17 votes

A Louisiana teen traveled to the West Bank to learn about his roots. He was shot dead.

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11 comments

  1. chocobean
    Link
    I'm too scared to say anything else on this platform. But I will openly mourn for the death of this child in his own village. May young Tawfic find peace and comfort "in a place of brightness, a...

    I'm too scared to say anything else on this platform. But I will openly mourn for the death of this child in his own village. May young Tawfic find peace and comfort "in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of rest, where all sickness, sighing and sorrow have fled away".

    18 votes
  2. [2]
    boxer_dogs_dance
    Link
    This is not Gaza, it is the West Bank. It reminds me of the Emmett Til story. IMHO Biden should demand consequences for this US citizen's death.

    This is not Gaza, it is the West Bank. It reminds me of the Emmett Til story. IMHO Biden should demand consequences for this US citizen's death.

    15 votes
    1. public
      Link Parent
      Ideally, we’d withdraw from the entire region with the message “you all are on your own now. Work it out yourselves.” That would send a clearer message than sanctions or angry speeches.

      Ideally, we’d withdraw from the entire region with the message “you all are on your own now. Work it out yourselves.”

      That would send a clearer message than sanctions or angry speeches.

      5 votes
  3. [8]
    unkz
    Link
    This is such a common statement, it’s become a full-fledged trope. Personally, I think it actually does matter if they were peacefully picknicking or if they were attacking settlers with rocks.

    Abdel Jabbar dismissed the suggestion his son might have been “hurling rocks” as a “lie.” But, he said, even if rocks were thrown in the area, “so what?”*

    This is such a common statement, it’s become a full-fledged trope. Personally, I think it actually does matter if they were peacefully picknicking or if they were attacking settlers with rocks.

    8 votes
    1. [4]
      supergauntlet
      Link Parent
      To be clear, you're saying it would be more justified to kill a child if they were throwing rocks? That's the obvious implication here, correct me if I'm wrong.

      To be clear, you're saying it would be more justified to kill a child if they were throwing rocks? That's the obvious implication here, correct me if I'm wrong.

      19 votes
      1. [3]
        unkz
        Link Parent
        I’m saying if someone who is physically capable of killing me with a rock is trying to do so, then I’m justified in defending myself. There is a difference between a 17 year old boy, who is more...

        I’m saying if someone who is physically capable of killing me with a rock is trying to do so, then I’m justified in defending myself. There is a difference between a 17 year old boy, who is more than capable of killing an adult with a rock, and a young child.

        9 votes
        1. mantrid
          Link Parent
          How did we get from "someone was throwing rocks in the area" to "this person was trying to kill another person with a rock?"

          How did we get from "someone was throwing rocks in the area" to "this person was trying to kill another person with a rock?"

          20 votes
        2. supergauntlet
          Link Parent
          'defending yourself' can take many forms other than 'shooting to death' which is generally considered a last resort for a reason.. Rocks are clearly most analogous to 'less lethal' crowd control...

          'defending yourself' can take many forms other than 'shooting to death' which is generally considered a last resort for a reason..

          Rocks are clearly most analogous to 'less lethal' crowd control options like rubber bullets and tazers. obviously capable of ending a life, but unlikely to do so.

          If you don't see how 'literally shooting a gun to kill a child' (and I won't take any of this nonsense about how he 'wasn't really a child' that kid couldn't vote or drink and was pretty totally dependent on his parents) is a disproportionate response to rocks being thrown I have to wonder aloud what starts justifying deadly force to you.

          13 votes
    2. DanBC
      Link Parent
      Just for clarity: settlers are genocidal colonists, and throwing rocks at people who have stolen your land, destroyed your homes and harvests, and who seek your destruction is justified resistance.

      Just for clarity: settlers are genocidal colonists, and throwing rocks at people who have stolen your land, destroyed your homes and harvests, and who seek your destruction is justified resistance.

      15 votes
    3. [2]
      boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      Aggression goes both ways. I've also read stories about settlers blocking olive harvests and stepping into kitchens and taking food from refrigerators and other provocative acts daring people to...

      Aggression goes both ways. I've also read stories about settlers blocking olive harvests and stepping into kitchens and taking food from refrigerators and other provocative acts daring people to do something about it

      6 votes
      1. unkz
        Link Parent
        Did I claim otherwise? What I’m saying is that violence on the part of someone who gets killed does matter. It’s a materially different situation.

        Did I claim otherwise? What I’m saying is that violence on the part of someone who gets killed does matter. It’s a materially different situation.

        6 votes