Three Pillars

Olmert's Hypocrisy

2006-05-25T15:16:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke before a joint session of Congress. During his speech he spoke about the terror attacks his country faced (and continues to face). He spoke about his memories of Galila, a twelve year old Ethiopian immigrant, who was killed in a suicide bombing while he was mayor of Jerusalem. He also spoke of the murder of Daniel Wultz, a 16 year old from Florida who succumbed to the wounds inflicted from the last suicide bombing in Israel.

He tried implying that their lives are important to him and that he will do everything in his power to bring the terrorists to justice. But his actions speak louder than his words. He must understand that the Ahmadinejad didn't become what he is today overnight. It took time for him to build his way up. When Olmert allows the Palestinian terrorists to do as they wish he is only emboldening them. His rewards to the terrorists - the Gaza expulsion this summer and the expulsion of Amona - speak louder than the words he told the members of Congress.

The blood of innocent Israelis and Palestinians who were killed as a result of the continued violence rests on his shoulders. Yet he has the nerve to use people who have died for something which he himself doesn't believe in only so that he can broaden his political power. Shame on you Olmert!

English 101

2006-05-24T03:49:00.000-04:00

A big problem we face with illegal aliens is their inability to master the English language. However, it doesn't need to be this way. The reason that they don't learn English is because we allow them to get around using their native language. If we were to speak only English then they would be forced to either learn the language or not be able to survive in this country.

This isn't a theoretical plan, it is based on facts. A friend of mine went to Russia for a year. When he left he wasn't able to read or write Russian, and could barely speak a few words. He assumed that since English is the international language, that he would be able to get around just fine with English. He was in for a surprise. Whether or not the locals actually understood English and pretended that they didn't, or if they truly didn't understand, is unknown. But this caused my friend to come to the realization that you can't live in a foreign country and not know the language. By the time he left he spoke a fluent Russian (with an American accent), because he realized that without it he wouldn't be able to survive there.

Perhaps if we were so accommodating to illegal aliens (legal visitors not included) a big part of the problem would be solved. Many would learn to speak the language and assimilate somewhat into our culture or leave. Sounds like a plan to me, now we need to convince the politicians (yeah, right).

The Rolling Memorial

2006-05-22T16:13:00.000-04:00

I got this email which I think deserves to be posted. John Holmgren is a trucker from Shafer, MN. The trucker has been pulled over numerous times by officers who simply wanted to have their picture taken with his truck. His truck is a 9/11 memorial; the names of all the people who lost their lives on 9/11 are painted on his truck.

Child Safety

2006-05-19T13:50:00.000-04:00

I saw a report about a 3 year old Mexican child who died in the desert. He was trying to enter the country illegaly with his mother, who abandoned his dead body. She was caught by the Border Patrol and arrested, at which time she told them about her dead child.

Don't we frown upon endangering the welfare of a child? Isn't it illegal to leave a child unattended? We don't look too highly upon people who use children in armies because they are placing them in a dangerous situation. So why should this be any different? Perhaps this is yet another difference between our culture and that of Mexico. Maybe after they change the official language of the United States to Spanish they will allow parents to endanger the welfare of their children. Who knows what will be next?

Where is the Problem?

2006-05-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

There is no doubt in anybody's mind that there is some serious problems going on in the Middle East. I'm referring to the Israeli-Arab conflict. After decades of violence, the Oslo peace accords were supposed to bring peace and calm to the region. It never happened. As a matter of fact, the violence only intensified after Oslo. Why?

Every day the Israeli intelligence receives numerous terror threats and they evaluate each one. They then decide which course of action, if any, needs to be taken. In the past couple of hours, the Israeli police were put on high alert in Jerusalem, lowered, put back on high again, and once again lowered. The tiring cycle of going from high to low is based on intelligence gathered from various sources. The Karni crossing was closed as a result of the terror threats. When the crossing is closed the Palestinians aren't able to come into Israel, which ruins their economy. The crossing was closed not long after it was opened for humanitarian reasons. Who is responsible for the closing of the crossing and therefore the economic problems the Palestinians are suffering? If it weren't for the security issues it would be open all the time, therefore the Palestinians themselves are responsible for their troubles. The Palestinians are known for coming through checkpoints and attempting to blow themselves up.

Then there was this interesting article I read which describes the violence going on in the Palestinian cities among the various militant groups. I ask you: If these creatures aren't capable of living in harmony with their own brothers, are they capable of living peacefully with their cousins, the Jews? I have my doubts in their determination for true peace, I wonder why that is.

Bilingual Home Improvement

2006-05-16T13:20:00.000-04:00

After my horrifying ordeal with repairmen, I decided to do the job myself. So I went to a Lowe's near my house to buy some things I would need. As I was cruising through the aisles I heard something a little disturbing. They were asking for assistance over the PA system, in both English and Spanish. Everytime that they would speak over the PA system, I would hear a chime. I felt like I was in an international airport.

The truth is that I have nothing against the Spanish language. However, a time like this, when people are demonstrating that we allow illegal aliens to come and get citizenship, it feels a bit awkward that everything needs to be repeated in both English and Spanish in a home improvement store. This isn't a souvenir shop where tourists are regularly found, in which case I would understand the need for everything to be bilingual. This is happening because we are being overrun by another culture. If this is how it is before they are legal, what will be when they become legal? Will they decide to learn English? I doubt it.

BBC

2006-05-15T14:59:00.000-04:00

No one ever accused the English of being too bright, but this is special. I just had to post this because I find it funny how clueless some people are. This is the video of the BBC interview. They thought they were interviewing Guy Kewney, instead they interviewed a taxi driver. The picture at right shows Mr. Kewney at left and his replacement at right. They don't even slightly resemble each other! Yet somehow the English have managed to confuse the two of them.

Here is a video clip of the interview. His facial expression when he realizes what's about to happen is priceless. Got to give him credit, though, he played his part pretty well. He answered the questions he was asked without actually answering them. He can become a spokesman if he wants to.

What Was Patrick Kennedy Thinking?

2006-05-08T12:57:00.000-04:00

Patrick Joseph Kennedy, Rhode Island congressman and son of Ted Kennedy, was involved in a car accident last week in the wee hours of the morning. Witnesses said he was travelling very quickly and was unable to keep his car in one lane. At 2:45am he drove his car into a security barrier near the Capitol. When he exited the vehicle he seemed drunk and was unable to stand steady. His eyes were red and watery, and his speech was slurred.

Pat Kennedy's parking spot at the Capitol

Kennedy claimed to have been on the way to take a vote. He later addmitted having gone home and taken Phenergan and Ambien. He denied any consumption of alcohol, although there are people who claim they saw him drinking earlier on. Police were instructed by higher-ups not to take a sobriety test, and to drive him home (what happened to the vote?). In his statement, Kennedy said the drugs had caused him to believe that he was supposed to be at a vote at 3:00am. Why was he up at 3:00am, isn't the Ambien supposed to keep him asleep? Especially since he was also taking Phenergan, which increases the potentcy of Ambien.

Kennedy has a history he should be aware of. He comes from a clan which has been struck by many catastrophies. Ordinary people shouldn't drive vehicles or operate machinary while they are impaired - regardless of the cause of their impairment (i.e. alcohol or drugs). Pat Kennedy should be more cautious than the rest of us, just as someone with a family history of heart disease needs to take precautions to avoid a heart attack. Or perhaps he was just trying to emulate his father's actions?

When Bush Meets Bush

2006-05-07T15:19:00.000-04:00

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

2006-05-01T13:06:00.000-04:00

The story and Jekyll and Hyde is a famous one, known to all. I don't know why it became so famous, but I think I figured out why people have that special feeling for it. The story of Jekyll and Hyde, although a novel, is actually a true story. Although the author, Robert Louis Stevenson, wrote it as a novel and probably didn't base it on anything in particular, I nevertheless believe that it is a story we are all too well familiar with.

All people have split personality to some degree. On some people it is so obvious that it entirely disrupts their lives and they need to seek medical treatment for it. Most people, however, aren't split all that much and can do a good job at containing their other personalities. We all have those times when we're not sure if we should do something or not, I don't mean indecision - I mean conscience. This doesn't mean that only people who are criminals and break laws have this split personality, we all live with it on a daily basis.

That might explain why the story of Jekyll and Hyde has a soft spot in many people's heart. However, if this is true then what did the story introduce if Jekyll and Hyde are living inside of us?

Dr. Jekyll was a dangerous man. Although he was very well respected and did many good things for people, he nevertheless had a tendency to experiment with the forbidden part of himself. He changed himself into a "different person" as was then able to commit crimes. This helped as a great disguise so that the authorities wouldn't catch him, but he went even further than that. He used that as an excuse to justify his actions in his own eyes. For he, Dr. Jekyll, didn't do anything wrong, it was someone else - Mr. Hyde.

This story teaches us, or at least it should, that there is a very fine line that we must be careful not to cross. There are many temptations that we have as humans, which is natural, and at times we give in to those temptations, which is also natural. However, we shouldn't convince ourselves that it is not really wrong, or that it is not really us who are doing wrong. For if we make that fatal mistake we will learn the hard way, as Dr. Jekyll has, that they potion we used wasn't pure - and now it's too late to find the pure potion.

Last night I couldn't sleep and my mind started drifting and the above post entered my mind. Weird, no? I think that the next time I can't sleep at night I will count sheep.

A Roman Perversion of the Truth

2006-04-24T13:15:00.000-04:00

I found this Menorah in the background of a picture (where's Waldo?) in last week's Time magazine. The picture shows a Menorah with seven branches, unlike the Menorah Jews use during the holiday of Chanukah. The seven branch Menorah was used in the Temple in Jerusalem. However, there is a little problem with this depiction of the Menorah.

The Menorah which was lit by the High Priest every day in the Temple had straight branches, not rounded ones as this picture shows. The confusion began after the death of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Roman Emperor 79-81. The Arch of Titus was built in his honor and portrayed many of his accomplishments. One of his great military successes was when he put down the Jewish rebellion (where were the Palestinians?) in the Holy Land and brought many of the utensils of the Temple back to Rome. Among those was the Menorah. However, the Menorah on the Arch of Titus has round branches, unlike the actual Menorah.

The Menorah in Temple, as explained by Rashi and Maimonides, had straight branches. Their version of the Menorah is based on biblical text. However, many people have chosen instead to rely on the Arch of Titus. Of the many inscriptions on the Arch there is one which reads, "Judea is captured." This was inscribed with the intent to humiliate Jews; many times Jews were brought to the Arch for the sole purpose of being shown that they are captives of the Roman Empire. It is therefore quite shameful that we base our depictions of the Temple's Menorah on the Arch which humiliates Jews, and not on the text of Rashi and Maimonides.

Election Results

2006-04-17T16:35:00.000-04:00

Everyone knew what the results of the Israeli and Palestinian elections would cause, but not many people expected it so soon. This morning a Palestinian homicide bomber from Jenin, Sami Salim Mohammed Hammed (whose age ranges between 16 to 21 depending on the news agency), pictured at left, detonated himself in Tel Aviv in front of a fast food falafel joint called Rosh HaIr. Witnesses said he blew himself up after a guard at the door asked to inspect the bag he was carrying. 9 were killed, more than 60 injured. Injured doesn't mean that they go to the hospital for an x-ray and go home that night. Many are in critical condition and may yet die. Those who survive have a long road to recovery, and no one can guarantee how they will be once they recover. They may not be able to return to work again. Many people lost limbs and their lives will never be the same again.

Responsibility for the blast was claimed by both Hamas, which made a ceasefire with Israel a year ago, and the Islamic Jihad, which is a part of the "peaceful" Fatah movement which already "recognized Israel's right to exist." Most Palestinians support what happened today in Tel Aviv, regardless of the loss of innocent life. As Palestinian government officials termed it: an "act of self defense."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would react "as necessary." In his speech today at the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, he sent "condolences to the families of those who were sacrificed." Doesn't he realize he is partially to blame for the loss of lives today? His plan of surrendering to the terrorists, by forcing Jews out of Gush Katif and Amona he emboldens the terrorists.

In fact, this past January terrorists bombed the exact same place as today. Obviously the Israeli plan of appeasement hasn't helped a bit. It is time that he is taken to account for his actions. More innocent lives depend on it. Because on his own, Olmert will not do a thing about the bombing. And that is the worst part of this sad story.

What Does The Future Hold?

2006-04-04T19:41:00.000-04:00

When Israelis elected Ehud Olmert last week, they knew what was coming to them. At least, they should've known. Last night a Kassam rocket landed near Zikim Beach. There was a shooting attack near Psagot. 5 Kassam rockets were fired towards the western Negev, one of which landed near a "sensitive security structure" in Ashkelon. There were rock throwing incidents in Gush Etzion, in nearby Beit Omar, and Beitar. There were firebomb attacks near the Hevron Hills and near Nahalim.

Nevertheless, Olmert announced today that he will be continuing the unilateral expulsions. This comes at the same time that the "peaceful" Fatah movement, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, "threatened multiple, shocking attacks on Jewish targets."

I think it is time to sit down, and just think about where we came from, where we are, and in which direction we are heading. This is presentation I got via email. It may be hard to look at, but I think it is necessary so that we know exactly with whom we are dealing.

Home Improvement

2006-04-03T19:13:00.000-04:00

I called a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none handyman and asked him if he can do some work for me. I told him what I wanted done and he gave me an estimate of how much it'll cost. He told me that he would be able to start working today (Monday) and hoped to finish in a few days. Sounds fine to me.

This morning he arrives to start working and he asks me for the tools he would need. Well, I told him that I don't have all the tools he needs, I have only the basic household tools. So he asks me, "How do you expect me to work if you don't have the tools I need?" I was under the impression that the handyman would/should bring this own tools and I told that to him. His response was, "When someone comes to your house to clean do they bring their own broom and mop?"

Well, that got me thinking and from now on, I will only hire cleaners who have their own brooms and mops. Afterall, isn't it logical that if a handyman comes to do repairs he brings his own tools (or he is supposed to, at least), so should a cleaner?

Dr. Wafaa Sultan

2006-03-30T16:11:00.000-05:00

It's been almost a month since I posted the interview which aired on Al-Jazeera with Dr. Wafaa Sultan. At the time I did not have any information as to who she was, but I became smarter since then.

Wafaa Sultan, born in Syria, was taught as a child to hate Jews. "Up to the very first day that I immigrated to America, I used to believe that Jewish people were not human creatures, that they had different features, different voices than the human race. Unfortunately this is the way I was raised," Sultan said in an interview Arutz-7. But her views have changed since then. "I have discovered how wrong we were. The more I work with them the more I find out we are all human beings. The first experience I had in the medical field was with a Jewish doctor. We were four Muslim women in his program, and he treated us very well. My experience is great, so I have to break this taboo and tell my people the truth."

She now lives in Los Angeles, where she is a psychiatrist. While she was in university in Syria she began to question the way she was brought up. "At that time, the Brotherhood of Islam committed very bloody and ugly crimes against innocent Syrian people in the name of their God. I witnessed the killing of my professor, a great human being who had nothing to do with the government. They filled his body with hundreds of bullets before my eyes while screaming Allah is great. At that moment I was traumatized. I had just lost trust in their God and started to question his teachings."

But her bravery comes with a price. Dr. Sultan is now in hiding, fearful of what might happen to her and/or her family as a result of the interview on Al-Jazeera. Perhaps she fears that the Brotherhood of Islam might try to get her. For the sake of humanity let's hope she isn't harmed.

Did You Thank Al Gore Today?

2006-03-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

Listen to this clip of Al Gore, who joined Congress in the late 1970's. Nevertheless, during his "service in the United States congress [he] took the initiative in creating the internet." This is something which really amazes me.

Here is a little bit about the history of the internet. The ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency), a project of the United States Department of Defense, wanted to create a network for scientists who are in different locations to be able to communicate and share information. In addition, they wished to create a network which would be able to survive a nuclear attack (remember the cold war?). The network they came up with was called ARPANET, which at first consisted of four computers, and started working in the summer of 1969. Nearly a decade before Al Gore joined the United States congress. Yet he still "took the initiative in creating the internet." Amazing!

I think we should all be very thankful to him for this. It is only because of him that we have this post (and all other posts, too); indeed it is only because of him that we have the internet. So if you feel thankful to Al Gore, please be kind and tell him so. Contact him and tell him how appreciative you are of his efforts in creating the internet. It'll put a smile on his face, I'm sure of it.

Al Gore
2100 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 327-2227
Fax: (615) 327-1323

The Not-So-Secret Service

2006-03-20T01:06:00.000-05:00

The Washington Post had an article about the naughty behavior of some Secret Service workers. They were in Mississippi before President Bush visited on March 8. They came to size up the scene from a security point of view, so that when the President arrives they will be able to protect him. At one of the houses they surveyed, they introduced themselves as Fox journalists. Later they told the couple that they were actually from the Secret Service.

Many people were not pleased by the actions of these Secret Service agents (or surveyors, whatever their title is). As a result they will be "reprimanded" for their actions. The government will "discipline (those) who masqueraded as journalists this month." It seems as though the problem here is the fact that they used a disguise - that of Fox journalists. What do people expect the Secret Service to do if not disguise themselves? Is it not called secret service for a reason? Are they supposed to wear signs which clearly identify them as Secret Service agents?

Perhaps people would have preferred if they would have originally introduced themselves as Secret Service agents. But wouldn't that blow their cover? Does the name Valerie Plame ring a bell? What will become of undercover agents if they need to be identified as such to everyone, thereby undermining the fact that they're undercover? You can never win, if you keep it a secret you'll get in trouble for impersonation, and if you reveal an agent's identity, well, we know what will happen. You'll lose your job!

Giuliani vs. Clinton

2006-03-09T15:06:00.000-05:00

I remember in 1997 listening to the then Mayor Rudy Giuliani on the radio during his monthly ask the Mayor show on WCBS880. It was his first show since he won reelection as New York City's Mayor and most callers were only calling to congratulate him, while others called to wish him success and also ask him questions. I remember the jubilant feeling I had at the time when he won the election and the mixed feelings I had. On the one hand I wanted his term to last forever so that he can continue to help us New Yorkers. On the other hand, I wanted his term to end so that he will run for President.

One of the callers who called in expressed the second view to him, and he responded, "You sound like my mother." Although he didn't say clearly that he wouldn't run for higher office, he didn't sound too promising either. However, I still hoped and prayed that he would one day be our man in the oval office.

I remember the adrenaline rushes we had when he was running against the then First Lady, Hillary Clinton, for the Senate. At first she was ahead in the polls, but I was sure that her lead was only because people felt bad for her after the Monica scandal. I was sure that as time passed and we would get closer to the election her lead would disappear. Sure enough, Giuliani started closing the gap between them, but he never made it to the elections. Unfortunately he had to drop out of the race for personal reasons, and Hillary won. But I was always hoping that a day would come when there would finally be a showdown between the two of them, and all the world will see that contrary to what many people believe, Giuliani's popularity and sense of leadership is greater than that of Hillary. 9/11 proved what a leader he is (as pictured above).

Now as we approach the 2008 Presidential elections, many people are suggesting that Hillary will run. Perhaps this is my dream come true. Giuliani against Clinton again, but this time the stakes are higher. As reported recently, Rudy Giuliani is the most popular politician in the US today. Hillary is number 8 on that list. Perhaps this election will be the one that almost happened in New York, where Rudy Giuliani will win against Hillary Clinton in the polls and finally make it to the White House.

Secular Islam

2006-03-07T13:21:00.000-05:00

After seeing this clip I think that secular Muslims know better than religious Muslims as to what is beneficial to Islam and Muslims, and what is detrimental. All I know is that her name is Wafaa Sultan. She might have an organization of some sort to promote her message, but I don't know for sure. The last minute and a half is, I think, the best part of the clip.

Purim in Nazareth

2006-03-03T14:08:00.000-05:00

As reported by the Israeli paper Haaretz, a mentally deranged Jew from Jerusalem, together with his Christian wifre and daughter attempted to celebrate Purim today in Nazareth. They hid firecrackers in a baby stroller and detonated the firecrackers during prayers on Friday. Police were called in to restrain the crowd outside who wanted to attack the firecrackerers. Israeli EMS (Magen David Adom) was unable to reach him after he was injured in the head; crowds had attacked an ambulance forcing it to leave.

The deranged extremist came to Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah, and told Arafat that the Israelis wanted to take away his daughter from him. Therefore he wanted to remain in PA-controlled areas. Arabs leaders are blaming the Israeli government for not being firm enough against such extremists. The Israeli attitude encourages Jewish extremists to perform such acts of violence and terror, they said.

As if they care about the holiness of churches. Last week they were bombing mosques, and this week they're busy defending attacks against churches. Attacks that caused no direct damage to the church. Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz said, "Any attempt to damage holy sites destroys the delicate relations between different faiths in Israel." Where was he when, after the Israeli expulsion of Jews from Gaza this summer, the synagogues in Gaza were being burned and destroyed by Palestinians? Does that not matter to anyone?! Only if someone throws a firecracker in a church in Nazareth or blows off the dome of a mosque in Iraq will people feel outraged. We live in a sad world, where equality is a word in the dictionary, but means nothing in actuality.

Stuck in a Time Capsule

2006-02-26T12:55:00.000-05:00

Today's Washington Times has a piece on Israel, entitled Palestinians name terms for recognition. The terms are to give Palestinians refugees full rights and a state in lands including, but not limited to, the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. After Israel will accede to their demands they will "consider talks with Israel." My question is what has been going on there for the past 13 years? In 1993 Israel and the PLO signed a peace accord, in which the Palestinians recognized Israel's right to exist, and promised to end terror. In return, Israel agreed to give the Palestinians some land. Israel kept their part of the deal the Palestinians haven't kept theirs. The biggest proof is that today we are back to where we started with a few "minor" differences.

Those minor differences are the fact that they still have the land Israel gave them. Perhaps they should return all the land Israel gave them since they are forcing us back to a time where Israel made painful concessions are received nothing but a piece of paper. Just as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain reached an agreement with Nazi Germany on paper. That "piece of paper," was supposed to "guarantee peace in our time." History has shown us how foolish his appeasement was. The same holds true of the Oslo peace accords.

People try to say that this is a new government and therefore they are going back to where we were 13 years ago. That doesn't make any sense at all. Imagine the outcry there would have been if in 2000, right after becoming president, George Bush would have overturned Roe v. Wade on the basis that this is a new government. Yet for some reason nobody has a problem when the Palestinians do that. The Palestinians, as a whole, agreed to recognize Israel - unless the entire peace accord was a sham (which it was). In which case, why should the Israelis now want to go through the same process with a government that is worse than the one the Palestinians had before? Will Hamas keep their word when the PLO hasn't? Of course not! They are trying to steal as much land as they can. They know they stand no chance against Israel if they were to try and take the land by force, so they're trying to trick Israel. And the worst part is that the Israeli government is falling for it.

Cartoon Fury

2006-02-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

The violence over the Mohammad cartoons is already old news. Muslims all over have been rioting over the publication of cartoons of their prophet Mohammad. Perhaps the cartoons were in bad taste by portraying Islam as a religion that preaches violence. After all, Islam is a religion of peace. Or is it?

There are "extremists" who kill innocent people in the name of Islam, in the name of Allah and Mohammad. If Islam is a religion of peace then these radicals are distorting the religion and the impression the world gets of the religion. Yet, I can't recall demonstrations where Muslims are rioting that the killings be stopped. If that is the case, then these Muslims who are now demonstrating and rioting must approve of the actions of "a few extremists." Which leads me to think that perhaps those cartoons are pretty accurate.

Kinda gets you thinking.

Amona Pogrom

2006-02-02T23:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a clip of Amona. Watch it and tell me if this doesn't look like a pogrom to you.

What Happened to Massada?

2006-02-02T15:29:00.000-05:00

Massada is a mountain fortress in Israel most famous for the valiant struggle the Jews put up against the Romans. Although they knew that the Romans would eventually overcome them, they nevertheless fought like lions to protect their land so that it remains in Jewish hands. All the defenders of Massada died there; they committed suicide as the Romans were breaking through their last defenses. For them captivity wasn't even an option, they fought till they could fight no more.

The lesson of Massada, although I only mentioned it very briefly here, is very important in Judaism. It is a lesson that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried explaining to former US President Bill Clinton when they visited Massada together during the festival of Chanukah. It is a lesson all soldiers in the IDF learn, as well. At the end of their training they climb to the top of Massada via the snake path. Once there they pledge that Massada will never fall again! (Shniya Metzada lo tipol!) Have they forgotten the lesson and their pledge so soon?

Yesterday I watched in horror at the expulsion and demolition of Amona. The Israeli soldiers and police acted brutally and ruthlessly as they viciously beat and attacked protestors, some of whom are still in critical condition today. Where does a Jew get the hatred within him to beat other Jews who are unarmed and aren't doing anything wrong, other than demonstrating in a "democratic" country? Instead of fighting terrorists, they are fighting Jews. On one of the walls in Amona someone wrote, "Who needs Hamas? We have Olmert!"

These innocent Jews did the same thing their ancestors did in defending Jerusalem, Massada and all the other cities in Israel from the Romans and other invaders. Had Olmert and his henchmen been around those days, no doubt they would have collaborated with the Romans and would have helped their enemies conquer all the cities of Israel. Is this what we fought for in 1948? Was there ever a war in history that the Jews fought for the cause that the Israeli government now stands for? The videos that I saw were so horrific, they could have been from sixty years ago, when Nazis beat Jews with their clubs and chased them out of their homes forcing them to live behind walls. Unfortunately, I can't show you the videos that I saw, but if you search for them online I'm sure you'll be able to find them. However, here is a small clip of what happened there. If this is not atrocity, what is?

Email me if you want the link to download this video.

Freedom of Speech

2006-01-30T13:30:00.000-05:00

This is something which has been bothering me, and I wanted to post about it last week. However, I was trying to find an audio clip to go with this post, but I can't find it, sorry. The audio clip was of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) literally screaming how she's fed up with being called unpatriotic for opposing the administration. She said that people have the right to protest against the administration when they feel the need.

It's very comforting to see that our senators are out there protecting our rights, in this case the right of free speech. However, if this is something that all liberals believe in (such as bashing the Bush administration), then why don't they allow others the freedom of speech? No, I don't mean in Iraq, I mean here in the United States of America.

I read this blog which promoted abortion based on the equation that freedom=choice. To me that isn't a valid reason to abort a pregnancy. Because if freedom=choice and murder=choice, does that mean that freedom=murder? Afterall, if A=B and B=C, then A=C. Whether or not this equation is true, as I'm sure many people will say that it isn't for various reasons, is a discussion in itself. It is a discussion that I will mention some day, but not now. My question for today is why am I not allowed to express my views? When I posted a comment on this person's blog with my opinion it was deleted. The delete button is there so that if someone posts an offensive remark, one which is racially biased, for instance, then the blogger can delete it. The delete button was not meant to restrict people's freedom of speech.

There isn't much I can do about what happened because it wasn't my blog and I have no control over it. I will not repost my comment because there is no need to - the message was seen. I have no intention of forcing people to keep comments on their blogs, every blogger can do as they wish on their blog. They can delete whatever they want whenever they want, that's part of freedom. However, I just find it a bit hypocritical that someone who is so concerned about freedom would not allow another person to express their views. I just can't figure it out.