Today In: FAFO

[Shirley]

What kind of aid are you capable of providing? You once came here for advice on how to unclog a sink.

I laughed so hard I damn near pissed myself!

it's honestly probably a top 5 illy post

^^^ You're not wrong.

ousdahl, in your pursuit of providing humanitarian aid, have you considered going to medical school and then joining "Doctors Without Borders"?

Those crazy mother fucking physicians seem to be active everywhere, including Gaza.

[BiggDick]

thanks for the good suggestion.

I still think the better move, rather than to go provide aid in an area in which I am very likely to be killed by our own allies armed by our own government, would be to get our own allies and own government to just chill the fuck out instead.

Either way, I'm only one person. And only one really dumb person at that. Dunno why you guys expect me to save Gaza when I can't even unclog a fucking sink!

So howsabout this:

If any one of you would be willing to participate in a Free Palestine rally, anywhere in the United States, name the time and place.

I'll join you.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

thanks for the good suggestion.

I still think the better move, rather than to go provide aid in an area in which I am very likely to be killed by our own allies armed by our own government, would be to get our own allies and own government to just chill the fuck out instead.

Either way, I'm only one person. And only one really dumb person at that. Dunno why you guys expect me to save Gaza when I can't even unclog a fucking sink!

So howsabout this:

If any one of you would be willing to participate in a Free Palestine rally, anywhere in the United States, name the time and place.

I'll join you.

Sure you will.
Tell me/us, how many Free Palestine rallies have you attended? My guess is less than me. Although, I had different reasons for attending than you probably do/would.
Now tell me/us, what good do you feel your attending a Free Palestine rally would do other than to soothe your own soul - which isn't a terrible thing - and if it would do that for you - then I suggest you do attend a Free Palestine rally.

I'd rather eat a pile of dog shit than be with 75% of the people who are participating at Free Palestine rallies.
The other 25%, I would probably enjoy being close friends with them.

I have a better idea for YOU. If you are truly as passionate as you come off as being on here, instead of attending a Free Palestine rally, perhaps you should contact your state's representatives and senators in congress and ask if you can meet with them, and propose that you would like to make an impassioned speech in front of congress.
Or at least, write them and express your thoughts and opinions, and ask them what you can do as a concerned US citizen to help stop "the war" in Gaza - other than attending a Free Palestine rally. I would sincerely be very interested in seeing what responses you get - or don't get.

[DeletedUser]

We've gone from traveling across the world to provide aid to going to a rally. We're getting closer to reality.

I think the pro Palestinian work you're doing on this messageboard is making a big impact to the people in Gaza.


And fwiw, i think you are much more likely to be killed by Palestenians if you show up in Gaza than you are to catch a stray US bomb or drone at the Residence Hotel you'd be staying at.

[BiggDick]

Sure you will.
Tell me/us, how many Free Palestine rallies have you attended? My guess is less than me. Although, I had different reasons for attending than you probably do/would.
Now tell me/us, what good do you feel your attending a Free Palestine rally would do other than to soothe your own soul - which isn't a terrible thing - and if it would do that for you - then I suggest you do attend a Free Palestine rally.

I'd rather eat a pile of dog shit than be with 75% of the people who are participating at Free Palestine rallies.
The other 25%, I would probably enjoy being close friends with them.

I have a better idea for YOU. If you are truly as passionate as you come off as being on here, instead of attending a Free Palestine rally, perhaps you should contact your state's representatives and senators in congress and ask if you can meet with them, and propose that you would like to make an impassioned speech in front of congress.
Or at least, write them and express your thoughts and opinions, and ask them what you can do as a concerned US citizen to help stop "the war" in Gaza - other than attending a Free Palestine rally. I would sincerely be very interested in seeing what responses you get - or don't get.

Good response!

Admittedly, I haven't been to any rallies. I got invited to one by a woman on Bumble. She was Puerto Rican, and ideologically very anti-imperial, so she felt passionate about the pro-Palestine cause too. But alas, before we were able to meet up, she ghosted me instead.

There otherwise haven't been free Palestine rallies in my area. It's likely I'd have to travel to find one anyway, which is part of why I suggested someone else suggest the time and place.

I do like the idea of contacting elected lawmakers. That's why I like to discuss these things. You never know what you're gonna learn from dialogue.

Plus, you gotta remember, gutman, that I'm also an enormous idiot. Didn't anyone else mention that yet? So maybe I'll contact some lawmakers as soon as I unclog this sink.

[BiggDick]

We've gone from traveling across the world to provide aid to going to a rally. We're getting closer to reality.

dunno why you think it's unrealistic for other posters to expect me to travel across the world to provide aid.

And fwiw, i think you are much more likely to be killed by Palestenians if you show up in Gaza than you are to catch a stray US bomb or drone at the Residence Hotel you'd be staying at.

why's that?

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

Sure you will.
Tell me/us, how many Free Palestine rallies have you attended? My guess is less than me. Although, I had different reasons for attending than you probably do/would.
Now tell me/us, what good do you feel your attending a Free Palestine rally would do other than to soothe your own soul - which isn't a terrible thing - and if it would do that for you - then I suggest you do attend a Free Palestine rally.

I'd rather eat a pile of dog shit than be with 75% of the people who are participating at Free Palestine rallies.
The other 25%, I would probably enjoy being close friends with them.

I have a better idea for YOU. If you are truly as passionate as you come off as being on here, instead of attending a Free Palestine rally, perhaps you should contact your state's representatives and senators in congress and ask if you can meet with them, and propose that you would like to make an impassioned speech in front of congress.
Or at least, write them and express your thoughts and opinions, and ask them what you can do as a concerned US citizen to help stop "the war" in Gaza - other than attending a Free Palestine rally. I would sincerely be very interested in seeing what responses you get - or don't get.

Good response!

Admittedly, I haven't been to any rallies. I got invited to one by a woman on Bumble. She was Puerto Rican, and ideologically very anti-imperial, so she felt passionate about the pro-Palestine cause too. But alas, before we were able to meet up, she ghosted me instead.

There otherwise haven't been free Palestine rallies in my area. It's likely I'd have to travel to find one anyway, which is part of why I suggested someone else suggest the time and place.

I do like the idea of contacting elected lawmakers. That's why I like to discuss these things. You never know what you're gonna learn from dialogue.

Plus, you gotta remember, gutman, that I'm also an enormous idiot. Didn't anyone else mention that yet? So maybe I'll contact some lawmakers as soon as I unclog this sink.

It seems you do realize but if you don't, my posts directed to you this morning are/were sort of an example of tough love.
Sure, they be slightly snide but my frustration on the subject is that people are maybe being "heard" but there has been not so much action from our "leaders". Both National and International.
How many rallies and gatherings have there been across the USA and the World, and over a year later, here were are today. Not much positive has been accomplished. At least not a whole lot in my eyes and not too educated brain.

[BiggDick]

yea, "tough love" is a good term for it.

It still seemed like a good suggestion, at least coming from you. Other posters who suggested I go volunteer in Gaza almost seemed to do so mockingly. But let's give them a tough love benefit of the doubt too.

tho...wanna know a fucked up thought, gutter?

"a protest without violence is only a parade."

As far as protests and "rallies and gatherings" and being "heard," they just never seem to do shit as far as actual systemic change.

The idea is, for actual systemic change, you NEED a little violence, with the rationale being, when has a ruling class ever given up their power peacefully?

With that said, I remain ideologically nonviolent, and think the revolution this world needs, needs to somehow be nonviolent. Otherwise, I'm afraid we're just perpetuating some cycle of violence.

[BiggDick]

pretty rad that I post shit as deep as this yet still get dismissed as offering little more than Billy Madison humor.

[TDub]

omg you're so deep, you're the only one who actually thinks around here.

I swear youre 14

[BiggDick]

it's fun how TDub talks so tough when his avatar is also a clown.

[DeletedUser]

We've gone from traveling across the world to provide aid to going to a rally. We're getting closer to reality.

dunno why you think it's unrealistic for other posters to expect me to travel across the world to provide aid.

And fwiw, i think you are much more likely to be killed by Palestenians if you show up in Gaza than you are to catch a stray US bomb or drone at the Residence Hotel you'd be staying at.

why's that?

You suggested getting involved in providing aid.

Here's a hint on the 2nd question: Americans aren't super popular over in those parts at the moment. And not sure HAMAS is going to welcome your "aid" with open arms. They might just shoot you in the chest and take whatever little amount of money you have from your pocket.

[Overlander]

Sure you will.
Tell me/us, how many Free Palestine rallies have you attended? My guess is less than me. Although, I had different reasons for attending than you probably do/would.
Now tell me/us, what good do you feel your attending a Free Palestine rally would do other than to soothe your own soul - which isn't a terrible thing - and if it would do that for you - then I suggest you do attend a Free Palestine rally.

I'd rather eat a pile of dog shit than be with 75% of the people who are participating at Free Palestine rallies.
The other 25%, I would probably enjoy being close friends with them.

I have a better idea for YOU. If you are truly as passionate as you come off as being on here, instead of attending a Free Palestine rally, perhaps you should contact your state's representatives and senators in congress and ask if you can meet with them, and propose that you would like to make an impassioned speech in front of congress.
Or at least, write them and express your thoughts and opinions, and ask them what you can do as a concerned US citizen to help stop "the war" in Gaza - other than attending a Free Palestine rally. I would sincerely be very interested in seeing what responses you get - or don't get.

But alas, before we were able to meet up, she ghosted me instead.

[BiggDick]

good one!

it's a good thing I at least know you're cool in real life, overlander, enough so that I avoid engaging you too much online.

[BiggDick]

We've gone from traveling across the world to provide aid to going to a rally. We're getting closer to reality.

dunno why you think it's unrealistic for other posters to expect me to travel across the world to provide aid.

And fwiw, i think you are much more likely to be killed by Palestenians if you show up in Gaza than you are to catch a stray US bomb or drone at the Residence Hotel you'd be staying at.

why's that?

You suggested getting involved in providing aid.

Here's a hint on the 2nd question: Americans aren't super popular over in those parts at the moment. And not sure HAMAS is going to welcome your "aid" with open arms. They might just shoot you in the chest and take whatever little amount of money you have from your pocket.

Do you have any sources to corroborate any of this? Specifically, that an aid worker wouldn't be "super popular" just cuz they're from the U.S., or that HAMAS wouldn't welcome the aid, or that they might just shoot me in the chest and take whatever little amount of money I have from my pocket?

And, back to the original question, cuz tho it does plenty to boogeyman Palestinians, I'm not sure this answers the other side of the coin.

Why would I be less likely to be killed by a "stray US bomb or drone" fired, presumably, by our Israeli allies?

I've provided sources here reporting that U.S. aid workers have been bombed by Israeli forces, despite Israeli forces knowing the exact location and movements of the aid workers. Do you have sources to correct, that say such bombs were actually just "stray?"

Or more generally, that the bigger threat at-large within Gaza is still Palestinians, more so than Israelis?

[DeletedUser]

Seriously, what type of aid can you provide?

Can you help rebuild buildings that have been destroyed? Can you help treat the sick and injured?

Or are you just going to be there consuming their already limited resources (food, water, power, etc) while walking around smiling at people because there is a language barrier?

I mean seriously.

And you think HAMAS likes Americans? Boy, I've got some bad news for you...

[BiggDick]

holy shit dude.

None of those questions even try to answer my questions.

I'll await your answers.

But to answer yours, I'm not sure I can provide aid. I'm dumb! Remember?

I couldn't help treat the sick and injured, beyond basic first aid training. I actually COULD help rebuilding buildings that have been destroyed, but let's not dox me please.

If I did go, I would not go just to consume their already limited resources while walking around smiling, or otherwise just act like y'all tourists about it.

No, I don't think HAMAS likes Americans. Of course they don't! And after all the U.S. bombs dropped on Gaza, why would they?

now, would you too like to be a sport and kindly take a shot at answering my questions, please?

[DeletedUser]

Yes, give me just a second. I'll answer all your questions.... wait right here.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

holy shit dude.

None of those questions even try to answer my questions.

I'll await your answers.

But to answer yours, I'm not sure I can provide aid. I'm dumb! Remember?

I couldn't help treat the sick and injured, beyond basic first aid training. I actually COULD help rebuilding buildings that have been destroyed, but let's not dox me please.

If I did go, I would not go just to consume their already limited resources while walking around smiling, or otherwise just act like y'all tourists about it.

No, I don't think HAMAS likes Americans. Of course they don't! And after all the U.S. bombs dropped on Gaza, why would they?

now, would you too like to be a sport and kindly take a shot at answering my questions, please?

1. Those broken down buildings, Hamas would rather keep money for themselves than fix/rebuild them - unless Hamas would directly benefit. They give less of a damn about their average citizens than you do.
So... I would suggest you don't ever consider going there to help rebuild buildings as long as Hamas is still in power. It would be a waste of your time and energy.
2. I promise you Hamas didn't like Americans BEFORE the U.S. bombs were dropped on Gaza. I am 100% in support of US bombs wiping out Hamas. I am 100% against US bombs being used to kill the good citizens of Gaza. The bad ones (and there are more than too many bad ones) fuck 'em.

[BiggDick]

good post, gutter.

My concern is, U.S. weapons were used against Gaza (and elsewhere in occupied Palestine) for decades before Hamas was ever even a thing.

I'm not sure Hamas would have ever been a thing if NOT for the U.S. (and U.S.-allied) militancy to begin with.