up almost out of control.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-66018473231005851192014-08-02T07:36:49.573-07:002014-08-02T07:36:49.573-07:00Every day.
(Sorry I missed the point that you writ...Every day.<br />(Sorry I missed the point that you write every day, Tom, the most important bit.)sarah toahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412812914705725798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-24052943966570468192014-08-02T07:35:09.080-07:002014-08-02T07:35:09.080-07:00It should be the same thing as I just said.
Physi...It should be the same thing as I just said.<br /><br />Physically, I try to make the world a prettier place, but it's not a world which everyone is allowed to visit.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-17619740568337751562014-08-02T07:30:14.101-07:002014-08-02T07:30:14.101-07:00Yep, that is part of what I am getting at. I need ...Yep, that is part of what I am getting at. I need to write clear-er.<br /><br />It's very cool. I'm glad he's here. He energized a few of us, that is for sure.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394558427981331885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-68991435335127871022014-08-02T07:22:20.300-07:002014-08-02T07:22:20.300-07:00Yes, SM is interesting. It seems each war has its ...Yes, SM is interesting. It seems each war has its own carrier pigeons. <br />I get annoyed with social media because one can retweet a pic of a shrapnelled Gaza kid to show how they feel, and it's not really achieving anything. I think that is what you are getting at, yes? Not sure.<br /><br />When I was involved with an environmental shitfight in my hometown, Dad, who was a partisan but didn't want to get involved (and was probably relying on his bolshy daughter to fight it for him), said, "They will release statements and ask for comment. Then they will do whatever they planned to do anyway. One of their strategies is to wait until you run out of energy."<br /><br />I keep thinking about what he said, because I'm running out of energy and I've quit acting up. I don't 'like' or retweet, but nor does Tom.<br />He writes. He fucking writes. How cool is that.sarah toahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412812914705725798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-10631123661720444832014-08-02T06:45:43.166-07:002014-08-02T06:45:43.166-07:00I see your point, Tom.And your last paragraph - I ...I see your point, Tom.And your last paragraph - I hadn't thought if it like that.<br /><br /> But I was also thinking a bit bigger. What are we all doing in our communities to make the world a better place? Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394558427981331885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-43985486400145272962014-08-02T06:43:45.404-07:002014-08-02T06:43:45.404-07:00I am glad he is doing it/did it too, Sarah.
Feeli...I am glad he is doing it/did it too, Sarah.<br /><br />Feeling quite paralyzed as well, and<br /> I'm just annoyed with social media in general - all the outraged FB posts, and tweets, the 'likes', but what are people (that was the inclusive 'you' question) doing to make this world a better place?<br /><br />And as I feel safe here in Tom's blog, I felt able to voice my question.<br />Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394558427981331885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-3105474054926529392014-08-02T05:55:02.485-07:002014-08-02T05:55:02.485-07:00It's a good comment Carol, but I beg to argue,...It's a good comment Carol, but I beg to argue, because Tom does not generally barter with outrage (except for the odd grumpy post about the neighbours/tourists).<br />For me Tom's gives me a daily read about .... just about anything.<br /><br />For the record, I've nearly stopped blogging. From one who posted three or four times a week over six years, I've posted one in the last month. The main reasons, other than trying to finish a book, is the combination of Gaza, MH17 and the unfolding humanitarian disaster that is our Australian refugee policies. I feel quite paralyzed in my anger and appall at humanity at the moment. I could write letters to ministers. I could write 'outraged' posts, I could, I could. But I'm so tired of powerful people being assholes and getting away with it. I no longer know what I can contribute to make this world better. <br />(ps, I'm an historian, just to give my thoughts some context)<br /><br />Tom's "Fuck it, let's just call this one what it is" was very cool, so I'm glad he is doing it.<br /><br />Dontcha love being talked about in the third person Tom?sarah toahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412812914705725798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-86921274448183840022014-08-02T02:40:50.441-07:002014-08-02T02:40:50.441-07:00Some of the greatest damage to society is done by ...Some of the greatest damage to society is done by people who do not believe they have any influence on the world.<br /><br />This abdication of personal responsibility - caused by a type of low self-esteem - is just as deluded as the idea that you can change the world by writing to the President of the USA.<br /><br />In a blog like this, you never know who you are talking to, and to make a slight change to the attitude of only one person can - potentially - make a profound difference to the zeitgeist of a whole nation.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-59131782068583677672014-08-02T02:29:55.949-07:002014-08-02T02:29:55.949-07:00This comment made me so angry last night when I re...This comment made me so angry last night when I read it, that I put up three abusive responses which I have now removed.<br /><br />All I will leave instead is that you are even more stupid than I first thought you were. You cannot even use logic to defend the inheritors imaginary of your holy land.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-78274089149430016332014-08-01T19:52:40.453-07:002014-08-01T19:52:40.453-07:00It's nice to blog about outrage. It's gre...It's nice to blog about outrage. It's great to call people on that ridiculous thing called the bible - though the mormon bible is even more hilarious.<br /><br />Outrage is great *thumbs up* But do any of you people do anything to make the world better? Okay, just living your good lives is nice. John takes care of ill people and also works to try to keep people from killing themselves. Joanne is trying to do her best for her grandkids. But what do you do? Seriously. Outrage all you want, but what the fuck (other than blogging) are you really doing to make any change? (yeah I know that writing a goddamn president doesn't make much change...)<br /><br />I'm only saying this because oddly enough I feel safe in posting on your blog. And I want to thank you for that.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394558427981331885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-26729294154253178702014-08-01T12:35:50.216-07:002014-08-01T12:35:50.216-07:00Can't find your posts about the child victims ...Can't find your posts about the child victims of the Gulf and Iraq wars Tom, or in Pakistan or Afghanistan by US and UK drone strikes. And you can bet the USAF or RAF didn't phone and text warnings to folks in the intended strike zone first.<br /><br />Maybe if Hamas didn't use these poor people as a shield they would suffer fewer or preferably no casualties. <br /><br />Surrounded on all sides by regimes and countries intent on eliminating them as a state entirely, Israel is trying its best to defend itself and its very existence. I wonder how your post would read if the Welsh were firing 500 rockets a week into your neck of the woods?<br /><br />Keep it up with the short-sighted hypocrisy mate. It just wouldn't be you any other way.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487456386841182116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-37700304161203722122014-07-31T23:58:55.315-07:002014-07-31T23:58:55.315-07:00There are many more ordinary, caring Israeli peopl...There are many more ordinary, caring Israeli people who detest the over-reaction in defending their country than 13% I think, but we don't often hear from them.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-18973953619745054292014-07-31T12:44:06.402-07:002014-07-31T12:44:06.402-07:00'Goy' is simply a Yiddish word meaning non...'Goy' is simply a Yiddish word meaning non-Jew. My Israeli girlfriend used to call me her 'Goy-Boy', but this was before both of us learned about my Jewish ancestry.<br /><br />You have to remember that most Israelis are deeply paranoid, and you also have to remember that just because you are paranoid, it doesn't mean that they are not out to get you.<br /><br />It has turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the killing will not stop without a form of surrender on the side of Hamas.<br /><br />Don't hold your breath.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-21178976952032020542014-07-31T12:37:37.814-07:002014-07-31T12:37:37.814-07:00You will see that I have not accused ordinary Isra...You will see that I have not accused ordinary Israeli people for what their military are doing now, and if you look back, you will see that I am not defending Hamas for their lack of control over the militia groups who send RPGs and small rockets over the fence that has been built by Israelis.<br /><br />It is a question of disproportionate force used when the Israeli military bomb schools and hospitals just in case there are Hamas forces hiding inside them. Where else could they hide in a strip of land 9 by 17 miles, with the sea on one side?<br /><br />The Iron Dome is not as effective as your government would like you to believe. If it was, then you would not need those shelters that you live within minutes from, the amount of which depends on your closeness to the border.<br /><br />The sea-port, border closures and controls by Israel means that the only weapons that reach Hamas have to be small enough to be smuggled in through tunnels - not large or accurate enough to reach Tel Aviv or even a small settlement with any accuracy.<br /><br />Of the three Israeli civilians to be killed in the recent conflict, two were killed by a short-range mortar, and the other was abducted and killed by hand. The other 50 or so were Israeli military killed in action - within Gaza.<br /><br />The Palestinians do not have the luxury of air-raid shelters which will withstand even RPGs, let alone depleted uranium-tipped shells and rockets, or 1000- pound, bunker-busting bombs as dropped by the Israeli Air Force.<br /><br />You do not need to apologise for for the survival of your family, and you should certainly not apologise for the actions of the out-of-control war-machine which is currently killing and maiming about 100 times more Arab civilians in an act of revenge disguised as a preventative one.<br /><br />Do you really think that the destruction of these tunnels could not be carried out from without the border, on the Israeli side?<br />Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-49845971950221388442014-07-31T04:35:08.003-07:002014-07-31T04:35:08.003-07:00At least 13 % is a start ( he said hopefully)At least 13 % is a start ( he said hopefully)John Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-35489554058089915062014-07-31T02:36:58.241-07:002014-07-31T02:36:58.241-07:00Well said Tom. I to am sick of seeing the women an...Well said Tom. I to am sick of seeing the women and the children being blown to bits.<br /><br />The Zionist Israelis have no regard for the principles of respect for life and the elementary precepts of rights that govern the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community.<br /><br />For their sole principle is to extract every advantage that they can from the goys (non zionists) and by whatever means.A Heron's Viewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06563706152609630696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-28785398085029542172014-07-31T01:07:07.950-07:002014-07-31T01:07:07.950-07:00Iרdo appologize that my grandchildren are still al...Iרdo appologize that my grandchildren are still alive and did not get kill by missiles every day and night thanks to Iron Dom.Yaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15181961536405061470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-52464882509834685452014-07-31T01:00:49.033-07:002014-07-31T01:00:49.033-07:00It is the faces of these innocent children that ge...It is the faces of these innocent children that get to me Tom. They will mever recover from this terrible trauma even if they manage to survive.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-4723160667346665562014-07-31T00:38:11.051-07:002014-07-31T00:38:11.051-07:00I was expecting some defence of the Israelis from ...I was expecting some defence of the Israelis from someone, but I really cannot see it happening now. We all know the history of stone-throwing Palestinians, but there really cannot be any sane justification for the relentless slaughter of innocent people.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-49525720890868487042014-07-31T00:35:32.290-07:002014-07-31T00:35:32.290-07:00He is certainly the head of an evil regime, but wh...He is certainly the head of an evil regime, but where the evil came from is so bloody complicated, that there is no longer any time to unravel it. Israel now needs to be policed by an outside agency.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-17549891125074568782014-07-31T00:33:21.094-07:002014-07-31T00:33:21.094-07:00It will only take one stone thrown at an Israeli t...It will only take one stone thrown at an Israeli to set the drones on them again. Even if Hamas turned from military to political, there will always be some proud and stupid man who takes a pop at an Israeli, bringing instant destruction on the heads of all his family and neighbours.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-12812291738332446752014-07-31T00:30:30.156-07:002014-07-31T00:30:30.156-07:00Gaza is a prison, and now the inmates are being ki...Gaza is a prison, and now the inmates are being killed indiscriminately. Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-45266389660607881202014-07-31T00:28:41.293-07:002014-07-31T00:28:41.293-07:00There is nowhere for the children to be removed to...There is nowhere for the children to be removed to - Israel has made sure of that by the blockade.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.com