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Boycott Israel

My father has a bleed in his intestinal tract that has thus far evaded doctors efforts to find. He has gone through almost 20 units of blood since last December. He is due for a procedure where a camera-in-a-pill that was invented in Israel will be placed in his intestines with an endoscope.

You will have to forgive my family and I if none of us feel like joining this asinine boycott and literally dying in the service of radical Islam.


Do as you will, of course.

Why do you assume that I have any affection for radical Islam?

Is this some sort of juvenile "If you're against Israel then you must be for Islam" nonsense?

I want to see all religious belief wither away.
 
If a cure for cancer was invented in Israel, would the Israel-boycotters refuse to use it if they got cancer?


I'm quite a contrarian and far too principled for my own good.

If I determined that the company had misbehaved sufficiently, I might just do that, regardless of which country the company was based in.
 
I'm quite a contrarian and far too principled for my own good.

If I determined that the company had misbehaved sufficiently, I might just do that, regardless of which country the company was based in.

If you're prepared to die, surely you can get rid of your Intel processor, Google, Microsoft and your computer which uses Motorola chips?

I don't reckon you've got the guts. I dare you to do that.
 
If you're prepared to die, surely you can get rid of your Intel processor, Google, Microsoft and your computer which uses Motorola chips?

I don't reckon you've got the guts. I dare you to do that.


Your bravado is breathtaking.

I'm not going to throw out things that I already have paid for, not even to please you.

I will be thoughtful in the future about what I acquire and from whom.

I've been getting ready to die for several years now. I'm still enjoying life but can see the time coming when I've had enough.

I am curious, Virus, why you are so offended by my despising the actions of Israel and suggesting that others reexamine how their actions or lack of actions enable Israel to continue to violate human rights.

I've put my cards on the table. Where are yours?
 
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Your bravado is breathtaking.

I'm not going to throw out things that I already have paid for, not even to please you.

I will be thoughtful in the future about what I acquire and from whom.

I've been getting ready to die for several years now. I'm still enjoying life but can see the time coming when I've had enough.

I am curious, Virus, why you are so offended by my despising the actions of Israel and suggesting that others reexamine how their actions or lack of actions enable Israel to continue to violate human rights.

I've put my cards on the table. Where are yours?

there are a vocal handful of posters here, who equate criticizing israel with the desire to eat jewish babies.
 
If you're prepared to die, surely you can get rid of your Intel processor, Google, Microsoft and your computer which uses Motorola chips?

I don't reckon you've got the guts. I dare you to do that.

I'm not sure you know what a boycott is.

(Hint: it doesn't usually involve throwing stuff out)
 
there are a vocal handful of posters here, who equate criticizing israel with the desire to eat jewish babies.


So I've heard.

I've already encountered some who conflate criticizing Israel's behavior with being an anti-Semite.

I try not to let silly people slow me down.
 
I think a boycott of all Israeli companies is unnecessary. The law is clearly controversial within the country itself, and companies have the option not to take advantage of it. I suggest to those who consider this a boycott-worthy cause (which is admirable): Observe which companies, if any, take advantage of this law by suing those who advocate boycotts, and boycott them. That way, companies will know they have something to lose by resorting to such measures, and some might feel motivated to take a stance against the law.

Out of curiosity, the whole boycott thing aside, does anyone defending Israel in this thread actually think this law is justified? It seems like a restriction on free speech far worse than those that are usually bemoaned here.
 
I think a boycott of all Israeli companies is unnecessary. The law is clearly controversial within the country itself, and companies have the option not to take advantage of it. I suggest to those who consider this a boycott-worthy cause (which is admirable): Observe which companies, if any, take advantage of this law by suing those who advocate boycotts, and boycott them. That way, companies will know they have something to lose by resorting to such measures, and some might feel motivated to take a stance against the law.


I agree. I think that companies that do sue for being boycotted should have anonymous let loose upon them. They'd beg to be merely boycotted.

I do think, however, that those parties and people who supported the law should suffer, if possible. How, I'm not sure.

My opposition to supporting the state of Israel through financial aid, military support, or politically stands, however. This incident merely makes me more resolute in that regard.
 
Thanks.

I know we disagree on some things, but I like to think there is respect as well.

Yes, we can disagree with one another and still admire admirable qualities. :)

I have on a number of occasions pointed out that aid to Israel, given it's average GDP, is a curious policy. That said, the aid we give to Egypt and Israel, since about Camp David, has been a bribe to both countries not to go to war with one another.

At some point, they both ought to be weaned from that teat, eh?
 
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Complexity,

While I absolutely agree with you that such a law is an ugly thing, I wonder at the advisability of a boycott.

Political action that does not exert real pressure is about as useful as changing your facebook status. The Montgomery bus boycott was a large scale and well orchestrated action. Rosa Parks was a thoroughly knowledgable and trained activist.

The only way laws change is when politicians believe their jobs are at stake. The only way corporations change their lobbying practice is if they believe serious money is at stake. You personally refusing to buy Israeli products does none of these things. Even you and 10,000 others who are not Israeli citizens making such a refusal doesn't really put any Israeli politician's jobs in jeopardy or mess with the bottom lines of the Israeli businesses large enough to exert lobbying pressure.

So if you're really concerned with this law, take a moment to think of what actions you can take that actually exert real pressure on the people whose minds you'd like to change. Without real pressure, you're pissing in the wind.
 
I just bought a pack of Hebrew National hot dogs. Not so much because they are Kosher, but every once and a while, I get a craving for a hot dog, and they are simply the best.

/light mayo, dijon mustard, freshly diced onions
 
Complexity,

While I absolutely agree with you that such a law is an ugly thing, I wonder at the advisability of a boycott.

Political action that does not exert real pressure is about as useful as changing your facebook status. The Montgomery bus boycott was a large scale and well orchestrated action. Rosa Parks was a thoroughly knowledgable and trained activist.

The only way laws change is when politicians believe their jobs are at stake. The only way corporations change their lobbying practice is if they believe serious money is at stake. You personally refusing to buy Israeli products does none of these things. Even you and 10,000 others who are not Israeli citizens making such a refusal doesn't really put any Israeli politician's jobs in jeopardy or mess with the bottom lines of the Israeli businesses large enough to exert lobbying pressure.

So if you're really concerned with this law, take a moment to think of what actions you can take that actually exert real pressure on the people whose minds you'd like to change. Without real pressure, you're pissing in the wind.


I certainly was pissed when I learned of this, and I have been pissing in the wind (though trying to aim, at least a bit). My OP was a knee-jerk reaction - while I don't think a boycott is likely to succeed, I wanted to do something. After my first rush of anger, I have been thinking a lot about where my money is going, who is benefiting, and why I don't behave more deliberately and with more thought. I'm trying to move in that direction.

That said, I think that what Israel has been doing is very similar to what South Africa did through apartheid. I hope that an effective system of opposition to Israel may someday accomplish some of what the opposition to South Africa accomplished.

There is no question that I've been whirling around trying to figure out what can be done, and ashamed that it has taken me this long to decide to take action.
 
I just bought a pack of Hebrew National hot dogs. Not so much because they are Kosher, but every once and a while, I get a craving for a hot dog, and they are simply the best.

/light mayo, dijon mustard, freshly diced onions


I'm very hungry right now. They are good.

I just had a salad. It just isn't the same.
 

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