Test Yourself: The Mideast in 10 self-deceptions or less - Haaretz

Last update - 10:25 19/12/2006

Test Yourself: The Mideast in 10 self-deceptions or less

By Bradley Burston

There's no deception like self-deception.

There's no self-deception like the personal truths we tell ourselves about ourselves, in order to feel better about ourselves.

There's nothing quite like the personal truths - truths we hold to be self-evident - which we tell ourselves about those we sincerely revile. In order to feel better about ourselves.

There's no struggle quite like the one we will put up to preserve our personal truths, our bedrock self-deceptions. As far as we can tell, they keep us safe, keep us happy, keep us focused, keep us ourselves.

If our self-identity is threatened, we will fight as if our very lives depended on it.

This may be applicable whether the identity in question is that of a respected surgeon, a revered cleric, or a devoted football fan.

Which brings us to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Can there be another conflict on God's green earth which in the space of a few generations has generated two entire new cultures, two entire new identities, each at war with the other, each dismissing the validity of the other, the rights of the other, the very authenticity of the identity the other is trying so vigorously to hang onto?

There are those on both sides, propagandists, fanatics, columnists, who insist that their own side is the sole heir to antiquity, the sole claimant to the property and the history of the Holy Land, the sole injured party, the sole heroic player.

They believe it with everything they have.

The best part, of course, is that they tend to believe that anyone who sees things differently is deluded. A victim of self-deception.

In view of this complex reality, how can you know truth from self-deception - Here's a simple self-test that may help:

1. True or False: One side is regularly condemned internationally for war crimes it is alleged to have committed. The other is shielded, left to commit them at will.

2. True or False: One side desecrates holy places. The other respects religious shrines, and the right of all to worship as they choose.

3. True or False: One side can be trusted to observe negotiated peace accords and agreed cease-fires. The other side violates them at will.

4. True or False: One side takes care to abide by the terms of peace agreements and cease-fires, until such time as the other side blatantly violates them.

5. True or False: One side has learned the lessons of the Holocaust. The actions of the other side are reminiscent of those who perpetrated it.

6. True or False: One side has a legitimate historical claim to territory of the Holy Land, being direct descendants of its ancient inhabitants. The claims of the other do not stand up to factual inspection.

7. True or False: One side repeatedly launches attacks which kill innocent civilians. The actions of the other are acts of legitimate self-defense.

8. True or False: One side genuinely seeks peace. The other side truly wants the land on its own terms, and is prepared to continue to kill people on the other side as long as its actual desires are unattained.

9. True or False: News media are over-sympathetic to one side only.

10. True or False: The people who support and speak for the other side are either lying or self-deceived.

HOW TO SCORE: Count 10 points for every "True" answer, none for every "False."

If you scored 0 - 20: Chances are that you still harbor a secret belief in the eventual possibility of peace.

Chances are that you are reluctant, at this point, to reveal this to anyone.

People on both sides are sure to tell you that you are deceiving yourself.

If you scored 30 - 50: Chances are you once harbored a belief in the eventual possibility of peace.

Chances are that you have stopped discussing this with people on the other side.

People on your side will now tell you that you have finally come to your senses.

You are on your way to self-deception.

If you scored 60 - 100: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes perfect sense to you.

You are a victim of serious self-deception. Unbeknownst to you.

___________________

Note: After serious consideration of a number of reader comments with respect to the guidelines for talkbacks on "A Special Place in Hell," the guidelines have been modified.

Although some rules have been relaxed, special emphasis will be placed on deleting letters which contain personal attacks on other respondents.

___________________

The guiding principles of the talkback forum for this article will be mutual respect and openness to dialogue. Participants, even if they rule out, dismiss or oppose coexistence, must, within the confines of this forum, practice it.

Censorship will be unapologetic.

Political orientation will have absolutely no bearing on whether a comment is posted or rejected.

The following will be grounds for deletion:

1. Racist remarks, as well as slurs on the basis of religion, ethnicity and gender.
2. Use of the terms Nazi, Hitler, to describe the actions and policies of Israelis, Palestinians or other parties to the Israel-Arab conflict.
3. Disparaging remarks, personal attacks, vulgarities and profanities directed at other participants in the forum.
4. Advocacy of violence against individuals or religious, ethnic or racial groups, including statements which may be construed as urging attacks on leaders, officials, security forces or civilians.

Previous blogs:

Jews who make Satan look good

Christmas 2006: Is Jesus still a Palestinian?

No Palestinians, No Palestine, No Problem

Wishing the Palestinians out of existence

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1.	deception	18:28	\|	Israel Zwick	18/12/06

2.	I Tested Myself!	18:30	\|	Allan	18/12/06

3.	I scored 0, but there are some conditional answers	18:56	\|	Bandar Michaels	18/12/06

4.	Both sides use similar arguments, but...	19:34	\|	Joe	18/12/06

5.	True or False	19:56	\|	Yoel	18/12/06

6.	Welcome to the Jungle	20:39	\|	Matthew Sawtell	18/12/06

7.	true	21:18	\|	emad matahin	18/12/06

8.	Deception	21:28	\|	Ted	18/12/06

9.	true	21:41	\|	zichron	18/12/06

10.	job	23:46	\|	rich	18/12/06

11.	The questions are proof of success of anti-Israel propaganda	23:48	\|	Boris	18/12/06

12.	irrelevant	23:50	\|	Pssd Off American	18/12/06

13.	I scored a whopping 973 points...	23:55	\|	bat yam	18/12/06

14.	Problems with the scoring	00:42	\|	Davids	19/12/06

15.	Welcome to the jungle	01:07	\|	Jack	19/12/06

16.	I got a negative score !!	01:15	\|	heinz	19/12/06

17.	I scored a 100	01:33	\|	Mike Steffen	19/12/06

18.	Not the first to discuss self identity	02:28	\|	Efox	19/12/06

19.	The Deceived	02:31	\|	Efox	19/12/06

20.	Self-deception or deceiving others?	03:48	\|	Brad R	19/12/06

21.	Burston, you are the most self-deceived of all!	03:57	\|	McQueen	19/12/06

22.	bat yam	04:03	\|	dubious	19/12/06

23.	Bradley forgot a tiny thing	04:22	\|	Marilyn	19/12/06

24.	Straw Men	04:59	\|	D B	19/12/06

25.	I scored 0; no correlaltion to peace beliefs	07:26	\|	David Howard	19/12/06

26.	Bradley:Sing in our chorus or sing solo.	09:11	\|	Akram Zekaria	19/12/06

27.	BETWEEN THE TWO IMPOSSIBLE PEACE	09:18	\|	indrajaya	19/12/06

28.	# 25 David Howard If you can show me one Israeli ......	09:32	\|	Swiss (Dino)	19/12/06

29.	Missing link discovered in Israel . . .	09:47	\|	revoltop	19/12/06

30.	Fighting continues despite ceasefire	09:51	\|	FOX	19/12/06

31.	Indajayra 27	09:59	\|	FOX	19/12/06

32.	bradley who will decide is the posts come from SANEpeople	10:01	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

33.	#28 THE QUESTIONS ARE LOADED IN FAVOUR OF BRADLEY	10:03	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

34.	Sullivan, Gabe1, Ben Jabo, Clickfool	10:05	\|	A pox on both	19/12/06

35.	Test Yourself	10:08	\|	Choni Davidowitz	19/12/06

36.	exercise in futility	10:15	\|	Dror	19/12/06

37.	BRADLEY I FORGOT WILL YOU EXCLUDE ALL THOS EWHO	10:17	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

38.	POP CULTURE...neon thoughts	10:17	\|	FOX	19/12/06

39.	Why should I believe your scoring system,are you GOD?	10:25	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

40.	Spot on	10:27	\|	Helen Jones	19/12/06

41.	Test Yourself (cont)	10:27	\|	Choni Davidowitz	19/12/06

42.	Thank you	10:38	\|	Cord Kaldrack	19/12/06

43.	I scored really high and still harbor hope-I`m stupid	10:46	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

44.	Indrajaya	10:51	\|	Yosemite Sam	19/12/06

45.	314Davids,you prove Burstons` scoring is lunacy	10:55	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

46.	#15,Jack proves burston`s scoring is lunacy	10:57	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

47.	#25,Ojai,those who score zero are very biased	11:07	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

48.	Bradley Burston	11:15	\|	Alasdair Anderson	19/12/06

49.	Neon Thoughts, Fox #38	11:20	\|	Dror	19/12/06

50.	# 44, YOSEMITE SAM	11:22	\|	indrajaya	19/12/06

51.	# 27 Indrajaya	11:25	\|	Swiss (Dino)	19/12/06

52.	#35Choni,do you think the holocaust was the wrath of God or Goyim	11:33	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

53.	Indrajaya-#44-You`re completely wrong	11:37	\|	Daniel Leopold	19/12/06

54.	#41Choni,Do you know that the Rabbis of the past put God on trial	11:43	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

55.	Indrajaya	11:54	\|	Yosemite Sam	19/12/06

56.	FOX	11:57	\|	sh	19/12/06

57.	#50Indrajaya,liars score zero-you show your true colors-"the only	11:59	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	19/12/06

58.	# 57 Susanna/Shoshanah	12:24	\|	Swiss (Dino)	19/12/06

59.	on Choni Davidowitz #35	12:39	\|	zeev	19/12/06

60.	Susanna said so . . .	12:44	\|	revoltop	19/12/06

61.	# 57, SUSANNA/SHOSHANAH	12:52	\|	indrajaya	19/12/06

62.	Einstein and Israel . . .	12:58	\|	revoltop	19/12/06

63.	# 62, REVOLTOP	13:22	\|	indrajaya	19/12/06

64.	Thank you indrajaya	13:31	\|	revoltop	19/12/06

65.	my condolences	13:49	\|	a friend	19/12/06

66.	indraja - get it right	13:49	\|	alef	19/12/06

67.	Stupid Article	14:02	\|	Psalm	19/12/06

68.	#27 Jakarta	14:09	\|	SLAVO	19/12/06

69.	Martin Luther King`s words regarding Zionism	14:09	\|	Psalm	19/12/06

70.	Think about it 11 against 1 we are born to win.	14:47	\|	Simon	19/12/06

71.	both peoples` characters are prone to sophistry	14:47	\|	Mohamed Mansour	19/12/06

72.	Is that you Jacob Blue #34	14:58	\|	Gabe1	19/12/06

73.	and another thing...	15:03	\|	Mohamed Mansour	19/12/06

74.	I Got a D- (60)	15:10	\|	Jeff Northridge	19/12/06

75.	#69 and martin luther king	15:16	\|	Mohamed Mansour	19/12/06

76.	Susanna/Shoshanah # 43 Stupidity	15:34	\|	Jeff Northridge	19/12/06

77.	#2	15:44	\|	ODP	19/12/06

78.	peace	15:50	\|	mothandrust	19/12/06

79.	Author`s self-deception	16:03	\|	Gene	19/12/06

80.	#68, SLAVO	16:11	\|	indrajaya	19/12/06

81.	# 66, ALEF	16:14	\|	indrajaya	19/12/06

82.	indrajaya what is your beef against the white man	16:34	\|	australopithicus	19/12/06

83.	indrajaya does it bother you unduly that	16:37	\|	australopithicus	19/12/06

84.	indrajaya and alef	16:42	\|	ODP	19/12/06

85.	Einstein quote	16:44	\|	mothandrust	19/12/06

86.	GLAD TO SEE I HARBOR BELIEF OF POSSIBLE PEACE, BUT #7	16:50	\|	Smadar	19/12/06

87.	The issue of war crimes	16:51	\|	Tosefta	19/12/06

88.	Question	16:53	\|	Pedro Dinis	19/12/06

89.	#58 dino IF YOU PASS MY EXAM ILL GIVE YOU AFORTNIGHTS VACATION IN	16:58	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

90.	Bradley and Fourth generation warfare	17:01	\|	B	19/12/06

91.	No Gabe, Unlike you, I keep my own screen name	17:09	\|	Jacob Blues	19/12/06

92.	To mothandrust	17:11	\|	Gene	19/12/06

93.	#75 Mohamed Mansour	17:12	\|	Psalm	19/12/06

94.	Well Brad, you definately stirred up the bees nest today	17:12	\|	Jacob Blues	19/12/06

95.	#89	17:21	\|	mothandrust	19/12/06

96.	High Scorers: Think of this as a wake up call.	17:32	\|	Timothy	19/12/06

97.	to Gene	17:33	\|	mothandrust	19/12/06

98.	# 89 paul harris	17:40	\|	Swiss (Dino)	19/12/06

99.	#86 POCOHANTAS IS WIDE AWAKE AT LAST	17:44	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

100.	i beat the highest score on this test (#13).	18:01	\|	unclicked/unfooled	19/12/06

101.	#98 DINO YOUR ANSWER ON ARABS AND SELF	18:15	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

102.	self deception	18:20	\|	Alain Chantenay	19/12/06

103.	# 75 Mohamed Mansour / anti-Zionism & islamophobia	18:29	\|	Paul Henzen	19/12/06

104.	# 101 paul harris	18:39	\|	Swiss (Dino)	19/12/06

105.	COUNT GRAVES & REFUGEES...	19:12	\|	MIKE KATZ	19/12/06

106.	Attention Mr. Burston	19:28	\|	W	19/12/06

107.	To Mr. Burston	19:58	\|	TonyL	19/12/06

108.	Bradley..Salam from a Palestinian	20:18	\|	Abu Firas AL Qudsi	19/12/06

109.	100 points for me: better to be safe than death	20:27	\|	André	19/12/06

110.	Marilyn -- I guess you can lead a horse to water...	20:37	\|	bbl	19/12/06

111.	Here`s true self-deception, Bradley --	20:42	\|	Dr. L. Brnd	19/12/06

112.	Burston doesn`t understand international law...	20:57	\|	peacelover	19/12/06

113.	Wake Up! Another test for everyone.	21:04	\|	Dave from Chicago	19/12/06

114.	Test...	21:28	\|	Guess who	19/12/06

115.	McQueen #21	21:36	\|	Guess who	19/12/06

116.	International Law	21:56	\|	Joseph	19/12/06

117.	#112 PEACE LOVER TRIES TO HAVE HIS CAKE AND EAT IT .	22:17	\|	paul harris	19/12/06

118.	To Burston. Hurrah	22:24	\|	JOJO	19/12/06

119.	Burston, YOU`re the self-deceived one.	22:26	\|	Yaakov K.	19/12/06

120.	PEACELOVER	22:27	\|	JOJO	19/12/06

121.	Test for Dave from Chicago! #113	22:30	\|	Sam	19/12/06

122.	tamar yonah show on INR	22:38	\|	sho	19/12/06

123.	Wake Up! II; Don`t hit the doze button	23:02	\|	Dave from Chicago	19/12/06

124.	to Sam #121	23:17	\|	Dave from Chicago	19/12/06

125.	Bradley Bradley Bradley	23:20	\|	Danite	19/12/06

126.	to Sam II	23:25	\|	Dave from Chicago	19/12/06

127.	To Dave the yank from Chicago 1	23:53	\|	Abu Firas Al Qudsi	19/12/06

128.	Test Yourself: The Mideast in 10 self-deceptions or less	23:58	\|	n_erber	19/12/06

129.	AlQudsi	00:06	\|	Danite	20/12/06

130.	to Abu Firas Al Qudsi I	00:16	\|	Dave from Chicago	20/12/06

131.	#119 - in my humble opinion	00:18	\|	mothandrust	20/12/06

132.	# Dave from Chicago. I SCORED 80.IS THAT GOOD OR BAD??	00:33	\|	Kathy	20/12/06

133.	to Abu IV	00:50	\|	Dave from Chicago	20/12/06

134.	Joseph #116	01:01	\|	Guess who	20/12/06

135.	Danite #125	01:12	\|	Guess who	20/12/06

136.	Dave from Chicago #123	01:18	\|	Guess who	20/12/06

137.	Yaakov K. #119	01:23	\|	Guess who	20/12/06

138.	I SCORED 100 BUT I AM NOT DECEIVING MYSELF	01:23	\|	Nicole	20/12/06

139.	Yaakov Blu #91	02:29	\|	Hanem5	20/12/06

140.	Danite #125	02:36	\|	Gabe1	20/12/06

141.	To mothandtrust	02:50	\|	Gene	20/12/06

142.	testing testing.....anyone hear me????	03:27	\|	Judy Abeles Eliasov	20/12/06

143.	How many children have Jews killed?	03:29	\|	Greg from Japan	20/12/06

144.	Gabe1	03:37	\|	Danite	20/12/06

145.	Realizations not Deceptions	04:15	\|	Edward	20/12/06

146.	Thankyou Burston	05:02	\|	Honi	20/12/06

147.	to Gene	05:02	\|	mothandrust	20/12/06

148.	SELF-LOATHING	05:12	\|	Kimberly	20/12/06

149.	The Mideast in 10 self-deceptions or less	05:27	\|	Ramey	20/12/06

150.	Heads I win. Tails you lose	05:35	\|	Carl Peters	20/12/06

151.	#29 revoltop	05:41	\|	keith	20/12/06

152.	to Kathy and Guess Who	05:43	\|	Dave from Chicago	20/12/06

153.	#52 Shosh - Jews bought land?	06:00	\|	keith	20/12/06

154.	to everyone	06:03	\|	Dave from Chicago	20/12/06

155.	to Kimberly	06:29	\|	Dave from Chicago	20/12/06

156.	Dave #113, has the Windy City clogged your brain?	06:37	\|	Palestinian Prince	20/12/06

157.	# 85, MOTHANDRUST	06:42	\|	indrajaya	20/12/06

158.	The confrontation thru the confusion of good versus bad,	07:38	\|	Joseph E .	20/12/06

159.	War is coming - Start preparing now!	08:26	\|	Arxland	20/12/06

160.	#57Dino,Einstein would be proud,don`t be afraid	08:28	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	20/12/06

161.	to Sam on blind support	08:38	\|	Watcher	20/12/06

162.	#60revoltop-this 21frst century?What tax are you babbling about?	08:40	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	20/12/06

163.	Arab word reserved? for Saudi Arabians?	08:45	\|	Watcher	20/12/06

164.	A test question Is one side ever more right than the other?	08:50	\|	Shalom Freedman	20/12/06

165.	#61Indrajaya,you are a proven liar-you and your pal,Ahmadenejad	08:50	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	20/12/06

166.	#62Frankly, I don`t know what Einstein believed-I happen to know	09:11	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	20/12/06

167.	Indrajaya You Pull The Wool Over The Eyes!	09:24	\|	Yosemite Sam	20/12/06

168.	EINSTEIN WAS A ZIONIST	09:36	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	20/12/06

169.	#74northridge,Igot a higher score but why let the good die young	09:41	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	20/12/06

170.	t0 #35/41 Mr. Davidovitz	10:21	\|	Leib	20/12/06

171.	#78moth and rust,as self described,you are totally deceived ala B	10:28	\|	Susanna/Shoshanah	20/12/06

172.	# 167, YOSEMITE SAM	10:35	\|	indrajaya	20/12/06

173.	# 167, YOSEMITE SAM	10:35	\|	indrajaya	20/12/06

174.	Susanna/Shoshanah	10:37	\|	revoltop	20/12/06

175.	Back to Einstein ownership . . .	10:48	\|	revoltop	20/12/06

176.	SUSANNA/SHOSHANAH	11:36	\|	indrajaya	20/12/06

177.	SUSANNA/SHOSHANAH	11:36	\|	indrajaya	20/12/06

178.	SUSANNA/SHOSHANAH	11:36	\|	indrajaya	20/12/06

179.	#175, why did not Einstein not live in Israel?	12:12	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	20/12/06

180.	Indrajaya	16:08	\|	Yosemite Sam	20/12/06

181.	#137: Guess WHAT, "guess who?"	16:25	\|	Yaakov K.	20/12/06

182.	Marilyn	16:47	\|	Jack	20/12/06

183.	#171 we are all deceived	17:06	\|	mothandrust	20/12/06

184.	That`s nice Gabe, next time, you can just recite the Shema	19:02	\|	Jacob Blues	20/12/06

185.	Perfect score	19:40	\|	Ed	20/12/06

186.	#143 How many children did Imperial Japan kill?	21:09	\|	Josh	20/12/06

187.	bat yam #13	23:29	\|	wibism	20/12/06

188.	to #156, Palestinian Prince	04:49	\|	Dave from Chicago	21/12/06

189.	to Palestinian Prince (one more thing)	04:57	\|	Dave from Chicago	21/12/06

190.	if you answered either true or false you are self-decieved	06:37	\|	Saul Tobin	21/12/06

191.	Test Question 10 is it	07:52	\|	Tzfonit	21/12/06

192.	#186 Josh: how many Philipinos did your heroic Marines massacre?	07:55	\|	keith	21/12/06

193.	#152 Dave from Chicago	08:01	\|	keith	21/12/06

194.	#168 Cipora: Einstein was not a zionist	13:42	\|	John	21/12/06

195.	Joh #194 Mediocrity manifested	15:57	\|	FOX	21/12/06

196.	psalm 93	16:15	\|	mohamed mansour	21/12/06

197.	and another thing psalm	16:23	\|	mohamed mansour	21/12/06

198.	good one	16:38	\|	ben	21/12/06

199.	to #193, Keith	18:16	\|	Dave from Chicago	21/12/06

200.	The questionaire is self-deluded	18:29	\|	Ruben Misrahi	21/12/06

201.	#8 (Ted) is so right	18:31	\|	Ruben Misrahi	21/12/06

202.	#23 Marilyn. How old are you?	18:42	\|	Ruben Misrahi	21/12/06

203.	Disarm	23:40	\|	Dennis	21/12/06

204.	who is the deciever?	03:58	\|	jim	22/12/06

205.	True or False??? Are you kidding Me???	04:28	\|	Lady Gatta	22/12/06

206.	Mr. Bradley, stop decepting us!!!	04:35	\|	Lady Gatta	22/12/06

207.	Women`s Weekly Quiz	09:56	\|	Bill	22/12/06

208.	Exellent, I can`t say better	10:37	\|	God	22/12/06

209.	The only right question	11:02	\|	GOD	22/12/06

210.	Bravo Dave from Chicago	11:12	\|	GOD	22/12/06

211.	Abu Firas Al Qudsi, look the symmetry	11:19	\|	ZIONIST	22/12/06

212.	I got 6 million points	15:05	\|	Carles	22/12/06

213.	#194, John	15:57	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	22/12/06

214.	Disagree	21:29	\|	Gabriel Elias	22/12/06

215.	George W. & Hillary Get 100	22:48	\|	Jim Murphy	22/12/06

216.	EINSTEIN Was not zionist NOr the majority of jews	03:57	\|	John	23/12/06

217.	MORE PROOF ON THIS POST	05:02	\|	viper	23/12/06

218.	#39, susanh/shoshanah, BUT ARE YOU ?	05:28	\|	viper	23/12/06

219.	Test yourself	13:02	\|	Erez Semaria	23/12/06

220.	I am for world peace...and I will kill any S.O.B. that gets in my	16:35	\|	peacelovertoo	23/12/06

221.	I scored 100000000	17:51	\|	ZIONIST	23/12/06

222.	i hate school	20:10	\|	sho	23/12/06

223.	Self Deception	09:58	\|	David	24/12/06

224.	Self Deception	09:58	\|	David	24/12/06

225.	#216, John	10:19	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	24/12/06

226.	John, lowering the bar	16:06	\|	FOX	24/12/06

227.	deception	22:16	\|	Sharon Elliott	24/12/06

228.	#14 Davids	10:03	\|	Kaelinda	25/12/06

229.	#143 - Greg from Japan	10:13	\|	Kaelinda	25/12/06