Parents Seek Probe in Activist's Death

Seattle Times ^ | 03-19-03 | florangela davila

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Sorry all. I'll have to let the cat out of the bag on the whole lot of us on this subject. We are sad that a woman has died, but this has to be the most stupid thing we have ever seen a sober person do. I can't speak for all of us, but thinking back there are many things we have done in our lives that we are lucky to be alive from doing. Some stories that can't even be considered possible except to those who saw them or lived through it. All of these pale in comparison to what she did.

[Jay D. Dyson]

One may question the correctness of her political position, but it also is very legitimate to question whether the Israelis have an unbelieveable policy of running over protesters rather than removing them forceably.

Considering that many of the "protesters" with which Israel has had to content show up packing explosives across their midriff, I would say there's ample reason not to individually approach those people.

There needs to be a full and unvarnished investigation into this terrible tragedy. I simply cannot believe the callousness I've read on FR about this.

It is a tragedy as nobody wants to see anyone meet an untimely end. But what you perceive as callousness is more accurately described as flat-out exasperation. Whatever legitimate complaints that Palestinians may have about Israel's handling of terrorism has long since been eclipsed by their steady stream of suicide bombers.

Again, it is unfortunate that this young woman met such an untimely demise. Even so, it cannot be ignored that she met this demise as a direct consequence of siding with people who support terrorism as a means to an end. In short, she lied down with dogs and got bit by a 6-ton flea.

Bottom line: if people really want Israel to stop demolishing homes of Palestinians who support terrorists, then they need to get the Palestinians to STOP SUPPORTING TERRORISTS.

That pretty much sums it up.

-Jay

[Bella_Bru]

Investigation??? Into what? Her own stupidity and theirs for raising her to embrace terrorists and hate Israelis?

[Bella_Bru]

But the vitriol here is disgusting. I wonder how her loved ones would feel if they visited here. Or how would we feel in their place.

First off, I doubt many people here would raise their kids to believe that the Pallies are oppressed and that Israel is evil I also doubt many here would teach their kids to burn Amuerican flags (even handdrawn ones).

Secondly, her loved ones think she was totally in the right to be there. Therefore, I doubt they'd agree with much they'd see on any thread on FR. If they want sympathy, they can go check out the DUmpster.

[Bella_Bru]

If they loved her so much then why were they sending her to places like the Middle East right now? Didn't they realize ahead of time how dangerous it is over there right now?

I agree. I doubt your average college student could afford such a trip.

[exDemMom]

She was concerned and compassionate about the world around her, her family said.

And that compassion was reflected on her face in those pictures < /sarcasm off>

[judgeandjury]

I wonder how her loved ones would feel if they visited here. Or how would we feel in their place.

Do you know what time it is, children? It's touchy-feely time!

[exDemMom]

But she reminds me of someone else, another loser consumed by bitterness and defeat, if not quite hatred....

Please. I feel sorry for the coyote. I keep hoping that he'll get the blasted roadrunner, just once, it would be so nice.

[judgeandjury]

If any other country's military had murdered an American citizen, there would be national outrage and saturation coverage by the establishment press.

Not if it happened in this exact same way. What difference would it have made if the bulldozer had been driven by a member of the Italian military, a member of the Japanese army, or a member of the Canadian army? It was still the fault of the idiot woman who stepped in front of the bulldozer and ended up getting killed.

[judgeandjury]

What's stupid, and sad, are "conservatives" who not only show no sympathy for this poor girl and her family...

bigunreal, I hereby designate you as the official cryer of Free Republic. It is now your responsibility, whenever the situation calls for it, to do the crying for all Freepers. In this way, we Freepers can feel as if we have indeed shown a certain level of sympathy whenever some American, somewhere in the world, dies as a result of their own foolish actions.

[wolficatZ]

[bigunreal]

Okay, will do.

BTW, I haven't read a single post by anyone else here who didn't manage to fit "idiot" or some other name into their post, directed at this poor dead girl, or-as in your case-dutifully accepting the discredited word of Israel by blaming the girl for her own death. Can any of you at least summon up a morsel of sympathy for a young life crushed out-literally-by a foreign military force? If you buy the Israeli propaganda that this was an accident, or even more incredibly, blame the victim for her own demise, are there none among you who will at least acknowledge the tragedy here? Will none of you express a word of sympathy to her parents? But then again, I guess they were to blame for her death, too. After all, apparently they sent her to alternative schools (I thought FREEpers loved alternatives to public schools), and supported her idealistic efforts at peaceful protest.

[Born on the Storm King]

Rachel has come back from the dead!

[dennisw]

If any other country's military had murdered an American citizen

Only flaw in your logic is Israel didn't murder her. She murdered herself. Thanks anyway for the rage-o-rama.

She didn't "stand" in front of a bulldozer, she was plowed over by a vicious thug, who was trained to treat non-Israelis like that.

That's a lie child. At any rate she was trying to stop the demolition of houses. Why was Israel demolishing those houses? Why don't you try and find this out. Post #87 will shed some light.

[dennisw]

or even more incredibly, blame the victim for her own demise, 

Correct. That we do

are there none among you who will at least acknowledge the tragedy here?

Many have. You must have missed it. I feel sorry for a life wasted. Notice how she and her peacenik friends never rode Israeli busses to "protect" them from bombing. True to her lefty education she was an advocate for a barbaric 3rd world people making war against Jews. Parroting the myth that if only Israel ended occupation peace would follow, instead of a more terrible Jihad.

 Will none of you express a word of sympathy to her parents?

We'll leave that for you

 But then again, I guess they were to blame for her death, too. 

BINGO!!

After all, apparently they sent her to alternative schools

There are alternative schools and there are alternative schools. I'm sure you would love to see your daughter attending Evergreen State </sarcasm>            Her folks educated her well in some ways. In other ways they educated her in commie-peacenik pap.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I think you are referring to Lori Berenson, who is currently rotting in a Peruvian jail for helping the "Shining Path" rebels.

Regards,

[Paul_B]

Unlike those of so many of the others here, a balanced, thoughtful response, and one that can be appreciated.

[FITZ]

I'm fine with idealism but at the same time Americans should not get involved in these conflicts unless they understand there is a danger in it and realize they could be killed. One reason people in other countries see us in a certain way is we do tend to be over-protected, pampered naive do-gooders in their eyes. I have a lot more pity for those American students who were studying in Israeli universities who were doing nothing more than sitting in a cafe who were murdered intentionally by Palestinian suicide bombers, and I don't see this girl's parents asking for an investigation on those deaths or doing anything to prevent that sort of thing. Freedom to travel anywhere for their own pampered pet ---but not for others?

[FITZ]

Yes ---Berenson. She was another useful idiot ---her "friends" should have told her to go back to her own country but instead took advantage of her gullibility.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Look at the expressions on the faces of the assembled children...kinda like "wow, another photo-op with a nutty infidel...kewl...my friends on Gaza will see me on CNN." I mean look at their faces, its like been there, done that, another American flag burning...yawn, is it time for lunch yet? Yet she is shreiking and gnarling like the people around her care about what is doing and why she is there...talk about being 'usefull idiot.'