Doubting Thomas

Thomas Friedman’s article in the NY Times: (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/opinion/12friedman.html?scp=1&sq=reality%20check%20friedman&st=cse)

Oh Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, I am warmed by your strong patriotic feelings towards the economic troubles in the US. Even more so how you are sure that once the US stops it $3 billion dollar aid package to Israel, US towns will be a boomin’ all over the US of A. If only Prime Minister Netanyahu would have agreed to another three-month building moratorium, everything would have been all right.

I also appreciate your care and concern regarding Israel’s substance abuse problem, and I agree with you. We are also grateful for you in pointing out that Israel is the reason so many US cities are having budget problems. Yes the 3 billion Israel receives and spends in the US is the core of the problem. I was wondering if you might apply your patriotic feelings to other countries around the world, maybe to the UN also…but I digress.

Do you remember the Yom Kippur war of 1973? You know when Israel came close to being wiped out? Israel’s friend and ally, the US came to it’s aid and sent sorely needed ammo and equipment over and Thank Gd, this joint venture and friendship enabled a different outcome than that which the Arab and Soviet world had hoped for. Did I say Soviet? Maybe you forget, that it was in US interest that Israel existed as a US ally in the region, might I add the only true and stable US ally and friend in the region, something that was paid for in blood, lots of blood.

So when the Soviet Union started powering down in the Mid East, Uncle Sam came in and said to Israel, give ‘em the Sinai, come on we’re friends, don’t worry, I’ll watch your back, I promise. Israel said, but the lives lost defending our country, the oil, the natural resources, the military buffer zone, how could we, they have been attacking us since we declared ourselves a state? Uncle Sam said, tell ya what, I’m gonna compensate you all, it’s on me, you compromise on your defense and resources, pull your people out and we’ll back you up with Military aid and our support, don’t worry, Trust us…and that is just part of the picture.

Never mind the technology that Israel and the US share, the numerous business ventures that benefit both countries and numerous towns and cities in the US, and so much more.

Never mind that Israel is the only true friend and ally the US has in the Middle East, and the only country around there that shares its value and rights systems, and so much more.

Now Israel has been pretty good at listening to it’s friend’s advice and requests, and I would say that refraining from defending itself to its ability against Iraq in the first Iraqi War was proof of that, and so much more. Making offers as you mentioned to the “Palestinians” and having them spit back, continuing in so-called “Peace Talks” while Arab schools teach destruction of Israel…sorry, I digress again.

But as you say “we’re not their grandfather’s America anymore”. You say Israel should jump at anything the US should request, why should you care, you don’t live in Israel, nor does the safety of Jews in Israel concern you, why should it. You believe that the US has bought the right to make the decisions in Israel because of the “bribe” that the US gave to Israel starting some years back…so, you believe the US has the right to decide for others based on money and aid that it distributes…interesting, I guess you mean that the US is bribing the world then, even more interesting… and I thought you were a “liberal”, you closet conservative, you.

It seems to me you want Israel to behave as a whore and do what the US wants because of the “Aid” Israel receives…that’s not friendship.

Dear Thomas, you fail to look at the big picture, you fail to see how the Palestinian Authority spits in the face of the world and dupes you and others like you because of your arrogance and Western elitism and lack of understanding the Arab and Muslim world. While extreme Islam is spreading it spheres of influence, and demonstrations and terror against the West increase daily, you choose to endanger the one true ally and friend that the US has and has always had.

But, guess what, I agree with you…almost. I think it is time that the US backs away from the Israel-Arab problem a bit, it is up to them, both the Israelis and the Arabs living there to figure it out and come to a solution on their own, without outside influence and pressure, and the threat of annihilation.

It is time that journalists such as yourself and peers stop presenting one-sided views and show the whole scene and background so that others might develop informed opinions and not the manipulated ones that you and others wish to show, or maybe you need wikileaks to assist.

I have to disagree with you when you state that you understand the problem, you don’t, and you probably never will because you can’t see beyond your tainted views, your mind is closed, despite how many alternative lifestyles and causes you may support.

Your patriotism and caring for the downtrodden of the US is a breath of fresh air, and I am sure that when you send your children into the US Armed forces to fight for the US, to put themselves in danger, just like the majority of Israeli parents do, and have been doing, they will be proud of you.

I think and agree with you that it is time that the US stops sending so much “Aid” around the world and redirects much of it back to the US and address the problems that you mention and more! One difference, I feel that you are only targeting Israel, which you are, by the way. Of course many of these countries that might not receive any more “financial assistance” will turn on the US quicker than a detonator on a suicide bomber. You can be sure Israel won’t, you know why?

Because, Israel is a true friend.

All Shapes and Forms

For a long time it has been understood that Israel’s wars are not fought just on our borders. Indeed our “fronts” are many and diverse, as our combatants. A short while back some of those who consider themselves to be residents in the world of the Arts decided to wage war against their own country of Israel, picking the new Cultural Center in Ariel as their first target.

Alas this virus of idiocy spread, as most unfounded deceptive concepts do, back to the bastion of wrong, the good ole so called (fake) liberal anti Israel camps in the US of A (“A” does not always stand for America).

So to add another infectious ingredient to the racist Boycott of Israel and its historic heartland, the concept and truth of Art was defiled.

In Israel, these artists are being shunned more and more, there names being added to the lists of “who not to see”, only for them to find comforts in the treacherous hideaways in parts of Tel Aviv. Never the less their devious voices were heard in the annals of the International Media outside.

Not all accepted this fight, this act of terror lying down, indeed some of the greatness that we see in Israel is that we do fight back against our enemies, sometimes later than sooner. But in this case, the soldiers who answered the challenge, who rose to meet the beast, did not start in Israel, it started from New York.

Back during the Operation Cast Lead, when Israel fought for the simple right of having it’s citizens in the south live quietly without the reality of Rockets and Mortars, some true humans met and decided to fight back against the impostors of the “intellectual elitists”. A new commando unit was formed to fight for Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, it’s name…Artists 4 Israel.

Where this group organized and previously brought Artists in to paint the Bomb Shelters in Sderot, to work with Children in Tel Aviv and other areas throughout Israel, they did not forget those who left their homes in Gush Katif, and they did not forget that there are Jews living in Judea and Samaria.

For those of us living in Judea and Samaria, seeing this special group of courageous souls adding color to Route 60, (our main artery and place of hundreds of attacks), beautifying Beit El and bringing Joy, Color, and Art to Ariel (the main target of the “artistic Left”) and its residents, was more than just a gesture of good will, it was a gesture of truth and strength, and unity.

The artists themselves came from the US, Spain and Israel, a mixture of cultures and religions in this unique and wonderful campaign of “Murality”.

My words cannot express my pride and gratitude, and I am honored to work together with them. One of the “treats” of traveling around and meeting different people is that of when I meet individuals or groups, that do not just talk the talk, but truly walk the walk. I admit I have a soft spot for people of action, who will do when others don’t and who will tread where others fear.

Of course one mustn’t forget the courageous Hummus wars being fought on Americas most esteemed campuses. So few realize the danger that a well made Hummus can present, especially when used properly.

Of course this sounds funny, but it is a serious matter. When the anti Israel students at Princeton went up against Sabra Hummus. Their intent and dreams were far worse than just banning this (Israeli made) Middle Eastern cuisine from the stomachs of Lovers of Zion and the Vegan community. Their cause is far more heinous than that, their wishes are the destruction of Israel as we know it, sorry, it is that simple.

Yet once again the combatants for Israel took other shapes and forms to fight, this time pro-truth students decided to stand up to bad comedy and racism and defeated a call to ban Sabra Hummus.

These acts while not sounding as serious as a threat of war, or a conventional terror attack, are serving as a barometer as to what we will be facing in the near future. Not just us in Israel, but Jews throughout the US.

You see, in this virtual world Israel is being set up as the evil empire, no matter who you are or what you believe, Deceit and Deception are Prime Minister and President while Racism and Bigotry are Secretary of State and Defense.

These signs of the absurd must not be ignored, but dealt with…immediately and efficiently, for they will multiply.

Combatants such as I have mentioned are to be commended as they are now on the frontlines also and need to be reinforced.

While I was operational during the Arab uprising of 2000, one of the characteristics that stood out in fighting against terror most was that that the Arabs tended to target the unarmed and children the most, like today they seek out the weak and uninformed, their main targets today…your children on campus, and the Conservative and Reform Jewish communities, with a valuable prize being the Israeli immigrant children.

Other nations are being bullied into a corner due to the high immigration rate of Muslims from around the world. As many in the Muslim communities in these nations have taken the yoke of menial labor, the governments have come to the understanding and realization that they must appease this economic and labor force by coming out against Israel and support a new virtual Arab Muslim State, lest they suffer an internal uprising themselves.

I have been told many a time that much of what I write sounds the same…Strong Jews, Strong Israel, fight back, do something…that’s right, I believe in these things. I also believe in everybody’s right to an opinion an informed opinion, and to not to be brainwashed by an enemy who seeks to destroy and not to build.

As the situation in Israel continues to draw people away from the true problems that affect us as humanity, you can be sure that Hummus and Art wont be the last tools that will be used against Israel.

Techina and Video games are soon to follow.