Israel IS a rogue state...by 19yr old Cambridge Student

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Dude, what he did was a much better way to get to the point of the issue than I'm sure the "Israel isn't a rouge state" side did.

Some people just don't get satire I suppose.

Do you honestly think this guy was just trying to win the debate? I'm sure if he wanted to he could have come up with any number of examples that would support the accepted definition of Rouge State.

What he did was use a different definition of Rouge State to show that Israel does not in fact fit the standard definition, and he made a very good point while he was at it.

This debate was initiated by a pro Iranian journalist, and what this guy did was use the "Pro" side to completely discredit what the rest of the pro (read anti-Israel) side were most likely spewing.

You and Octorthorp are the ones who are too tied up in semantics. You're focusing on the literal message of his speach, and completely ignoring the undertones and spirit with which it is being delivered, which in this case, is the much more important part of his speach.

And he probably won the debate too.

I get satire just fine, thank you. I just don't think it's a very good point. Israel has always defined itself as the rogue state in the Middle East.

It's funny to me you are arguing for this speech from a basis of such certainty without having read the other side of the debate.

I guess some people just like making assumptions.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

I get satire just fine, thank you. I just don't think it's a very good point. Israel has always defined itself as the rogue state in the Middle East.

It's funny to me you are arguing for this speech from a basis of such certainty without having read the other side of the debate.

I guess some people just like making assumptions.

Dude, you're complaining that all he did to win the debate was change the meaning of the word, which is a pretty simple/cynical way of looking at what he actually said/meant.

I don't have to know what the other side, or other members of his side said. The debate was set up by an anti-Israel journalist who it would be reasonable to assume just wanted a venue to present anti-Israel arguments.
What this guy did was comandeer the "Pro-Rouge" side, to make the point that Israel is a valid, valuable, progressive, and brave member of the international community. A stance that I'd be willing to bet the person who proposed the "Is Israel a Rouge State?" debate isn't too happy to see supported on "Their side" of the debate. Critisizing him for just redefining the word "Rouge" to win the debate, totally misses his message, the point he was trying to make, and the incredibly clever method in which he delivered it.

[Canada 02]

http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2689

sounds like a 19 year old punk who got his talking points from a neocon think tank

Gabriel Latner, a second-year Law student at Peterhouse, was handed the ban after he refused to apologize to fellow proposition speaker Lauren Booth for making a comment that was deemed inappropriate last Thursday at the Union debate

Before getting up to speak, he turned to Booth and said, "I am going to nail you to the ####ing wall up there."

he did win the debate, however

the Israeli side won with 74% of the votes

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...974440,00.html

[1stLand]

I think Naheed Nenshi should weigh in on this debate. He can out debate anyone.

Better Ideas for a Better Israel

[Sr. Mints]

I thought it was a very well put together piece. I wish I cold have heard it live.

[Thor]

Roughly related, at least of interest to those in this thread.

New trends in arab antisemitism