If a people who so recently experienced such unspeakable inhumanities cannot understand the injustice and suffering its territorial ambitions are inflicting, what hope is there for the rest of us?
it struck me that the invocation of the Hitler era was actually a frighteningly apt and searing analogy, although not the one my friend intended. A million and a half civilians have been forced to live in an open-air prison in inhuman conditions for over three years now, but unlike the Hitler years, they are not Jews but Palestinians. Their jailers, incredibly, are survivors of the Holocaust, or their descendants. Of course, the inmates of Gaza are not destined for gas chambers, as the Jews were, but they have been reduced to a debased and hopeless existence.
Fully 80% of Gaza’s population lives on the edge of malnutrition, depending on international charities for their daily nourishment."
I am presenting these articles, just in case there is anyone who does not accept the fact that the "activists" on the Mari Marmara intended violence and planned for violence. I hope they will consider the words of the ships Captain and crew.
'Marmara' captain: I opposed violence
By JPOST.COM STAFF AND YAAKOV LAPPIN 11/06/2010
Report: Crew tried to stop IHH activists' violence before raid.
The captain of the Mavi Marmara tried to convince dozens of IHH activists not to engage in violent clashes with the IDF two hours prior to the commando's boarding of the ship, reported Army Radio on Friday.
The Gaza flotilla ship's captain, Mehmet Tubal, said while being investigated in Israel that he and other members of the Mavi Marmara's staff did all they could to prevent the activists from confronting soldiers, even throwing some of the IHH member's metal pipes and chains overboard.
Another senior member of the ship's staff said that 40 IHH activists took control of the Mavi Marmara and dictated the rest of the passengers' movements.
Gaza flotilla captain: Activists prepared attack against IDF raid
WATCH: Video of Mehmut Tuval shows captain saying he attempted to prevent violent clashes between activists and the Israeli military.
By Haaretz Service
The captain and first mate of the Mavi Marmara, the ship which led the Gaza flotilla raided by Israel Defense Forces special forces last week, had attempted to prevent premeditated violent clashes between activists and the Israeli military, evidence released Friday showed.
Where does one get the will to build infrastructure when what one has is destroyed and no building materials are allowed in, and even your child's puppy is shot just for being a dog?
Before, during and after Hamas took over they were sending suicide bombers and launching missiles into Israel. Their aim, as stated clearly in their Charter, is not about what they intend to build, but rather what they intend to destroy: Israel. The shattering of their infrastructure, whatever existed of it, was a result of their relentless, beligerant, and murderous actions which forced Israel to act forcibly to stop it.
In short, Hamas' will is not to build, but to destroy. I acknowledge -- we all acknowledge here -- that the will of the Gazans and the will of Hamas may not be the same. But the fact is is that Hamas is in power. And so the will to build -- expressed in terms such as repudiation of things in their Charter like jihad, no acknowledgement of peace attempts, a willingness to co-exist, etc. -- is absent. Their lack of infrastructure is largely -- some would argue, exclusively -- a result of their choices.
Where does one get the will to build infrastructure when what one has is destroyed and no building materials are allowed in, and even your child's puppy is shot just for being a dog?
The important thing to remember about American history is that it is fictional, a charcoal-sketched simplicity for the children or the easily bored. For the most part it is uninspected, unimagined, unthought, a representative of the thing and not the thing itself. It is a fine fiction... Neil Gaiman 'American Gods'
All infrastructure begins with having one's own land to invest in, not a concentration camp blockaded and guarded by a hostile military, frequently bombed and raided by murderous soldiers. That is the problem, the Israelis steal the Palestinian land and then mock them for not improving it for them to steal or bomb.
Wrong. All infrastructure begins with a government (and people) dedicated to building, not destructing (as per the Hamas Charter); peace, not war; diversity, not demonization; co-existence, not Islamism.
So why wasn't any infrastructure built in the Warsaw Ghetto?
There was an infrastructure (e.g. Judenrat and numerous other organizations). But I said all infrastructure begins with the will/desire to build. That doesn't mean it is allowed to grow or reach great heights. However, it doesn't even get off the ground if there is no will to begin with. That's Hamas. Their religious fanaticism defines their behavior, and that is destroy Israel first, take care of your own people second (if that).
All infrastructure begins with having one's own land to invest in, not a concentration camp blockaded and guarded by a hostile military, frequently bombed and raided by murderous soldiers. That is the problem, the Israelis steal the Palestinian land and then mock them for not improving it for them to steal or bomb.
Wrong. All infrastructure begins with a government (and people) dedicated to building, not destructing (as per the Hamas Charter); peace, not war; diversity, not demonization; co-existence, not Islamism.
So why wasn't any infrastructure built in the Warsaw Ghetto?
The important thing to remember about American history is that it is fictional, a charcoal-sketched simplicity for the children or the easily bored. For the most part it is uninspected, unimagined, unthought, a representative of the thing and not the thing itself. It is a fine fiction... Neil Gaiman 'American Gods'
Hi Leah, apologies that it took me so long.. I am currently in the US, teaching a workshop, quite intensive, little time to react in detail - which your posts require.
First of all, it's NOT 'only we matter' - that is the OPPOSITE of what is taught in Judaism (the Christian translations of the Hebrew Bible alone are completely inadequate for learning Judaism).
I realise that. I did not mean to speak about Judaism, but about some individuals. There always are those who speak more than they understand, and leash out against another before ever noticing that it has not yet been an enemy.
Second, the attitude is much more like "Accept us as we are - or Fuck Off!"
A matter of degree. Certainly still very anti-social an attitude.
Germans have learned the hard way that it can be very dysfunctional. We nowadays tend to appreciate others' criticism much more than in the times when we thought nobody had to mind our business. Modern Europe embodies caring and criticising and correcting each other in a sympathising way, before huge mistakes happen. (I just wish that had been applied to the Greek euro bid as well.)
Sorry for all the anecdotes, Chari - my point is that what you think some Jews are saying, is quite possibly not what we are saying. And that the need to live in close-knit communities (and *not* to excommunicate fringies!) derives from a Jewish inability/lack of desire to 'live in peace'.... That's what's backwards. Jews needed to support one another as a community, because for millennia outside our land we were forever a community of outcasts.
As to a group's religion 'ensuring they could never live in peace' - you might want to look at the history of the Amish, the Mennonites and Hutterites (all Anabaptist sects). Or the Friends, for that matter! They, as Jews, were 'nonstandard' religious folk. And part of their faith is pacifism. And nobody let them live in peace, either - which is why the Friends are a largely American Church! Because they had to come to the US to be left alone.
I absolutely appreciate the anecdotes, Leah!
You see, what I posted there, what provoked your passionate, compelling counterpoint, is not what I believe to be true. But I do believe it is a valid perspective - logical, scientific maybe even. The crux here is that we never must mistake a theory or a perspective for truth, let alone judge real people based on it. Groups start leading their own lives, and develop whatever tools to stay the group they are. Still, as we in the West discovered, we remain individuals - with a unique relationship to this creation and our maker - a relationship unaffected by other individuals - a basic holiness, that needs to be respected by everyone at all costs.
The Little Old Ladies might better have had a try getting that message from their very own pastor, instead of urging their half baked understandings on intimidated school children.
I'm sure there are many answers, but to me two of the biggest factors are the Talmud, and the Jewish home. The Talmud enables us to adapt our practice to changing times and new technologies. And the most important Jewish holiday of all, Shabbat, is celebrated in the home, by the family together. It's no accident that Shabbat is personified as a Queen, and as the Bride of Israel, the Jewish People....there is nothing 'against' the rest of Creation in this, only an affirmation of ourselves, family by family. And an affirmation of our task in this world, to increase the goodness which already abounds but is still not 'enough'.
Beautiful... just beautiful, Leah! Thanks!
“The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is hard to verify their authenticity” - Abraham Lincoln.
