"Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them, and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does this not involve the principle of a national establishment...?"
— -- James Madison, "Essay on Monopolies" unpublished until 1946, cited in Brant, Irving, The Bill of Rights, 1965, from Albert J. Menendez and Edd Doerr, The Great Quotations on Religious Freedom
Hi - coming at it from a
Hi - coming at it from a pro-Palestinian position, I'd agree with almost everything you have written here and particularly this, which can be the only basis to resolve things into the future:
But the facts on the ground are that the daily lot and life experience of the average Palestinian is considerably less than that of the average Israeli. Whilst Hamas do not represent everyone in Palestine by any means, it is not too difficult to see why in that environment they attact support. I therefore wholeheartedly support the Enough! campaign to raise the profile of what is going on in Palestine.
I would also point your readers in this direction - as there are Palestinian thinkers who are prepared to think outside of the box and dare to consider the unthinkable.
Peace
Joe