deleted

I just deleted a comment. It wasn't some sort of censorship on my part. The comment was spam or worse. Luckily the comments make it to one of my email addresses. Otherwise I wouldn't have known. It had happened once before; so I knew what to do, but it's still upsetting. And it was on the obituary I had written for my rabbi, Rabbi Wolf.

#122 American Imperialism

Musings #122
May 29, 2005
20th of Iyyar

American Imperialism

The United States is an aggressively imperialist country. This is defined as extending its political and economic influence around the globe. http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/toc.html
When I was growing up in America, we were taught that Imperialism is bad, evil. The native populations are discriminated against in favor of the imperialist ruler.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism Imperialism is a policy of extending the control or authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and/or maintenance of empires, either through direct territorial or through indirect methods of exerting control on the politics and/or economy of other countries. The term is used by some to describe the policy of a country in maintaining colonies and dominance over distant lands, regardless of whether the country calls itself an empire.

Think about what's happening in the world, especially here in the Middle East. The United States didn't think twice about conquering Iraq and dictating what type of government it should have. Thousands of people were murdered in the bombing, no apologies by the Americans. And the number of American dead in the Iraq War, as of 31-5-05, is 1,732 http://cryptome.org/mil-dead-iqw.htm . I'm no pacifist, but I can't figure out the point of the war, except as imperialist aggression by the Americans. For me personally it seems so ironic and absurd to sound like Communist propaganda from the 1950's. I spent my adolescence demonstrating against the USSR's discrimination against Soviet Jewry.

One of the great myths is American economic support of Israel. If you read the fine print you'll discover that all Israel gets is coupons to spend in American stores. This is the imperialist-capitalist way of subsidizing American businesses. Instead of the Israeli military buying from Israeli producers, they use the coupons for American products. This causes the Israeli businesses to go bankrupt, close down and fire workers, which increases unemployment, weakens the economy and makes Israel even more dependent on American aid.

And now we have these pathetic scenes of the Israeli Prime Minister going to the American President asking permission to develop and defend our country. Unfortunately, our government is not acting like an independent state. If the politicians don't have the confidence and strength to govern us as a strong, independent nation, let them resign.

This week I heard Rabbi Yigal Kamenetzky of Gush Katif speak. He told us that at the time of the Exodus from Egypt, the people weren't ready, mature enough to be in Eretz Yisrael. That's why they immediately sinned and had to wait forty years. Afterwards I went up to him to ask if our getting the state so soon after the Holocaust is a main cause for today's problems. He said yes.

I think that those who established the state were too affected by the murder of the Six Million by the Nazis to be good national rulers of an independent country. Even today, they haven't gotten over the mindset of the Judenrat who thought that working with the Nazis was the best way of surviving. We've needed more than forty years to recover and reach maturity. It's interesting to realize that the youth who are at the forefront of today's struggle were born forty years after the Holocaust ended.

All isn't lost. We can overturn the unjust laws. We can cancel Disengagement.

Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
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Me-ander's mentioned in another carnival, this time about education all over the world.

Take a gander! http://educationwonk.blogspot.com/2005/06/carnival-of-education-week-17.html

Have you seen this?

Does anybody ever pay attention to what the government is planning? This is an important link that has details of what the Israeli government is promising the terrorists.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2005/Israeli+assistance+and+humanitarian+measures+towards+the+Palestinians+-+May+2005.htm

This morning's news digest and commentary

Things aren't going smoothly for the government. One reason is the simple supply and demand, basic economic principles. If G-d forbid Jews are really forced to be homeless refugees, the rents will jump sky high, totally messing up the real estate here. This would make it difficult for all the middle and lower middle class. The government is taking for granted that most people will want to stay in the south, but personally, I doubt it. But then, again, I keep hoping that, like Oslo which was supposed to turn my family into refugees, this won't come to fruition.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117506028988

Besides the live refugees, the government is trying to figure out what to do with the dead ones. Now they're threatening the families.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117506028899

The money people are arguing about how much the refugee families will receive in financial compensation. There's a serious discrepancy. I think that the high figures may include "cost to government," while the low is the "net," actual money to the family. The government, of course, is trying to make them look like conniving parasites, rather than victims of a perverse and dangerous policy.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83042

And of course there's the increase in terror expected/predicted after the withdrawal. I hope the country realizes that the "terrorist in a suit" expects to return to Rechavia, Talbiya, Ramat Aviv and lots of the kibbutzim, among other places.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83043

If there's any more news about the Malcha Mall ban on orange, please update me. Thanks

ps I'm adding this inspiring story from Israpundit
http://www.israpundit.com/archives/2005/06/when_the_editor.php

I hope this isn't true!

If this report is true, I'm going to have to boycot the Malcha Mall. Now, it's not like I love malls, but I have some favorite stores there. But Gush Katif is more important than my Hagara and Ishah Isha clothes. And I do have some good places to buy clothes for the grandchildren, though I had wanted to get somethings for Hallelie. But if orange is forbidden, I won't shop there at all.


Jerusalem Mall Bars Orange Ribbon Patrons 22:55 May 31, '05 / 22 Iyar 5765
(IsraelNN.com) Jerusalem’s Malcha Mall tonight implemented a new policy, instructing security personnel to prevent anyone from entering if displaying an orange ribbon or any other sign of solidarity with Gush Katif and northern Shomron residents.Mall operators are following the lead of Israel Police, which has been prohibiting entry into areas such as the Western Wall with orange ribbons and tee-shirts. The same holds true in Knesset where visitors have been instructed to remove orange garments in order to be permitted entry into the parliament building.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83035

news digest plus

What can one say when someone doesn't learn from mistakes, from life? Maybe he's stupid? Or maybe he doesn't want to learn? Or maybe he has other priorities and the facts just aren't important. It makes one wonder about "our" government.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82841

Well, this is a little better, but what's the point of three months? We have a dangerous enemy, and they're not going to change. Just read last week's Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week. If we don't follow the Commandments we will be punished. Cause and Effect. Very simple.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82854

And one of Israel's legends is opposing his old buddy Arik and the Disengagement Plan.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82868

I just can't put this link up without a warning. You may feel sick at the totalitarian insensitivity. There just aren't words...
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82876

And what are we supposed to make of this?
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117333099940

ps Does anyone read these digests?

re: Dovrat Report and Sharon's remarks

Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser
Following are Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's remarks at the start of theCabinet meeting today (Sunday), 29.5.05, regarding the implementation of theDovrat Commission report and the attacks on Education, Culture and SportsMinister Limor Livnat
This morning Education, Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat will briefthe Cabinet on the implementation of the Dovrat Commission report(http://tinyurl.com/dqt8c).

I would like to point out that the education reforms specified in therecommendations of the Dovrat Commission report are very important andvital. The national task force that I appointed along with Minister Livnatsat for over a year and submitted very serious proposals. This is notanybody's private initiative. It is the decision of the Government and allthose who sit here around the table - except one - voted in favor of it.The Government has also budgeted billions of shekels for education in orderto implement the reforms.Minister Livnat is leading the implementation of the Dovrat report on behalfof the entire Government and she needs to receive its support. MinisterLivnat has led the education system to many achievements during her term ofoffice and the unbridled personal attacks on her are an attack on theGovernment and its decisions. I expect everyone to support the decisionthat we made.To my regret, the teachers' organizations are not cooperating inimplementing the report even though several very serious compromiseproposals have been made that would allow the implementation of the reformsto begin this coming [academic] year and which would either reduce orobviate the need to dismiss teachers.I want to make it clear that the Government's decision on the educationreforms will be implemented. This reform will happen. I call on theteachers' organizations to accept the serious proposals that have been madeto them and to open discussions on the immediate implementation of theDovrat report.The reforms contain many issues the implementation of which must bediscussed and it is possible to do so by agreement and through respectfuldialogue. I am always in favor of dialogue but in the absence ofcooperation, the Government will implement the Dovrat report along with thelocal authorities, according to the plan that has already been approved.It is the Government which is responsible towards the students and theparents to enact the necessary changes in the education system and this wewill do.Limor, I stand together with you in the important measures that you areleading."

reply to a comment

So many people are against Disengagement, but they don't do anything. People my age and older from the states probably remember the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign. "In your heart you know he's right."

This is a lot more serious. Not only are people's lives at stake, but the future of the State of Israel. Disengagement isn't the end of the destruction, it's the coninuation that began when Begin destroyed Yamit and the other communities and gave the Sinai to Egypt on a silver platter. We must stop it. It will be more painful later on.

Sometimes it's not pleasant to be at a demonstration. Also, when you see the pictures and film clips, the demonstrators don't look nice. Shouting doesn't photograph well. and you know that the editors pick the least flattering pictures. Here are some ideas, for whatever they're worth.

I admit it's a tough call,
but we all must do something, even if it's writing to the paper, calling talk
shows. And even sending http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2005/05/comment-on-121-from-veteran.html#comments to various papers and news agencies
asking why their reporters didn't do anything comprehensive.

Ironic isn't quite the right word

http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82774

The latest protests are to stop the bulldozers, the ones preparing land for the "temporary community" or "new town," the one that's supposed to house the Gush Katif refugees. These aren't anti-Disengagemnet protestors. These are pro-sand dume demonstrators. They don't want the religious, right-wing Jews to defile their holy ground.

They've united with residents of Nitzan who are furious that their Garden of Eden should be a refugee camp. They don't want neighbors, expansion, espcially people who don't live their sort of life.

The government is finding it more and more difficult to solve all the niggling details and problems. It was so easy to declare a new daring policy. And they enjoyed all the attention and praise from the world's movers, shakers and prize givers. And now, before they've succeded in this first grand gesture, their ruler, Bush II, has already announced the next stage of the famous salami tactics.

I don't understand why the great experts are so surprised. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82767 I spoke to Steinitz when he visited Moshe Keinan's protest succah a year and a half ago, and I told him that he was "inconsistent." I was polite and didn't call him a hypocrite or naive.

This doesn't surprise us. We predicted it all. Some of us have been warning the country and
world Jewry since Begin greeted Sadat.

When someone I knew told me we should withdraw from the Sinai, because it was too far away for her husband when doing reserve duty, I asked if she wanted the war closer. She didn't understand, and then came terrorism in every city and road. I'd prefer the war far away, but with my accent, who listens?

And how did I get on this tangent?

Yes, the government can't push Jews around like pieces of lego. There was another good arutz 7 article with an interview with one of the leftists. He was asked if he would have Arabs taken out of their homes, and he said:

Asked if he would also agree to evacuate an Arab village in the same way he agrees to the destruction of Jewish towns, Ayalon said, "There's a difference. You are public servants, and we sent you. The mission of some of you has ended." MK Finkelstein responded, "They're not yo-yos! What, the servant-boy did his job and now he can go home?"
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=82642

We have a lot of work to do, if these are the people in power.

Shabbat Shalom

A Plea

This is a plea from a friend looking for a kidney. She is undergoing dialysis. If anyone knows of someone to help, please contact me at
shilohmuse at yahoo dot com

My blood type is A+. The donor has to have a blood type compatible with me, undergo blood and urine tests, be under 60 and be healthy. If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate them.

I'm desperate to get off dialysis