Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1. And So It Continues - Today's Halifax paper contained letters from two people who, based on their previous letters to the newspaper and at least in one case, past and continued associations, appear to be some of Nova Scotia's most relentless critics of Israel.

Follow this link and read the last 2 letters at the bottom of the link. While I do not wish to give the letters any more attention that they deserve - which is very little - one cannot help but make certain observations.

The incendiary language alone in the first letter is amazing - "ethnic cleansing", "Stalin-style gulags" - let alone the apparently obligatory shot at Israel's legitimacy - "...something called the "nation-state" of Israel." Huh? If Israel isn't a nation state, and a pretty damn successful one, then what is it then?

And as for the second letter, it is easy to cherry pick "facts" and make inflammatory allegations - but even then the letter writer fails. For example, anyone who actually thinks that the famous Turkish aid flotilla in May was only filled with humanitarian aid and peace activists really needs to re-examine the "facts" (see immediately below).

("humanitarian aid" on the Mavi Marmara)

("peace activist" on the "Mavi Marmara")

(briefing before the Mavi Marmara sailed - they ain't singing kumbaya)

In any event, the attempts to portray Israel as a illegitimate and undemocratic state simply fail. The bottom line is that Israel is a thriving democracy where the level of freedom of speech and criticism of the government by Jews, Arabs, and Christians - whether citizens or foreigners - would make people in North America blush.

In law, there is a well- known expression that a plaintiff must come to a court of equity with "clean hands". Accordingly, the staunch critics of Israel should first focus their attention and energy upon examining the [sarcasm alert] "thriving democracy" [end sarcasm alert] that exists in Gaza, the PA, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and so on - such as, only for example - one could do a whole blog on this alone:
Then maybe we can talk more productively.

2. Another Blood Libel? - Did a Palestinian demonstrator really die from inhaling tear gas or is this yet another Big Lie? Did Palestinians lie about protestor's death? - Israel News, Ynetnews - it would not be the first time - remember the famous Jenin massacre? or, more recently, Return of the Living Dead!!!



4. The Plight of the Copts - the Christian minority in Egypt suffers discrimination and physical danger:



"Senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya told al-Hayat on November 11, 2010: "We retain our Islamic, Arab and Palestinian faith that Palestine will be returned to its inhabitants and Zionist existence will conclude....The Jews will have no right there, save for those who lived on Palestinian land prior to the First World War" (meaning that only Jews above the age of 96 will be permitted to live in Islamic Palestine)." (my emphasis)
Well, maybe not.


6. I'm Not Sure About This - N-word replaced in Huck Finn - I am no fan of the word in question, but I do not think that editing it out is the solution. Maybe readers will only understand the true nature of that racist and derogatory word if they read it in the context of the novel and the times in which Mark Twain lived - maybe an explanatory foreword to the book dealing with the issue would be a better idea - or, get this - maybe the teachers should actually teach their students something about it.


And if "they" are going to do this, where is the line drawn? How about finding all books that use negative, derogatory or racist words or stereotypes and edit them - such as, for example - The Merchant of Venice. Then, no one will have their feelings hurt, and we can all pretend that we all love one another. And no one will learn anything......


8. These Guys Better Be Careful - J’accuse - Ahram Online and Italian Foreign Minister: EU aid to Muslim countries should be tied to treatment of Christians - Jihad Watch - someone might not like what they say. I sense a fatwa coming on!


9. Organ Donation - I do not know if this makes me a good Jew, but I hope that when it is time for me to "go", at least some of my organs can be used to help others. Here is some advice on the issue from the former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post - Reality Check: Leave the rabbis out of it


10. Another "Ordinary" Person Who Participated In World History Has Died - Arnold Weiss Dies at 86 - Helped to Find Hitler’s Will - NYTimes.com


11. Books - I can barely keep up with what my current reading list - I'm sure there will be more to add from this article - On the Bookshelf - by Josh Lambert Tablet Magazine.

12. It's Still College Bowl Season - Gabe Carimi: U of Wisc. Star in Shul and On the Football Field - even though Wisconsin has already played and lost - to Texas Christian University yet - Wisconsin Badgers vs. TCU Horned Frogs - Recap - January 01, 2011 - ESPN - oy vey!!!





15. It's Not My Fault - VDH's Private Papers:: Raging Against 'Them' - the world has seen this before, and it usually doesn't end nicely.



17. I Need Some Laughs - usually, I wait until the last item for something offbeat or humorous - but I need relief earlier today - so:



18. Jewish Mothers - got this from a good friend in Israel:

Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. Hearing AidsJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    thnakd for sharing..
    nice video

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hearing AidsJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    I really appreciate your post and you explain each and every point very well.Thanks for sharing this information.And I’ll love to read your next post too.

    ReplyDelete

While you are free to disagree with something I have said or posted, you must not use inappropriate language - comments that are profane, racist or otherwise objectionable will not be tolerated.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)