Ilunga

" It's funny how some fables became historic When the authors clearly wrote them to be metaphoric But people will believe in anything that is written Especially in stone or ancient scroll " Old mate...the heeb...Mike Burkett

How much of Israel is stolen ? That's a question I have for the athiests in this thread. How much of the mythical religious text called the bible do you actually believe is true ? These are the thoughts of Shlomo Sand an Israeli historian https://mondediplo.com/2008/09/07israel " But during the 1980's an earthquake shook these founding myths. The discoveries made by the " new archaeology" discredited a great exodus in the 13th century BC. Moses could not have lead the out of Egypt into the promised land, for the good reason that the latter was Egyptian territory at that time. And there is no trace of a slave revolt against the Pharaonic empire or of a sudden conquest of Canaan by outsiders. Nor is there any trace or memory of the magnificent kingdom of David and Solomon. Recent discoveries point to the existence at the time, of two small kingdoms, Israel the more powerful, and Juda the future Judea. The general population of Judah did not go into 6th century BC exile. Only it's political and intellectual elite were forced to settle in Babylon. This decisive encounter with Persian religion gave birth to Jewish monotheism. " I used to point this out in the God Thread on the old board. It took this event for the Jews to finally accept the " god of Abraham" was their god. Their rationale was this exile was punishment for not believing in him. back to the article " Then there is the question of the exile in 70 AD. There has been no real research into this turning point in Jewish history, the cause of the diaspora. And for the simple reason. The Romans never exiled any nation from anywhere on the eastern seaboard of the Mediterranean. Apart from enslaved prisoners, the population of Judea continued to live on their lands, even after the destruction of the second temple. Some converted to Christianity in the 4th century, while the majority embraced Islam in the 7th century Arab conquest. Most Zionist thinkers were aware of this, Yitzhak Ben Zvi later president of Isreal and David Ben Gurion, it's first prime Minister, accepted it as late as 1929, the year of the great Palestinian revolt, both stated on several occasions that the peasants of Palestine were the descendants of the inhabitants of ancient Judea. " So, do we, you athiests in particular want to believe in a book of fables, myths and allegories ? Or do we believe in historical fact ? And for full disclosure Shlomo is another jew/Israeli that is ashamed of the actions of his country. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/10/shlomo-sand-i-wish-to-cease-considering-myself-a-jew

Dunno how many times I have to say this, I condemn all forms of violence. Now let's look closer at what sort of " identity " Palestinians have in both Israel and Jordan. As the title of the article states Beuracracy, Hypocrisy and the Israel-Palestine Quandary https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/12/09/bureaucracy-hypocrisy-and-the-israel-palestine-quandary/ The Hafrada ID Policies " Hafrada translates to unilateral seperation or unilateral disengagement " Former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin pushed for the construction of a physical barrier between Israeli's and Palestinians in the early 1990's. This mentality eventually paved the way for the election of Ehud Barak, who campaigned and won under the slogan, Us here, them there. Barak cemented the Hafrada ID Policies into place " Sound a bit familiar, build the wall, build the wall ! " Today Israel assigns three ID's at birth, blue, green and Jerusalem ID. The Blue ID offers the most permissive freedom of mobility. Blue ID holders are eligible for an Israeli passport (not a travel document) along side their ID. It also means, that by law, that Israel prohibits blue ID holders from entering the Palestinian residential "Zone A". The west bank comprises 3 zones, A, B and C, Palestinian people are usually only allowed to live in zone A. Zone B is the roads and Zone C is comprises Israeli settlements. Essentially the Israeli defence forces, IDF, always control zone B and zone C, because Zone A is under the Jurisdiction of the IDF, their authority stems from military law, not municipal systems that would otherwise that would govern a residential area. There have been cases where the IDF has converted civilian homes into military check points without a warrant and allowed settlements to expand. " The Jerusalem ID is an anomaly. Although it's a blue ID as well no passport accompanies it. The Jerusalem ID is a stand alone travel document. The Jerusalem ID represents east Jerusalem. Despite the relative freedom of mobility that comes with it (one can travel anywhere within Israel and Palestine except the Gaza strip) anyone from east Jerusalem is stateless by default. So if one lived in Jerusalem or (is born in Jerusalem) they can legally transcend the barriers to mobility the majority of Palestinians face. None the less, because of this legal positioning (statelessness, lack of a passport) East Jerusalemites will still need a visa for every other country in the world-which is quite difficult without a passport. It's also worth noting that Palestinians (with a Palestinian ID) who live abroad and have acquired foreign citizenship are legally considered foreigners everywhere except in Israel. The catch 22 is that bearing a Palestinian identity creates a legal precedent for different treatment, significant impacting daily life. " " While all Palestinian ID's are green, not blue, the west bank ID and the Gaza ID come with different obligations. Regarding privileges the west bank ID is more advantageous than the Gaza ID. The west bank ID allows one to move freely throughout the west bank. Likewise, if one wants to go to a settlement, to Jerusalem or the rest of Israel one will need to apply for more permits from the Israeli army. The permit system is a constant dimension of life. Usually people only get either working or visiting or medical permits. The rest? , denied says the diplomat. These permits are issued through a system known as "Tasreeh ". Further because any form of movement is invariably means that one must pass through Israeli territory (ie the roads) residents of Gaza wishing to enter the west bank must obtain two separate permits, one to enter and one to leave. Palestinian individuals wishing to go to Israel must apply for yet another permit, but these are rarely granted except for medical reasons. Even then it may not happen. Due to (Hafrada) seperation policies, the Palestinian people experience varying degrees of mobility. Among them only 12 percent are citizens of Israel (blue ID) who have citizenship but not nationality-which is reserved for Jews only. " Can you keep up with all of this ? Do you get where I am coming from by bringing this up ? Palestinians are stateless https://abcnews.go.com/International/palestinians-stateless-united-longing-liberation-historians/story?id=103899678 " They are stateless, their identity not defined by specific borders, but rather tied together by a collective longing for a place to call home. Their existence has long been traded and transferred by different ruling powers throughout their history, leaving their fate in the balance. " Any back to the original article " The Jordanian Citizenships caste Overlaid atop this Israeli stratification there are three castes of Jordanian citizens. First is the person who lives in the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan and has an Jordanian ID and a Jordanian passport. Second is the Jordanian citizen who lives in the west bank and holds a passport. Recall that until 1967, the west bank was part of Jordan or trans Jordan. It's called the trans Jordan because the river Jordan runs through the middle. In other words the trans Jordan (ie the west bank) is the river bank west of Jordan. That's why it's called the west bank. And so this is full Jordanian citizen who is not living in Jordan Territory because they reside in extra Jordanian territory. The third class of Jordanian citizens is essentially not a citizen. This represents Palestinians who do not hold a Jordanian ID but have a Jordanian passport to travel. An increasing problem over the last decade has been that Jordan has been getting fed up with the hassle of the diplomats point out. But if they take away citizenship from say, an old man. It also means that all of his children and all of his childrens children are stripped of citizenship. So if one person loses a travel document, it means that his 100 relatives and descendants lose it. To give another example, this implies with a Jerusalem ID but actively applying for a Israeli citizenship will forfeit their Jordanian passport or travel document. At this point they will be not only banned from obtaining a Jordanian document, they will also be prohibited from entering the country of Jordan every again. Documentation technicalities can be unimaginably difficult to navigate for families with members who live scattered throughout the region. In the part many people from the west bank married Israeli citizens or Jerusalem ID holders their ID's but now it's becoming much harder the diplomat explains. I know of an incident where the woman was Jordanian and her partner was a Palestinian ID holder in the west bank. They managed to get married, but they didn't see each other for six years. They had to fight for six years for the woman to be able enter the west bank. Not to enter Israel, but the west bank. There have been an increasing number of cases where the Israeli authorities say, you can marry but we don't care. Your partner is not getting an ID. This fragile citizenship status also lends itself to a heavier social narrowing in everything from education to job opportunities to dating. " How would you like to " live " like this ? Stateless and treated like second- third class citizens.

I second that. All the best @da.moose 50 is the new 30 you spring chicken...you....

Defenceman brother. While I do acknowledge we could use another forward, it's defence that's wins cups. A nice solid D-man that can play solid D, clear that crease and as a bonus has a solid first pass. And stays healthy. Add one of these players and I would start to feel a definate stiffening of my resolve.

Dunno brother about the low first is the same as a 2nd. As usual for the last few years I have been putting in lots of work into researching the upcoming draft. After the top 10 or so picks this draft is wide open. My assistant GM in our league who puts in more work than anyone I know, it's amazing how much research he does, thinks the same. This draft has some pretty good defensive prospects. There was one particular D-man I was hoping that might slide to us due to injury if we still had this pick. What we both agree on though is, prioritising picks in next years draft in any trades we are making. Don't get me wrong, not unhappy with this deal, especially if it takes us to the promised land.

I used to feel the way you did. A mix of bringing a child into this fucked up world and loving my " freedom " My dog gave me something very few humans do, unconditional love. My ex wanted a child with all her heart. I loved her deeply. We were in our mid forties when we started the process. Painful year involving lots of confronting situations to find out I was sterile. Four attempts here in Victoria- Aus at IVF before they wouldn't let us try anymore. Wouldn't let us use my ex's own eggs after the age of 46. It was a last ditch attempt, flying out to South Africa, cost me 50k, our beautiful son was conceived. He was born when I was 49. Right up until the moment they put him in my arms and I looked into his eyes I had my doubts. Then I stared into those eyes. Since that moment I have never loved another human being the way I love my son. I have lived a life that many others can only dream of, and my son and being a dad, is the best thing by far that has ever happened to me. Since then I had a very painful break up. Spent over 100k in the courts fighting for some custody. Then his mother has turned him against me, telling him I am not his dad because he is an IVF child. Even after all of this I have no regrets about being a dad. My son has given me the greatest moments of joy in my life. Unfortunately they can also give you your greatest moments of pain.

I interpreted your original words quite clearly tas. You insulted a 20 year old kid just because he expressed his feelings. You could have stated, as you have since that you don't agree with what he said,and given some reasons why you feel this way, with out calling him entitled. That was your original post that I replied to. You simply called him entitled. The vested interest I have is my golden rule, treat others the way I wish to be treated. I don't want to be insulted, ergo I don't insult others.

Depends whose Bush you are you talking about......

Those of us who are following/ researching this draft believe that after the top ten, it's hard to rate the next 20-30 players. This draft has a fair number of good D prospects. I will say this, in relation to my fantasy teams, we are prioritising 2025 picks because that, at the present, looks like a deeper draft.

As I have been told, I only know one way, that's balls to wall. I do know he has made us a better team straight away. He fits perfectly into the structure that Tocchet has been trying to build.

As I have already stated, if we win the cup, I couldn't care less if he, Lindholm stays, Elias wants $15,000,000 and Hronek, $10,000,000 I can die happy.

You don't have to be sorry for your opinion, I value it. I just don't think it's right that the Palestinians keep losing land. They are becoming either displaced or living mostly under occupied conditions. This is not how I would want to live. Ergo I would not want to treat others this way. If the shoe was on the Israeli foot, I would be arguing for them. I already have, stating they have the right to self determination and to live in a free and just society. Edit Thank you, it is a beautiful mild summer day here in the hills. I see it's 9 degrees in Vancouver now, that's reasonable mild for this time of year, at this time of night. I hope you are enjoying those conditions.

I am not going to argue my point too much. All I hope is, this is one of the moves that helps push us over the top. If not this year, then hopefully he signs with us at a cap hit that still allows us to remain competitive and not only keep Elias and Hronek but add that final missing piece on the back end, that we need.

Don't get me wrong my friend. I have got every digit crossed. I have even crossed my eyeballs in the hope we win the cup ! I am glad we didn't give up those players as well. I will say I was starting to think that Hunter is looking like that rare third rounder that might really pan out, at a hard to get position, RHD.

I am not sympathetic to Hamas at all. I have made that abundantly clear. Do you really believe that half the people in this thread are sympathetic to people who butchered other people ? That people like @Gurn and @Warhippy for example, people who argue for the rights of Palestinian people actually support the actions of terrorists ? Hamas is not a proper government as you and many others are the first to point out. They have been designated as a terrorist organisation by your government, mine and many others. Again what I am hearing is justification for Israel taking more land from the Palestinians. In regards to hippies post a few hours ago, doesn't a lot of that Israeli right wing rhetoric sound close to ethnic cleansing. " We Conquer, we destroy, we settle "

I have to disagree brother, what has happened in the past has nothing to with this particular trade. If we don't win the cup and Lindholm doesn't resign with us, then we have given up a very promising RHD, they are precious things, a puck moving D-man who is in track for 87 assists alone this year. A first rounder in a draft where after the top ten at most, this draft is a lottery, that pick has the chance to be a solid pick, even picking later. I have put a lot of effort in studying prospects for this draft, as I have for the last few years. There is one particular player I am really hoping that will slip due to injury. Admittedly Kuzzy has been a disappointment this year however he was rounding out his game. As for Jurmo, for sure he doesn't seem to be panning out yet. So if we don't resign him and we don't win the cup, what have we gained ?

If we don't win the cup and we don't resign him will you still consider this a great trade ?

This is bang on. If we have paid this for a rental and we win the cup....woohoo If we don't resign him and we don't win the the cup, then we have given up a fair bit for nothing.

So is Kuz a puck sucking/ bustaroo/crap doodle Calgary flamer now ?

Wouldn't it be great if we end up with David on our team, just so we could see Alf backflip. After all every Canuck player is gold to good Alf.

Funny how some attacks are defined as acts of war, and some are defined as acts of terrorism. 1200 people were killed on October 7 in an attack that was never about taking land, it was about killing people and taking them hostage. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on 9/11 that some describe as an act of terror, yet the US response was one to an act of war https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/the-us-reacted-to-the-9-11-attacks-as-an-act-of-war-not-an-act-of-terror/ So taking historical context and precedence into account, seeing that most of the terrorists were Saudis, shouldn't Saudi Arabia give up some of their land ?

You still don't get it do you ? What I take exception to, is you insulting a kid you don't even know, simply because he expressed confidence/belief in his abilities to play at the highest level. This kind of thing really grinds my gears, often in life, people who haven't achieved Jack shit, put shit on those who try and achieve something in life. That's why I asked you about what you what you have achieved. Just to be clear I am not saying you haven't achieved anything, however people who are driven to succeed often feel like David does. I have posted this a few times, just the other day in the music thread, but for for disclosure here and to illustrate my character, this is me And I actually talk about what I have stated in this thread about believing in myself and what my parents taught me

Above all we were role models for the " Grommies ". That's a surfing term for young surfers. We had a shop at Mt.Hotham, The Freezer. The kids would hang out and go riding with us. Those of us who were good in the park would give them pointers there. Those of us who were freeskiers/boarders taught them to look at the mountain as a canvas, imagining drawing (ski) lines on it, as well as developing technique. That evolved into the camp of Champs, people came up and paid to to be trained. After a couple of years we actually got into trouble with Whistler, we didn't know they had trademarked that name. What I am most happy about was nothing to do with elite athletes, off and on through those 20 years of " ski-bumming " I worked with handicap skiers at the elite level and just average people learning to ski. At one end of the spectrum there was my friend Mick Norton, this guy was a human dynamo. Lost the use of his leg's in a motorbike crash. We came up with one of the first sit skis for him back in the day. He won a few para Olympic gold medals. Unfortunately Mick became addicted to opium based painkillers and died of an overdose. I miss my brother...rip in peace my friend. At the other end of the spectrum there was this 69 year old guy, Peter who was blind. I taught him to ski. It took a few years, both technique and skiiing down behind him to tell him when to turn. He used to thank me, I told him he inspired me, if he could achieve what he did, there was no limit to what I could achieve.

That's what at the core of this discussion IMO in regards to posters calling out/ insulting David for speaking out on his own behalf. He has every right to do this. He has devoted his life to playing hockey at the highest level. He, IMO and as others in the industry believe has proved he has earned the right/ performed well enough so far to play on a NHL roster. If Columbus don't like it, they can trade him and he gets a chance elsewhere. I am willing to bet there are a few GM's out there that would take every factor of this equation into account and trade for him in a heartbeat.