I am NOT leaving DU...
so I do not require any reminders that “this is not an airport so departures do not need to be announced.”
I have essentially stopped posting since November 11 because as a committed Zionist who lost my entire extended family on both sides in the Holocaust, I ardently defended Israel’s right as a sovereign nation to defend herself against the inhuman terrorism which has plagued the nation since its inception but most notably in the 1970’s and thereafter. I had the temerity of doing in this forum, of which I have been a member in good standing since 2004.
As a veteran poster, I knew exactly what was going to occur here and it did so, exceeding my expectations. There is no need for me to explain. My posts were alerted upon routinely and several juries found me guilty of violating DU rules. Fair enough: this is the system whose precepts I agreed to when becoming a member so I am willing to accept the punishment meted out.
I was informed by a few old-timers here, one through a PM, others via email that I was on the brink of, shall we say, having a possibly very serious problem here. I fully intend to avoid having such a problem for a whole variety of reasons.
Therefore, until the hostilities in the Middle East reach a conclusion, my participation in this forum will be limited to recommending posts with which I wholeheartedly agree.
I thank you for your time and your understanding.
PC
= new reply since forum marked as read
Gonna do a bit of a truth bomb here. They've had 4 posts hidden. A 5th means they'll be PPRd indefinitely. Of course they're going to wait until that first hide drops off, and then they'll be back. All that stuff about sinister behind the scenes warnings of serious stuff is drama and this OP would be a prime candidate for the old Meta forum. The OP is a decent person, as far as Americans go, and I've read posts from them on other topics that I really agree with and I've recd, and I think it'd suck if they did get to 5 hides.
Maybe it's just me, but if you start getting hides in the same topic, suck it up and own it, do a bit of self examination and hopefully work out before the 4th hide that you need to examine your approach to posting on the topic. Ive found over the years that treating both Israeli and Palestinian civilians as equally deserving of human rights is a surefire way not to have any posts hidden. With not a single post hidden of many thousands about the I/P conflict*, I'm living proof that it's not all that difficult to participate at DU without having to worry about being banned.
* quick disclaimer - the vast bulk of my DU posts have been in the I/P forum back before the jury system. Tho back then it was far easier to get tombstoned as the mods could make unilateral decisions, so that probs makes me even more resilient 
"Kind of makes you realize that there can be no solution if both sides perceive their side as right and the other as wrong."
I came to this conclusion myself a couple of weeks ago. At this point I read posts on Israel and Palestine, but don't take part in the discussions for most of them. PCIntern is one of my favorite posters, and it would be a shame if a DUer was lost because of the discussions of late. We can't solve actual participants problems for them when they don't seem to want to do so. It is frustrating!
Thank you, PCIntern, for sharing your post today. 
I am not of the Jewish faith, however I've been rooting for Israel all these years. I believe there will eventually be peace in the Middle East, peace in the Holy Land - but maybe not in our lifetimes.
I'm a little taken aback by all the pro-Palestinian venting going on here on DU. To me it doesn't seem like a position that so-called "liberals" would take. Hamas was never looking for a peaceful solution of any kind. Not all Palestinians support Hamas, not by any means. But enough of them do, and those who do support Hamas are rooting for terrorists.
Since when do American liberals of DU or any other platform support terrorism? I'm stumped. I don't get it. This sudden wave of anti-Israel/pro-Palestine eruption that keeps popping up here ... well, I can't figure out where it's coming from. Some liberals are getting their heads twisted around to the point where they're spouting almost right-wing talking points.
I want to believe that DUers are all on the same page, but when I see this pro-Palestinian garbage on DU I don't know what to think. Maybe it's a weird form of anti-Semitism, or maybe something else is going on?
It's ironic that many of the posts I see that blame Israel and America, don't bother to note that it is Hamas that triggered this catastrophe, and it is Hamas and their allies that perpetuate it by their continued holding of hostages. Considering the rape and torture they committed on some of their dead victims that they didn't bother to take away with them - some of those victims CHILDREN - why should we think they aren't continuing to rape and torture their captives?
ALL these deaths fall on Hamas. I wish Israel would respond in a different way to cause less suffering of innocents. But Hamas leaders - and any person paying attention - KNEW who Netanyahu was and exactly what he would do. And, Hamas leaders were just fine doing what they did. (Lovely people, aren't they? 
)
Here's an idea: let's call on Hamas to release all the hostages and turn over the rapists for prosecution.
P.S., we disagree on some issues.
anyway
I understand where you’re coming from. It has taken some real self-discipline to control myself a couple of times. My ignore list is ridiculously long at the moment, but I need to protect my mental health and my 20+ year membership.
May this war end sooner than later. May all the hostages come home safely. And may Hamas be destroyed and never again bring such misery to the world.
For PC
A lifetime ban is sometimes reversed upon appeal, but not always.
The jury system is the one we all agreed to hitch our wagon, but it has some serious flaws when DU is sharply divided.
Tip o’the hat for you choices.
Just chiming in to say that I really enjoy your posts. Looking forward to your eventual return.
Also you are on the right side of history.
I'm surprised how it's divided DU. 
…may your family’s memory be a blessing.
love to read your posts and after almost 20 yrs here know what its like to have a big majority here go a different way then how you feel.
I have just kept quiet about those times.
Currently I study 3 Principles with Chana Studley who used to work in Hollywood and even has a oscar for Babe, she worked in special effects. She now does coaching in Jerusalum where her family lives.
I join her and others twice a week for coaching and a bookclub.
Since the beginning of this I have been impressed by how calm she has stayed and it gives you a bit of life on the ground over there.
I have always been a peacenik and hoping for all wars to cease.
Glad this isn't sending you away. 
I’ve enjoyed your OPs as have others. The current conflict in Israel and Palestine has raised hackles to an extraordinary level. Though I’ve limited my own comments on the conflict bc it’s so contentious, I would say that a majority opinion in such matters does not prove the right or wrong of a thing. Frequently what may appear absolutely certain in the moment is anything but in retrospect. There are plenty of historical markers to prove the point but I won’t belabor them here.
Know that your voice is valued. I’m truly sorry this has happened. I think we as a community can do much better than spitting vitriol on opinions with which we disagree.
Keep the faith and please, keep hanging around. We need everyone of good will to come together. For all our sakes.
I dislike the PICK A SIDE sentiment as if everything was black and white. 
That's a big compliment, btw
I was on a jury the other day for an OP that dared to post a link to Amnesty International. The alert was that it was bigotry. It's the first time I've clicked on the button that says I think the alert was sent in bad faith.
Also, just in case this gets alerted on, there's more than a few posts in this thread discussing posts that have been alerted on, so it's not like I'm breaking new ground here
I like it.
... I also expected the political twists. Obviously, Israeli advances into Gaza were going to result in civilian deaths. Hamas knew this, of course, and probably tried to sped it up with the bombing of that hospital, early in the war.
... I shared posters of the kidnapped children and people assume I'm Jewish or favor Palestinian genocide. I remember going to a Black Lives Matter rally and sharing pictures... people assumed I was for looting and trashing buildings. I suspect they watch too much FOX News.
Since Oct. 7.
I know it's hard to let fools rage, but sometimes you have to walk away from the side show and concentrate on the rest. We need to get thru this next year together.
being reported on du is not always that you are doing something wrong but perhaps you are doing something right
hrc DID run a crap campaign in my state..
du does have lanes of acceptable posts...woe to those who invoke the ire of those who so not play by their rules
that being said, i left for a long time but came back....you would be missed...I wasn't 
YOU are one of US. Very much enjoy reading your posts!
I was put in jail in one of the previous primaries, it turned out to be a nice break. 
