Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Simon Wiesenthal - A Year After His Death

This is a message from the Simon Wiesenthal Center:

One year ago on September 19, 2005, the world lost the conscience of the Holocaust, Simon Wiesenthal, who brought to justice some of the worst perpetrators of the Final Solution, responsible for the murder of 6 million Jews. I would have hoped that on his first yahrtzeit (anniversary of his death) we could say that the world is headed in a safer direction and that it has learned from its past mistakes about the consequences of hate and terror. But one year later to the day of Simon’s passing, September 19, 2006, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who believes the Holocaust is a myth and has called for the destruction of Israel, is speaking to world leaders from the rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly, an organization founded as a response to the Nazi genocide.
Can there be a more frightening symbol of a world gone astray than the world’s foremost Holocaust denier being treated as an equal by the community of nations without paying any price for his state-sponsored terrorism and bigotry?

Such acceptance is not unique to the General Assembly, which is why our office in Paris protested the decision of UNESCO to hold a Prayer For Peace in Lebanon making no mention of Israeli victims, as if the cause of the war, Hezbollah’s unprovoked attack on Israel, never happened.

This ‘one-sided, blame it all on Israel’ approach is what also drives the academic and cultural boycotts against the Jewish state. Some intellectuals and their allies among NGOs want to change the rules and turn the perpetrators into victims and the victims into perpetrators. There are never any academic and cultural boycotts against Iran and the Arab world for their mistreatment of women or denial of basic human rights. It is only Israel that they seek to turn into a pariah state.

The coverage of the conflict from some media outlets left the impression that the only civilians who suffered lived in Lebanon. The million Israeli citizens, forced to leave their homes and businesses, received scant attention. Worse, the mainstream media often portrayed Sheik Nasrallah as a guerilla leader, rather than a notorious antisemite and terrorist. The Hezbollah leader’s genocidal words of hate were given no airtime. No one replayed his speeches where he said, “If the Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.” Or, “Anyone who reads the Koran and the holy writings of the Monotheistic religions sees what they did to the prophets…they are a cancer which is liable to spread again at any moment….

Today in Geneva the Wiesenthal Center is bringing a delegation of Israel’s civilian population to a meeting with Louise Arbour, the High Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Council, to demand that the international community take action against Hezbollah’s war crimes against hospitals, schools and houses of worship.

We must not forget who the main patron of Hezbollah is: Tehran.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during the 14th Nonaligned Summit in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Sept. 15, 2006. Representatives of the 118 Non-Aligned Movement countries condemned Israel's attacks on Lebanon and voiced, "grave concern"...over the..."growing unlawful policies and practices being carried out by Israel."

Henry Kissinger warned last week that Europe and the United States should put aside their differences over Iraq and devote their energies to Iran to head off a, “war of civilizations.” In Israel, Professor Moshe Sharon, a professor of Islamic studies at the Hebrew University told a counter terrorism conference that the Iranian regime genuinely believes that the twelfth Imam is here and that he would reveal himself only through an apocalypse.

These are times that demand action and the Simon Wiesenthal Center is on the front lines doing the work that needs to be done in Europe, North America and across the globe. But we cannot do it without your help.

Please respond generously to this Rosh Hashanah appeal. There is no more meaningful way to observe the yahrtzeit of Simon Wiesenthal than by helping strengthen the Center in his name.
Wishing you and your families, L’Shana Tova, a healthy and happy New Year.


Rabbi Marvin Hier
Founder and President
Simon Wiesenthal Center

Click here to help

The Pope

The timing of the Pope's remarks has me scratching my head. The boldness of his statements has me crediting that Nazi. Who would have thought?

In truth, all the Pope did was use a quote from the Koran to depict a reality that exists within our globe. Now he is paying the price.

The Pope quoted a 14th century Christian emperor, who said everything Prophet Mohammad brought was evil and inhuman, "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

Now, Muslims are not the only ones who take their holy books literally. The Jews and the Christians have always been guilty of this act. They still are. However, for the most part, the Judeo-Christian principles "preached" through the old and new testament, is deemed positive for the sake of humanity. The introduction of the 10 commandments is a good example of the initial ethic base linked to Judaism and Christianity.

I have studied the Koran through several Middle East history classes. The fact that there are certain questionable quotes within the Koran should not overtake the fact that modern Islam is extremely tolerant, and that the Koran is overall another guide to the love and fear of God. On the same token, certain "hi-jackers" adopt the language into literal terms, even in today's somewhat modernized world, causing much concern amongst Western populations. The Pope, as influential as he is, thought it was right to attempt to expose a certain truth unfolding beneath our very eyes.

It's ironic that a Nazi and the German chancellor think it was the right thing to do. Perhaps they learned from their mistakes and are trying to prevent another World War?


German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended Pope Benedict XVI over controversial remarks he made regarding Islam earlier this week.

Ms Merkel says critics have misunderstood the aim of his speech.
The remarks have drawn angry reactions from around the Muslim world, with the heads of several nations demanding the pontiff make a personal apology.

German newspaper Bild quotes Ms Merkel as saying: "It was an invitation to dialogue between religions and the Pope expressly spoke in favour of this dialogue, which is something I also support and consider urgent and necessary".

"What Benedict XVI emphasised was a decisive and uncompromising renunciation of all forms of violence in the name of religion," she said.


Read more here.

Questioning objectivity and "who is right"?

It's practically impossible to answer. Nobody is right, and at the same time, everybody is right. Due to our tunneled vision, and limited realities, all players in a game will always think they are right. Still, when posed the question "Why are we right?" - specifically surrounding the attempt of the Western world to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, we must think. "Why can we have weapons, but Iran can't?"

This is an absolutely legitimate and important question. I'm glad that some of us have used history to our advantage in recognizing humanity's capabilities and flaws.

Here is what I think about who is right, and why:

I have a very unique approach to how I see things; which I hope makes me even more objective than you think. I hope to influence people by exposing my mind set.

First, let it be known, that I believe in an idealistic world without religion and the concept of nations. I believe in establishing a human network that is blind to race, ethnicity and gender – essentially embracing diversity as one. All are equal. I believe that most of our problems throughout our history dating to today is a result of classifications; a system that differentiates humans based on certain factors. This results in competition, ego, and pride - 3 flaws of human behavior.
I believe humans as a species share a common goal – but we have not yet matured enough to understand and learn these goals. We are still evolving as a peoples, and have come a long way from where we were.

**

The ability to incorporate circumstantial thinking into your objective lens is crucial. I can be objective regarding a certain issue - but at the same time, as it affects humanity to such grave proportions, one must have the capability to make deeper and further judgment. It's called circumstantial thinking (ultimately, it will be subjective to the ethics and morals you grew up with.). This is something that most people in the world lack as a result of the "limited politics" structure. For example, in the US, due to the political structure of a two party system (Democratic vs. Republican) - citizens are victims of limited politics. You are either right, or left.

If you grow up as someone who is “left”, and influenced by the “left” through your parents, and then on your own, how can you completely be objective?
That is one of the main reasons that Israel has lost support from the left in the USA – because Bush, a man representing the right, had a favorable policy towards Israel, and people on the left would rather get hit by a bus then find themselves agreeing with Bush on something.

You ask me, “Which is it?” when I say that Israel is extremely progressive in large part to her objectivity. I am not speaking in terms of the future. I am speaking in terms of the past and now. Israel is already progressive and objective (that was the purpose of listing the incredible achievements). Remember, Israel is only 60 years old. The way I view things, not everything is black and white. I am not right or left. I am not liberal or conservative. I have the ability to look at specific issues and judge them in their own light, without blind obligation to “whom my pre-determined loyalties belong to”.

Objectivity has led to the mass amounts of progressive movements within Israel and around the globe, but at the same time, reason and ethics served as a basis to these changes that have sustained us. Two Members of Knesset just traveled to Syria. Are you kidding me? That’s how liberal we are, and how objective we can be.

It wasn't the objectivity of Chamberlain that saved the Western world and showed how "fair" we can be. Yet, it was his naïve nature and desires to appease the Nazi’s that led to the horrifying incidents that has forever stained us. In other words, when issues revolving the survival of an easily targeted entity are on the horizon, one should not turn a blind eye - even the most objective people amongst us, who with or without knowing share a larger scale commonality with Western principles.

Remember, Jews represent less than 1% of the humans on this planet.

Hitler had nothing to do with the Middle East, and was ruler of a great Western nation called Germany. This point alone shows me and you that we're not isolating Islam when talking about the dark side of humanity. We're talking about evil in its worst terms stemming from the West. Evil, like love, does not discriminate; remember slavery, etc. Hitler was mad at all the Western nations post WWI (Versailles treaty). Perhaps he tried to shed light on an issue? Why does USA, England and co. get to impose their will on us?

Well, maybe it's because of your actions during WWI? Or maybe it's because of your rhetoric, your threats, your beliefs and your actions - in essence, your reputation? Hitler (Germany) crossed the border that we, Western nations together, defined as being the line of reason; ethical and moral ideology. (Remember that our definition was a result of our own lack of humanity, i.e. slavery)

Questioning these elements is extremely high level, but is linked to the liberal purpose - advancing social behavior and adopting tolerance. If I asked you, what do you think about re-introducing the law that forbids women to vote in the USA? You would immediately flip out. But why? What if it’s common practice in certain parts of the world? Who are we to be appalled by this law, and who are we to oppose it?

Many say that Hitler succeeded, and many go beyond to calling him a genius, due to the will of the Western world to understand him, to engage in dialogue, to not jump to conclusions.

To question thy selves is important. But ignoring the answers is wrong.

In fact, most of us answer this question every day: "Why are we right?"
We are right, because we are given the freedoms to question and understand why we are right. We have been privileged with a basic human right – freedom of speech, and freedom of thought, which enables us to act both subjectively and objectively so that we can better our society as we evolve. We are surrounded by a growing cloud of morals, ethics, and concepts related to improving humanity. You criticize your government, and you are still alive. How? Why? The answer is simple. It’s because you don’t live in a dictator ruled country that imposes inhumane laws on you. You live in the West - the lands whereby Theocracy has no room, and tolerance and acceptance of diversity and democracy is the way of life; the symbol of progress. [*Note I say “growing” because I do recognize our flaws, our history, and see this as further proof that that all humans share the task of progressive change - from the modernized USA, to the religious state in Iran. ]


It's idealistic, and imperfect, but it's all a phase in our evolutionary pathway. We are hypocritical, we act on self-interests, and we are scandalous. Welcome to planet earth - the land of humans.


**

Every time I read or hear about a civilian casualty within the Palestinian population, I feel horrible. For a few minutes, I think strongly about the victim and share sorrow.

Because I truly welcome into my home with warm heart Muslims, Christians, and Jews (heck, throw in Buddhists, Pagans, and Atheists.), I know that I'm right within the confines of my definition of what this world should be like. Obviously my view is subjective to the Judeo-Christian principles that define our environment. Growing up in two democratic and liberal societies, the morals and ethics I was raised around are directly linked to humanity.

As a kid, I used to stare at homeless people in complete astonishment and sadness wondering “How could that be? How could a human being, like me, find him/herself in such a grave situation? No home, no family, no money, no food, nothing!” Or I used to ponder the LA riots and try to figure out why they were happening. On the news I saw kids sitting in shelters with gas masks, and then I saw tanks and bulldozers tearing down homes. These are all horrible images and events. I naturally felt that these things were not right.

In my idealistic world women should have the right to vote. I can be objective and try to understand why Iran forbids women to vote - but you know what, that is where I draw my line of being objective. That is when my inner organs start to swirl and radiate signs of natural disgust. That is when my naturally embedded sense of reason and ethics kicks in and raises an alarm. That is when I know, for a certainty, that it's not right.

Just like you know that slavery, discrimination, oppression, and brainwash are all products of complete disregard to life; to humanity. Just like you know that tolerance is key to a peaceful environment – considering our diverse nature.


I have to stress the importance of realizing that these realities exist not because of Israel’s actions, but because of the systematic brainwashing and hate that has been continuously streamed to millions of people. It is crucial to recognize that the civilians of these nations are not to blame. We solely place the blame on the rulers of these nations that without hiding it, disregard humanity by voiding basic rights. No freedom of speech. No free press. All media is government controlled. All school text books are Government controlled. Religion is imposed on people. Women have no rights. Men have very few rights. And the horror stories can continue all night long. And still I don’t hear any outcries regarding the goal to impose Islam on all the sinners. How come? This goal has been in effect for hundreds of years!

So now I ask you, what’s wrong with this picture? Do you ignore such realities because it’s far from you? Or is it because they’re Muslims? Or is it because you respect their ways of life and find no room to criticize it?

I know that together we can build a huge list of places world wide suffering from the same symptoms (lack of basic human rights). Hasn’t history already shown us the negativity and flaws of Theocracies? How about them Dictatorships? The common link of these entities is not their desire to improve humanity - it’s to force a religion upon people with goals that don’t serve the people. In more current and specific terms, to establish an Islamic empire in the Middle East that doesn’t recognize the most basic human rights – as we, the West, define them. I thought the bible days are long gone and these religious battles are over? Perhaps I was wrong.

To take the time to question and think deeply about the situation is important. But realize what can happen when you don’t address the critical issues at hand: not why the West is right, but why threatening and acting to destroy a nation is wrong.

Why tolerance in all facets is right, and why brainwash is wrong. Why freedom of speech and press is right, and why imposing religion is wrong. Why questioning our own government is right, and why murdering those who question is wrong.

It may not be an intellectual answer to why we are right. But it's humane. And that's who we are, and that's all we have left. Our humanity. Not our objectivity.


**
Some say I lost my objectivity being in Israel. I hate to say this, but I say millions of people have lost their humanity (especially those in the USA) by being whirl-winded into a narrow stream of anti-Bush liquids which has resulted in a delusional adoption of irrationality and immorality.

You are in essence blindly legitimizing a Theocracy that does not let Women vote and has no religious tolerance. Is that what you stand for as we attempt to make progress on this globe? Is that your idea of being objective? But you know what, let’s pretend that wasn’t the reality. You still have a crazy man who is already funding and sponsoring violence towards Israel, gets on TV and publicly calls for her destruction, and is fighting hard to build nuclear weapons. Is this not enough evidence to convince any reasonable democratic nation that Iran is a very serious threat to Israel? If you are hesitant to answer, then you have been victimized by the new liberal movement. You do not recognize Israel’s right to exist.

I would say that’s why we think we can impose our will on Iran. For the same reason we eventually imposed our will on Hitler. Oh yea, Hitler was also “democratically” elected.

To flip the switch; Why is it ok for Iran to attempt to impose their will and religion on other nations and societies? Why is it ok that in the Koran, it is preached that Islam should “be spread by the sword”?

***

I am writing as if I am speaking to peoples taking part of a trend within Democratic nations. In my eyes, it’s sad. Always having voted left in Israel & the USA (I voted 4 times), I am frightened by the lucid extremism emerging on the Left, just like I have always been appalled by the extreme right (bible loving anti stem-cell research knuckleheads). I do not call for our “intervention” to conquer nations and establish “our ways of life”. I realize that this is something we have done and continue to do, and this is something that should raise questions. Imposing our system is wrong, especially because we selectively do it based on our own interests. This is Hypocrisy in its worst forms. Why don’t we do the same in Africa where much help is needed? Sadly, we have no interests there. However, it is still our duty as progressive human beings to recognize when a certain line of humanity has been breached. Then it is our duty to voice our opinions, to share our angers, and to influence to the point where change is ignited. It is not our duty to impose our ways by use of force. Apparently, that is the duty of extreme Islam.

"Hello, Darfur has been crying for help for a long time. Is anybody home?"

"No, we're too busy watching them imperialistic Israelis bomb the hell out of millions of innocent civilians. We're too focused on criticizing Israel - we don't care about Darfur now. Come back later, and maybe we'll cry with you. But I don't think we'll help you. There must be a reason for the inhumane horrors you are facing."

***

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

"How I became an 'unconscious fascist' "

This article was written a few years ago, but is extremely pertinent to our current reality. I hope people read this with an open mind - maybe there really is something wrong with our world?

Click here to read

Monday, September 11, 2006

Blair is fair

During these times when all world leaders seem incompetent and unintelligent, including Israel's current leadership, one man stands out and makes his mark. His name is Tony Blair. During his recent visit to Israel, he took the time to interview with Ha'aretz. I highly recommend you read it - as he discusses many points and issues.

One of his wise assessments is conveyed through his message that: Western leaders are increasingly aware of the global nature of the struggle against Islamic extremism led by Iran, but within Western public opinion "there is a big battle to be won."

A couple of quotes from the interview... read the full version here.

Regarding Iran, do you agree with the comparisons to the 1930s that we often read about?

When you have the President of a country as powerful as Iran say those things, it may be very foolish of us to assume he doesn't mean them. And when he's also trying to acquire a nuclear weapon, then I think the warning signs are pretty clear... I think for a president of a country to say they want to wipe another country off the face of the earth and at the same time he's trying to acquire a nuclear weapons capability - if we don't get worried about that, future historians will raise a few questions about us and about our judgment.


We in our paper see your political difficulties and the battle of ideology as very closely linked. We have witnessed with a certain amount of sorrow your inability to inculcate this awareness in your own public opinion and among Western European opinion.

Yeah, but you know in the end sometimes it takes people a long time to wake up. And sometimes these struggles go over a whole generation, almost. It's less important what my position is - but as you say rightly, I expect it indicates that we've got a big job to do.

But I think that underneath opinion is changing. On the surface I agree at the moment, no, it isn't. But underneath people are beginning to see it change. Now my own view is that if we were able to revive the Palestinian process that would be a huge part of persuading opinion that the one issue where even quite moderate Muslims just feel frustration and anger - that we were dealing with it now.

...I know from the Israeli point of view how frustrating it is to be told, you know, this is an issue that in the interest of the world has got to be solved... and you worry in Israel that maybe our interests get sacrificed in the course of finding a solution. I hope that I've done enough to prove that I will never sacrifice the security of Israel in that way. But I do genuinely believe that our job has got to be to build that alliance of moderation and empower the moderate Muslims and Arab voices.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Another protest in Tel-Aviv

I was riding my bike back home from a visit to my fathers, and all of a sudden I see police barriers on the streets with tons of human traffic trying to reach a destination. The site of Rabin Square (where Rabin was murdered) is typically the location of protests, gatherings, concerts/benefits, and more.

Last night was a protest organized by citizens of Israel demanding a full breadth investigation into the war, the way it was managed and beyond.

Protest leader and chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel Attorney Eliad Shraga said at the rally "we have gathered here in all colors of the political spectrum, from all socio-economic levels, and holding a wide range of beliefs, in order to demand the formation of an independent commission of inquiry, a professional, objective and unbiased commission."


Just in case people forget, Israel, being the democratic nation that she is, manages to balance herself out through the force of internal critics.

Did anybody see the protests in Lebanon organized by the citizens calling Hizbollah out? I don't think you did, because those Lebanese who despise Hizbollah (trust me, there are more than you think) fear for their lives when only thinking about how bad Hizbollah is for their country.

Again, it all comes back to the fundamental difference: freedom of speech, democracy, morals, ethics, and the uncanned ability to question thy self."

Please read more here

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Jews in England face new reality

Titled "Report: British Jews facing more anti-Semitic sentiment than ever", this article discusses the new reality facing Jews in England. It's getting scary!


One of the more interesting chapters of the report deals with the public mood in Britain, which, according to the authors, changes markedly "when Jews are discussed, whether in print or broadcast, at universities, or in public or social settings."

The report warns against the growth of a "new anti-Semitism" that transfers the traditional stereotypes about Jews to Israel, as a Zionist state. "We heard evidence that contemporary anti-Semitism in Britain is now more commonly found on the left of the political spectrum than on the right."

MacShane believes that the academic boycott of Israel by the Association of University Teachers (which was later reversed) and the decision by the Anglican Church to re-examine its investments in companies with ties to the Israel Defense Forces contribute to anti- Semitism.

He said the decision to focus on Israel while ignoring all the non-democratic regimes in the world is hypocritical and contributes to the Jews' feeling like "second-class citizens" who are spurned by certain elements in the country.

The publication of the report coincides with the celebration this month of the 350th anniversary of the Jewish presence in Britain. "I've been here for 11 years and I never thought it would get so bad," said Linda Cohen, an Israeli who was assaulted about two weeks ago in an anti-Semitic incident in the largely Jewish London neighborhood of Golders Green.


Read more here

Friday, September 01, 2006

Bring them home

A rally took place in Tel-Aviv calling for the Government to do all it can to bring the boys back home:

More than 60,000 people thronged to Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on Thursday night to call for the release of abducted IDF soldiers Gilad Shalit, Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

"Nobody connects the abducted soldiers and the war declared in their name anymore," said Shai Shenkman, a comrade of Regev's. "In the war trauma the kidnapping slipped from consciousness, like Ron Arad. That precedent scares us." Arad is an Israel Air Force navigator who has been missing since 1986, when he bailed out over Lebanon.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, the chief rabbi of Tel Aviv and a former chief rabbi of Israel, stood side by side with MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) in a rare show of unity. Religious protesters stood with secular ones, and settlers stood with kibbutzniks. Demonstrators calling for a state inquiry commission joined those who object to it, as all called for the soldiers' release.

It was not a protest rally; it was a reminder to the government not to forget those it used as the main cause for the war. Ostensibly it was a rally of solidarity with the POWs and their families. But in its subtext, it castigated the government for reneging on yet another contract with the public.

The rally evoked a public response that the protest against the war failed to do. The public did not come to protest but to express a yearning for the country they wanted Israel to be. The older participants said they missed the past, the youngsters spoke of fear for the future.

"Something in the ethos has been eroded," said Uzi Dayan, head of an
organization acting to release POWs and one of the rally's organizers.


[Read More Here]