Hamas vs. Israel, a thought experiment

[icehorse]

Courtesy of the Sam Harris podcast:

We know Hamas uses Palestinian women and children as shields. Rightly knowing that Israelis will tend to hold back.

Now imagine the reverse. Imagine Israelis using their women and children as shields. Imagine Hamas's response.

Not all cultures are - in 2023 - equally moral.

 

[We Never Know]

Courtesy of the Sam Harris podcast:

We know Hamas uses Palestinian women and children as shields. Rightly knowing that Israelis will tend to hold back.

Now imagine the reverse. Imagine Israelis using their women and children as shields. Imagine Hamas's response.

Not all cultures are - in 2023 - equally moral.

A little off topic(hope you don't mind) but I saw on some other threads where the rules of war were brought up.

What are the rules of war? And how do they apply to Israel's actions in Gaza?​

"The U.S. and other nations have repeatedly warned Israel to follow the "rules of war."

But what are they? And will they prevent civilians from being hurt?

Here's what to know about international humanitarian laws and how they might apply in the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza."

MSN

 

[Jimmy]

A little off topic(hope you don't mind) but I saw on some other threads where the rules of war were brought up.

What are the rules of war? And how do they apply to Israel's actions in Gaza?​

"The U.S. and other nations have repeatedly warned Israel to follow the "rules of war."

But what are they? And will they prevent civilians from being hurt?

Here's what to know about international humanitarian laws and how they might apply in the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza."

MSN

I think the rules of war are simple. No killing children and civilians

 

[Orbit]

The International Red Cross issues a statement. They never issue statements.

Israel and the occupied territories: Evacuation order of Gaza triggers catastrophic humanitarian consequences

Nothing can justify the horrific attacks Israel suffered last weekend. Our hearts go out to people who lost family members or are worried sick about loved ones taken hostage. We reiterate our call for their immediate release and stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits. But those attacks...

www.icrc.org

 

[Revoltingest]

Courtesy of the Sam Harris podcast:

We know Hamas uses Palestinian women and children as shields. Rightly knowing that Israelis will tend to hold back.

Now imagine the reverse. Imagine Israelis using their women and children as shields. Imagine Hamas's response.

Not all cultures are - in 2023 - equally moral.

If Hamas kills x Israelis as vengeance for Israeli oppression,
& Israel responds by killing 2x Palestinians as vengeance,
they certainly aren't equally moral.
Israel is a thug state that places low value on non-Jewish lives.

 

[1137]

I don't think we need to pretend either side is the good guys in this one. Heck it's been reported Israel is dropping white phosphorus. Evil and a little less evil sure, but I get tired of supporting "lesser evils."

 

[YmirGF]

If Hamas kills x Israelis as vengeance for Israeli oppression,
& Israel responds by killing 2x Palestinians as vengeance,
they certainly aren't equally moral.
Israel is a thug state that places low value on non-Jewish lives.

Oddly, I've usually been impressed with how restrained Israel responses are. I find your assertions to be, in a word, disgusting.

I don't think we need to pretend either side is the good guys in this one. Heck it's been reported Israel is dropping white phosphorus. Evil and a little less evil sure, but I get tired of supporting "lesser evils."

Isn't it amazing that less than a week after perhaps the most brutal and barbaric attack in modern history, far outside anything prescribed by the vaunted Geneva Conventions, that the victim in these attacks is already being portrayed as the bad guy, so, "Meh. No biggy."
It's like @Revoltingest and others are cheering Hamas on against the evil Israeli state. I also get the impression that many of you folks don't think the Palestinians or Hamas have anything to answer for and are completely justified in hacking the heads off babies.

@icehorse Sam has a pretty clear appraisal of the situation in the Middle East. His point that we cannot trust jihadi's is right on the money. These people are dangerous fanatics and they have, yet again, proven this for all to see. Hell, they are even glorifying their murderous rampage.

 

[Revoltingest]

Oddly, I've usually been impressed with how restrained Israel responses are. I find your assertions to be, in a word, disgusting.

Does this mean you find Israel's massive
death & destruction inflicted upon Palestinians
to be justified, ie, an eye for an eye version of
group punishment, including children?

Isn't it amazing that less than a week after perhaps the most brutal and barbaric attack in modern history, far outside anything prescribed by the vaunted Geneva Conventions, that the victim in these attacks is already being portrayed as the bad guy, so, "Meh. No biggy."
It's like @Revoltingest and others are cheering Hamas on against the evil Israeli state. '

"It's like...cheering Hamas on..."
Would the flip side of this be your "cheering on the killing of thousands of Palestinians"?
Nah.
You should be more cautious about airing
histrionic wrongful impressions of others'
statements.

I also get the impression that many of you folks don't think the Palestinians or Hamas have anything to answer for and are completely justified in hacking the heads off babies.

I'll spare you my impressions of
your views about human rights.

 

[YmirGF]

Does this mean you find Israel's massive
death & destruction inflicted upon Palestinians
to be justified, ie, an eye for an eye version of
group punishment, including children?

"It's like...cheering Hamas on..."
Would the flip side of this be your "cheering on the killing of thousands of Palestinians"?
Nah.
You should be more cautious about airing
histrionic wrongful impressions of others'
staements.

I'll spare you my impressions of
your views about human rights.

I have had enough of RF. You people disgust me.

@Quagmire and @Debater Slayer Gentlemen, please cancel my membership on RF. Thank you.

 

[Revoltingest]

I have had enough of RF. You people disgust me.

@Quagmire and @Debater Slayer Gentlemen, please cancel my membership on RF. Thank you.

I recommend a needed a break from RF.
Then try to read posts with an open mind,
minus prejudices. This is good for equanimity.

 

[PureX]

Sam Harris is an idiot and a fool.

This "comparison" is both idiotic and grotesquely biased.

 

[Little Dragon]

Isn't it amazing that less than a week after perhaps the most brutal and barbaric attack in modern history, far outside anything prescribed by the vaunted Geneva Conventions, that the victim in these attacks is already being portrayed as the bad guy, so, "Meh. No biggy."

Exactly.
It's outrageous in fact. I've tried to remain civilized here on this horrible topic. Not easy.
Not easy at all.

 

[Little Dragon]

I have had enough of RF. You people disgust me.

@Quagmire and @Debater Slayer Gentlemen, please cancel my membership on RF. Thank you.

Don't let it get to you. They're just a faction.

 

[Little Dragon]

Then try to read posts with an open mind,
minus prejudices. This is good for equanimity.

How ironic..

 

[Little Dragon]

I'll spare you my impressions of
your views about human rights.

Physician first cure thyself.

PS

Please do spare us.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Not all cultures are - in 2023 - equally moral.

Therefore?

 

[1137]

Oddly, I've usually been impressed with how restrained Israel responses are. I find your assertions to be, in a word, disgusting.

Isn't it amazing that less than a week after perhaps the most brutal and barbaric attack in modern history, far outside anything prescribed by the vaunted Geneva Conventions, that the victim in these attacks is already being portrayed as the bad guy, so, "Meh. No biggy."
It's like @Revoltingest and others are cheering Hamas on against the evil Israeli state. I also get the impression that many of you folks don't think the Palestinians or Hamas have anything to answer for and are completely justified in hacking the heads off babies.

@icehorse Sam has a pretty clear appraisal of the situation in the Middle East. His point that we cannot trust jihadi's is right on the money. These people are dangerous fanatics and they have, yet again, proven this for all to see. Hell, they are even glorifying their murderous rampage.

I didn't mean to support Hamas if it came across that way, they are clearly the greater evil.

 

[Revoltingest]

Physician first cure thyself.

PS

Please do spare us.

None will be spared the horrors
that arise in me noggin.

 

[Revoltingest]

It's outrageous in fact. I've tried to remain civilized here on this horrible topic.

Try harder.

Oh, come on....you knew someone would post that, bubala.

 

[sayak83]

Courtesy of the Sam Harris podcast:

We know Hamas uses Palestinian women and children as shields. Rightly knowing that Israelis will tend to hold back.

Now imagine the reverse. Imagine Israelis using their women and children as shields. Imagine Hamas's response.

Not all cultures are - in 2023 - equally moral.

I too can play this game...

A psychopath torture and kills 7 innocent women. The local police raids a building where the psychopath lives and shoots all 70 residents living in the house as they could not identify who that psychopath is.

Who is the greater evil here?