Testing our truths helps to solidify what we believe true about the world or gives us reason to change accordingly. It can be fun, provided, of course, that you’re sufficiently philosophically inclined, don’t mind having your sacred cows slaughtered by your own or another’s hand, etc.
Wait, what am I talking about!? Ah, the constant test of what we hold true. I have to admit that there’s some stuff I can immediately flip on in the face of new information and there’s other stuff that’s a lot harder to let go of. Here’s an oddball unrelated to relationships one that I’m still struggling with: are Israelis really always the victim/underdog in any culture clash or is it time to move my beliefs to the new era? That’s more of a couple o’ brews at the pub kinda topic though what with it being just short of a sports discussion.
Anyway, was doing some thinking about youngsters being out in the world on their own for the first time ever. Particularly in NYC. I think many are so new to navigating the world that they need a feeling of control and cling to what they’ve been told was true like it’s a lifesaver. They NEED a map even if it’s a bad one. They don’t yet know how to navigate through vagueness and accept they might f*** something up, be wrong along the way, or just not know what they’re doing. Control… that’s the word. That’s my take away from some recent comments over at my buddy’s site. I saw a lot of reaction recently that I think was based on fear and the illusion of control. I work in project management so believe me, control is always an illusion. I’m a little off topic but I was also reminded of what I wrote about stereotyping way back in September 2009…
Most importantly, I’m willing and sometimes even eager to have my ideas tested and yeah, it might suck, but I’d rather form my decisions and act on the real picture than what I want the world to be. However alluring the latter might sound. In my head.
Steve's Deli 
RE: Israelites, it’s a pretty complicated issue.
When getting your information from American media sources vis a vis Israel, you have to remember that Christians believe their fate is directly tied to that of Jews. As such, the vast majority of American news sources will always paint Israel as the underdog and in the perpetual role of the oppressed.
Some research into Zionism, which directly led to the founding of Israel in 1948, would go a long way to testing your own truths on the issue which from your statements seem to fall on the side of sympathy for the Jews (not a Weird Al cover of a Rolling Stones tune).
Here’s a good article circa 2001 from on of my personal heroes, who it so happens is Jewish, Tim Wise.
Good article on the flotilla raid.
Here’s an independent blog which focuses on the human rights abuses by Israel.
McClatchey (highly respected news outfit) article on how the Gaza blockade is really about economic warfare against Hamas (which, ironically, was created by Israel when it tried to push the Islamists against the PLO).