Inauguration (over) spending
Peter Overby of NPR reported yesterday that the Obama inaugural committee is some $50M short. I was half-heartedly listening to the radio on my way to work but this report got my attention. I know that in the grand scheme of the economic crisis and budget deficit $50M is a drop in the bucket. But if they’re $50M short what is the total ticket for the entire inauguration? It’s a rhetorical question – I don’t really want to know.
I am an ardent Obama supporter. However, this seems the perfect opportunity for him to ‘put his money where his mouth is.’ We need to celebrate his inauguration, no doubt. It’s a historic, healing episode in American history. For some (me included) it’s also a celebration of the end of an autocratic, divisive regime. But there’s so much that we could do with $50M, starting with housing, feeding and clothing those in need. Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but waste is waste when there are those who need. Barack, take a stand for change and keep the partying reasonable – donate the rest to charity.
In the words of Golda Meir…
“We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us.”
Very cool app and way to look at situation in Gaza
Check out the Debategraph on what is motivating the Israeli attack on Gaza. This is an excellent way of exploring the issue and play out scenarios.
Israel, Gaza and me
I’m addicted to Twitter. Those who use the service know (and I’m sure share) my malady. I first identified it as an addiction during the attacks on Mumbai. It manifested again recently as Israel attacked Hamas. Note, I said Israel attacked Hamas – not attacked Gaza.
Yesterday evening (Saturday the 28th), I found myself (OK, put myself) embroiled in debates (arguements) with what I politely call Israel haters. It amazes me how much anecdotal disinformation people spout as historical fact. I’m the first to admit, history is never clear cut or one sided. In the best Jewish tradition, even history needs interpretation. However, the consistent interpretation that Israel is a war-mongering aggressor is, for me, getting old!
One Israeli newspaper ran the headline, “Europe refrains from one-sided condemnation of Israel.” Yay! And how sad. Why is it that Israel, a sovereign nation, cannot defend itself from outside aggression? I simply don’t understand why Israel does not rate the same rights as other nations in the world. Israel is a blip on the radar in a sea of Arab nations, most of whom want its immediate obliteration. I defy any American or European to convince me they can remotely relate to this level of personal threat.
I would never condone everything Israel does in the guise of self protection. To the contrary, as a member of Rabbis for Human Rights I’ve been very public about my displeasure with many of Israel’s mistakes. This isn’t about that though – at least for me. It’s about applying the same rules for Israel that we use for every other county in the world.
Here’s a great article on Jewcy by Shmuel Rosner, The Two-Sided Argument Over Gaza
Mumbai
Like many folks, I was glued to CNN and my computer during last week’s horror in Mumbai. Also like others, I was using technology tools that enabled me to get information faster than the television news. It was both fascinating and daunting to realize that I was a conduit for information. As I read posts on Twitter from people I follow, I was relaying this information to people in my network, who were forwarding it to theirs. I was watching live feeds on Spy and would see my posts show up from people I didn’t know. Amazing… and horrifying.
I’ve struggled daily to come up with something to say about what happened in Mumbai. To be sure, it was a horrific terror attack. But add to this the fact that this attack intentionally targeted Jews leaves me, well, speechless.
We know now that not only did the terrorists intentionally target the Jewish Community Center (Naiman House/Chabad House), but the Jewish victims were intentionally and savagely tortured. The rabbi’s wife was found covered by a tallit (ritual prayer shawl) indicating she died early and her husband or someone else covered her body. This is nearly incomprehensible.
I came across this post on Jewcy from Jeffrey Goldberg. He says what I’m feeling better than I seem to be able.
I’m not the greatest fan of Chabad in the world, in particular its Christological, maybe-the-Rebbe’s-
not-dead streak, and its general fundamentalist, women-marginalizing outlook, but this is a group that does, in fact, try to spread a kind of happiness wherever it plants itself. And it plants itself everywhere. It puts other Jewish groups to shame, in fact, by its ebullient outreach. My friend Esther Abramowitz wrote to note that the “Chabad rabbi and his wife have welcomed and celebrated with thousands upon thousands of traveling Israelis with joy and no judgment.” That’s the formula, and it’s a formula that works.
What happened in Mumbai was a horror. We’re now learning that the people in the Chabad house were subjected to special tortures, but even if they were murdered quickly, they were still murdered, and they were murdered for the crime of being Jewish. It’s astonishing to think that Pakistani-supported terrorists, obsessed with the alleged crimes of Hindu India, would go out of their way to murder a group of people who couldn’t find Kashmir on a map. But the Jews are a cosmological enemy. I think we’ve learned that by now.
The Emanuel Brothers
A discussion about healthcare with Ezekiel, Ari, and Rahm Emanuel.
Charlie Rose interviewed the Emanuel brothers this last June. This video clip is getting renewed interest since Obama named Rahm Emanuel his chief of staff. It’s a fascinating look at three brothers and how their family shaped who they’ve become as adults.
Brilliance is fostered by passion to do the right thing and dedication to making the world a better place. Apparently, Benjamin and Marsha (their parents) know that! If neocons really want to know what family values are, here’s lesson 101!
Christian? You are probably in trouble….
by BFSkinner (originally posted on Daily Kos, wish I’d wrote it!)
Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:40:40 PM PST
Ok.
I am Jewish and gay.
And I am sick and tired of seeing homophobic asses using my bible to base their attacks on my life.
Many of them do not understand what they call the “Old Testament” yet they continue to use it to justify their hate.
When people come on DK and attempt to do so I often engage in various discussions of both Torah and Talmud law and they move on… but I thought what if I look just at the Christian bible?
This is NOT an attack on Christians.
This is, however an attack on Christians that use my Bible to base their hate of me to produce events such as
I admit I am not a Christian.
What the heck, though… they are not Jewish yet they use my Bible. So I say “No harm, no foul”
So…
Let’s talk about Jesus and some of his views.
Slavery:
I looked and could not find a single thing uttered against slavery by Jesus in the entire book. Slavery was around at the time, so I’d think it would be odd if Jesus was unaware of slavery as he lived in a world and a time where and when slavery was common.
So.. what did I find on slavery?
“Those who are slaves must consider their masters worthy of all respect, so that no one will speak evil of the name of God and of our teaching. Slaves belonging to Christian masters must not despise them, for they are their brothers.” (1 Timothy 6:1-2).
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:22-4:1)
So slavery is OK…just don’t ummm..treat the slaves too bad?
And I like the part starting with “work at it with all….” so.. what it is saying is Mr or Ms. Slave, work as hard as you can as a slave, like a duty of some kind?
Ok….some other good ones.
Don’t call someone a fool. If you do, wear a fire-proof suit….
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall be angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22).
But it is just us the gays going to hell, right? I mean…for having the sex, right? Nope. ‘fraid not. Huh?
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7)
So all you not married heteros having sex…shame shame shame. Hell-fire awaits.
Have YOU ever been drunk or jealous? Uh oh. Doomed as Doomed can be.
Ruh roh.
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).
Well, at least, thank G_D, Christians are not like ‘those other religions’ that tell people everyone else is going to Hell…er…wait…
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).
And last and not least.
If you are a woman and decide that you will not have children….or if you are a woman and for whatever reason you cannot have children, tough luck.
“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:15).
So….I guess I feel so much better. I mean, since some Christians use my book to tell me I am going to a place called Hell, I can use their book and tell most of them that THEY are going to hell.
Studs Terkel
Aaron Studs Terkel’s definition of being an agnostic, “a cowardly atheist”; it doesn’t get more honest than that! http://blog.speakingoffaith.org/post/57351628/the-shot-of-whiskey-i-never-drank-trent-gilliss
Ma Hamatzav? (Was' Up?) 