Opinion  Others
Year of defeat
Prof. Michael Harsegor
Published: 01.01.07, 23:08
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1. Running the Country
Joe ,   Israel   (01.01.07)
It's about time that the people of Israel stopped being sheep and became the "Lions of Juda" that they are supposed to be. Throw out the incompetents and the crooks in the government and put in some people who are patriots - not fanatics - who will rule for the benefit of the country and the Jews. People who do not feel guilty about being Jewish. We are here because historically, this country is ours. Let us do whatever is necessary to show our neighbors and the world that it's about time they moved on to something else and left us to "Do our thing.".
2. Soapbox: Year of Defeat
J Kahn ,   Har Nof Yerushalayim   (01.01.07)
When in a whole slew of statements that sound reasonable you find an absurdity you realize the whole package of arguments is flawed. C'mon, professor Mike, it's Bush's fault that there has been an increase of attacks on abortion clinics? All of your blaming of Bush sounds just like the UN's blaming everything on Israel ("read Jews.")
3. herr Professor said so
D.Bell ,   Toronto   (01.02.07)
What is Prof.Harsegor's academic field? Does he think that the use of his academic title gives his perceptions more validity?This perhaps mirrors the arrogance of much of Israeli leftist academia who believe their opinions bear more weight than those with opposing views who do not flaunt their credentials. Think of what students are exposed to.
4. YEAR OF OLMERT = YEAR OF DEFEAT.
stephane ,   france   (01.02.07)
5. Amen, professor!
John ,   USA   (01.02.07)
6. D.Bell #3, the prof, said so
Roi ,   Kfar-saba, Israel   (01.02.07)
his academic field is history. professor of history.
7. PROFESSOR
David ,   USA / ISRAEL   (01.02.07)
Professor you are a leftist fool. You could be smart with books but you cannot see further than your nose when it comes to real life. Stick to your books
8. Reality check
American ,   U.S. of A.   (01.02.07)
I live in America and I am a news junkie. I have neither read nor heard of any physical attacks on abortion surgeons or clinics in recent memory. The phenomenon appears to have disappeared. Which means that the author is making things up in order to support his point.
9. Iraq is a defeat for the Arab world.
Richard James ,   NY, USA   (01.02.07)
They let Arabs slaughter Arabs by the tens of thousands without saying a word against it (except to say it's a defeat for America.) When Saddam murdered hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, the Arab world didn't care about that either. Apparently, America and her coalition partners are the only people in the world who care whether Arabs live or die - so Arabs murder Arabs to try to make America feel bad and look bad. The Arab world is seriously messed up.
10. Theory does not hold water
Sarit   (01.02.07)
Is Olmert a religious person? Nope. He is as secular as they come and he still lead Israel from one disaster to the next and he's not finished. "Here too, as surprising as it is, the dominant doctrine for many years has been Greater Israel. Because of that we couldn't make peace with our neighbors. " LOL. So the Arabs attacked you in 1948, 1956 and 1967 b/c of the Greater Israel idea? Complete rubbish.
11. An inccorect reading of history
Ted ,   Chicago, IL   (01.02.07)
What a strange history professor. He seems to be ignorant of ACTUAL history. From ancient times until now, the side which holds the field at the end of a battle has been considered victorious. From all the reports available to me here in Chicago, at the end of the 2006-Hezbollah war, it ended with Israeli boots on Lebanese terroritory. And not the other way around. But for those without a real clue about military history, it appears that if the Israelis don't cause 15-25 times more military casulties than they receive; it is a "defeat". My advice to students of this professor is to sue that school for educational malpractice. Last summers war was yet another tactical Israeli masterpiece. Yet, once again, feckless Israeli POLITICAL leadership grasped defeat from the hands of victory. At least Olmert didn't mess up the Israeli economy in 2006.
12. Its not a year of defeat, its a year of defeatists
RA   (01.02.07)
e.g. PM Olmert and his crew of incompetents.
13. #9 & #10 I agree with you 100%
RA   (01.02.07)
14. Wrong, wrong, wrong!
Lyn ,   USA   (01.02.07)
Wrong, wrong, wrong! The professor say's "If you premise your politics on religion, you fail." I say, forget America and Israel's religions, it is the enemies that are surrounding you that will premise their politics on their religion regardless if we do or not and if you think that you can have a rational, political, secular discussion with hamas, hizbullah, or the crazy man Ahmadinejad, you are sadly mistaken if not delusional. I am not saying that to be mean but you are a professor. Where is your common sense? The professor said "Yet there is light at the end of the tunnel: The Democratic victory in the recent Congress elections proved that the people are awaking. " If you think Condi and Bush are bad, just wait until one of the secular progressive democrats get elected President. They can't handle the heat and they are weak IMO and they will hang Israel out to dry, mark my words. I hope to G-d I am wrong but I don't think so. Some of our leaders nowadays don't have the guts or courage like some of our leaders from many years past. Just wait, you thinks it is bad now, I shudder to think of what a democratic presidency of this day and time would be like to Israel. Alot of what has hindered President Bush is many in congress and probably our state dept. pushing him to push the peace deal between a two state solution for Israel and Palestine regardless of the cost to Israel. Gaza should be everybody's proof that you can't just hand off land and try to make peace with leaders who are terrorists and say everyday they will never recognize Israel, it's in their charter remember? It's almost insanity to me. Why would anyone want to give away one iota of land with Qassams being fired everyday. And don't forget what they are teaching their young children...how it's great to be a martyr, Jews are dogs and it is good to kill them. These children grow up and I dread to see this next generation filled with such hatred and by that time also Israel with half of their land given away. It is not my place to say but I sure do wish someone like David Ben Gurion was your Prime Minister right now. His words while addressing the 1937 Zionest Congress in Basel, he thundered the words many of his successors have ignored or sought to explain away: "No Jew has the right to yield the rights of the Jewish People in Israel. "No Jew has the authority to do so. "No Jewish body has the authority to do so. Not even the entire Jewish People alive today has the right to yield any part of Israel. "It is the right of the Jewish People over the generations, a right that under no conditions can be cancelled. " Even if Jews during a specific period proclaim they are relinquishing this right, they have neither the power nor the authority to deny it to future generations." To me, this man was awesome. He had guts, courage, will, determination and everything in my eyes that makes a great leader. He looked forward to his future generations, thinking of their protection and the protection of his country. I wish their were more men like him alive today. It is not America nor Israel twisting reality, it is your enemies surrounding you.
15. a professor?
Yisraeli   (01.02.07)
well you may be a professor of sorts but after that comment that peace couldnt be achieved because of Greater Israel and religion, you just proved your not just a prick and a fool but a bigot. So much for academia and especially in Israel. Israels in the mess its in because of fools like you. Have you no shame Sir?
16. only a professor could be so confused
common sense ,   NJ, USA   (01.02.07)
The prof. says the failures in Iraq and Lebanon are rooted in twisted religious perception...Christian and Jewish. On the contrary, the SUCCESSES in Iraq and Lebanon are rooted in twisted religious perception...Islam ! Only a professor with tenure could be so stupid.
17. Concerning Israel
JK ,   NYC   (01.02.07)
Israel failure this summer and the years leading up the this failure had nothing to do with religion but with the leftist anti-religious post zionist camp. Barak gave back south Lebanon and Israel never looked back even when it was clear that Hizbullah was preparing for real war. What do the religious zionists of any stripe have to do with burying Israel's head in the sand. Oslo whose fault was that, who destroyed Gush Katif, who wants to give back the West Bank and appease Arabs comitted to destroying Israel and who's paying Shimon Peres, and Yossi Beilin, Pease Now the very same people paying Jimmy Carter. You made this all up get a real job.
18. Malchut
Meshuga ,   NY   (01.02.07)
Has anyone considered that perhaps it's time for a Malchut?! The yichus of David HaMelech is here and well documented. With a Malchut we don't have to worry about the worthless beauty contests come election time....lots of hot air by people who have neither the character nor the brains to lead Am Israel. At least with a Malchut we all accept what we are supposed to do, pool our resources and do it right. We no longer have the stomach to fight a war that we need to fight because we've been so "bush whacked" by the left. Every time we kill a terrorist there is a UN resolution against us. But, whenever terrorist blow us up, there is no UN resolution against anyone, there is no outcry from anyone. So what's the solution? We need a government that does not care what the UN thinks. A leadership that is willing to hit our enemies so hard that they will actually think twice about sending kassam rockets into our living rooms.
19. u r eyes is not playing trick on u .
1.5 billion muslims   (01.02.07)
is all good and it is brotherely love. Reality Check , world
20. NO MORE DEFEATS
DSM ,   USA   (01.02.07)
For Americans the change from Republicans to Democrats will change very little, except our taxes will go up.. It will be like going from one money grubbing, power hungry group to another. But it will have a significant impact on Israel in that the Democrats are closer to the Arab states than they are to Israel. Although if put to the test the U.S. armed forces can defeat any country in the world, there is no political will to do so and hasn't been since WWII, thus Korea, Nam and Iraq. Israel must become strong and independent , in as much as possible, from the U.S. or it's very existance will be at issue. Don't leave your future to the U.S.
21. Year of defeat
Paul Lichtenstein ,   Mobile,AL   (01.02.07)
M.Horsegor's article is mainly total nonsense.Living in the US one must wonder if he talks about the same country.No recent attacks on the clinics or hospitals,no change in the sceintific curiculum which is controlled by the states etc.He also does not understands American political system.Yes people here are religious but religious freedom is the basis of the country.They are also extremely tolerant and generous.Where elso the Jews are as free and prosperous as here.Growing antisemitism in the world is worrying but seems to be so far away.
22. #8 If you watch TV news in the US...
John ,   USA   (01.02.07)
You wouldn't hear about attacks on abortion clinics. Don't forget that the news in the US is controlled now, it's sanitized. Do a google search on "abortion clinic attack", that's if you really care. The Professor is correct, except don't believe that GWB is all that religious, he's just a political whore. His only base left is is the Christian right. A good Christian does not have a foul mouth like he does.
23. Sick Twisted Article by another WACADEMIC appeaser
malcolm   (01.02.07)
This is the most illogical and sick article I've ever read by a supposed intellectual. He must be an intern or assistant professor. He obviously despises religion. Yet he is extremely selective (politically correct) and ignores the role Islam plays in the destruction of Israel’s security. He fails to back up his claim that the Jewish religion in Israel caused the leadership to overlook the Islamist buildup on the Lebanese border. He makes no reference to the insane religious motivations of Hizbollah and Iran. He fails to see that the leftist religion of Land for Peace is what has lead to all of Israel's recent defeats. He then goes on to elatedly welcome Bush’s defeats in Iraq. And he showers the US radical left with flowers. To him they are “the light at the end of the tunnel”. But the reality is the New Democratic Party is being co-opted by the radical left. The Cindy Sheehan types are rabid Israel haters and the ones leading the Party to disengage Israel from future loan guarantees and military support. They are not kindhearted irreligious supporters of peace that our professor is conjuring up. But instead have faces like deeply religious Born Again Jimmy Carter, who proved recently that he hates Jews and Israel. The "light at the end of the tunnel" that our "brilliant" intern Prof. Michael Harsegor is elated about is nothing more than the eventual termination of good US/ Israel relations. If the Party follows it’s spiritual lights like Jimmy Carter and the Presbyterian Church, they will develop closer relationships with the religious terror machines in the Middle East with names like Hamas, Hizbollah & Iran. That is where the US radical left is heading and their role in the Democratic Party is gaining momentum. It is no wonder the Palestinian kaftiyah is the scarf of choice among US college students trying to make a “statement” this winter. I see from this article that the self-destructive radical left is alive and well on Israeli campuses.
24. Faulty Logic = Scapegoating
Shmuel Addams ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.02.07)
Nice strategy, "Professor". Sew together a few *elements* of truth, in order to prove a bigger lie. That is, it's all the religious folks' fault. This isn't truth, rather, it's called scapegoating. Blame a particular group, perhaps a visible and even vocal one, for problems that are in fact much more complex than you're willing to admit, or capable of imagining.
25. Year of defeat
Remnant ,   USA   (01.02.07)
G-D save us from educated idiot “Professors”
26. #15: I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE W/ YOU!
SETTHERECORDSTRAIGHT   (01.02.07)
THIS SELF-PROFESSED PROFESSOR IS SO TRANSPARENT: "...religion, both in America and here, twists reality. If you premise your politics on religion, you fail. This has been proven both by Bush and by us..." OBVIOUSLY HE IS HOSTILE TOWARDS RELIGION AND BUSH. WHAT AN IGNORANT MAN.
27. Loads of bullshit
Vilgot T ,   Drammen Notway   (01.02.07)
...baseles out of the blue theories. Completely contradicted by the very fact that Pals and Hezbies do not act on any other than religious grounds. Conclusion? Send in fanatics -religious fanatics- against Hezbies and they are done. You cannot fight rationally against religious murderers unless you use annihilating tactics, similar to their own, yet more convuncing.
28. History Prof Ignorant in Science & Logic
Paqid 16 Netzarim ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (01.02.07)
"God created the world, not evolution." -- the professor constructs his straw man. In constructing his straw man, the history professor insinuates that evolution and creation are mutually exclusive. However, I challenge the history professor to document a consensus of bona fide scientists -- i.e., in the hard sciences -- that make any claim that evolution explains the existence of the universe. Quite the opposite. Bona fide scientists -- in the hard sciences -- explain that evolution makes no attempt and no claim to explain the beginning of the universe. Evolution explains the development of the universe only after assuming its existence. Learn your own field first. Instead of campaigning to teach Christian tradition as history in Israeli schools, Prof. HarSegor should learn the polar oppositeness of the historical Jew versus the 4th-century Hellenist -- Christian -- antithesis. Has the professor read Oxford historian James Parkes? Stop peddling secular religion as science. Paqid Yirmeyahu Israeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming Jews & non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il
29. Orwell was right
Adam ,   NYC   (01.02.07)
The Muslim world will never accept the existence of Israel even if it is whittled down to one district of Tel Aviv populated exclusively by atheists. The Muslims themselves keep swearing to this, but the Professor would rather vent his animus to religion then admit this reality. Orwell was right when he said that "Some ideas are so preposterous that only an intellectual could entertain them."
30. Professor Gets A Failing Grade.
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (01.02.07)
The looney left is alive and well in academia. Pity his students who have to listen to this drivel all semester; more pity for those that believe it.
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