One of my regular reads (The Big Pharaoh: http://www.bigpharaoh.com/ ) directed my attention to a delightful discovery, and a superlative but TOTALLY POLITICALLY INCORRECT blogposting by the Bacon Eating Atheist Jew ( http://baconeatingatheistjew.blogspot.com/ ).
The posting is here:
http://baconeatingatheistjew.blogspot.com/2006/07/moonbatterrorist-supporter-dictionary.html
Let me quote just a little bit...
MOONBAT/TERRORIST SUPPORTER DICTIONARY: ISRAELI CONFLICT EDITION
Anti-semite: Someone who hates Arabs.
Appeasement: A chance to show the world that Arab assmonkeys are good guys and mean no harm.
Arab Land: Every inch of land in the middle east, including part of Africa and probably Spain.
Cease fire: An opportunity for Arabs to replenish weapons.
Civilian: 1. Any Arab in civilian clothes. 2. Any Arab who was killed when used as a human shield.
Defending their country: Shooting missiles from civilian zones at civilians.
Disproportionate response: Anything a Jew does to strike out at a terrorist.
Freedom fighter: An Arab assmonkey terrorist, brainwashed to hate by an intolerant culture of hate.
Green Line: The border that Jews must retreat to even though it wasn't good enough for the Arab assmonkeys prior to 1967, the Arabs will magically accept this and live in peace even though their elected representatives state it will not be good enough.
Good Jew or Real Jew: A Jew who thinks Israel has no right to exist.
Holocaust: 1. Any war started by Arabs in which more than 10 Arabs were killed. 2. Something Jews are supposed to forget about. 3. Something that never happened, yet Jews have manipulated the "theft" of "Arab land" by conning the world into believing it did happen.
There's lots more.
If it doesn't at least crack a big smile all over your politically incorrect ponim, you don't have a sense of humour.
Please click here: http://baconeatingatheistjew.blogspot.com/2006/07/moonbatterrorist-supporter-dictionary.html to read the rest.
And read some of his other stuff. It's good for you.
http://baconeatingatheistjew.blogspot.com/
And also drop by the Big Pharaoh ( http://www.bigpharaoh.com/ ) for a different and much more balanced view of events in the Middle-East than I am capable of. Not that he's always right. But even when you disagree with him, you will find him a reasonable, rational, and witty man. The kind of man to whom you will want to talk back. The kind of man who makes the extremists on both sides look kinda subhuman.
One other blogger whom you can enjoy, but only if you read Dutch, is Abdelkader Benali (b. 1975) ( http://blogs.vn.nl/abdelkaderbenali/ ), who writes from Beirut. Benali is the kind of Dutchman who can actually see both sides, and the kind of writer who can express in spare prose paragraphs what others cannot evoke even in sheer floods of verbosity.
He won the Libris prize three years ago for his novels and plays. His book 'Bruiloft Aan Zee' (Wedding By The Sea) is available at bookstores - check the internet for availability.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
FLOYD LANDIS, AND THE EFFECTS OF VENEREAL DISEASE ON DUTCH BRAINS
The Labrab (http://labrab.blogspot.com/) in a posting about Floyd Landis and the doping allegation (see here: http://labrab.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-floyd-landis-is-like-jack-abramoff.html ), mentions that groups are often viewed in light of the actions of one individual.
This, of course, is something that Jews are particularly aware of, but black people and Asian-Americans are also often viewed darkly when one of their members strays.
Most Christians “remain” blithely in the dark about this tendency, and members of the majority ethnicity in any country almost always deny that they stereotype in this manner.
I doubt that their denial is much comfort to Arabs in Europe or Chinese in insular South-East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines).
History shows that such stereotyping is more common, and leads to more bigotry, discrimination, and violence, than any other factor.
There is no evidence that society has unlearned this habit – and much evidence that in some benighted regions it thrives like never before.
Now, getting back to Floyd Landis.
I commented on Labrab’s blog that the Dutch coverage and commentary stresses that he is American, and has suggested that Americans are all dishonest cheaters and loudmouths.The Nether-rabble-commentators have really taken up that argument, and I'm baffled as all git-out how someone managed to link a nasty crack against Bush, and a reference to Israel, into a venomous spew about Landis and alleged American cheating proclivities.
You think I exaggerate?
Herewith a sampling from the commentary on the Weblog of Jan Marijnissen (http://www.janmarijnissen.nl/weblog/), underneath this posting http://www.janmarijnissen.nl/weblog/2006/07/27/wonderen-bestaan-niet/#comments :
“Ja, ik vond het toch al zo verdacht dat Bush-vriend Armstrong 6 x, geloof ik, de Tour won, terwijl hij kanker zou hebben gehad, iedereen die ik ken van zijn leeftijd die kanker had is allang dood, alleen al omdat er geen geld was voor dure medicijnen, en nu F.Landis. Het verbaast me niks.”
[Yes, I really did find it suspicious that Bush' friend Armstrong won, six times I believe, even though he had cancer, everyone I know who is of his age and had cancer has been dead a long time, merely because there was no money for expensive medicines, and now there’s F. Landis. Doesn't surprise me a bit.]
“Ik heb er tot nu toe mijn mond over gehouden, en werden de mensen die het hier al eerder op die manier zagen verweten “dat” zij er zo over dachten,ik ben het in ieder geval met u eens, de zogenaamde superhelden die door Amerika altijd maar naar voren worden geschoven, altijd moeten ze koste wat kost de grootste de beste de sterkste etc etc zijn over de hele wereld. Kotsmisselijk word je er van, en dat terwijl voor het grootste deel,alles wat ze bezitten gekregen en afgepakt hebben, om maar niet te spreken van zogenaamde amerikaanse uitvindingen die door teams van veelal buitenlandse mensen worden gedaan...”
[Till now I've held my tongue about it, and people here who had this view already were chastised that they though about it thus, (but) in any case I agree with you, the so-called super-heroes put forward by America always just have to be the best and the biggest etc etc all over the world. It just makes you sick (literally: nauseous to the point of puking), and that while most of what they possess was given to them or stolen, not even mentioning the so-called American inventions, made by teams of mostly foreigners...]
“Is er dan nog een ander soort amerikanen?”
[Is there even another kind of American?]
Bush heeft zeker ook alsmaar de `verkiezingen’ gewonnen na zo’n extra boostpil.
[Bush surely won the ‘elections’ after an extra boostpill.]
“Erg domme Amerikanen”
[Very dumb Americans.]
“Landis’ moeder…… wist dat miljoenen Amerikanen voor zoon Floyd aan het bidden waren.
Tenenkrommend, nu nog een interview voor Fox door Ann Coulter, en morgen keilen de Amerikanen weer massaal Franse wijn en frieten in de goot, ja, want kritiek op de oorlog van Israël hebben die Fransen ook al….”
[Landis’ mother…… knew that millions of Americans were praying for (her) son Floyd. Toe-curling – all it will take now is an interview on Fox by Ann Coulter, and tomorrow the Americans will again toss massive quantities of French wine and fries into the gutter, uh huh, ‘cause those French also got criticism about that war of Israel’s…]
[Note: Jan Marijnissen is a Dutch Socialist Party Parliamentarian. He is from North Brabant (a territory of particular interest to me), and, being a socialist, naturally tends towards the radical.
As such he is, like many Dutch, hyper-critical of the United States and Israel.
But unlike many Dutch he is not an idiot but actually very intelligent and well-read - believe me, that is extremely unusual. It also sets him apart from most of the prominent members of the Dutch socialist fringe. Many of the commentators under his blog, on the other hand…… rabid idiots.]
Now, here, for your wry displeasure, is a sampling from the barely literate morons who infest the comment-sections of Het Algemeen Dagblad (a major newspaper which can be found here: http://www.ad.nl/ - the article in question is here: http://www.ad.nl/sport/tour/article500829.ece ):
“Ach, die amerikanen trekken de lijn van de laatste jaren gewoon door. Enige verschil is dat ze inmiddels ook zo stom zijn om zich te laten snappen”
[Oh well, those Americans just do things in the way they've done them for years. Only difference is that by now they're so stupid that they get caught.]
“Weer een Amerikaan die de Tour niet clean wint!!!!”
[Another American who didn't win the tour cleanly!!!]
“Die nep-cowboy verbannen naar de grotten van torra bora.”
[Banish that pretend-cowboy to the caves of Tora Bora.]]
“Het is toch zo een verdomd achterbaks volkje ook hé, Carl Lewis werd op het gebruik van dope betrapt maar hoefde zijn medailles niet in te leveren. Maar het leven van Ben Johnsson ( Canadees van geboorte) werd door de Amerikanen onmogelijk gemaakt.
Armstrong heeft, dat moge nu wel overduidelijk zijn, dope gebruikt om de Tour 7 keer te winnen. Volgens de Amerikanen heeft Armstrong de tour op klasse gewonnen en niets dope !
Tsja, wie herinnert zich niet de rel omtrent Pieter van Hoogenband toen hij de Amerikaanse topfavoriet in Sydney versloeg ? Volgens de Amerikanen was het onmogelijk om zonder dope zo een puike prestatie neer te zetten. Af en toe zijn de Yankees net als kinderen.”
[They're such a damned sleazy nation, eh, Carl Lewis was also caught using dope but didn't have to turn in his medals. But the life of Ben Johnson (Canadian by birth) was ruined by the Americans. Armstrong, as should be abundantly clear by now, used dope in order to win the tour seven times. According to the Americans, he won on his strengths and no dope! Well, who doesn't remember the racket when Pieter van Hoogenband whupped the American favorite in Sydney? Per the Americans it was impossible without dope to deliver such a splendid achievement. Now and then they're just like children.}]
“Godvrezende Amerikaan beduvelt de hele kluit en gaat er met de tourzege aan de haal ( tenminste dat dacht hij). Het kan bijna niet anders, immers zagen wij ook niet zijn eveneens Godvrezende President voor het oog van de hele wereld om Gods zegen en steun vragen teneinde met succes Saddams nucleaire arsenaal te kunnen vernietigen.”
[God-fearing American screws the lot and makes off with the tour victory (at least he thought he did). Hardly possible otherwise, after all did we not see his equally God-fearing president, in full view of the whole world, ask for God's blessing and support for success in destroying Saddam's nuclear arsenal.]
“Ja,Greg Lemond heeft ook zijn 3 zeges niet schoon gereden,toen Amstrong nou dus malle pietje Flooyd Landis,als ik de Tour directie was,boycot al die Yankee Doodles,ze gebruiken doping als snoepgoed in de states!”
[Yeah, Greg Lemond also didn't achieve his three victories cleanly, then Armstrong though now the moron Floyd Landis, if I were in charge of the tour, boycott all those Yankee Doodles, they use doping like it was candy in the States.]
“De laatste 20 jaar 11x een Amerikaanse tourwinnaar. Terwijl ze daar amper weten wat wielrennen is.
Je ziet ze het hele jaar niet en ineens staan ze er omdat ze zich zogenaamd maar op één koers richten. De Tour de France.
Ammahoela, 49 weken experimenteren met verboden middeltjes en hoe ze de UCI kunnen misleiden en dan alle Europeanen naar huis fietsen."
[The past twenty years eleven times an American winner of the tour. While they have scarcely a clue what bicycle racing is. The whole year they're nowhere, and then all of a sudden they're there, because they claim to gear themselves for just one race - the Tour De France. Pull the other one, forty nine weeks of experimenting with illegal substances and how to fool the UCI, then bulldozing all the Europeans.]
Well, what can I say about my fellow Dutch-speakers?
All I can offer is that not all of them are stark-raving mad, and that as with any group the percentage who are half-way capable of rational thought are outnumbered by cretins. And in this case, unfortunately, outnumbered by a huge majority.
But some of them are, believe it or not, actually quite decent folk.
Even though many (most) have not fully realized their potential, gotten an education, read much, developed any sense, or achieved anything all.
I had, long ago, thought much better of them – but then I thought better of everybody at that stage in my life. I remain optimistic that human societies will improve (scant evidence of that in Europe, but never mind), and there are always bright spots. One can but hope.
Regarding the Dutch tendency towards fevered pronouncements and insane illogic, as evinced by the statements cited above, the two most likely explanations are syphilis and mercury-poisoning. Both of those eventually affect the brain. And I know that at least in parts of the country the water is clean, so not all of them have mercury-poisoning……….
I have no explanation for their hatred of Americans. It is totally baffling, especially as they consume so much that is American, and ape Americans in so many ways.
Perhaps it is a bizarre form of self-loathing.
Tzarich iyun.....
This, of course, is something that Jews are particularly aware of, but black people and Asian-Americans are also often viewed darkly when one of their members strays.
Most Christians “remain” blithely in the dark about this tendency, and members of the majority ethnicity in any country almost always deny that they stereotype in this manner.
I doubt that their denial is much comfort to Arabs in Europe or Chinese in insular South-East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines).
History shows that such stereotyping is more common, and leads to more bigotry, discrimination, and violence, than any other factor.
There is no evidence that society has unlearned this habit – and much evidence that in some benighted regions it thrives like never before.
Now, getting back to Floyd Landis.
I commented on Labrab’s blog that the Dutch coverage and commentary stresses that he is American, and has suggested that Americans are all dishonest cheaters and loudmouths.The Nether-rabble-commentators have really taken up that argument, and I'm baffled as all git-out how someone managed to link a nasty crack against Bush, and a reference to Israel, into a venomous spew about Landis and alleged American cheating proclivities.
You think I exaggerate?
Herewith a sampling from the commentary on the Weblog of Jan Marijnissen (http://www.janmarijnissen.nl/weblog/), underneath this posting http://www.janmarijnissen.nl/weblog/2006/07/27/wonderen-bestaan-niet/#comments :
“Ja, ik vond het toch al zo verdacht dat Bush-vriend Armstrong 6 x, geloof ik, de Tour won, terwijl hij kanker zou hebben gehad, iedereen die ik ken van zijn leeftijd die kanker had is allang dood, alleen al omdat er geen geld was voor dure medicijnen, en nu F.Landis. Het verbaast me niks.”
[Yes, I really did find it suspicious that Bush' friend Armstrong won, six times I believe, even though he had cancer, everyone I know who is of his age and had cancer has been dead a long time, merely because there was no money for expensive medicines, and now there’s F. Landis. Doesn't surprise me a bit.]
“Ik heb er tot nu toe mijn mond over gehouden, en werden de mensen die het hier al eerder op die manier zagen verweten “dat” zij er zo over dachten,ik ben het in ieder geval met u eens, de zogenaamde superhelden die door Amerika altijd maar naar voren worden geschoven, altijd moeten ze koste wat kost de grootste de beste de sterkste etc etc zijn over de hele wereld. Kotsmisselijk word je er van, en dat terwijl voor het grootste deel,alles wat ze bezitten gekregen en afgepakt hebben, om maar niet te spreken van zogenaamde amerikaanse uitvindingen die door teams van veelal buitenlandse mensen worden gedaan...”
[Till now I've held my tongue about it, and people here who had this view already were chastised that they though about it thus, (but) in any case I agree with you, the so-called super-heroes put forward by America always just have to be the best and the biggest etc etc all over the world. It just makes you sick (literally: nauseous to the point of puking), and that while most of what they possess was given to them or stolen, not even mentioning the so-called American inventions, made by teams of mostly foreigners...]
“Is er dan nog een ander soort amerikanen?”
[Is there even another kind of American?]
Bush heeft zeker ook alsmaar de `verkiezingen’ gewonnen na zo’n extra boostpil.
[Bush surely won the ‘elections’ after an extra boostpill.]
“Erg domme Amerikanen”
[Very dumb Americans.]
“Landis’ moeder…… wist dat miljoenen Amerikanen voor zoon Floyd aan het bidden waren.
Tenenkrommend, nu nog een interview voor Fox door Ann Coulter, en morgen keilen de Amerikanen weer massaal Franse wijn en frieten in de goot, ja, want kritiek op de oorlog van Israël hebben die Fransen ook al….”
[Landis’ mother…… knew that millions of Americans were praying for (her) son Floyd. Toe-curling – all it will take now is an interview on Fox by Ann Coulter, and tomorrow the Americans will again toss massive quantities of French wine and fries into the gutter, uh huh, ‘cause those French also got criticism about that war of Israel’s…]
[Note: Jan Marijnissen is a Dutch Socialist Party Parliamentarian. He is from North Brabant (a territory of particular interest to me), and, being a socialist, naturally tends towards the radical.
As such he is, like many Dutch, hyper-critical of the United States and Israel.
But unlike many Dutch he is not an idiot but actually very intelligent and well-read - believe me, that is extremely unusual. It also sets him apart from most of the prominent members of the Dutch socialist fringe. Many of the commentators under his blog, on the other hand…… rabid idiots.]
Now, here, for your wry displeasure, is a sampling from the barely literate morons who infest the comment-sections of Het Algemeen Dagblad (a major newspaper which can be found here: http://www.ad.nl/ - the article in question is here: http://www.ad.nl/sport/tour/article500829.ece ):
“Ach, die amerikanen trekken de lijn van de laatste jaren gewoon door. Enige verschil is dat ze inmiddels ook zo stom zijn om zich te laten snappen”
[Oh well, those Americans just do things in the way they've done them for years. Only difference is that by now they're so stupid that they get caught.]
“Weer een Amerikaan die de Tour niet clean wint!!!!”
[Another American who didn't win the tour cleanly!!!]
“Die nep-cowboy verbannen naar de grotten van torra bora.”
[Banish that pretend-cowboy to the caves of Tora Bora.]]
“Het is toch zo een verdomd achterbaks volkje ook hé, Carl Lewis werd op het gebruik van dope betrapt maar hoefde zijn medailles niet in te leveren. Maar het leven van Ben Johnsson ( Canadees van geboorte) werd door de Amerikanen onmogelijk gemaakt.
Armstrong heeft, dat moge nu wel overduidelijk zijn, dope gebruikt om de Tour 7 keer te winnen. Volgens de Amerikanen heeft Armstrong de tour op klasse gewonnen en niets dope !
Tsja, wie herinnert zich niet de rel omtrent Pieter van Hoogenband toen hij de Amerikaanse topfavoriet in Sydney versloeg ? Volgens de Amerikanen was het onmogelijk om zonder dope zo een puike prestatie neer te zetten. Af en toe zijn de Yankees net als kinderen.”
[They're such a damned sleazy nation, eh, Carl Lewis was also caught using dope but didn't have to turn in his medals. But the life of Ben Johnson (Canadian by birth) was ruined by the Americans. Armstrong, as should be abundantly clear by now, used dope in order to win the tour seven times. According to the Americans, he won on his strengths and no dope! Well, who doesn't remember the racket when Pieter van Hoogenband whupped the American favorite in Sydney? Per the Americans it was impossible without dope to deliver such a splendid achievement. Now and then they're just like children.}]
“Godvrezende Amerikaan beduvelt de hele kluit en gaat er met de tourzege aan de haal ( tenminste dat dacht hij). Het kan bijna niet anders, immers zagen wij ook niet zijn eveneens Godvrezende President voor het oog van de hele wereld om Gods zegen en steun vragen teneinde met succes Saddams nucleaire arsenaal te kunnen vernietigen.”
[God-fearing American screws the lot and makes off with the tour victory (at least he thought he did). Hardly possible otherwise, after all did we not see his equally God-fearing president, in full view of the whole world, ask for God's blessing and support for success in destroying Saddam's nuclear arsenal.]
“Ja,Greg Lemond heeft ook zijn 3 zeges niet schoon gereden,toen Amstrong nou dus malle pietje Flooyd Landis,als ik de Tour directie was,boycot al die Yankee Doodles,ze gebruiken doping als snoepgoed in de states!”
[Yeah, Greg Lemond also didn't achieve his three victories cleanly, then Armstrong though now the moron Floyd Landis, if I were in charge of the tour, boycott all those Yankee Doodles, they use doping like it was candy in the States.]
“De laatste 20 jaar 11x een Amerikaanse tourwinnaar. Terwijl ze daar amper weten wat wielrennen is.
Je ziet ze het hele jaar niet en ineens staan ze er omdat ze zich zogenaamd maar op één koers richten. De Tour de France.
Ammahoela, 49 weken experimenteren met verboden middeltjes en hoe ze de UCI kunnen misleiden en dan alle Europeanen naar huis fietsen."
[The past twenty years eleven times an American winner of the tour. While they have scarcely a clue what bicycle racing is. The whole year they're nowhere, and then all of a sudden they're there, because they claim to gear themselves for just one race - the Tour De France. Pull the other one, forty nine weeks of experimenting with illegal substances and how to fool the UCI, then bulldozing all the Europeans.]
Well, what can I say about my fellow Dutch-speakers?
All I can offer is that not all of them are stark-raving mad, and that as with any group the percentage who are half-way capable of rational thought are outnumbered by cretins. And in this case, unfortunately, outnumbered by a huge majority.
But some of them are, believe it or not, actually quite decent folk.
Even though many (most) have not fully realized their potential, gotten an education, read much, developed any sense, or achieved anything all.
I had, long ago, thought much better of them – but then I thought better of everybody at that stage in my life. I remain optimistic that human societies will improve (scant evidence of that in Europe, but never mind), and there are always bright spots. One can but hope.
Regarding the Dutch tendency towards fevered pronouncements and insane illogic, as evinced by the statements cited above, the two most likely explanations are syphilis and mercury-poisoning. Both of those eventually affect the brain. And I know that at least in parts of the country the water is clean, so not all of them have mercury-poisoning……….
I have no explanation for their hatred of Americans. It is totally baffling, especially as they consume so much that is American, and ape Americans in so many ways.
Perhaps it is a bizarre form of self-loathing.
Tzarich iyun.....
Thursday, July 27, 2006
HONK IF YOU SUPPORT ISRAEL
And thank you for your encouragement.
That, at least, was the main result of today's pro-Israel counter-demo.
We occupied the Southeast corner of the intersection of Montgomery and Market Streets, opposite the bart-station and the point where Post splices into Monty before hitting Market.
Which was where they were.
The motley.
Because colonies of motley sprouted on the two other corners where we were not, it was easier to see how outnumbered we were. At our height there were around thirty of us.
I estimate their number as being two hundred and fifty to three hundred.
But, praise the master of the universe, their sound-barrage was not nearly as good as it normally is.
Their usual eloquent ringleader was not there this time - maybe he lost his voice after shouting and yelling for two solid hours this past Sunday.
[I hope nothing is wrong with him, he really should take some throat tablets and take better care of himself. He's already wasted any chance of an opera career... ]
Several of their other regulars were also missing in action - notably the young Arab gentleman with the phenomenal proboscis (a veritable beak, a savage promontory, a steam-locomotive's cattle-catcher, a proud bow, a sharp aquiline... anyway, it's beautiful, and adds distinction to his face).
Nor was the saucy Edomite temptress with the splendid voorgevel there either. Pity.
But instead, what may have been her cousin was - a short, plump virago, of a pleasing warm and glowing appearance, with sparkly eyes and good teeth, who yelled all manner of creative venom across a busy intersection during rush hour.
A Bas Yishmael in full fury (feathers all ruffled, raggy kefiyeh aflutter).
At a break in the noise I yelled back at her.
I'm not sure if she heard me.
So let me say it again here:
SWEETHEART, YOU'RE CUTE WHEN YOU'RE ANGRY!
;-D
---------
The other thing I yelled at some point was:
"your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of.... elderberries!"
Yeah, I know these two slogans are not part of the programme. But really, does anyone listen to what either side yells? Mostly they smile as they go past, or give the finger to one side, or a black power salute to the other side. But mostly they honk. Loud. Long. Honk. Honk.
We did get a good hollering section going chanting 'am Yisroel chai', and a group of Russians regularly broke into Hatikva. At some point we all sang haveinu sholom aleichem (while I'm sure many of us privately thought "your mother was a hamster and your father...").
The net result of this, like every counter demo, was not that Israel is strengthened or infused with renewed courage, nor given peace, or her suffering lessened.
No, the real effect of these events is that people who drive or walk by see that someone actively opposes the sonei-yisroel, that there are people who have not surrendered to the soft-in-the-head idea that Israel is a criminal-state and deserves censure, and they are not alone surrounded by those who hate them and would deny them and Israel their place.
And we hope that many take heart from seeing that even though outnumbered, am Yisroel chai.
Now, because I always remember it when outnumbered in a good cause, and think it good and altogether the right thing to chazak our emunah, let me give you an appropriate speech from Shakespeare (Henry V, before the battle of Agincourt):
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive!
No, faith, my cuz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tiptoe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian'.
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day'.
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered -
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
Make him a member of the gentry, even if he is a commoner.
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Oh yeah, baby. You're cute when you're angry.
---------------------------------------------
That, at least, was the main result of today's pro-Israel counter-demo.
We occupied the Southeast corner of the intersection of Montgomery and Market Streets, opposite the bart-station and the point where Post splices into Monty before hitting Market.
Which was where they were.
The motley.
Because colonies of motley sprouted on the two other corners where we were not, it was easier to see how outnumbered we were. At our height there were around thirty of us.
I estimate their number as being two hundred and fifty to three hundred.
But, praise the master of the universe, their sound-barrage was not nearly as good as it normally is.
Their usual eloquent ringleader was not there this time - maybe he lost his voice after shouting and yelling for two solid hours this past Sunday.
[I hope nothing is wrong with him, he really should take some throat tablets and take better care of himself. He's already wasted any chance of an opera career... ]
Several of their other regulars were also missing in action - notably the young Arab gentleman with the phenomenal proboscis (a veritable beak, a savage promontory, a steam-locomotive's cattle-catcher, a proud bow, a sharp aquiline... anyway, it's beautiful, and adds distinction to his face).
Nor was the saucy Edomite temptress with the splendid voorgevel there either. Pity.
But instead, what may have been her cousin was - a short, plump virago, of a pleasing warm and glowing appearance, with sparkly eyes and good teeth, who yelled all manner of creative venom across a busy intersection during rush hour.
A Bas Yishmael in full fury (feathers all ruffled, raggy kefiyeh aflutter).
At a break in the noise I yelled back at her.
I'm not sure if she heard me.
So let me say it again here:
SWEETHEART, YOU'RE CUTE WHEN YOU'RE ANGRY!
;-D
---------
The other thing I yelled at some point was:
"your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of.... elderberries!"
Yeah, I know these two slogans are not part of the programme. But really, does anyone listen to what either side yells? Mostly they smile as they go past, or give the finger to one side, or a black power salute to the other side. But mostly they honk. Loud. Long. Honk. Honk.
We did get a good hollering section going chanting 'am Yisroel chai', and a group of Russians regularly broke into Hatikva. At some point we all sang haveinu sholom aleichem (while I'm sure many of us privately thought "your mother was a hamster and your father...").
The net result of this, like every counter demo, was not that Israel is strengthened or infused with renewed courage, nor given peace, or her suffering lessened.
No, the real effect of these events is that people who drive or walk by see that someone actively opposes the sonei-yisroel, that there are people who have not surrendered to the soft-in-the-head idea that Israel is a criminal-state and deserves censure, and they are not alone surrounded by those who hate them and would deny them and Israel their place.
And we hope that many take heart from seeing that even though outnumbered, am Yisroel chai.
--- . --- . --- . --- . --- . --- . ---
Now, because I always remember it when outnumbered in a good cause, and think it good and altogether the right thing to chazak our emunah, let me give you an appropriate speech from Shakespeare (Henry V, before the battle of Agincourt):
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive!
No, faith, my cuz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tiptoe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian'.
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day'.
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered -
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
Make him a member of the gentry, even if he is a commoner.
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Oh yeah, baby. You're cute when you're angry.
---------------------------------------------
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
URGENT - ANOTHER BOGEY
Tia alerts me to another anti-Israel protest from the dark side, this one happening tomorrow.
Which hardly gives us any time to organize a significant counter protest to let people know that we strongly agree with Senator Feinstein, and strongly disagree with the point of view of those who wish ill on Israel.
Below is the forwarded text from the bad guys:
Press Conference at 4:30
Rally and Protest at 5 PM
Thursday, July 27
Senator Feinstein’s Office
1 Post (at Montgomery and Market streets -
Montgomery BART)
SFPLEASE POST WIDELY!PROTEST FEINSTEIN'S SUPPORT OF ISRAELI STATE TERRORISM AND WAR CRIMES
Press Conference at 4:30
Rally and Protest at 5 PMThursday, July 27
Senator Feinstein’s Office
1 Post (at Montgomery and Market streets -Montgomery BART)
San Francisco, CA
Senator Dianne Feinstein fully supports Israeli war crimes and terrorism against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Feinstein speaking at rally on Sunday vowed to continue her support for Israel’s widespread violations of international and humanitarian law that are causing hundreds of civilian deaths and destroying critical civilian infrastructures. With Feinstein’s support, the U.S. Congress approved a resolution giving Israel its full support just days after the U.S. government used its power to veto a UN resolution critical of Israel.
The Israeli military is collectively punishing the Lebanese and Palestinian populations by killing hundreds of civilians and destroying critical civilian infrastructures. There have been over 400 Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli military over the last 2 weeks including many children. There have been verified reports of the use of phosphorus bombs on civilians fleeing the Israeli siege in Lebanon. Gaza is with out adequate food and water and not only faces daily incursions by the Israeli occupation forces but has also been put under an economic embargo for months that targets the most vulnerable in Gaza.
On Thursday we will mobize to demand that Feinstein and the US government support human rights and justice instead of their perpetuation of racism and violence. We demand that the US immediately pressures Israel to stop its aggression on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. We demand the US government end the use of our tax dollars for enabling on-going Israeli oppression of Palestinians and attacks on the people of Lebanon. Please join us for a Press Conference and Protest at Senator Feinstein’s office building this Thursday.
--------------------------------
IF YOU WISH TO COUNTER PROTEST AND SUPPORT OUR SENATOR AND OUR COUNTRY'S SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL, PLEASE CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND SHOW UP TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
Please copy and forward this notice.
And also add a comment letting me/us know if you will be there.
Bring Israeli and American flags, and/or signs showing your support of Senator Dianne Feinstein and Israel.
I realize this is short notice, but if you work in downtown SF, the time and place are easy. And again, let everyone know, and add a comment to this post. Thank you.
Which hardly gives us any time to organize a significant counter protest to let people know that we strongly agree with Senator Feinstein, and strongly disagree with the point of view of those who wish ill on Israel.
Below is the forwarded text from the bad guys:
Press Conference at 4:30
Rally and Protest at 5 PM
Thursday, July 27
Senator Feinstein’s Office
1 Post (at Montgomery and Market streets -
Montgomery BART)
SFPLEASE POST WIDELY!PROTEST FEINSTEIN'S SUPPORT OF ISRAELI STATE TERRORISM AND WAR CRIMES
Press Conference at 4:30
Rally and Protest at 5 PMThursday, July 27
Senator Feinstein’s Office
1 Post (at Montgomery and Market streets -Montgomery BART)
San Francisco, CA
Senator Dianne Feinstein fully supports Israeli war crimes and terrorism against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Feinstein speaking at rally on Sunday vowed to continue her support for Israel’s widespread violations of international and humanitarian law that are causing hundreds of civilian deaths and destroying critical civilian infrastructures. With Feinstein’s support, the U.S. Congress approved a resolution giving Israel its full support just days after the U.S. government used its power to veto a UN resolution critical of Israel.
The Israeli military is collectively punishing the Lebanese and Palestinian populations by killing hundreds of civilians and destroying critical civilian infrastructures. There have been over 400 Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli military over the last 2 weeks including many children. There have been verified reports of the use of phosphorus bombs on civilians fleeing the Israeli siege in Lebanon. Gaza is with out adequate food and water and not only faces daily incursions by the Israeli occupation forces but has also been put under an economic embargo for months that targets the most vulnerable in Gaza.
On Thursday we will mobize to demand that Feinstein and the US government support human rights and justice instead of their perpetuation of racism and violence. We demand that the US immediately pressures Israel to stop its aggression on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. We demand the US government end the use of our tax dollars for enabling on-going Israeli oppression of Palestinians and attacks on the people of Lebanon. Please join us for a Press Conference and Protest at Senator Feinstein’s office building this Thursday.
--------------------------------
IF YOU WISH TO COUNTER PROTEST AND SUPPORT OUR SENATOR AND OUR COUNTRY'S SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL, PLEASE CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND SHOW UP TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
Please copy and forward this notice.
And also add a comment letting me/us know if you will be there.
Bring Israeli and American flags, and/or signs showing your support of Senator Dianne Feinstein and Israel.
I realize this is short notice, but if you work in downtown SF, the time and place are easy. And again, let everyone know, and add a comment to this post. Thank you.
Monday, July 24, 2006
THE RALLY, AND AFTER
Fun, though not overwhelmingly attended.
Many of us who show up at these events recognize each other, and there were folks there I had not seen in a long time.
In a way these events are like old school week. You ask people how they have been since you last met, recognize someone you really must go say hello to, cock half an ear towards the speechifying..... some long electronic voice over rumble finishes, sounding exactly like one of those unintelligible airport announcements, and everybody claps like crazy (the news that flight nine three two from Newark or Milwaukee is delayed is cause for joy?).
Off to the side, behind barricades, the Green Party opportunistically counter-demoed.
Todd Chrétien seems to believe that pishing on someone else's parade is good for his political campaign. Please remember to vote against him, and urge others to also vote against him.
Off to another side, about twenty angry Filistini screamed some very strange stuff.
Did you know that eighty-two percent of our government is Israeli? Neither did I.
A very zonked female in hippy garb, with a hysterically fake Jamaican accent, sort of wafted and dilly-danced through the crowd, singing something about either all da bruddas peace, ya mon, or the after-effects of ganja - I'm not sure which.
I had several conversations with friends - 'the dialectic between faith and reason', 'likutei amarim', some passages in Nezikin, Jacob Neussner, bullhorn, nice sign, the heat the heat the heat.
At one point, a friend who had wandered off towards the palms took offense at what one of the Palestinian protestors said and ran screaming back toward the barricade red in the face to furiously yell at them - I never saw tzitzit fly like that before.
By and large a good time was had by all - including the eloquent young rabble-rouser who always seems to lead the Filistini side, who during the 'post-barricade-removal-wind-down-and-schmooze-fest period of the day ended up in a long conversation with a Chabad rabbi.
What I cannot quite understand is that less than two thousand or so people showed up.
There are half a million Jews in the Bay Area - most undoubtedly support Israel - where were they?
What about all those fundy Christians who are alleged to support Israel - where were they?
So many groups sponsored the rally, but where were they?
If I can get my lazy tuchus, hangover and all, washed - dressed - and down to Justin Herman plaza, then so can everybody else - snotthathardverdomme.
So, what did Senator Feinstein say? I have no idea....
The Chronicle, in their article about the event in today's paper, gave as much print space to Todd Chrétien's Quisling pro-Hezbollah bafflegab as to what Dianne Feinstein said, and topped it off by quoting the Palestinian counterprotestors in detail.
The SF Chronicle, it should be noted, is famous for the inaccuracy of its weather reports, and for having all the best syndicated cartoons on its comics page.
Many of us who show up at these events recognize each other, and there were folks there I had not seen in a long time.
In a way these events are like old school week. You ask people how they have been since you last met, recognize someone you really must go say hello to, cock half an ear towards the speechifying..... some long electronic voice over rumble finishes, sounding exactly like one of those unintelligible airport announcements, and everybody claps like crazy (the news that flight nine three two from Newark or Milwaukee is delayed is cause for joy?).
Off to the side, behind barricades, the Green Party opportunistically counter-demoed.
Todd Chrétien seems to believe that pishing on someone else's parade is good for his political campaign. Please remember to vote against him, and urge others to also vote against him.
Off to another side, about twenty angry Filistini screamed some very strange stuff.
Did you know that eighty-two percent of our government is Israeli? Neither did I.
A very zonked female in hippy garb, with a hysterically fake Jamaican accent, sort of wafted and dilly-danced through the crowd, singing something about either all da bruddas peace, ya mon, or the after-effects of ganja - I'm not sure which.
I had several conversations with friends - 'the dialectic between faith and reason', 'likutei amarim', some passages in Nezikin, Jacob Neussner, bullhorn, nice sign, the heat the heat the heat.
At one point, a friend who had wandered off towards the palms took offense at what one of the Palestinian protestors said and ran screaming back toward the barricade red in the face to furiously yell at them - I never saw tzitzit fly like that before.
By and large a good time was had by all - including the eloquent young rabble-rouser who always seems to lead the Filistini side, who during the 'post-barricade-removal-wind-down-and-schmooze-fest period of the day ended up in a long conversation with a Chabad rabbi.
What I cannot quite understand is that less than two thousand or so people showed up.
There are half a million Jews in the Bay Area - most undoubtedly support Israel - where were they?
What about all those fundy Christians who are alleged to support Israel - where were they?
So many groups sponsored the rally, but where were they?
If I can get my lazy tuchus, hangover and all, washed - dressed - and down to Justin Herman plaza, then so can everybody else - snotthathardverdomme.
So, what did Senator Feinstein say? I have no idea....
The Chronicle, in their article about the event in today's paper, gave as much print space to Todd Chrétien's Quisling pro-Hezbollah bafflegab as to what Dianne Feinstein said, and topped it off by quoting the Palestinian counterprotestors in detail.
The SF Chronicle, it should be noted, is famous for the inaccuracy of its weather reports, and for having all the best syndicated cartoons on its comics page.
ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS
The following talking points were forwarded by a friend. Please feel free to copy and forward to as many of your friends and associates as you wish - in fact, I strongly encourage you to do so.
ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS
1. ISRAEL BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ISLAM;
2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM ISRAEL BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES "PALESTINIANS" IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD (THE TERM PALESTINIAN DURING THE MANDATE REFERRED TO ZIONISTS);
3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C.E., JEWS RULED IT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300 YEARS;
4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22 YEARS;
5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, JERUSALEM WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN RULE, (EAST) JERUSALEM WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER CAME TO VISIT IT (EXCEPT FOR KING ABDALLAH, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE ON JULY 20, 1951, ON THE STEPS OF EL AQSA MOSQUE;
6. JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN;
7. KING DAVID FOUNDED JERUSALEM; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;
8. JEWS PRAY FACING JERUSALEM; MUSLIMS FACE MECCA. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING MECCA, WITH THEIR BACKS TO JERUSALEM;
9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;
10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;
11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;
12. IN SPITE OF THE VAST TERRITORIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ARAB REFUGEES WERE DELIBERATELY PREVENTED FROM ASSIMILATING INTO THEIR HOST COUNTRIES. OF 100 MILLION REFUGEES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR 2, THEY ARE THE ONLY GROUP TO HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED WITH THEIR CORELIGIONISTS. MOST OF THE JEWISH REFUGEES FROM EUROPE AND ARAB LANDS WERE SETTLED IN ISRAEL, A COUNTRY NO LARGER THAN NEW JERSEY;
13. THERE ARE 22 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, NOT COUNTING PALESTINE. THERE IS ONLY ONE JEWISH STATE. ARABS STARTED ALL FIVE WARS AGAINST ISRAEL, AND LOST EVERY ONE OF THEM;
14. FATAH AND HAMAS CONSTITUTIONS STILL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL CEDED MOST OF THE WEST BANK AND ALL OF GAZA TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AND EVEN PROVIDED IT WITH ARMS;
15. DURING THE JORDANIAN OCCUPATION, JEWISH HOLY SITES WERE VANDALIZED AND WERE OFF LIMITS TO JEWS (THE JORDANIANS USED THE WALL AS A URINAL AND SYNAGOGUES AS STABLES). UNDER ISRAELI RULE, ALL MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAITHS;
16. OUT OF 175 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UP TO 1990, 97 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL; OUT OF 690 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS, 429 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL;
17. THE U.N. WAS SILENT WHEN THE JORDANIANS DESTROYED 58 SYNAGOGUES IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM. IT REMAINED SILENT WHILE JORDAN SYSTEMATICALLY DESECRATED THE ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND IT REMAINED SILENT WHEN JORDAN ENFORCED APARTHEID LAWS PREVENTING JEWS FROM ACCESSING THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND WESTERN WALL.
18. ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL HAVE THE VOTE, AND ARE REPRESENTED IN THE KNESSET. ONE OUT OF FIVE ISRAELI CITIZENS IS AN ARAB.
ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS
1. ISRAEL BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ISLAM;
2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM ISRAEL BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES "PALESTINIANS" IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD (THE TERM PALESTINIAN DURING THE MANDATE REFERRED TO ZIONISTS);
3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C.E., JEWS RULED IT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300 YEARS;
4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22 YEARS;
5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, JERUSALEM WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN RULE, (EAST) JERUSALEM WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER CAME TO VISIT IT (EXCEPT FOR KING ABDALLAH, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE ON JULY 20, 1951, ON THE STEPS OF EL AQSA MOSQUE;
6. JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN;
7. KING DAVID FOUNDED JERUSALEM; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;
8. JEWS PRAY FACING JERUSALEM; MUSLIMS FACE MECCA. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING MECCA, WITH THEIR BACKS TO JERUSALEM;
9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;
10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;
11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;
12. IN SPITE OF THE VAST TERRITORIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ARAB REFUGEES WERE DELIBERATELY PREVENTED FROM ASSIMILATING INTO THEIR HOST COUNTRIES. OF 100 MILLION REFUGEES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR 2, THEY ARE THE ONLY GROUP TO HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED WITH THEIR CORELIGIONISTS. MOST OF THE JEWISH REFUGEES FROM EUROPE AND ARAB LANDS WERE SETTLED IN ISRAEL, A COUNTRY NO LARGER THAN NEW JERSEY;
13. THERE ARE 22 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, NOT COUNTING PALESTINE. THERE IS ONLY ONE JEWISH STATE. ARABS STARTED ALL FIVE WARS AGAINST ISRAEL, AND LOST EVERY ONE OF THEM;
14. FATAH AND HAMAS CONSTITUTIONS STILL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL CEDED MOST OF THE WEST BANK AND ALL OF GAZA TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AND EVEN PROVIDED IT WITH ARMS;
15. DURING THE JORDANIAN OCCUPATION, JEWISH HOLY SITES WERE VANDALIZED AND WERE OFF LIMITS TO JEWS (THE JORDANIANS USED THE WALL AS A URINAL AND SYNAGOGUES AS STABLES). UNDER ISRAELI RULE, ALL MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAITHS;
16. OUT OF 175 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UP TO 1990, 97 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL; OUT OF 690 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS, 429 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL;
17. THE U.N. WAS SILENT WHEN THE JORDANIANS DESTROYED 58 SYNAGOGUES IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM. IT REMAINED SILENT WHILE JORDAN SYSTEMATICALLY DESECRATED THE ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND IT REMAINED SILENT WHEN JORDAN ENFORCED APARTHEID LAWS PREVENTING JEWS FROM ACCESSING THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND WESTERN WALL.
18. ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL HAVE THE VOTE, AND ARE REPRESENTED IN THE KNESSET. ONE OUT OF FIVE ISRAELI CITIZENS IS AN ARAB.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
NOT THE UN - By R. Jeremy Rosen
Follows an opinion piece by Rabbi Jeremy Rosen (www.jeremyrosen.com.) pasted here with permission.
Note that at present I see absolutely no reason to argue with any part of the opinions given below - and, were I to say anything at all, I would not only detract from the clarity, but also possibly offend because of my undiplomatic personal thoughts on the matter.
NOT THE UN
Calls for the United Nations to send peacekeepers into Lebanon are a sick joke. Have we forgotten that previously Indian UN peacekeepers lent their uniforms to Hezbollah? Indeed, are we all unaware that there are UN 'peacekeepers' in Southern Lebanon still, at this very moment? What HAVE they been doing?
The United Nations is useless and it should be scrapped. Its so-calledpeacekeepers have never kept the peace, but have certainly broughtcorruption, mendacity and sexual exploitation to wherever they have been sent. And, of course, the United Nations itself is so hamstrung by politics that it cannot even get agreement on the ethnic cleansing andgenocide in Darfur, or deal with Iran or North Korea's rogue nuclear policies (I say rogue because other countries which have nuclear capability do not make a point of threatening to obliterate others). It stood by and let the Rwanda Massacres take place. It allowed the Srebrenica Massacres to happen before its very eyes. As for the infamous oil deals with Saddam Hussein's regime, the subsequent reports have all agreed that corruption was endemic and overwhelming.
You will doubtless think I am biased because the United Nations debates and votes on about 35 anti-Israel resolutions each year and spends millions on special bodies designed exclusively to condemn Israel alone while doing nothing about the millions of Muslims and Christians killed by corrupt Muslim states. Yes, it's true--I do think balance andreciprocity is an issue. I am all for condemning any betrayal of human beings any dehumanization of God's creatures, wherever and by whoever perpetrates them. But to single out one state, whose victims pale in comparison to others in terms of number and degree of torture applied, is simply proof that we are not dealing with honest people.
Winston Churchill is reported to have said that he was in favour of the UN even if it was only a 'talking shop' because 'jaw jaw was better thanwar war.' I concede that if they were mutually exclusive then obviously talking is better than fighting. But it is not the case. The 'jaw jaw' goes on while the 'war war' continues.
So what then is the point of 'jawjaw' if it is totally ineffective?
Why should millions be spent on an incompetent and impotent talking shop when the money saved could rid the world of malaria and bring drinkable water to millions of humans? Instead, corrupt representatives of sickand failed regimes go to New York to have a great time doing nothing more than spouting hypocritical , unconsidered platitudes to an audienceof closed minds. It's not the UN that ever gets anywhere challenging theUSA. It was its own Supreme Court which stopped the processes at Guantanamo Bay.
As Edward Luttwack has shown, wherever the United Nations has intervened it has only prolonged the conflict and the agony. In the bad old days nations fought each other and large numbers were killed. But at least there was a resolution. Some survived, some did not. Human affairs have always been about shifting alliances, moving populations, refugees,victims and victors. We Jews have suffered more than most from the vicissitudes of history because we've been around longer than anyone else and gone through more than anyone else. And we know that defence starts at home. But we also know that a weak policeman is often far worse than no policeman. With no policeman you know the odds and you decide to fight or concede. With a weak or corrupt policeman you never know what new factor enters the arena, what dirty tactics might be employed while your hands may be tied behind your back.
One of the saving graces of the United Nations is said to be its agencies. Some of them may indeed do some good, but you don't need theUN for them. They could perfectly well exist independently as do World Trade organisations. Some of their agencies are simply bodies that are paid to perpetuate strife, like the UN agencies in Palestine that say that they have to allow anti-Israel and anti-Semitic material to be used in their school because otherwise they would not be trusted. Of course,"Trusted by whom?" is the question. Indeed, when it comes to aidingPalestinians, who are so poorly served by their leadership, in a humanitarian way (as opposed to giving them money for arms) it is clear that help comes neither from the UN nor the Arab States (who appear to use them as tools to distract their own malcontents) but rather fromEurope, the USA, and, ironically, Israel.
Another example of UN moral corruption is the Human Rights Council, supposedly a reformed version of the discredited Commission on Human Rights which became such a laughingstock with countries such as Zimbabwe, Libya or Saudi Arabia presiding. It was officially replaced last March but, of course, the reform was totally fudged. So here we go again with a council that includes Russia and Azerbaijan, and in which 16 of the 29 states involved come from Africa and Asia and half of them are Muslim. And what is the first thing they have to deal with? What isthe world's biggest problem? Where are most Muslims being killed nowadays or most citizens being jailed for dissent? Not Darfur, not Zimbabwe, not China, not Kashmir, not Iraq, not Saudi Arabia, not Syria, not Lebanon, no. Guess who? No, don't bother. Not even the combative US ambassador, John Bolton, can get anywhere with these apologies for'statesmen.' For humanity's sake scrap it. Save the cash. Donate it to the poor or give it to Bill Gates. I trust him more than the UN.
I'm not sure that bombing Lebanon in general brings peace, even if Hezbollah uses civilians as shields for its supplies and launching pads and its Prime Minister declares that Hezbollah IS Lebanon. But I do think destroying Hezbollah and standing up to Syria and Iran will help. Greater experts than I have stated that Hezbollah is not interested in Palestinians or Sunnis, or, indeed, Lebanon. But don't expect the UN to care.
Whatever Israel does, it must not consign its safety to these jokers.
Shabbat Shalom
---Jeremy
Please visit Jeremy Rosen's website for more writings, here:
http://www.jeremyrosen.com/
Or join a mailinglist - there are two:
JROSEN Mailing List
The Jeremy Rosen Discussion Group (JROSEN) is an email forum for exploring issues of Orthodox Jewish living, based on the assumption that commitment to Torah doesn't require fundamentalism, rejection of culture, or conformity to one particular social norm. The purpose of the jrosen list is to provide support and encouragement, as well as information.
Jeremy's Open Discussion Mailing List
Jeremy Rosen's Open Discussion (JROD) is a forum for asking questions and discussing issues related to Judaism or anything else about life. It is open to non-Jews and Jews of all persuasions.
Both mailing lists have clickable links on the website.
Note that at present I see absolutely no reason to argue with any part of the opinions given below - and, were I to say anything at all, I would not only detract from the clarity, but also possibly offend because of my undiplomatic personal thoughts on the matter.
--------- --------- ---------
NOT THE UN
Calls for the United Nations to send peacekeepers into Lebanon are a sick joke. Have we forgotten that previously Indian UN peacekeepers lent their uniforms to Hezbollah? Indeed, are we all unaware that there are UN 'peacekeepers' in Southern Lebanon still, at this very moment? What HAVE they been doing?
The United Nations is useless and it should be scrapped. Its so-calledpeacekeepers have never kept the peace, but have certainly broughtcorruption, mendacity and sexual exploitation to wherever they have been sent. And, of course, the United Nations itself is so hamstrung by politics that it cannot even get agreement on the ethnic cleansing andgenocide in Darfur, or deal with Iran or North Korea's rogue nuclear policies (I say rogue because other countries which have nuclear capability do not make a point of threatening to obliterate others). It stood by and let the Rwanda Massacres take place. It allowed the Srebrenica Massacres to happen before its very eyes. As for the infamous oil deals with Saddam Hussein's regime, the subsequent reports have all agreed that corruption was endemic and overwhelming.
You will doubtless think I am biased because the United Nations debates and votes on about 35 anti-Israel resolutions each year and spends millions on special bodies designed exclusively to condemn Israel alone while doing nothing about the millions of Muslims and Christians killed by corrupt Muslim states. Yes, it's true--I do think balance andreciprocity is an issue. I am all for condemning any betrayal of human beings any dehumanization of God's creatures, wherever and by whoever perpetrates them. But to single out one state, whose victims pale in comparison to others in terms of number and degree of torture applied, is simply proof that we are not dealing with honest people.
Winston Churchill is reported to have said that he was in favour of the UN even if it was only a 'talking shop' because 'jaw jaw was better thanwar war.' I concede that if they were mutually exclusive then obviously talking is better than fighting. But it is not the case. The 'jaw jaw' goes on while the 'war war' continues.
So what then is the point of 'jawjaw' if it is totally ineffective?
Why should millions be spent on an incompetent and impotent talking shop when the money saved could rid the world of malaria and bring drinkable water to millions of humans? Instead, corrupt representatives of sickand failed regimes go to New York to have a great time doing nothing more than spouting hypocritical , unconsidered platitudes to an audienceof closed minds. It's not the UN that ever gets anywhere challenging theUSA. It was its own Supreme Court which stopped the processes at Guantanamo Bay.
As Edward Luttwack has shown, wherever the United Nations has intervened it has only prolonged the conflict and the agony. In the bad old days nations fought each other and large numbers were killed. But at least there was a resolution. Some survived, some did not. Human affairs have always been about shifting alliances, moving populations, refugees,victims and victors. We Jews have suffered more than most from the vicissitudes of history because we've been around longer than anyone else and gone through more than anyone else. And we know that defence starts at home. But we also know that a weak policeman is often far worse than no policeman. With no policeman you know the odds and you decide to fight or concede. With a weak or corrupt policeman you never know what new factor enters the arena, what dirty tactics might be employed while your hands may be tied behind your back.
One of the saving graces of the United Nations is said to be its agencies. Some of them may indeed do some good, but you don't need theUN for them. They could perfectly well exist independently as do World Trade organisations. Some of their agencies are simply bodies that are paid to perpetuate strife, like the UN agencies in Palestine that say that they have to allow anti-Israel and anti-Semitic material to be used in their school because otherwise they would not be trusted. Of course,"Trusted by whom?" is the question. Indeed, when it comes to aidingPalestinians, who are so poorly served by their leadership, in a humanitarian way (as opposed to giving them money for arms) it is clear that help comes neither from the UN nor the Arab States (who appear to use them as tools to distract their own malcontents) but rather fromEurope, the USA, and, ironically, Israel.
Another example of UN moral corruption is the Human Rights Council, supposedly a reformed version of the discredited Commission on Human Rights which became such a laughingstock with countries such as Zimbabwe, Libya or Saudi Arabia presiding. It was officially replaced last March but, of course, the reform was totally fudged. So here we go again with a council that includes Russia and Azerbaijan, and in which 16 of the 29 states involved come from Africa and Asia and half of them are Muslim. And what is the first thing they have to deal with? What isthe world's biggest problem? Where are most Muslims being killed nowadays or most citizens being jailed for dissent? Not Darfur, not Zimbabwe, not China, not Kashmir, not Iraq, not Saudi Arabia, not Syria, not Lebanon, no. Guess who? No, don't bother. Not even the combative US ambassador, John Bolton, can get anywhere with these apologies for'statesmen.' For humanity's sake scrap it. Save the cash. Donate it to the poor or give it to Bill Gates. I trust him more than the UN.
I'm not sure that bombing Lebanon in general brings peace, even if Hezbollah uses civilians as shields for its supplies and launching pads and its Prime Minister declares that Hezbollah IS Lebanon. But I do think destroying Hezbollah and standing up to Syria and Iran will help. Greater experts than I have stated that Hezbollah is not interested in Palestinians or Sunnis, or, indeed, Lebanon. But don't expect the UN to care.
Whatever Israel does, it must not consign its safety to these jokers.
Shabbat Shalom
---Jeremy
--------- --------- ---------
Please visit Jeremy Rosen's website for more writings, here:
http://www.jeremyrosen.com/
Or join a mailinglist - there are two:
JROSEN Mailing List
The Jeremy Rosen Discussion Group (JROSEN) is an email forum for exploring issues of Orthodox Jewish living, based on the assumption that commitment to Torah doesn't require fundamentalism, rejection of culture, or conformity to one particular social norm. The purpose of the jrosen list is to provide support and encouragement, as well as information.
Jeremy's Open Discussion Mailing List
Jeremy Rosen's Open Discussion (JROD) is a forum for asking questions and discussing issues related to Judaism or anything else about life. It is open to non-Jews and Jews of all persuasions.
Both mailing lists have clickable links on the website.
SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR ISRAEL JULY 23, 2006
ACTION ALERT – FORWARD WIDELY
Community Wide Solidarity Rally for IsraelSunday, July 23rd, noon
Justin Herman Plaza, Downtown San Francisco (at thefoot of Market Street and the Embarcadero)
BACKGROUND:
On July 11th, Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon infiltrated into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers and murdered eight more. In response,Israel launched an all out operation to rescue her soldiers. Hezbollah subsequently started a murderous campaign against Israeli citizens by bombing civiliantargets across northern Israel including Haifa, Israel’s third largest city and San Francisco’s sistercity.
Not content to just murder Jews, Hezbollah has attacked numerous Arab cities within Israel including the largest Arab city, Nazareth, and has also bombed the gardens of the beautiful Baha’i Temple in Haifa.
Sadly, Hezbollah also uses the citizens of Lebanon as human shields for Hezbollah’s despicable activities, thus causing numerous civilian casualties as Israel works to neutralize Hezbollah’s murderous capabilityand retrieve the captured Israeli soldiers.
All this is occurring while Israel continues its operation in Gaza to end the constant barrage of missiles on southern Israel and win the release of the soldier kidnapped last month. None of the captured soldiers are being granted Geneva Convention rights as prisoners of war.
Hezbollah likes to claim that they are “resistance” to“occupation.”
This is disputed even by the UN, who certified that Israel was no longer operating on any part of Lebanese territory as determined by the UN demarcated “blue line” setting Israel’s northern border. Furthermore, the UN called for Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah in UN Security Resolution 1559 – a step the Lebanese government has refused to take.
RALLY DETAILS:
A broad spectrum of the pro-Israel community will rally in solidarity with Israel. Numerous prominent speakers will be present as well as a large number of sponsors. Also likely to be present will be a large, noisy protest by the anti-Israel groups who have promised to disrupt any Israeli solidarity events. They have pledged their allegiance to Hamas andHezbollah as well and have taunted pro-Israelactivists with anti-Semitic chants and taunts, even at the “Jewish led” anti-Israel protest on July 17th.
You can see some examples here:
http://www.zombietime.com/israeli_consulate_protest_july_13_2006/
We will be standing in solidarity with the community while also using our experience with the anti-Israel protestors to keep them away from the main rally. Please bring your noisemakers, flags, and signs.
As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, or Palestinians. Signs in violation of our policies will not be allowed.
Stand With Israel!
Stand Against Terror!
Demand Lebanon disarm Hezbollah!
Demand an end to rocket attacks against Israelicivilians!
Demand Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasserbe returned home safely!
StandWithUs/ San Francisco Voice for Israel
www.SFVoiceForIsrael.org
www.StandWithUs.com
------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, August 12th – Wrong, A.N.S.W.E.R. counterrally. 10:30 AM, Civic Center, downtown San Francisco.
Saturday, October 28th – Wrong, A.N.S.W.E.R. counterrally. Details coming when they are available.
------------------------------------------------------
Do you want to become more involved with organizingour activities? Send a message to info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
If you are interested in participating in our campaignto counter anti-Israel speakers, please send an e-mail to
info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
Join the discussion! Do you have ideas? Classes to announce? Events to announce or discuss? Join ourdiscussion list by sending an e-mail to
sfproisrael-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
San Francisco Voice for Israel is a non-partisancoalition that takes no position on the war in Iraq,the settlements, or Israel's final borders. Ourmembers span the political spectrum and are unitedonly by our commitment to preserving the State ofIsrael as a Jewish State within secure borders.Please send your tax deductible donation toStand With UsP.O. Box 341069Los Angeles, CA 90034-1069Write SFV4I in the memo line.
----------------------------------------------
http://jcrc.org/israel/solidarity_rally_7_23-06.htm
COMMUNITY WIDE RALLY
12:00 noon - Sunday, July 23, 2006 Justin Herman Plaza - San Francisco (at the foot of Market street and the Embarcadero) During this time of crisis, when Israel's citizens arebeing attacked, we invite you to attend a communitywide rally and Stand in Solidarity with the people of Israel.
More information 415.957.1551
Sponsored by:
• Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
• Jewish Community Relation Council
• Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay
Co-Sponsored by Anti Defamation League, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Jewish Committee, Board of Rabbis of Northern California, Blue Star PR, Congregation Beth Sholom, The Congregation Emanu-El, Congregation Sherith Israel, Congregation of the Russian Jewish Community of SF, Hadassah Jewish Family and Children's Services, Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and NorthAfrica, New Israel Fund, Orthodox Rabbinical Council of San Francisco, Raoul Wallenberg Jewish DemocraticClub, Republican Jewish Coalition, StandWithUs/SFVoice for Israel, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
------------------------------------------------
Now is the time for pro-Israel activists to standtogether with the United States leadership and thepeople of Israel to actively demonstrate US-Israelsolidarity in the Bay Area.
Please join the organizedpro-Israel community at one or more of the eventslisted below and forward this email widely to othersin the pro-Israel community.
Marin on Thursday, July 20 at 7:00 pm
Stand With Israel Rally
Congregation Kol Shofar
215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon
FRESNO STANDS WITH ISRAEL-- SUPPORT RALLY
Friday, July 21st, 20064:30-6:30pm
Corner of Shaw & Blackstone
San Francisco on Sunday, July 23 at 12:00 noon
Stand Against Terrorism - Stand With Israel
Community-wide Rally
Justin Herman Plaza
At the foot of Market street and the Embarcadero
San Jose on Sunday, July 23 at 5:00 pm
Stand With Israel Rally
Circle of Palms
On Market Street between Fairmont Hotel and San Jose Art Museum
South Peninsula on Monday, July 24 at 7:30 pm
A Night of Solidarity with Israel
Congregation Beth Am
26792 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills
North Peninsula on Tuesday, July 25 at 7:30 pm
A Night of Solidarity with Israel
Peninsula Temple Beth El
1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
Oakland on Wednesday, July 26 at 7:30 pm
In Prayer and Solidarity for the State of Israel
Temple Sinai28th and Webster Streets, Oakland
Lafayette on Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 pm
In Prayer and Solidarity for the State of Israel
Temple Isaiah
3800 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Community Wide Solidarity Rally for IsraelSunday, July 23rd, noon
Justin Herman Plaza, Downtown San Francisco (at thefoot of Market Street and the Embarcadero)
BACKGROUND:
On July 11th, Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon infiltrated into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers and murdered eight more. In response,Israel launched an all out operation to rescue her soldiers. Hezbollah subsequently started a murderous campaign against Israeli citizens by bombing civiliantargets across northern Israel including Haifa, Israel’s third largest city and San Francisco’s sistercity.
Not content to just murder Jews, Hezbollah has attacked numerous Arab cities within Israel including the largest Arab city, Nazareth, and has also bombed the gardens of the beautiful Baha’i Temple in Haifa.
Sadly, Hezbollah also uses the citizens of Lebanon as human shields for Hezbollah’s despicable activities, thus causing numerous civilian casualties as Israel works to neutralize Hezbollah’s murderous capabilityand retrieve the captured Israeli soldiers.
All this is occurring while Israel continues its operation in Gaza to end the constant barrage of missiles on southern Israel and win the release of the soldier kidnapped last month. None of the captured soldiers are being granted Geneva Convention rights as prisoners of war.
Hezbollah likes to claim that they are “resistance” to“occupation.”
This is disputed even by the UN, who certified that Israel was no longer operating on any part of Lebanese territory as determined by the UN demarcated “blue line” setting Israel’s northern border. Furthermore, the UN called for Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah in UN Security Resolution 1559 – a step the Lebanese government has refused to take.
RALLY DETAILS:
A broad spectrum of the pro-Israel community will rally in solidarity with Israel. Numerous prominent speakers will be present as well as a large number of sponsors. Also likely to be present will be a large, noisy protest by the anti-Israel groups who have promised to disrupt any Israeli solidarity events. They have pledged their allegiance to Hamas andHezbollah as well and have taunted pro-Israelactivists with anti-Semitic chants and taunts, even at the “Jewish led” anti-Israel protest on July 17th.
You can see some examples here:
http://www.zombietime.com/israeli_consulate_protest_july_13_2006/
We will be standing in solidarity with the community while also using our experience with the anti-Israel protestors to keep them away from the main rally. Please bring your noisemakers, flags, and signs.
As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, or Palestinians. Signs in violation of our policies will not be allowed.
Stand With Israel!
Stand Against Terror!
Demand Lebanon disarm Hezbollah!
Demand an end to rocket attacks against Israelicivilians!
Demand Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasserbe returned home safely!
StandWithUs/ San Francisco Voice for Israel
www.SFVoiceForIsrael.org
www.StandWithUs.com
------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, August 12th – Wrong, A.N.S.W.E.R. counterrally. 10:30 AM, Civic Center, downtown San Francisco.
Saturday, October 28th – Wrong, A.N.S.W.E.R. counterrally. Details coming when they are available.
------------------------------------------------------
Do you want to become more involved with organizingour activities? Send a message to info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
If you are interested in participating in our campaignto counter anti-Israel speakers, please send an e-mail to
info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
Join the discussion! Do you have ideas? Classes to announce? Events to announce or discuss? Join ourdiscussion list by sending an e-mail to
sfproisrael-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
San Francisco Voice for Israel is a non-partisancoalition that takes no position on the war in Iraq,the settlements, or Israel's final borders. Ourmembers span the political spectrum and are unitedonly by our commitment to preserving the State ofIsrael as a Jewish State within secure borders.Please send your tax deductible donation toStand With UsP.O. Box 341069Los Angeles, CA 90034-1069Write SFV4I in the memo line.
----------------------------------------------
http://jcrc.org/israel/solidarity_rally_7_23-06.htm
COMMUNITY WIDE RALLY
12:00 noon - Sunday, July 23, 2006 Justin Herman Plaza - San Francisco (at the foot of Market street and the Embarcadero) During this time of crisis, when Israel's citizens arebeing attacked, we invite you to attend a communitywide rally and Stand in Solidarity with the people of Israel.
More information 415.957.1551
Sponsored by:
• Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
• Jewish Community Relation Council
• Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay
Co-Sponsored by Anti Defamation League, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Jewish Committee, Board of Rabbis of Northern California, Blue Star PR, Congregation Beth Sholom, The Congregation Emanu-El, Congregation Sherith Israel, Congregation of the Russian Jewish Community of SF, Hadassah Jewish Family and Children's Services, Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and NorthAfrica, New Israel Fund, Orthodox Rabbinical Council of San Francisco, Raoul Wallenberg Jewish DemocraticClub, Republican Jewish Coalition, StandWithUs/SFVoice for Israel, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
------------------------------------------------
Now is the time for pro-Israel activists to standtogether with the United States leadership and thepeople of Israel to actively demonstrate US-Israelsolidarity in the Bay Area.
Please join the organizedpro-Israel community at one or more of the eventslisted below and forward this email widely to othersin the pro-Israel community.
Marin on Thursday, July 20 at 7:00 pm
Stand With Israel Rally
Congregation Kol Shofar
215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon
FRESNO STANDS WITH ISRAEL-- SUPPORT RALLY
Friday, July 21st, 20064:30-6:30pm
Corner of Shaw & Blackstone
San Francisco on Sunday, July 23 at 12:00 noon
Stand Against Terrorism - Stand With Israel
Community-wide Rally
Justin Herman Plaza
At the foot of Market street and the Embarcadero
San Jose on Sunday, July 23 at 5:00 pm
Stand With Israel Rally
Circle of Palms
On Market Street between Fairmont Hotel and San Jose Art Museum
South Peninsula on Monday, July 24 at 7:30 pm
A Night of Solidarity with Israel
Congregation Beth Am
26792 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills
North Peninsula on Tuesday, July 25 at 7:30 pm
A Night of Solidarity with Israel
Peninsula Temple Beth El
1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
Oakland on Wednesday, July 26 at 7:30 pm
In Prayer and Solidarity for the State of Israel
Temple Sinai28th and Webster Streets, Oakland
Lafayette on Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 pm
In Prayer and Solidarity for the State of Israel
Temple Isaiah
3800 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
THOSE POOR, POOR ARABS!
One of the ridiculous arguments used against Israel in this recent conflict is that Israel's reaction is disproportionate.
The flaw in this argument is demonstrated by the need to use the word 'reaction'.
As in 'Israel's reaction to the kidnapping of its soldiers', or 'Israel's reaction to acts of terrorism from Hamas or Hezbollah'.
To put it differently, Israel did not pick this fight. Israel chose to react to provocation, motivated by a need to prove that she values the lives of her soldiers and her citizens. The IDF is fighting according to standard military methodology, which advises that unless one is prepared to commit sufficient resources to winning, one will lose.
[Which really does mean that if you are going to war, you must be prepared and able to clobber the other side, bash them so hard they run screaming and incontinent back to their mommies. Sorry.]
[And I recall reading about this in Chairman Mao's book on military strategy and tactics. Now where did I put that communist crap from years ago.......?]
But many of the critics feel that it is unsporting of Israel to not give the enemy a fair chance of winning. War between the Arab world and Israel should be like a friendly game of golf, with the stronger side handicapped, so that those poor little Arabs can win at least one or two matches.
Or perhaps a gentlemanly game of dominoes. Or whist. Gin-rummy.
[With some tea and cakes for refreshment served halfway through.]
What utter idiots.
The Arabs never fight alone - the entire Arabic umma is solidly behind the provocateurs of the moment, and for years the Arab nations have been generously funding organizations such as the Harakat et-Tahrir el Watanniya el Filistinniya (liberation movement of the Philistine heartland - PLO), the Harakat el Muqawamma el Islammiya (the popular Islamic movement - HAMAS), and Hezbollah (Party of God).
All three of these groups have secured funds because of their Islamic extremism and anti-Semitism. And of course all three are experts at playing to the gallery, convincing many muddle-headed socialists in Europe that they actually do not mean what they say when they assert 'all of Palestine from the river to the sea', and that the sworn intent to exterminate the Jews and destroy the west is 'negotiable', or even 'rhetorical, meant only as propaganda for the simple fallaheen in the Arab Street'.
[Of course, when speaking to their own side, they have always reassured them that their determination to slaughter all Jews and then start on the Christians was undiminished.]
Regarding Hezbollah in particular, these folks were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, hundreds of Israelis, and thousands of Sunnis, Christians, Druze, and even Shiites. If any group in the Middle-East deserves to be expunged to the last thief or murderer, it is Hezbollah. Their name should be erased.
What the Europeans fail to take into account (and the Arabs never overlook), is that if Israel lost even one war, there would be no more Israel. Whereas the Arabs have proven that they can lose any number of wars and keep bouncing back, like a daemonic bobble toy that cannot be destroyed or turned off.
Peace in the Middle-East would be much advanced if the countries that declared war against Israel after 1948 would finally abrogate the state of war - mere armistices are not enough, a hudna is not conducive to a real cessation of military action.
It is hypocritical to accuse Israel of aggression when you fund acts of terrorism against her while anxiously maintaining an unstable public peace. It is outright cowardice to fight by proxy and endanger civilians in other countries.
So, what the heck is wrong with those people?!!?
It's a valid question.
But perhaps there is another issue?
Perhaps it is not a question of the Arab countries being hypocritical, but one of the Arabs being honest, though in a way we do not recognize.
Perhaps what they object to is those uppity Jews fighting back, 'why the nerve of those disobedient untermenshen!'
Ever since the Caliphate, Arabs have been accustomed to being the dominant class, or at the very least comfortably at home with the belief that Jews were an underclass. The history of Jews in Arab countries is an unending tale of second-class status punctuated by occasional violence, enslavement, and forced conversion.
That ended in 1948.
And it was the Arabs who ended it.
By robbing Jews and expelling them.
So it's only natural that the Arabs are upset. They no longer have the Yahud in the Mellah to kick around, no one to rob at will, no muqriyati to casually kill, no Jewish women to rape.
The poor dears are lonely.
Abdullah and Achmed-Effendi miss their victims.
This probably also explains much of the European reaction, doesn't it?
Europeans certainly don't appreciate Jews talking back or standing up for themselves. It seems to make them ill. Why, something just ain't right about Jews who fight back.
The flaw in this argument is demonstrated by the need to use the word 'reaction'.
As in 'Israel's reaction to the kidnapping of its soldiers', or 'Israel's reaction to acts of terrorism from Hamas or Hezbollah'.
To put it differently, Israel did not pick this fight. Israel chose to react to provocation, motivated by a need to prove that she values the lives of her soldiers and her citizens. The IDF is fighting according to standard military methodology, which advises that unless one is prepared to commit sufficient resources to winning, one will lose.
[Which really does mean that if you are going to war, you must be prepared and able to clobber the other side, bash them so hard they run screaming and incontinent back to their mommies. Sorry.]
[And I recall reading about this in Chairman Mao's book on military strategy and tactics. Now where did I put that communist crap from years ago.......?]
But many of the critics feel that it is unsporting of Israel to not give the enemy a fair chance of winning. War between the Arab world and Israel should be like a friendly game of golf, with the stronger side handicapped, so that those poor little Arabs can win at least one or two matches.
Or perhaps a gentlemanly game of dominoes. Or whist. Gin-rummy.
[With some tea and cakes for refreshment served halfway through.]
What utter idiots.
The Arabs never fight alone - the entire Arabic umma is solidly behind the provocateurs of the moment, and for years the Arab nations have been generously funding organizations such as the Harakat et-Tahrir el Watanniya el Filistinniya (liberation movement of the Philistine heartland - PLO), the Harakat el Muqawamma el Islammiya (the popular Islamic movement - HAMAS), and Hezbollah (Party of God).
All three of these groups have secured funds because of their Islamic extremism and anti-Semitism. And of course all three are experts at playing to the gallery, convincing many muddle-headed socialists in Europe that they actually do not mean what they say when they assert 'all of Palestine from the river to the sea', and that the sworn intent to exterminate the Jews and destroy the west is 'negotiable', or even 'rhetorical, meant only as propaganda for the simple fallaheen in the Arab Street'.
[Of course, when speaking to their own side, they have always reassured them that their determination to slaughter all Jews and then start on the Christians was undiminished.]
Regarding Hezbollah in particular, these folks were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, hundreds of Israelis, and thousands of Sunnis, Christians, Druze, and even Shiites. If any group in the Middle-East deserves to be expunged to the last thief or murderer, it is Hezbollah. Their name should be erased.
What the Europeans fail to take into account (and the Arabs never overlook), is that if Israel lost even one war, there would be no more Israel. Whereas the Arabs have proven that they can lose any number of wars and keep bouncing back, like a daemonic bobble toy that cannot be destroyed or turned off.
Peace in the Middle-East would be much advanced if the countries that declared war against Israel after 1948 would finally abrogate the state of war - mere armistices are not enough, a hudna is not conducive to a real cessation of military action.
It is hypocritical to accuse Israel of aggression when you fund acts of terrorism against her while anxiously maintaining an unstable public peace. It is outright cowardice to fight by proxy and endanger civilians in other countries.
So, what the heck is wrong with those people?!!?
It's a valid question.
But perhaps there is another issue?
Perhaps it is not a question of the Arab countries being hypocritical, but one of the Arabs being honest, though in a way we do not recognize.
Perhaps what they object to is those uppity Jews fighting back, 'why the nerve of those disobedient untermenshen!'
Ever since the Caliphate, Arabs have been accustomed to being the dominant class, or at the very least comfortably at home with the belief that Jews were an underclass. The history of Jews in Arab countries is an unending tale of second-class status punctuated by occasional violence, enslavement, and forced conversion.
That ended in 1948.
And it was the Arabs who ended it.
By robbing Jews and expelling them.
So it's only natural that the Arabs are upset. They no longer have the Yahud in the Mellah to kick around, no one to rob at will, no muqriyati to casually kill, no Jewish women to rape.
The poor dears are lonely.
Abdullah and Achmed-Effendi miss their victims.
This probably also explains much of the European reaction, doesn't it?
Europeans certainly don't appreciate Jews talking back or standing up for themselves. It seems to make them ill. Why, something just ain't right about Jews who fight back.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
ALL COUNTRIES ARE ZIONIST THIS MORNING
[Please note: there is a section in Dutch at the end of this post. Consider it a love letter. Of sorts. Heartfelt, in any case. And also spleen felt. Please feel free to react - I am, as always, keenly interested in what a bunch of blinkered Dutch bigots have to say. The world also really values your opinions, due to your reputation for sincerity and honesty. Oh yes.]
In the comments to a Dovbearian posting (here: http://dovbear.blogspot.com/2006/07/a7-world-leaders-have-come-down.html), I contributed my own two cents worth:
Wert wrote "All the countries of the universe are Zionist this morning. "
Come again?
My dear Wert, I have assiduously been reading the foreign press, especially recently, and I do not notice a marked increase in Zionist sympathies.
Much the contrary, in fact.
So much so that I am in a state of permanent spleen towards Europe, particularly the Netherlands, whose radicals and unemployables have been vituperating much more venomously than usual against Israel. As an example of which I could cite the Algemeen Dagblad, save for the fact that while they have placed any number of vicious anti-semitic comments recently, they have not placed any one of my (well thought out, polite, and rational) comments in weeks.
I won't even go into what the comments on the web-site of a socialist party represented in the Dutch parliament said - save for one interesting comment quote "falastien bladna oel jahoed klabna". This quote is interesting for two reasons:
1. It reflects Dutch orthography - a fascinating subject; and
2. It is exactly what the howling murderous mobs screamed in Hevron and Yerushalayim in 1929.
When diplomats and statesmen say anything, it does not reflect the real sympathies of a country. It merely reflects a desire to look diplomatic and statesmanlike.
And, in the case of many European diplomats and statesmen, particularly the Dutch, a keen desire to be seen as playing well with others, in order that commerce with the United States, AND the Arab world, not be adversely affected.
I would stop drinking Heineken or Amstel in protest at what those Kaaskoppen are really saying about Israel and the US, but it would not mean much; I haven't drunk that bilge-water in years.
Nor have I purchased European olive oil or wine in years. But, given that I live in California, that too means naught.
Perhaps I should just go find a Renault and scratch the paint.Or burn a bar of Swiss Chocolate.
The odd thing about many Dutchmen when they write is that they do not appear to realize quite how anti-Semitic some of their comments are.
Here's a very small selection from a bunch of Dutch socialists (right thinking people who wouldn't hurt a fly, but bleed everytime a little third-world child anywhere weeps).
"So many rich Jewish lobbies in the EU" (zoveel rijke joodse lobbies in de EU), "...their feeling of superiority" (hun superioriteitsgevoel), "...the Jewish bosses of Wallstreet, the gold and diamond trade - they are financing this war" (de joodse bazen van Walstreet, de goud en diamanthandel. Zij financieren deze oorlog), "...fortunately I am not a Jew" (Gelukkig ben ik geen Jood).
There were several other comments which equated Israel with the Nazis, called Jews criminals, and generally speaking accused "the Jews". Of any number of things. Including slanders taken from the Germans, and echoes of the 'protocols'.
In all fairness, there were also a few more nuanced and rational comments, but several other commenters were entirely incapable of analytic reading or depth.
What follows is purely for the 'benefit' of Dutch speakers.
[an English translation may show up in a few days, if I feel like it.]
Waar maken jullie onnozele betweters je nou weer druk over?
Zoals al jaren geleden gebleken is hebben alleen de anti-semieten in de Arabische wereld nut van jullie gezijk - daar in die regio trekken het merendeel van de regimes zich zowiezo geen klap van mensenrechten, internationale wet, en demokratie aan, maar jullie boeren maar door tegen de enige legitieme regering in die streek.
Zal wel vanwege het geld zijn - hoeveel handel bedrijven de Europeanen ook al weer met de oliestaten? Ik kan me absoluut niet voorstellen dat men in Europa de Arabische geld en oliekranen dicht zou draaien.
Dat alleen al geeft aan dat Europa oneerlijk wat betreft het middenoosten zal blijven.
Tevens is het te gek voor woorden dat vele Nederlanders constant zeveren over 'de Joodsche lobby' in Amerika. Het getuigt namelijk van een ontzettende onwetendheid - de oil lobby is zoveel machtiger dat het vrijwel onmogelijk is gebleken echte pro-Israel campagnes te voeren hier. Laat staan dat de VS haar grootste markt (Europa) zuur maakt - gijlui daar in Europa zijn te veel tweehanden op een buik met de Arabieren.
Het enige wat op te merken valt, wat die zogenaamde Joodsche lobby betreft, is natuurlijk dat wij meer Joden hebben - gijlui hebt uw Joden de gaskamers ingeslagen. Toch is het een overdrijving van jewelste om te beweren dat Joden alhier de dienst uitmaken. Niet eens drie percent van de bevolking is Joods. Maar drie kwart van de bevolking is wel degelijk van West-Europeesche afkomst, en hebben anti-semitisme en verkramptheid van hun voorouders ge-erfd.
Daarbij gerekend is zo'n tien percent van de bevolking in de verenigde Staten van Nederlandsche afkomst (schrijver dezes incluus), en het moet gezegd worden dat Nederland meer geld in de VS heeft belegd dan menig ander land. Gijlui profiteert mooi mee met ons, en uw bankiers en investeurs hebben hier enorme invloed. Men zou dus wel degelijk van een 'Dutch lobby' kunnen spreken. Stelletje huichelaars.
Gijlui zouden uzelve moeten schamen - edoch dat is voor uw slag volkomen onmogelijk.
In the comments to a Dovbearian posting (here: http://dovbear.blogspot.com/2006/07/a7-world-leaders-have-come-down.html), I contributed my own two cents worth:
Wert wrote "All the countries of the universe are Zionist this morning. "
Come again?
My dear Wert, I have assiduously been reading the foreign press, especially recently, and I do not notice a marked increase in Zionist sympathies.
Much the contrary, in fact.
So much so that I am in a state of permanent spleen towards Europe, particularly the Netherlands, whose radicals and unemployables have been vituperating much more venomously than usual against Israel. As an example of which I could cite the Algemeen Dagblad, save for the fact that while they have placed any number of vicious anti-semitic comments recently, they have not placed any one of my (well thought out, polite, and rational) comments in weeks.
I won't even go into what the comments on the web-site of a socialist party represented in the Dutch parliament said - save for one interesting comment quote "falastien bladna oel jahoed klabna". This quote is interesting for two reasons:
1. It reflects Dutch orthography - a fascinating subject; and
2. It is exactly what the howling murderous mobs screamed in Hevron and Yerushalayim in 1929.
When diplomats and statesmen say anything, it does not reflect the real sympathies of a country. It merely reflects a desire to look diplomatic and statesmanlike.
And, in the case of many European diplomats and statesmen, particularly the Dutch, a keen desire to be seen as playing well with others, in order that commerce with the United States, AND the Arab world, not be adversely affected.
I would stop drinking Heineken or Amstel in protest at what those Kaaskoppen are really saying about Israel and the US, but it would not mean much; I haven't drunk that bilge-water in years.
Nor have I purchased European olive oil or wine in years. But, given that I live in California, that too means naught.
Perhaps I should just go find a Renault and scratch the paint.Or burn a bar of Swiss Chocolate.
------------------- ------------------- -------------------
The odd thing about many Dutchmen when they write is that they do not appear to realize quite how anti-Semitic some of their comments are.
Here's a very small selection from a bunch of Dutch socialists (right thinking people who wouldn't hurt a fly, but bleed everytime a little third-world child anywhere weeps).
"So many rich Jewish lobbies in the EU" (zoveel rijke joodse lobbies in de EU), "...their feeling of superiority" (hun superioriteitsgevoel), "...the Jewish bosses of Wallstreet, the gold and diamond trade - they are financing this war" (de joodse bazen van Walstreet, de goud en diamanthandel. Zij financieren deze oorlog), "...fortunately I am not a Jew" (Gelukkig ben ik geen Jood).
There were several other comments which equated Israel with the Nazis, called Jews criminals, and generally speaking accused "the Jews". Of any number of things. Including slanders taken from the Germans, and echoes of the 'protocols'.
In all fairness, there were also a few more nuanced and rational comments, but several other commenters were entirely incapable of analytic reading or depth.
What follows is purely for the 'benefit' of Dutch speakers.
[an English translation may show up in a few days, if I feel like it.]
Waar maken jullie onnozele betweters je nou weer druk over?
Zoals al jaren geleden gebleken is hebben alleen de anti-semieten in de Arabische wereld nut van jullie gezijk - daar in die regio trekken het merendeel van de regimes zich zowiezo geen klap van mensenrechten, internationale wet, en demokratie aan, maar jullie boeren maar door tegen de enige legitieme regering in die streek.
Zal wel vanwege het geld zijn - hoeveel handel bedrijven de Europeanen ook al weer met de oliestaten? Ik kan me absoluut niet voorstellen dat men in Europa de Arabische geld en oliekranen dicht zou draaien.
Dat alleen al geeft aan dat Europa oneerlijk wat betreft het middenoosten zal blijven.
Tevens is het te gek voor woorden dat vele Nederlanders constant zeveren over 'de Joodsche lobby' in Amerika. Het getuigt namelijk van een ontzettende onwetendheid - de oil lobby is zoveel machtiger dat het vrijwel onmogelijk is gebleken echte pro-Israel campagnes te voeren hier. Laat staan dat de VS haar grootste markt (Europa) zuur maakt - gijlui daar in Europa zijn te veel tweehanden op een buik met de Arabieren.
Het enige wat op te merken valt, wat die zogenaamde Joodsche lobby betreft, is natuurlijk dat wij meer Joden hebben - gijlui hebt uw Joden de gaskamers ingeslagen. Toch is het een overdrijving van jewelste om te beweren dat Joden alhier de dienst uitmaken. Niet eens drie percent van de bevolking is Joods. Maar drie kwart van de bevolking is wel degelijk van West-Europeesche afkomst, en hebben anti-semitisme en verkramptheid van hun voorouders ge-erfd.
Daarbij gerekend is zo'n tien percent van de bevolking in de verenigde Staten van Nederlandsche afkomst (schrijver dezes incluus), en het moet gezegd worden dat Nederland meer geld in de VS heeft belegd dan menig ander land. Gijlui profiteert mooi mee met ons, en uw bankiers en investeurs hebben hier enorme invloed. Men zou dus wel degelijk van een 'Dutch lobby' kunnen spreken. Stelletje huichelaars.
Gijlui zouden uzelve moeten schamen - edoch dat is voor uw slag volkomen onmogelijk.
Monday, July 17, 2006
TODAY'S COUNTER PROTEST
I am not a masochist. I do not enjoy being screamed at by unemployables and idiot jugend, nor do I enjoy reading signs that accuse me of being a white-supremacist nazi murderer.
I particularly object to stupid banners such as the one which has shown up at the last three events, which suggests that Zionists need to get over the pain they brought from Europe.
One could more validly argue that Arabs need to get over the hate they brought from the Middle-East. Which, of course, is where Arabs are from.
As are most Israelis.
Not only are many Israelis native-born (and the children of the native born), but their origins are in that area of the world. It would be well if the professional protesters remembered what happened to Jews in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and other charmingly civilized countries in that region.
The entire Jewish population of many of those countries had to flee because of the murderous rampages of the local non-Jews. Many of the countries in the Middle-East seized property and expelled Jews.
Most Arab governments encouraged violence against non-Muslims. Repeatedly.
Which, of course, is why there are hardly any Jews left in the Arab world (with the exception of Morocco, for which the Moroccans deserve our respect).
Please note that Christians have been fleeing also - the percentage of Christians in Egypt, Jordan, and Syria has been diminishing at a rapid clip for decades (ever since independence, in fact).
So suggesting, with that banner, that Zionists should get over their mixed feelings about Europe, is both misleading and utterly racist - it states that there are no Jews who belong in the Middle-East, it denies the existence of millions of Sephardim, and it seeks to create the impression that Israel is a colony founded by bitter Europeans.
[And I really wonder at the 'Jewish voice for Peace' and 'Jews For a Free Palestine' crowd, who voluntarily associate themselves with the bigotry, ignorant selfrighteousness, and hateful attitudes on the anti-Israel side.
Why do they object so much to everything that Israel does? Why do they wish to suck up to narrow-mindednesses? Why do they hate themselves and how do they live with themselves -- have they no shame, no sense of decency, no human values at all?]
That banner suggests that Europe is where Jews belong, and that they should leave the Middle-East.
And it overlooks the European solution to the "Jewish problem".
Given the way the Europeans are treating the Muslims in their midst, it would be insane to believe that Europeans have gotten over their bigotries and hatreds, and are now, finally, civilized. Two thousand years of European history illustrate that peace is an anomaly in Europe, and minorities there will get whacked whenever some peasant has indigestion.
The demo and counterdemo lasted over two hours.
We were zoiche to see around two dozen sonei-Yisroel being loaded into paddy-wagons, baruch Hashem.
Other than the fresh faced Arab American college students, many of the anti-Israel demonstrators seemed dysfunctional in some way, and of course ignorance can be seen as a dysfunctional behaviour, but I was actually referring to their clothing choices and and bad hair decisions.
[Yes yes, I know that is petty of me, I shouldn't judge people negatively because they express their unique individualities by clothes that reflect their artistic style, and independence from restrictive social norms. Or their freedom from bourgeois standards of cleanliness and deportment. My bad.]
Among the Arab youth there is one chap who always stands out by the good-natured glee in his face, reflecting an almost Irish enjoyment at a ruckus. I wonder if he is the brother of the sparkly eyed young vixen with the long black tresses who likes to stand on the newspaper racks. They both have lovely smiles. Myeh, eye candy.
I particularly object to stupid banners such as the one which has shown up at the last three events, which suggests that Zionists need to get over the pain they brought from Europe.
One could more validly argue that Arabs need to get over the hate they brought from the Middle-East. Which, of course, is where Arabs are from.
As are most Israelis.
Not only are many Israelis native-born (and the children of the native born), but their origins are in that area of the world. It would be well if the professional protesters remembered what happened to Jews in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and other charmingly civilized countries in that region.
The entire Jewish population of many of those countries had to flee because of the murderous rampages of the local non-Jews. Many of the countries in the Middle-East seized property and expelled Jews.
Most Arab governments encouraged violence against non-Muslims. Repeatedly.
Which, of course, is why there are hardly any Jews left in the Arab world (with the exception of Morocco, for which the Moroccans deserve our respect).
Please note that Christians have been fleeing also - the percentage of Christians in Egypt, Jordan, and Syria has been diminishing at a rapid clip for decades (ever since independence, in fact).
So suggesting, with that banner, that Zionists should get over their mixed feelings about Europe, is both misleading and utterly racist - it states that there are no Jews who belong in the Middle-East, it denies the existence of millions of Sephardim, and it seeks to create the impression that Israel is a colony founded by bitter Europeans.
[And I really wonder at the 'Jewish voice for Peace' and 'Jews For a Free Palestine' crowd, who voluntarily associate themselves with the bigotry, ignorant selfrighteousness, and hateful attitudes on the anti-Israel side.
Why do they object so much to everything that Israel does? Why do they wish to suck up to narrow-mindednesses? Why do they hate themselves and how do they live with themselves -- have they no shame, no sense of decency, no human values at all?]
That banner suggests that Europe is where Jews belong, and that they should leave the Middle-East.
And it overlooks the European solution to the "Jewish problem".
Given the way the Europeans are treating the Muslims in their midst, it would be insane to believe that Europeans have gotten over their bigotries and hatreds, and are now, finally, civilized. Two thousand years of European history illustrate that peace is an anomaly in Europe, and minorities there will get whacked whenever some peasant has indigestion.
The demo and counterdemo lasted over two hours.
We were zoiche to see around two dozen sonei-Yisroel being loaded into paddy-wagons, baruch Hashem.
Other than the fresh faced Arab American college students, many of the anti-Israel demonstrators seemed dysfunctional in some way, and of course ignorance can be seen as a dysfunctional behaviour, but I was actually referring to their clothing choices and and bad hair decisions.
[Yes yes, I know that is petty of me, I shouldn't judge people negatively because they express their unique individualities by clothes that reflect their artistic style, and independence from restrictive social norms. Or their freedom from bourgeois standards of cleanliness and deportment. My bad.]
Among the Arab youth there is one chap who always stands out by the good-natured glee in his face, reflecting an almost Irish enjoyment at a ruckus. I wonder if he is the brother of the sparkly eyed young vixen with the long black tresses who likes to stand on the newspaper racks. They both have lovely smiles. Myeh, eye candy.
ACTION ALERT - JULY 17
=====================
update/reminder 11:45 AM
=====================
Counter Protest Jewish Anti-Israel demonstrationoutside the Israeli Consulate
Downtown San Francisco, 456 Montgomery Street
Monday, July 17th, 12 PM (noon)
Today at noon, “Jewish Voice For Peace” (JVP) and“Jews for a Free Palestine” (JFFP) will hold a “Jewish-led” demonstration against Israel. These groups havebeen issuing statements in the name of “Bay Area Jews”but the reality is that they represent only a fringeof the Jewish community and both groups reject Israel’s right to exist.
As always, Stand With Us/San Francisco Voice for Israel will counter the genocidal anti-Israel propaganda and hate, regardless of who is spreading the disinformation.
The world must know that JVP/JFFP do not speak for the Jewish Community in the Bay Area. Even if you can come for just a few minutes, please add your voice to the pro-Israel demonstration so that our enemies know that even when they try to keep us away by holding events during the workday, we will still be there!
StandWithUs/San Francisco Voice for Israel
www.SFVoiceForIsrael.org
www.StandWithUs.com
=====================
=====================
ACTION ALERT – FORWARD WIDELY
Counter Protest Jewish Anti-Israel demonstration outside the Israeli Consulate Downtown San Francisco, 456 Montgomery Street
Monday, July 17th, 12 PM (noon)
BACKGROUND:On Monday at noon, “Jewish Voice For Peace” (JVP) and“Jews for a Free Palestine” (JFFP) will hold a “Jewish led” demonstration against Israel.
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_659.shtml
These groups have been issuing statements in the name of “Bay Area Jews” but the reality is that they represent only a fringe of the Jewish community and both groups reject Israel’s right to exist. JewishVoice for Peace endorses divestment from Israel, and consistently stands with those who actively work forIsrael’s destruction.
Most of their leaders have signed petitions in favor of the Palestinian “right of return” – code for flooding Israel with descendants of Arabs who leftIsrael in the 1948 war to demographically destroy theworld’s only Jewish State.
“Jews for a Free Palestine” is a member of the“Justice In Palestine” coalition with ANSWER andAl-Awda and openly endorses the destruction of Israel.
Throughout history, people of Jewish descent have stood with the oppressors of Jews, and the“anti-Zionist” movement is no different. Some are self-hating Jews. Some have adopted an extremist agenda and exploit their Jewishness in an attempt to insulate anti-Semites against charges of anti-Semitism. Others suffer from the “battered child syndrome” who believe that somehow Jewish persecution must be due to Jewish behavior, just as abusedchildren sometimes blame themselves for their abuse at the hands of others.
EVENT DETAILS:
As always, StandWithUs/San Francisco Voice for Israelwill counter the genocidal anti-Israel propaganda andhate, regardless of who is spreading the disinformation. The world must know that JVP/JFFP do not speak for the Jewish Community in the Bay Area. We will bring Israeli and American flags, pro-Israelsigns, and most importantly, the truth to counter the lies of the “house Jews.”
We know that it is very difficult with events coming so close together lately. Unfortunately, in this timeof crisis, our enemies have been relentless, and we in turn must not back down. Even if you can come for just a few minutes, please add your voice to thepro-Israel demonstration so that our enemies know thateven when they try to keep us away by holding events during the workday, we will still be there!
Please bring your noisemakers, flags, and signs. As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnicgroup including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, or Palestinians.
Signs in violation of our policies willnot be allowed.
Demand an end to rocket attacks against Israeli civilians!
Demand Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser be returned home safely!
Demand the Palestinian Authority and Lebanesegovernment put an end to terror attacks!
Demand an end to the deligitimization and demonizationof Israel!
Demand the Palestinian Authority and their local supporters choose peace so that the Palestinian people can have a future!
StandWithUs/San Francisco Voice for Israel
www.SFVoiceForIsrael.org
www.StandWithUs.com
------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, July 18th 5:30 PM – Pro-Israel rally inSacramento.
Location is not yet announced.
Go to http://jewishsac.org/ for up to the minute details.
Sunday, July 30, 3:00PM – The Truth about the MiddleEast – Showings of the films “Relentless” and “TheHostages of Hatred” co-presented with the East BayIsrael Action Committee and the Kol Emeth IsraelAction Committee and sponsored by Congregation of theRussian Jewish Community of San Francisco.Jewish Community Center of San Francisco 3200 California Street San Francisco, CA
NOTE NEW TIME, DATE, and LOCATION!
Saturday, August 12th – Wrong, A.N.S.W.E.R. counterrally.
10:30 AM, Civic Center, downtown San Francisco.
Saturday, October 28th – Wrong, A.N.S.W.E.R. counterrally.
Details coming when they are available.
Do you want to become more involved with organizing our activities?
Send a message to info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
If you are interested in participating in our campaignto counter anti-Israel speakers, please send an e-mailto info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
Join the discussion! Do you have ideas? Classes to announce? Events to announce or discuss? Join ourdiscussion list by sending an e-mail to sfproisrael-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
San Francisco Voice for Israel is a non-partisan coalition that takes no position on the war in Iraq,the settlements, or Israel's final borders.
Our members span the political spectrum and are united only by our commitment to preserving the State ofIsrael as a Jewish State within secure borders.
Please send your tax deductible donation to Stand With Us - P.O. Box 341069, Los Angeles, CA 90034-1069. Write SFV4I in the memo line.
Friday, July 14, 2006
FROM THE MUQATA
A quickie but a worth-whilie, copied from Jameel's blog.
Please have the following people in mind in your prayer:
Kidnapped IDF soldiers:
Gilad ben Aviva
Ehud ben Malka
Eldad ben Tovah
Four children seriously wounded in a Katyusha attack up North:
Michal bat Revital
Bat Zion bat Revital
Avraham Natan ben Revital
Odel Chana bat Revital
And, as Jack said, "Watch your ass and those around you. Just be careful."
Solst hobn a gitn shabbes.
Please have the following people in mind in your prayer:
Kidnapped IDF soldiers:
Gilad ben Aviva
Ehud ben Malka
Eldad ben Tovah
Four children seriously wounded in a Katyusha attack up North:
Michal bat Revital
Bat Zion bat Revital
Avraham Natan ben Revital
Odel Chana bat Revital
And, as Jack said, "Watch your ass and those around you. Just be careful."
Solst hobn a gitn shabbes.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
SCREAMING, SCREAMING, AND MORE..... SCREAMING
Well, today's counter-demo was a lot better than the one ten days ago.
There were more of us.
[Still outnumbered, but what did you expect?]
The gentleman next to whom I stood was yelling such lovely phrases that his head directly translated out of Yiddish, many of which would have needed further translation to be fully comprehensible to the crowd on the other side (for whom an understanding from what he said difficult would be, precisely, they should known-have-been with such expressions their whole life already, but what else you expected perhaps?).
But that actually highlights the problem. You've heard the expression "two Jews, three opinions" before, yes?
What that means at a demonstration is "one hundred Jews (and maybe twenty Gentiles) and nearly a thousand slogans".
With no co-ordination of what gets hollered when, or by how many.
Often those slogans go off message.
Which is further not helped by a group singing 'Haveinu Shalom Aleichem', or the chap yelling that 'they' should all be deported to Guantanamo (what I have heard, is a fine place this time of year).
WE DON'T HAVE SLOGANS.
WE NEED SLOGANS.
Everything that we have to say just is not simple, simplistic, or simple-minded enough.
The phrase "dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, desist from gratuitous violence, and stop teaching anti-Semitism in your schools while you're at it" lacks, shall I say, a certain punch. It has no chantable rhythm. It does not scan. It fails to excite.
["Destroy Hezbooooollaaaah....! Destroy Ham-ass!" - by me is good, maybe, perhaps not quite...... ]
But I think a good time was had by all - fighting Jews, fellow travelers, cops, and crazy crackers alike (thank y'all for coming, and hope to see you at the next love-fest).
I'm dehydrated, my throat is scratchy, my blood-sugar level has plummeted, and I've got a head-ache van jewelste.
Oh, I also got to see several people leyning tefillin (it's a mitzvah) so you know who else was there too.
I can't think of anything better to have done on the Seventeenth of Tamuz.
So I'll postpone my 17º Tammoez posting of a poem by Jacob Israel DeHaan, with translation and commentary, till tomorrow. When everybody's blood-sugar level is up.
There were more of us.
[Still outnumbered, but what did you expect?]
The gentleman next to whom I stood was yelling such lovely phrases that his head directly translated out of Yiddish, many of which would have needed further translation to be fully comprehensible to the crowd on the other side (for whom an understanding from what he said difficult would be, precisely, they should known-have-been with such expressions their whole life already, but what else you expected perhaps?).
But that actually highlights the problem. You've heard the expression "two Jews, three opinions" before, yes?
What that means at a demonstration is "one hundred Jews (and maybe twenty Gentiles) and nearly a thousand slogans".
With no co-ordination of what gets hollered when, or by how many.
Often those slogans go off message.
Which is further not helped by a group singing 'Haveinu Shalom Aleichem', or the chap yelling that 'they' should all be deported to Guantanamo (what I have heard, is a fine place this time of year).
WE DON'T HAVE SLOGANS.
WE NEED SLOGANS.
Everything that we have to say just is not simple, simplistic, or simple-minded enough.
The phrase "dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, desist from gratuitous violence, and stop teaching anti-Semitism in your schools while you're at it" lacks, shall I say, a certain punch. It has no chantable rhythm. It does not scan. It fails to excite.
["Destroy Hezbooooollaaaah....! Destroy Ham-ass!" - by me is good, maybe, perhaps not quite...... ]
But I think a good time was had by all - fighting Jews, fellow travelers, cops, and crazy crackers alike (thank y'all for coming, and hope to see you at the next love-fest).
I'm dehydrated, my throat is scratchy, my blood-sugar level has plummeted, and I've got a head-ache van jewelste.
Oh, I also got to see several people leyning tefillin (it's a mitzvah) so you know who else was there too.
I can't think of anything better to have done on the Seventeenth of Tamuz.
So I'll postpone my 17º Tammoez posting of a poem by Jacob Israel DeHaan, with translation and commentary, till tomorrow. When everybody's blood-sugar level is up.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
PAVE SOUTHERN LEBANON
This morning, in an unbelievably stupid and opportunistic move, Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel, killing several soldiers and kidnapping two of them.
Hezbollah says that it will only release them if certain prisoners held by Israel are released.
As an indication of the lopsidedness of their demand, please consider the example of one of the gentlemen they want released: Sami Kuntar
That's right, Sami Kuntar.
This is the psychopath who in 1979 entered a house in the middle of the night and slaughtered four people. One of the people he killed was a two-year old child whose head he smashed with a rifle after shooting her father execution style. Typically, this act was much praised in part of the Middle-East.
And Hezbollah's grand poobah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah, wants this man freed.
PARDON MY FRENCH, MY DEAR SHEIKH, BUT JUHUR UMMAK!
As was to be expected, Palestinians in Beirut celebrated this morning's grand success with a feu de joie and the handing out of candies.
And as usual, various commentators on Dutch internet pages argued that Hezbollah was right, Israel deserved it, blah blah blah. I do believe that these writers had parents who collaborated with the Germans during the war.
In any case, if it weren't for sterling commentators such as Roma (Amsterdam), Steve Arad (Chicago) and Aliza (Upper Galilee) and many others who also write fiercely in Dutch on those sites, countering those poxy terrorist-lovers, I might give up on the Dutch, the Netherlands, and the language itself.
Several Dutch blisters even brought up Sabra and Shatila, for no particular reason. I fail to see what either of those places have to do with current events. Or with anything at all.
What happened there during Sharon's invasion of Lebanon in 1982 was indeed horrible. But it was Lebanese Maronite Christians exacting revenge on Muslim Palestinians for the PLO persecution of Christians in South Lebanon. It was inevitable that the Maronites would at some point slaughter Palestinians, as the Palestinians had already slaughtered many of the Christians.
It was not the first atrocity committed by Arabs against Arabs, nor was it the last. It was in no way remarkable or even unusual. Arabs seem to dialogue between themselves by the gratuitous spilling of each others blood - they've brutally sent over six million of their own people to paradise since the fifties, and show no sign of stopping anytime soon.
In any case, why blame Sharon? As Menachem Begin angrily snapped, "Goyim hargenen Goyim und Yidden hangen darfur".
There is no reason for Israel to hold back. The state of war between Lebanon and Israel (1948 and subsequent wars) technically still exists. There is no peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon. There is merely a grudging armistice - and the Lebanese have violated it.
Nor do I particularly give a damn what happens to civilian supporters of Hamas and Hizbullah at the present time. These are people who wish all of the western world ill, and hand out candies in celebration whenever we've been hit. I am not particularly inclined to have an abundance of sympathy for them.
Hezbollah's taskmasters in Damascus, Tehran and Qum can call a halt to Israel's incursion by ordering that the two soldiers be freed. Until then, send in the IDF tanks and root out the weeds.
If Israel wants to pave over several miles of South Lebanon as a buffer zone, they should go ahead and do so. The same goes for Gaza.
Since withdrawing from South Lebanon and Gaza, Israel has NO responsibility to the people there - Israel's only responsibility is to Israelis - especially Israelis within rocket distance of Arab gangs.
Hezbollah says that it will only release them if certain prisoners held by Israel are released.
As an indication of the lopsidedness of their demand, please consider the example of one of the gentlemen they want released: Sami Kuntar
That's right, Sami Kuntar.
This is the psychopath who in 1979 entered a house in the middle of the night and slaughtered four people. One of the people he killed was a two-year old child whose head he smashed with a rifle after shooting her father execution style. Typically, this act was much praised in part of the Middle-East.
And Hezbollah's grand poobah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah, wants this man freed.
PARDON MY FRENCH, MY DEAR SHEIKH, BUT JUHUR UMMAK!
As was to be expected, Palestinians in Beirut celebrated this morning's grand success with a feu de joie and the handing out of candies.
And as usual, various commentators on Dutch internet pages argued that Hezbollah was right, Israel deserved it, blah blah blah. I do believe that these writers had parents who collaborated with the Germans during the war.
In any case, if it weren't for sterling commentators such as Roma (Amsterdam), Steve Arad (Chicago) and Aliza (Upper Galilee) and many others who also write fiercely in Dutch on those sites, countering those poxy terrorist-lovers, I might give up on the Dutch, the Netherlands, and the language itself.
Several Dutch blisters even brought up Sabra and Shatila, for no particular reason. I fail to see what either of those places have to do with current events. Or with anything at all.
What happened there during Sharon's invasion of Lebanon in 1982 was indeed horrible. But it was Lebanese Maronite Christians exacting revenge on Muslim Palestinians for the PLO persecution of Christians in South Lebanon. It was inevitable that the Maronites would at some point slaughter Palestinians, as the Palestinians had already slaughtered many of the Christians.
It was not the first atrocity committed by Arabs against Arabs, nor was it the last. It was in no way remarkable or even unusual. Arabs seem to dialogue between themselves by the gratuitous spilling of each others blood - they've brutally sent over six million of their own people to paradise since the fifties, and show no sign of stopping anytime soon.
In any case, why blame Sharon? As Menachem Begin angrily snapped, "Goyim hargenen Goyim und Yidden hangen darfur".
There is no reason for Israel to hold back. The state of war between Lebanon and Israel (1948 and subsequent wars) technically still exists. There is no peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon. There is merely a grudging armistice - and the Lebanese have violated it.
Nor do I particularly give a damn what happens to civilian supporters of Hamas and Hizbullah at the present time. These are people who wish all of the western world ill, and hand out candies in celebration whenever we've been hit. I am not particularly inclined to have an abundance of sympathy for them.
Hezbollah's taskmasters in Damascus, Tehran and Qum can call a halt to Israel's incursion by ordering that the two soldiers be freed. Until then, send in the IDF tanks and root out the weeds.
If Israel wants to pave over several miles of South Lebanon as a buffer zone, they should go ahead and do so. The same goes for Gaza.
Since withdrawing from South Lebanon and Gaza, Israel has NO responsibility to the people there - Israel's only responsibility is to Israelis - especially Israelis within rocket distance of Arab gangs.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
PRO-ISRAEL COUNTER-DEMO JULY 13
If you are in the Bay Area, and you happen to think that Israel, despite her warts, is never-the-less a very worthwhile enterprise that gets far too much criticism (and if like me you also think that the critics are a bunch of bigoted pustules who should in all fairness also direct their spleen at many other countries but don't), then this next message is for you.
[FROM MAILING LIST E-MAIL]
ACTION ALERT – FORWARD WIDELY
-----------------------------
Counter Protest Anti-Israel demonstration outside theIsraeli Consulate Downtown San Francisco, 456 Montgomery Street Thursday, July 13th, 4:30PM
------------------------------
Background: On Thursday afternoon during rush hour, al-Awda,A.N.S.W.E.R., MECA, and ISM will once againdemonstrate at the Israeli Consulate in downtown SanFrancisco against Israel’s actions in Gaza. On MondayJuly 3rd, they protested not just Israel’s defensive action in Gaza, but its very existence.
Amongst chants of “kill the Jews” and signs decrying the “58year occupation,” they failed to mention the sustained barrage of missiles from Gaza into Israel prior to the military action, the assassination of an Israeli youth and attempted kidnappings of girls in the West Bank.
When Israel disengaged from Gaza last year, they promised that assaults on Israel from Gaza would be met with harsh response. In line with international demands, Israel opened the border crossings with Gaza when there were not specific terrorist threats and turned over the Rafah crossing to the Palestinians with international observers. Despite this, the Gazan militant groups, many supported or funded by Hamas, intensified their rocket attacks into Israel.
Following a prolonged period where Israel exercised restraint in the face of continuing assaults, Israelstruck back at the militants terrorizing Israel’scities and farms near Gaza to put an end to theassault on its citizens.
On June 25th, Hamas escalated the conflict by kidnapping Gilad Shalit, a19 year old soldier. Last week, Hamas and their allied terror organizations escalated the conflictfurther by shooting several missiles into the majorIsraeli population center of Ashkelon, one hitting aschool where children and parents were registering forclasses.
-------------------------------------
Counter-Rally Details: San Francisco Voice for Israel/Stand With Us willcounter the anti-Israel/pro-terrorism voice. We willbring Israeli and American flags, pro-Israel signs,and most importantly, the truth to counter the genocidal hate and lies of the anti-Israel groups.
Our presence at these events has proven highlyeffective at countering their message and making sure that the anti-Israel activists can not push their propaganda on the public unopposed.
Please bring your noisemakers, flags, and signs. As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, orPalestinians. Signs in violation of our policies willnot be allowed.
Demand an end to Palestinian rocket attacks againstIsraeli civilians!
Demand Cpl Gilad Shalit be returned home safely!
Demand the Palestinian Authority put an end to terror attacks!
Demand an end to the deligitimization and demonization of Israel!
Demand the Palestinian Authority and their localsupporters choose peace so that the Palestinian peoplecan have a future!
StandWithUs/ San Francisco Voice for Israel
www.SFVoiceForIsrael.org www.StandWithUs.com
------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events: Sunday, July 23, 2:00PM - The Truth about the MiddleEast – Showings of the films “Relentless” and “TheHostages of Hatred” co-presented with the East BayIsrael Action Committee and the Kol Emeth IsraelAction Committee and sponsored by Congregation of the Russian Jewish Community of San Francisco. Koret Auditorium of the new De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
July 31st-August 9th – Stand With Us Mission to Israel http://www.standwithus.com/flyers/mission06low.pdf
Saturday, October 28th – Next wrong A.N.S.W.E.R. counter rally. Details coming when they are available.
------------------------------------------------------
Do you want to become more involved with organizing our activities? Send a message to
info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
If you are interested in participating in our campaignto counter anti-Israel speakers, please send an e-mailto info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
Join the discussion! Do you have ideas? Events or classes to announce? Join our discussion list by sending an e-mail to
sfproisrael-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
San Francisco Voice for Israel is a non-partisan coalition that takes no position on the war in Iraq, the settlements, or Israel's final borders. Our members span the political spectrum and are united only by our commitment to preserving the State ofIsrael as a Jewish State within secure borders.
Please send your tax deductible donation toStand With UsP.O. Box 341069Los Angeles, CA 90034-1069. Write SFV4I in the memo line.
-------------------------------------
Note I: Despite a surplus of exclamation marks in the text above (most removed - esthetic reason, not content-related), I urge you to join up and be there if you are in the Bay Area.
Why not? You got anything better to do?
Note II: Bring a sweater or a coat! Montgomery Street is a wind-tunnel in late afternoon - I froze my tuchus off the last time! Darned SF summers!
Note III: The Arab-Americans who show up to shout nonsense usually have a sense of humour, and are genuinely likeable. The anarchists and hate-bags are entirely different, and they HAVE been known to spit. Fortunately they're also usually obvious members of the loony fringe, and other than being warm bodies to flesh out the line, they are of scant use to anybody. But they do demonstrate why the sonei-yisroel faction outnumbers our side - many of them are clearly unemployable and scarcely functional. So bring handi-wipes.
[FROM MAILING LIST E-MAIL]
ACTION ALERT – FORWARD WIDELY
-----------------------------
Counter Protest Anti-Israel demonstration outside theIsraeli Consulate Downtown San Francisco, 456 Montgomery Street Thursday, July 13th, 4:30PM
------------------------------
Background: On Thursday afternoon during rush hour, al-Awda,A.N.S.W.E.R., MECA, and ISM will once againdemonstrate at the Israeli Consulate in downtown SanFrancisco against Israel’s actions in Gaza. On MondayJuly 3rd, they protested not just Israel’s defensive action in Gaza, but its very existence.
Amongst chants of “kill the Jews” and signs decrying the “58year occupation,” they failed to mention the sustained barrage of missiles from Gaza into Israel prior to the military action, the assassination of an Israeli youth and attempted kidnappings of girls in the West Bank.
When Israel disengaged from Gaza last year, they promised that assaults on Israel from Gaza would be met with harsh response. In line with international demands, Israel opened the border crossings with Gaza when there were not specific terrorist threats and turned over the Rafah crossing to the Palestinians with international observers. Despite this, the Gazan militant groups, many supported or funded by Hamas, intensified their rocket attacks into Israel.
Following a prolonged period where Israel exercised restraint in the face of continuing assaults, Israelstruck back at the militants terrorizing Israel’scities and farms near Gaza to put an end to theassault on its citizens.
On June 25th, Hamas escalated the conflict by kidnapping Gilad Shalit, a19 year old soldier. Last week, Hamas and their allied terror organizations escalated the conflictfurther by shooting several missiles into the majorIsraeli population center of Ashkelon, one hitting aschool where children and parents were registering forclasses.
-------------------------------------
Counter-Rally Details: San Francisco Voice for Israel/Stand With Us willcounter the anti-Israel/pro-terrorism voice. We willbring Israeli and American flags, pro-Israel signs,and most importantly, the truth to counter the genocidal hate and lies of the anti-Israel groups.
Our presence at these events has proven highlyeffective at countering their message and making sure that the anti-Israel activists can not push their propaganda on the public unopposed.
Please bring your noisemakers, flags, and signs. As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, orPalestinians. Signs in violation of our policies willnot be allowed.
Demand an end to Palestinian rocket attacks againstIsraeli civilians!
Demand Cpl Gilad Shalit be returned home safely!
Demand the Palestinian Authority put an end to terror attacks!
Demand an end to the deligitimization and demonization of Israel!
Demand the Palestinian Authority and their localsupporters choose peace so that the Palestinian peoplecan have a future!
StandWithUs/ San Francisco Voice for Israel
www.SFVoiceForIsrael.org www.StandWithUs.com
------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events: Sunday, July 23, 2:00PM - The Truth about the MiddleEast – Showings of the films “Relentless” and “TheHostages of Hatred” co-presented with the East BayIsrael Action Committee and the Kol Emeth IsraelAction Committee and sponsored by Congregation of the Russian Jewish Community of San Francisco. Koret Auditorium of the new De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
July 31st-August 9th – Stand With Us Mission to Israel http://www.standwithus.com/flyers/mission06low.pdf
Saturday, October 28th – Next wrong A.N.S.W.E.R. counter rally. Details coming when they are available.
------------------------------------------------------
Do you want to become more involved with organizing our activities? Send a message to
info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
If you are interested in participating in our campaignto counter anti-Israel speakers, please send an e-mailto info@SFVoiceForIsrael.org
Join the discussion! Do you have ideas? Events or classes to announce? Join our discussion list by sending an e-mail to
sfproisrael-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
San Francisco Voice for Israel is a non-partisan coalition that takes no position on the war in Iraq, the settlements, or Israel's final borders. Our members span the political spectrum and are united only by our commitment to preserving the State ofIsrael as a Jewish State within secure borders.
Please send your tax deductible donation toStand With UsP.O. Box 341069Los Angeles, CA 90034-1069. Write SFV4I in the memo line.
-------------------------------------
Note I: Despite a surplus of exclamation marks in the text above (most removed - esthetic reason, not content-related), I urge you to join up and be there if you are in the Bay Area.
Why not? You got anything better to do?
Note II: Bring a sweater or a coat! Montgomery Street is a wind-tunnel in late afternoon - I froze my tuchus off the last time! Darned SF summers!
Note III: The Arab-Americans who show up to shout nonsense usually have a sense of humour, and are genuinely likeable. The anarchists and hate-bags are entirely different, and they HAVE been known to spit. Fortunately they're also usually obvious members of the loony fringe, and other than being warm bodies to flesh out the line, they are of scant use to anybody. But they do demonstrate why the sonei-yisroel faction outnumbers our side - many of them are clearly unemployable and scarcely functional. So bring handi-wipes.
SHE WEIGHS THE SAME AS A DUCK!
One of my favourite scenes in the movie 'Monty Python And The Holy Grail' (which you should see instead of 'The Da Vinci Code' - it's a far better movie), is the inductive reasoning scene played out between Sir Bedevere, a rabble of unwashed illiterate suburbani...., errrm, I mean 'peasants', and Arthur, King of the Britons.
The rabble is seen outside Sir Bedevere's hovel, pummeling a woman with a witch hat and a patently false shnozz, while yelling.
Villagers: A witch! A witch! A witch!
We've found a witch! A witch! A witch! We've have a witch! A witch! A witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! A witch!
One of the peasantim speaks: We have found a witch. May we burn her?
The crowd yells: Burn her! Burn! Burn her! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere: How do you know she is a witch?
A peasant: She looks like one!
Roars of assent from the crowd: Right! Yeah! Yeah! A witch!
Sir Bedevere: Bring her forward.
Witch: I'm not a witch! I'm not a witch!
Sir Bedevere: But you are dressed as one.
Witch: They dressed me up like this.
Rabble: Naa, we didn't! We didn't!
[Mumblings of denial, shifty looks.]
Witch: And this isn't my nose. It's a false one.
Sir Bedevere: Well?
Villager: Well, we did do the nose.
Sir Bedevere: The nose?
Villager: And the hat....., but she IS a witch!
Other villagers: Yeah! We burn her! Right! Yeaaah! Yeaah! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere: Did you dress her up like this?
Villager: No!
Other villagers: No. No.
More villagers, back and forth: No. No. No.
First villager: Yes.
Other villagers: Yes.
More villagers, back and forth: Yeh. Yeah, a bit. Just a bit, yeh.
First villager: She HAS got a wart.....
Sir Bedevere: What makes you think she is a witch?
Tall villager: She turned me into a newt!
Sir Bedevere: A newt?
Tall villager: I got better.....
Other villager: Burn her anyway!
All the villagers: Burn her! Burn! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere: Quiet, quiet, quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
First villager: Are there?
[The villagers look baffled.]
First villager: What are they?
All the villagers: Tell us! Tell us!
Other villager: Do they hurt?
Sir Bedevere: Tell me, what do you do with witches?
Villagers: Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn!
Sir Bedevere: And what do you burn apart from witches?
First villager: More witches!
Other villager: Wood!
Sir Bedevere: So why do witches burn?
[Long pause while the crowd thinks.]
Villager: be... cause they're made of... wood?
Sir Bedevere: Good!
Villagers: Oh, yeah. Oh. Right.
Sir Bedevere: So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
Villager: Build a bridge out of her!
Sir Bedevere: Ah, but can you not ALSO make bridges out of stone?
Villager: Oh...., yeah.
Villagers: Oh, yeah. Right. Right, yeah. Errrm.
Sir Bedevere: Does wood sink in water?
Villagers: No. No. No, it floats! It floats!
Villager: Throw her into the pond!
Villagers: The pond! Throw her into the pond!
Sir Bedevere: What ALSO floats in water?
Villager: Bread!
Other villager: Apples!
First villager: Bananas!
Another villager: Very small rocks!
An altogether different villager: Grah..., gravy!
First villager: Cherries!
Other villager: Mud!
Another villager: Churches! Churches!
An altogether different villager: Lead! Lead!
King Arthur: A duck!
Villagers, admiringly: Oooh.
Sir Bedevere: Exactly. So, logically...
Villager: If... she... weighs... the same as a duck,... she's made of wood.
Sir Bedevere: And therefore?
Other villager: A witch! A witch!
All villagers: A witch! A witch!
Fourth villager: Here's a duck, use this duck.
[Duck quacks indignantly.]
Sir Bedevere: Very good. We shall use my largest scales.
Villagers: Oooh! Ah! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Oooh!
Sir Bedevere: Right. Remove the supports!
[Thunk. Crack. Creak. The scales show that the weight on both sides is equivalent, and neither pan dips down.]
Villagers: A witch! A witch! A witch!
Witch: It's a fair cop.
Villagers: Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere (to King Arthur): Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?
King Arthur: I am Arthur, King of the Britons.
The rabble is seen outside Sir Bedevere's hovel, pummeling a woman with a witch hat and a patently false shnozz, while yelling.
Villagers: A witch! A witch! A witch!
We've found a witch! A witch! A witch! We've have a witch! A witch! A witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! A witch!
One of the peasantim speaks: We have found a witch. May we burn her?
The crowd yells: Burn her! Burn! Burn her! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere: How do you know she is a witch?
A peasant: She looks like one!
Roars of assent from the crowd: Right! Yeah! Yeah! A witch!
Sir Bedevere: Bring her forward.
Witch: I'm not a witch! I'm not a witch!
Sir Bedevere: But you are dressed as one.
Witch: They dressed me up like this.
Rabble: Naa, we didn't! We didn't!
[Mumblings of denial, shifty looks.]
Witch: And this isn't my nose. It's a false one.
Sir Bedevere: Well?
Villager: Well, we did do the nose.
Sir Bedevere: The nose?
Villager: And the hat....., but she IS a witch!
Other villagers: Yeah! We burn her! Right! Yeaaah! Yeaah! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere: Did you dress her up like this?
Villager: No!
Other villagers: No. No.
More villagers, back and forth: No. No. No.
First villager: Yes.
Other villagers: Yes.
More villagers, back and forth: Yeh. Yeah, a bit. Just a bit, yeh.
First villager: She HAS got a wart.....
Sir Bedevere: What makes you think she is a witch?
Tall villager: She turned me into a newt!
Sir Bedevere: A newt?
Tall villager: I got better.....
Other villager: Burn her anyway!
All the villagers: Burn her! Burn! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere: Quiet, quiet, quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
First villager: Are there?
[The villagers look baffled.]
First villager: What are they?
All the villagers: Tell us! Tell us!
Other villager: Do they hurt?
Sir Bedevere: Tell me, what do you do with witches?
Villagers: Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn!
Sir Bedevere: And what do you burn apart from witches?
First villager: More witches!
Other villager: Wood!
Sir Bedevere: So why do witches burn?
[Long pause while the crowd thinks.]
Villager: be... cause they're made of... wood?
Sir Bedevere: Good!
Villagers: Oh, yeah. Oh. Right.
Sir Bedevere: So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
Villager: Build a bridge out of her!
Sir Bedevere: Ah, but can you not ALSO make bridges out of stone?
Villager: Oh...., yeah.
Villagers: Oh, yeah. Right. Right, yeah. Errrm.
Sir Bedevere: Does wood sink in water?
Villagers: No. No. No, it floats! It floats!
Villager: Throw her into the pond!
Villagers: The pond! Throw her into the pond!
Sir Bedevere: What ALSO floats in water?
Villager: Bread!
Other villager: Apples!
First villager: Bananas!
Another villager: Very small rocks!
An altogether different villager: Grah..., gravy!
First villager: Cherries!
Other villager: Mud!
Another villager: Churches! Churches!
An altogether different villager: Lead! Lead!
King Arthur: A duck!
Villagers, admiringly: Oooh.
Sir Bedevere: Exactly. So, logically...
Villager: If... she... weighs... the same as a duck,... she's made of wood.
Sir Bedevere: And therefore?
Other villager: A witch! A witch!
All villagers: A witch! A witch!
Fourth villager: Here's a duck, use this duck.
[Duck quacks indignantly.]
Sir Bedevere: Very good. We shall use my largest scales.
Villagers: Oooh! Ah! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Oooh!
Sir Bedevere: Right. Remove the supports!
[Thunk. Crack. Creak. The scales show that the weight on both sides is equivalent, and neither pan dips down.]
Villagers: A witch! A witch! A witch!
Witch: It's a fair cop.
Villagers: Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her!
Sir Bedevere (to King Arthur): Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?
King Arthur: I am Arthur, King of the Britons.
--------- --------- ---------
No, I am not citing the above as a logical support for the monarchic system OR an argument in favour of mediaeval science, but rather to illuminate a comment I made on a Dovbearian posting (http://dovbear.blogspot.com/2006/07/another-day-another-stupid-post-from.html) in wich Dovbear (http://dovbear.blogspot.com/) countered the remark made in a Cross-Currents posting by Yitzhak Alderstan to the effect that Italians "were not particularly good at antisemitism" by saying "Italians weren't particularly good at anti-semitism? Good lord man. They practically invented it!!"'.
This is what I wrote in the comment-thread, in semi-response to some of the other commentors:
"Well yes, they 'invented it'.
But look at it this way, if there had been no Jews in Europe, Europeans would have had to invent them. There's something pathological about the need of many societies and cultures to target a group and scapegoat 'em.
Of course, that requires a differentiation. In mediaeval Europe there was not enough marked differentiation that they could pick on each other. That didn't really flower until the French and the Germans started whacking each other (and the Lombards invented loan-sharking and extortion).
Until then it was Jews, Gypsies, and wrinkled old women.
"...If she weighs the same as a duck, she's made of wood, and therefore... A Jew! Burn her, burn her!""
Surely you see the logic? Imagine Sir Bedevere instead asking "and WHO ELSE do you burn apart from witches?" The answer is "heretics, Frenchmen, and ..... Jews".
Of course, nowadays we burn flags instead. So, as the character played by John Cleese in the scene above said, we "got better".
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THE AIR IS CRUNCHY!
Perhaps it's the weather. There were fewer people than normal about in Chinatown. The chachanteng where I went for lunch had four tables...
