Greetings from the French Hill

Can't Focus On The Politics

2008-08-27T08:41:00.004+03:00

I was going to write about some thoughts on the Presidential election currently going on in the States, but I find that I can't complete what I want to write. I just can't write about anything political right now. Oh, don't get me wrong. I have opinions about what's happening and the candidates, but I just don't feel like putting thought to digital paper at the moment.

So, let's talk about something else in the meantime. I want to talk to all the mothers out there. I want to talk to both those that have been courageous enough to work and take care of their children, and those that have been brave enough to make taking care of your home your full time job.

I want to know your experiences. I want to know if you share the same dilemmas as I do. For those of you who also work outside the home, do you feel any guilt for being away from your child? Do you have any regrets? Do you feel the tear within yourself that you have to be everywhere at once, 100% dedicated at work and 100% dedicated at home? Do you feel the struggle within, wondering if it's all worth it?

For those of you at home, do you regret giving up a career or the prospects of a career? Do you feel at all unfulfilled? Do you sometimes feel unappreciated, as if the job you're doing isn't as important simply because you don't get paid to do it? Do you feel trapped sometimes?

The reason I ask is because I realize that as I settle more into motherhood, those types of questions travel across my brain at one point or another during the day or during the week. It's a roller coaster of inner fighting and conflict that a man can never understand. It's the constant struggle for balance between nurturing and caring for one's young and achieving some form of inner happiness and self fulfillment that is outside of simply being a mom. Of course, I use the word "simple", and I left. There is nothing simple about being a mom. You are raising the future. What can be simple about that? There's a reason in Judaism that it while it is on the father to ensure a child's education, the burden of education and teaching a child the way's of G-d fall to the mother. She chooses what kind of education a child receives in the home, for that is her domain. She has the instincts for what her child needs.

I'll give you an example. Last night, my baby woke up screaming bloody murder a couple of hours after we put him to sleep. He normally does not wake up like this so soon after we put him down. My husband and I immediately knew something was wrong. We tried changing his diaper. That wasn't the problem. We figured maybe he got bit by a mosquito or something, and it got a nerve. However, after about half a minute, I realized instinctively that he was hungry. Now, he had just eaten a couple of hours before, and it's rare for him to be hungry again until morning. But, somehow, through his crying and just instinctively I knew that was the problem. My husband wasn't so sure, so I gave in and agree to try other things to try and calm him down. I allowed this for about 5 minutes and then just said that I was going to try feeding him. Sure enough. That was the problem. After feeding him, he fell right back asleep and slept soundly until morning.

Before you become a mom, your mom, grandmother, aunt, etc. tells you that you have the instincts to be a good mom. You just have to trust them. While you're pregnant, you don't really believe them. I know I didn't "feel" like a mom yet, and I was scared to death that I didn't inherit that mom gene. When I gave birth and for the first 4 weeks, I also didn't feel it. I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know what to do when he cried. I didn't know how I should calm him down. I started doubting myself. That was the key to unlocking my success. Once I started say to myself not to be afraid of his crying, that was he trying to communicate with me, and that I know how to deal with what he's trying to say, things started settling down.

All of a sudden, I saw that I could calm him down when he was sad. I just had to listen to him. I could take care of him by myself when family wasn't around, and my husband was at work. It was a liberating feeling to be able to allow myself the confidence to listen to what my son had to say and be able to provide him with what he actually wanted. It feels like such a gift, but then again, what about me? What about my wants and needs? How do I fulfill myself and still be 100% invested as a mom? Do I have to constantly be sacrificing something? Or is there some sort of balance out there somewhere?

From all you moms out there, I would really like to know what you have to say on the matter.

Technorati Tags: Mom, Baby, Politics, Work, Stay-at-home, Motherhood, Birth

What User Agreement?

2008-08-22T12:27:00.002+03:00

I just heard a very interesting story on NPR. No, I don't listen to it on a regular basis or anything like that. I use it for my job. They were discussing how storing our information, pictures, emails, vital documents, etc. in the "cloud", the term to describe storage in cyber space, is more and more becoming the norm and will be the common wave of the future. However, as this is happening, the majority of us out their using these online services really don't know what we've signed up, what our rights are, etc. b/c none of us have really read the user agreements that we agree in order to become members.

Take email, for example. If someone out there is a vindictive prick who's out to wreak petty yet powerful vengeance on you, they can write to your email provider and claim, without any proof necessary, that you have illegal content in your email box, or that you're using your email account for illegal practices. Again, no proof is required to verify this accusation. Unless you're some hot shot client, it takes more time, money, and resources than is worth it in order to investigate the charges. Instead, the email provider will more than likely just shut down your email account without warning. Yes, they can do that. Goodbye to all your emails. Adios to all your information you've been saving. Shalom and L'hitraot to all those important documents. What? You didn't know they can do that? But, it says so right there in the User Agreement.

An example of this happened to me last year. As most of my readers will know, during the war in 2006, I produced a number of short picture films set to music. I posted them on YouTube and then embedded them here. About a year or so after I posted them, I was emailed by some readers that the videos were no longer working. I went into YouTube to get into my account, but my password didn't work. I wrote to YouTube to find out what was going on. They wrote back to me saying that my account had been terminated due to violations of the terms of service. They didn't give any further explanation as to what violations I had supposedly violated. What I suspect happened was that some pro-Palestinian or pro-Hezbollah jerks complained about the content of my videos. So, without warning or explanation, my account was simply terminated without my knowledge.

As I'm even sitting here writing this, I'm completely aware that one day, some same Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, liberal jerk off can come to this site, not like what I'm writing, declare that free speech is only for those that agree with his opinion, write to Google, complain about me, and my blog could be gone. No explanation needed. All that stuff I wrote vanished. And Google could do it too. It's in that User Agreement I clicked the "I Agree" box for.

But, will I back all my writings up? Eh, probably not. It's human nature. That's why we're using the cloud more and more to store our information. It's easier. It's quicker, and it's always there when we need it. Of course, until it not...

Technorati Tags: Computer, Information, Cloud, Google, YouTube, War, Pro-Palestinian, Anti-Israel, Liberal, User, Agreement

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A Bear

2008-08-21T11:56:00.003+03:00

You know, one of the things that everyone, who's a parent, talks about when you're pregnant for the first time and about to become a first-time parent is get ready to basically never sleep again. They try to explain the fatigue, but it always comes out in a joking matter that you don't know how seriously you should take them. And on top of that, you think to yourself, well, they don't look that tired. On top of that, you basically delude yourself. If you comprehended the enormity of what was really in store for you as a parent, I think the human species would probably go extinct pretty darn quickly. We're all, especially women, sado-masochists in that way. Normally, people who choose to put themselves through pain and agony are diagnosed with a psychosis and sometimes even put in a mental institution and on heavy anti-psychotic medications. But, no. Purposely going through the pain of morning sickness, back aches, stretch marks, swollen feet, etc., and then the pain of child birth is considered perfectly normal. More than that, doing it more than once, after figuring out what you're in for, is considered even more normal!!

In any case, what nobody can or does prepare you for is just the utter physical and mental dizzying exhaustion that comes with being a parent, and especially being a mother. My brain has felt like it's been stuffed with cotton balls since the second my son came out of me. My brain is just mush. I am just completely drained of any mental energy. I doubt if I could tell you what 2 + 2 is right now. 5? It's not that I am not enjoying motherhood. I love it. I love watching my son grow, I take such pleasure in seeing every new thing he does and discovers. My biggest joy is seeing that he smiles the biggest and laughs the hardest for me, his mom.

I just wish I could hold a coherent thought in my head for more than a few seconds, and I wish that I didn't feel like I needed to collapse at 8:00 at night after he's put to bed. I used to be such a night owl. If I went to bed before midnight, then I must have been sick or something. But now, I'm lucky if I can make to 11:00. What's happened to me? It's not like I'm not sleeping. Thank god, bli eyin hara, my son sleeps well at night. I'm getting sleep, but I still just feel so exhausted!

Man, taking care of a kid is such exhausting work! I don't even drink coffee! How am I going to survive???

Technorati Tags: Birth, Pregnancy, Pregnant, Sleep, Baby

Jaded

2008-08-20T16:09:00.003+03:00

I don't have any clue if there's anyone out there who still reads my blog, but for those 1 or 3 of you out there that may still reading, you should know that I'm back in town, electronically speaking. I've been gone for quite a while now. There are many reasons for it, personally and politically.

Let's start with the personal first. I had my first child a little over 4 months ago. For all of you who have children out there, I don't have to tell you that trying to blog while taking care of a newborn is a bit difficult. By the time the little one gets to sleep, I'm just utterly spent and exhausted that writing anything coherent would be an immense challenge. Even writing now, I'm making so many spelling mistakes out of sheer fatigue that I'm wondering if it's even worth it. But, I have a need and desire to write again. While I was pregnant, I just didn't have that. I just really needed a break.

Secondly, the political factor. Anyone who's ever read my blog knows that I love to discuss politics, especially Israeli politics. However, for the past like 8 months or so, I've just been completely jaded about everything that's been going on here. It's just disgusted me to the point that I just couldn't write about that disgust. It's also gotten to the point where I just stopped watching the news or really even caring about what was going on in the country I live in. I mean, what was the point? We have a disgustingly corrupt government, led by a man who would sell his own mother to stay in power for one more hour, a man that is literally selling his country down the river.

My father-in-law likes to say, "One day, the Jews will have a country of their own." Israel is a country in peril that is sacrificing itself for a meager scrap of favorable public opinion in the world, a world that secretly, and mostly not so secretly, wishes they hadn't stopped Hitler from completing his work. Israel is a country that has no belief or fortitude in the concept of its own sovereignty. It is a country that still believes and acts like we are a people still living in exile under foreign rule that have to behave and do what we're told lest we suffer the wrath of another's dominance. We are living in dhimmitude even though we now have the guns, we now have the missiles, we now have power.

In any case, hopefully things will be different now. I may stay away from writing about politics while my feelings are like this. I feel that I want to shift to talking about other things, as well as about Middle East politics. It's a new blog, and it's a new day. I just hope there's somebody out there that wants to listen, or read actually, what I have to say.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Birth, Baby, Newborn

So, What Else Is New?

2007-12-03T15:24:00.000+02:00

Palestinian police behind last week's terror attack
Yaakov Katz , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 2, 2007

Palestinian policemen were behind the shooting attack last week which killed Ido Zoldan, a 29-year-old father of two from the settlement of Shavei Shomron, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) revealed Sunday night.

Zoldan was killed last Monday night - the day before the Annapolis summit began - when shots were fired at his car as he drove past the Palestinian village of al-Punduk.

The three members of the cell were Palestinian policemen and members of the Palestinian National Security Force, in which Israel and the United States have been investing as part of the international effort to strengthen Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah government.

Defense officials said the weapon used in the attack had not been supplied to the Palestinians by Israel since it did not belong to the official Palestinian security forces. The officials said, however, that the IDF expected the political echelon to rethink its policy of strengthening Abbas in light of the fact that his policemen were involved in terrorism.

The day after the attack, acting on intelligence, IDF soldiers and Shin Bet operatives raided the village of Kfar Kadum, near al-Pundak and arrested Daper Barham and Abdullah Barahm, both 22-year-old Palestinian policemen and Fatah members. The third suspect, Fadi Jama, also a policeman, was in Palestinian Police custody.

During their interrogation, the two confessed their involvement in the attack and handed over the weapon used in the shooting to the Shin Bet. They said they had parked their car on the side of the road and waited for an Israeli car to pass by. Once Zoldan's car appeared, they merged onto the road, passed him, and opened fire. They told their interrogators that they decided to carry out the attack to "scare settlers."

Technorati Tags: Israel, Annapolis, Abbas, Abu+Mazen, Zoldan, Fatah, Palestinian, Terror, Terrorist

3 Minutes= 2,000 Years of Waiting & Anguish

2007-11-30T12:14:00.000+02:00

Olmert Gives The Finger To World Jewry

2007-11-28T16:18:00.000+02:00

Now, there are many times when I feel that non-Israeli Jews have no right to talk about Israeli policy. This is not one of those times. In response to American Jewish leaders concerns and objections over Olmert's plans to put the discussion of dividing Jerusalem on the table of any peace talks, he had this to say:

(Source: Arutz 7)
Olmert to U.S. Jews: Jerusalem None of Your Business

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that the issue of Jerusalem is an Israeli issue and not a "Jewish issue." He made the statement as delegates from the Orthodox Union (OU) and pro-Israel Christians met with American National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley to express opposition to plans by the Olmert administration to divide the Jewish capital with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The OU replied that it was not trying to dictate policy to Israel but added that Jews throughout the world have a share in "the holy city of Jerusalem."

OK, Olmert must be on a crusade to burn every bridge and destroy any semblance of remaining support he has with the Jewish world. Maybe he's lobbying for a job with the Arabs. Who knows! But, is he kidding us with this stuff?!? I've given up questioning his moves or being surprised by anything that comes out of his mouth. They're all stupid, but this must take the cake!!

Why is Jerusalem such an important and volatile issue to every Jew on the face of the planet? Should I give those of you that have been living under a rock for the past 5,000+ years a short history lesson?!? Apparently, Olmert needs it. Without insulting any of your intelligence, let's leave it with one simple declaration:
Jerusalem is the single most important site in Judaism. We pray in its direction 3 times a day. On holidays, we declare, "Next Year in Jerusalem!" We actually don't say, Next year in Israel. We believe that G-d's essence resides over the city. What more do I need to add? Want me to stray away a bit from religion? Fine, Zionistically speaking, the movement for Jews to have the same self-determination as any other people is even named after one of Jerusalem's alternative names: ZION!! The whole goal is to return to Jerusalem. Hey, Olmert, heard our national anthem lately?

Olmert has officially reached rock bottom in order to justify his actions to stay in office one day longer. All I can say is pray...

Technorati Tags: Israel, Jew, Jewish, Olmert, Annapolis, Jerusalem, Judaism, Zion

Bush In Business of Creating Terror State & Destroying Them

2007-11-27T20:35:00.000+02:00

At the start of the much heralded Annapolis "Peace" Conference, President Bush made a couple of statements that shows that his post-9/11 policy of destroying terror states has officially been sacrificed in search of the hallowed pursuit that has been plaguing every President and Western leader since May 14th, 1948 when Israel was created: Bringing peace to the Middle East. Of course, when I say Middle East, I mean between Israel and the Palestinians. Although, every Western leader has the insane and counter-intuitive notion that bringing peace between Israel and the Palestinians will magically restore peace to the entire region.

How do I know that President Bush is willing to forgo his entire Presidential legacy of fighting Islamic extremism? Firstly, in a joint statement between him, Olmert, and Abbas, they stated that they are committed, and see it as completely possible and realistic, to reaching a new peace deal by the end of 2008. We all know that President Bush's reign will end in January of 2009. Making a statement that he will commit the last 14 months of his presidency to getting signatures committed to paper shows that in lieu of all common sense and reason, President Bush is aiming for another Tabba and Camp David agreement. Only this time, he believes he will succeed where President Clinton went wrong. He believes he'll get the Palestinians to say yes where Arafat said no. He believes this can be achieved with the weakest leader in Israeli history, Olmert, and the man that couldn't command his own pants to stay on his legs, Abu Mazen. But, the goal of achieving "peace" is more important than reality. It always has been. It makes rational and brilliant men and women turn into complete zombies of idiocy.

Secondly, President Bush is calling for the creation of a Palestinian state at a time when the people are at its lowest desire to live in peace with Israel. He says now is the right time, more so than ever, for a creation of a viable FREE Palestinian state. By his very words, President Bush is stating that before he leaves office, he is going to everything in his power, short of donating the shirt of his own back, to creating a Terrorist State next to one of the United States' strongest allies. Let me make this clearer. While thousands of U.S. troops have died in the fight to bring an end to Terror States in Afghanistan and Iraq, President Bush is actively attempting to create another Terror State in Palestine. So, his whole speech about destroying all Terror States and those States that harbor terrorists does not apply to the one entity that clearly aims to not only destroy Israel but to assist in destroying America and American interests. It's clear to anyone with eyes, and even the blind could see this, that the ones truly in charge of the Palestinians are the terrorist organization, and the vast majority of the Palestinian people are totally FINE with this. Not only are they fine with it, but they want more of Hamas! But, in the name of "peace", President Bush is willing to overlook these tiny little details and sacrifice Israel for the sake of his legacy and for the sake of erasing the mess he's created in Iraq; a mess that now finally being cleaned up.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to be the only issue that makes the West travel through the looking glass into a world of make believe, where the Israelis are the bad guys and the Palestinians really want sunshine and co-existence.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Palestinian, Bush, Annapolis, Peace, Conference, Olmert, Abbas, Abu+Mazen, Hamas, Terror, America, West

Let The Peace Begin!!

2007-11-25T16:37:00.000+02:00

As I've said, this whole Annapolis "Peace" Conference is a bit frustrating. Today, we see one of the reasons why. Ahead of this sham in Maryland, Israel's security is on the highest alert it can be. Every terrorist organization, including the savior of peace, Abu Mazen's own "moderate" Fatah party, is stepping up its attempts to carry out massive carnage against the Israeli population.

Because of the extremely heightened security alerts, just about every American Yeshiva and Seminary has put its school on lock-down. No student is allowed to travel around Jerusalem or Tel Aviv until further notice. I don't know if I 100% agree with that decision, but I understand the schools' caution.

I, for one, am waiting with baited breath for our esteemed Prime Minister Olmert to return from Maryland and declaring that he has achieved "peace in our time". As is usually the case, the Arabs can't destroy Israel and the Jews. The ones that do the best job of destroying the Jewish people is the Jewish people themselves.

Technorati Tags: Annapolis, Jerusalem, Tel, Aviv, Terror, Terrorist, Abu+Mazen, Fatah, Maryland

Happy Turkey Day!!

2007-11-22T23:50:00.000+02:00

There are many things to be thankful for, not just today but everyday. So, I won't go through the list because it would truly be endless. So, let's just say I'm thankful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Frustration

2007-11-20T14:55:00.000+02:00

I'm sure the 20 or so of who you read my blog on an even semi-regular basis have noticed my absence the past few weeks. I apologize. I am very frustrated right now and don't really have anything to say. No, that's not right. I have plenty to say. I just don't feel like writing it. Of course, it mostly has to do with what's going on in Israel right now and the upcoming Annapolis "Peace" Conference.

Don't get me wrong. I don't believe that anything positive - or much of anything at all, really - will come out of it. There's no real threat of Jerusalem being divided, or that there will be a total settlement freeze, etc. No, nothing will come out of this conference except for a nice picture and some more empty rhetoric about the chances finally being ripe for the hope and reality of peace to finally bloom. And, it's that empty b.s. rhetoric that has me so frustrated.

Both, Olmert and Condi Rice are going all over Israel and the U.S. spouting sonnets on how, now more than ever, the chances for peace and co-exsistence with the Palestinians are at their highest and most realistic. Olmert states that Israel is "ready" to make the sacrifices necessary for lasting peace and the Palestinians are FINALLY willing to stretch out the olive branch. In parallel, Miss Rice is traveling all over the States touting that, for the first time in known history, Israel truly has a Palestinian counterpart to talk to that can deliver on his peace promises. They both say that the ground is ready. The foundations are set. It has truly come time for peace.

Blah, blah, blah. Is anyone getting tired of this broken record yet? I remember hearing these exact same words about Arafat over a decade ago. However, these words, NOW MORE THAN EVER, TO BORROW OLMERT AND CONDI'S PHRASE, ring ever hollow. The reality of the situation has never been in more stark contrast to this rhetoric than it is now. Since the debacle of the 2005 Disengagement, the majority of the Israeli people, even those on the left, have repeatedly stated that they are NOT willing to give up any more land unless a comprehensive and realistic deal is made with the Palestinians that will ensure Israel's safety and security. In case you haven't noticed, Israel's safety and security hasn't even been MENTIONED in any of Olmert's, Condi's, or, most importantly, the peace maker of the hour, Abu Mazen's speeches in the lead-up to Annapolis.

When Arafat was called the ultimate savior of the Palestinian people and the one and only man that Israel could make peace with, he, at least, was a total dictator. He had full control on his organization and was able to reign in the other terrorist groups when he wanted to. Conversely, he was, of course, able to unleash them at will he so desired. Abu Mazen is nothing more than a pathetic weakling of a politician; a rat in a suit that's caught in a maze he can't control. He's no Arafat, and the people, and most importantly, all the organizations know it. All these pathetic carrot attempts to strengthen are only making him more weak in the eyes of the Palestinians. How can Condi really get up with a straight face and claim this is the Messiah of the Palestinian people, the one, even more so than Arafat, that can lead his "nation" to peace??? He lost Gaza even-though Fatah out-numbered and out-gunned Hamas. Hell, it's wasn't even much of a fight. He lost the Parliamentary majority to Hamas in the 2006 elections. He's running a ship with no rutter and a big gaping hole in the hull. He can no more deliver peace than he can promise to win the people's majority in the next elections.

While Olmert claims that the Palestinians are prepared for peace, he can't even ensure the safety of his own people from those said Palestinians. Rockets continue to rain down from Gaza, and he's not doing what's necessary to stop it. Hell, he still hasn't even visited the place. You Americans thinks it's so terrible that it took President Bush THREE WHOLE DAYS to visit New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck. Try having Bush not visiting New Orleans for over year, all the while the whole city is being drenched in flood waters that entire time. Try having him not even talk about it, EVER. Terrorist attacks are still being planned and, some are succeeding (You can't stop them all), in the West Bank. The Palestinian people still cry out for the Jews to leave all of Palestine and to go back to where they came from. Of course, I could say the same to the Palestinians, but they would cry out that they've been here since Adam and Eve. Now, who can argue with that? Ask any Joe Shmoe Muhammad Palestinian on the street, and they will still tell you that they support Hamas and ALL of its aspirations, that they want their own state, meaning from the river to the sea, and that they have no desire to have a Jewish neighbor of any kind. As Shaul Singer wrote in the Jerusalem Post this past weekend, in his article, "Measuring Success":
"... the current Palestinian position, which is essentially: What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine too. As author Amos Oz write in an op-ed in 2001, 'Peace will arise only when the two peoples face the reality: There is your house and your garden and here is my house and my garden. Now, however, the Palestinians are saying to us: You get up and leave my house (evacuate settlements) and I will also come and live in your house (the right of return)'."

So, yes, I'm frustrated.

Technorati Tags: Israel, United+States, Condoleeza, Rice, Olmert, Abu+Mazan, Abbas, Livni, Peace, Conference, Annapolis, Palestinian, Palestine, Terror, Terrorist, Fatah, Hamas

Israel Not Playing By The Rules

2007-11-01T14:31:00.000+02:00

First things first. If you haven't seen the released video of Palestinian terrorists firing rockets into Israel from the footsteps of a Gazan school, you must watch it right away. After watching the video, you'll realize that Israel isn't playing by the rules. They're not following international law. They're not following international law by NOT firing on the launch site. But, it's a school you might say. Well, too bad. Once a civilian location or population is being used for military purposes, it becomes a legitimate target. That includes schools and even hospitals. However, the brilliant Palestinian terrorists knows very well that Israel will not fire on a civilian location, like a school, for fear of the PR upheaval that it would cause around the world. That is regardless of the fact that their actions would be completely legitimate. This is not to mention the fact that Israel cares more about Palestinian life than the Palestinians do.

That's right. Israel would rather risk its own peoples' lives by allowing rockets to be fired into their land and cities than to risk harming the enemy's children when said enemy calculatedly use their own children and population as shields in their own apocalyptic battle royale.

Of course, Israel's super discretion will NOT earn them PR points with the West. They'll continue to receive the blame for the rockets fired against them. Their care for Palestinian life will NOT earn them any love or respect from the very Palestinians that they're saving. In the school where that rocket was placed, those children were being systematically taught to hate the Jews that were protecting them at that very moment. More than that, they were being taught to aspire, to hope for, to pray for death and "martyrdom". At that moment, those children would have loved to die and be celebrated as martyrs against the occupation. The very people that were truly responsible for their deaths would have been heralded as heroes instead of villains. This is the sad reality rather you want to acknowledge or not.

So, as much you may call me a heartless racist, apartheid supporter, bigot, or whatever other kind of ridiculous accusation you can throw at me for speaking the truth and pointing out the cold hard facts, Israel needs to start playing by the rules. They need to start honoring their duty and obligation by protecting and worrying more about their own citizens' lives and their own sovereignty than about damaging their already poor PR image and about the enemy's lives. Especially when every law states that their actions are protected as righteous and correct.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Gaza, Rocket, School, Palestinian, Terror, Terrorist, Martyr, Martydom

Out Of The Worst, A Rabbi Shows An Example Of The Best

2007-10-31T16:54:00.000+02:00

(Hat Tip: LGF) Talk about Kiddush Hashem.

Camp offers shelter, peace amid fire chaos

Refusing to leave his retreat, rabbi devotes himself to serving crews battling the Slide blaze.
By Ashley Powers, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 29, 2007

The pairing of the rabbi and the firefighters was a natural one.

He had beds. They had been sleeping on asphalt. He had food and showers. They were grateful.

Rabbi Yosef Brod should have rushed down the mountain a week ago, when the Slide fire was burning toward Camp Gan Israel, the 75-acre Jewish camp he runs in the San Bernardino Mountains. The fire charred nearly 13,000 acres and wiped out 201 homes as it spread.

But Brod, a rabbi with the Chasidic Lubovitch, or Chabad, sect, stayed. "Have a nice day," he told his employees as they evacuated. "Drive carefully."

Over the weekend, about a dozen fire engines were parked by the giant Hanukkah candelabra at the camp. One firefighter chatted on a cellphone while another shivered in his boxers. A third asked Brod what the symbols on the cabin doors meant -- they were prayer scrolls called mezuzot that are meant to keep their occupants safe.

State prison officials also came by, looking to house inmate mop-up crews in the camp's bunks.

Brod says he kept the camp open because he believed that God would shelter the pine-shaded site, which the Chabad organization bought for summer and winter camps and weekend retreats. So Brod called his wife after the evacuations were ordered last Monday and said he wouldn't be driving home to West Hollywood.

"She knew I'm so devoted to this place I wouldn't leave," he said. One of his employees stayed, too, and told Brod that, if need be, he would carry the camp director down the mountain.
[...]
He already prays three times a day, but that afternoon, "We prayed with a little more intensity," Brod said.
[...]
So many firefighters streamed into Camp Gan Israel that Brod called other rabbis for help.

He found one fire crew sleeping on the grass just outside of camp, and offered them real beds.

"That's kind of a big deal, to have a bunch of sweaty firemen stomping through your place," said Ontario Fire Capt. Art Andres. "And this is a place where people pay good money to find rest or peace or something."

A compact man with black-rimmed glasses, a salt-and-pepper beard and a black yarmulke, Brod held a prayer service for a Jewish firefighter.

On Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, Brod couldn't work until after sunset. So firefighters signed themselves in, writing on a yellow legal pad that they had come from departments in Chino, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Tuolumne and other places. They ate a traditional stew that had been prepared before sunset the night before, when the Sabbath began.

As the men and women ate each night, Brod shared his interpretation of the week's events. "One match destroys a thousand homes just like that," he told firefighters. "If we have the power to destroy the world, we have the power to make it better."

The firefighters sat in quiet with their thoughts.
[...]
After dinner, Brod went outside and climbed into his white Ford Expedition to check on his guests. He darted past cabins with nearly all the windows lighted, and slowed only to chat with firefighters. Their eyes were weary and their voices hoarse.

"So you own this whole place?" croaked one firefighter.

"God owns the world," the rabbi replied.

Technorati Tags: Fire, California, Hollywood, Rabbi, Chabad, Lubovitch, Sabbath, Firefighter, Camp

Why Dressing Modestly Needs To Come Back In Style

2007-10-29T18:23:00.000+02:00

(Hat Tip:Hot Air)

My Thoughts On Rabin's Memorial

2007-10-24T20:29:00.000+02:00

I was 13 at the time of Rabin's assassination. I was also living in America at the time. The only emotion that I really remember feeling when I found out that he had been killed was, I wasn't surprised. That's really it. I mean, c'mon, I was only 13, and I was American. I didn't have too much to do with politics, period, at the time. Yes, I went to a Zionist Day School, but I wasn't too much into Israeli politics. When the Oslo Agreement was signed, they had us watch it in class. All I can remember from watching the signing was, This isn't a good thing. I didn't know why it wasn't since I didn't really know what any of it meant, but I just felt that it wasn't a good thing. We also watched Rabin's huge funeral on in class. We actually had a special school assembly to watch it. I didn't really feel much while I watched it because I really wasn't connected to it. I know I liked the fact that we got to miss class to watch it because it lasted a while. I also remember me and my friends laughing a little bit when President Clinton ended his eulogy by trying to speak Hebrew and said, "Shalom Haver".

It's only until after I started really studying modern Israeli history and Israeli politics that I was able to quantify my visceral feelings that I had at such a young age. But, I'm not really going to mention those revelations now. There's no use, and that's not why I'm writing. There are many out there that disagree with what Rabin did. They believe that Oslo is the worst thing that Israel has done to itself to date. I tend to agree with that sentiment, but that's besides the point. It doesn't matter how much you hate or disagree with the actions of a politician or a head of state, agreeing or advocating the murder of that person is wrong and goes against everything Judaism and democracy stands for. There are those out there saying that because, theoretically, Barghouti or other violent Palestinian terrorists can be let out of prison in the future in some pathetic prisoner exchange or attempt at showing more "good will" to the Palestinians, that the Knesset should NOT pass a law stating that Yigal Amir, the one guilt of assassinating Rabin, can never be let out of prison. First of all, this is one of the reasons I advocate instituting the death penalty in Israel. Israeli society has a very messed up idea of justice and punishment and the concept incarceration. There are no standard or minimum sentences for violent crimes. Prisoners are allowed to have VACATIONS outside of the prison walls. For this and other reasons, I believe that the Israeli justice and prison system is a joke, and if I was able to, I'd overhaul the entire system.

Second of all, this is a ridiculous analogy. One has nothing to do with the other. Of course, terrorists like Barghouti should NEVER be let out of prison, not even in exchange for, sorry to say this, hostages or captives like Gilad Shalit. The certified murder that this man will commit is just too horrific to even contemplate. If the discussion ever came up, I'd be picketing with the rest of 'em. Regardless of how much you hated Rabin, there's a huge difference between a murderer and Amir. Both have taken a life, but their significance is different. Amir did something that's not just murder. He went after the representative of a democratic state because he didn't like his politics and felt he was performing a Mitzvah, in murder, on behalf of the Jewish people and Jewish state with his actions. This is an attempt at anarchy. It's not even just the killing of a Jew by a fellow Jew. This is a person that attempted to speak for an entire people by murdering the head of state. This isn't altruistic, like the assassination attempt of Hitler. I've already written an article on the profile of an assassin, so there's no point in going over it again here. If you can't tell the difference between murder and assassination, then you are letting your emotions against what Rabin stood for interfere with logic. READ THE REST...

What I want to end with are my husband's thoughts on the event. He was 14 at the time of the assassination and had to deal with many hardships in school as a result of Rabin's killing. He went to a mixed public school, where he wore a Kippa. After Rabin's assassination, he heard very negative statements about religious people and remembers the general feeling that the whole religious community was being tagged and blamed for the actions of one person. He lived in Israel through the before and the aftermath of Rabin's death. It's only fitting that he be placed in the context. I can't ever understand what it was like living here at the time just like nobody who wasn't in New York on 9/11 can understand what I felt being there. He has 3 thoughts.

1) In a democratic country, assassination is never the way to change things, and it demeans the democratic process and democracy as a whole. If anyone believes that assassinating the head of a state is the way to change policy, then they don't understand how democracy works. Violence is not the solution to political disagreements. If it was, we'd have anarchy. There were a lot of angry protests that went on against Rabin, but they weren't violent.

2) Amir's assassination of Rabin legitimized and sanctified the Oslo Process, which was well on its way to its death and was beginning to being widely recognized as failing by the people and by many politicians. In other words, had Rabin not been killed, it's very likely that Netanyahu would have won the elections by a landslide when they were held in '96, because we know what the polls were before Rabin's death. Bibi would have run on the anti-Oslo ticket, and he would have won, and he would have had a large mandate to put an end to the Oslo Process. Instead, he won but b/c of the sanctification of the Oslo agreement via Rabin's assassination, he was unable to stop going along with the Oslo train. If he had, he would have been crucified as going against Rabin's legacy and "dying wish". So, instead, he ends up signing the dastardly Hebron Agreement, speaking to Arafat, and continuing on with the Oslo Process even-though it become ever more abundantly clear that it was a failed deal that was costing the lives of thousands of Jews. There are those that continue to state that Bibi was a terrible Prime Minister, but his term was doomed from the start because of Rabin's assassination. He was completely handcuffed to "carry on Rabin's work".

3) It basically allowed for a witch hunt against the entire religious population of the country, including the branding of all the religious people of the country as being part of or supporting Rabin's death and Amir's actions. It also became illegitimate to protest against Oslo. Before Rabin's death, there were a lot of high level protests against Oslo. But, after his death, there were no more protests, or if there were, they small and low profile. It became taboo. Because of the way that the right has been illegitimated, his memorials have become a commemoration of the left. If you're on the right in any way, you don't feel welcome to memorialize him because you don't agree with what Rabin did, and you're almost made to feel dirty about that fact. After his death, there was a sense that being right wing or even being religious was something to be ashamed of, and when the elections came along after his assassination, there were even posters of "We know who Yigal Amir's voting for". Meaning, Bibi or any right wing party. There was a sense that if the Oslo process was killed, or being against the process, it meant that Amir won, or you were for his deeds.

Also, it must be remembered that Rabin wasn't the lone person responsible for Oslo. The government voted to approve the deal. That's how democracy works. And, in a democracy, the people speak. Rabin was assassinated in '95. Elections were going to be in November of '96. Rabin would have LOST. Bibi would have won, and he would have stopped Oslo. Instead, Rabin became a martyr, and Oslo becomes his last charge that Israel was duty bound to carry out. So, in my mind, I disagree with those that say that Rabin has the blood of thousands on his hands b/c of Oslo. If we lived in a dictatorship or tyranny, I may agree with you, but we live in a democracy. The government voted on the Agreement, and they didn't have to. If Rabin hadn't been killed, Oslo would have ended for good in '96. Instead, it was forced to continue on a devastating path and didn't officially die until Barak's Taba and Camp David deals were killed by Arafat, and the Intifada. That's more than 5 years worth of terror and bloodshed that didn't have to happen, and it's because of Amir's actions. So, the minute Rabin was assassinated, I hold Yigal Amir personally responsible for every Jew and Israeli that was killed. It is Amir, NOT Rabin, that has the death of thousands on his hands.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Rabin, Memorial, Assassination, Oslo, Peace, Arafat, Amir, Barghouti, Terror, Terrorist, Intifada

Jerusalem

2007-10-21T13:33:00.000+02:00

There's a very good reason that I haven't written about the latest discussion regarding dividing Jerusalem as part of a "peace" agreement with the Palestinians. It's not going to happen any time soon, so there's no point in really discussing it in any sort of depth. However, I read an excellent article this Shabbat in Maariv. So, I'll write two sentences on the subject.

It's an absolute shame and disgust that Jerusalem is even on the table as any sort of option regardless of whether it's a realistic topic for discussion. Finally, IF JERUSALEM IS SPLIT IN ANY SORT OF WAY, IT IS THE OFFICIAL END OF THE ZIONIST DREAM AND ZIONIST ENDEAVOR.

End of story.

Eastern Jerusalem Arabs Are Scared To Death Of Becoming Palestinians

2007-10-18T13:48:00.000+02:00

Don't take my word for it.
E. Jerusalem Arabs Prefer Israeli Rule

Many eastern Jerusalem Arabs are unhappy over the prospect of their neighborhoods becoming part of a Palestinian state, as demanded by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Toronto Globe & Mail quoted Nabil Gheit, a shop owner and mayor of the Ras Hamis community in Jerusalem, as saying that if a referendum were held on the issue, "no one would vote to join the Palestinian Authority." PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has declared that any agreement that is signed with Israel will be submitted to the people for a vote.

Imposing PA rule in the area would cause another Intifada "to defend ourselves from the PA," he added. "At least in Israel, there's law."

This is not the first time such sentiments have been expressed. I myself have spoken with some Palestinians who declared that they were far happier and definitely more prosperous financially under Israeli rule than under the Palestinian Authority. One businessman whispered to me, 'I pray every day that Israel will take back Bethlehem [his former home]. We had a good life there under Israeli rule. Since Bethlehem was given to the PA, we have all fled out of there. Thugs rule the streets. It's awful."

Technorati Tags: Israel, PA, Palestinian+Authority, Mahmoud, Abbas, Bethlehem, Palestinians

Real Desecration Ignored By World & MSM

2007-10-16T13:10:00.000+02:00

As the Mainstream Media and foreign governments resume berating Israel for construction of a bridge next to the Western Wall, claiming that it infringes on the Al-Quds Mosque, while in reality being nowhere in the vicinity of the Temple Mount, they are consequently ignoring the real desecration. The Muslim Waqfi has control over the Temple Mount, not the Jews or the Israeli Government even though it is the holiest site in all of Judaism. As the world makes a mountain out of a non-existent mole hill, the Waqfi are pulling the wool over their eyes as they dig up the Temple Mount area. It has been well known that the Waqfi have, over the past 40 years, uncovered countless priceless artifacts from the Second Temple period. Instead of preserving them or even bothering to call in archaeologists, they have simply thrown these artifacts away with the day's trash. The reason is simple. The waqfi have a vested interest in attempting to convince their people and the world that there is no proof any Jewish Temple existed and that, subsequently, the Jews have no connection to the site, and that it ultimately belongs to the Muslims and Islam itself.

OK, fine. That's been going on for years and have been relatively ignored. Why does the world ignores it and chosen to cry whenever the Arabs make a fuss over Israeli/Jewish archaeological digs that have never been in the vicinity of or in any danger of ruining the Muslims' section of the Temple Mount? Because, unlike the Muslims, the Jews aren't going to riot and threaten and kill anyone over these artifacts. Human life is more important to us than some pots regardless of their historical significance. Besides, we believe that when the Temple is rebuilt, G-d will dole out due retribution to those that have dared to desecrate His sanctuary. But, now comes a desecration of epic proportions. While digging up ground, unsupervised and with no regard for archaeological integrity, the Waqfi has uncovered and is subsequently destroying an entire section of what used to to be part of the Second Temple. And, yet, no-one is saying a word. The world is concentrating on the Jews' non-aggression, and they are absolutely ignoring what the Waqfi is doing. I'm sure the Waqfi is just laughing their way all the way to the Mosque. Yes, and we're expected to buy it when the Palestinians claim that if they had control over the Old City, including the Western Wall, they would both care for any historical artifacts found and allow the Jews to pray in peace. Yup, OK.

Here's a great video on the latest desecration:
http://www.yideoz.com/view_video.php?viewkey=76845cd235b6a510c690

Technorati Tags: Israel, Temple, Mount, Mosque, Second+Temple, Desecration, Waqf, Muslim, Islam, Jerusalem

The Prize that sullies the name, Nobel

2007-10-13T18:30:00.000+02:00

So, after much campaigning and fear mongering, Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. The fact that Gore's screeching about the impending and very imminent climate doom - via melting ice caps via man's capitalist driven thirst to destroy the environment through their humanity crushing oil guzzling SUVs - has never once mentioned having any desire to bring peace through his drive to bring "awareness" of the upcoming climate Apolcalypse should tell you two things about the Noble Peace Prize. One, it has become a futile and disgustingly hypocritical spit on the very idea of "Peace". Then again, once you give the Prize to a sworn terrorist with the blood of thousands on his hands, I guess any-one is eligible for the prize. Next year, I'm going to nominate Charles Manson. Who's with me? Secondly, has 2007 been such a paltry year in the "peace" department that a Global Warming advocate gets the prize??? I'm wondering why they even need this category to begin with. It's like giving out a best gopher prize at the Oscars. What the hell does that have to do with acting? It is such a fluff category, and going down the list of recipients, you can see the cold hard proof of that. It means nothing. A very small majority of Nobel Peace recipients have actually had anything to do with not only promoting peace but actually doing something proven to achieve some sort of measure of peace. Let's be clear, by the time Rabin, Peres, and Arafat received the Prize, the Oslo Accords were already well on their way to bloody disaster. So, they received an award for signing their names properly on a piece of paper. I guess, that means next year Kindergartners will win the award. All I'm saying is that the whole essence of the Nobel Prize loses a lot of credibility with the Peace category.

My friend has actually written a great analysis of the whole history and background of the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm going to reprint it in full, and include some editorial commentary where I feel it's needed. READ THE REST...

(Source: Journal Terra Incognita)

Issue 6
A Publication of Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem, Israel

The fall of the Nobel peace prize
October 12th, 2007

It may be no surprise that the committee of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the U.N. In many ways it serves to illustrate the uselessness and utter failure of both organizations. The U.N is incapable of making peace and the Nobel Prize committee has essentially awarded the prize to itself: or rather another nebulous body of erudite Europeans and groveling third worlders. The fact that Al Gore was named, along with the ‘U.N’ as a recipient merely shows how low he has sunk.

The Nobel Peace Prize was first awarded in 1901 to Frederic Passy and Jean Henry Dunant, the first a peace activist and the latter the father of the Red Cross. For the first 13 years of the Prize’s existence it continued to be awarded to men of caliber who were involved in international arbitration, or international peace work. Some of the recipients were obscure. Some were not. Teddy Roosevelt received the prize due to his long work at international arbitration including the conference to end the Russo-Japanese war. Members of the ‘inter-parliamentary union’, socialists, and peace advocates from Italy to Germany were recipients. The first organization to receive the prize was the Institute of International Law in 1904.

During the first world war the prizes, except in 1917, were awarded to the Red Cross. After the war many of them went to men involved with the League of Nations, including Woodrow Wilson. Fridjof Nansen, famous explorer and peace activist was also awarded a prize in 1922. In the 1930s many members of the committee were in favor of awarding the League of Nations itself the prize, but Halvdan Koht, a historian, threatened to resign and the League, which had proved useless at stopping Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia and countless other aggressions, did not receive the prize. A Prisoner of the Nazis, Carl Von Ossietzky received the prize, as did writers and women’s peace activists. [ed. It should also be noted that during the 1930s, Hitler himself was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by a Nazi sympathizer on the Panel. To that effect, I should mention that there continues to be anti-semitic and known neo-Nazi influences on the panel for the Prize. At least one of the female judges is a known Antisemite. Oh yeah, and it should further be noted that Norway continues to have anti-Jewish laws on its books, especially laws pertaining to the limitations on Jewish land and business ownership. There's a reason there are less than 200 Jews left in Norway whereas there used to be a robust Jewish community there.]

Perhaps the first seeds of the fall of the Nobel prize can be seen in these years between 1930 and 1945 when it not only awarded the Red Cross a Prize during the war, despite the fact that the Red Cross covered up Nazi atrocities [ed. Not only did they cover up atrocities by not reporting the extent of the Jewish Genocide, but they also did nothing to help the Jews in the Concentration and Death Camps even-though they were granted access to them by the Nazis.] , but also suggested the League of Nations for a prize. After the war many of the prizes were awarded to men involved with the U.N, including Ralph Bunche and Cordell Hull, both Americans. The first U.N body to receive the prize was the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. The Nobel prize at this time began to take a lasting interest in the Middle East, Bunche, the Office of the High Commissioner and Canada’s Lester Bowles Pearson and Dag Hammarskjold were all awarded prizes between 1950 and 1965. The first non-westerner to receive the prize was Zulu chief Albert John Lutuli, for his work as head of the ANC and as a ‘human rights’ activist.

In the 1980s the U.N continued to rack up awards including one for the Office of the High Commissioner on Refugees (again) and the United Nations peacekeeping Forces [ed. The same Peacekeeping Forces that have been proven to not only not "keep the peace" in the regions they're deployed but are also pillaging and raping the very people they are sworn to protect]. More deserving individuals also received prizes such as Lech Walsea, Andrea Sakharov, Willy Brandt and Eisaku Sato (former Japanese P.M). Henry Kissinger and Lee Duc Tho received a prize in 1973 for helping to pretend to end the Vietnam war. Manachem Begin, the first Jew to receive the prize, and Anwar Sadat received the prize in 1978. Eilie Weasel, The Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa would also receive prizes in 1979 and 186 respectively. Gorbachev got one [ed. President Reagan did not receive the honor of sharing the prize with him for being the main reason the Iron Curtain finally fell.] and so did De Klerk and Mandela. Shimon Peres, Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin got one. David Trimble and John Hume got one for their role in ending the violence in Northern Ireland. Amnesty international, Medicines San Frontieres, anti-nuclear and anti-landmines groups all received prizes. 2003-2006 were the Muslim Years of the Nobel Peace Prize as it altered its outlook due to 9/11 and realized the Muslims needed to be included in its largesse. Shirin Ebadi, Mohammed El Baradei and Muhammed Yunus were awarded prizes for women’s rights, nuclear proliferation and helping the poor respectively.

Perhaps the inclusion of El Baradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Commission presaged the 2007 award. He has sat atop an organization that has done the opposite of its purview for the past 10 years. During his tenure nuclear weapons have proliferated on a massive scale, to North Korea, India, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Libya, and beyond. He has, unsurprisingly, been the largest opponent of doing anything to prevent Iran’s nuclear ambitions. [ed. It should be noted that SYRIA has recently been appointed co-chair of the IAEA.]

In 2007 the award went to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Neither one has ever campaigned for peace in even the most rudimentary war. However they have both been involved in the latest fad of claiming that conflicts are due to climate change [ed. A baseless theory that Al Gore has done nothing to prove, but because it panders to fear mongering and bringing more support to his cause, he has championed this cry. "Just imagine it. If we do something to stop global warming, wars will automatically end. That's all there is to it!" Sounds cheap and easy enough. Where do I sign up?]. The brilliant assessment of leading anti-global warming people that climate change fuels the genocide in the Sudan has provided a wonderful excuse for the genocidaires. They aren’t to blame, it’s the hot weather that makes them rape and kill. Perhaps climate change caused Hitler and the Nazis to need more Labensraum.

It seems the history of the Nobel Peace Prize and its recipients could best be broken down into two groups of people and organizations: Those that did something to achieve peace, and those that did nothing except talk. Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Elihu Root, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa and Manachem Begin might be included in the former category. The U.N, the Red Cross and numerous other organizations and people could be included in the latter. [ed. I should also mention that the Red Cross organization has done NOTHING to prevent or stop its Red Crescent members from allowing their ambulances to be used as terrorist aides and transports (completely and utterly against any international law), especially in the Palestinian territories. Not only have terrorists used the ambulances to evade capture and shelter from which to continue firing their weapons from, they have also used the ambulances to transport explosives into Israel to commit terrorist attacks. This is on top of the fact that the Red Cross has reinforced anti-semitism by only allowing the Magen David Adom to officially join the organization after it agreed to changed its symbol from a big star of David to a small one with an arbitrary diamond around. This was done in capitulation to Red Crescent demands.] They talk about peace, talk, and talk and talk, but they do nothing. The U.N has never, in its history, done anything to bring peace to anywhere. It has taken credit, of course, for bringing peace, but it has only done so after the actual parties to the conflict had already resolved to have peace. In many places the U.N has actively encouraged violence, been part and parcel to the conflict or sat by while genocide has taken place. The U.N did nothing to end the fighting in the Lebanese refugee camp, Nahr al Balad, for the four months in which it was slowly leveled and destroyed by the Lebanese Army [ed. The UN Security Council, especially, called no emergency session, nor did the General Assembly hold a special meeting when it was proven that the Lebanese Army was taking no caution to avoid civilian casualties, and was arbitrarily pounding artillery shells into the camp to avoid military casualties knowing full well that they were randomly hitting civilian targets. This complete lack of concern for non-combatants resulted in hundreds of Palestinian deaths. No, the special sessions are reserved specially Israel. In fact, the UN, as a whole, applauded the Lebanese government for taking a strong stance on terrorism.] It did nothing between 1976 and 2005 to ensure peace on Israel’s northern border and in 1967 it collaborated with Gamel Abdel Nasser to evacuate the Sinai peninsula, against its mandate, so that the area could be re-militarized. In Rwanda it watched and sipped tea as 400,000 people died [ed. In fact, the UN's peace keeping mandate hampered the American military's ability to help the people. They were FORCED to stand idly by even as they watched innocent civilians being murdered in front of their eyes.]. It has done nothing in the Sudan. In many places, including Hutu refugee camps in the Congo and Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza, its buildings and organizations have been infiltrated by militants and it has been used by terrorists and killers.

The time is coming with the Nobel Committee will award itself a prize for its fake work at encouraging peace. That will be its ultimate tombstone.

Technorati Tags: Nobel, Peace, Prize, Al+Gore, UN, United+Nations, Global, Warming, Climate, Change, Israel, Jew, Nazi, Hitler, Muslim, Red+Cross, Red+Crescent, Genocide, Sudan

You Are Cordially Invited...

2007-10-07T13:09:00.000+02:00

(Got this via E-mail; Very funny and oh so true if you're of the Jewish persuasion.)

Bar Mitzvah Invitation

In keeping up with the Rosen's and the Abelson's,
It is with great stress, emotional and physical fatigue
and incredible financial sacrifice beyond comprehension,
that we invite you to join us as our wonderful son
Jacob Adam
is called to
the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

Saturday, May 12th - (yes we realize its Mother's Day Weekend)
Temple Israel
14 Coleytown Road
Westport , Connecticut 06880
at the ungodly hour of 9 am even though you don't really need
to be there until 10:20am to catch the real action.

If you make it through the 3 hour service, please skip the kiddush
(it's just cookies and cake) and join us instead for an overly large
and ostentatious Kosher (my husband's idea) evening meal,
which starts at 7 PM,
(not 8 PM.. or you will miss out on the 2000 canapes).
Birchwood Country Club
25 Kings Hwy S
Westport , CT 06880
(which we had to join just for this event and
you would not believe the initiation fees)

You will be in the presence of lots of boisterous and expensive entertainment
and 60 to 70 unruly pre-teens wearing
expensive dresses, funny hats, fake bling and brand new white ankle socks...
as well as 80-100 middle aged+ adults, some balding, some with bad toupees, most will be professionally coiffed, designer attire galore, lots of REAL bling, and most "tootsed" to the nines. At least 1/3 will be hormonally challenged and some will act stupid while under the influence. Some will not even know where or who they are. Some will complain about the food. Blah Blah Blah.
Please have the courtesy of showing up if you RSVP that you are attending, or you will be billed for $210.00 a plate if you are a no-show. Please RSVP as soon as you get this and not a day before the cut-off date. I can't take the stress.
The gift of choice is either green, or contains a routing and account number. "Off the top of your head" gifts
and Gift Cards are a waste of your time and ours.

Hope you can make it! Lisa and David Miller
Dress: Black Tie optional
Theme: 007 James Bond
BYO Kippot. I don't have the strength.

Hard To Blog These Days

2007-09-24T19:22:00.000+02:00

It's been very difficult to find the will to blog these past couple of months. Oh, trust me, I have the time. I'm a lazy procrastinator of the worst kind. Blogging is usually the thing I do when I have other more important matters to deal with but just don't feel like it. However, for the last couple of months, I just haven't really felt like logging on to put down my thoughts and feelings and ideas. Don't get me wrong. I have just as much to say now as I always do, but every time I get the urge the right or feel like I have something to say, I just can't seem to get the urge to type them out.

I don't really understand why this is happening. In any case, in order to try to get over this hump and attempt to get back to regular blogging, I think I might need to keep my thoughts short instead of the usual novels I tend to express myself in. OK, here it goes. Here are my thoughts for today:

- Maybe, all Ivy League Schools are this arrogant by design of their reputation and standing. But, the gall and arrogance of Columbia University's President Bollinger is ridiculous and laughable. That he thinks that HE, of all people, can not only successfully confront but also force the Iranian President to answer tough questions with any sort of directness or honesty is pathetic. As I've said before, Columbia University's decision to INVITE is simply a microcosmic example of the greater sickness that is being suffered on college campuses throughout the United States. Allowing a terrorist to speak in the name of "free speech"? OK, then, I expect Columbia to next not just allow but to INVITE with open arms the ROTC that they have banned from campus decades ago. Then, on the list is the director of the Minutemen, whose invitation Columbia rescinded after a confrontation last year. Then, they will INVITE the grand wizard of the Klu Klux klan. No? I thought we're in the business of allowing different ideas and opinions on the college campus. If that's the case, why can't a guy stand up and discuss their opinions about the black and Jewish races?

Let's get real here. Looking at the left-wing sites like the Daily Kos, the reason that those that are agreeing with Mahdi's "right" to spew his hatred is because they AGREE with what he's saying. They don't believe he's a terrorist. No, how could he be? Bush is the biggest terrorist of them all. To them, even Bin-Laden aint so bad. They think he's cute, and even-though he'd kill them and, actually rip apart every single civil right these nut jobs believe that Bush is stealing, just as soon as look at them, many of them would rather he be their President than Bush. They agree with his notions that Israel should be destroyed. They may not agree that the Holocaust didn't happen, but they certainly believe that the evil neocons and dastardly Zionists have hijacked the Holocaust to "justify" every action Israel has committed since before its inception. So, really, what's the big deal if Ahmadenijad comes to speak at Columbia? What he's saying isn't so bad, is it?

By the way, is this really a great and grand exercise in free speech? Not really, as it turns out. Courtesy of Hot Air:

Closed to the public, no protest signs allowed, questions to be asked via index card with no back-and-forth between the students and honored guest. A “free exchange of ideas” indeed. In a way I’m glad, though: this puts all the pressure on Bollinger to grill him. If he softballs him — which he probably won’t lest the few remaining scraps of his credibility end up in the toilet — he’ll never hear the end of it.

- When the Dean of one of Columbia's schools said that the would have HAPPILY invited Hitler in 1939, a thought came to me. You know what? In the scope of history, we have to finally admit that we re in 1939 all over again. We are once again on the precipice of a major historical event, and once again, most of the West, especially Europe, is on the wrong side. Europe is trying its hardest to ignore Israel's air-strike in Syria earlier this month. Whatever happened, we do know for a fact North Korea was involved in it. Those European nations involved in the much maligned and haplessly failed 6 party talks have chosen to remain, either, silent or belligerent on the event. They have invested over 7 years of failure and appeasement with nothing to show for it but North Korea's AND Iran's continued build up in nuclear weapons and material. Europe really does want that when this time they stand up and scream once again, "Peace in Our Time", without a shot being fired, it will actually be true. Of course, we know that those those do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

There is only one difference between 1939 then and 1939 now: ISRAEL. This time around, the Jews won't go quietly or easily into that good night. This time we won't wait around again as the West sacrifices us. This time, we'll fight for our survival. This time, we'll win and save the rest of the world from themselves. Yet again.

- As I watch Bollinger speak, he has yet to have Mahdi answer a question. It is so pathetically obvious that nothing positive will come of this except Mahdi going back to his country telling his people how many supporters he actually has in the United States. Mahdi will not answer any question directly and will come away looking no worse than when he entered the auditorium and will have earned oodles of PR and propaganda points for having the "courage" to stand up to the evil Americans and Zionists that try to bully him into betraying his country's most fundamental beliefs. Ahmadenijad has all the free speech he wants back at home. He doesn't need it on American soil where he has directly sponsored the deaths of hundreds and thousands of American lives dating all the way back to the 1983 Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon.

Bollinger may not have to stand up for this meeting, but he will have to now answer to his hypocrisy of "free speech" in regards to all the other people and groups that he has not allowed or invited to speak on his campus. As he finishes his speech, his arrogance shines through in spades. He says that he feels the weight of the free world on his shoulder for his questions to be tough enough. Why?!? He's the one who asked Mahdi there to begin with. Again, what did he think HE was going to be able to accomplish???

Ah, the students clap for Ahmadenijad and his words! Why am I not surprised. This is already going as bad or worse as I expected. Good work, Bollinger. You really hit it out of the ball-park on this time.

Technorati Tags: Iran, Israel, Jew, Holocaust, Left, Wing, Columbia

Day Of Atonement

2007-09-21T15:35:00.000+02:00

The husband and I wish y'all an easy and meaningful fast. If we have ever done anything to hurt, harm, or insult any of you, please grant us forgiveness. We certainly forgive all of you.

Hitler To Vist Yad Vashem To Pay His Respects

2007-09-20T17:32:00.000+02:00

Sound ridiculous? Well, besides the fact that Hitler is dead, this is how nonsensical it sounds that today's most notorious Holocaust denier and Genocidal promoter, Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad, not only wants to lay a wreath to "pay his respects" at Ground Zero in New York City, but he has also been invited to speak at Columbia University.

While Walt and Mearsheimer are hawking their modern version of The Protocols of The Elders of Zion and complaining about a secret Israeli/Jewish attempt to silence their "dissent", Columbia University's Arab oil money laden Middle Eastern Studies Department and Dean of the School is welcoming Ahmadenijad with open arms. All in the name of "free speech" and the "public debate of ideas". I didn't know that openly calling for the destruction of another country and denying the death of 6 million + people fell under the guise of free speech and public debate. I don't know. Maybe, I've just been out of college for too long. Would Columbia University have allowed Adolph Hitler to come to speak at their school in 1933? Would they have allowed him to spout his propaganda and call for the eradication of the Jewish people to ensure the survival and supremacy of the Aryan race? Well, if the school was run by the post-modern relativist Arab money run "educators" that are ruling Columbia today, they would have been more than happy to allow Hitler to exercise his right to free speech and dispersion of "different ideas".

OK, let me put it another way. Would Columbia allow the grand wizard of the KKK come speak and discuss how the "inferior black race" has to be eradicated and driven our of America? Would Columbia allow some "historian" come speak and discuss how black slavery NEVER happened, and how he has found new "historical proof" that "proved" that blacks were brought voluntarily and those that died at sea died of sea related diseases and not because of abuse of some systematic method by their sea carriers? If you dare to answer yes to any of these questions, you're lying to yourself. You're also not living in reality. READ THE REST...

For some "unexplainable" reason, it is only the Jews that are free reign for "debate". When the Holocaust is denied, or Holocaust deniers brought to college campuses, it is protected under free speech. That's the way it should be. I'm not arguing with the right to spout off whatever disgusting or perverse piece of garbage you want. However, nobody fights it because there are many that believe that the topic deserves to be "debated" and other "ideas" and "opinions" should be open to discussion. Any sane person would say that historical fact is not open for debate or difference of "opinion". The Holocaust's historical fact is just as proven as 200 years of black slavery. Who has ever stood up and dared to debate black slavery? Even if some college white supremacist group dared to try and put some advertisement in the school newspaper "debating" whether black slavery happened, no paper would accept it. But, the Holocaust is fair game.

Columbia's audacity is just a symptom of a greater issue. The left and liberal elites of today, especially on college campuses, believe that Israel is a mistake that needs to be rectified by its destruction. Now, I'm sure that they don't believe Israel should be destroyed violently, but the do believe that Israel should not exist and should never have been created. They believe Zionism is evil, thereby admitting boldly that Jews, unlike any other group in the world, don't deserve to have their own country and are barred from self-determination. Of course, conversely, they believe that the Palestinians have an inherent right to their own land and believe that every second it is denied to them is a violation of every sacred human rights law that has ever existed. Go figure. Is this double standard antisemitism? Make up your own mind. They call it anti-Zionism. I don't see a difference. The second you single out one group at the expense of any other group committing the same "crime", you are treading in the discrimination pool, regardless of what you call it.

I could go on, but what does this small example of the liberal elite's attitude say about Columbia University's latest move? They see the Iranian President's speech as nothing more than promoting an opinion they all already espouse. His call for the destruction of Israel is NOT a call for genocide in the minds of these Ivy League educators. Oh no. It is merely a call to help the Palestinians gain their national manifest destiny. And, this is all that the liberals want. There is no terrorism. They are all freedom fighters, fighting the evil Nazi Israelis for their right to a country.

I'll leave you with one last piece of food for thought. This little tidbit will allow you to really understand why Ahmadenijad's speaking at Columbia is not at all strange. If you walk down the halls of the Middle Eastern Studies Department, where the Professors' offices are, you will see many maps of the Middle East on their doors. Many of these maps do NOT include Israel on the map. Instead, PALESTINE covers where Israel should be. Not, just Gaza and the West Bank, but the entire country.

Technorati Tags: Iran, New+York, Ground+Zero, Columbia, University, Hitler, Middle+East, Israel, Jew, Holocaust

It's Moving Day!!

2007-08-13T11:18:00.000+03:00

OK, it's been hell. The husband and I are in the processing of moving apartments, and on top of all that, I'm really sick. We'll be incommunicado for the next several days as we got our new house in order. Wish us luck!!!

MSM Ignores Deaths As Palestinians Continute To Be Killed.... BY THEIR FELLOW PALESTINIANS

2007-08-08T12:52:00.000+03:00

I got this link this morning and feel that it's important to point out. This is a fact that doesn't just happen in Gaza or the West Bank. It is something that occurs all over the Muslim/Arab world. The entire echelon of the Mainstream Media always and completely ignores and disregards Muslim on Muslim or Arab on Arab violence. More Arabs/Muslims are killed by their fellow Arabs/Muslims than any Western country COMBINED. In Israel, it's especially prevalent. When a Palestinian, terrorist or not, is killed by Israel, the numbers are plastered on front pages and news alerts all over the Western world. When Palestinians are killing other Palestinians, not a SOUND-BYTE or BY-LINE to be found. Well, while the West has ignored the statistics, Palestinians just keep on dying at the hands of their brothers.

(Hat Tip: Soccer Dad)
"Grim milestone" reached: 500 Palestinian Arabs killed by each other this year

A 2 1/2 year old girl was shot and killed near the Jabalya "refugee camp" according to Palestine Today (autotranslated):

Palestinian medical sources announced this evening in the killing of infant girls mi lamp defrocked and that at age two and a half years due to injuries sustained in the head from an unknown source at the Ho Ha front of her house near the Civil Administration east of the Jabaliya refugee camp.

According to our correspondent in the northern sector, the girl "mi Shalhah" hit back Wednesday bullet in the head from an unknown source at the Ho Ha front of her house located in the street near railway from the Civil Administration, was transferred to hospital Shahid Kamal Adwan, hailing her death was announced later the same day.

We have reached the "grim milestone" of 500 PalArabs that we have been able to document violently killed by each other this year.

Since we started the self-death count 13 months ago, we have documented 705 violent deaths of Palestinian Arabs due to infighting, honor killings, "work accidents," shootings during funerals and weddings, children picking up bombs being built by their parents, and similar self-inflicted incidents.

Don't expect any press releases about this milestone, though.

UPDATE: 3rd death announced this morning from IJ/Hamas clashes. I guess that last Monday's Hamas media blitz to promote Gaza's safety is taking a hit. 501.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Gaza, West+Bank, Muslim, Arab, West, Media, Hamas, Terror, Terrorist