Obama and Israel

Okay. I can't help it, I have to say something. It will, however, be brief, as I know a firestorm is on its way in the comments section (right? right).

Obama is not out to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. He's not secretly uniting with all the Muslim powers to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. Have you ever heard of presidential choreography? Does it seem at all strange to you that this whole building in East Jerusalem thing came out of -- literally -- nowhere?

It's choreography. It's superficial. It's part of the game of being in bed with Israel, stam.

You can't be too tight with Israel, you can't be too against Israel (unless you're, you know, Iran). If the U.S. is super tight with Israel and Israel decides to take preemptive action and blow something in Iran up, the U.S. -- by association -- is screwed. So what does the U.S. do? It builds roadblocks (pardon the expression) in its relationship with Israel; it stays close, but not too close.

It's easy to come to an independent state's rescue. It's not easy to participate in its preemptive action against another sovereign nation. Right? Right.

This is my philosophy. Call me nuts, call me a collaborator, call me whatever you want. This kind of political choreography has always existed. You get close with some nations in order to screw them over, you have a faux falling out with another so that you don't get associated with their bullshit. It's choreography, it's superficial, that's it. The U.S. is famous for this stuff. Why are people in such a huff about this?

I'm really pro-Israel. I would pick up and move there tomorrow if Tuvia was down with it. I feel safe there, I feel at home there, I feel whole and complete there. I believe in a solution that allows Palestinians to live NOT under the thumb of Hamas and other militant organizations that plainly and flatly DO NOT even consider "peace" an option. I also believe in a solution that -- first and foremost -- allows Israel to continue to exist, as it does, as a sovereign and NECESSARY nation with its land and its freedom. Israel, to be sure, has every right in the world to defend itself, preemptively or postemptively.

I do, however, believe that peace in the Middle East will come at the cost of a huge and catastrophic event that I can't even begin to describe. It will happen, because it is only after catastrophe that we understand human life and its value in peace. It sucks, but that's how I have always seen the situation.

As someone said recently at a Shabbat dinner, "I am not optimistic, but I am hopeful."

A new era, a new hope.

Mr. President, I welcome you!

I was elated to hear the Shema said (in English, that is) by the pastor who said the opening prayer for the ceremonies. Yes, he later wandered into Jesus, when I was hoping he would do a non-denominational, all-inclusive prayer, but what can you do? It's weird to hear a prayer amid a nation that is supposedly not religion specific (ha!). At any rate, I'm listening to Obama's poetic inaugural speech, and I'm feeling inspired. This man has great hopes for us.

The important thing? We can't rely on HIM alone to do it. We've sat idly by for too long letting the president run things. It's a cooperative effort. A democracy. We should donate our time, our money, our bodies, our hearts to efforts and ways to rebuild our society.

Amen!

Barack Obama a la Hebrew

Look to your right ------->

You see it? Yes. Awesomeness. I'm officially endorsing the man. I like the way his name looks in Hebrew, too. Thanks to Ararat Scrolls for posting up that little thing, 'else I wouldn't have even noticed/found it.

Spread the word!

Brimming.

Michelle Obama said it a long time ago and got plenty of crap for it, but for the first time -- in a long time -- I am truly proud to be an American. The changing face of the United States impresses and sustains us. And I don't care what you say, it isn't about race. Yes, he's our first black presidential candidate ... but my G-d, the man is inspiring. He is truly, truly the resounding HOPE that we need to move above and out of the present regime. And to that I say, Amen.

And for the love of Pete, go watch his speech.

Vote 2008!

Brace yourself, United States. Brace yourself for a huge, huge voting day. Chavi officially endorses Barack Obama. GO OBAMA GO!!!! It's a proud year to live in Illinois; most definitely folks.