...And How Do They Treat Israel?

Hat tip: The New York Times

I must admit that I'm actually not a "news junky." I don't spend hours on the computer checking out what's happening all over the world. Nor do I have the TV or radio news on all the time.

So, maybe I'm the last one to know about this new news site, GlobalPost.com. I checked it out by going to its "middle east page," which has a title which makes me very suspicious, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

I live in Shiloh, which according to this site "isn't Israel." Considering that we Jews have more historic rights to Shiloh, Shechem, Beit El, etc than Tel Aviv, it makes me wonder about their grasp of history in GlobalPost.com. Granted, there are also many, too many Israelis who refuse to allow facts to get in the way of their philosophy.

My parents raised me with the "motto:"

"If everyone was jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you jump, too."

And I've always considered the little boy who shouted: "The king is in the altogether!" to be a great literary hero to be emulated.

Maybe I ought to stick with my usual news sites. In the meantime:

Danny Kaye - The King's New Clothes

This is the story of the King's new clothes:

Now there was once a king who was absolutely insane about new clothes and one day, two swindlers came to sell him what they said was a magic suit of clothes. Now, they held up this particular garment and they said, "Your Majesty, this is a magic suit." Well, the truth of the matter is, there was no suit there at all. But the swindlers were very smart, and they said, "Your Majesty, to a wise man this is a beautiful raiment but to a fool it is absolutely invisible." Naturally, the King not wanting to appear a fool, said:

"Isn't it grand! Isn't it fine! Look at the cut, the style, the line!
The suit of clothes is altogether
But altogether it's altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes that I have ever seen.
These eyes of mine at once determined
The sleeves are velvet, the cape is ermine
The hose are blue and the doublet is a lovely shade of green.
Somebody send for the Queen."

Well they sent for the Queen and they quickly explained to her about themagic suit of clothes. And naturally, the Queen not wanting to appear a fool, said:

"Well, isn't it oh! Isn't it rich! Look at the charm of every stitch!
The suit of clothes is altogether
But altogether it's altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes that I have ever seen.
These eyes of mine at once determined
The sleeves are velvet, the cape is ermine
The hose are blue and the doublet is a lovely shade of green.
Summon the court to convene."

Well the court convened, and you never saw in your life as many people as were at that court. All the ambassadors, the dukes, the earls, the counts, it was just black with people, and they were all told about the magic suit of clothes. And after they were told they naturally didn't want to appear fools and they said:

"Isn't it ohhh! Isn't it ahhh! Isn't it absolutely wheee! (whistle sound)
The suit of clothes is altogether
But altogether it's altogether
The most remarkable suit of clothes a tailor ever made.
Now quickly, put it altogether
With gloves of leather and hat and feather
It's altogether the thing to wear in Saturday's parade.
Leading the royal brigade."

Now Saturday came and the streets were just lined with thousands, and thousands, and thousands of people, and they all were cheering as the artillery came by, the infantry marched by, the cavalry galloped by. And everybody was cheering like mad, except one little boy. You see, he hadn't heard about the magic suit and didn't know what he was supposed to see. Well, as the King came by the little boy looked and, horrified, said:

"Look at the King! Look at the the King! Look at the King, the King, the King!
The King is in the altogether
But altogether the altogether
He's altogether as naked as the day that he was born.
The King is in the altogether
But altogether the altogether
It's altogether the very least the King has ever worn."

Summon the court physician! Call an intermission! His majesty is wide open to ridicule and scorn.

The King is in the altogether
But all together the altogether
He's altogether as naked as the day that he was born.
And it's altogether too chilly a morn!