answer to moon

[mica6698]

I'm deeply sad that you feel like that. I'm a christian portuguese woman, married to a portuguese christian and we both feel very much pro-israeli. In fact, I've been sending support messages to the IDF. I also sent messages to Al-jazeera, asking them to tell the truth to arabs about Israel history. I also sent a message to UNICEF, with photos of palestinian kids participating in a military parade, armed with machine-guns, and I asked them to say something about this. Also to the European Comission, asking them to try to discover where does the money they send to the PT really go, if we see an undevelopped country in TV... Well, and of course I also wrote to some media, protesting about the way they talk about this conflict - anyway, from what I've been reading, this is happening everywhere, including the US...
I never thought that a jew could feel antisemitism here in Portugal... There are at least three jewish comunities and I think that people respect jews ( I'm sure that a lot of people don't agree with israeli positions, but that doesn't make tham antisemits...)
Anyway, I'd like to tell Moon that here in Portugal he can find christians who are real friends of Israel and also of the jewish people.
May G-d help Israel and give it Peace.
Shalom!

[Vic]

Mica, why didn't you send this as a private message to the person you are replying to? (With a contact address, enabling him/her to check whether the human marvels you describe really exist)

[mica6698]

Because, Vic, being a portuguese person, I didn't like to read that someone could have such a bad impression of my country, and since that opinion was public, I thought I should answer publicly, too.

Sorry if I did wrong...

[Vic]

But why not try to convince the person in question that he/she is wrong rather than the general public? Is it a kind of vanity?

And, Mica, you writeI never thought that a jew could feel antisemitism here in Portugal...Obviously Moon does. Aren't you being rather arrogant in your denial of his/her experience? You can hardly claim that your own experience of your society is exhaustive.

[mica6698]

Look, what I was trying to say is that I never thought that a jew could feel that, and the meaning of this, I suppose, is that I'm amazed with this situation. I never intended to say that it was impossible or that Moon was lying, I'm probably shocked with my own country, and I tried to deffend my people, just as you try to deffend your own!

I never imagined that my words were to be so wrong, or that someone was going to interpret them so wrongly: I'm not an english speaker, that's probably why, my english must be really bad!

I'm also sorry that it's only you who answer me, I'd really like to hear from Moon...

I started my first message by saying that I've done everything I could to deffend Israel, why is it so bad that I try to deffend my people, also?

Anyway, and again, if I said something that offended someone, I'm really sorry!

[Moon]

Wow, sorry for not seeing this earlier! I usually don't see this forum... A Portuguese, surprise surprise they're everywhere... :eek: :D

I see your point and I think it's understandable why you expressed yourself publicly.

Well, if I remember it well, what I wrote was a personal opinion and some facts. Did you open the dictionary? Did you read what mr Saramago wrote in the newspaper?

Let's see one point: Portugal is a peaceful country unlike Israel. I have my own souvenirs of my childhood about terrorism when I lived in Israel. There are many sorts of reasons which make me analyse very very seriously if it's worth of making aliya (immigrating to Israel) considering the situation. The most problable conclusion I could come up is that "Portugal is safer, so I'll stay", but I'll not stay.

I have very strong reasons for that wouldn't you think?

But don't missinterpret me: Portugal is a wonderful and very beautiful country, but I simply don't fit here... I've grown for ten years in a land in which I never felt totally welcomed to live.

We can talk more accurantely in portuguese but that will have to be in private.

Anyway, I think my personal life is the less interesting subject that can be discussed in this board. Stay around. There's lots of good discussions going on! :)