The Israel Lobby continues to delaminate. Meretz USA has come out with a declaration, "The old rules of Diaspora-Israel relations are no longer acceptable to us"–i.e., passivity, cheerleading, omerta and bullying. Then Meretz shaprly criticizes the Israeli settlements policy and says why it's American Jews' business:
country's interests. In the post 9/11 world; what happens in Ramallah
or Gaza City reverberates beyond the region's borders.
The continuing occupation makes it easier for terrorists
to mobilize and recruit people who would just as soon blow up
Tallahassee as Tel Aviv, who want to attack American soldiers in Iraq
as well as Israelis in Sderot and Ashkelon. It fans the fires of hatred
against America. [A beautiful and honest statement; will the World Trade Center destruction be in the next declaration?]…
will be the one place where we force ourselves to turn a blind eye to
injustice, oppression and inequality. If we encounter it there, we are
obligated, as Jews, to speak out. [Nice!]
The statement urges visitors to sign a letter to Israel's housing minister opposing the new settlements.
Good stuff. I have one nit to pick. The letter to the Housing Minister is framed, "As a Jew…" Well Jews are very important. We have been absolutely vital to Israel in the U.S., maintaining the lobby. But I don't think these efforts will pay off until Jewish organizations reach across the aisle to hold hands with non-Jewish Americans who are also exercised about Israeli policies. Whether you like assimilation or not, we are full participants in American society. 62 percent of Jews under 35 are marrying non-Jews. And these non-Jews, as well as others who may not be intimately connected, are a powerful untapped group. Come in, the water's fine. As I wrote yesterday, the horrifying and powerful One Jerusalem won't be broken till the Jeffrey Goldbergs and Jimmy Carters work together.
My wife is a writer. She took etiquette lessons recently. Her teacher told her that she should approach every party "as a host, not a guest." In other words, carry the big generous spirit of the host to social encounters; don't be the lowly petitioning guest. And that spirit will transform your relations. Yes, new agey, but true. I've found that the advice has made me less mingy and mean myself in social situations (like a blog; Richard Witty has also had an effect, with similar teachings). Let those of us who hate the occupation be hosts, and bring a host to bear.
It corresponds with a teaching of Hillel, "By your actions, turn an enemy into a friend".
So now I've got to live up to being a host?
The shift in attitude from irresponsibility to responsibility was hammered home to me in the process of teaching skills.
The goal of that is not to propagate, not to win, but to empower, to give tools for good.
more bullshit from history's bullshitters.
calling yourselves american wont wash. this is a new, tactical lie. israel the homeland of the jewish people as declared by thieves and murderers who want to keep the best of their theft for themselves.
the terrorists are the jews. dont worry about the "terrorists" created by your occupation of some small area you are willing to give up under oppressive conditions. leave.
siderot, ashkelon, and iraq are occupied. whatever ill befalls the occupiers is deserved.
a diseased community become so evil; the evil passed generation to generation.
It's a message from American Jews to an Israeli Cabinet official that deals with a particular "paradigm" that Israelis have been foisting on American Jews to stop them from criticizing. What is wrong with that? Of course all Americans should be weighing in. But are you so dead set against "identity politics" that you want to ignore the particular constraints the Israeli governments have tried to put on American Jews who criticize Israeli policies? Seems a bit shortsighted…
Ironically, Phil's wife, as an American citizen with all rights that status confers, is a factual host, but treated as a guest. The tail is wagging the dog, or what point, if any, has Phil made with his blog?
All hail Dick Chaney, who learned the lesson of Nixon's defeat according to his own lights: Informed consent is NOT the way the USA should operate. Not unlike Hitler & Goebbels' view of the citizen as (and old fashioned) female, these asexual days, know as "sheeple." I doubt he ever read Plato, Strauss, or Machavelli, but he ingested them for his own integral convenience, sort of like Dahmer did, except Dahmer didn't ask for a halo.
Dahmer eventually got a literal stick up his ass; impeachment is
what's really needed.
You know Keating, most of the time I can follow you. That one, I think your Jewish wife isn't giving you enough. What the hell, marrying you is degrading enough, you should aske her to do what you want.
Phil: I know your wife, and she should be giving etiquette lessons, not taking them. James
Meretz shaprly criticizes the Israeli settlements policy and says why it's American Jews' business
Right. They don't even mention that as U.S. taxpayers they are subsidizing it.
They don't mention, as all peace-loving zionist groups don't, that the occupation and its actions constitute a war crime.
When will we see some Israelis in The Hague?
Was I being a good host just now?
Last question: What do you do when you're hosting a party and someone shows up with blood on their fangs? Should you say something or not?
Has opposed to a guy like Samir ( head crusher ) Kuntar. Hero of Lebanon and all around good guy.