Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Don't Dare Tell Me who my "Teacher" is

Mets102

hillel1
Mets102 of Daily Kos fame has offered to allow Israel Thrives to publish his latest piece entitled, Don't Dare Tell Me who my "Teacher" is.

As with other progressive-left Jews I have sometimes been hard on Mets102, but I certainly understand that he is an intelligent fellow with the well-being of the Jewish people within his heart.

That being the case, and without further discussion, I give you Mets102:
I respect Christians and their beliefs.  They believe in Jesus. 
That's fine.  That's their right and yes, the world would be a better place if they listened their teacher.  Just don't tell me that he's my teacher also.  That happened here last night.
My teachers are Hillel and Shammai and the Rambam and Rashi and the Baal Shem Tov and the Vilna Gaon and Solomon Schecter and all those, from all stripes of Judaism that have carried on our tradition and continue to do so.  They are my rabbis.  They are our rabbis. 
I know yesterday I said I consciously do not write about Israel here, ("here" being Daily Kos - editor's note) but now I realize that I must.  There are apologia for a genocidal terrorist group.  There are those that make claims that could come straight from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
From London to Madrid to Saint Petersburg to Damascus to Paris to Atlanta to Berlin toParis' current pogrom to the anti-Semitic incidents that continue to occur, whether it is the call from some in Germany to send us back to the gas to the threats and violence that have occurred in this country, my people have learned all too well what happens when we leave our collective safety in the hands of others. 
I am a proud Jew.  I am a proud Zionist.  I strongly believe in the State of Israel and the right of my people keep the state we have established in our ancestral homeland.  Its existence and its strength are necessary for the survival of the Jewish People.  I had been afraid to write those words here, but now I am not.  It was an act of moral cowardice that I had not done so earlier. 
There are those fighting and dying to protect my people as I write these words.  There are those forced to scurry with 15 seconds or less to protect themselves from terrorist rockets targeted at civilians.  Meanwhile, I sit here in the comfort of the United States without having to worry whether a rocket is going to be inbound for New York.  I owe it to those who are in danger to speak truth and that is what I do now. 
Israel is right to defend herself.  That is the right of every sovereign state.  To deny Israel that right is anti-Semitic.  Given Israel's enemy, what is she to do?  The genocidal terrorist organization she fights right now glorifies death and seeks maximal carnage on both sides.  To them dead Jews are infidels that deserve their fate and dead Palestinians are martyrs.  As Yishai Schwartz writes, "We are thus left with a paradox: Morality demands that Israel fight this war, but allows no way to fight it morally. In this conflict, reason itself seems to fail." 
What is Israel to do?  Is she supposed to just sit back and let the rockets strike?  Is she supposed to allow terrorists to commit their evil deeds simply because those terrorists know Israel's morality shows concern for the civilians of both sides?  Those terrorists know that Israel will risk the lives of her own sons and daughters to protect the lives of civilians on the other side.  Israel gives warnings.  Israel calls off strikes when the harm to civilians is too great. 
Those who scream "Massacre!" and "Genocide!" do not know what massacres and genocide are.  Israel could carpet bomb Gaza and kill tens of thousands and still be nowhere near the numbers killed by the brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad on her northeastern frontier.  If it was the genocide that some claim, then why does Gaza's population continue to increase?  Is not the hallmark of genocide the elimination of a people, not their increase?  If it is the massacre that some people claim, then what are the 170,000 dead at the hands of Bashar al-Assad?  Where are the screams about that when people so freely scream at Israel in much louder voices? 
Here I have seen far too many deny Israel her sovereign right to protect her people from attack.  Those that do so deny Israeli citizens the right to peace and quiet and security and freedom that all are entitled to.  That is antithetical to liberal and progressive values and it is anti-Semitic.  Rabbi Menachem Creditor has it right when he writes, "We will do what we must to protect our people. We have that right. We are not less deserving of life and quiet than anyone else." 
This war could have been avoided if Hamas chose not to fire rockets into Israel and once again terrorize Israeli civilians.  It could have stopped if Hamas chose to accept the ceasefire that Israel accepted.  It can stop if Hamas chooses to cease its fire of rockets into Israel.  Until then, Israel will continue to exercise her inherent right of self-defense. 
I seriously do ask those that condemn Israeli self-defense, what is she to do?  What do you suggest she does?  In what way can she exercise self-defense in a realistic manner without also earning your condemnation?  You say that her actions are disproportionate, then what do you consider a proportionate defense that is also effective in bringing peace and quiet to Sderot and Be'er Sheva and Tel Aviv and Yerushalayim?  Answer those questions for me. 
If you cannot, then your silence is truly deafening.
Like the majority of my fellow Americans, I am proud to stand with Israel.

25 comments:

  1. A great piece, and thanks to Mets for allowing us to crosspost it here.

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  2. He originally published this at Daily Kos, where he has slightly more patience for dealing with the Jew haters than I do. Or at least unlike me, he hasn't decided to go full nuclear there yet. ;)

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    1. Once you relieve yourself of that place you will find that food tastes better, colors are brighter, mathematics becomes easier, and you will find yourself to be an all-around happier and smarter individual.

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    2. Yes, but I would point out that it's okay to go nuclear there as long as you advocate for nuclear weapons in the hands of a designated foreign terrorist organization.

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    3. I did go away for over a year, but then something pulled me back. I had to take on the bigots and go out with a bang, which I'm pretty sure I just did.

      I'm happy with that. ;)

      And yeah, Reuven, it's definitely worth noting that you can be banned for standing up against antisemites, while advocating for nuclear weapons to be made available to Hezbollah earns one a badge of honor in that place.

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    4. dKos is now officially known as dHamas....with good reason. Way to tell 'em over there Jay especially that Jew hating witch JoanMar

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    5. Thanks, Doodad. I won't say it was a pleasure, but it's something that had to be done, and I had as much fun as I could while I was in that place... ;)

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  3. Mike, thanks for reposting. I know we have our differences, but right now those differences have vanished as we stand together and we stand strong for Israel.

    I just gave some money to Friends of the IDF and the Magen David Adom and I would encourage others to give to those and other groups that are on the ground to help in Israel.

    Am Yisrael Chai!

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    1. Peace to you, please, my friend.

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    2. Peace for the people of Israel and for the Gazans under Hamas' theocratic, genocidal, rule. As we chanted on Sunday in Times Square: Free Gaza From Hamas!

      And safety for the brave men and women of the IDF. I'm going to an event at my synagogue at 8:30 tonight where there will be a video, a soldier that served in Gaza and a service for the men and women now in harm's way.

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    3. And as for the people of Gaza, if they're ever allowed to vote again, maybe next time they can do themselves, and all of us, a favor, and not elect terrorists to lead them.

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    4. One of the first big mistakes that we made, Jay, was when we allowed them - from a rhetorical standpoint - to turn the Jewish David into Goliath.

      The war is still the same as its always been, Arab against Jew, but now it is conceived as Israel versus poor, old Palestine.

      Big mistake and we can change it, maybe, but not until we recognize just what happened.

      The 6 Day War changed everything, if you get me.

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    5. I think I sense a tide turning, if even just a little bit, though, in that this time the Jew-haters, who are nonetheless angrily screeching as always, do not seem to have the media fully behind them.

      Scratch just a tiny bit beyond their blowhard, bluffing surfaces, and you'll find a Nagaura lying underneath the collective. In other words, eventually they'll reduce themselves to blubbering messes who are reduced to desperately seeking to make excuses for why they support terrorist organizations.

      They will shun themselves sooner or later, and I think we're beginning to see this process unfold as I've noted above, right now.

      At least I hope I'm right in what I feel on that.

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    6. Allow me to state my penultimate paragraph better -

      They will expel themselves from polite society on their own, solely by their own actions and words, sooner or later, and provide for their own rejection by the rest of us.

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    7. FWIW, I have been saying there is a sea change, but it still has far to go, and things must become even worse to fully get the attention of liberals and democrats.

      I do not see much value of engaging at Daily Kos or with the Jew haters there, that salivate to condemn Israel and anything else that dares not comply with their "progressive" ways. It is awash in critical theory and is essentially anti-American too.

      On reading this post again, I think it is too apologetic. You do not ask what should Israel do so as not to be condemned. There will condemnation no matter. Israel should do what it needs. It acts in compliance with the law. The condemnors are too ignorant to know. Looking at who the anti-Israel side supports, the very worst, spare the lectures and preaching about morality. Israel has nothing to apologize for, especially to those most bigoted against it.

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    8. This, exactly -

      "Israel has nothing to apologize for, especially to those most bigoted against it."

      I also agree that, sadly, most American liberals still do not realize this problem, and will not until things get much worse. The blogs are of course the worst, particularly the one you and I are most familiar with.

      I received private messages of support from more than one person after what I think was my last stand there last night (if they don't ultimately ban me, I just might post a series of diaries there on Pallywood, stay tuned!), and as I told them, the fact is that the obvious fakes, whose ire in terms of Arab deaths is only raised when Jews can be blamed, are still easily able to bully others with their phony 'humanitarian' language at places like Daily Kos, and this is only going to change once people like them fight back publicly, and strongly, against the bigots.

      The occasional person, once a year, who eventually decides to go full nuclear, like me or fizziks or volleyboy1, just isn't gonna do it, because the bigots have the advantage of daily critical mass, if even though every one of them probably speaks through at least two or three sockpuppets on such sites, themselves.

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  4. LOVE Park tomorrow, 4:30 to 6 PM, JFK Boulevard and 15th, kitty-corner from City Hall, Israel solidarity rally for anyone in or near Philadelphia.

    I'll be there reporting for Israel Thrives. ;)

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  5. By the way, my family is from Medzeboz which is where Baal Shem Tov lived and taught through much of his life and final years.

    It's a small village that was overrun by the Nazis during WWII and the Jews, there, annihilated, including my family.

    However, I am probably closely related to many of the followers of Baal Shem Tov, the Chassids.

    Of course, I am not a Chassid, myself, but every time that I look at one I see a little Karmafish struggling to come out!

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  6. The very last comment on this diary at dkos is this:

    Your tribalism is your most endearing feature. (0+ / 0-)

    To put the torture behind us is, inevitably, to put it in front of us.

    by UntimelyRippd on Tue Jul 22, 2014 at 03:35:54 PM PDT


    So, what he is saying here, exactly?

    What he is suggesting is that Jewish people who feel connected to the larger Jewish nation are, essentially, racists.

    That is precisely what he is suggesting and implying.

    Now, is there any other group on the planet wherein progressives feel quite so free in demeaning and seeking to undermine our sense of selves as a people?

    I mean, the Jewish people are a tiny minority, but they would never dream in a million years in suggesting that, say, Spanish attachment to Spanish culture and to the Spanish people is somehow racist.

    This is reserved strictly for us.

    The truth of the matter is that UntimelyRippd is a flat-out racist, but Daily Kos just crawls with "humanitarian" racists.

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    1. The issue of Christian persecution is fodder for Israel supporters. It shows that it is not about settlements or occupation, but the ideology.

      "We will begin on Saturday and finish on Sunday."

      Taking it out of the Israeli context exposes the "moralists" for who they are. Christians that believe in the teachings of Jesus should be defended because they have the ability to confront Muslims that believe in Muhammad.

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    2. I agree.

      I think that Jews throughout the world have a moral and tactical imperative to stand up for Christians in the Middle East.

      Nobody seems to care about the persecution, and ethnic cleansing, of the Christian minority in that part of the world with Raymond Ibrahim. representing a rare exception.

      I assume that you know he is of Coptic descent.

      In any case, most people have no idea about the ethnic cleansing of Christians from that part of the world by the aggressive majority population.

      Unlike the Jews they have no real ability to defend themselves or their children.

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    3. Speaking of those like "UntimelyRippd," and his fellow bigots, online and off, who incite violent hatred against Jews, JFGP has just issued an advisory -

      ~~~

      ISRAEL SOLIDARITY RALLY ADVISORY

      Thank you for planning to join Federation tomorrow, July 23, at LOVE Park at 4:30 p.m. to stand in solidarity with Israel and express our support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas rocket attacks.
      It is highly likely that an anti-Israel protest is being planned for the same time and location. A large turnout is expected as has been the trend at other Pro-Israel rallies across the country. There have been more than 50 anti-Israel rallies across the country since Operation Protective Edge began on July 8, some of which have been marked by hostile verbal altercations between pro and anti-Israel activists.

      There will be a large police presence to provide security at the site, but we recommend all of our community members observe the following guidelines at the rally:

      • Do not engage with protesters - no one should speak to or respond in any way no matter how strong the provocation.

      • Be on alert for any behavior that seems out of the ordinary, extreme, suspicious or hostile – and report it to police, security personnel or rally organizers immediately.

      • Refrain from bringing bags and other items to the rally. Similarly, if you see any suspicious packages or strange devices, report it to the police or security personnel.

      • When traveling to and from the rally, try to stay within a group of people rather than alone.

      We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, rain or shine.


      ~~~

      Even in Center City, Philadelphia, in 2014, at 5 PM directly across the street from City Hall, you can't be fully sure that antisemitic street violence directed at Jews will not break out at any given time. This is the environment such bigots create. I'm sure they're proud of their work.

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  7. Hamas Baby Shields.

    Wounded soldiers have given shocking testimony regarding Hamas’ use of young children as human shields.

    Parents of wounded soldiers spoke to Kol Yisrael on Tuesday and shared some of the disturbing stories they had heard from their sons. They said soldiers have repeatedly seen young children in Sheijaya, Gaza, be sent out into the streets with guns to try to attack IDF troops.

    One parent reported that terrorists had run at IDF soldiers with a gun in one hand and a baby in the other, apparently in hopes that the soldiers would see the child and hold their fire. If soldiers fired, the parent added, the child’s death could be used as propaganda against Israel.

    “They’re continuing the same trick of using children as human shields, just as they did in Operation Cast Lead,” one father said. Women are used as human shields as well, he added.

    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183211#.U8-ibrlOX5q

    Post this on the Big Orange Tumor and watch their heads explode.

    ; )

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  8. I would suggest that once you actually use the tactic of 'human shields' that they are in fact no longer human shields. They're just targets. These people are not hostages in a bank robbery. Sonny and Sal aren't going to Wyoming. This isn't Dog Day Afternoon. When Hitler ordered the young boys and old men into the streets with their Panzerfaust rockets at the final battle of Berlin, no one was a shrinking violent refusing to shoot at them.

    Sorry, but when you invent a new form of warfare that's deemed perfectly legitimate it can be used against you.

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  9. BTW is 102 the # of games the Mets will lose this season?

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