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82,269 comments

Virginia Dare: The First European Baby Born in America

I was under the impression that they all died. Didn't a lot of colonies die off, especially over winters? (I r not master of history >.>)

Ember, Nov 22, 2012

The Balfour Declaration: A Jewish Homeland in Palestine

Part 2

3, I'm totally with you in all that you've said here. If the Jews had accepted Uganda at the time, then the same situation could well be playing out with Ugandans instead of Arabs on the other side of it. It was a proposal which was intensely debated in the Zionist Federation, at the beginning of the 20th century, but ultimately turned down. I can understand why, for all of the reasons that you've already outlined.

I should declare something here, which probably hasn't cropped up in conversation before. I'm British and usually concerned with British history, but that isn't to say that I'm brand new to these issues.

My BA dissertation was about the Holocaust. For many years, I organized Holocaust Memorial Day at the local University. It was my job to arrange special guests and speakers, book the hall and produce the marketing, as well as sell tickets. On the evening, I would meet our main speaker, who was always a survivor of a death camp, then take them out for dinner.

I've seen those terrible tattoos first hand and heard stories which never made it into the history books. I'm not anti-Jewish.

I also had a Palestinian friend, who grew up on the West Bank. I was with her during the Battle of Jenin. Though she was safely out of there now, her grandmother was in the middle of it. She was terrified, not knowing if her Nan was alive or dead. I've heard stories from her which never made it into the newspapers. I've not anti-Palestinian.

I can see the point of view on both sides of the equation; and I'll condemn human rights abuses on whichever side that they are committed. The only country for which I'll cut no slack is my own.

The British acted appallingly in all of this; and it's not like the Lloyd-George government didn't know the likely outcome. We've had Ulster demonstrating quite bloodily for the past 400 years.

JoHarrington, Nov 22, 2012

The Balfour Declaration: A Jewish Homeland in Palestine

Hi Sheri, Glad to hear it. I shouldn't really try writing any comments, when I'm as tired as I was the other night.

Yes, the further you delve into the governmental history of any nation, the more you realize that they're all after what they can get for their own countries, and sod the rest. Which, I suppose, is their job, but makes for unsavory reading for us mere mortals.

I'm sorry that Britain's mercenary approach to nation building involved your own this time.

1, Because the British governmental documents of the time refer to it as Palestine. The Mandate covered all of the areas in the British half of the previously Ottoman area, with the French taking the other half. Britain then divided its Mandatory areas into TransJordan (aka Jordan now) and Palestine, in which would be created 'a national home for the Jewish People'.

When I'm writing about history, I try to keep to the terms used by the primary sources that I'm using, unless it makes no sense or would be confusing to do so. Even with my own. I'll refer to Wales, despite that actually being a derogatory slang name from the English, because no-one reading would know what I'm talking about if I said Cymru.

(On that note, I'm face-palming over the Israelite versus Israeli thing. I knew that, so I'd been trying to keep them distinct. Did I use the wrong one in the article? If so, it's a typo and I'll change it. Thanks for the head's up!)

Even within the Mandate itself, the country is frequently referred to as Palestine, as it was in the Balfour Declaration. Nor was it the first time in history that the area had been referred to as such. Thinking now of Syria Palestine and Roman Palestine.

2, I agree with all that you said here. But there were living there when the Balfour Declaration was made.

You've told me something new though. What's 'Judenrein'? I can guess the first part!

Off to read part two. Thanks for commenting. Your insights are always valuable.

JoHarrington, Nov 22, 2012

Best Fairy Throw Pillows for Kids Rooms

Aren't they :) The Sweet Dreams one is my favorite

SusanM, Nov 22, 2012

Grunge Style Seashell Home Decor

Yes I was really pleased with the designs I found, thanks. (I love the shapes of seashells too). :)

SusanM, Nov 22, 2012

The Balfour Declaration: A Jewish Homeland in Palestine

Part 2
3. You say that the Jews could have claimed a homeland in any number of places in the world, Uganda having been suggested as one potential such homeland. However, to have declared a section of Uganda (or any place other than Israel) as "A" Jewish Homeland (as opposed to "THE" Jewish Homeland) would have been paramount to setting up a new ghetto. There is no ancient/Biblical history for the Jews in any other part of the world aside from the Land of Israel (or whatever it was called variously throughout history).
It is important to note the various reasons for objections among various sectors of the Jewish population to the modern State of Israel: the Ultra-Orthodox objected (and many still object today) because they believe that Israel as an independent entity will be legitimate only when the Messiah comes. Some secular Jews were afraid that drawing too much attention to themselves as Jews (as Zionism does) would increase problems of antisemitism for those who did not want to move to Israel. Many well-off Jews had no interest in changing the status quo and wanted to assimilate and not stand out as Jews.
I very much respect the way you explored the issues I raised in my previous comment and am happy for this discussion. It is a multifaceted issue that I am also still trying to get my head around.

Sheri_Oz, Nov 22, 2012

Christmas Clothes for Baby Boys

It was reduced! It's normally double that, which is what threw me on the pricing. But the other sets are the same too, so I called it as being all. You agree?

There are some gorgeous Christmas clothes for babies out there. :)

JoHarrington, Nov 22, 2012

The Balfour Declaration: A Jewish Homeland in Palestine

Hi Jo. Your clarifications are right on. Now I have a bit of time and I would like to relate to some things you wrote in the article, itself. Any student of history will discover, as you write, that many countries were created and destroyed in order to satisfy the needs of other countries - whether because of migrations and as you write, to win wars using whatever bargaining chips were available. And I never thought of the Balfour Declaration in those terms so that was enlightening for me.
However, what is troublesome for me in what you write is this:
1. You refer to Palestine as a country and it never was a country. It was a British Mandate or protectorate. You can see by the map, that the greatest part of what was once the British Mandate of Palestine is now modern Jordan. I find that is a point many people ignore and I wonder why.
2. The Arabs now referred to as Palestinians came from a number of Arab countries over the centuries and cannot be considered the original inhabitants of the land. There were many migrations and dispersions of peoples in the area under discussion, and around the world as a whole, and that seems to be a very human reality.
As we discussed below in earlier comments, there is a whole history of the name "Palestine", and it is, of course far too complex to be covered in a short article as you also said. There was, in fact, never a time in history when the land now called Israel was "Judenrein". Their numbers may have been small, but then the general population was also small.
The Jews living in the area under discussion were not called Israelis until 1948. They were called "Israelites" or "Hebrews" among other names, but never Israelis. That is a modern term.
Post is too long so putting it in two parts.

Sheri_Oz, Nov 22, 2012

Christmas Clothes for Baby Boys

These are really nice! I just checked the Baby Togs set withe the red vest and saw it sells for only $16 - $23.39. That's a very good price!

Mira, Nov 22, 2012

My Adventures As An Entrepreneur - From Nine Years Old To 2012 ... (28 years of adventure!)

Dang can't believe I never came back to add the link.... Here's the wizz about the 90 day challenge a money making opportunity. http://wizzley.com/the-90-day-challenge-review/

You're right anyone can do it indeed and now is the time to evolve and shift with the changing economic landscape.

katiem2, Nov 22, 2012

Wiztronics - A Writers Utopia - What It Means To Be A Wizzley Author

Very NICE! :)K

katiem2, Nov 22, 2012

The Physics of a Hangover - Biology, Preventative tips, Cure, Remedies Fact & Fiction

This is fantastic, I'm going to remember this for the upcoming new years festivities, sharing it today with a tweet and again during New Years for sure. Quality stuff here for curing and or avoiding a hangover. :)K

katiem2, Nov 22, 2012

Video Tutorial Building - A Passion That Can Make You Money

Just back for a session, great tutorial for video building. I'm learning... :)K

katiem2, Nov 22, 2012

Learn To Speak The Klingon Language - The Fascinating History, Inception, Use Of Klingon And MORE

In honor of Thanksgiving I'm tweeting this to share the gift of klingon. :)K

katiem2, Nov 22, 2012

Nerd Think Drink - Energy + Cognition Enhancing - The Next Generation Of Energy Drink Formulation

Love the nerd drink article, I'm a huge fan of Big Bang Theory! Love all the posters. :)K

katiem2, Nov 22, 2012

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