Opinion  Ray Hanania
War over oil prices
Ray Hanania
Published: 04.05.06, 09:33
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1. Good Perspecetive!
Digital Heretic   (05.02.06)
Not! Most people go through 20 gallons of gas a week, whereas maybe a gallon of milk a week. As for not needing two cars...are you not married? American families usually require two incomes just to survive. Perhaps you wish to attack that issue instead of the "one family, one car" issue...geeze, is this China? Americans are responsible for a lot of the crisis that hit us, but you could at least get the issues right.
2. Huh?
Yehuda ,   USA   (05.03.06)
Ray, this article is hardly relevant to the Israeli-Palstinian conflict. The last two articles you wrote do not spark any emotion in the hearts of Israelis or Palestinians. Do you think that the price of gas is more important than continuing to struggle to find some points of agreement and consensus on the Israeli-Palestinian issues. Write something more controversial next time please.
3. To Mr. Hanania
Josh ,   Jerusalem   (05.04.06)
You write with such an undertone of disdain towards America. Why do you live there? All you do is cry and complain about how Americans are stupid and how they hate Arabs. Then you talk about the poor Arabs who nobody understands. Earth to Ray! Come back to reality. Oil prices are rising because of OPEC. I know they are Arabs, but that doesn't mean that you can't blame them. Lay off the cynicism and wake up.
4. Dear Mr Hanania
Michelle ,   Portland, USA   (05.04.06)
To my knowledge, the hybrids do not cost more than luxury cars, a friend of my bought one recently. In addition, for some of us carpooling is not an option, e.g. I work nights at a location about 20 miles from where I live. I originally moved to that location to be close to my then job, then quit to go to grad school (which is only 4.5 miles from where I live) and only in the last year have been working for this company while I finish school. I have entertained the idea of moving , but the cost, etc is prohibitive.
5. the American way
Betsy   (05.04.06)
geez Ray! what a narrow perspective but wait-I think I'm on to you. you can't possibly believe what you write. you do this only to get a reaction from readers. right? but if you're really serious, I beg to differ. Americans are blaming Bush for this, and yes of course the oil companies. but this certainly is not a crisis for anyone here unless he/she is too poor to buy gas. it's accepted and could be worse. we know that in Europe gas is much higher. people (American or otherwise) tend to blame others and not themselves for anything and everything. but really, this gas thing is hardly a crisis. my concern over the middle east is as deep as ever. I am also concerned that people like you, who live here, are making such shallow -and incorrect-statements about the American people. you have to mature I guess. I am sometimes a little harsh on Americans (although the population is so diverse Americans cannot be lumped into any one particular group just as some Arabs are intelligent, funny, friendly, not murderers and liars...and some are not intelligent, funny, friendly, and ARE murderers and liars), it's ok with me if I criticize Americans. it's just not ok with me for you to do it.
6. The problem is poor vs rich
atmawi ,   Historic Palestine   (05.04.06)
People with much money get more of it, and people with no money get nothing of it. Only God Rules may spread fairness, not humans! Just a thought.
7. to ray hanania
gm ,   south africa   (05.04.06)
you wrote a lot but said very little in your article, in my opinion. All you said is that america is upset about the rising oil prices and they would be prepared to go to war over it. the whole middle bit, comedy routine is amusing but totally irrelevant. are you trying to trivialise their concerns? the price of oil determines the strength of an economy and inflation. americans may try to find a scape goat. i agree with you that they should take responsibility for their mistakes. by the same token, so should the palestinians. They too try to pass the buck. which brings me to the saying: people in glass houses ...... so, for this article, thanks, but no thanks.
8. #6 atmawi
gm ,   south africa   (05.04.06)
The problem of rich vs poor: rich people think like rich people. poor people think like poor people. this is true the same way a lot of palestinians are terrorists because they think like terrorists. If they wanted peace, they would think like peacemakers.
9. So Washington D.C., which capital u will blame this time?
Muhammad-Ali ,   Montreal   (05.04.06)
Caracas?
10. i agree that
cayce ,   us   (05.04.06)
americans are obviously addicted to their gas, even mr. bush admitted to that. finally the conservatives hawks have admitted a problem! on a good note, last that i saw suv sales took a big drop over the past year or so. i also disagree that your example of the mini cooper ad embodies the west's snubbing of arabs. it feels to me more of a rebuttal to an oil giant that controls our lives and economy. we americans have been spoiled by our oil in more ways than one, and if it takes a hole in our pocket to force change, so be it.
11. Hanania is an idiot
Antonio ,   Haifa   (05.04.06)
Gas is overpriced. Period. Nothing wrong with large SUVs--they are nice and reliable vehicles, that drive on gas, not milk.
12. Mooo can ride
(05.04.06)
Maybe we should ride our cows to work! That would give Ray less to complain about! I use public transporatation or walk. Why pay terrorists anymore than you have to.
13. Ray its changing
Susan ,   Philadelphia, USA   (05.04.06)
Ray, sales of SUVs are dropping. I'm not sure how long this will last, though. SUVs are no longer the best selling car in the US. Of course when anything goes wrong in an Arab country its always Israel and/or the Jews fault. There just almost no Jews left in Arab countries to blame at least.
14. Toyota Prius
Joy Springreen   (05.04.06)
Unless they change to it, switch more energy production/use to electric and fill the deserts of Arizona with solar farms, there will always be an American interest in oil. They are sourcing it more and more from elsewhere and leaving Iran for China. Chinese expansion is on its way and nothing will stop it. America is more likely to forge better realtions with mexico and look nearer to home, such as south america. Repair the work and forge a new americas. So this war will continue, no doubt until someone backs down. The americans aren't known to back down. So we will have to see what happens. but SUV hybrids need to come into being. Of that, no-body can deny.
15. So Hanania found his favorite punch bag...
Ron ,   LA   (05.05.06)
"The fact is, when you break down the cost of gasoline, one of the largest benefactors is the U.S. government. Out of the USD 2.50 for a gallon of gas, the government takes about 50 cents. The rest is divided between the actual cost of the oil, the refineries, and distribution." So Hanania found his favorite punch bag- the US of A.. Of course Bush didn’t raise any gas tax recently to cause this increase, but who cares about facts? Definitely not Hanania. Arab’s conspiracy thinking is this: Lets see if our enemy benefit from certain occurrence . If we can find how, the next step than let's accuse the enemy of this deed and call it a day. So here we have it- new conspiracy theory, USA government makes money out of the misery of American people... Brilliant, Hanania. You are really is "Ray of Hope"
16. Since I assume this piece is NOT a humor ...
Ron ,   LA   (05.05.06)
The story (A) how the Jew rips off American (B) how Bush rips off Americans (C) how Arabs are smarter then the West and the Americans “Starbucks charges USD 3.65 for a venti (large) latte with organic milk. A gallon of milk costs more than a gallon of gasoline. Bush didn’t hold a press conference to address the “white milk crisis in America.” And he's not planning to invade and occupy American dairy farms.” Since I assume this piece is NOT a humor ( am I mistaken? Sorry I don’t have any sense of humor) I am puzzled at Hanania logic. Hanania compare a gallon of organic milk to a gallon of gasoline. Hmmm…Since there is not an issue of milk in America I wonder what he means. May be oil is considered “organic” too, sorry…On other hand the left are so used to compare apples and oranges, it’s not even surprising… Since we are talking Jew-Arab piss process here, and as we know Starbucks is Jew owned and even boycotted by Arabs, because of owner’s Zionism, it starts to make sense… So let’s see the logic here…The Jew from Starbacks overcharges and treats (tricks) Americans $3.65 a cup which is the real rip off- nor Arabs charging Americans $ 3.65 gallon of gas, of course…He can even blame Americans for this- not the Arabs, what a genius.. So here we have it folks. Jews and Americans, let’s blame them once again, why not, this is the REAL agenda, haven’t you noticed, dudes? By the way is there any Arab in his article, or just a Jew from Starbucks? I guess it makes more sense… ARABS and OIL? No, not for Hanania. It doesn’t mix in Hanania latte… Oh, sorry Hanania mentioned Arabs as very smart marketers and oil conservators, unlike stupid, wasteful Americans… listen to Hanania… Hanania is a talented as hell propaganda machine … his only problem is “ Rons and others”…
17. ?????
annie ,   boston   (05.05.06)
are people really that uptight on this site. lol. seriously. you all need to take a break. maybe go outside and enjoy life a little. i like the column, but then its jus an opinion no more. what is the price of tragedy around here? veryhigh. imho
18. "(Arabs) don’t need to be the servants of American...
Ron ,   LA   (05.05.06)
...economic interests"- Ray Hanania This is how Hanania describes the issue for stupid Americans and Jews: from “War over oil prices” “In the West, the Mini is proudly featured on billboards with the slogan “OPEC, Schmopec.” That’s an American expression of disdain. The Mini is telling people in the West that buying a Mini is a great way to stick it to those big, bad oil producers, mostly Arabs.Ah, but in the Middle East, the Mini Cooper has a whole different approach. They’ve placed Arab flags on the hoods of each Mini, parked them side by side, and argued that driving their little economy car is just as prestigious as driving a luxury limousine. Clearly among the smell of the gasoline is also the greater stench of hypocrisy, all the way around.” This is how Hanania writes about the same thing in Dubai newspaper, where he makes lots of $$$ bashing America: From “Dubai Challenges Many Assumptions About Arab World “ “The hypocrisies do exist among Western commerce, however. Just look at the separate advertising campaigns being promoted in the West to promote the BMW Mini Cooper and its rival strategies in the Arab world. In the West, the theme is one that appeals to the growing anger against anything Arab. One advertising campaign boasts arrogantly, “OPEC SchmOPEC ... buy the BMW Mini Cooper.” Yet in the Middle East, BMW deceitfully wishes Arabs to embrace the Mini as a convenience, portraying the car in one advertisement as a line of Mini Coopers viewed from the sky with each car sporting the flag of a country from the Arab world. What’s the real message here? The advertising spin-meisters recognize that the only real difference between the Arab and the Western worlds is arrogance and indignation. One day the people of the Arab world will wake up to discover that they don’t need the United States or the Western world to validate their unique cultural supremacy and the ingenuity of their society. They don’t need a puny little contract to manage America’s ports to survive in this world. They don’t need to be the servants of American economic interests. In truth, the belief that the Arab world needs the United States and the West is in effect a form of self-imposed bondage that strangles and smothers Arab freedom and independence.” http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:XqLoE-ecb3IJ:www.arabnews.com/%3Fpage%3D7%26section%3D0%26article%3D80885%26d%3D17%26m%3D4%26y%3D2006%26pix%3Dopinion.jpg%26category%3DOpinion+OPEC,+Schmopec&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 So, Hanania tell us as it is: “They don’t need to be the servants of American economic interests. In truth, the belief that the Arab world needs the United States and the West is in effect a form of self-imposed bondage that strangles and smothers Arab freedom and independence.” It is clear where his sympathies are: not for the West and “ his” homeland America, which is in the middle of the war… His sympathies are with his brothers in Dubai… This guy even doesn’t speak Arabic, but he is with Arabs against America, folks..Remind me Zacarias Moussaoui, who is French…Hanania is as American as Moussaoui is French.. Now there is another conspiracy theory; how those crazy Germans advertise differently in America versus the Arab world… Thank you, Hanania, you are truly “ Ray of Hope” What a bigot and racist…
19. This is how Hanania...
Ron ,   LA   (05.05.06)
This is how Hanania describes the issue for stupid Americans and Jews: from “War over oil prices” “In the West, the Mini is proudly featured on billboards with the slogan “OPEC, Schmopec.” That’s an American expression of disdain. The Mini is telling people in the West that buying a Mini is a great way to stick it to those big, bad oil producers, mostly Arabs.Ah, but in the Middle East, the Mini Cooper has a whole different approach. They’ve placed Arab flags on the hoods of each Mini, parked them side by side, and argued that driving their little economy car is just as prestigious as driving a luxury limousine. Clearly among the smell of the gasoline is also the greater stench of hypocrisy, all the way around.” This is how Hanania writes about the same thing in Dubai newspaper, where he makes lots of $$$ bashing America: From “Dubai Challenges Many Assumptions About Arab World “ “The hypocrisies do exist among Western commerce, however. Just look at the separate advertising campaigns being promoted in the West to promote the BMW Mini Cooper and its rival strategies in the Arab world. In the West, the theme is one that appeals to the growing anger against anything Arab. One advertising campaign boasts arrogantly, “OPEC SchmOPEC ... buy the BMW Mini Cooper.” Yet in the Middle East, BMW deceitfully wishes Arabs to embrace the Mini as a convenience, portraying the car in one advertisement as a line of Mini Coopers viewed from the sky with each car sporting the flag of a country from the Arab world. What’s the real message here? The advertising spin-meisters recognize that the only real difference between the Arab and the Western worlds is arrogance and indignation. One day the people of the Arab world will wake up to discover that they don’t need the United States or the Western world to validate their unique cultural supremacy and the ingenuity of their society. They don’t need a puny little contract to manage America’s ports to survive in this world. They don’t need to be the servants of American economic interests. In truth, the belief that the Arab world needs the United States and the West is in effect a form of self-imposed bondage that strangles and smothers Arab freedom and independence.” http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:XqLoE-ecb3IJ:www.arabnews.com/%3Fpage%3D7%26section%3D0%26article%3D80885%26d%3D17%26m%3D4%26y%3D2006%26pix%3Dopinion.jpg%26category%3DOpinion+OPEC,+Schmopec&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 So, Hanania tell us as it is: “They don’t need to be the servants of American economic interests. In truth, the belief that the Arab world needs the United States and the West is in effect a form of self-imposed bondage that strangles and smothers Arab freedom and independence.” It is clear where his sympathies are: not for the West and “ his” homeland America, which is in the middle of the war… His sympathies are with his brothers in Dubai… This guy even doesn’t speak Arabic, but he is with Arabs against America, folks..Remind me Zacarias Moussaoui, who is French…Hanania is as American as Moussaoui is French.. Now there is another conspiracy theory; how those crazy Germans advertise differently in America versus the Arab world… Thank you, Hanania, you are truly “ Ray of Hope” What a bigot and racist…
20. Ron La; besder, beseder..
Joy Springreen ,   UK   (05.05.06)
tafsik, nu? sheket kitsat. shabbat shalom
21. Important issue - awful article
Yossi ,   NY, USA   (05.05.06)
Hanania has taken a very important subject that needs much attention (i.e., conservation, less dependence on a harmful method of producing energy, both politically and environmentally) and has successfully written a bad article about it. In so doing, he has only harmed chances that the people who need to hear this message (Americans) will respond positively. Cherry-picking Americans as the type of people that "blame others" for their problems will not help this cause. Most people in the world blame others for their problems. Certainly Arabs have had no qualms blaming the West for their cultural and econmic deterioration over the last couple of centuries. Hanania, this is a very important issue. If you're going to talk about, at least refrain from highly selective personal attacks on Americans and get your facts right (e.g., milk is not at all like gas, you don't need 20 gallons of milk a week - the analgoy is an intellectual brain-fart; SUV sales are plummeting in the US; hybrids are not nearly as expensive as luxury autos).
22. #20 Springsteen- le olam lo nafsik lashir
Ron ,   LA   (05.05.06)
"tafsik, nu? sheket kitsat. shabbat shalom " Joy, im yesh lecha ma lehagid- tagid. im ein lecha ma lehagid- mutav shee tishtok "kitsat". Gam ken haham gadol... Shabat Shalom.
23. Good one Ron (#19): and NO, I will not send you an E-KISS
sk ,   USA   (05.06.06)
24. #19: Ron, you just an Arabhating bigotry
(05.06.06)
25. Ron
Joy Springreen   (05.06.06)
oops. Slicha. beseder ahi, aval.. ata maviin? Sheket kitsat im "ha araviim ze, ve ha araviim shme". le-at, la-at tanouchi!
26. Leave Ray alone
Irina ,   Seattle   (05.07.06)
To all the Jewish folks - why are you doing this? Ray Hanania is about the last living Palestinian dedicated to peace. He is a dynosaur. He is not a Zionist, granted. No Zionist can be expected to agree with all his views all of the time. So? Show some dignity ppl. Show that you can agree to disagree. "You write with such an undertone of disdain towards America. Why do you live there?" Because he is an AMERICAN. Because it's in American culture to criticize America. Because that's what America is all about. It makes me sick to hear a Jew echo the same sentiment I've heard from antisemites all the time while growing up in Russia. Arggh. Are not we supposed to know better?
27. Here is why I LOVE the gas prices.
Irina ,   Seattle   (05.07.06)
Now, get off Mr. Hanania's back, here is a nicer lightning rod for you. 1. Gas prices are good for Russian economy. I am a Russian Jew. My father lives in Moscow. Sorry America, this is where my loyalities collide. 2. Oil is a finite non-renewable resoure. Sooner or later, we will run out of it. If it happens suddenly, there will be a major world-wide blackout, with unprecedented depression, wars, etc. Or, it can happen gradually, with alternative energy sources being gradually phased in. Which one would you rather prefer? It's about time to start developing solar and wind energy and quit bitching about the non-renewable resource we are robbing our children off being too expensive.
28. # 25 Joy. You can practice your broken Hebrew on Ynet ...
Ron ,   LA   (05.07.06)
...Hebrew site. I tried to communicate with you in Hebrew (#22) and I repeat it in English translation, especially for you; I hope you can understand. Although I can communicate in four different languages, I prefer English on this particular site, because I respect other people, who came here to talk English... (#22- English translation) If you have anything to say, you welcome. If you DO NOT have anything to contribute, frankly I don't know what you do here. I am not here to teach you Hebrew. Please hire a tutor or go on Hebrew Ynet. http://www.ynet.co.il/home/0,7340,L-8,00.html
29. Thanks Irina (and others)
Ray Hanania ,   Chicago, IL USA   (05.07.06)
I received a lot of emails from friends who read the YnetNews columns who told me there is someone who likes me :) More importantly, it suggests that Palestinians and Israelis and Jews and Arabs can get along with we just push aside the fanatics and the haters. Its tough because the haters are determined to destroy all of our lives just so they can make a point. They cna't do anything positive and all they are left with is their venom. That's why we see Palestinians and Israelis killing reach other. There is a way out if we look at it not as Palestinians versus Israelis, but as moderates versus extremists. You don't need to read the out-of-context quotes from the haters here ... you can read all of my writings by visiting my web page at www.hanania.com ... when you put the words in context, it is the same message of peace, not the venom that drools from the bigmouths and frequent (they have nothing better to do with their worthless lives) haters :) Ignore them, as I do. And even though writing for a conservative Israeli newspaper certainly will expose my moderate views to a lot of deniers, I think it is important that Israelis who want to hear the moderate Palestinian voice continue to hear it. I wish Palestinians might be able to read the moderate Israeli voices too. Palestinians and Israelis can cling to their own versions of history. We don't have to agree about who started what and when. But, the moderate voice teaches us we should not forget the past but don't use it as a wall to prevent us from finding ways out of our mutual misery and violence. We don't have to agree on the past in order to agree on the future. Shalom and Salam Ray Hanania www.hanania.com
30. Ray
Joy Springreen   (05.08.06)
great parting line.
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