1. First, it’s been a year today since Laura Jahnke passed away, and I’m sure all who knew her will have her in their thoughts. Laura inspired me, not just because of her courage or her faith, but because she seemed to be the most fully alive person I’ve ever met. I will always admire her ability to constantly radiate that energy and vitality to those around her. Mazel to her sister, who’s expecting her first child any day now.
2. Good piece in Haaretz on the blindness of those who unilaterally condemn Israelis, including the sizable portion of those who are actively lobbying for positive change regarding the Palestinians.
I think the group that has brought the most shame upon themselves are the academics and artists/writers, as cited in the piece, who have idiotically rejected some of the most powerful voices against the current situation. Usually when I hear a rant about “liberal elitist academics” I want to put my fist through a wall, because 9 times out of 10 that sentiment says much more about the arrogant ignorance of the speaker than it does the subject. But I certainly feel that those within the academic community who rave about the evils Israel has committed whilst completely ignoring the very real contribution that Palestinians have made to their own political/socio-economic misery are in the wrong. Just because it’s fun to shout things and make t-shirts and wave/burn flags in the name of *THE OPPRESSED VICTIMS* (whomever they happen to be today) doesn’t mean you should, professor.
When the IDF rains vengeance down upon Gaza for the Hamas assault against Sderot and the other border towns, it only serves to unite the Palestinians with their leaders against Israel–regardless of whether Hamas is in all other areas of governance a hindrance to its people. Israeli artists like A.B Yehoshua (omg you should read the Woman in Jerusalem) and David Grossman are probably better equipped to respond to the boycotts without defecting from their peacenik positions, but still–their movement in the cause for peace is not aided by these senseless attacks.
Can’t we all grow up, please? And kudos to Burston for the “pre-pubescent football fan” thing. Hi-larious.
3. Been doing some research in human trafficking for Bina. It turns out that of the approximate 7.5-9 billion USD made annually in the international trafficking industry, teeny-tiny Israel has about a 1 billion slice of the pie. The government had to be bullied into doing anything whatsoever by the US. The State Dept threatened to blacklist Israel and thus deny them any international aid unless they got their act together, and so they passed some legislation and started prosecuting traffickers.
A week ago at the Corner I was explaining slavery (in the context of Black History Month) to my kiddies–who, bless them, found the concept that you could own people totally alien–and I said that this ended over a hundred years ago. “We don’t do this anymore,” I said. I read 2 op-eds in the Times this morning, one by Morris Davis, chief prosecutor over at Guantanamo for a while. He talks about a CIA agent telling one of his jailers in Iran (regarding torture), “We don’t do that.” Then another piece by Bob Herbert about how underage prostitutes are treated as criminals by the justice system while the exploitative men who use them are set free. It’s been cooking around in my brain all day. I watched “Trade,” and did some research, and was really surprised to see how consistent the film was with the stories news publications and NGOs are putting out there on the issue. The truth is, we *do* do that. It’s not expressly condoned, but it’s allowed, and often the victims are treated as criminals by the justice systems responsible for making it right.
I can’t go to synagogue in the Jewish State because it’s against G-d’s law to make people drive buses on the sabbath, but the shiksas who came here to be nannies and found themselves working 18 hour shifts behind bars in brothels near the Old Central Bus Station aren’t worthy of the Knesset’s time. Unless billions of $$$ in US aid are at stake, of course.
4. Sweet and sad story. I was at work at the Corner the other day, sitting with the lovely Tamar and discussing next week’s club activities, when one of our kids walked in. I won’t say his name, but he’s one of my favorites. He had been hoping that the club was this week, but we were having a planning session. He sat down at the desk with us, and started to talk about what he thought we should talk about (music and meerkats, it turns out). Tamar asked him what he was carrying in the large plastic bag he was holding. He got very red in the face, and smiled, awkwardly. “Is it a present,” Tamar asked him, and he nervously nodded. “Ooh, is it a present for a girl?” we asked, and again, a reticent yes. “You can’t tell anyone!” he demanded, “and don’t laugh at me!” We prodded him a bit longer about why it was a secret, and all we got were some funny facial expressions and silence. Then Tamar asked him “is it because she’s Muslim?” He nodded. It kind of broke my heart.
That last part broke my heart too. Hope she gives him a nice peck on the cheek when he gives it to her. And thanks for linking to my blog in your blogroll, just like I did for you.