Thursday's my b-day, as I already said. Friday, 28th of Iyar, is yom yerushalayim, a day widely celebrated here in Israel. Interestingly enough, this year, theyre celebrating it a day early, because they don't want to be michalel shabbos. Another thing I love about Israel. (I'm sure there are more things, but I can't think of any right now.)
Sooooo...all of Israel is celebrating my b-day! Yay me!
I got to thinking about politics. Israeli politics, american politics, crown heights politics, any and all of the above. My teacher mentioned it in class today. I very very strongly don't like it. (I try not to use the word 'hate', I think there's too much hate in the world.) All of it. When I hear the word, I shudder. My mind goes blank, my eyes get all glassy, and my ears just close up.
I'll admit something: it makes no sense to me. Whatsoever. Maybe if I understood it more, I wouldn't be so averse to it. But probably not. I think I'll hate it forever.
I stay away from it, because its so confusing. Just so you know, this will be my first and last (iy''h) post on politics.
This is how I see it: a whole bunch of people, with millions of opinions, arguing that their opinion is right. You know what I think? Many of them don't know what they're even talking about. They just like sounding smart.
Now imagine this: a classroom full of girls, around 40, all the age of 18-19, discussing politics. All religious, chabad, coming from similar backgrounds. Now, most of them (I won't say all) didn't know what they were talking about.
We were discussing Israeli politics. My Rabbi teacher was brave enough to say that he loved arabs. (Not the ones that kill Jews, of course. But everyone else.) I seriously thought my class would stone him. I mean, Ch''v he, a Jew, could say something like that??? (I'm being sarcastic, in case you didn't know.)
I refuse to say my opinion on it, because I don't really care to. It is not a topic that I think about, because it doesn't affect me. And in my opinion, you should only state your opinion if you have an informed opinion, not just your own opinion, and you actually have something intelligint to say. Otherwise, keep quiet. (That is just my opinion, so feel free to do whatever you want.) And that's what I did. I kept quiet, and I laughed, at how absurd, and stupid (mind the language) some of these people sounded.
I didn't vote in the presidential elections. I could have, I was already 18. Maybe I should have, but I never registered. I just didn't care. I wouldn't have known who to vote for. If you asked the CHCC (crown heights community council) all Jews should vote for McKaine. My parents voted for Obama. Incidentally, he won. Does that make them heritics? Are they kofer beTorah because they voted for Obama?
According to my friends, Obama is 'bad'. He's evil, he's bad for Israel, he hates Jews, he loves arabs, you get my drift. I just nod my head and keep quiet. I don't really care. He's president now. I don't know what he's going to do. No one can know, before he actually does it. So why not just keep quiet, and give him a chance? Is that so hard? Apparently, it is.
He doesn't know me, I don't know him, we are not friends, and if I sent him a letter, he's probably just scoff at it and throw it out. If it even got past those big thugs called secret service agents. So I don't bother talking about him.
Now, if you think you know anything about politics, more than what you hear in school or yeshiva, and you want to give me a crash course in it, than go ahead.
And if you have any opinion whatsoever, even an uninformed one, you may state your opinion down below. But just know, I might lose my respect for you.
I still hate the word politics. I think it should be banned from the english dictionary.
Happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteregarding Obama- I don't think his evil, but I think he has been much tougher on Israel than McCain would have been:
1. He is pushing Netanyahu to accept the "two state solution".
2. He is pushing Netanyahu to talk with syria about giving back the Golan Heights.
3. He is pushing Netanyahu to sign the treaty preventing Israel for getting more nuclear weapons.
McCain would have done none of the above and I know the Rebbe spoke against numbers 1 & 2.
Sorry for the politics, I know its tasteless.
You see it as everyone trying to prove they are right, and I see it as trying to reach an actionable consensus. You see Politics is not always just about arguing, for the most part it is about trying to get things done that you think will be beneficial to the community. Other people may argue about what is beneficial, but the main goal is that.
ReplyDeleteI hear what you are saying though about laughing at people with opinions that are uneducated and unfounded.
If you want a crash course in politics, pick up a book, Ugh.
IMHO, the president of the UNited States of America does not have to be good for Israel. The countries are separate and shouldn't be mixed together.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Obama scares me for other reasons. He is very charismatic and has all the Americans who do not have the brains to think for themselves eating out of the palm of his hand. This really scares me. He can use his talent for good purposes or for the opposite extreme. We shall have to wait and see, but the way he has the public screaming out lines from "Bob the Builder" feels like deja vu of Hitler.
C- I'm almost a one issue guy, I judge politicians on one issue: are they working to make the Jewish people safer?
ReplyDeleteI know I'm American, I should want whats best for America, but I'm a Jew first.
I understand. You personally, me personally, and most Jews personally want a president who is good for Jews as a whole, even outside of the US of A.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one cannot judge the success of an AMERICAN president based on what he does for Israel. Again, IMHO, I believe that his success as an American president can only be measured on his impact on America.
Sure, of course, but when I vote, I'll vote for the guy that's good for the yiden.
ReplyDeletePolitics are what make life fun!
ReplyDeleteFor all those who think obama is scary or going to destroy the jews or bring moshiach somehow with a proof from zohar that he is the one, well youre all crazy (hate me now?). Do I like Obama, No, only because I dont agree with his socialist agenda, and his stance on Israel. I can argue politics. cant explain so well.
ReplyDeleteplitics are boring
ReplyDeleteThat's at intelligent response to everyone.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat would explain a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou set yourself up for that one.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't have to deliver.
ReplyDeletetrue.
ReplyDelete