To: lorne who wrote (1453 ) 7/15/2002 12:10:50 PM From: Noel de Leon Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 3467 Thanks for repeating what I wrote. an excerpt from Scumbria's post 1325. "...who is proof positive that once removed from the sick culture of their homeland, they can excel." This demonstrates that Scumbria is the one who first referred to a sick culture in connection with removing people from it. Your post 1248, which started this sub-discussion on racist postings should be reviewed before you continue to get yourself in a dither. You and others write: "If the civilised countries don't push them away from their madness, who will? "....." Answer: Those in the warring groups who are able to see that the intransigent positions they defend must be given up in order that more reasonable positions can be used as a basis of negotiation. It is obvious that outside (hopefully impartial) parties can contribute to this process. Unhappily the USA has taken a position which ensures the continued intransigence of the Sharon faction and as a result the intransigence of Hamas and other groups who continue to bomb Israeli civilians. There was some hope while the USA supported 242. Now that hope is gone thanks to George II's insistence that all changes come from the Palestinian side. The statement that the Palestinians should become a democratic society amidst a group of non-democratic societies is equally destructive. The USA has made no demands on Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Russia, and countless other countries. Why this demand on the Palestinians who are an occupied people at war with Israel? I'm willing to bet you, GV, Scumbria, and Albert a bottle of good single malt that if Israel were to say that they accept 242 as a basis for negotiation then the bombings would stop. You ask "Are you saying and agreeing that the arab/pal culture is sick? Now if my thought process worked the same way as yours I might just take what you said as a racist remark. Is it?" I've answered that one already. I'll re-phrase the answer. No, the person who asks these questions is the racist.