On Arafat...
I've gotten a few emails about my earlier statement.
Briefly, I need to clarify. And explain.
Death is sad. When someone dies, it is not good to feel immediately and fully happy. No matter how much you hated that person. No matter how justified your hatred.
If your only reaction was glee, you need to check the depth of your soul.
I'm a person. I'm a Jew. I'm a progressive.
I think the Palestinian movement should stop blowing peoople up. I think Arafat made some serious mistakes. I think he was a terrorist. I think he was a poor politician.
Does that mean I'm a bad Jew because when I heard that a woman was having to wrestle politicians for the body of her feeble husband, I felt bad for her?
Am I a bad Jew to feel a little nervous knowing that at least we knew where Arafat was, who he was... and we don't know what will happen now?
Am I a bad Jew to feel the same sadness at the loss of a human life that I would feel walking by a dead squirrel?
Am I a bad Jew that I feel sorrow knowing that the young people fighting for a nation, whatever we may feel about that nation, now have no leader, and one more martyr...
I'm not saying you have to feel that way... but if you question my ability to feel sorrow when someone (ANYONE) dies...
Shame On You.
Briefly, I need to clarify. And explain.
Death is sad. When someone dies, it is not good to feel immediately and fully happy. No matter how much you hated that person. No matter how justified your hatred.
If your only reaction was glee, you need to check the depth of your soul.
I'm a person. I'm a Jew. I'm a progressive.
I think the Palestinian movement should stop blowing peoople up. I think Arafat made some serious mistakes. I think he was a terrorist. I think he was a poor politician.
Does that mean I'm a bad Jew because when I heard that a woman was having to wrestle politicians for the body of her feeble husband, I felt bad for her?
Am I a bad Jew to feel a little nervous knowing that at least we knew where Arafat was, who he was... and we don't know what will happen now?
Am I a bad Jew to feel the same sadness at the loss of a human life that I would feel walking by a dead squirrel?
Am I a bad Jew that I feel sorrow knowing that the young people fighting for a nation, whatever we may feel about that nation, now have no leader, and one more martyr...
I'm not saying you have to feel that way... but if you question my ability to feel sorrow when someone (ANYONE) dies...
Shame On You.
2 Comments:
If you're a bad Jew, scoot over and make room in that boat for me! We'll paddle along together, using our humanity and our sense of compassion as oars. You bring the picnic basket, I'll bring the sunscreen! 45spf, natch! ~Polli
Being Jewish is so complicated. And interesting. And cool. And confusing. And...
I am so fed up with the hatred, the violence, the righteousness on both sides. Sick of it. Desperate for peace, desperate for reconciliation, desperate for dialogue.
Y'esh Gevul - enough already. Peace Now (do they still exist?) I'm not in a particularly Jewish phase right now -- I'm really leaning Buddhist. Check out my Blog: thirdstreet.blogspot.com and Wonderwheel.blogspot.com
Hey check out my blog - Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn - thirdstreet.blogspot.com
You're a good Jew.
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