Israel's Invasion of Gaza Discussed--While Willy Cutes It Up

[John Green]

In which John talks about Israel and Palestine, and the Israel's recent invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks from Hamas. Obviously no four-minute video can do the topic justice; we'll continue the conversation in comments, hopefully with some thoughtfulness and empathy.

[Gabrielle]

BTW, what Josh and Marion had to say is important, too, but, as Josh said, time restraints probably kept those details out. Those are issues that, when really negotiating, must be taken into consideration. With regards to them, then, I'd only add to the overall "solution" that other countries outside of that region need to butt out a bit- they shouldn't have a vote on what goes on, for it was foreign intervention that caused the issue in the first place (when the UN "formed" the two countries without taking the Palestinians' opinion into consideration).

[Gabrielle]

Thanks for agreeing to add this feature to the lineup each week. I love for myriad reasons, but mostly because you're so good at conveying complex issues in succinct terms anyone can understand, so even people that ignore the news because they "just don't get it" are able to watch you and, well, GET IT.

I have felt the same way as you on the "solution" for quite some time.

DFTBA.

[Mika]

i...am going to steal your dog.

i love him.

[PostmodernMacro]

Man, Willy's lookin' like a bobblehead there. Also hooray for mismatched argyle socks! (Phooey on serious conversations.)

[Omri Evron]

Great video. I realy thank you for discussing this horrible topic because as an Israeli I have been demonstrating against the war every single day since Israel started attaking Gaza. It has been realy depressing seeing so many people hurt and killed, while most of the people around me are calling for more violence and bloodshed out of racism and ignorance. I still remember how horrible I felt last week when I heard that my government has killed a 140 people in less than a single hour in my name...
So, reviewing this crazy situation while looking at the adorable Willy makes it all seem a bit more tolerable.
Thanks.

[Obsquatch]

The fact that you said, "peace" in three languages (yes, I guess I am including nerdfightarianish a language) should have prevented most the arguments that broke out in the (YouTube) comments, but alas, we are a brutal breed. Thank you for your insight on the situation, but I did notice a serious lack of tissue paper.

[Lysh]

I've learned tonight, among other things, that YouTube entire commenting system fails. I would like to create a comment more than 500 characters, kthanks, and without YouTube deleting it.

I've watched this video 6 times now and have been looking up things on wikipedia (which is, I know, unreliable, but it's quick and easy), overall trying to understand the whole thing. But I'm not going to go through it all here, for fear of losing what I've typed.

In other news, I like the new intro! And the puppy and the socks.

[G. Neri]

I don't know which is more disturbing--the situation in the Middle East or Willy's take on the situation in the Middle East! I do however, look forward to Willy's summation of the Bush years... Bring it on!!

[Becky]

gah!!!! bubbles the nerdfighting puppy is so cute!!!! how can you even think about world mayhem when he turns his head?

oh.... and is that the actual new intro?

[Marion]

The problem, frankly, is that it's not just Israel and Palestine duking it out anymore. Many, many other countries also feel they have a say in this currently - their lands that have been taken, their funds used, their countries shattered. So coming to any sane sort of agreement takes the consent of so many countries that there is no real plausible way to please everyone.

We did a UN debate like this in class this year [I was Israel - my new nickname, much to my consternation], and we had so many fights and disagreements that we drove a few girls to tears, and one kid kicked out of class for telling Iran to put something very uncomfortable in a very uncomfortable place.

Point in part? - it's very, ridiculously complicated, man. So props to John on the four-minute synopsis.
And Willie is made of adorable, I have to say myself - there was one youtube commenter who was like "OHMYGAWD, DAT PUPPY IZ SO CUTE!!1!1!! I WANTS 2 TAKE IT!" and some awesome nerdfighter posted a response that said they would start a worldwide campaign called "Free Willie" if the nerdfighting puppy ever dissappeared.
Two points to that pun, whoever you are.