Your Take: Middle East Recap

***EDIT 1/18/09: I goofed, and forgot to make time to compile everyone's answers...sorry if you were watching for them or commented on the empty post!***

Here's what everyone had to say about the latest outbreak of Israel-Palestinian violence:

Teresa left a comment:

"I do not think this will end. People, including myself, can pray, hope, wish nations such as Israel cut this horrible blood bath. I do not have a solution for this. My mind is way too simple and not military trained...I am somewhat good at problem solving but this is beyond a problem. These are women and children who have been slaughtered. It has gone past making me feel angry. I am almost in shock (even though I really shouldn't be)."

David(DMac) also clicked the link:

"How does one negotiate with people who don't bargain in good faith? Who kill "innocent" men, women, and children? Who keep upgrading their ability to kill? Oh, and all of those apply to both sides of the discussion.

"Great tragedy occurs when Right meets Right", John Stoessinger.

It is awfully hard to discriminate when terrorist/freedom fighters are hiding among children, in mosques, and in universities. It is particularly hard when using big bombs..."

Jeannine commented on the recap post:

"I don't think it is lack of interest in the topic as much as what is there to say. This who mess over there makes no sense, yes the sides both have a right to what is theirs but neither is really interested in compromise. Neither wants peace only dominance. I think it is hard for most people to stop their own daily preoccupations and even try to address such craziness but the sad truth is the only way for it to stop is to draw attention to the craziness and the hypocracy in an effort to awaken everyone higher ablities to deal with the issue."

Veronica chimed on the same post:

"I'm wondering why we're supporting Israel. They have done so much killing and we seem to keep backing them for reasons that maybe I'm not aware of, but it doesn't make any sense to me ..."

Jameel comes to us via Facebook:

"If in regards to Israel we seem to be pausing, then Israel, Gaza, Hamas, etc. etc. are sure as hell rewinding on 12x. Or playing. Or fast forwarding. If you get the metaphor."

Thanks for all the comments, folks, and taking the time to ponder a problem bigger than any of us (or maybe all of us).

No News Today?

I feel like something of a failure...since I can't find anything to really write about today. Aside from the Israelis, it seems like the entire world is just...pausing. There's news, of course. An Indonesian ferry sank, killing many. That coal ash spill in Tennessee really messed up a river that had been recovering. Prince Harry used a racial slur three years ago to talk about a fellow Sandhurst cadet. And natural gas may finally start flowing back into Europe, now that Ukraine has allowed EU monitors into the pumping stations.

And of course, as I mentioned, there's always Gaza.

But that's all I have, really. Nothing jumped out at me and said, "This is crazy-important! People are going to be DIRECTLY EFFECTED by what's going on here!" The world is...calm?

It's a false calm. In Ohio, the economic outlook isn't any better. And we have a group of freshmen legislatures who are tackling it. Could be good, could be bad.

Obama hasn't even been sworn in yet. 9 days to go (as of this writing), and then you just know something is going to hit the fan, just because it's a new President. And it'll be a nice juicy something because it's Obama. That crisis is brewing, as we speak. We just don't know about it yet.

Not much to do about it today though, except keep an eye on the newspage and an ear to the radio...try and stay a touch ahead of the curve. You folks have a great week, and I'll see you again for the "Your Take" recap on Thursday.