I have my policy – I don't click links or watch videos. Read back six months or longer. Never have. I didn't vote for President Obama. I will the next time. I like him, and his wife and family, now more than when he was campaigning. My hubby voted for him. I didn't vote. I just wasn't certain and I'm a very careful female.

He's just a guy, a man. He's a very nice, learned one, in my opinion, trying to do his best. That's basically all we can ask of a single person. He might mess up now and then, who knows, but that's okay too. It's called being human. But he is trying to listen and like everyone and be fair. That's my lowly opionion. The world is NOT about the U.S. Others are responsible. We just try hard, but some need to try, perhaps harder. That's their choice. The world is not our responsibility in any way. I do think he is a nice guy. I'm not African American, in any way, for the record. The race thing, I knew in grade school was a little silly. I remember it.

I do think President Obama is intelligent, far beyond what I know. I do think that he understands connections, the U.S. and Israel and England, and the whole world and does not dismiss our allies in any way. I like that the U.S. has connections to about everyone. That's my fav part. I've travelled to countries, several, and like the mix that is here. I doubt that people will ever, ever manage to like each other, sadly, but there is always a glimmer of hope. Good luck. It is always tough to understand other beings.

The new Israeli government must get to the table with the U.S. and the PA! If they begin to negotiate a Palestinian state that offers them some land for peace. then they should isolate Gaza and Hamas It might bring the people of Gaza to the PA which could bring down Hamas. IT’S WORTH A SHOT!

Dan,

Great idea!

But it's already been tried, and failed.

Nevertheless, I'm sure they're going to try again...

Miriam,
Israel has offered land for peace. But Israel has never offered land with a natural water supply. i.e. the Israeli offer of peace means the Palestinians die of thirst. A very ungodly arrangement made by people who claim to be close to god.

Dan Nelson,

Great idea... Peace by submission... Wow... How long it took you to think of a great idea such as this?

John A

Palestinians have a water supply.

Water is in short supply in the whole region.

After 1967, some Palestinian communities refused to be hooked-up to the Israeli pipes, for political reasons.

Israel has fulfilled her obligations regarding water required under Oslo. The Palestinians have not.

This is a new thing. Is this whole fuss and long years of war over water rights? That should be something that is fixable with negotiations – if people want to go there. I don't they want peace though. Some. Perhaps many. I think they just want Israel driven into the sea.

I really don't just get it, in general. There are fifty states, two not on this continent, who get along just fine. There is Canada and Mexico, and we manage to co-exist. It's not always easy or perfect, I'm certain, but we manage somehow. How is it that the ME, an older place, has such problems? Is it about religion? We have many here. One that is predominant, but still others. It's all about peace and love?

Perhaps we take ourselves tooo seriously. Good news, we can change. If we start laughing at our quirks and our opinions and respecting those of others just a little, perhaps we can avoid a war. I doubt that people are capable. Really. I hope to be surprised. It's always possible. I just don't think they are able to do it.

Gleigh,

It has nothing to do with "water rights". The fact is, every time someone brings up the point that thought the past 60 years Israel has repeatedly offered peace and a 2 state solution, some spouts off that the piece of land offered to the Arabs is not the "right" piece of land. Yet the piece of land is the same one was in the original plan by the UN and the UK in 1947. The bottom line is --the only piece of land that is acceptable to the Arabs is the "entire" piece of land--all of it.

The water rights thing is just more smoke and BS-– The Palestinians need to develop their own resources beneath the West Bank and from the River Jordan as well as beneath Gaza--- they've simply been to preoccupied with developing weapons, rockets, IEDs and C4 bomb jackets to spend any time, money or resources on developing their own water supply.

It's called misguided priorities!!!!! Nothing more!!!!!

GLeigh,

we know that you don't get it... thanks for confirming that for us.

Can someon tell me when this has been tried? Sorry I misses the big headline news.

Miriam, Filipe and the professor, you need to quit drinking the haterade and pull your heads out, kinda getting sick of all the denial. your boring the blog with your one sided woe is me attitudes. please.

Sally,

Obviously you are mistaken if you believe that miriam or I have equal views as professor on these issues. However, you are dead on in assessment of professor.

I really don't think people in the Middle East are ready, or capable, of achieving peace. Honestly. Sadly. It takes many skills, communication, trust, stability, cooperation, acceptance of different beliefs. Those are all hard things. I just think many areas can't go there basically – maybe all of them for all I know since I'm not there or studied it at length. I've spoken at length to others who feel the same way.

President Obama is a good person, hopefully, I believe, but not a miracle worker. That will take a miracle. God can do it, but not a president. It's up to them. It should be up to them. If there is hate not love, there shouldn't be peace. It's two faced. But the consequences are always not great. So we continue to struggle along.

Hey Prof – anytime. Hope you are well.

Filipe
You’re on a rant again!
The land Israel offers to Palestine looks like Swiss Cheese filled with Israeli settlements.

These are illegal. Only today Israel announced it would never hand back East Jerusalem. Also illegal

BBC "The city's status remains disputed, with Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem considered illegal under international law".

Take a read and please stop your meaningless rants

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8062657.stm

John A Cut N Paste,

What are you going on about now???

Have you actually been privy to the proposed settlement boundaries/borders??

Or is this just one more thing you've made up in your own little mind.

By the way-- talk about Swiss Cheese-–did you ever bother to look at the original proposal by the UN in resolution 181-- there is your Swiss Cheese-- but Israel was OK with it!

But, sorry-– they are way beyond that point now-- Looks like you just loose again!!

Filipe you have nothing to say than cut n paste?

Have you ever been to Gaza? If so prove it?

Still you show no shame for supporting a country which practises vicious apartheid. You support Israel which has drawn more condemnation from the UN than any country in the world. Still you have no shame for killing over 1300 civilians last December. No shame for illegal settlements, no shame for blocking medical supplies, no shame for evicting people from homes they’ve lived in for generations, no shame for destroying their farms. You have no shame at all. No shame and not even a denial, simply you laugh as Israel escapes justice.