<p>An endorsement is hardly the same as a 20 year long personal and intimate (although more than likely platonic) relationship. Both McCain and Obama have denounced the intolerant preachers in their life. The only difference is McCain was simply supported by one whereas Obama had the other as one of his closest friends and mentors.</p>
<p>I personally know someone who ran for the state legislature. He was against bussing kids at the time, and although completely against anything less than equality among everyone, this led him to being supported by a prominent KKK figure in the area. This is very different from that despicable KKK leader being the candidate’s buddy, mentor, and confidante.</p>
<p>“mini – Perhaps you can explain your argument further on the Edomites. You seem to be saying that since the Edomites have an alleged biblical claim to the land that predates the Jews, they are entitled to have it all now.”</p>
<p>Personally, I believe all Biblical claims a bunch of hooey. (The evidence strongly suggests there were never any slaves in Egypt either, no less Israelite ones.) The claim that the Palestinians were Edomites is a JEWISH one (and, actually, you can read it in Herzl’s writing). The Abrahamic promise was for all the land from Egypt to the Euphrates (the current Israel being simply a downpayment). </p>
<p>I think it would be great if Israel recognized the Palestinians right to exist, rather than continuing the ongoing campaign to destroy them as a people. (I think it would also be great if they had a Constitution, and a Bill of Rights that recognized and protected the rights of minorities, like most modern democracies, but, oh well.)</p>
<p>And I see no particular reason why other Arab nations should be ruled by the same racialism as the Israelis, and hence expected to “absorb” another people on the basis of race. I don’t the U.S. welcoming them with open arms. </p>
<p>As for post-WWII, my grandmother’s village became the location of Treblinka. I can write history by anecdote as well as anyone.</p>
<p>Post 106: “Personally, I believe all Biblical claims a bunch of hooey.”</p>
<p>Sounds reasonable to me. So then why did you justify the Palestinian and Arab nations’ rejection of the U.N. partition plan on the basis that it included no recognition of the “Edomites?”</p>
<p>Post 87: “The U.N. plan included no recognition of the “Edomites”, whose history in what became Israel predated (according to the Old Testament) Jewish occupation of the land.”</p>