Tribalism, Alive and Well In Israel and The West

Ukrainian native Ereena, hugs her girls after 9 years locked in an Israeli jail, she was arrested with her husband in Bethlehem, sentenced to 40 years.


The West and Israel love to brag about how democratic and how much they value the life of all humans...they claim their armies operate under an ethical code of conduct. But watching the media reaction of today's prisoner swap between Israeli and the Palestinians, I couldn't help but notice how biased the media reports are. While most Arab media outlets covered the Palestinian prisoners and their stories, they have also treated Shalit with humility and refrained from using dehumanizing the solider--even though he wore a uniform, carried a gun and was ready to kill. The stories in Arabic in my conclusion are a lot more fair to the other side than the Israeli ones.

Here's a sample of what many Israeli officials/politicians had to say about this swap:

1. Those are Palestinians murderers--Israeli president
   
2. Europe/White House only Welcomes the release of the Israeli solider Gilad Shalit
3. We value the life of our own, we care less about those others--Ehud Barak
4. Our one solider is worth more than those 1027 Palestinians--Haartez, Bibi
5. Israeli soldiers should kill terrorists 'in their beds' following Shalit deal, former IDF rabbi

Not sure how such statements make you the enlightened one, and the other guy the "savage". One of the freed Palestinian prisoners is two years old, if this is the way you describe a two year old, then your heart and soul are dead.


I know this no one in Israel is happy that the prisoners are home with their loved ones, they all wish these people would die. But I know this, the people of Palestine and namely Gaza are genuinely happy to see the Israeli solider back with his family.

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Things To Do In DC For The Halloween

Real
There's a tradition in the DC area where most countries embassies on Halloween night give out candy from their respective countries. I want all the college kids and school children take advantage of that. I may try to take advantage of it this year. All the action is on Massachusetts Avenue where the great bulk of embassies are.

Fake
The Greek will be given German candy this time around.

How awesome would it be to have a Halloween party at the Greek Embassy. there's no better place in DC for such a fright than this Greek Embassy-Sure the embassy of Afghanistan is runner up . They are scary times for this one awesome country that gave the world democracy and now asking the world for money. The Greek Embassy Haunted House will scare you all the way, they have so many skeletons and zombies in their closets--The Germans are the guest of honors of course.

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News I Wish Was True

1. The Israeli embassy closes shops in DC, and moves into new offices in the US State Department--they are ready writing our press releases said an unnamed State department rep.
2. The Greek Embassy set to move DC its offices into the basement of the German Embassy in Washington, DC--they are already paying our rent said the second secretary for the Greek ambassador.
3. Outsourcing seems to be a global political trend as well---somebody tell Thomas Friedman, Palestinians @ ATFP are advocating on behalf of Zionists. Israelis @ J Street are advocating on behalf of Palestinians now. Also known as political cross dressing.
   

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Marry Them Young And Unleash The Drama

Few months ago, I wrote about a new song by the King of Arabic pop Amr Diab, a song in which he tells a young gal that he wishes she was a bit older --two years older so that he can approach her--maybe marry her or something of that nature. When I heard the sneak peak of the song, I was hoping the king of Arab pop wouldn't include it in his album, but he did. Read more about the song here

Well, it's becoming taboo to marry a person younger than 18 even in the Arab world, even here in the States some states allow those of the tender age of 16 to marry. But in all fairness, 16 year olds do get married sometimes, but in my own family, no one has gotten married younger than the age of 18 but one sister of mine. It's all about being busy and having something that keeps you busy. If one is in school or working full time, they can defer as much as they like to.

Now here's what moved me to write this blog, a relative of mine who married a young gal at the tender age of 16 is now having some domestic disturbance--four years later. What I am hearing is this, that wife whose now 21 has upset her husband because supposedly she has been talking to some of his make friends on the phone and for him that was the end of the line.

If this is true, this is sad. Sure she is at fault for doing that, but we really don't know the circumstance of those alleged phone calls. Now here,s what upsets me: if you are marrying someone at a young age, you should expect them to do things wrong. You cannot be sane in your mind and expect them to act like grownups do.

The main reason people marring younger souls quote is that they want to shape the person they are marrying. Even though, I disagree with that mentality of course, but if their purpose is to mold the their spouses personalities, then they have not done a good job shaping the characters of those they are marrying. That's all.

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I Go To Hooters For Their Awesome Wings Defense

You know the famous American invention called Hooters, where short wearing young people serving you fast food (burgers, salads and wings) I am a general fan of chicken wings, I just cannot resist those. I have been to hooters once, and I did not know what hooters was. Here's my story:

I came to the States in August 2000, October 2000 a group of graduate students mostly Arab girls on campus told me they are going to eat. there was only one other guy--he is the guy who leads us in prayer sometimes. I went along, they drove to Hooters on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, and I was shocked.

That was only my second month in the States and here I am at this place with people serving food and revealing much skin. For me, a young Gaza boy, this was a strip club, or so it felt to me--not so much now.

The good was good, it wasn't out of this world and yes the guy who used to lead us in prayer ordered wings. "But they have good chicken wings" he argued. So yesterday, in Chinatown here in DC, I was with a group of people and passed by a Hooters, they also made the case they they go their for the wings!

This reminds me of my friend Don who is a sworn vegetarian and yet still uses that Wings line as an excuse to go visit with Hooters. Maybe he hopes for their salad.

So that got my thinking what outlandish claims I should expect these people to say next:

1. America went to Afghanistan for their awesome Kabobs
2. I went to Iran for some of their tasty pistachios
   
3. I went to the drug dealer to break a twenty
   

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Occupy Wall Street Won't Spread To Israel

The American movement known as Occupy Wall Street has reached many American cities, and at least one international city Ljlubljana, Slovenia !

Sure the Palestinians cannot take part of such movement but what stops Israel from developing their own version of Occupy Wall Street?

Because the only thing Israelis know how to occupy is Palestine.
Because Israelis are too busy occupying Palestine.

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Bevan Dufty: Genuinely Confuses Me

There's a candidate running for mayor in the city of San Francisco, he is openly gay. But that's why he is in the news. He is making the news becasue his ad for the mayor featured the candidate and his child having fun on the San Fransisco public transpiration.

I care not to comment on this, until I read the highlighted part where I am really genuinely confused about this whole ordeal. A gay man with a child is not the problem here:

The candidate is Bevan Dufty, one of 16 candidates running for Mayor of San Fransisco next month. If he wins, he’ll be the first openly-gay mayor of the city known for being an important home to the LGBT community and those who advocate for its civil rights.

The child is Sidney, Dufty’s daughter and a source of controversy even in the highly tolerant Bay Area. When Dufty — then a member of the board of supervisors — decided to have her with a lesbian friend with whom he had no romantic attachment back in 2006, a local reporter balked, sparking controversy.

Gay parenting, once a highly controversial subject (it still is in some parts) has seen a rise in support in public polling, just as same-sex marriage has. Even though it’s San Francisco, where strides in LGBT acceptance are somewhat dog bites man, the ad could be the first of what may become a common occurrence on the political stage: A gay candidate running openly as a family man.

To read more click here

The source of my confusion is this, he is gay and this gay man has a baby with a lesbian woman. So in essence, a gay can have sex with a woman is the purpose is child bearing. I like the part where it says they are not romantically attached. This does not mean anything, really many straight couples are not romantically attached but yet they have babies together.

For all those loud advocates who argue that being gay is natural, comes this guy and undermines the whole argument. He makes being gay as a choice or perhaps he makes child bearing a choice. Again I respect Dufty for wanting children and bringing one to this world, but that doesn't mean I am not confused.

Having said that, it's his every right to have a family and I have no doubt he makes a great father.

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