Today, I though that it would be fun to re-write an article published by the “liberal” Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz. Here is the original (excerpt):
Yesha rabbinical council chief: Don’t rent houses to Arabs
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
The chairman of the Yesha rabbinical council and chief rabbi of Kiryat Arba, Rabbi Dov Lior, on Wednesday issued a halakhic ruling stating that it is forbidden by Jewish law to employ Arabs or rent homes to them.
In an interview published by “Eretz Israel Shelanu” (Our Land of Israel), to be distributed this Saturday in various synagogues, Lior said that “since this is a matter of endangering souls, it is clear that it is completely forbidden to employ them and rent houses to them in Israel. Their employment is forbidden not only at yeshivas, but at factories, hotels and everywhere.”
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Ok. Now keep in mind that about 20%+ of the population of Israel is composed of Arabs, including Christians and Druze. With that in mind we can now rewrite the article and transpose it to some other places:
Iran:
The chairman of the Conference of Islamic Scholars of the city of Qom, Hojatoleslam Sayyed Ali Ansari, on Wednesday issued a fatwa stating that it is forbidden by sharia law to employ Jews or rent homes to them.
In an interview published by “Our Land of Persia”, to be distributed this Saturday in various mosques, Ansari said that “since this is a matter of endangering souls, it is clear that it is completely forbidden to employ them and rent houses to them in Iran. Their employment is forbidden not only at seminaries, but at factories, hotels and everywhere.”
Russia:
The chairman of the Conference of Orthodox Bishops of the Russian Federation, Metropolitan Vladimir, on Wednesday issued a statement stating that it is forbidden by Orthodox canon law to employ Jews or rent homes to them.
In an interview published by “Our Land of Russia”, to be distributed this Saturday in various churches, Metropolitan Vladimir said that “since this is a matter of endangering souls, it is clear that it is completely forbidden to employ them and rent houses to them in Russia. Their employment is forbidden not only at seminaries, but at factories, hotels and everywhere.”
You get the idea: this great little article lends itself to any number of funny variations involving not only Jews, but any other ethnic group, each time with the same outrageously racist result. Let’s try one more, just for fun, this time in the USA:
The chairman of the Conference of Baptist Ministers of the Southern United States, Pastor Joe Sixpack, on Wednesday issued a statement stating that it is forbidden by the Bible to employ Blacks or rent homes to them.
In an interview published by “Our Land of America”, to be distributed this Saturday in various churches, Pastor Joe said that “since this is a matter of endangering souls, it is clear that it is completely forbidden to employ them and rent houses to them in America. Their employment is forbidden not only at seminaries, but at factories, hotels and everywhere.”
Again, an absolutely outrageous statement, is it not?
I can just imagine how a endless stream of outraged protests would result from any of the statements above, how they would make front page news, how international human rights would express their idignation and outrage at such truly medieval racism, how the governments of the countries were such racists remarks would be made would immediately condemn the people reponsible and how they would strongly denounce any such expressions of crass bigotry.
In any country, except for Israel of course. Makes you wonder why, does it not?
that is just brillant!!!!
Bravo VS!
Makes the degree of racism quite obvious when the statement is applied to another racial group. Would be hilarious if it were not real.
I am deeply disappointed in you Vineyard. You quote some nut who most Israelis can’t stand. I know you mean in mostly in jest, and are using this extreme nutbag to make an exaggerated case. But please don’t joke like that. You know better than anyone that many of Israel’s leading business executives, entrepreneurs, VCs, investors, technologists, scientists, academics, students, and thought leaders are Arab Palestinians. The Palestinians are the envy of the sunni arab world and are generally treated well within Israel. The majority are patriotic Israelis who love their country (Israel.)
Now can I change the topic. I know that you have little interest in Afghanistan and Iraq. But you are interested in Russia. Read this: http://en.rian.ru/world/20080318/101586869.html
The Afghan government is coming to the conclusion that NATO isn’t serious about helping the ANA and Afghan police against AQ/Taliban/Pakistani resistance. So they are more directly involving the Russians.
I have long been a big fan of Putin. This is in part because of the way Putin socked it to the nasty Takfiris in Chechnya (many of whom were AQ linked.) And also because of the way Putin backed the Northern Alliance (who I have long been a huge fan of) and Afghanistan’s democratically elected government (post liberation) in the Afghan peoples’ struggle against the forces of darkness. Putin has stood strong against AQ networks around the world (including the ones who murder Indians and Kashmiris.) I also admire Putin’s pro business, pro corporate, and pro globalization policies.
You seem to share some of my admiration for Putin and Russia. Please consider supporting Russia’s allies–the Afghans—in their war against the dark forces.
Why don’t you share your thoughts on how the world can help the Afghans crush the Taliban (most of whom are Pakistani Pashtu . . . with a large number of Chechan, Uzbekistanis, Arabs, and other Pakistanis fighting along side them.)
As a warning to anti-Afghan bigots:
I look forward to personally tearing apart anyone here who advocates the violent overthrow of the Afghan government and the murder of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces.)
It is very hard to get a feeling for the truth. It’s clear the 5 million Palestinians in the West Bank can’t vote, live in a open air prison walled in, their roads blocked by checkpoints to choke commerce, they look up at Israeli settlements which they can’t visit, at the security roads they cant get near, they get their property confiscated by new settlers with only the most cursory intervention by Israeli officials, when killed anywhere near a confrontation their lives are deemed worthless. —
Am a correct or wrong? This is what I have come to believe. Also I have heard that even Israeli Arab citizens are stoned and driven out when they enter some of the more militant settlements (truck drivers and such). If this stuff is wrong, let me know. This is what I have come to piece together.
I really don’t know what drives binLadin. I really don’t. Does he want the US to quit the Middle East, or does he want to sucker the US into a regional war which he believes he can make the US lose. IF he does another 911, the US will NOT leave. They will resume with renewed anger, and McCain will win. Maybe he believes thats his best bet. Does he want the same thing the militant settlers want – Regional war in which their particular side emerges victorious?
If he wants the US to leave without the Regional war, another 911 is the last thing he would want. Otherwise, it’s the first thing he would want, hoping for a US over-reaction so violent that the entire Muslim population of the world would join the war against a US and Israel in the foxhole together- exactly the goal of the neocons in the US.
Very well done!
You might have added that the US government wants the representatives of African-Americans to recognise the US as a “White state” before it even considers negotiating with them.