http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Co...-Israel-371952And this is why I believe Hamas is going to continue to look like mindless killers to the US. Some of them are mindless killers; the question is why. Disliking Hamas shouldn't blind people to everything else. I know it can, but only because people want to be small.
Again, you are suggesting that Palestine...more specifically Gaza, is of enough importance to Americans in general to spend the time to consider the frankly complex issues that are behind the fighting.
The same people who think
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Honey_Boo_Boo is worth watching. I really think you're dreaming. Just the name Hamas is poison, mostly because they are dumb enough to make extreme statements and do extremely disturbing things...then admit to it.
I look at it a bit differently. I have a set standard when it comes to how much information I need to form a definitive opinion on something. Anything more than a casual glance at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be enough to see past the propaganda shell. I realize that many people don't have that standard, particularly it seems, with this issue (many people with whom I speak don't even understand the difference between Gaza or the West Bank or even understand that they are divided territories or don't even know what the Palestinian Authority is, etc). For that though I'll always criticize as I think anyone should.
I also think you have a bit of a misunderstanding as to my expectations when it comes to this issue, which is why it is often hinted or blatantly stated that I am an idealist. Not at all. I have an ideal I would like to see magically happen sure (I'm sure you do too), but that doesn't mean that I think it is likely to happen at all. In fact, I am on record here over a year ago stating that nothing would come of the peace process and that fighting would eventually resume.
I state what does happen, and what should happen, that is an important part of discourse that is largely absent from public spaces when it comes to this issue where sound bytes and propaganda tends to rule the day the world over. I don't expect things to magically change, but I'm also not going to surrender to that system and I will always gladly challenge anyone relying on or utilizing it.