The Personal Is Political

[Leporello]

I'm a mellow person; there are very few things that upset me, and I don't like to see other people get riled up either. Hypersensitive chicks, therefore, are a problem, and I generally don't get involved with them.

But here's the thing: my gf is a hardcore Zionist, and she reacts extremely badly to the suggestion that, say, most Palestinians might not like living in a police state. I mean, she can barely talk about it without crying and yelling. It's a little off-putting.

Naturally, i don't bring this up if I can avoid it, but she does, and I don't quite know what to do.

Any ideas?

 

[naoi deag se deag]

I wouldn't talk about it with her. Change the topic to something quick and make it nonsensical. I play little games like four question personality tests and then don't tell the girl what it means. In my experience this has made girls go from hyperintellectual and PISSED to giggly and fine in an instant. I even tried it on a girl I had been dating for a year, so it doesn't matter how deep your rapport is. I think it's a good idea for any DJ here to have a couple of instant, preferably reusable "state blasters" like this in his arsenal for such occasions.

 

[Leporello]

Originally posted by naoi deag se deag
I wouldn't talk about it with her. Change the topic to something quick and make it nonsensical. I play little games like four question personality tests and then don't tell the girl what it means. In my experience this has made girls go from hyperintellectual and PISSED to giggly and fine in an instant. I even tried it on a girl I had been dating for a year, so it doesn't matter how deep your rapport is. I think it's a good idea for any DJ here to have a couple of instant, preferably reusable "state blasters" like this in his arsenal for such occasions.

Four questions? What?

 

[Alpine]

'Yes it's all very sad, now, where's my dinner biatch?'

A bit old school, but you're welcome to adapt it.

 

[DJDamage]

Don't get involved with chicks like that, if she can't peacefully debate with someone on an issue and acts like a drama queen instead, then she will do the same thing in a relationship. GET OUT NOW!

 

[JonJack]

I agree with Damage. It's okay to be passionate about something. But to the point where you won't even listen to the other person is dangerous.

You could always tell her how uncomfortable and annoyed you are about the topic. If she keeps bringing it up anyway, then you've got a bomb on your hands.

 

[AverageFC]

Zionist? That's a bit extreme. Are you sure shes a zionist?

 

[Wyldfire]

Originally posted by Leporello
I'm a mellow person; there are very few things that upset me, and I don't like to see other people get riled up either. Hypersensitive chicks, therefore, are a problem, and I generally don't get involved with them.

But here's the thing: my gf is a hardcore Zionist, and she reacts extremely badly to the suggestion that, say, most Palestinians might not like living in a police state. I mean, she can barely talk about it without crying and yelling. It's a little off-putting.

Naturally, i don't bring this up if I can avoid it, but she does, and I don't quite know what to do.

Any ideas?

Well, I've found in discussing sensitive issues with Jews (are you sure she's actually a Zionist?) that the only way you can sympathize with the plight of the Palestinians without getting a totally irrational reaction is to make sure you associate the bad things done to Palestinians with the Israeli government instead of just "Israel". A good position to take is that neither the bulk of the Israelis or the bulk of the Palestinians like or want to live with all the violence and hatred but that a few arseholes on both sides hold everyone else hostage with their incessant fighting and killing. As long as you make sure to acknowledge equal suffering on both sides and make sure you use "Israeli government" when you are disagreeing with something about Israel you'll see a huge difference in how she responds. This is one of the topics I have debated at great lengths on political and current events forums, and just choosing your words a bit more carefully can make a huge difference.

 

[Wyldfire]

Originally posted by DJDamage
Don't get involved with chicks like that, if she can't peacefully debate with someone on an issue and acts like a drama queen instead, then she will do the same thing in a relationship. GET OUT NOW!

She might actually be fine otherwise. This is a very touchy subject with most people of the Jewish faith...even if they are completely rational about everything else in life...this one issue sets most Jews into fits. The reason is because even when people try to be fair and sensitive some of the word choices that they mean one thing with are taken to mean something entirely different. If you can sort out those misunderstandings and are careful with how you phrase things it makes a big difference.

 

[Leporello]

That's the odd thing; she's not even Jewish. Though i am. It's all very confusing.

 

[frivolousz21]

what if I cried everytime someone brought up George Bush, or my dad beating my ass when I was a kid????


I cant stand when people cant get a hold of themselves..I understand its a sensative topic and that it bothers her...you should repsect that..but thats someone what overboard.

 

[Giovanni Casanova]

I just read a news article about a family that was angry that some Israeli settlers were moving out of the Gaza strip at the request of the Israeli government (to give Palestinians their own place)... so these people got angry about it and decided to move there into this relatively violent area in order to prevent the Palestinians from taking over the area.

These people had several kids. Like, little kids... 7, 8, 9 years old. They are willing to subject them to this area's violence to thwart their own government's efforts at peace.

On the Palestinian side, there have been reports of relatively young children strapping on explosives and going on suicide missions.

On both sides, people think that dirt and land is more important that their own kids. That's insanity.

My point is that on both sides of this issue, when it comes to Israeli-Palestinian conflict... there's often just no reasoning with people.

 

[diplomatic_lies]

Tell her you recently joined a neo-Nazi squad.