God is on the side of the Truth. Not the Muslims, Jews, or Christians or Hindus. One of the attributes of God is Him being the Ultimate Truth. Now one can question, what is TRUTH? what is right and wrong? more often than not, it is a subjective term, depending who you are asking, depending on the circumstances, and other factors.

Why do you find it necessary to exagerate everything that you say. You know that you were not having a conversation with 60,000 people and yet you continue to say this. You may indeed have that many people following you, but they are not all talking to you at once. To suggest this is just ignorant!

nicely put! I know it's not a simple situation, but if we let the extremists (from any group) rule the world there will never be peace.

YOU MADE US CRY
IT'S UNBERABLE TO SEE THOSE KIDS CRY IN PAIN
TELL THOSE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF THE GOD WHICH THEY BELEAVE IN DON'T KILL CHILDEREN
GOD BLESS C.AMANPOUR FOR HER COURAGE

IF, IDEALLY, GOD IS THAT STILL SMALL VOICE INSIDE EACH OF US, THAT WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATION ARE THESE PEOPLE HAVING?

Rick, you are exactly right in my opinion. I think that we all need to hear about this. Some may say it's not for the " News " but I support you trying to bring about the discussion. Keep up the positive work!
Pam
PS I would love to hear more about the good work that people are doing in the world. Cudos to CNNs "heros" program. More of this is desparately needed.

Thanks for speaking out about the use of Gods name to justify war, any war. Why don't you play Aaron Neville's "With God On Our Side"?

J. Davis

you are correct about having to be aware of the group you put yourself in when you use GOD to justify war and is it not interesting that when people can't rationalize their wanting killing in themselfs they use GOD TO justify it

Thank you, Rick. I'm so glad to hear someone say this! All I hear around me is people saying that the Jews are right because they have God on their side. Doesn't each side think that?! I don't believe God has anything to do with this war.

Hey... I understand what you mean within your blog about using God to justify. However, I do feel that the people that you used were not good examples because the representation is not parallel to "doing it in the name of the Lord". Anytime something is done in the name of God or the Lord it has to line up with the proper representation of who God is or who the Lord is. So in the case of Hitler or Torquemada, what they were indeed doing is using God as an excuse to justify their deeds.

It is sad that all these fanatics use God to justify their position.

To see babies dying for no other reason that they lived in the wrong place is so sad.

Wondering why the Israeli's aren't allowing in the western media? Can they really want the only images coming out being from Hamas? I don't get it. CNN is all over it as usual.

Love the show!!! Unfortunately, I too am out of work, and can now watch you live and participate.

Rick, I think that Roland Burris should be seated. He is qualified and appears to have been properly apponted. This is another case of the press and politicians getting out in front of the facts and ignoring the process.

Thanx for going out on a limb! But who want to believe or pray to a "god" with human qualities like anger, goodness, sadness – would a "god" have human qualities? Who want to believe or pray to a "god" that lets 6 million of its "chosen people" die in the Holocaust?Who wants to believe or pray to a "god" that creates mass genocide by flooding the entire world – that is if you believe in the letter of the Bible. Who want to believe or pray to a "god" that kills everyone in two cities – Sodom & Gomorrah – sin or not, who want to believe or pray to a "god" that creates a Hell to torture us, burdens us with "original sin", incest (if you believe in the letter of the Bible – there was just Adam, Eve & Cain & Abel – so where did the res of us come from – what, "poof", magically appeared?) I figure it's the intellectually challenged that believe in a "god" like that – bet you'll get a millions e-mails & I hope you keep your job after that comment

It is so sad to know that millions of people have been tortured and died in the name of religion. But underneath lies greed, power, and human desires that have nothing to do with religion. They are only using religion as an excuse. God is not on any side that destorys mankind. God has nothing to do with mans desire to kill others. This is only showing that the human race has not progressed beyoud the animal kingdom enough to show respect and love for all God's creatures.

When the Creator said no killing, he didn't differentiate war, murder and slaughter. Dead is dead, no matter which way you cut it. Where are the so-called spiritually awake and when will they stand up and speak out? When will every voice shout out to stop the lies and killing? When will humanity choose to accept that peace is only a breath away? In order to have truth, kindness and harmony one needs to negotiate truce and stop killing for 100 years to heal all memories in all people. We need to end the “me, me, I am the better one” mentality. Give humanity a chance by practising no killing, good thoughts, good words and especially peaceful deeds.

Rick..you have NO idea how long I've waited to hear someone like yourself ask these ?'s...God does not have sides!!! who said ...live by the sword..die by the sword....hello..wasn't that a clue???

GOD MUST BE CRAZY!!!!
None of our gods want us to kill eachother.
Unless they are vimpires. And they need our blood.

in islam murder is a big sin,so those suicide bombers and the israeli's are the same,killers of innocent people.god is not on the side of any killers regardless of religion.god chose the israeli people over all and he did promise them the land,but they defied him and so they were punished and left to wonder for generations..Most jews know that and agree with that!!Its in the koran and the torah,both of which are from the one and only god!!!!!a.k.a ALLAH,peace in the middle east!!

If one is fired upon and retaliates, how in the world is that in the name of god?
How shameful to try to apply false tags to a conflict that is complex enough as it is without having media trying to make sensation out of it or worse yet be as subjective as you are.

You are on target about "God' Sign. Since when is a God who were are taught to see as "eternal and unchanging" have sides. It is truly a theological manipulation. Such an attitude makes it very easy to see everyone who thinks, feels, thinks contrary to my beliefs as expendable, hated, violated or worse seen as evil. War, street violence, indifference and/or exclusion become very easy step with such a belief- Question?- how many sides does God have if every nation, denomination, team or any other group claim the prerogative? All these sides that God is supposed to have should make our Biblical deity more than schizoid.

The Palestinian/Israeli issue is NOT about religion. I come from an Arab country where we have Jews, and we live just as peaceful as can be. Jews and Arabs are cousins, and throughout History, Muslims in political power have defended the Jews from discrimination (recall Jerusalem of the early days and how Saludin have defended the Jews from oppression). It is peole from both sides with hidden Agenda who are fueling the hatred and this silly war. It is all economics and political considerations.

Thank you for this segment. Thank you for allowing the gentleman formerly from the IDF to speak in defense of the Israelis.
When you mentioned the Inquisition, you mentioned the torture and murder of Jews and Muslims...
"He tortured and killed in the name of God: Jews, Muslims, and a host of so-called heretics or non-believers."
But it's important for people to remember that the "host of so-called heretics or non-believers" included Christians. Many people are unaware of that.
Thanks again!

What you so rightly decry is precisely what is intended by the 2nd Commandment: "You shall not take the Lord´s name in vain", so little understood. To invoke the Almighty for our agenda rather than His is to misrepresent God and set ourselves astray!

As long as people put religion first and humanity a distant second, these conflicts will continue. We need to rearrange our priorities on all sides. Humanity comes first, my race, creed, nationality, anything eles, comes in a distant second.

Dear Rick:
The Palestinians are the ones who use God to kill people. The Israelis are trying to live in peace and protect themselves. Some radicals of the Palestinians are attacking Israel and do not want to share- they want it all. They will not be happy until Israelis are completely gone.
This is sad because the innocents are suffering and they do not want peace. They use God to say it is all theirs.

I guess Burris and Blago have not been approved by AIPAC?

Hi Rick, Thanks for delving into a subject that has been too long taboo. People are touchy on the subject of religion, but that keeps them a bit ignorant. On the topic of the war in Gaza that's been going on for thousands of years - I quote the great spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle. Fighting over who's God is best is like fighting over who had the best Imaginary Friend as a child. So, fighting over this sacred land is going against both Israeli and Palestinian beliefs. To ensue with this fighting will reap nothing but a bunch of people who can no longer fight for their ideal lives. Isn't that what we all want? I think they're all good, and related. With Love , Samantha. p.s. Cease Fire, Stop Fighting and live by your promises to make peace.

The unrest in this area of the world has gone on for centuries - and may continue for centuries.

There is a saying, "would you rather be right or live in peace." - may not be the exact quote and I'm sorry I don't know where this saying originated, however, I believe this is a big part of what is going on in these countries arguing over religious interpretation.

I would like to hope that someone will reach out the hand of compromise that will lead to the others abandoning their need to be right and choose to live in peace instead. Let's hope!

Thank you

In answer to your inquiry regarding those few very dangerous spokesmen for GOD, who condone their own irrational behavior in perpetuating WAR and DIVISION among the people on this planet.

I want to share this information and link to show that good works are in progress and have been for decades within Israel and neighboring countries for the purpose of instilling greater understanding and goodwill between people of differing religions. This is a common sense answer to a seemingly insurmountable problem. http://www.interfaith-encounter.org/

Hopefully one day those who act as spokesmen for GOD in condoning their own irrational behavior perpetuating WAR and DIVISION among the worlds people.

Thank You Mr. Sanchez for the "Whose side is God on?" I believe many people agree- yet, the violence continues – it is time for people to realize that it is not God that's doing the killing – it them! Really Stupid! Wouldn' it be Wonderful if they cared more about the World & everyone in it, instead of claiming God as the leader of the violence. Thanks again, I appreciate your comentary very, very much!!!!!

Faiza, well put. I am Israeli, grew up in Israel. The real issue here is the Palestinian people being used by the Ahmedinjad's of the world to further their insane vision of how the world - in their eyes - should be. Because of the prime real estate they sit upon, the Palestinian people are being used as human shields. In the simplest terms possible, that is what's really going on here.

WELL DONE RICK I would add that I think bush 100% wrong !!!
BOTH sides are wrong ....they MUST STOP......GOD SAID THOU SHALT NOT KILL

well this is a big test for a lot of countries and souls on this planet. Until people Understand they are God, rather than God being some big boss, maybe the slaughter will stop. God is always about creating goodness and never about war and hate. Nobody gave "Israel" to the Jews. God doesn't have a real estate license. Israel was created by the Zionists who are NOT semites at all, but a group racial intermix of Khazar, Mongol, Turk, Russian, and eastern Europe, who adopted the Judean religion back around 700 AD and have been thugging every since pretty much, like so many others thuggiing for control of this planet. These ones NEVER were from that part of world that they stole starting in the late 1800's. And they weren't all massacred during WW 2 either. There were no more than 300,000 Khazar Jews lost during that war, they in fact lived a pretty good life in the LABOR camps, while other Germans etc, suffered huge losses of like. The Nazi/Zionists put their OWN kind in the camps to manufacture war good, and most of the awful dead bodies we were shown after the war was dead Russians, not Jews. That is FACT. ANd it is time to stop killing in the name of God and Thanks Rick for saying publickly. Take care, Candace, http://www.abundanthope.net

God should not be used to justify wars. Gods name is only bought up by these politicians when trying to down gay marriage, abortion, and when trying to justify wars. Checked my bible recently and it seems that there are a lot of pages that their missing.

Man will always use god as an excuse to kill each other. We need to get rid of god.

What if there was ,from the begining, the instilled belief there was only one supreme being.One religeous group ,no ISLAM,MUSLIM,CHRISTIANS,ect just one way to believe that we were taught from childhood. Probably most of the wars and most of the hatred among people,sponsered by religeous difference wouldnot have happened.

Yes, all countries uses this reason to kill, even America. The KKK would kill Blacks in the name of god. They would strip, beat, and lynch Black men and at the same time, call on their god. They called themselves Christians. They called themselves true-Christians. So, the pot can't call the kettle black. Everyone has been deceived. " The serpent called the devil and satan have deceived the whole world, Revelation 12:9."

Rick, you are so on target. There has long been people who support Israel because of their interpretation of the Bible and their personal religious beliefs. There has long been people who decide that if you are not like us then your are against us.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could get some of those kids out of Gaza for a few weeks or months to give them some time feeling safe and well. What an opportunity for them and for those of US who would be able to host them for a while. As a past and future host parent of exchange students from around the world how wonderful if we could provide a safe time for some younger kids.

rick sanchez is smart and has a point in his messages, but what a terrible TV personality. im a college journalist and i look to CNN for broadcasting/journalistic inspiration. most of the anchors really appeal to me, but after spending the afternoon with rick today, but i was discomforted by his demeanor.

just the way he talks is pretty belittling and annoying. hes almost like the CNN bill o'reilly. im pretty disappointed with the fact that hes part of the CNN network and i hope he grows on me.

Hey Rck!
Greetings and admiration from BC, Canada. You had the guts to say what so may are thinking but don't dare to speak out: stop the insane killing in the name of deities! This is going on for thousands of years. Enough is enough!

Dear Rick,
Great peice on religous extremism.There are many people out there that need educating on the dangers of extremism as it exist in EVERY religeon when people go too far.

God doesn't take sides, God is a side and you either take his side or the side of evil. How arrogant to claim God is with one group and therefore against another

actually its NOT about "god"...its about LAND THEFT. Palestine was PARTITIONED without their "approval" after WW2 and Nazis killed millions. Instead of "repatriating" european jews to their Nazi stolen properties instead there was a big push by zionists to have displaced persons and refugees from europe sent to Palestine. No one asked the people who have continuously been on the land for thousands of years IF they wanted to share their homeland. Out of X-tian shame and guilt for ALLOWING the deaths of millions of people including about 4 million Jews along with Catholics, disabled, gays, roma etc the WEST partitioned Palestine giving the minority number of jews the majority of the 55-45% partition. If YOUR home was given to someone else, do you think YOU would object? this is NOT about jews vs christian vs muslims..this is the same old urgent plea for the WEST to stop OCCUPYING the land and people of their own country. I can visit Palestine as an American Jew but Palestinians who have family there CANNOT visit their families or homes. I could even move there IF I wanted to..but NOT Palestinans. Israel oversees and CONTROLS every aspect of Palestinian life. Ever hear of GENEVA CONVENTIONS created to PROTECT the lives and rights of OCCUPIED PEOPLE. like in the Warsaw ghetto!!

Your coment on God if God is on one side or the other. I suppose God ordered the Chief Priests and Pharisee's to arrest Jesus and lead Him to the Romans' for trial and His death on the Cross.

Hi Rick, no one has the right to fight in the name of God, God is suppose to be caring and just. The Jews suffered under the hands of Hitler and now the Palestinians suffers under the hands of the Israeli's. They did and still doing the same thing yhat Hitler did to them. What is the use of expressing our thoughts and feelings if there is no one listening. Israel knows what they are doing and they do not regret it. How could they kill children? how? We keep on saying Israel has the right to defend themselves. We keep making excuses for them, shame on us.

Earlier comment didn't make it through ...... If you use God as your excuse/reason for your actions against others, you do do at your own peril. There will be a reckoning.

I want to share this information and link to show that good works are in progress and have been for decades within Israel and neighboring countries for the purpose of instilling greater understanding and goodwill between people of differing religions. This is a common sense answer to a seemingly insurmountable problem. http://www.interfaith-encounter.org/

dear L Backin, I absolutely agree with you 1000%. Everything you sed is absolutely,positively true!!!!! Only one thing,that's what the israeli's want,NOT the palstinians...

If the writer only understands that the devil and God shares the same mission statement in John 10: 10 the later part of the scripture says it all, "but I've come that you might have life and have it more abundantly " In saying that one must understand "Don't Waste Your Breath" When God breathed into Adam, He gave more than life; He gave a reason to live: Worship ! As the psalmist said, "Let everything that have breath praise the Lord"
This means that we waste our breath when we use it for something that doesn't honor the One in whom "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17: 28.). Although we cannot blow life into a handful of dirt, we can use our breath to speak words of comfort, to sing songs of praise, and to run to help the sick and oppressed.

Rick, Too bad we still have war in the name of God as if this is good. Unfortunately many ancient texts,including the Bible and Koran, written in very violent historic times, portray a God of vengence, wrath and violence. In our present time,perhaps we would do better to consult more morally evolved texts , such as the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights and International Law.

One other issue that IRKS the heckoutta me...we keep hearing from IDF that Hamas 'Hides" in Gaza behind their constituency. They dont HIDE..they LIVE there..in that MOST DENSELY CROWDED PLACE ON EARTH. there are 1.5 million people living like SARDINES on a desert strip of land 6 miles by 22 miles. 11 persons per square meter. there is no where else to go. there is no forest, jungle, mountain range, etc. they live there in the refugee camps and villages..that is their home that Gazans democratically elected and continue to be collectively punished and brutalized by Israel SINCE the election of Jan 2006 for electing the "wrong" party. So much for democracy..and getting rid of corrupt puppet rulers.
ALSO, since I'm on it...why doesn't Israel REMOVE their Military leadership from within the largest city population thereby "hiding" amongst their citizens?? this is NOT a war...ONLY ONE SIDE has an army..the 4th Mightiest army in the world. Palestinians have nothing and no one to PROTECT THEM except the Rule of Law..International law...humanitarian law and UN conventions. REMEMBER GENEVA CONVENTIONS human rights protocols..~ Israel is and have been committing WAR CRIMES and believe it-the Israeli population KNOWS darn well what the IDF is doing .
Either Israelis learn to SHARE or they should do what half a million EX Israelis have done LEAVE back to "oppressed New jersey, New York, FLorida, etc..?!!

Warfare and ethnic cleansing in the name of a god has been going on
for thousands of years, and will probably continue into the foreseeable
future. As I wrote in my Twit to you, it has never been about a god. It has always been about property, power, prestige and money. War is a rich man's game played with real human beings as pawns.
I enjoy your show, Rick, and I hope your year will go along even better than the last one.

You are so right in calling down people that say God in on the side of the Jews or on the side of Hamas. There is so much that people blame on God or give credit to God for that it makes me sick. In reality, logic says that God never helps or hinders ANYTHING. Yesterday a Texas University football player thanked God for the Texas win! What? Does God hate Ohio? You might say that football players are all brawn and no brain, but everyone (almost) does it. When God (or as I say, Infinite Mind) set this universe in motion 13.8 billion years ago, He put Nature in charge. Now everything that happens is according to the laws of Nature. Cause and effect. You violate the laws of Nature, you suffer the consequences.

You have to study ancient history to understand why this war is going on. The control of this land changed hands many times before the Jews began to move in around 1900. They began to push the Palestinians out and have been warring ever since. Who is to say who is right. Isreal should not invade Gaza. But Gaza should not fire rockets into Isreal. Isreal should not overrun Palestine. How far back do you go???

I think humanity's idea of god is always based upon basic human thoughts. Never in the history of mankind has there ever been a credible written record of god ever coming down to earth and letting men know how to go about life on earth.

Any records that we do have were all written by Homo-Sapiens bearing opposable thumbs.

it's about time the mideast grew up and realized this already. Terrorist antics are similar to those of little boys with big scary guns.

They need to learn about the art of writing in the mideast, in order that they may realize they are all misunderstanding the point of writing a book.

What were Mohammed's and the rest of the "Prophet's" best weapon?

The pen and the paper.

People now a days kill each other based on their beliefs that come from books such as the Qur'ran or the Holy Bible, little do they know that their books were only meant to inspire us to write more books and carry the legacy on rather than kill each other over who wrote the best book.

There's no need for fighting. Simply do this, which is what most characters in holy books do, be a Hero, write or have someone write your story, and pass it on. This is the basic formula of practically every so-called prophet who has ever written a holy book.

I think the greatest mistake of humankind was, and is, thinking that we could possibly know what the creator wants or stands for. It's certainly not a political agenda and I highly doubt that a supreme being which created us all, if that's what you believe in, would want us killing each other. Especially in the name of that supreme being. Whatever it is that 'God' wants, is well beyond our human capacity of rational thought that's for sure. Religion itself was created by humans, not by Gods or A God, and has been the cornerstone of way too many wars among who are simply ALL the children of whatever force created the universe and us. Also, religions were created in a time where we didn't have nearly the amount of explanation we do today. Does anyone still believe that Poseidon controls what happens with the seas of the world? Why not? Yes we now know that the moon and gravitational pull controls tides, but what created the moon and gravity? The ancient Greeks certainly believed in Poseidon back then. Maybe thousands of years from now Christianity will be in the same position, who knows.

I am on my own spiritual journey and have been for quite a while now. I am definitely not an Atheist because something created all of this and I feel a larger presence than just me, but I'm certainly not devout to a particular religion. I leave my mind open to all possibilities and my beliefs stem from what is essentially a combination of my natural internal feelings and common sense. I was raised as a Christian, but I struggle with blind belief and faith. I do believe that it's better to say I don't know, when that's the truth, then to say I'm right and you're wrong. You have YOUR beliefs, and I respect that, now all I ask in return is that you respect mine. Don't push your religion on me and I won't push mine on you basically.

The good aspect of religion is that it fills its believers with hope and peace which I think is a good thing regardless of where it comes from. The bad aspect of religion is that it spawns fanaticism, which leads to irrational thinking and conflict, and nobody knows if that will ever end before the world does.

When Obama was running for president I received an e-mail from a catholic person explaining to me"If I vote for Obama the Pope would excommunicate me" I replied back to this person that I was brought onto this earth with a fully functioning brain (that god gave me!) I was able to actually think for myself. If the Pope wants me out... See Ya! I have not killed anyone, nor have I hurt someone because of their religious beliefs.

I don't know who is right when it comes to religion.. Because I'm not god..So I'm basically believing that everyone has some truth to their religion. Live a moral life and don't hurt anyone... In the end I'm not the one that will be doing the judging. I'm sure the people that disagree with me won't either.

The stupid things we will kill each other for.. Land? Is it worth it?

The choice is yours, the decision is yours, and the responsibility is still yours. Don't blame god for your stupidity.

MISINFORMATION FROM CNN!!!!

Yeah you Rick....show the whole complete video from the BART shooting! Its there...youtube it or simply go to KTVU and see it!

The complete video that you showed edited, shows the police officer stands up,.....pulls gun out and cocks it and it discharges....not what you show! And now not 2 min ago..the lawyer did it immediatly, filing charges and lawsuit! Why not do what you do Rick correctly,...or is it that you are edited and controlled by what you report?

Why do you only show the censored version??? What are we suppose to think?

Have to say using God as an answer to justify in killing if just plain ingorant and just plain being a bigot. People's intolerant of other people faith or particular race his been going on since even before any of us was born. When religion's which is alway's in most cases the cause of any conflict's in world history always leads to war and killing.

I find it sad were suppose to be a race of people on this planet where we can think and are aware of our own existence as human's. But we fail to over come even simple things to grow as a spieces our technology inproves everyday. But us as a spieces we can't even get beyond the scope of religion,race,greed etc. Were stuck in a loop constantly repeating the same mistake's every single time and then have a moment of clairity. Then as time goes on seems we forget about it turn a blind eye then repeat the process very sad indeed.

I am glad you posed this question. Any Christian who says that God approves of killing, ask him or her if John 16:2 approves of killing. That Scripture says, "They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service."

Jesus, the Lord and Savior for all Christians, says in Matthew 5:21-22: "You have heard that is was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."

After reading those Scriptures, no Christian who believes in murder would say that he or she is inline with Jesus' doctrine.

In the gospel of Luke, the Disciples of Jesus wanted Jesus to bring down fire from Heaven to annihilate some Samaritans who offended them. Here is what Luke said, "But He [Jesus] turned and rebuked them [His disciples], and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.' And they went to another village."

The disciples wanted to “give it to” the Samaritans, but we see that Jesus would have no part of it.

All the Scriptures quoted are from the New Testament, which is the doctrine for Christians. If a Christian says that Jesus' doctrine supports killing; that Christian is in error.

How about entertaining the idea that "God" is on neither side? I recommend listening to Tom Waits' song, "The Road to Peace," for an intriquing take on God's role in the Middle East peace process. The song is on his Orphans album, and streaming on his Myspace page. Yes, it's just a song, but a very thought-provoking one.

Hello Rick,

I've studied history, through written history 5,000 years, through archeological and fosssil periods to the begining of life on earch, then through scientific theories of Einstein and quantum physics to the beginning of the universe. The commonality throughout written history is acclamation by conquering nations over their foes that "God willed it." Take George W. for example, after his invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq claiming that "God was behind him."

God, if he exists, would not be so stupid to take sides with war mongers. We are wrong in thinking that God is just a being, who thinks and acts like man.

One would think that the U.S.A., acting in the capacity of global peace-maker, would see that the Palestinians have been oppressed for the past several milleniums with an 'apartheid' system created by the Jews whereby they control the Palestinians with walls between them, control their 'bus'ing in and out of the cities, and control their food and water supply. Jimmy Carter, whom we all know as a Nobel Peace prize winner for his attempts to garner a peace deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis, went on CNN in 2007, complaining that he and his family were being attacked by the JDL for his book "Palestine Peace, Not Apartheid." I have read his book in which he explains that the Palestinians are willing to sign a peace agreement with the Israelis, only without "apartheid", the same criticism that Archbishop Desmond Tutu, also a Nobel peace prize winner, recently had of the Israelis.

Why does the Bush administration steadfastly support the Israelis? Because, they say, the Israelis are our only 'friends' in the Middle East. Why is that? Because the JDL (Jewish Defense League), a terrorist organization with established terror camps in the Catskill Mountains and vigilante groups set up across America, have taken over control of Congress and the Senate, and no politician, or lawyer, or police force is willing to take them on. The FBI correctly labelled the JDL as a terrorist organization in the 1990's, and they have not changed their stripes since.

To get any sense of sanity back into world peace, the Americans have to kick out the JDL. No longer a need for them, because their need to satisfy their grudges against Nazis hanging out in North America has, for the most part, been satisfied. Then help the Palestinians get back to a normal life without 'apartheid' Then, and only then, will you have a shot at peace in the world.

Thank you.

God is on everyones side because their is only one force in the universe.....instead of identifying GOD as a human....we, have an opportunity to evovle and see GOD as a force of energy that inhabits ALL ppl, and things......

And you know what? God condones or does not condone war just as much as God judged HITLER......

HITLER went to heaven.......for where else would its spirit go? there is no place else.....when you are able to understand that concept......then you can understand GOD!!

BUZZARDSKORNER!!

This war may not be about GOD and religion but GOD has been invoked from sides. Jews extremist believe it is GOD will that Jews will take over the Palestine including Syria, Jordan and part of Egypt because it was promise by GOD. Hamas agenda is to wipe out Israel because it was against GOD will to have a Jewish state. You like or not GOD has been invoked in all wars.

Let's clarify a couple of things here, folks. And what you need to know first and foremost, is that this is coming from an Israeli woman who is a Christian. You read that right. I am a Christian Jew. O.k., here we go:
1) Both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to defend themselves when attacked. And NEITHER SIDE IS GOING ANYWHERE.
2) The residents of Gaza are being used as human shields by HAMAS.
3) HAMAS is the group that instigated the tragedy we are all watching unfold on our tvs right now.
4) Because none of the surrounding Arab countries actually care about helping Palestinians establish their own country as much as they care about funding and supplying HAMAS in the insane drive to wipe Israel off the map, the innocent of Palestine are powerless to keep animals like HAMAS from hiding in their midst. They have no defenses.
5) HAMAS doesn't care how many Palestinians get caught in the crossfire and killed when they decide to attack Israel. But they do care that the victims of all this madness are photographed from every conceivable angle when Israel is forced to retaliate against HAMAS.

Jew, Arab, Christian, Muslim - none of it matters. Hatred can't be your reason for existence. If you care about your children's future, then you have to have the courage to demand freedom and defend it when necessary. I'm not just talking about Israeli retaliation when attacked. I'm talking about the Palestinian people taking responsibility for the freedom they so desperately want and deserve. Yes, responsibility. If they want it, they have to find a way to keep the HAMAS' of the world out of their midst. Their very lives and those of their children depend upon it.

Israel has never used the Torah to justify killing civilians or anyone else. They are only trying to defend their people against the rocket attacks. On the other hand the the Muslims DO use the Koran to justify killing anyone who does not believe like they do. The Islamists are savages who have no regard for human life. If this Country was taking thousands of rockets how long do you think we would wait to retaliate. I don't understand why Israel waited so long.

(from the blog) "God is on the side of Jews, or God is on the side of Palestinians."

God is on the side of both. God is a Palestinian, and God is a Jew. The people who are truly seeking to worship God and to do God's will look for peace.

I would suggest that there is a grotesque twisting of the truth here:

If God exists, then God is indeed on their side; but only in the form of the true peace seeker, not war maker. There are many ways to defend onesself and assert one's grievances without creating more war, out from which the leaders of both sides have removed themselves.

Rick,

I just listened to your take on CNN. I stopped what I was doing when I heard the word "God". I respect your ability to talk about this subject which is for whatever reason "taboo". Media should be truly free.

Rick, I just had to respond to your query on "Whose Side is God On?" If you will read the Old Testament, you will find that the Lord God gave Abraham and his decendants most of the land over there in that region. The decendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are considered to be the Jewish people. God said that He would bless those that bless them (Abraham's decendants) and would curse those that curses the Jewish people. The land of Israel now occupies only a small strip, not nearly the land that was given to them. If you will read in the Old Testament, you will find that God's chosen people (the Jews) routinely had to fight for their land. This is an age-old problem. IT IS THEIR LAND. God has blessed the United States because we have been a friend to Israel. I'm interested in seeing how friendly we will be to them in the next administration. To put it bluntly, while God is a merciful God, he is also a just God. While no one likes war and its ramifications, that's what war is.

rick, i wash ur cnn show often ,so, i think that ur the best . it takes a brave person to bring this controversial subject up. i feel that we should not continue to use" god" to justify our actions especially to oppress,supress or harm others who are from different country,religion,race,gender,sexual orientatiion,creed, political party,etc. Self-righteousness is not always right,in fact it is usually very destructive to peace,love and harmony in the world.! someday,i hope that all american will understand that in a democracy, people have right to be different or have different opinions without being demonized by others.

Ok lets examine the facts. We believe in a God who created the universe, which of course includes this earth and humanity, an all powerful God indeed.
We believe that because this all powerful God created humanity that we are all Gods children, but somehow some of Gods' children became his enemies deserving to die in the most horrible ways. Yet we also claim that God is the God of unconditional love and forgiveness. Personally I can't imagine that my mother would ever stop loving me regardless of what I did, and she certainly wouldn't want to see me punished or killed, so it's hard to imagine that some of Gods children became his emenies if he loves us more than our parents do.
We also see from the Bible that God sent fire and brimstone to destroy the wicked of Sodom and Gomorrah, he also sent a flood to punish the world in the time of Noah (two of many examples) so apparently if God does have a problem with his children he has the morals, ethics and integrity to punish his unruly children in his own way. We hear that all the time in this current world; according to some right wing conservatives when 9/11 happened it was Gods punishment, when Katrina happened it was Gods' punishment as well, so apparently God still has no problem punishing his sinful children.

So the question is...Why does an all-powerful God who created the universe need the help from puny humans in the form or wars to punish his enemies? He is an entity who, from what we have been taught has no problem using earthquakes, floods, volcanos etc to punish those who displease him. It's completely illogical to believe that God needs our help, regardless of what side you think he may be on!

Rick,

Nicely put! Have you ever noticed though that there are only two groups of people? Ones who agree and the ones who don't? How often do you see people switching from blindly believing in faith to being logical? Faith itself demands you to follow without questioning!

I guess all these discussions are for our satisfaction who agree with each other. Others don't even watch your show because they are watching FOX or too busy planning on how to damage people of different faith.

I am curios to know how effective is your show in making the ones who do not agree with you to at least THINK!

Miriam12 your comment is close but please stand corrected. This middle east fiasco we are all witnessing on an ongoing basis, is about LAND ALLOCATION. It is about the United Nations made up of our fathers and our fathers fathers from Nations with the most power. They apparently had the power in hand to play GOD and chose to ALLOCATE the land to Israel. If ever there was a mistake made, that was it. The Palestinians were either powerless as a group or silent or silenced by their countries leaders probably for $. This U.N. decision was in answer to their seemingly insurmountable problem at the time addressing the influx of Holocaust victims and Jewish people escaping retribution from all over the world. In their ignorance, they allocated this land to the Jews.

It was about NATIONS playing GOD!!!!!!! Sound familiar? Basically once a country exists, like the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and more, when their aboriginal populations become the minority, what then? That is the question. History shows, powerful nations do not give back the land that was "taken by force" . Ok? can we come to a formidable conclusion that perhaps DEMOCRACY is the answer.

How can people believe that God is " Love, Father of Humanity", yet able to take a warlike stance and choose sides. If anyone belives in a God who is Vengeful,Angry,Warlike, yet Unconditionally loving , they must be so sadly confused. Who would follow God like that?

On another current topic , i did notice the Press coverage of Kelly and John Travolta's loss of their son. We suffered such a loss years ago and know they need their solitude for now. I only wish i could somehow speak with them and share my experiences of dealing with this devastating experience. Speculation over such matters can be so cruel and Time does Not heal such wounds, but rather tempers them over time . Its either an event that will draw a Family closer together or allow an ultimate drifting apart. I, for one, hope they hold one another closer than ever. I for one, hope their Love grows stronger.

hey rick i am an arab-american and i think it is fine to use gods name in war. muslims say gods name in everything. and i think god is on the real true innocent people's side. muhammed (pbuh) said if you are in war and you see your enemy and he is with no weapon, and you have a sword, do not hurt him.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so israel stop the masacre of the innocent people in gaza.

Rick, I happened to catch this presentation while on the treadmill this afternoon and, for the first time since the election, was glued to the tube while a mile slid by. This topic is absolutely critical to openly discuss in order to lower the odds of doomsday scenarios emanating from that part of the world. Not that there aren't religious nuts scattered around the entire globe who are absolutely certain that God's truth and their views are the same thing....

Please google, Kalhil Gibran Satan, I learned more from this story about the pimping of God to gain power and control . I read this in the 70's . It has given me freedom to believe and question without fear .

Israel Shells Near UN School, Killing At Least 30
IBRAHIM BARZAK and STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Jan 06, 2009

The standard lies that Americans buy; the simple answers: -1) "They have "Weapons of Mass Destruction." (Look at the death score; then tell me who has WMD?) -2) "They hide behind women and children." In Gaza there are women and children everywhere. United Nations workers present there have denied these Israeli claims every time! Even if the killers' claims were true, do you American Christians really justify hitting schools, hospitals and ambulances from a mile away? -3) We ask President-elect Obama: "how he would feel if his daughters went to that school in Gaza city run by the UN", and saw their friends incinerated and blown to pieces in front of their eyes?

Hello Rick

Depending on whom you ask, whose side is God on, you will get a different answer, for every person you ask. The sad part about religion is that it tends to silence or even kill those who question it, regardless of whom their "God " is. It also starts wars, as history can attest, and innnocent lives are lost, again, all in the name of "GOD".
Religion is alot like racism, as it evokes emotions that cause people to say and do, harmful things to each other, without realizing the consequences. The scary part being those who are fanatical in their beliefs will Kill another human being for no other reason, other than the Word of God, dictates how they should live, where they should live, and who they should worship.

curious one

Dear Rick: Regarding the current discussion about God's side. The Jewish religion requires "...an eye for an eye...". This is old testament. The radical Islamists believe in revenge. None of them read or believe "...do unto others...". The philosophy is a demonstration of quid pro quo. Yes, Israel and the Palestinians will stand toe to toe killing each other, their families, and children, there will be no peace in Isreal. Someone is going to have to stand between them and DEMAND these two nations quit acting like 2 yr. olds or be destroyed. They profess to love God–Allah. I don't believe it. Keep up the good work. Watch your show every day.
AbuellaJuanna

It shocks me how we, the United States, world power, #1 in the world (and I'm an American Muslim so I'm biased) are like puppets on a string. It's made obvious over and over again that Israel wears the pants in this relationship. It seems like they're doing to the Palestinians what Hitler did to them and our government is the biggest coward ever.

Hi Rick;
God is on neither side. That is he is, not on the side of Palestinian or the Hebrew side. He doesn't take sides in a conflict like this or like the Inquisition or the Holocaust or any other one for that matter. Those who think they are serving the true God by killing, torturing etc in the name of God are wrong.
The Bible teaches very clearly and specifically that he, Jehovah God is love according to 1John4:8. It would be against the very essence of who he is to take sides.

The Bible does teach though that the god of this system of things is Satan the devil according to Luke 4:5-6. This is why Jesus Christ taught us to pray "let you kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heavens."
God's will is not done on earth at this time. But he has an appointed time to change things forever. When and why is he waiting for so long? the Bible also has a clear,concise and absolutely believable answer to that.

Rick, this is where the authenticity of the whole issue is brought into the open. Man invented religion at a certain point in history to give him an edge on his neighbor, or to satisfy his pain that his family members didn't die in vain.
We have advanced in wisdom to such a degree that we surely know we can act human because we care, not because 'someone' tells us we must.
If we need a god for touchy-feely reasons, so be it, but let's wipe the slate clean and with today's knowledge, create one (we've created every one so far) that is not the tyrant that has caused so much suffering. First step is to discard the out-moded, fictional writing we use to throw stones at each other! We say violence on TV causes violence, yet how many copies of that violent book are still quoted from.....causing violence? We just need to wake up!

Rick,
Religion is used as another weapon in war. It cannot be destroyed. It is sharper than any blade, deadlier than any bomb because it can be used to control the hearts and minds of others to justify murder.

Hey rick, loved this comment today. This whole thing reminds me of a song, and here are the lyrics...I think you'll agree.

It is sung by Sarah McLachlan, and is you haven't heard it, you should take a listen...it is haunting. The second stanza about making opinions meet really hits the mark here.
--
Sarah McLachlan

"Dear God"

[edited]

--

Now Rick, I am a spiritual person and it frustrated me to no end that people use "god" as a means to justify their actions, be it opposing gay rights, or fighting over a piece of earth, which actually belongs to the planet.

Thanks Rick for your amazing show and stellar work.

Alheli Picazo
(on twitter : cnn_fan_picazo)

Salam:

God, the Almighty and only source of power, supports whomever he wishes.

When the tribes of Israel were with Prophet Moses(Peace be upon him) they had the blessings of Allah. They made a covenant and were given stewardship over "The Promised land." They subsequently worshipped Baal and other idols, they engaged in acts like those of Soddom and Gomorah, there was fighting among the tribes of Israel. God thus gave power to the Assyrians, the Persians etc..., all who worshipped idols, over the tribes of Israel.

Allah gives power to those you call foes; to try you, to test you, to punish you and so you will turn to him in repentance.

Muslims today are split into Sunni/Shia fighting, tribalism, racism(Arab muslims don't like black muslims, Persian muslims don't like Arab muslims, White muslims are not considered true muslims etc...)

Islam does not discriminate between tribes or colors or races. When you are a muslim the only discrimination that Allah will make is between those who are righteous and do good in the world and those who do not.

Because we muslims have become much like the tribes of Israel after Prophet Moses(Peace be upon him) departed from them, the Assyrians and Persians of today have power over us.

The wealth and power and influence had by the wrongdoers are given to them as a temporary amusement/comfort, because after the day of Judgement there awaits permanent pain. This is part of the Mercy Allah has on the wrongdoer who has sealed the heart to what is good.

Allah also says in the Qur'an something like "Those who plot against you plot and plan, but Allah is the best of plotters."

Shukran.

As much as most people want to believe that God is on the side of Israel in their conflict with the Palestinians, the truth is that He does not support either side. In the past, in the ancient Jewish nation of Israel, all their wars were about worship of the true God because all the nations around them worshipped idols. When the descendants of Abraham(Jews) were displaced as a result of their enslavement in Egypt, after their release God promised them the land of Canaan and God exterminated any nation that tried to interfere with that promise. When the Jews were humble and obedient, God was with them and when they acted haughty and disobedient He abandoned them to the mercy of the nations around them just to teach them a lesson but He was always merciful and accepted them back when they repented.
Since God does not change, His relationship with them today is based on whether they accept His son Jesus as His chosen one or not. All the ancient prophets sent by God to the Jews to tell them of the coming Messiah, who according to Daniel was expected during the first century C.E., were Jews themselves. Humble Jews like Joseph, Mary, John the baptizer, Zechariah and many others accepted God's will but the haughty and stubborn ones like the Pharisees did not. Likewise today, anyone, any human being including the Jews, have to submit to God's will and accept His son Jesus for God to be on their side.

To believe that God would choose sides in a barbaric conflict is to believe a parent would choose sides in a knife fight between two of their children.

God has been used as you mentioned throughout history to justify the ill ambitions of man. In this conflict religion isn't the real issue and those who believe that are obviously blind to what is actually occurring. Humankind have corrupted God's words and teachings for self benefit and any war or person who claims that God is on their side must not follow God's teachings.

This is a great topic, keep up the great work. I tell all my friends to participate in your blog and watch your show, you're awesome!

Moe

Rick,

I watched your broadcast earlier this afternoon. In response to what you said, I agree with you 100% that no religion, no G-D should be used to justify killing. I've been following this war in Gaza very closely and as the whole world watches Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas speak out about how they want Israel/Jews off the map it seems like the majority of this country doesn't care. Before Israel began their OFFENSIVE attacks on Hamas, Hamas was shooting rockets into Southern Israel, who cared then? How many times has Israel sat down and offered a peace treaty? Land? These were not things Israel had to do...give up their land?! They gave up the land to people who won't be satisfied until they not only have it all, but also when all of Israel and all the Jews are exterminated.

Never have I heard, not once, Israel claim that G-D justifies this type of violence. The fundamentalists are the one's who claim G-D justifies all this violence. I don't watch your show very often, but I watched a great show today. You were very neutral and I appreciate that. Also, I appreciate Ms. Amanpour's reporting out of Gaza, but I think she's a bit one-sided (in favor of Palestine/Hamas).

I'd love to hear your response.

Thank you for your time.

Read the Bible. God is Sovereign. People are not God. We continue to fail because we ask other people what is right instead of asking God. Pray. Read the Bible. God is love. God is just. God gets angry but it is a righteous anger. To believe that there is no right or wrong is a fool's hope. To believe that we can live without consequences is ignorant. To hope for peace and love and no war without God in being in charge hopelessness. How can anyone say God does not have a side? All religions need to be seeking what God wants not what man wants.

Since the US pushed the division of Palestine in the UN without consulting the people (Christians, Muslims and Jews) who lived there and without the legal jurisdiction to do so, the conflict has been over land. The PLO was a secular organization which contested the division of Palestine. The Israelis created Hamas and constantly pushed the discussion into the religious realm, but the truth of the matter is that Palestinians are composed of Muslims, Christians, and Jews and believe that Palestine should be composed of representatives of all three religions. The Israelis, through Zionist ideology, argue that Jews need a state exclusively for Jews in order to counter anti-Semitism which is inherent in all non-Jews. Judism, by their definition, however, is an ethnicity, not a religion. However, religious affiliation has been used as a political tool.
As an American, I cannot comprehend how our secular democracy can support a state based on a religious identity or accept that anti-Semitism is inherent. As an American, I feel that we must continually struggle against all forms of hatred and racism. To accept that anti-Semitism is inherent is the moral equivalent of accepting the argument that blacks or any other minority should never be accepted as equal.

Hopefully not too late as this was aired 1/6. Biblical history as well as scriptural reference states very PLAINLY that Israel was given to the descendants of Abraham who are the modern day Jews. Israel is only defending herself against what the rest of the world- the U.S included has failed to see, that the muslim world will not rest until ALL Jews AND Christians are exterminated. Keep your eye on Iran!

Rick,

Thank you for raising this question; I think it is very important to look closely at this issue. Even if it is to be presumed that governments are secular in their decision-making processes, it is also clear that many people who elect governments base their votes, at least in part, on their faith perspectives.

First, as a religious associate with a degree in Comparative Religion and Ethnic Heritage Studies, I would phrase the question very differently. I would not ask "Whose side is G-D on?", but rather "Who is on G-D's side?".

In the former, G-D must be put in a box, must be fully comprehended and placed within a human being's frame of reference. That is blasphemy according to all three Abrahamic traditions.

In the latter, a human being must try to find where he or she fits within G-D's frame of reference (which is infinite). It is a very different lens through which to view the world and one's place within it.

It's the difference between seeking self-justification and seeking justice for all.

Secondly, asking the question "Whose side is G-D on?" almost always ends up with the answer "Mine/ours". No one ever answers, "Not mine/ours". So, it is futile to ask.

Asking, "Who is on G-D's side?", forces self-examination; it requires a constant examination of one's motives and objectives. And that can only be a good thing.

Peace,
Todd, a/BSG
Chicago

WHO'S SIDE IS GOD ON ?

Well, first of all, we have to ask which God ?
Secondly we have to ask, if there is a God or God(s)...?
And thirdly, why would a God side for anybody ? Unless
this God showed clearly who this God favour's...?

In some other words...!

Who is right, and if God or the Gods, favor
who is right...!, and what is just and right...!

Frederick
Surrey, BC. Canada

Rick

The Jews have been massacre for 2,000 years. The Crusades. The Inquisition in Spain which if you search your heritage your ancestry might have Jewish blood in it. The Jewish people were massacre if they did not convert. The Holocaust which 6 milliom were killed. The Arab riots in the Arab countries and Israel. And more recently the Antifada which were started back in 2000

You talk about religion. Let's talk about commom sense which in this conflict people seem to forget. I know you lived in Miami, I saw you for many years on the news there and I also know you are Cuban.
If you live in south Florida key west to be exact with your family. Then Cuba starts throwing rockets at key west and they do not stop . Those people live in fear day in and day out (which i what the people of Gush Katiff uffer for years). The USA then decides to withdraw from Key west and take you and your family to Miami. Then Cuba moves in to Key West and start throwing more powrfull rockets at Miami. You and your family cannot live a normal life. You leave in fear every single day. You suffer a shock every time a rockets hits because you think it might hit your house. You afraid to leave your house because you only have 15 seconds to escape a rocket which you don't know if it might hit your family. Now the USA wants to stop those rockets so that you can at least start to go our of your house and not leave in fear every day. So that you do not leave in fear that a rocket might hit your child school (which bye the way happen in Sderot but the kids were not in the school at that time). Would you say to the USA no I prefer to leave like this leave those cubans alone. I do not care if my family gets killed is ok. Cuba has a large population and Castro will use the school to get cover.. Or would you support the USA action so at the very least you do not have to leave in fear everyday that your child might get killed by a rocket. Be truthfull now.

That is the story of the people in Israel. Now Hamas says they are fighting occupation. What occupation? Israel left Gaza in 2005 to promote peace. What peace has Israel gotten? In Camp David Arafat got 90% of the land that he wished why did he turned it down if the Palestinains want peace? What is the peace they want?

Now I see you say oh those poor palestinan children. Do the mothers of these children really love their childre? Will you let one of your children put bomb on himself and exploed in front of other civilians? Is that love? Let me give you a piece of information that by searching on the Internet you can easily get

"According to the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group, in the al-Aqsa Intifada, Palestinian military folk have used children as "messengers and couriers, and in some cases as fighters and suicide bombers in attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians." Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) have all been implicated in involving children in this way, see Convention on the Rights of the Child."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_suicide_bombers_in_the_Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_conflict

"Since the beginning of violence in the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, 29 suicide attacks have been carried out by youth under the age of 18.
Since May 2001, 22 shootings attacks and attacks using explosive devices were carried out by youth under the age of 18.
Since the beginning of 2001, more than 40 youths under the age of 18 were involved in attempted suicide bombings that were thwarted (of them, three during 2004). "

You want pictures to go along with that piece of information?
http://www.israelnewsagency.com/israelpalestinianchildren120366.html

Now about religion. Yes the big question. In the Hebrew Bible Jerusalem appears almost in every book one form or another. In the Koran only once. Mohamad never ever set a foot in Jerusalem the Muslim religion Holy site is Mecca so why all the big fuzz with Jerusalem? Before Israel came into existance in recent history Israel was ruled by the British. Ask yourself this why was there never any antifada then? The Muslims control 90% of the Middle east. Why do they wants that 10% of land. The Palestinians are egyptians and jordaninas that came from those placed to Israel, there was not that many arabs leabing in Israel before the UN mandate, if you look at Palestinians flag and the Jordaniand Flag you will see a very biG resemplance. Arafat himsel was Egyptian. Now the Palestinains said the Jewish have upropoted them from their homes. What they do not tell you is that in Israel there has always been a Jewish precense. All the Arab countried have massacre millions of jews living there. More recently in Yemen if you search the internet for recent news you will find it. This hate is not recent is more than 2,000 years old. In 1929 the arabs Massacre Jewish living in Israel and that was just one of the massacres there have been many.

"The Hebron Massacre refers to the mass murder of sixty-seven Jews on 23 and 24 August 1929 in Hebron, then part of the British Mandate of Palestine, by Arabs incited to violence by false rumors that Jews were massacring Arabs[1] in Jerusalem and seizing control of Muslim holy places. This massacre, together with that of Safed, sent shock waves through Jewish communities in Palestine and across the world."

The Jews have been massacre for 2,000 years. The Crusades. The Inquisition which if you search your heritage your ancestry might have Jewish blood in it. The Jewish people were massacre if they did not convert. The Holocaust which 6 milliom were killed. And more recently the Antifada which were started back in 2000

This was just a little lesson in Religion and History. I hope you can take this and think this trought and search the internet before your program today and before you are so in a rush to say ohhhhh those poor Palestinians people and ohhh Israel is so harsh and cruel. Think if you live in Israel would you and your family like to live like that.

ps I do not expect you to read this letter in your show. I know for a fact you will not read it. This is for your concience and your thoughts.

Responsum – Whose Side is G-d on?

“Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” -George Santayana

Tomas de Torquemada and Hamas are one in the same from an ideological point of view. Both were used as vehicles for a larger scheme which is the establishment of a theocracy. For Torquemada it was King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella who sanctioned the Edict of Expulsion through the blessing of the Catholic Church.

For Hamas, is the desire and creation of an Islamic state similar to that of Iran’s theocracy. There are clear and obvious similarities, moral as well as political between the two religious movements and its hostilities towards the Jews. In its extreme form both are anti-Semitic and violently hostile towards Jews with a deep visceral hatred to justify itself by its anti-Semitic fanatical teaching.

Torquemada tools were the Inquisition which resulted in murder, forced conversion and ultimately expulsion. For Hamas, its goals could only be achieved through the invention of facts, fabrication of evidence, miseducating the public and feeding them one-sided, anti-Israel propaganda along with terrorist attacks. In both cases G-d was their reasoning and ultimate justification for their perverted objectives which is the destruction of the Jewish people.

-Yehuda Maimon de Heredia

I also forgot to also say that the Jewish people are also tired of being single out every time all throught out history for every single problem. I think enough is enough. It was enough that 6 million jews got killed and no one ever did anything about it untill the 6 million were killed and everyone in the world knew what was going on and no one no one in the world cared.

The Muslims have hated and hate the Jewish people and is not because of a piece of land it goes back more than 2,000 years. Search on the internet for the history

Hi Rick. There is a very pregnant question that has not been asked nor answered: Mr. Burris: how much did you pay the gov., and failing that, how much did he ask you for? This is not meant to cast aspersions on your integrety, but in view of the "tapes", I think necessary. Abuellajuanna

Why don't you cover stories like the net worth of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney before and after they leave office? Then you can really see how corrupt Wall Street and politics are

Hi Rick

Am I missing something?
Didn't the police need a search warrant to even be on this family's property, in their driveway?

Ron Rahav
Northridge, California

Rick

If you have kids would you take your kids to be next to you or be near kids i you were firing a rocket???????

at approximately 16:15 on Monday, 22 December, 2008, 3-year-old Myassar Mousa Wahdan, was injured in the abdomen and chest and her 5-year-old brother, Mohammed, was injured in the head by shrapnel from a locally produced terror rocket that was fired by Palestinian terrorists, at Israeli civilian cities, against International Law and the Geneva Conventions. The two children were immediately transferred to Beit Hanoun Hospital for treatment. Medical sources described the wounds of Myassar as serious and reported that she was admitted into the intensive care unit. The wounds of Mohammed were described as moderate.

In another incident, at approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 21 December, 2008, Hanan Sohwail, 32, was lightly wounded by shrapnel to the right hand when a locally produced terror rocket exploded near her house in al-Zaytoun quarter in the west of Beit Hanoun Town. She was immediately taken to Beit Hanoon Hospital for treatment.

Rick
Do you think Israli kids can leave without fear? Will you take your kids to live there? Why can Israeli kids live in fear but not Palestinians? Why the double standard???

At approximately 14:40 on Saturday, 20 December, 2008, a locally produced terror rocket fired by Palestinian terrorist fell near a group of children who were playing in the street, west to Beit Hanoon town. Shrapnel from the rocket wounded two children. The two children were taken to Beit Hanoun Hospital for treatment and then transferred to the intensive care unit at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, since their wounds were serious. The two children were identified as Sari Mana’a al-Sama’ana, 9, and Safi 'Eid al-Sama’ana, 8.

Also why does Israel have Arabs on the Kenesset in the goverment and Jewish people get Massacre in Arab countrieS? Why? Why?

For solving Ramala tunnel problem: a line of artifical seismic wave generators to increase ground instability

I would like to say in all honesty, you(Rick Sanchez) are one of the most honest, sincere, unbiased news reporter i have seen in ages.

It is so refreshing to see someone NOT intimidated or afraid to say it like it is or to show footage that other reporters shy away from because thier "boss" or "owners" might get pissed at.

Thanks for pointing out the overreaction of White cops against black people and thanks also for pointing time and again how brutal the Israeli's action against the Palestinian is.

I just wish the American public will be informed once and for all, that Israel is the one that broke the truce on Nov 4th by killing 4 people in Gaza.

The only reasons Israel has launched this mass scale war are these:
1) American has and will always support them, no matter how despicable an act they comit
2) Americans are busy with their economy and govt. transition that neither Bush nor Obama has the time or will to do something bout it.
3) Tzivi and Ehud are trying to win the next election because Natanyahu has used their soft stand against the Palestinians.
4) Israel is hoping Iran will try to get involved, which wil give the US and Israel an ecuse to attack Iran and Hizballah(as they will dfinitely get involved).
5)This is nothing short of ethnic cleansing if 've ever seen one.

God help all the innocents(Jews and Palestinians).

I think relgious leaders have been brilliant throughout history! What else has prompted people to kill? It goes like this:

-Indoctrinate early through a fear/reward based system.
-Demonize the enemy.
-Send out the troops to do your bidding. This is mainly just the age old turf war under the guise of "in the name of God". It is a fight over land, not over god.

The best book I have read on religion is "The Dark Side of Christian History"" by Helen Ellerbe. Pretty concise and historical. Check out the 95 customer reviews at amazon.

PBS had a special a few years back that was great! It's called The Question of God and focuses on Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis.

And if 98% of Americans are religious, why is there so much stealing and cheating going on in business, government and politics? I would really like to know how they justify their actions on the judgment day they so vehemently believe in and want me to believe. Do any of them have a speech ready?

I don't need a threat of hell to get me to do the right thing. And I don't need a church to be a good citizen. I need a community of people taking action to make life better for all.

Dear Rick,

There is a solution to a permanent and lasting peace in the Middle East and in the world. Please go to messiahforhire.net. If you would like me to email you a copy of my book please let me know. We are releasing it to the world this week.

Sincerely,

Bruce Robert Travis

Excessive Force-

Get used to it. We live in a police state. Americans love to be ruled. Just look at the circus we call the Presidency. The president is no longer the least powerful of the three branches of government, he is now a god-king. And the press is partly responsible for this.

The police is just an extension fo our government. People think they have to me "good" because they are cops and they carry a gun. This is what happens when a people no longer want to be self responsible nor free. Four years from now, these excessive police force cases will be small potatoes.

2 points. First, Hamas will have no reason to exist if the conflict ends. Second, BOTH sides have to observe a cease fire for it to continue.

Rick,
Please don't refer or use Mike Brooks as an objective expert on police violence against African American, because I have watched him over and over try to justify white cops shooting and killing unarmed blacks without any provocation. His bias and sometimes I wonder if it is not prejudice shows every time. He always tries to justify a possible reason for the white cops’ behavior. The next time I see him on as an objective expert I will change the Tv channel because it will not matter what the situation is his comment will be pro white cop.

Elaine

Huntsville, Alabama

U, are being to hard on Isreal and giving "hamas" a pass. if 30 rockets
were fired into the southern US from "Cuba" at 9am , that island would be a sauna by noon.

By the way, Sen Reid needs to pull his head out, the Ill. Gov, has not been arrested, he's not even been charged, and may never be.

Amen to that (no pun intended). This whole mess started over the "will of God" many years ago. They need to focus on the here and now & peaceful coexistence.

Rick,
Have they considered making Jerusalem like Vatican? It might be possible to self support just from tourism.
It is a Holy location for many religious and many people in the world.

I am so tired of hearing about Oprah's weight problem !! next time she wants to grab that blue bag of chips , send it to one of the millions of hungry children in the world .

People are starving and people are dying and Oprah's weight is newsworthy ?

Visit http://www.jesuschristvisitation.net
This is what it's all about and the answer if all would believe.

There was a MaClean's article back titled "Why Israel Can't Survive". Now I don't agree with the Palistinians 100% by any means, however, in this round of fighting the Israelies have brought this violence upon themself. First, there were elections in the West Bank and Gaza. The candidate they liked won in West Bank but Hamas, which is a political movement, won in Gaza. Magically the Gaza vote doesn't count because a group that Israel doesn't like won. Then they Israelies block aid and food to Gaza which starves the people. Do we remember after world war one? The west starved Germany and the people went to a crazy dictator because he offered a brighter furture. The rockets were a direct response to the blockade. Then instead of lifting the blockade and talking, they fly F-15's and bomb everything.

Rick The drug war is over drugs won.We need to legalize this stuff and controll it just like we do alcohol.Ican tell you for a eact that drunkdrivers drunk accidents have killed more people than all the other drugs combined.Also we could use the tax money to pay off the debt

I believe that so far God isn't on any side because I believe God did not put us here to fight, he put us here to make peace with one another no matter the race, age, gender, or religion! Remember, Love Thy Neighbor!

Mike Brooks-Security Analyst? You mean COP!

I am really tired of the news network showing the plight of the Palestians. No one ever goes back to show that Jordan was set up for them and Haamas uses them and they use Haamas to try to get more territory from Israel. Israel has given to much to ungrateful people and Israel has every right to defend theirself from any attack as any country does. War is not good and civilians are always the victim. Where do you draw the line when your country is under attack. Quit defending the people who are protecting Haamas leaders. God has always been on the side of Israel and will always protect them.
Don't be caught on the opposite side.

MILY

When you invade, occupy and oppress an entire nation, what reaction do you expect? Milk and cookies delevered to your door as a "Thank you" note or a "Welcome" mat?

You have to go back pre-1948. The Israelis wre no different than Hamas. They (Isreali) used terorist tactics to kill British and Arabs alike.

Yes, they took our land against all international outcry. Instead of been satisfied with the land givn by Britain, they(Israel) decided to grab more and more and pre-emptively attacked arab neighbors and grabbed more lands.

To top it off, they (Israel) started using Nazi tactics on the Palestinians-keeping them all in slums enclosed by walls(West Bank and Gaza). They were deprived from all basic human rights, water, electric, food and medical supplies were controlled by Israel.

They were killed at random and claimed to be terrorist-at the same time, no one was allowed to investigate these claims.

So tell me Mily, if you are invaded and treated like criminal, how would YOU react??

Rick,
Rather than beating around the bush about the matter of legalizing cannabis, can you for God's sake please compare all of cannabis's properties and side effects, with those of alcohol. No one speaks of this. Lisa Ling did a special on marijuana, and it was okay, but she did not at all compare cannabis with alcohol. We live in a society where intoxication is okay, if it is achieved via alcohol, which is really quite a hypocritical stance, since those who use cannabis are far less intoxicated, or violent, and do not die due to accidental overdoses. I can assure you I will never use any lethal drugs. I do use cannabis, as a medical patient, and I do indeed use it as an intoxicant too, because I can't drink alcohol due to my health issues.

The children are always victims as they are forced to do/watch extreme religious acts, conditioned to perpetuate this behavior. Its shameful.

What you just said, about the kids and adults being mutilated for their God.. That's sick.. God .. a just and Caring God like I believe God is.. he wouldn't require anyone to hurt themselves to worship him, that is just sick.. and hurts my heart!!

At the turn of the twentieth century narcotics were legal and controlled by physicians. We have "progressed" to a state where it is illegal for a physician to even prescribe narcotics to help someone detox unless the physician is licensed to treat addiction. I have practiced as an addiction physician. Marijuana, Heroin, Crack, Meth, etc. should be legalized and controlled by a physician. Prohibition for alcohol didn't work either. It is time to go back to the future. Dr. Ruthie

If we are going to question one faith, we should question them all. How is the Day of Ashura any different than male and female circumcision?

Hi Rick, I think its important to note that Shi'a Islam is a small offshoot sect of Orthodox Islam (or Sunni Islam). Sunnis do not in any way believe God wants us to mutilate ourselves even in the smallest way. I personally think you should provide the distinction bewteen Shi'as and Sunni muslims as Sunni Muslims and their actions would be a better example to use when speaking of Islam as they are greatest in number.

Rick, the day a human being stops thinking for itself is the day we all revert back to thoughtless animals who act upon instinct and not intellect.

God is on no side because all religions are in one way or another correct. When a group says God is on their side that is a sick dilusion. Nazi Germany claimed God was on thier side, was he? The fact is that the perfect machine theory is the most logical theory behind devinity so God takes no sides. Saying your right because God is on your side only shows dissilusion. Only when people understand that will peace in the Middle East, ans world be possible. That is the reason why religion is the cause of most conflicts and death, be it Jewish, Muslim, or Christian.

Rick,
I am glad someone had the nerve to bring this topic up. I have questioned it for years. Anyone who would justify killing in the name of God has a problem. I ofter wonder about our own political system here in the U.S. that have some radicals in their party that would do the same thing. Think about it. Keep up the good work and as Anderson says Keep them Honest.

in the name of god these men hurt themselves-in the name of god has christianity led crusades across the world killing millions upon millions-reconcile that

I've long suspected that some religious zealots are actually using god as an excuse for sociopathy.

Rick, this crazy rituals are only done by some Shiaa sect. –only in iran and Iraq, NO WAY saudi arabia will allow such stuff as u mentioned on ur show.

Thank you Rick. As a Sunni Muslim, I believe what I saw to be wrong. Although what you have shown does not represent Islam, but a branch of believers. Shiete Muslims are not required to slash their heads, but they believe they are, and so they do so which is wrong. I believe it is completely obsurd and people like that should be punished.

Shitta is the ideology of death. Born and raised in a shitta family and culture, I completely understand and know it. They do this to the children and teach them to have no respect for life and that's how they become suicide bombers when they grow up. Why? when someone has no respect for his own life and has no will to protect it, will have no respect for others. Shitta is a sick ideology in its core and there's no way of destroying it other than education. Little kids must be educated about the wrong concepts.

The heavens and the earth may have been made by a god for man to enjoy, but religions were made by men for the purpose of ruling other men. There is nothing 'godly" about religions.

They have been brainwashed! Imagine if the animals doing what they did as a ritual religion being, then we tend to think...OHHH they're crazy animals!
Basically, human beings are looking for a safe haven which doesn't work that way.

In regards to the muslims who cut their heads:

Who are we to judge them?

In the U.S. do we not still circumcise male infants in part due to the Judeo-Christian roots? That's permanent and the infant has no choice. I'm sure that hurts a lot more than a swiss army knife to the forehead.

All humans are still barbaric in our customs, our reaction is just relative to the type of barbarism we're used to

While I agree with what you're saying regarding children being forced to take part in bloody, self-mutilating religious rituals, what about the Jewish tradition of circumcision? Babies don't ask for that unnecessary surgery yet it happens to millions of newborns every year in the US. Why don't you also mention that ritual?

Is it right for us to circumcise little boys in the name of religion, or even what we deem to be "healthy" and "normal" when they are too young to consent to it?

arieldreyer.wordpress.com

Hey Rick,

When you are popping up those maps of Israel, showing the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, why don't you also put up the map of the West Bank from the United Nations that shows the reality of the Jewish occupation. It is also disingenuous for the Israelis to say that Israel would only keep 2-3% of "settlements" in lieu of a road that is surrounded by Israel on both sides. It is NOT a good solution.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/728a69d4-12b1-11dc-a475-000b5df10621,dwp_uuid=fc3334c0-2f7a-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8.html?nclick_check=1

Also discuss how GW Bush forced the elections that resulted in Hamas winning and how Israel and the US refused from day one to work with these DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED Leaders. Both nations have been collectively punishing the Palestinians people ever since, because who they wanted to win – DIDN'T.

As for Jerusalem, the answer is to make it like the Vatican, a seperate state, free from Israeli/Palestinian national rule. See UN Resolution 181 part II.

Israel has NEVER EVER wanted Peace.

NO GENOCIDE IN MY NAME USING MY TAX DOLLARS!

Jenna
Roseville CA

i respect the fact that thay are so dedicated to the lord but jesus already did that so we wouldnt have to. but to each his own.

there is no god... now what excuse are they going to use

PAUL HOOPER

Do you hear yourself how ridiculous you sound?? Israel has given too much?? How can you give something that didn't belong to you to start with?

ISRAEL was built on Palestinian land, yes, Palestinian land!!!

And to say Jordan was built for Palestinians!!! Why? We already have a Land and that is PALESTINE!

Don't you think Germany owes the Jews more than we do?? Shouldn't they(Jews) be given some place in America to live since you guys see no wrong or crime they commit? Since you guys give them weapons and money to kill innocents? Since you already overtax your peole inorder to keep sending Israel 10 billion dollars a year?

Think again before you speak Mr. Hooper

As all hell continues to erupt in Gaza and many seemed to be anxiously awaiting what the President elect will eventually say and possibly do, I recall this statement by former President Ford:

" I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."

Could he have also meant that we are not the policemen of the world and at times need to exercise restraint ?

In AMERICA that is child abuse.

While traumatizing children is never good, the cut heads of little boys pales in comparison to the sexual mutilation of girls. How about more outrage on that one. That's founded in the belief that females are a threat to males – unclean, sexual temptation, etc. – also based in religion and then generalized to society and culture.

It looks like someone needs to introduce the Middle East to the Übermensch

Problems in this country are unreal! We can't even treat people with decent respect any longer. I belive that God al Mighty created us equal each and every one of us and that people whol belive other wise due to one specific religion or another should realize that they are the problem , God is God no matter what religion you choose to practice. Why can't the people of this world realize that their laws cause all this killing and suffering. The God of this world no matter what religion you are never intended on us killing one another.

I hate to break it to people, but God just put us here for personal development. He doesn't care what religion we belong to and he certainly doesn't care that we go to a church mosque or temple every week. He does expect us to pay him reverence and acknowledge him. Equally important to Him is that we work to help our fellow humans and that's where the personal development comes in. He wants to see if we can get beyond our own selfishness to help others, and make the world a better place.

The better we are at that, the better our reward will be in the place we call Heaven. When we perform well on earth, we move up in the chain of command in Heaven much the same way we do at work on earth. When we don't do so well, we have the option of staying in the lower realms in Heaven or returning to earth and trying to develop more. The problem is that we have no memory of our past failures on earth so we just keep returning until we get it right. And that place called hell? Well its for a select few who are incorrigible.

Those guys in Al Qaeda, Hitler and similar cowards have a snowball's chance of going anywhere except straight to Hell.

Rick, It's cowardice that has brought the world to where it is today. I'd like to chuck every weapon and go toe to toe with my adversaries. I'm well known and quite respected in Miami Bch. Where I kicked the crap out of grown men. They stopped screwing with me and nobody got shot. Thats what I think GOD gives the rightous, the ablity to get respect sans DEATH.

Who is the one who wants peace I asked?

Israel completely withdre from Gaza in 2005 . Left Million of dollars worth of hot houses. Why if there is such a humanitarian crisis didn't they use those houses and trun it into a productive business and fed their kids? Why did they completety destryed it why? And then they go and blame Israel for the crisis? You have got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!

Sept. 21, 2005: Sasson Nuriel, 55, of Jerusalem was kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists. His body was found on Sept. 26 in a garbage dump in the industrial zone of Bitunya, west of Ramallah.[4]

Sept. 12, 2006: An IDF reserve Bedouin tracker was killed by sniper fire during an army operation to uncover terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, near the Kissufim Crossing. Both Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for the shooting.[5]

March 19, 2007: Kobi Ohion, 42, an employee of the Israel Electric Corporation, was shot and wounded while repairing infrastructure at a fuel depot on the Israeli side of the border, north of the Karni commercial crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip.[6]

July 12, 2007: Staff Sgt. Arbel Raich, 21, was killed when his unit was attacked near the al-Bureij refugee camp during a counter-terrorist operation in central Gaza. Two additional soldiers were wounded. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum praised the killing.[7]

Aug. 21, 2007: Hamas claimed responsibility for the firing of 25 mortar shells at Gaza-Israeli border crossings. Five mortar shells were fired at the Kerem Shalom crossing; 12 landed east of the Kissufim military post.[8]

Dec. 11, 2007: In the southern Gaza Strip, terrorists fired at IDF forces and launched anti-tank missiles (two soldiers were injured); the Israeli Air Force attacked a Hamas position in the central Gaza Strip (three Hamas operatives were killed); and, in response to mortar fire on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, IDF forces attacked a terrorist squad in the northern Gaza Strip.[9]

Jan. 15-28, 2008: 170 rockets and 83 mortars were launched from Gaza into Israel’s western Negev.

Feb. 4, 2008: Two suicide bombers wearing explosive belts reached the city of Dimona. One blew himself up, killing one woman and wounding 10 others. The other suicide bomber was killed by a police officer before he could detonate his belt. Although many terrorist organizations claimed responsibility for the attack, it was apparently carried out by a Hamas squad based in Hebron.[10]

Feb. 8, 2008: Hamas claimed responsibility for rockets that targeted the power station in Ashkelon, which provides the Gaza Strip with most of its electricity (Al-Qassam website, Feb. 8).[11]

Feb. 27, 2008: The Israeli Air Force killed five Iran-trained Hamas operatives as they planned a major terrorist attack. Hamas then fired a barrage of 50 rockets targeting western Negev towns and villages.

Feb. 28, 2008: Another 20 rockets were launched, most of them landing in and around Sderot. One hit the parking lot of Sapir College on the outskirts of Sderot, killing Roni Yihye, a 47-year-old student and father of four.[12]

Feb. 29, 2008: A 3-year-old Arab girl was killed when a rocket launched by Hamas terrorists fell short and struck near the girl’s house in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.[13]

March 2, 2008: Hamas fired a long-range Grad missile—imported from Iran— into the city of Ashkelon, more than 16 km from Gaza. Militants fired 20 more Iranian-made Grad missiles later that day.[14] [15]

May 23, 2008: Two rockets were fired at Sderot.[16]

June 5, 2008: Amnon Rosenberg, 51, of Kibbutz Nirim was killed and four co-workers were wounded when a 120-mm mortar bomb exploded outside the Nirlat paint factory in Kibbutz Nir-Oz, southwest of Sderot.[17]

June 12, 2008: An explosion destroyed a house in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, killing a baby girl and four Hamas terrorists. Hamas accused Israel of causing the explosion and in response launched 43 projectiles (3 Grad rockets, 18 Kassam rockets and 22 mortar bombs) at Israel.

I think that you are projecting the American ideal of individualism into your reaction against these Muslims' rituals. I think we should be accepting of other cultures outside of the Anglo-American sphere.

Rick, unfortunately, some people seem to turn off their intellect when they turn on their religion. Faith isn't about unreasoning inpulse or blind obedience.
Isaiah 1:18 says: "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.

Clearly, this is an invitation to ask even HIM our questions. Somewhere else the Bible states: This is your REASONABLE service. God doesn't require the impossible, he IS the impossible. HE'S just gotten a bad rap from his followers.

We've got christians handling snakes over in the appalachians...I don't think islam has any kind of crown in regards to strange rituals practiced by a small minority/splinter groups.

I love the idea about discussing religion in the abstract on the news, but the sensationalist tone you set by the shocking image that isn't very representative of islam I think is kind of needlessly inflammatory.

In short it takes away from the credibility of your point.

Rick,

I appreciate the tone that you used when writing your piece. It has a way of inciting debate. However, I think that your generalization is harmful. According to a recent Pew Study, 92% of American's believe in God. What is important about God, what we should be spreading according to the faith, is the Good News.

Continuing to question the validity of God by invoking the memory of the "crazies" that killed in the name of God turns more of humaninty away from the image of perfection.

Clearly history is filled with examples of the abuse of the Name of God, but remember, "Thou shall not use the name of the Lord, your God, in vain" was one of the first commands of God. All of those who have fallen into the trappings of vanity that are manifested in the evil and wicked deeds of which you have described have already been condemned by God.

For those of us who believe, 92% of Americans, we choose to act daily in a way that strengthens the family of believers. That is to Love one another as we would choose to be loved.

God Bless You,

Paul

Here's a comment about the slashing of heads for some shite muslims. i dont try to judge religious practices, but you seem to judge them slashing childrens heads. However, dont more familar reiligions like jewish religion practice circumcision on young male babies. If you didn't know anything about the jews and why they practice this behaviour you would call it barbaric. However, its done as deeply spirtual covenant between the jews and god. Rick Im kind of surprise you reacted so deeply to what the shite muslims were doing. its when you understand why they do it, you are not disgusted or shocked. It was the same as with the cicumsions and jews 100 years ago, once we understand, we dont judge anymore.

Rick, it is just human nature. Wether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim or otherwise, religion is the one concrete ideal that one can say that I am completely right and everyone else is wrong. It is called faith. Blind faith in economics or health is generally frowned upon. In religion it is encouraged

First of all....why would anyone WANT to worship a God that requires one to kill non-believers, or to self-mutilate? It's not out of love for this God, but out of fear that they do these things. Fear of what will happen to them if they don't obey.
Secondly.... God didn't come up with these "rules" to follow. They were written long ago by man, as a way to control the masses.

After serving in Iraq and actually living with muslims. I believe it is important not to be bias in our opnions in such a way that it seems you have. As a Christian, I would have liked to see you not only talk about the extremes that people go through for "God" in Islam but even in christianity Opus Dei a sect of Roman Catholism still currently practices Mortification of the flesh. People need to know that its not only muslims.....

Thank You

Rick, I am a rational person and I personally think that all people who believe in some mysterious man that lives in the sky who watches our every move is delusional. At one point the Greeks were worshiping multiple gods and we now know that was ridiculous. One day we will all see that this belief in one god is just as ridiculous. I dont see animals killing each other the way we do in the name of god. We dont see them going to church or praying five times a day either. We should take a lesson from nature and drop this god character, so then people can take responsibility for their own actions instead of using god or the devil as a scapegoat.

JENNA WADE

God bless you, i wish the rest of America was as knowledgable as you are or cared enough to do some research rather than depend on FOX news and other biased medias for facts.

It's amazing how ignorant some people are when they try to pretend to know the facts.

People, wake up. "God" has been used to rally common people to an economic cause for war for CENTURIES!

People who would never fight for a king or pope will fight for "God" and his cause as just. It's the only way to dupe most of the people all of the time.

Witness our out-going president. Even his war crimes can be explained away by all of us as "not worth bothering with" since he believed God used him for a noble purpose!

Let the country who is without sin cast the first stone...

Rick, i would like a thought of Abe Lincoln's when answering a remark by one of his ministers when the war wasn't going so well with the minister stating that God was on their side: Lincoln said:" i worry whether we are on God's side.
This should give everyone pause for thought.
Please do air touchy topics. They need airing and may even set some people straight.
Love your show
Evelyn

I'm a Hindu, and am still bummed-out over the Mumbai massacre and the general conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, but after the illogical actions of Israel I now am looking to find out how I can financially support the Palestinian people and even Hamas. I can assure you that I'm not the only Hindu who feels this way. Who the heck kills the hostage to kill the hostage taker! What kind of joke excuse is Israel giving the world! Their explanations are just excuses to retaliate, against a very poor group of people. They are filled with hate, just look at the representatives from Israel, they are so mean and mad looking. All they want to do is exercise their hate. If they know Hamas is using the Palestinian people as human shields then they should immediately halt their actions, not fire back and risk killing innocent people. Israel will never, ever get peace, as long as it keeps taking land away from Palestinians.

Rick-
I was a doubter when you were hired by CNN since I lived in Ft. Lauderdale, and you worked for the (in)famous Channel 7 Fox News! It must have been the station and the network that we saw back then when you were on screen. The Rick I see in the afternoon now is a much different reporter- much more intelligent and able to deal with topics beyond the sensational! I'm not scared to watch the show before the The Situation Room now. Keep up the good work!

Rick, i would like to offer a thought of Abe Lincoln's when answering a remark by one of his ministers when the war wasn't going so well. with the minister stating that God was on their side: Lincoln said:" i worry whether we are on God's side.
This should give everyone pause for thought.
Please do air touchy topics. They need airing and may even set some people straight.
Love your show
Evelyn

The bloody cutting shows how much the U.S. and other civilized countries differ from other religions and cultures. Even the crazy U.S. subcultures don't do these types of things in large volumes. The world will never come together if these horrible types of things happen voluntary.

I was thoroughly annoyed by your mocking representations of other cultures religious practices today. Presenting a warped ethnocentric view of others customs is exactly why many countries dislike us.

You CANNOT judge the customs of other countries by your own. We are NOT the standard, the most moral, wise etc. Americans have many practices that look just as odd to other cultures. I am saddened to see CNN promoting this self-centered unbalanced view of cultural practices.

Angela Burgess

I think we should be careful about how we try to define others beliefs and customs. As Americans we tend to feel that we are "right" and others that are opposed to our way of thinking are backwards or in the "dark ages". Yet, right here in America there are people that still worship snakes, and many other ways of worship that some may find offensive yet they exist.

I think that with the spread of globalization we will all change in many ways but, we should allow people the opportunity to make those changes in their own way instead of through humiliation and intimidation that is so popular in American culture today.

In years to come America too must change. We must begin to learn from other countries especially how we live together, treat each other and how we live our lives.

MILY

I am glad your history of Palestinian crime goes back to only 2005.

Do you have enough time to read about Israeli crimes dating back to 1946??

Or, how about all the UN resolutions defied by Israel since umm..1948?

How about all the genocide, mass murders Israel has committed since 1948?

How about the thousands and thousands of children, women and senior citizens kiled by Israel since 1948 both in Israel and Lebanon?

Check out Sabra and Shatila massacre commited by Israel in 1982 in Lebanon where they(Israel) surrounded a neighborhood called Sabra and Shatila and slaughtered about 2000 innocent Palestinians.

Stop being biased just like your Govt.

I was deeply angered but not surprised by the Tolen shooting because a similar thing happened to my son and me when I was visiting him at his apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Two uniformed policemen supposedly in response to a noisy party complaint at the complex (the party was 4 doors down from us) stood on our patio/porch and peered through our front window, then knocked on the door.
When my son answered, they asked him to step outside the threshold and then threw him to the ground and began beating him. When I ran to the door to protest, I was thrown to the ground and maced, then cuffed, and then maced again.
I am a disabled 60 year old grandmother.
We were both arrested, he for resisting and domestic violence and I for resisting and interfering and spent the night in jail.
My son was bruised and I suffered bruising and chemical burns.
The police also cut off my wedding ring,
Our lawyer cut a deal with the police that my charges would be dropped if I left the state immediately and returned to my home in New York.
My son received 2 years probation.
Believe me, Rick, their charges were groundless, but we could not afford to fight the system.
One of these officers has since been sued twice for excessive force, always involving Hispanics.
He is white.
The only violence that took place that night came from the police.
My heart goes out to the Tolan family.
I am happy that they are high profile and can afford an ethical attorney.
I hope these sadistic policemen will be punished, and that Robby will be well and healthy again. The American people as a whole have no idea how physically and psychologically and emotionally damaging police brutality is. You never get over it.
Sincerely,
Marina Garcia Gelpe

I wonder why all Palestinians say the Jewish took any land away. Jewish presence in Israel has been for more than 2,000 years. They keep on destroying every single artifact it excavates under the Dome of the Rock every time they do excabvations at the site. There are artifacts that the Israeli governmebt have been able to acquire . Artifacts that date back to the 1 and 2nd Temple so who land is it and who was there before and still is there. All throught history there has been documented Jewish presence there untill now. Even though the Arabs try to hide it and try to destry it, we are still there. Even if they try to massacre the Jewish people in Israel like they did in the 1920's we are still there. We will not go away.

We need to step back and take a real good look at this ! Isreal always wants the world to view their country as the victim, they are not as innocent as they want us to believe.
Violence will only ever breed more violence and as innocent people die in these current attacks, we are sure to see an increase in a passionate hatred for israel and her western allies. surely this is counter productive to the war on terror efforts.

What about the phrase "GOD bless America"?
Does GOD damn all other nationalities? Are we somehow superior because GOD is on our side, and our side only? Upton Sinclair said "When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and wearing a cross". I wish our politicians would stop ending every speech with "GOD bless America". It combines a loyalty oath with a religious litmus test, neither of which is allowed by our Constitution!

Anyone killing or mutilating themselves in the name of God, serve a different God than I do. My God says "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He has sent." John6:29

It was so disturbing to see the photos of the people slashing their heads. Glad you finally brought this up. What is wrong with people? When are they going to realize that religions and I believe they are all guilty of it have survived by instilling fear. Most people believe in free will, but with exceptions. It doesn't work that way. If you believe God gave us all free will then we have free will – period. We can choose whatever we want and God therefore would only be an observer. Wouldn't that answer a lot of questions. Maybe God is always there and we are not the ones listening. The idea of making God vengeful maintains control, creates fear. Miracles happen when people uplift each other, love each other, have compassion and respect for each other. War does not create peace it never will. Look at Isreal and Palestine and anyone can see that war doesn't work, but they are afraid to do anything else. They are afraid to accept and love the other. Look at wars in the past. Sure one side can claim they have won, but at what cost? Stop and think - is that what God would really want. No. People have created these farces in all religions since the beginning of time to create fear, maintain control and excuse themselves from responsibility of the horrible things they do. If there was a source of "evil" it would be fear, not God. God didn't create hell – we did and it is here on earth.

Mr. Sanchez since you mention Hitler, and he is one of my strongest arguments I think, for my opinion, let me elaborate. For me, a belief in a "god" simply does not make any sense. Case in point; you have this diety with unlimited powers. He knew the outcome of Hitlers rein.Tens of millions dead,suffering beyond belief! All "He", had to do is simply give this man some real talent as a marketable artist (he tried and was a failure) he would not have gone into politics. But your "God REFUSED to lift "His" little finger to save millions of "His" "children". Yea, go ahead and pray for "Him" to help your sick kid,...I'm sure he'll take care of it right away! Rembember! We have to keep pushing a belief in an afterlife,...otherwise how could we ever get young people to fight our wars??? Would YOU pick up a gun at 19 and risk death and the end of your exsistence because some politician told you to?

Everyone's talking about doing this or that in the name of God.

Let's not forget, Israel has been killing Palestinians for 60 plus years because they(Israel) believe that PALESTINE is a land pomised to them by none other than GOD!

Halleluyah

Oprah, Oprah, making sure she remains in the limelight as the Presidantiial Inauguration approaches. Having her weight loss coincide with Obama's big day, Oprah worships the ground he walks on and will do anything to have her name mentioned in the same sentence as Obama's. How pathetic.

I am an observant jew with a little bit of a different perspective than most of the people that have posted (and that have seemed to agree with you). All my granparents were in the holocaust, 2 of them losing everyone in their family, my grandfather lost his 2 parents, 8 brothers and sisters, and a wife and child.

And yet, as much as my emotions want to agree with you, my intellect demands something else. When dealing with g-d, and his will, we must deal with what is real and true.

I am very conservative and definately against Hamas, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda. From my perspective, the torah's perspective, murder is wrong, especially suicide. So there is no justification from the torah.

However, what if g-d does exist? What if he gave the Koran? And what if the their version (understanding) of the koran is correct? Than it would be correct to say that suicide bombings against all non-muslims is not just moral but something commanded of them.

As much as you may feel g-d would not command something like this of muslims in the koran, do you know 100% that he did not?

Truth is not subjective, because subjective truth is no better than an opinion. Truth is objective, meaning it is derived from a source beyond all limitations, and so truth is g-ds will alone.

We all will continue to argue which of g-ds wills is the real one, be it the torah, the new testament or the koran.

SO if g-d does exist, and he did interact with this world, and he did order a people do follow his will, than that is what is truth. Despite how much that may not sit well with us.

Our emotions and feelings have no bearing on what is the real truth!

Maybe our thoughts and ideas about God after all of these years are wrong. I believe if there can only be one true religion and only one true God, we should've been able to agree by now what the 'answer' is. But we have not.

Maybe modern-day science could give us some answers. New discoveries from the HADRON collider and other scientific experiments might point us towards the ulitmate answer.

New ideas are needed to answer the age old question, ' what is God'.

We as Cristians belive we are saved by grace and faith in Our Lord and Savior JesusChrist...that's why he came for... to save us (in many cases from ourselfs). He died and suffer already and took our place.We don't save ourselfs by vane and wortless sacrifices that do not impress God ;since they do not have any eternal value in His eyes; Our own inmolatios and chastisments do not count or open heave's gate to no one; others wise Christ came in vane..because there is no other name under which men can be saved ; except by Him! ALL God has required from us is faith and obidience ...no sacrife you do of your own will change God's plan for man toward salvation and redemtion. Wake up people and look to him and you will se the light!

MILY

So is proof of the Jews in Egypt dating thousands of years ago, infact you were used as slaves to build the Pyramids etc.

Why don't you go invade Egypt? Afterall, your people built most of those tourist spots and i am sure you could find some of your artifacts under those pyramids.

Or how about Europe, weren't you guys there too?

If you read the original Bible, that part of the world was called PALESTINE, there was even a map showing it.

The original world mao shows PALESTINE and NOT Israel. Until few years ago, Israel decided to erase every map or book that shows PALESTINE.

Remember the incident with SAM'S Club? They were selling world globes that showed that part to be Palestine, the Jews raised hell about it and demanded that Sam's club withdraw it from thier shelves.

On the contrary, it's us(Palestinians) that are not going anywhere. The only reason Israel is doing this is because you guys have been so scared of how little you have f]grown in population numbers that you figure best thing is to do ethnic cleansing.

In the end, the land is OURS!!!

Riad

I think you have to go back to my original post. Where document by history the Arabs massacre Jewish people in Israel in the 1920's . Talk about genocide that is exactly what the arabs have done with the Jewish in their countries. The very little jewish presence their is they are alwasy bein mocked and attacked. I wonder why their is not a single Jewish person in the goverment in Arab countried but there are several Arabs in the Israeli government?

God is not on the side of anyone. God is on the side of God. To take something as profane as human warfare and stamp "God's will" on it is nothing more than silly human propaganda made to sway the minds of the naive and the mystical.

I think,
We shouldn't condemn these people for their beliefs. Anymore than they shouldn't condemn a christian or whatever a person's personal religion/spiritual belief is. Those people don't believe in Jesus. Where others do. Those people practise ceremonies and beliefs from the old testament. Where others don't. Those children have no more say anymore than a child who is baptised into a church or religion does.
In the name of God? Or in God's name?
Unfortunately, there is no right or wrong when it comes to this! Unfortunately,... it's all about PEOPLE. People condemning people. Nations waging War on nations. It's a vicious circle that will probably never end.

Riad

History cannot be change or distored.

The term Palestine is derived from Greek: Παλαιστινη/Latin: Palaestina, which refers to the biblical Philistines, a people of Aegean origin who settled in the southern coastal plains of Canaan (Gaza Strip), in the 12th century BC, their territory being named Philistia.

As I recall there Hebrew were there way before the 12 BC.

After crushing Bar Kochba's (HE WAS JEWISH) revolt in 132-135, the Romans applied the name to the entire region that had formerly included Iudaea Province,[1] in an attempt to suppress Jewish national feelings.[2][3] The Arabic toponym Filasteen (Arabic: فلسطين‎) is also derived from the Latin name.

"The name Palestine, which the Romans had bestowed on the conquered and subjugated land of Judea, had been retained for a time by the Arab conquerors to designate an administrative subdivision of their Syrian province." The name had disappeared from the region prior to the arrival of the Crusaders. The term was rediscovered in Europe at the time of the Renaissance and used to refer to what "European Christians ... previously called the Holy Land." "The name was not used officially, and had no precise territorial definition until it was adopted by the British to designate the area which they acquired by conquest at the end of World War I and ruled under mandate from the League of Nations."[4]

Between 1922 and 1948, the term Palestine referred to the portion of the British Mandate of Palestine lying to the west of the Jordan River; that is, all of what is now Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. During the period of the British Mandate of Palestine, the term "Palestinian" referred to all people residing there, regardless of religion, and those granted citizenship by the Mandatory authorities were granted "Palestinian citizenship".[7] The term was used without any ethnic connotations. For example, the The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli newspaper, was called The Palestine Post from its founding in 1932 until 1950.

the term "Palestinian" referred to all people residing there, regardless of religion, and those granted citizenship by the Mandatory authorities were granted "Palestinian citizenship".

As I noted earlier there were Jews living in Israel at that time.

A "Palestinian" can mean a person who is born in the geographical area known prior to 1918 as "Palestine", or a former citizen of the British Mandate territory called Palestine, or an institution related to either of these. Using this definition, both Palestinian Arabs and Palestinian Jews were called "Palestinians".

The term "Palestinian" used to refer to Jews in Europe who were regarded as an alien presence. For example, Immanuel Kant referred to European Jews as "the Palestinians living among us."

God must exists for it to take sides. The populous of the Middle East and the religious right of the U,S, exemplify why religion should be abolished. What good religion has to offer is completely overridden by the ignorance, apathy, complacency and death that is spreads via the hands of man and the doctrines that religion teaches. Lack of evidence is not evidence of a lack there of; though 2 common Christian statements certainly are evidence against the existences of God.

God is loving
Everything is part of his plan

There are at least 2 billion (current) lives that would have to leave any sane person to think either god does not exist or is just plain sick in the head.

Aaron

The Truth as you call it is in the Tanak if you beleive in God is there
If you are a conservative Jewish and read the Tanak. What did God command Joshua and the Isralites to do?
At the end of the book they were all exiled just because they did not do what God wanted them to do. Just like what is happenin now. They are not following what God tells them to do in the Torah and if you read Devarim chapter 7 and chapter 28 you know what I am talking about.

I had to re-read some of my notes in Middle East history class. It has not change. History still history. In 1947 everything started with the blessing of our leaders by the time (and after that time too).
Have you seen the concentration camps that are called cities where the palestinians were forced to moved living their homes, cemeteries, etc?
It's like you live in New York City and some people from Canada come to the city, force the construction of a state, force the people who live there to limited areas without any power to fight for their territory because other nations with their big, big, big arms help the canadians to construct. Years passed without any help from the UNO and a group of people who never accepted the situation, fight for what they understand is their COUNTRY! If something like that happens in my home town, I will be trying to get back what somebody else took from my parents.

MILY

Why not go back to Bilical times when Moses led the Jews into the land flowing with milk and honey-Palestine.

It was then that the Isrealites attacked and butchered the Canaanites(inhabitants of that land at the time).

Then attacked and killed the Philistines(inhabitants that came after the Canaanites).

So let's not go back into history that far, otherwise, Native Americans should attack Americans because they(Native Indians) were here before Americans.

The facts remain that, prior to 1948, that land was called PALESTINE, belonging to the PALESTINIANS. The Isrealis in fear of havin to go through another holocaust have subconciously aflicted an entire nation with a holocaust Israeli-made.

When you supposedly give someone a piece of land (Gaza) to live in, then turn around and control the very necesities(water, electric, food, medical supply) that they ned to survive on and control their daily lives, how can that be freedom?

Let's face it, Israelites(zionists) not Jews, have gorgotten what it's like to be singled out and discrimnated against and killed because of your race, otherwise, they wil NOT repeat thier history(holocaust) on another nation/race.

The power has gone to their heads, they hve dfied every resolution since 1948, they have viloated every human rights action, they have kicked out UN envoys, Human Rights Reps., Journalists ou o Israel whenever their brutality and violation were going to be broadcasted for the world to see.

No other Country will be allowed to kick out UN envoys or break so many rules without being punished by the international community.

Riad

Well in the USA you do see Native amerinas living in the USA. They do not throw rockets at the USA hmmm

I guess you did not read my previous post

"A “Palestinian” can mean a person who is born in the geographical area known prior to 1918 as “Palestine”, or a former citizen of the British Mandate territory called Palestine, or an institution related to either of these. Using this definition, both Palestinian Arabs and Palestinian Jews were called “Palestinians”.

The term “Palestinian” used to refer to Jews in Europe who were regarded as an alien presence. For example, Immanuel Kant referred to European Jews as “the Palestinians living among us.”

So in fact the Jews living in"Palestine" are "Palestinains" if you want to call the Land by that name. So in fact the jews did not steal anything from anynoe as the Arabs claim because historical documents from the British mandate also refers to the Jews as being" Palestinians'. There were Jews living in "Palestine" if you want to call it that way.So if you want to call that land "palestine" so be it the Jews under the British mandate are also called "Palestinians"

the land when Moses was alive was called Canan not "Palestine" If you read above "After crushing Bar Kochba’s (HE WAS JEWISH) revolt in 132-135, the Romans applied the name to the entire region that had formerly included Iudaea Province" So the name Plestine was not in use in Moses time.

Now tell me this the UN has made countless resolutions against Israel. When has there been one against Hamas? Again the PLO? Againt Islamic Jihand? for throwing rockest, commting suice bobimg against Israely civilians ? Name one resolution
even that the UN has drafted against terroist activities against civilains living in Israel?

Good statement. I think it stands to be concise yet complete in objective and it is a nice statement for the network and for the NATIONS(united).

HOPE IN PEACE BY AND THRU DIPLOMACY

have a good day Mr. Sanchez

Riad

In camp David Israel gave the palestinians 90% of the land they so desire why did Arafat turn it down? Why if they want to live in peace did they turn it down? Ins't that the purpose of there fighting to get back the land? 90% was given why not choose peace and why did they turn it down? Why they turn around after that and start the antifada . Something is not right here? If you desire to live in peace why did Arafat turn it down? They could have had a State of their own now why????? Tell the whole truth you want to simple destroy all of Israel and kill all the Jewish people. That is why Hamas has never till this day recognise the right of Israel or the jewish people to exist.

That is why a "Truce"never existed with Hamas because even in the so called " truce' they were throwing rockets at Israel.

What took place at Camp David in 2000?

The details were not disclosed formally, but according to media reports Barak's offer included:

Israeli redeployment from 95% of the West Bank and 100% of the Gaza Strip
The creation of a Palestinian state in the areas of Israeli withdrawal
The removal of isolated settlements and transfer of the land to Palestinian control
Other Israeli land exchanged for West Bank settlements remaining under Israeli control
Palestinian control over East Jerusalem, including most of the Old City
"Religious Sovereignty" over the Temple Mount, replacing Israeli sovereignty in effect since 1967

In return Arafat had to declare the "end of conflict" and agree that no further claims on Israel could be made in the future. Despite the considerable concessions by Israel, Arafat chose not to negotiate, not to make a counter-offer but to just walk out. This was typical of the Palestinian leader's style: offer nothing, just say no and wait for more concessions. In fact, the Palestinian negotiating team did make concessions during the negotiating process, but Arafat himself never agreed. It was not the specific terms that caused the summit to collapse, but rather the lack of a counterproposal.

Why did they turn it down if they want peace?????????

Why after that did they turn around and start and Antifada?????????????

Rick, I believe and I'm sure you believe that God is on the side of the Jews. I strongly believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that people that use God as part of an act of murder, violence, or any type of wrongdoing have a problem and would use that as an excuse. It is a shame that there's a lot of false teachings out there, and a lot of people that would believe those teachings. Rick, God bless you, your show, and your family.

GOD'S COMMUNICATION TO REVEAL HIMSELF, HIS PURPOSES,

AND HIS WAYS...

GOD SPEAKS:

(2 CHRONICLES 7:14)

"IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE

THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM

THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND

WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND."

AMEN TO THAT! PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE REALLY PART OF GOD'S

PEOPLE (LIKE MANY OF YOU CLAIMED TO BE)...THEN WE MUST

ALL FOLLOW HIS RULES AND CONDITIONS; LIKE HIS WORD VERY

WELL JUST EXPLAINED IT...AND NOT OUR OWN'S FOR WHATEVER

REASON YOU MAY HAVE. WE ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO BE IN

HIS SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, LIKE SO MANY OF

YOU WISH IT WILL BE...I WILL ADVICE YOU FOR YOUR OWN PEACE

OF MIND THAT YOU BACK, AND READ 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 ONE

MORE TIME VERY CAREFULLY; AND YOU WILL SEE THEN, WHO IS

RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG. WE ALL NEED TO CHANGE OUR

WAYS; GOD AND HIS WORD ARE ETERNAL...AND THE TRUTH IS

REVEALED FOR EVERYONE THAT CARES TO SEE IT AND FOLLOW!

Hi Rick,
Love your show. I've been a avid viewer since you started. I'm a proud Canadian, and very proud of our troops. We have always been a peaceful nation, but will be there when needed.
We are now standing beside our American brothers and sisters in the war against terror and losing troops as well. The one thing I've noticed on CNN, is your network does not make your viewers aware of our role and losses.
I would greatly appreciate it, if you could make your viewers aware, of the sacrifices from Canadians as well.
We will always be there.

Thanks

You mentioned the inquisition and hitlet. I think Catholics were in involved in both ... "in the name of God." Which God? maybe Satan?

rick i couldnt have said it better!

WHO'S SIDE IS GOD ON ? HE IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.HE IS ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH,JUSTICE,PEACE, LOVE AND FREEDOM.
ZOLICON

Only Barbaric killers will come with this old fashion idea of using their religion as the main justification for killing humans beings that live under another religion or just because they are not on their religion. It is sad that this sick individuals are chosen by the fear they spread to their own followers.We have to realize that if you choose to follow this religions you are as guilty of any action taken by them. If this is out of you control and you can not take your own decision you are a victim of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time your only hope is in people that sacrifice them self to help others because is in their nature of being humane.We should honor this people with respect and gratitude all around the world.

This is called Democracy...
Rule #1: In the Middle East, it is always the Palestinians that attack first, and it's always Israel who defends itself. This is called "retaliation" .

Rule #2: The Palestinians are not allowed to kill Israelis. This is called "terrorism".

Rule #3: Israel has the right to kill Palestinian civilians; this is called "self-defense" , or "collateral damage".

Rule #4: When Israel kills too many Palestinian civilians, the Western world calls for restraint. This is called the "reaction of the international community".

Rule #5: Palestinians do not have the right to capture Israeli military, not even 1 or 2.

Rule #6 : Israel has the right to capture as many Palestinians as they want (around 10,000 to date being held without trial). There is no limit; there is no need for proof of guilt or trial. All that is needed is the magic word: "terrorism".

Rule #7: When you say "Hamas", always be sure to add "supported by Hezbo-Allah, Syria and Iran".

Rule #8: When you say " Israel", never say "supported by the USA, the UK, European countries and even some Arab regimes", for people (God forbid) might believe this is not an equal conflict.

Rule #9: When it comes to Israel, don't mention the words "occupied territories" , "UN resolutions" , "Geneva conventions" . T his could distress the audience of Fox, CNN, etc.

Rule #10: Israelis speak better English than Arabs. This is why we let them speak out as much as possible, so that they can explain rules 1 through 9. This is called "neutral journalism".

Rule #11: If you don't agree with these rules or if you favor the Palestinian side over the Israeli side, you must be a very dangerous anti-Semite. You may even have to make a public apology if you express your honest opinion.
THIS IS CALLED: DEMOCRACY!!

Realistic & hopeful message. Macro key, but also is micro. Hope details of plan embrace private Not For Profits, which grew 11% duringt the 90's & by 2005 owned $126MM sq. ft. of commercial space, generated 774,000 job & reached the production of $1MM housing units. They need job creation & operational incentives to help convert vacant buildings into green housing & other productive economic activities. A concerted national community economic development strategies can complement infrastucture re-investment & contribute mcuh to the american recovery.

(1) 2005 Census, Community Econimic Developnment Congress

A lot of evil has been done in the Name of GOD! I believe GOD IS LOVE. JESUS PREACHED, "BUT I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that cruse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those which use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) Jesus was radical, He came that we may have life and have it to the fullest. War is not the answer.

Both Israel & the Palestinians want the same thing, peace, security, a homeland and prosperity for their children! War only serves to breed a whole new generation of terrorists that will surely prey on Israel!

Israel has gone to war how often? And what have they gained? There may never be peace in the Middle-east (the Old Testament prophets predicted this) however they can have a seize fire, they can come together the Israelis and Palestinians and make an effort to broker some kind of just peace.

And the Muslims are right, the U.S. media & government are so pro-Israel that we do not SEE that IT TAKES .... TWO ...... TO WAR! No ONE IS INNOCENT HERE.... BOTH ISRAEL & HAMAS ARE DEAD WRONG.

One more thing.......... will CNN PLEASE tell us how many people have died IN Israel from Hamas rockets??????????

Belief is the cause of our problem, we have only one problem on this planet, the problem of "thought thinking us". Solve this problem and all of the gods will dissapear along with the killings.

Rick; If the past shows us what the future will bring, somethings are worth revisiting. Business owners were given a full tax credit to buy a vehicle that weighed over a ton and used for business. That is why so many large vehicles were bought in the early 2000's. Everyone from contractors, realtors, and even accountants took advantage of the deduction. It did spur on auto sales and also caused a huge gas glutt.
My thought is to give ALL tax payers a full tax credit to buy a fuel efficient vehicle, I have to qualify that with not just hybrid cars, fuel efficient like 28 miles to the gallon or more. We will spur on auto sales of more efficient vehicles and help decrease our need for foreighn oil. Spur on the auto industry to develope more fuel efficient vehicles and create jobs. I hope our government would consider this.
Thanks Rick for giving the American citizen a voice
Teri

After all said and done you still need congres to act acordingly have to see to belived

The killing of kids cannot be justified under any circumstances, and the rate of Palestinian deaths compared to that of Israelis is far out of line. Just for anyone's information, the Israelis have now admitted that the bombing of the UN school, where seventy lost their lives, was a mistake: there were no mortars fired from within that school building. This admission has so far been mentioned by only the British media.If that bombing was a mistake, then what else have we NOT been told about?The use of Phosphorus bombs (against the Geneva convention) Tanks and helicopter gunships, plus thousands of troops is not an appropriate response to primitive rockets.

Thank you so much for saying that!! As for the conflict in Gaza, my faith causes me to question whether there will ever be true peace in the middle east. It has stemmed from Isaac and Ishmael, and hasn't been resolved since that time.

In the Ten Commandments, we were instructed not to kill. Period. Yet I do believe self-defense is justified. Israel is justified in defending themselves. Hamas is purposely firing from densely populated areas with women and children. So yes, there will be unnecessary injuries and casualties. I should also mention unintentional. If i remember correctly, the descendants of Ishmael do not have a homeland... So why must they try to take land that rightfully belongs to Israelis??

This is not to say I am not saddened by the violence, or that I am not hopeful a solution will arise, but I believe Israel is justified in their offensive.

God is always on the side of the winner, according to the lessons of history. What I mean by this is that, throughout history wars have been fought, and the victors would always erect their God above that of those whom they defeated. The very idea of "God" is open to different views and opinions. When the Hebrews conquered Canaan, they erected YAWEH as the God above all gods. When the Aryans conquered India, they erected their beliefs above that of the natives, and so the story continues with the taking of America from the natives. How did the people of South America overwhemingly convert to Christianity? Was it by consent or conquest? War and religion seem to go hand in hand. The danger of this idea, however, is not so much as who's side is God on, but how far will either side go to prove their convictions?

Thanks for calling attention to this Rick. People need to have their noses rubbed into what a problem religion is at every opportunity, and most especially when people are dying over it.

Are not the Palestinians being subjected to a slow death by an oppressive regime? Not forgetting that Israel is the invading force since 1948.

Since 1948 when the United Nations gave that piece of land to the Jews b/c of Genocide/Holocaust, Israel believes they deserve to have whatever they want. With the help of the US that gives them more than $3 billion a year. The Palestinian people are trying to protect their country and their land. The Gaza strip does not belong to Israel and it must understand Gaza is not for sale or for stealing. The US supports Israel to keep military bases in Israel and keep controlling the OIL interests they have in the Middle East. In the meantime, hundreds of innocent civilians (children included) are being murdered by the Israeli military. That’s called GENOCIDE. I cannot believe a nation of people that were rescued from persecution (Holocaust) would do the same to their neighbors just to obtain more land b/c they believe they are the ‘Chosen Ones” by God and that allows them to do whatever they want. God loves everyone who believes in him. It’s time the United States stops funding terrorists – President Bush said it himself that we do not support terrorism; well Israel is terrorizing the Palestinians and has for quite some time.

As we all know that when there is an occupation there is a resistance. Palestine has been occupied by more than 60 years and ever since resistance to the occupation has always been there.Israel has always been a tyrant and as a result people like Hamas movement is a natural outcome to such. If Israel was fair to Palestinians as they claim to be a democratic country then we ask them to open all the blockades / stop settlement / stop forcing people out of their lands / stop their continuous assassinations / release the more 10,000 political prisoners and finally leave the Palestinians to be. Hamas is a resistance movement that came out / formed as a result to the occupation in the early 1980's. Free election was done and they fairly won the majority of votes and were ready to form the government. The hall world was praising the fairness of the elections but refused to recognize Hamas. 6 months ago a truce was made between Hamas and Israel but during that time Israel was violating the truce by the siege / continuous assassinations in the west bank. A siege is a form of war and to survive, tunnels were created to smuggle food and many other life necessities.Furthermore, Israel was preparing for this invasion for more than 9 months i.e. before the truce was made. So we know now that Israel intentions were sinister from the beginning and what Hamas did by bringing weapon was a natural reaction to such as well. With regards, to blowing up schools, hospitals, mosques, markets … this gives us a good picture to the democracy Israel is trying to portray to all of the world. Israel did the same few years ago when they bombed UNRWA at Qana south Lebanon killing 100’s of women and children. Accusing the UN of collaborating with Hamas and the reason for bombing 3 of 4 schools at Gaza is absurd to even suggest.

Mari, Salt Lake City

If you belive in God and Jesus read your Bible Deutoronomy chater 7 and you tell me what your God wants the Israelites to do with the inhabitants of Israel. Read it and you tell me.

Yes Israel has gone to war many times and has Israel initiated any of them? You tell me????? I
I dare you double dare you to go and Live with you family in Sderot one week and you tell me if you will like to live like that for years and years. And yes not many people have died I consider that a miracle when 80 rockets a day hit a densly populated area and no one dies. And who says God doesn't do miracles any more hmmmmmm

Remember All of the State of Israel cabn fit insise the State of NJ.

Joe

If you scroll up and read my previous post you will see that there has always throught history been a Jewish presence in israel. In 1929 in fact the Arabas Massacre 67 Jews in Israel in 1929.

"A “Palestinian” can mean a person who is born in the geographical area known prior to 1918 as “Palestine”, or a former citizen of the British Mandate territory called Palestine, or an institution related to either of these. Using this definition, both Palestinian Arabs and Palestinian Jews were called “Palestinians”.

The term “Palestinian” used to refer to Jews in Europe who were regarded as an alien presence. For example, Immanuel Kant referred to European Jews as “the Palestinians living among us.”

So you see there were Jews living in "Palestine" Who are also "Palestinians" by definition. The jews did not steal anythign because they were living there.

The "political prisoners" you say are the same terrorist who are accused and have been found to cmmit or try to commit suicide bombimgs in Israel. So they are not political prisoners. Which by the way 2 weeks ago Israel let go I beleive was like 2, 000 as a good will gesture to the palestinians and then the good will that the palestinians show is to throw rockets at Israel.

Arabs have massacre all the Jews that were living in their countries throught history. I can send you documented facts if you like. So do not accuse Israel of any massacre when the Arabs have done exactly the same and worse since Israel has never initiated any wars while the Arabs have. By the way just today 3 missels were fired at Israel from Lebanon. Who initiated that Israel???? That has always been the case with every war that has been fought.

Ah and as far as the Mosque and schools being hit there a great video of Hamas firing rocktes in front of a school and then hiding beding that school

I can’t believe that there are people out there like you that deny palestinians the least of human rights. Palestinians are occupied. don’t they have the right to defend against their occupiers just as we did. don’t they have the right to live in security and freedom. is it ok for
Israelis to cause this much hardship to people, occupy their land,
destroy their infrastructure, and not be even blamed. Those who been
through a holocaust should know better.
Why is shooting a rocket and those who do are terrorists and flying a sophisticated jet oover a city and bombing and killing civilians not terrorism. It is almost non-productive to try to figure out sho is responding to who, but if the names of the countries and peoples were not Israelis and Palestinians, I wonder then how the conflict would be viewed with one being a military might occupying the other’s land and then bombing them when they resist. Is this not so obvious or what am I missing?

TOPIC: The Israeli-Palestinians Conflicts –Whose side is God on? –By Josiah Nengim

Permit me to start from the beginning, and you are probably familiar with the story. When the original Serpent (Satan the Devil) was sentenced by GOD after the original sin in Eden, GOD mentioned that a “seed” would be born that will bruise the Serpent by the head (i.e. kill Satan). (Genesis 3:15) The identity of this “seed” was a sacred secret, and remained so for years.
As mankind began to multiply, God specified the man through whom this promised seed will be realized; a man who lived in Mesopotamia some 4000 years ago. His name was Abram (Abraham). God concluded a covenant with him and said; “Through your seed all the nations of the earth will bless themselves.” (Genesis 15: 1-5 and 22:18) From then on, the legacy of “the seed promise”, became the envy of every child born to Abraham. However the legal right to the inheritance of this legacy was not simply by virtue of “first born rights”. And so God picked Isaac instead of Ishmael (Genesis17:18-21); He picked Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 28:14); He picked Judah instead of Reuben (Genesis 49:10).
As the lineage of Judah grew, the family of David was picked (1Chronicles 17:11-14), thus the promised seed, Jesus the Christ (Messiah), was called son of David (Matthew 21:9). Through this arrangement, GOD preserved and protection the lineage of the seed of promise, so that the messiah would be properly identified, when he arrives at the appointed time. Soon after Jesus was killed, the Roman army, in 70 C.E., burned down Jerusalem and its temple, destroying all genealogical records. God saw no further reasons to protect such records, as the aim for preserving the records has been achieved. Now, no Israeli can tell for a certainty, which tribe he belongs –a factor very essential to assessing anyone, who claims to be the Messiah.
The preservation of the linage through which the seed of promise would be identified, was the whole reason why the Jews enjoyed a special relationship with God. Now that the Messiah has come, there is no special tribe or nation any more. Any person’s relationship with GOD can no more be based on race; Christ ended the law covenant with Abraham which made the Jews special. Thus, it is written; “GOD is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. HE sent out the word to the sons of Israel to declare to them the good news of peace through Christ Jesus: this One is lord of all others.” (Acts 10:34-36)
If Christ is lord “of all others“, then why side one race, nation or country to kill others in the name of GOD? As I have already discussed, God sided and protected the Jews in the past, so as to preserve the lineage that led to the identity of the Christ. Hence those wars are justifiably called, holly wars, because the enemy nations, under the manipulation of Satan the Devil, were trying to disrupt the very will of the Almighty regarding the seed of promise.
Therefore using those wars as a basis for justification of the wars being fought today, is “bad theology”. These present wars are politically motivated; they are selfishly fuel by greed or hatred; they serve no purpose in God’s will. Palestinians, Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, etc, can live in peace, if they learn to tolerate each other. Let GOD do the judging when HE arrives for His Judgment. Humans, deciding by themselves and in God’s name, who should and who should not live, by virtue of race, tribe or religion, is evil, and has nothing to do with God’s will.
God’s will is for humans to live in peace. Those who do not want peace will soon be removed by God, and a new global government of peace will be instituted. That is what peaceful humans yearn for, and we pray; “O Lord Yahweh (Jehovah), hollow be thy name. Let thy kingdom come.” Yes, let love and peace reign forever. Amen. GOD is on the side of peace.

To those who still do not belive in miracles

"Gaza terrorists have fired more than 450 rockets at Israeli towns since operation Cast Lead began, according to an intermediate report compiled by the Shin Bet. More than 20 rockets and mortar shells were fired from Gaza on Thursday."

Those rockts do kill just like any other rocket that any army has.
The size of NJ
about 7800 square miles or 20,000 square kilometers

the size os Israel
about 10,000 square miles or 27,000 km

And yes I know someone might say o well Israel has a strong army and those poor palestinians only have rockets. Well when 450 rockets hit a densly populated area and non or a handfull of people injured. I consider that one of the greates miracles there are today from God.

Since the 2005 disengagement there has been more than 3,000 kassam rockets fired and Israel and with little casualties. Now remmber the size of Israel and how close gaza is to Israel communities. And by a miracle from God they end up in open areas.

Hmmmmm God works Miracles today YES and YES

RICK,THEIR'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH ALL THESE POLICE SHOOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY,PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER IN MISSISSIPPI,YOUNG MEN OF COLOR ARE BEING SHOT DOWN BY THE POLICE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

Joe

Like I have explained with facts and you can search written documentation. There has always been a Jewish presence in Israel which the Arabs have consistenly have tried to erase. One example by removing the precious artifact from the first and 2 2nd Temple in Jerusalem. I don't think you even read my post

A “Palestinian” can mean a person who is born in the geographical area known prior to 1918 as “Palestine”, or a former citizen of the British Mandate territory called Palestine, or an institution related to either of these. Using this definition, both Palestinian Arabs and Palestinian Jews were called “Palestinians”.

The term “Palestinian” used to refer to Jews in Europe who were regarded as an alien presence. For example, Immanuel Kant referred to European Jews as “the Palestinians living among us.”

By that definition from the British mandate Jews living in Israel were called Palestinians. So you see the Jews were LIVING in Palestine at that time. The Jews did not steal anything as you claim since they were living there. Why is it so hard to understand the truth.

The truth is there in the documented facts all throught history. History cannot be distored for personal use. The fact remains that theere has been documented facts that Jews have lived in Israel throught history. Whether at the time the country was ruled by the Romans, Briish you name it. We were living there.

Let's see you say occupation. Israel left Gaza in 2005 and Hamas took control of Gaza burn 90% of the hot houses left by Israelies. Now they cry and say humanitarian crisis. Why instead of crying international crisis I have no food why not turn those hot houses into agricultural exports which is what the Israelis did. Instead all were burn to the groud .

So if Israel is not occupying Gaza why throw over 3,000 kazzams since 2005??? Do they really want peace?

Since the 2005 disengagement there has been more than 3,000 kassam rockets fired and Israel and with little casualties.

Camp David 2000 Israel offer 90 to 95% of the so called ' occupied " land to Arafat why if the Palestinains are sooooo peaful and want a state why did he turn it down only 2 months alter start the antifada .

Yeah can see theyreally want peace

You bet if Cuban or Mexico would just throw one kassam at the USA they will not exist right now

Gov. Blagojevich has been in opposition with the Illinois Democratic machine since he first became governor. If only they would have proved the criminal charges raised against the governor, before the impeachment procedures had begun, I think that the many voters of Illinois would be satisfied. There are many people like me, who are saying, "If he is guilty, prove it in the courts of law." If Blagojevich run for governor again today, he would be re-elected, by the people who benefited from the actions of his administration. Too bad he is cocky.

Dear Emily, US has not taken up residence on Cuban or Mexican soil and built American (or Christian) settlements all over....bad example.

Israel is not protecting itself – you don’t need to go that far just to protect youself. To protect itself, Israel should remove its settlements and have a “security area” between Israel and Palestine guarded by the UN or EU. Many say the UN is useless, but so far, this method worked in many other countries. Israel’s actions show that it is an occupying state (under all international law definitions) and it has created this war by its 40 years occupation. After the state Israel was created, other nationalities that lived on this land were not only displaced but also not offer citizenship (either Palestinian or Israel) and equal civil rights. They are denied these rights up until now – Palestinians who want leave Gaza for Israel and live there in peace are waiting for passports for 20 and more years. This is the first example in the new history when a newly created state takes land from people who were originally living there, without giving them a free choice to get a new passport or have their own state.If we follow the logics that Hamas is using civilians as human shield, does a normal state start killing hundreds of hostages together with terrorists who took them hostage? Palestine is basically a big refugee camp, and Israel actions do not look like freeing the hostages or helping the refugees at all (shooting at UN schools, leaving dead and injured unattended).I feel a shame that my taxes are spent to finance Israel military machine, we should put an end to it.

Not that it matters much at this point, but who do you think the armies of Moses took the land from when he led the Jews from Egypt? Do you think the land and cities throughout the "fertile crescent" were just sitting empty waiting for the generations of slaves of the Pharaohs to come by and occupy it all?

Joe Joe

You just seem to repeat the same retoric that the Plestinians have repeated since 1948 mua mau they stole my land mua mua. humanitarina crisis mua mua Israel is mean mua mau

Gee have some facts to support your claims. I have provided facts that you or anyone can search in history and the Internet and you will find FACTS to back up everythign that I have stated. If you read all my post all are based on facts that anyone can search and are documented.
All you have posted so far is just false claims and have not provided one single fact to any of your claims not one.

If like you said Israel is so mean to the Palestinians why then there are Palestinians now service in the Kenset which is the equibalent of the Congress here.

In the USA there cannot be a communist party but in Israel there are Arab parties within the goverment that openly seek the destruction of Israel . Yeah Israel is so unfari and mean to non Jewish citizens. Wow talk about meaness

Israel did remove a check pont they left Gaza in 2005 Remeber and what did they get in return more than 3,000 Kassams in Sderot and adjacent towns. Please stop the Palestinians retoric and back it up with facts. The fact is Israel OFFER 90% to 95% the land the Plaestinians wanted and the Fact is they rejected. The fact is they retaliated with the antifada 2 months after that. Get the facts straight.

Palestinains is not a big refuge camp. Instead if whining every day get up and rebuild those agricultural house that the Israeli residents left in Gaza and Hamas themselves burned to the ground and start working. Yeah work. Now there is a word that I don't hear from the palestinains. All i hear is they stole this they are so mean.

Well start working and make something productive of those agricultural hot houses that Israel left when they left Gaza. Which by the way FACT were exported to Europe of 75% organic foods. Which were worth Millions and Millions and they gave like 10% of their worth to the people who build them . Now that is what I call unfair work 30 years and build your house, your farms only to be taken away from you by your won govermnet leave with nothing . Then your own govrerment to make "PEACE" give that same house you built with your own sweat and tears and give it to the people who want to destory you. and 3 years latter have no job and stll live in a tralier provided by the goverment. That is unfair . That is the story of Gush Katish research it.

If Hamas gets up and start working and rebuild those agricultura houses then they can provide their own food. HHHMMMM there is a thought geee but work is too much I rather cry mua mua and blame someone else for my problems.
Then you will not see any humanitarian crisis because guess what people will have jobs and money and prosperity. But I guess like always is Israeles fault that Hamas burned to the hot houses to the ground and it did not use it to at the very least feed their own people.

You have no idea how the story of Moses went if you did you would not have not made that statement. I suggest to go back and re read it and once again get the facts straight.

Yeah get the fact straight on Cuba as well. The USA is in fact in Cuban soil. Does Guantanamo base sound familiar to you??????? research it

Since you just seem to repat the same retoric I leave the readers to read my post and decide if they want the facts taht I have provided that can be backed up or stay with non factual retoric that you have provided

Bye

I don't mind having friends. DO I believe I should stand up for them
when I know they're doing the wrong thing? If they are hurting and killing people for no good reason? I would turn them in without blinking. Isreal is doing the wrong thing, we shouldn't be backing them. They want to make a stupid war that
s killing the wrong people? Let them find their own way with GOD.

Yes more miracles in Israel yessssssssssss

Sunday 1/11/09
The long-range missile hit around 7:30 a.m., when dozens of students usually are milling around in the educational facility in the 'Capital of the Negev.' "

A Grad rocket exploded in the courtyard of a Chabad school in Be'er Sheva Sunday morning. "It was a revealed miracle that classes had not been renewed," Chabad principal Simcha Weitzman said.

By Sunday night, Hamas and allied terrorists had fired 24 rockets at southern Israel in the 16th day of the war. One long-range rocket hit an empty kindergarten in Ashdod, causing damage to the building.
A Grad rocket exploded near an empty kindergarten in Ashkelon around 3:55 p.m. Sunday.

Another school, located in Sderot, nearly sustained a direct hit from a Kassam rocket.

Terrorists fired two mortar shells from Gaza around 6:10 p.m. Sunday.
The mortar shells exploded in a kibbutz in the Sha’ar HaNegev region. One of the mortars exploded in a parking lot, and the other exploded near a machine room belonging to a public facility.

There were no injuries. However, damage was caused to vehicles and to the structure.
Hamas terrorists fired a Kassam rocket into Israel around 4:10 p.m. Sunday.
The rocket exploded in an unpopulated area of Sdot Negev.
There are no reports of injuries or damages.

A short time prior to the rocket explosion, a rocket landed without exploding. Bomb zappers are currently attempting to neutralize its explosive device.
Gaza terrorists launched Eight rockets between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Four rockets hit the Eshkol region, three hit Sderot, and one hit Kiryat Malachi.

No injuries have yet been reported. Five rockets were launched at Israel Sunday morning.

Grad rockets fell Sunday morning in Be'er Sheva and Netivot. In Be'er Sheva a rocket struck an empty car and sent several people in the vicinity into shock.

In Netivot, rockets fell in open areas. No injuries have been reported.

So this post about who 's side is God on. It makes you think 24 rockets in a day and they all land in empy buildings or oepn areas. . They could have easily hit an aprtment building or a park with many people, but guess what most land in open areassssssssss

Remeber the entire State of Israel fits the State of NJ. NJ being the 5th smallest USA State.

God does do miracles in 2009 yessssssssssssss and yesssssssssssssssssss

Whoever reads this and sees the size od Israel, and sees in a Map how close Gaza is to Israel and how many rockets a day it gets and how many people get injured and does not beleive in miracles there is nothing more I can say. The facts speak for themsleves.
God is alive and yes with Israel. Whether people like it or not .

Anti israelis will say yeah Israel has big guns and machinery. But let me ask you with since the start of the 2 week war more than 500 rockest have hit with little injuries in such a small and populated area . and over 4,0000 now since Israel left Gaza in 2005. I wonder what can people call that chance ?? I don't think so.

Is a Miracle from GOD.

Rick

Something interesting I was thinking about. Interesting in your article you mention the Inquisition, Hitler. Think about it. The wars that have been fought in the name of "Religion" have been against the Jews. The inquisistion by the Catholic church, the crusades, Hitler and you forgot to mention the Most recent antifada. Have all been against the Jews. Force to convert ot burned at the stake like my ancestors in Spain and probably your ancestors as well since I read somewhere that Cuban was conprise of 90% Jews when in they started to arrive at the americas. If I find the book I will give you the title. Think about it. All these wars have been against Jews. Now the question is why. This conflict against the jews in Israel is not new as you can see. now I asked you why?????

One interesting fact the country of Jordan never existed in the start of the 1900's that was also part of the British mandate which they were going to give to the Jews to form Israel. You can reserach the hsitory on the Internet. The arabs complain just like they are doing now and the British form what is now Jordan. Then they tried again to give a little piece of land to the Jews living there. and the UN mandate was made and gave Israel the Jews living there that piece of land. Why did they complaint so much remember how large is Jordan can they go to Jordan and the Jordanians give them a pirce of land noooooo right? The Jordanians do not even give citizenship to the Palestinians, neiether does Egypt. As a matter of fact they have their borders close right now so that so palestinians can enter. Hmmmm they really love their arab neighbors right ??? Arabas control 90% of the middle east , their Holy City is Mecca . Mohamand never set s foot in Jerusalem if you read the Koran. then why do they want Jerusalem?Now I ask if the palestinians are not Jordanians why then is that , that their flags resemble so much and looks so much alike???

All that I have express can be easily access on the Internet with pictures and documented facts.

The question about God choosing sides reflects the belief that God is separate from humankind. God is on everyone's side and lives in us all, hence the commandment: Thou shalt not kill. We are all children of God. Some of us display more Godly behavior, thoughts and spirituality than others, but God is present in us all. It is for that reason that Jesus said that we should treat others as we wish to be treated, that we should not judge lest we be judged, and that what we do unto the least of us we do unto Him. All fully enlightened masters teach the same idea of divinity. Unfortunately spiritual teachings get twisted into religions and spirituality gets wrung out.

God is on the side of all the innocent children and women died in Palestine .

Israel is a country of injustices and God is a GOD of justice.

israel stop !!!.

thanks

vannydayana

can you explain then why in the past 2 weeks more than 500 grand and kassam rockest have hit Israel with little or no casuakties and most land in oepn areas. Let me repeat it again

Israel is the size of the State of NJ and gaza is very close to Israel, search on the Internet and give me in miles how close is gaza to Israel. If he is on the side of Paesltine then explain to me like if I am 2 years old. why In Israel there are over 500 rockets and most hit open areas and little casualties. Tell me if this chance I want to know what are the probabilities of 500 rockets throwon how many caulaties mus there be? Tell me why they land in open areas and when they do land in a Bldg non one is hurt? Why do they land in a car like it happen yesterday and the people around it are not hurt? Why/ Tell me?

If He is on the side of the Palestinains why then God loves people that systematically lie. In jennin in 2002 They cried all over 500 Palestinians have been killed. Years later the UN own report said what Israel had said all along only 48 had died.

The internatonal media had a field day condeming Israel on that and not one apologise for that huge mistake.

Search Paliwood on the internet and you will also see many lies.
Why does God like Hamas to throw rockets at Israel in front of a UN school, also a great video of that on the internet. Also they put rockets in between two homes. Great video on that as well.

So if you want Israel to stop Hamas also need to stop their rocket attacks. Is not one sided truce.

As stated in the Bible, Israel is the apple of God's eye, however, God loves all people. Sin, injustice, war, famine and all evil is the cause of Satan, this is the enemy we need to blame, not God. God doesn't cause evil, Satan, however does cause all calamity, including the death of innocent people during a time of war. Israel must defend her land just as one would protect his/her home and children if someone were trying to cause them harm. Hamas wouldn't stop the rocket fire into Israel and Israel had to protect her own. Israel will never be destroyed, God will not allow it to happen, so try as one may, it is all to their avail. Jesus Christ walked the streets of Jerusalem, and died on a cross an innocent man. He is the son of God and will one day rule and reign in Jerusalem in the rebuilt temple. Jesus Christ is the son of God and for God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life – John 3:16. The war taking place today is not just between man, it is warfare taking place in a higher realm. The things that we cannot see are more real than the things we can see. It's called "The Supernatural." Heaven is real and so is Hell. Everyone will spend an eternity in one of these places when they die, it's every mans decision to choose his/her destination. Choose Christ – Choose Life. We are not promised tomorrow. God is a God of love a loves ALL people – He gave His only son to prove His love for mankind – He gave us Jesus. An innocent man died for a world so undeserving. He died so we could live.

Why is it the only time we see women and children in the Middle East is when they are injured? Has anyone stopped to ? why??? Could it be they know we will scream "STOP" because we care for our women and children in this country? I feel that it is a war, so stuff happens, look at Hamas using places they shouldn't be to fire from.....

Why is it that you journalists only make a big deal over what Israel is doing? Why haven't you reported the atrosities of Hamas on the Isreali people? Hamas IS the problem, not Israel...you may not like what Israels' response is, with white phosporus and all, but Hamas shouldn't have started something they can't finish. Isreal should protect their people and after 8 years of Hamas rocket attacks, they are fully within their right to pursue the Hamas criminals...end of story!!!

All the warriors are trying to do is the killing instructed in their magic book to save the universe and so they must launch missles, right?

Look, during the invasion of Iraq the US Marines were quoted as calling it "shake and bank" when they used "white phosphorous flares" to burn out a place of Iraqi terrorists hold up effectively and shooting at the soldiers. One US General admitted that "soldiers sometimes use pretty brutal and negative humor in terms, and it is wrong" but hey that's war? So we have documented proof American soldiers shot flare into rooms to burn out enemies and they admitted this was wrong, but the UN did not unite against America because that is different. This is Israel.

If fire-control officers make errors and flares reach the ground that is so immoral we must support the end of Israel and the success of Iran? But if American soldiers shot phosphorous flares into rooms to burn the enemy out that did not get so much attention. That is because America follows the magic book. Right?

I have listened to this double standard all my life. Soon Iran will have nuclear weapons to fulfill its promise to the Jews and we will all be so supprised in North America when it happens. But for right now let us unite with our brothers in Iran because we are good and others are bad and that is just the magic of magic superiority. Those who kill write the history books. The dead just lay there silent. That is the magic.

Sorry, but I am sure Israel must face a world of hypocrits who will kill and kill and kill because that is how they are used to things being everywhere that you are not a Jew. AND THAT IS WHY JEWS STAND TOGETHER. Tell me you are surprised. See if you convince me you are really amazed. Because you did not care 4 months ago as missles landed in school yards. You did not care 6 months ago and you do not really care now because it is the Jews. They are always wrong according to your little magic book.

B

wow I don't remember seeing all this attention being brought about the palestinians lobbing rockets into Israel, or when a gunman shot a bunch of innocent school kids, or all the suicide/ homicide bombers blowing up a bus and randomly killing innocent Jews. I see a lot of pictures of supposedly peace-loving Palestinians crying, surprised buy the slaughter of their people, but where's the outrage when it's Jews being slaughtered? They know what's coming after killing so many Jews for months. what is Israel suppose to do?

Organized religion is a corruption of the teachings of Jesus. Jesus didn't write the Bible or instruct that it be written. The New Testament of the Bible is historically correct and contains the sayings of Jesus but is the creation of a Roman emperor . The New Testament contains much truth but also the biases, corruptions and misunderstandings of the men who wrote it. Forget what you learned at church, read what Jesus said, look at Jefferson Bible.

Why is it that every liberal (and minority) assumes that the criminal is innocent and the government is guilty? It is almost a reflex action that they cannot control.

The Palestinians are the fodder of the Islamic faith. Muslims hate Jews and will use the Palestinians as human shields as long as the liberals in this country countinue to apologize for Islam.

The United States General George S. Patton, Jr. once said “Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tire, more hungry. Keep punching."

Hamas will be Crushed and Destroyed once and for all. Democratic nations of the world who fail to fight and act against Hamas and other Islamo-Fascist/anti-Semitic terrorist groups inevitably will suffer from them. They will begin with the Great Nation of Israel and its Jews but never end with Jews, as anti-Semitism isultimately a hatred of higher standards. They do not hate the Jews alone. They hate whatever and whoever represents a higher value, a moral challenge.

God is on His Son's side. "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn unto him the other." noone seems to believe His own words. "I hate lying, cheating, stealing, and violence."

GOD is with ISRAEL.. THE BIBLE IS VERY, VERY CLEAR ON THAT..
THE BIBLE IS THE TRUTH.
EVERY PROPHECY WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE HAS COME TRUE OR WILL COME TRUE VERY SOON... WORD FOR WORD,
READ IT, LEARN IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT.

Mr. Sanchez.... This joe GUY needs to take some ESL classes english as a second language. Do you have any idea if he got a GED.

regarding the new treasury nominee:
self-employment taxes have been around a long time.
I am sure any second-year business student would know when and how they are to be reported. The nominee may be pleading ignorance. If this be the case, do we really want him as the head of the IRS? I can't believe he is ignorant. The only way our current tax system can work as intended, is for all to be truthful in our reporting.
Ignorant? Evader?

Isn't it utterly amazing how cruel & hateful people can be to one and other in the name of God ?

Hello Rick... BRAVO!!! You cannot imagine how pleased and proud I was of your courage to comment about people using religion as an excuse to kill each other ... in the name of 'God' ! I've never heard anyone else bring up this subject publicly (Well, maybe Bill Maher). How UN-Godly can so many people be to make such outrageous, self-righteous statements! I wish more people in the public eye would challenge the mob mentality.

I consider myself a spiritulist BECAUSE of hypocrites who abuse and use religion as their self righteous condemnation of others who differ with them. God, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha etc etc.... all preached NON-condemnation of others - methinks it's just too many making up stories to suit themselves and their psychological hidden frustrations with their own lives. (Let's ask how they can prove that God spoke personally to them.) Too bad more people in your position don't have the courage to speak out about anger management and misuse of public airways to spew their hatreds.

Thanks again... keep up the good work and tell CNN to keep you forever!

regarding the new treasury nominee:
buzzword–"tainted";
There should be no hint of it when concerning the head of our treasury. Just the mere question of it, is enough to dismiss this candidate–especially with our current financial situation.
I am a small business owner, not a wall street croney, but consider myself to be honest. Perhaps that is what wall street needs?
buzzword–"consumer confidence";
I am already sceptical of those watching our money, so don't give me someone who brings any "baggage" to the table. I've worked hard along with many others that have played by the rules. We deserve better. I believe it is time for an "outsider" to be watching the "vault".

Wow....after reading these comments I sure as heck am glad I'm an atheist.
In the name of LOVE...why can't we live in peace with one another.

Whatever you believe in!

For John Lennon: “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky, imagine all the people, living life in peace – you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.”
I was raised a Catholic (my Lakota Grandmother was sent to Residential School where she lost her native language by being put in solitary confinement – a hole in the ground – on several occasions for speaking Lakota). As she was so completely brainwashed and indoctrinated, she maintained her Catholic faith all her life. Because of this, I personally choose to belong to NO faith, in order that I will not have to “fight” or be automatically pitted against any other human being. That doesn’t mean that I am an atheist. I believe in the Creator – as did my Lakota ancestors – and I also believe that if I treat all other human beings, as I would like them to treat me, that the Creator (God) will judge me accordingly when my time comes, even if I don’t go to church, or temple, or mosque……

I am so glad someone finally said this. How can anyone justify killing another person at all, even if they have killed another. It is no one's place to say if someone is to live or die, not even the US government. War is wrong by all means except when corrupt and even then excessive force need not be used. I know that the idea of peace is something that will never work because not everyone thinks the same way as me, but the world would be such a beautiful and wonderful place if they did. We need some real die hard hippies in these modern days.

C'mon, Religion is a personal choice and is NOT something to judge people by. It's the same as culture or race......you can't judge a book by it's cover!!!!!!!

It is wrong for a person to justify killling or war, using God as a reference. If you ask yourself what would Jesus do? In my opinion he would be trying to help his fellow man, not kill him. Every main religion that I know of teaches us to live in peace.

Whose side is G-d on?

We all know it was Hamas who broke this so called political “fake seize fire” agreement. I call it “the fake seize fire” agreement because people who understand terrorism know the Hamas this Islamo-Fascist terrorist thug group had no intentions of EVER keeping their agreements with Israel. This is a Categorical Fact.

Proof, their relentless aspiration of stocking weapons by smuggling them from Egypt by underground tunnels and financed by Iran and Syria. Furthermore, they never stop shooting rockets into Israel for the last eight years. The fact is, Hamas does not want peace with Israel, and if they did they would make changes in their behavior which would result in changes in their own charter of recognizing the existence of Israel.

Israel has been aware of these facts for many years and made the courageous and decisive conclusion that “enough is enough." I asked you, for how many years do innocent Israelis have to live in such threatening conditions, how many Israelis have to die? What Israel therefore did is a matter of JUSTICE; it is a “CATEGORG ICAL MORAL IMPERVATIVE “because Israel has every right to defend its citizens against these sadistic terrorist groups like Hamas. And is you disagree, that makes you an Apologist of Terrorism.

In other words, there is No- Moral Equivalence between Hamas-Islamo-Fascist terrorist who deliberately and purposefully target innocent Israeli civilians which consists of Jews, Christians and Israeli Arabs for the sole purpose of Murder and Israeli response.

This is a “War against Terrorism” therefore, Hamas must be destroyed; this is the “CATEGORG ICAL MORAL IMPERVATIVE" for all people seeking true peace in the Middle East and throughout the world.

Democratic nations of the world who fail to act against Hamas and other Islamo-Fascist/anti-Semitic groups inevitably will suffer from them. They will begin with the Great Nation of Israel and its Jews but never end with Jews, as anti-Semitism is ultimately a hatred of higher standards. They do not hate the Jews alone. They hate whatever and whoever represents a higher value, a moral challenge.

In conclusion, Hamas is a terrorist organization and its movement consists of Islamo-Fascism ideology whose sole purpose is not of peace as we have seen but to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. They hate Jews and that makes them anti-Semitic, they hate anyone who supports Israel and the Jewish people like United States of America that makes them anti-American, and they hate any democratic nation that stands with Israel that makes them anti-Democratic.

The Nation of Israel wants PEACE with the Palestinian people; they are pro-Palestinian because it favors an economically viable Palestinian democratic state, with good health care, education, opportunity, and freedom for the Palestinian people, THESE ARE THE TRUE FACTS!

The source of the problem is not Israel, or United States or Tinbucktu. The primarily responsible for the current desperate situation of the Palestinian people have been their own leaders, from Haj Hussaini (the late Grand Mufti of Jerusalem) to the late Yassir Arafat to the leaders of Hamas and the other terrorist groups.

THESE LEADERS HAVE PLACED A HIGHER PRIORITY ON THE DISTRUCTION OF ISRAEL THAN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PALESTINE. LITTLE HAS CHANGED IN THAT REGARD.

I personally think in order to keep society together you must have a form of faith religion plays that ideology to all I know when i face a situation when im in trouble first though in my mind is "oh God" please help my teachings of been a catholic is in me with out with out practising religion all i know it works having a peace of mind who's God is better or more believable it does not matter we all need faith

prisons it took the first 200 years of this country to incarcerate one million people . it only took 10 years to incarcerate the next million. ex governor frank keating rented thousands beds in private prisons to lock away men,woman and children in the 90's here in okla.

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