tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post472313623692562070..comments2024-01-02T02:18:30.960-08:00Comments on Israel Thrives: Brief Notes: Standing Up For OurselvesMike L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06450806807610560873noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-790005436629268322013-04-17T12:48:19.938-07:002013-04-17T12:48:19.938-07:00And not two minutes after I read your comment, I f...And not two minutes after I read your comment, I found <a href="http://forward.com/articles/174898/in-gazas-kitchens/" rel="nofollow">this in my email</a>.<br /><br />"<i>What and how Gazans cook has been influenced by the conflict with Israel. According to the book, the strip’s iconic red tahini — made by roasting sesame seeds — has all but disappeared from Gaza kitchens since Israel began flooding the local food market with inexpensive white tahini.</i>"<br /><br />I seem to recall reading a post somewhere (Elder?) noting a few lies or half-truths contained within this book last week sometime, but those aside, my first thought upon reading the above paragraph in <i>The Forward</i> is... perhaps if Gazan terrorists would stop firing thousands of missiles into Israel, they and their people would be able to get, cook and produce whatever kind of foods and ingredients they want?<br /><br />"<i>What and how Gazans cook has been influenced by <strong>the conflict with Israel.</strong></i>"<br /><br />They constantly shoot missiles at Jewish civilians; every once in a while, Israel (restrainedly) hits back. Those poor Gazans and the 'conflict' from which they suffer!<br /><br /><i>The Forward</i> just made your point perfectly, Trudy.JayinPhiladelphiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14556212008313470286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-17018904563855680612013-04-17T12:04:55.303-07:002013-04-17T12:04:55.303-07:00I'll have to get a copy of Ruth Wisse's &q...I'll have to get a copy of Ruth Wisse's "Jews and Power" or David Mamet's "The Wicked Son" and get back to you. For as we say at the shul, "Jews love every -ism except Judaism."<br /><br />I honestly don't know. We hope for what? A golem to save us? A monster with the word 'truth' on its forehead who runs around killing our foes. And when he's done we erase one letter of 'truth' (emet) and turn it to 'death' (met) and the monster goes away? And that way we absolve ourselves of action, of taking a stand? I genuinely have never understood this. In the US Jews are one of the few identifiable minority groups who don't hyphenate their identity. Shame? Patriotism? Fear? In fact even the Mashadis I know call themselves Persians, not Jews. <br /><br />We don't 'do' self defense. We don't 'do' that relentless self promotion that's needed. Down here where I live are two very prominent HBC's (historically black colleges); Shaw and St Augustine. They are FEARLESS in their own identity. It's not abrasive but it's proud. Very proud. We don't do that, do we? Instead we get the Hillel to invite Palestinian speakers to rant and rave about how Israel is the worst thing in the history of people. Because....why? Because if we hate ourselves enough other people will love us?<br /><br />I say go be a penitent somewhere else. <br /> Empress Trudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06073538968722986065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-78554282097761611892013-04-16T16:36:29.135-07:002013-04-16T16:36:29.135-07:00Well, I love you, my brother, and you can join the...Well, I love you, my brother, and you can join the conversation whenever you wish.Mike L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06450806807610560873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-21054346698845767912013-04-16T15:47:33.303-07:002013-04-16T15:47:33.303-07:00I do. I wonder why you think I don't.I do. I wonder why you think I don't. Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543858441307618417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-19635706039487650252013-04-16T15:17:33.102-07:002013-04-16T15:17:33.102-07:00Let me ask you this, Stuart.
Do you think that th...Let me ask you this, Stuart.<br /><br />Do you think that the Jews of Europe during the Holocaust were entirely blameless, because I am pretty sure that they were not.<br /><br />There were any number of Jews, both individually and in an organized manner, that did all sorts of things that we might consider <i>blameful.</i><br /><br />This also holds true for Native Americans and African Americans. <br /><br />Were those people entirely blameless?<br /><br />I think that they were not.<br /><br />The Jews of the Middle East are detested minority among a much larger and hostile majority that has kept those people in servitude and submission for 13 of the last 14 centuries.<br /><br />We are both Jews, yet I unequivocally side with my fellow Jews in the Middle East because I recognize that they are a tiny minority struggling to free itself from a much larger, hostile majority.<br /><br />Yet, you do not.<br /><br />I wonder why?Mike L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06450806807610560873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-75420020356918268192013-04-16T12:45:40.902-07:002013-04-16T12:45:40.902-07:00To blame? No. But nobody in this conflict is blame...To blame? No. But nobody in this conflict is blameless. Do you believe that there is nothing that Israel could have done differently over the last 60 years that may have produced a better status than exists today? <br /><br />I actually like your idea of Israel unilaterally setting final borders today. It would have been a good idea 10 years ago. Or 20. Or 30. Or even better, 40 years ago. Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543858441307618417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-32133855666081754112013-04-16T12:15:44.221-07:002013-04-16T12:15:44.221-07:00Stuart,
I think that you are good and intelligent...Stuart,<br /><br />I think that you are good and intelligent man, but I honestly do not know what to make of your views.<br /><br />I think that you care about the well-being of the Jewish people and of the well-being of the Jewish State of Israel. Thus, I consider you an ally and a friend.<br /><br />At the same time - and please correct me if I am wrong - you also give me the distinct impression that you largely blame Israel for Arab malice toward it because you think that Israel is unjust toward the "Palestinians."<br /><br />Am I wrong?Mike L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06450806807610560873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-30106294143712986192013-04-16T10:23:15.604-07:002013-04-16T10:23:15.604-07:00I am here. I am always here. Sometimes I just sit ...I am here. I am always here. Sometimes I just sit quietly in the corner. <br /><br />And I'm missing your point, so it's unlikely I'd say "Please show me where any liberal has ever said that Muslim persecution of the Jews in the Middle East is a matter of social justice". I'm not even sure what it means. Are you saying that liberals believe that Jews in the middle east are getting what they deserve? <br /><br />I don't believe that. Though I have little doubt there are some "liberals" who may. Just like there are liberals who believe that Palestinians have 2000 years of history in the region. Or that Jews don't have 2000 years of history in the region. Or that either one of those claims, whether true or not, are the least bit important. Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543858441307618417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-79335962656757637732013-04-16T09:16:24.020-07:002013-04-16T09:16:24.020-07:00Jeez, I have to say, upon rereading what I wrote a...Jeez, I have to say, upon rereading what I wrote above, it's a little on the grim side, eh, Geoff?<br /><br />But, yeah, it is about the human rights of the Jewish people and those rights are perpetually violated by those in the Middle East who call for the genocide of the Jews.<br /><br />This is no joke, as you well know.<br /><br />I suppose what pisses me off the most, tho, is that our liberal friends don't seem to give a shit. Although they may sympathize in some small measure, they still honestly believe that Muslim persecution of the Jews in the Middle East is a matter of social justice.<br /><br />How's that for a kick in the head?<br /><br />Mike L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06450806807610560873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579213173749170024.post-38266717764760198292013-04-16T02:26:40.403-07:002013-04-16T02:26:40.403-07:00Well said Mike.
If we cannot stand up for the hum...Well said Mike.<br /><br />If we cannot stand up for the human rights of the Jews of the Middle East then we should stop pretending that we are about human rights at all.<br /><br />geoffffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10056725010151459750noreply@blogger.com