Shimon; if someone were using an anonymous coffee room to glorify one’s self…. that’s a very tawdry glory, if it can be called such. I write here because I enjoy writing and I don’t have many other opportunities to do so. Anyways, as I’ve made clear elsewhere, I don’t know everything, and i don’t remember everything either, so thank you for looking it up – im pretty sure someone says what I said above, but it wasn’t the pri megadim.
Avi – you’re referring to physical characteristics of bnei eretz yisroel. Saying that people who live there are sickly reflects badly on the land, because different climates influence the health and vigor of their inhabitants. Saying that someone is – of his own choice – a mechalel shabbos, is not insulting the land at all, it’s insulting that person’s choice.
As to who is better, one who sacrifices their life for others (non-jewish heroism, and assur according to some poskim) or one who serves Hashem by keeping the mitzvos….well, if I put it that way, I think the answer is very clear. Also, their idea of “jew” is just like their idea of “arab”; they view themselves as a race and a country, so would you likewise say that an idol worshipping Hindu soldier sacrificing his life for his countrymen is also on a higher level than a regular shomer torah umitzvos Jew?