Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day. It's easy to view this holiday as just another vacation day from work (and don't get me wrong, that's a wonderful thing too), but we should also remember just how much it means to honor our soldiers who gave their lives to protect our nation.
I am traveling this week, so posting will be light for several days. In the meantime, though, our Washington correspondent "K-Swiss" checks in with a reflectively hard-hitting essay on the seemingly paradoxical axis of American Jews and leftist liberalism.
Jewish Liberalism in America
by K-Swiss
Last month in Washington D.C., as in many other cities around the nation, rallies were held urging the Bush administration and Congress to help end the genocide taking place in Sudan's Darfur region. While news of the actual genocide has received only occasional media attention (and in these few instances, it is very seldom mentioned that Arab Muslims are the perpetrators), the “Save Darfur” rally did attract significant coverage from both the local and national media. In the days leading up to the rally, I read many articles and watched numerous TV pieces about the timing of the rally, the purpose, the location, the celebrity speakers, etc. And within this media space, one thing in particular stood out to me: the number of Jews and Jewish organizations helping to organize the rally and in attendance at the rally. Ranging from the keynote speakers to the participants being interviewed on TV (many Jewish-sounding last names) to my own circle of Jewish friends in D.C., it seemed as though Darfur was a specifically Jewish cause.
Now in itself, this is a truly great thing. Rallying to end genocide is a noble cause and a moral obligation, and it takes on special importance to Jews in particular because of the Holocaust. But during post-rally coverage, I could not help but wonder to myself - how many of the Jews at the Darfur rally had ever attended an Israel rally? How many of them denounced President Bush at the rally even though he has arguably been the most pro-Israel President in Israel’s 58 year history? How many of these people would give anything to save Darfur, but ignore the genocidal remarks made against Israel by Iran's President Ahmadinejad?
Unfortunately, the answer seems to be too many. Having lived in D.C. the past few years, I have seen a disproportionate amount of Jews leading rallies and at the forefront of liberal causes such as abortion rights, gay rights, feminist rights, saving the rainforests, stopping the Iraq war, etc. Jews, more than any other people, seem the need to flaunt their liberal credentials at every turn. But if something is considered "non-liberal", such as the Republican Party, many of these same Jews will turn completely against it, even if that non-liberal institution greatly supports Israel.
While in the past, it was the liberals and the Democratic Party who most supported Israel, the tables have turned in the 21st century, and it is now the conservatives and the Republican Party who most vociferously support the Jewish state. Yet a majority of Jews in America have either not woken to this realization or have not bothered to pay attention to it.
Jews here in the U.S. are at a crossroads, and we must ask ourselves where our priorities lie. Does saving the rainforests take priority over supporting a strong and secure Israel? Is rallying for abortion rights more important than rallying for freedom in Iran? How Jews answer these questions and other similarly pressing quandaries will likely determine the future of the Jewish people in this country.
Let's make the right decisions.
TheSolidSurfer.com responds: K-Swiss, thank you for the piece and for your astute insights and analysis. Jews in America are indeed quite liberal as a whole, and I also feel that the community's support for Israel (as well as its general vitality) could be greatly strengthened by adopting more "conservative" positions and values. This can be accomplished, in my opinion, my addressing the root causes of this ultra-liberalism, something Dennis Prager often discusses in his writings.
Hope everyone has a great week, and I look forward to resuming regular posting once I return from my trip. (And look for other guests to potentially appear soon on the site as well.)
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
Update on Israel Conflict at Brandeis University
Arguments over the controversial removal of Palestinian artwork at Brandeis University have continued into recent days, with Law and Politics professor Jeffrey Abramson supporting the artwork and University President Juhuda Reinharz defending his decision to take down the exhibit.
Abramson rests his support on the contentions that 1) it doesn't matter that the artwork wasn't balanced, as this should not be a requirement for free expression, 2) the exhibit was indeed educational, and 3) the exhibit was not hate speech against Israel. Reinharz, however, while generally agreeing with Abramson's first two assertions, strongly disagrees with him on the third, and defends his actions as such.
So where do I stand? I fully agree with Dr. Reinharz. Student artwork need not always present counterbalancing points of view, and one could certainly argue that the piece was educational. But as for not being hate speech - that's pure hogwash.
Take a look at one of the drawings in the exhibit. The map of the state of Israel is dripping in blood and represented with a Palestinian flag. It is clearly symbolic of the Palestinian desire to violently destroy Israel and kill Jews.
Not hate speech? Message to Dr. Abramson: This drawing could stand in as the direct definition of "hate speech" in the dictionary. Dr. Reinharz and his administration made the absolutely correct decision in removing the artwork.
Brandeis University should be proud of its decision. Now if only they could get better graduation honorees than Tony Kushner. My suggestion for next year: passionate Arab Zionists (yes, they do exist) Walid Shoebat and Brigitte Gabriel.
Abramson rests his support on the contentions that 1) it doesn't matter that the artwork wasn't balanced, as this should not be a requirement for free expression, 2) the exhibit was indeed educational, and 3) the exhibit was not hate speech against Israel. Reinharz, however, while generally agreeing with Abramson's first two assertions, strongly disagrees with him on the third, and defends his actions as such.
So where do I stand? I fully agree with Dr. Reinharz. Student artwork need not always present counterbalancing points of view, and one could certainly argue that the piece was educational. But as for not being hate speech - that's pure hogwash.
Take a look at one of the drawings in the exhibit. The map of the state of Israel is dripping in blood and represented with a Palestinian flag. It is clearly symbolic of the Palestinian desire to violently destroy Israel and kill Jews.
Not hate speech? Message to Dr. Abramson: This drawing could stand in as the direct definition of "hate speech" in the dictionary. Dr. Reinharz and his administration made the absolutely correct decision in removing the artwork.
Brandeis University should be proud of its decision. Now if only they could get better graduation honorees than Tony Kushner. My suggestion for next year: passionate Arab Zionists (yes, they do exist) Walid Shoebat and Brigitte Gabriel.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Israel and Alternative Energy
Plenty of interesting news from the past few days. First and foremost, efforts are ramping up to stop Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's suicidal withdrawal plan from the West Bank. As the Gaza debacle has shown, withdrawal has led not to peace, but simply to more terrorism, and this disaster must not be repeated. To that end, Israel's Center For Security Policy (CSP) has launched an advertising campaign against the withdrawal on U.S. national television. Accompanying the spot, CSP's Mideast Fellow Caroline Glick (who is also the Deputy Managing Director of the Jerusalem Post) has written an excellent analysis of the situation. (It's a 20-page PDF, but is a quick read and very well worth seeing.)
On a related note, progress continues toward creating viable energy alternatives to Middle Eastern oil. WorldNetDaily reports on a start-up company called Hydrogen Technologies Applications that claims, unbelievably, to have created a method of powering motor vehicles using only water. Yep, you heard that correctly - the company's machine runs on pure H2O. Skeptical? So are many others, according to the article. But the company's founder and president insists on legitimacy, and given that they provided a thorough demonstration (note: video link) for Fox News, I'm remaining cautiously optimistic.
Meanwhile, an even greater energy source could be arriving soon as well: Scientists clear major technical hurdle in generating nuclear fusion.
And in more sci-tech news, Israeli researchers have invented a hemispheric force field to protect tanks against enemy fire from all directions, even if the tank is moving. I was just as astounded to hear this too (you'd almost think it came straight out of Star Wars), but rest assured, it's very real (note: another video link).
On a related note, progress continues toward creating viable energy alternatives to Middle Eastern oil. WorldNetDaily reports on a start-up company called Hydrogen Technologies Applications that claims, unbelievably, to have created a method of powering motor vehicles using only water. Yep, you heard that correctly - the company's machine runs on pure H2O. Skeptical? So are many others, according to the article. But the company's founder and president insists on legitimacy, and given that they provided a thorough demonstration (note: video link) for Fox News, I'm remaining cautiously optimistic.
Meanwhile, an even greater energy source could be arriving soon as well: Scientists clear major technical hurdle in generating nuclear fusion.
And in more sci-tech news, Israeli researchers have invented a hemispheric force field to protect tanks against enemy fire from all directions, even if the tank is moving. I was just as astounded to hear this too (you'd almost think it came straight out of Star Wars), but rest assured, it's very real (note: another video link).
Friday, May 12, 2006
Warren Buffet Invests in Israel
Kudos to billionaire investor Warren Buffett and his company Berkshire Hathaway, who recently purchased Israeli machine tool maker Iscar Metalworking and several other local businesses. The Iscar investment, valued at over $4 billion, spurred an immediate boost to Israel's business climate, as both the Tel Aviv stock exchange and the value of the shekel subsequently hit record highs.
At a time of such great political uncertainty, the Buffett investments show some much welcomed (and in many ways, much needed) confidence in the future of the Jewish state. Furthermore, the "Sage of Omaha" isn't the only backer of Israeli ventures; computer chipmaker Intel, for one, recently announced plans to build a new hi-tech microchip factory in the nation as well.
Israel's economy and its people are alive and kicking, and regardless of what certain anti-Semitic Iranian nutcases may think, the Jewish nation will surely remain that way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update: If you're interested in learning more about Israel's vibrant business, medical, and technology sectors, Israel21c is a superb and fascinatingly interesting resource.
At a time of such great political uncertainty, the Buffett investments show some much welcomed (and in many ways, much needed) confidence in the future of the Jewish state. Furthermore, the "Sage of Omaha" isn't the only backer of Israeli ventures; computer chipmaker Intel, for one, recently announced plans to build a new hi-tech microchip factory in the nation as well.
Israel's economy and its people are alive and kicking, and regardless of what certain anti-Semitic Iranian nutcases may think, the Jewish nation will surely remain that way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update: If you're interested in learning more about Israel's vibrant business, medical, and technology sectors, Israel21c is a superb and fascinatingly interesting resource.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
TheSolidSurfer.com Interview at The Beak Speaks
Dear Readers,
In lieu of a regular post today, I sat in the "hot seat" for an interview at a fantastic blog called The Beak Speaks. Here is the link to Beak's interview questions; scroll down to the comments section (below the main post) for my answers.
Of particular note, Question #6 asks what foreign countries are vital to America's economic future, and I replied China, India, Brazil and Mexico, with a brief explanation concerning retiring baby boomers and their upcoming need to find younger buyers for their accumulated assets. This is an important issue that all Americans should become aware of, and I'd like to credit the man responsible for the insight, Dr. Jeremy Siegel of the University of Pennsylvania. For more information, this article well explains the situation.
Thanks, and hope you enjoy the interview.-TheSolidSurfer.com
Here is the text of the interview:
1. I see that Freedom Now and MZ post on your blog. I am also a huge fan of Pam of Atlas in NYC. Are there any other blogs of note that you read regularly that we should take a look at?
Of the relatively larger blogs, my regular reads include Little Green Footballs, Israpundit, Jihad Watch, Captain's Quarters, and The Autonomist. I'm also a big fan of a few perhaps lesser-known ones, like Hispanic Pundit, The Only Republican In San Francisco, and Meryl Yourish.
2. You read FPM on a regular basis who is your favorite regular contributor?
That's a tough question since the whole site is great, but if I have to name a favorite, I'd say a tie between Don Feder and Jamie Glazov.
3. Compare my two favorite Pro Israel blogs the Mad Zionist and Pam of Atlas Shrugged? I think I get nastier trolls then MZ but some of Pam's trolls are really nasty.
These two blogs come from somewhat different perspectives (Atlas Shrugs more secular and MadZionist more Jewish), but both are fantastic, and it's wonderful to see such strong Israel-support.
4. How do you view China - as an asset, ally, foe or none of the above?
In some ways, all of the above. China's people are certainly an ally in that they generally love America, and an asset because they produce so many of our goods and invest large sums into our economy. At the same time, though, it does have a Communist government that's a natural rival to U.S. power, and I can see our government clashing even more with theirs on key issues like Taiwan, North Korean, Iran, access to oil and energy, etc.
5. Should we be more concerned with Russia or China as a potential enemy?
I think both about equally. China probably presents more of a direct danger, given its growing economic clout and potential influence over the U.S. economy. But Russia has lots of oil, possibly unsecured nuclear weapons, and influence over enemy states in the Middle East, which we can't count out. Hopefully both countries will become more free, but in the meantime, we should be concerned with both.
6. What countries do you see as vital to America's economic future?
Most prominently - China, India, Brazil, and Mexico. Over the next few decades, the U.S. (and Europe and Japan) will face population aging, and we'll see a whole bunch of baby boomers retiring with large amounts of assets built up in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. These retirees will want to cash out on their assets in order to enjoy retirement, but in order to do so, someone has to be around to buy the assets. And in the developed world, there are fewer younger people around to do so. This has the potential to drive the value of the assets way down (and hurt plenty of would-be retirees financially), unless younger buyers come from other nations. And most likely, they'll come from China, India, Brazil, and Mexico; the economic development of these nations in the next few decades could be as vital to the U.S. economy as it is to these nations' own economies.
7. Will India surpass China economically?
Yes, I think it will, as long as China remains Communist, because the free market will ultimately triumph. (China has semi-free markets, but not fully). However, if China becomes a democracy, I think it will hold onto its current lead.
8. We have a set of clowns that refer to Israel's apartheid wall. What is your response to criticism of Israel's security perimeter?
These critics are apologists for a system that built walls to keep people in.Most of this criticism comes from people who would criticize Israel no matter the situation. They're so concerned with harm to the Palestinian economy but could care less about the Israeli lives it saves. To them, I'd say just one thing - go about anywhere else in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, etc.) if you want to see what real apartheid is. If you're not Muslim, for example, you can't become a Saudi citizen, period. Contrast this with 20% of Israel's citizenry being non-Jews. As for the security wall itself, by the way, most of it is actually just a fence, with only about 5% being a true wall. (I went to Israel last year and saw this myself.)
9. Do you find that the far left is obsessed with who is a Jew? I have maintained that the Jewish critics of Israel produced by the far left are almost entirely Communist and Anarchists. What is your view of Jewish critics of Israel?
I don't know that the far left is obsessed with specifically who is a Jew, but they're certainly obsessed with Jews in general to a far disproportionate degree.As for Jewish criticism of Israel, there are two main types. One is legitimate criticism of the state, which is good and healthy and a hallmark of any functioning democracy. On the other hand, there is the predominantly leftist criticism of Israel that singles it out in particular (i.e. those who question Israel's basic right to exist). Among Jews who do this, many are indeed Communists and Anarchists, as one thing they virtually all have in common is that they don't generally practice Judaism religiously, and have substituted leftist ideas for it. (So the solution to this problem, as I see it, is to get Jews more Jewishly involved.)
10. Is the notion of a distinct Palestinian ethnicity a huge scam? What is the basis of this ethnicity language, religion, history?
Yes, it basically is. The Palestinian Arabs are no different than the surrounding Arabs in terms of all the above categories, and they never even called themselves Palestinians until about 1967. The notion of the Palestinians as a distinct people was created by their Arab leaders in order to undermine Israel. But as much as they want to fake history, their own name belies them. Think about why Arabs are even called "Arabs" (as opposed to any other name). Because they originally came from the Arabian Peninsula. And that piece of land is not in Israel.
11. Do you watch professional sports? If so what teams do you root for?
Huge fan of the Dallas Mavericks (basketball), Cowboys (football), Stars (hockey), and Texas Rangers (baseball). If the Mavs can beat San Antonio this round, I think they'll take it all the way!
12. Have you driven a motorcycle?
No, never have.
13. Did you read Comic books as a kid? If so which ones were your favorite? Are you familiar with the Silver Surfer?
I read them a little bit, but was more into collecting baseball cards. Don't know the Silver Surfer, but I liked Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Hulk.
14. Are user fees and licenses another form of taxation?
If imposed by the government, I'd say yes, more or less. But if imposed privately, then I'd say no.
15. Are cigarette, alcohol and gas taxes more odious because they disproportionately affect lower income people?
I wouldn't think lower-income people necessarily purchase more cigarettes, alcohol, and gasoline, but in general, I think all taxes are odious if they get too high.
16. What are your views on the ACLU?
For the most part, I'm very against them. Occasionally they might argue something worthwhile, but mostly they seem dead-set on undermining everything that's great about America and turning it into a completely ultra-leftist society with no dissent allowed from their particular views. This type of thing has happened before - in Soviet Russia.
17. Does this country need tort reform?
In certain areas, I think we do - it's far too easy for people to get away with frivolous lawsuits and exaggerated medical malpractice claims. But that said, we should definitely tread carefully in these areas, as we need to make sure that all genuine claims are still taken very seriously.
18. Have we arrived in an era where unions have outlived their usefulness?
No, I think unions are still useful, as they do bring needed benefits to their members. Unions originally formed because big business often exploited workers, and there's no guarantee that situation wouldn't happen again. At the same time, though, certain unions have amassed so much power that they're hurting their own industries (teachers unions, in particular, are greatly harming our educational system), and I feel this type of monopoly should should be challenged the same way a large company's monopoly in an industry would be.
19. Should people have a right not to join a Union if they choose?
Yes, they should absolutely have a choice.
20. Are movie prices too high and quality of film produced way too low?
The prices are a bit high for my own tastes, but there's nothing wrong with this, since it's just based on supply and demand.Film quality, meanwhile, highly varies in my opinion. Sure, there are plenty of bad movies out there, but some good stuff is out there too. Hollywood has had a poor past couple years, but I'm excited about some movies this summer - the new Superman, Nacho Libre (Jack Black comedy), Cars (new Pixar film), a couple others.
21. Are there too many sequels?
It sure seems that way lately. As long as the sequels are good, though, I don't mind.
22. What was the best and worst films you have seen? The worst films I remember were Battlefield Earth and Yentyl.
That's a tough one. For the best ever, I'd say the original Star Wars trilogy. Worst - hard to say...to name a recent one, I saw a movie called "Failure To Launch" that wasn't too good.
23. Whose outfits are tackier Bowlers or golfers?
Bowlers.
24. What Blogger that you read would make a great candidate for Survivor? Warren would make a great candidate but Mr. Beamish would generate ratings.
Good question. Beak, you'd probably be great at it - I don't think anyone would mess with you once they saw your cool Rambo-like avatar! :-)
25. Pick one Horror Films or Sci Fiction/Fantasy.
Well, I already named Star Wars, so I'll say Lord Of The Rings. Unless you count home videos of me and my brothers as kids - we behaved so badly in them that it definitely classifies as a horror film!
In lieu of a regular post today, I sat in the "hot seat" for an interview at a fantastic blog called The Beak Speaks. Here is the link to Beak's interview questions; scroll down to the comments section (below the main post) for my answers.
Of particular note, Question #6 asks what foreign countries are vital to America's economic future, and I replied China, India, Brazil and Mexico, with a brief explanation concerning retiring baby boomers and their upcoming need to find younger buyers for their accumulated assets. This is an important issue that all Americans should become aware of, and I'd like to credit the man responsible for the insight, Dr. Jeremy Siegel of the University of Pennsylvania. For more information, this article well explains the situation.
Thanks, and hope you enjoy the interview.-TheSolidSurfer.com
Here is the text of the interview:
1. I see that Freedom Now and MZ post on your blog. I am also a huge fan of Pam of Atlas in NYC. Are there any other blogs of note that you read regularly that we should take a look at?
Of the relatively larger blogs, my regular reads include Little Green Footballs, Israpundit, Jihad Watch, Captain's Quarters, and The Autonomist. I'm also a big fan of a few perhaps lesser-known ones, like Hispanic Pundit, The Only Republican In San Francisco, and Meryl Yourish.
2. You read FPM on a regular basis who is your favorite regular contributor?
That's a tough question since the whole site is great, but if I have to name a favorite, I'd say a tie between Don Feder and Jamie Glazov.
3. Compare my two favorite Pro Israel blogs the Mad Zionist and Pam of Atlas Shrugged? I think I get nastier trolls then MZ but some of Pam's trolls are really nasty.
These two blogs come from somewhat different perspectives (Atlas Shrugs more secular and MadZionist more Jewish), but both are fantastic, and it's wonderful to see such strong Israel-support.
4. How do you view China - as an asset, ally, foe or none of the above?
In some ways, all of the above. China's people are certainly an ally in that they generally love America, and an asset because they produce so many of our goods and invest large sums into our economy. At the same time, though, it does have a Communist government that's a natural rival to U.S. power, and I can see our government clashing even more with theirs on key issues like Taiwan, North Korean, Iran, access to oil and energy, etc.
5. Should we be more concerned with Russia or China as a potential enemy?
I think both about equally. China probably presents more of a direct danger, given its growing economic clout and potential influence over the U.S. economy. But Russia has lots of oil, possibly unsecured nuclear weapons, and influence over enemy states in the Middle East, which we can't count out. Hopefully both countries will become more free, but in the meantime, we should be concerned with both.
6. What countries do you see as vital to America's economic future?
Most prominently - China, India, Brazil, and Mexico. Over the next few decades, the U.S. (and Europe and Japan) will face population aging, and we'll see a whole bunch of baby boomers retiring with large amounts of assets built up in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. These retirees will want to cash out on their assets in order to enjoy retirement, but in order to do so, someone has to be around to buy the assets. And in the developed world, there are fewer younger people around to do so. This has the potential to drive the value of the assets way down (and hurt plenty of would-be retirees financially), unless younger buyers come from other nations. And most likely, they'll come from China, India, Brazil, and Mexico; the economic development of these nations in the next few decades could be as vital to the U.S. economy as it is to these nations' own economies.
7. Will India surpass China economically?
Yes, I think it will, as long as China remains Communist, because the free market will ultimately triumph. (China has semi-free markets, but not fully). However, if China becomes a democracy, I think it will hold onto its current lead.
8. We have a set of clowns that refer to Israel's apartheid wall. What is your response to criticism of Israel's security perimeter?
These critics are apologists for a system that built walls to keep people in.Most of this criticism comes from people who would criticize Israel no matter the situation. They're so concerned with harm to the Palestinian economy but could care less about the Israeli lives it saves. To them, I'd say just one thing - go about anywhere else in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, etc.) if you want to see what real apartheid is. If you're not Muslim, for example, you can't become a Saudi citizen, period. Contrast this with 20% of Israel's citizenry being non-Jews. As for the security wall itself, by the way, most of it is actually just a fence, with only about 5% being a true wall. (I went to Israel last year and saw this myself.)
9. Do you find that the far left is obsessed with who is a Jew? I have maintained that the Jewish critics of Israel produced by the far left are almost entirely Communist and Anarchists. What is your view of Jewish critics of Israel?
I don't know that the far left is obsessed with specifically who is a Jew, but they're certainly obsessed with Jews in general to a far disproportionate degree.As for Jewish criticism of Israel, there are two main types. One is legitimate criticism of the state, which is good and healthy and a hallmark of any functioning democracy. On the other hand, there is the predominantly leftist criticism of Israel that singles it out in particular (i.e. those who question Israel's basic right to exist). Among Jews who do this, many are indeed Communists and Anarchists, as one thing they virtually all have in common is that they don't generally practice Judaism religiously, and have substituted leftist ideas for it. (So the solution to this problem, as I see it, is to get Jews more Jewishly involved.)
10. Is the notion of a distinct Palestinian ethnicity a huge scam? What is the basis of this ethnicity language, religion, history?
Yes, it basically is. The Palestinian Arabs are no different than the surrounding Arabs in terms of all the above categories, and they never even called themselves Palestinians until about 1967. The notion of the Palestinians as a distinct people was created by their Arab leaders in order to undermine Israel. But as much as they want to fake history, their own name belies them. Think about why Arabs are even called "Arabs" (as opposed to any other name). Because they originally came from the Arabian Peninsula. And that piece of land is not in Israel.
11. Do you watch professional sports? If so what teams do you root for?
Huge fan of the Dallas Mavericks (basketball), Cowboys (football), Stars (hockey), and Texas Rangers (baseball). If the Mavs can beat San Antonio this round, I think they'll take it all the way!
12. Have you driven a motorcycle?
No, never have.
13. Did you read Comic books as a kid? If so which ones were your favorite? Are you familiar with the Silver Surfer?
I read them a little bit, but was more into collecting baseball cards. Don't know the Silver Surfer, but I liked Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Hulk.
14. Are user fees and licenses another form of taxation?
If imposed by the government, I'd say yes, more or less. But if imposed privately, then I'd say no.
15. Are cigarette, alcohol and gas taxes more odious because they disproportionately affect lower income people?
I wouldn't think lower-income people necessarily purchase more cigarettes, alcohol, and gasoline, but in general, I think all taxes are odious if they get too high.
16. What are your views on the ACLU?
For the most part, I'm very against them. Occasionally they might argue something worthwhile, but mostly they seem dead-set on undermining everything that's great about America and turning it into a completely ultra-leftist society with no dissent allowed from their particular views. This type of thing has happened before - in Soviet Russia.
17. Does this country need tort reform?
In certain areas, I think we do - it's far too easy for people to get away with frivolous lawsuits and exaggerated medical malpractice claims. But that said, we should definitely tread carefully in these areas, as we need to make sure that all genuine claims are still taken very seriously.
18. Have we arrived in an era where unions have outlived their usefulness?
No, I think unions are still useful, as they do bring needed benefits to their members. Unions originally formed because big business often exploited workers, and there's no guarantee that situation wouldn't happen again. At the same time, though, certain unions have amassed so much power that they're hurting their own industries (teachers unions, in particular, are greatly harming our educational system), and I feel this type of monopoly should should be challenged the same way a large company's monopoly in an industry would be.
19. Should people have a right not to join a Union if they choose?
Yes, they should absolutely have a choice.
20. Are movie prices too high and quality of film produced way too low?
The prices are a bit high for my own tastes, but there's nothing wrong with this, since it's just based on supply and demand.Film quality, meanwhile, highly varies in my opinion. Sure, there are plenty of bad movies out there, but some good stuff is out there too. Hollywood has had a poor past couple years, but I'm excited about some movies this summer - the new Superman, Nacho Libre (Jack Black comedy), Cars (new Pixar film), a couple others.
21. Are there too many sequels?
It sure seems that way lately. As long as the sequels are good, though, I don't mind.
22. What was the best and worst films you have seen? The worst films I remember were Battlefield Earth and Yentyl.
That's a tough one. For the best ever, I'd say the original Star Wars trilogy. Worst - hard to say...to name a recent one, I saw a movie called "Failure To Launch" that wasn't too good.
23. Whose outfits are tackier Bowlers or golfers?
Bowlers.
24. What Blogger that you read would make a great candidate for Survivor? Warren would make a great candidate but Mr. Beamish would generate ratings.
Good question. Beak, you'd probably be great at it - I don't think anyone would mess with you once they saw your cool Rambo-like avatar! :-)
25. Pick one Horror Films or Sci Fiction/Fantasy.
Well, I already named Star Wars, so I'll say Lord Of The Rings. Unless you count home videos of me and my brothers as kids - we behaved so badly in them that it definitely classifies as a horror film!
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Support Both Darfur And American Troops in Iraq
Do you support the people of Darfur? If so, excellent. But at the same time, it's highly hypocritical to do so without also supporting American troops in Iraq. That's what National Review's David Frum argues in a recent article, and he certainly has some highly valid points.
Both conflicts involve protecting a Muslim-majority population from vicious Islamic terrorists and murderers. The only difference is that the American military is (currently) uninvolved in Darfur, whereas in Iraq it fights side-by-side with the citizenry against the terrorists. But as Frum states, how can one, "condemn jihad in Sudan as the equivalent of genocide in our time--and pardon an even crueler jihad in Iraq as legitimate national resistance?"
The answer is - you honestly can't. Whether one supported the Iraq war at the outset or not, the current reality is that an evil insurgency is committing terror against the Iraqi people, and abandoning them to it would be immoral and unjust. No doubt, helping to save Darfur is our clear obligation. But doing the same in Iraq is as rightful a duty as well.
Both conflicts involve protecting a Muslim-majority population from vicious Islamic terrorists and murderers. The only difference is that the American military is (currently) uninvolved in Darfur, whereas in Iraq it fights side-by-side with the citizenry against the terrorists. But as Frum states, how can one, "condemn jihad in Sudan as the equivalent of genocide in our time--and pardon an even crueler jihad in Iraq as legitimate national resistance?"
The answer is - you honestly can't. Whether one supported the Iraq war at the outset or not, the current reality is that an evil insurgency is committing terror against the Iraqi people, and abandoning them to it would be immoral and unjust. No doubt, helping to save Darfur is our clear obligation. But doing the same in Iraq is as rightful a duty as well.
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at Brandeis University
Brandeis University, located in suburban Massachusetts, has somewhat unexpectedly found itself at the center of the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After the university decided to pull a bloody one-sided pro-Palestinian art exhibit that had been displayed on the campus, Israel supporters cheered while anti-Israel radicals came out to demonstrate.
Was Brandeis correct to shut down the artwork? New guest contributor "Mini-Me", a student at the university (and a familiar name on this site thanks to his many fine reader comments), checks in with a first-hand report:
The past few days have been quite interesting here at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. For those who have not yet heard, Brandeis has recently been in the news as a result of the administration's decision to pull an art exhibition entitled “Voices of Palestine,” ending the scheduled two-week exhibition just four days in. The exhibition was not organized by the University, but rather by Lior Halperin, a Brandeis sophomore who is both Jewish and Israeli. To set the scene: the artworks were located in the school’s library, not in the on-campus prestigious Rose Art Museum. Also, because this was simply a class project, and not a school sponsored event, the exhibition, consisting of seventeen paintings by Palestinian children, was not publicized on campus. For this reason, neither I nor most other students actually saw the paintings in person. However, in an article by the Boston Globe’s article, three of the works are detailed as follows:
"A bulldozer menaces a girl with ebony pigtails, who lies in a pool of blood. A boy with an amputated leg balances on a crutch, in a tent city with a Palestinian flag. A dove, dripping blood, perches against blue barbed wire."
According to the article, shortly after the works were hung Brandeis received up to a dozen complaints, and school officials reacted by taking down the art. Brandeis official Dennis Nealon explained the reasoning behind the University's actions: “It was completely from one side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and we can only go based on the complaints we received…'People were saying: (a) what is this; (b) what is it trying to say; and (c) should there be some sort of balancing perspective here?"
While the majority of the student body is oblivious to the situation, some who are aware staged a protest on Saturday, which approximately fifty students attended, insisting the artworks stay. Art critic Tyler Green, one of those against removing the exhibition, stated on his Modern Arts Blog: “Memo to university officials: Art does not equal journalism. An art exhibit is not a newspaper story. It is not required to present ‘both sides’ of a story.”
I couldn’t disagree with him (or the views of the protesting students) more.
While I agree that artwork does not need to tell both sides of a story, I do strongly feel that an academic institution is responsible for telling both sides of a story. Brandeis, however, does not have in its possession paintings by Israeli children that depict Palestinians violently hurting or killing Israeli children. Consequently, Brandeis feels that it wouldn't be appropriate to display the Palestinian artwork without also exhibiting the opposing (Israeli) viewpoint.
When a university displays an art exhibition, the contents of the exhibition reflect upon the school. Brandeis is a Jewish-sponsored college. A Palestinian art exhibition that depicts children being tortured by Israeli soldiers not only distorts the truth, but it runs in contradiction with the beliefs at the basis of the school's origin and establishment. If Brandeis does not wish to be associated with the contents of such extremely politically-charged artwork, it should certainly have the right to pull the exhibition.
Halperin has since lent the 17 paintings to an Arab student organization at MIT, which plans on displaying them in the near future.
My Memo to MIT: Keep Em!
TheSolidSurfer.com comments: Mini Me, thank you for the excellent report and analysis. I fully agree with you - the Palestinian artwork is not a mere presentation of the Palestinian "side", but a blatant distortion of the truth that entirely contradicts Brandeis's founding values. Furthermore, presenting only one perspective of the conflict is quite dishonest intellectually, and I'm glad to hear the administration has had the good sense to recognize this. Now that Brandeis has made it's decision, I hope MIT goes even further and throws the art in the trash!
Was Brandeis correct to shut down the artwork? New guest contributor "Mini-Me", a student at the university (and a familiar name on this site thanks to his many fine reader comments), checks in with a first-hand report:
The past few days have been quite interesting here at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. For those who have not yet heard, Brandeis has recently been in the news as a result of the administration's decision to pull an art exhibition entitled “Voices of Palestine,” ending the scheduled two-week exhibition just four days in. The exhibition was not organized by the University, but rather by Lior Halperin, a Brandeis sophomore who is both Jewish and Israeli. To set the scene: the artworks were located in the school’s library, not in the on-campus prestigious Rose Art Museum. Also, because this was simply a class project, and not a school sponsored event, the exhibition, consisting of seventeen paintings by Palestinian children, was not publicized on campus. For this reason, neither I nor most other students actually saw the paintings in person. However, in an article by the Boston Globe’s article, three of the works are detailed as follows:
"A bulldozer menaces a girl with ebony pigtails, who lies in a pool of blood. A boy with an amputated leg balances on a crutch, in a tent city with a Palestinian flag. A dove, dripping blood, perches against blue barbed wire."
According to the article, shortly after the works were hung Brandeis received up to a dozen complaints, and school officials reacted by taking down the art. Brandeis official Dennis Nealon explained the reasoning behind the University's actions: “It was completely from one side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and we can only go based on the complaints we received…'People were saying: (a) what is this; (b) what is it trying to say; and (c) should there be some sort of balancing perspective here?"
While the majority of the student body is oblivious to the situation, some who are aware staged a protest on Saturday, which approximately fifty students attended, insisting the artworks stay. Art critic Tyler Green, one of those against removing the exhibition, stated on his Modern Arts Blog: “Memo to university officials: Art does not equal journalism. An art exhibit is not a newspaper story. It is not required to present ‘both sides’ of a story.”
I couldn’t disagree with him (or the views of the protesting students) more.
While I agree that artwork does not need to tell both sides of a story, I do strongly feel that an academic institution is responsible for telling both sides of a story. Brandeis, however, does not have in its possession paintings by Israeli children that depict Palestinians violently hurting or killing Israeli children. Consequently, Brandeis feels that it wouldn't be appropriate to display the Palestinian artwork without also exhibiting the opposing (Israeli) viewpoint.
When a university displays an art exhibition, the contents of the exhibition reflect upon the school. Brandeis is a Jewish-sponsored college. A Palestinian art exhibition that depicts children being tortured by Israeli soldiers not only distorts the truth, but it runs in contradiction with the beliefs at the basis of the school's origin and establishment. If Brandeis does not wish to be associated with the contents of such extremely politically-charged artwork, it should certainly have the right to pull the exhibition.
Halperin has since lent the 17 paintings to an Arab student organization at MIT, which plans on displaying them in the near future.
My Memo to MIT: Keep Em!
TheSolidSurfer.com comments: Mini Me, thank you for the excellent report and analysis. I fully agree with you - the Palestinian artwork is not a mere presentation of the Palestinian "side", but a blatant distortion of the truth that entirely contradicts Brandeis's founding values. Furthermore, presenting only one perspective of the conflict is quite dishonest intellectually, and I'm glad to hear the administration has had the good sense to recognize this. Now that Brandeis has made it's decision, I hope MIT goes even further and throws the art in the trash!
Friday, May 5, 2006
Jail for Moussaoui, United 93, Spengler on Iran, Jay-Z and Ray Charles, and much more
Convicted terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role in the 9/11 attacks. Moussaoui acted defiantly throughout his trial, expressing no remorse, claiming he would commit terror again if given the chance, and stating that he "won" and America "lost." Many feel that even a life sentence is too lenient, considering the pure evil of his crimes. But Moussaoui's new home is far from a picnic, as he'll spend his life in total solitary confinement at the maximum security Supermax Prison.The reality is, America won and Moussaoui lost. Good riddance.
On a somewhat related topic, National Review tell us why we should see the movie United 93.
Victor Davis Hanson has written two excellent recent articles: a summary of America's astounding accomplishments in the Middle East, and a reminder to immigrant protestors that U.S. citizenship carries responsibilities as well as rights.
The pseudonymous Spengler over at the Asia Times employs a comparison with World War I to explain why the U.S. must attack Iran in order to halt its nuclear weapons program. This piece caters somewhat more to the history buffs, but like virtually all of Spengler's essays, is a must-read for all.
Jewish World Review reports from last week's Washington rally against genocide and for the people of Darfur.
News from the music world: Hip-Hop superstar Jay-Z is starring in a new TV commercial against anti-Semitism. I don't know much about Jay-Z's music (I mainly listen to rock), but he's instantly become one of my favorite celebrities. (Hat tip: Meryl Yourish)
On a similar note, did anyone know that Ray Charles also greatly supported Israel? Despite Hollywood's trendy leftist (read: anti-America, anti-Israel) bent, many other non-Jewish pro-Israel celebs probably exist as well; I'll mention them if I hear of any, and readers, feel free to pass on any names you know.
Blog of the Day: Lawrence Kudlow
And coming soon on TheSolidSurfer.com: An insider report on the Israeli/Arab debate as currently unfolding at one of America's most prominent college campuses...from a longtime reader and student at the university.
On a somewhat related topic, National Review tell us why we should see the movie United 93.
Victor Davis Hanson has written two excellent recent articles: a summary of America's astounding accomplishments in the Middle East, and a reminder to immigrant protestors that U.S. citizenship carries responsibilities as well as rights.
The pseudonymous Spengler over at the Asia Times employs a comparison with World War I to explain why the U.S. must attack Iran in order to halt its nuclear weapons program. This piece caters somewhat more to the history buffs, but like virtually all of Spengler's essays, is a must-read for all.
Jewish World Review reports from last week's Washington rally against genocide and for the people of Darfur.
News from the music world: Hip-Hop superstar Jay-Z is starring in a new TV commercial against anti-Semitism. I don't know much about Jay-Z's music (I mainly listen to rock), but he's instantly become one of my favorite celebrities. (Hat tip: Meryl Yourish)
On a similar note, did anyone know that Ray Charles also greatly supported Israel? Despite Hollywood's trendy leftist (read: anti-America, anti-Israel) bent, many other non-Jewish pro-Israel celebs probably exist as well; I'll mention them if I hear of any, and readers, feel free to pass on any names you know.
Blog of the Day: Lawrence Kudlow
And coming soon on TheSolidSurfer.com: An insider report on the Israeli/Arab debate as currently unfolding at one of America's most prominent college campuses...from a longtime reader and student at the university.
Thursday, May 4, 2006
In celebration of Independence Day on the 5th of Iyar, we'd like to present some big-time digital fireworks! (photo missing)
What, haven't heard of the date? Well, it's not July 4th, but yesterday was Israel's Independence Day, and the Jewish state just put 58 candles on its birthday cake! Israel Insider provided some excellent coverage, plus a heartfelt assessment of Israel's past, present, and future.
Meanwhile, for the first time in about 2000 years, more Jews live in Israel than in any other nation. This trend, as I see it, is both welcome and troubling for the Jewish people. On the plus side, the Israeli population grows due to aliyah (Jewish immigration) and high birth rates. On the other hand, however, the Jewish population has fallen in America and other nations, as many Diaspora Jews intermarry and fail to raise Jewish children. At current rates, demographers estimate that within 25-30 years, the majority of *worldwide* Jewry will reside in Israel. This too is not unprecedented, as most Jews lived there throughout Biblical times. But it's far better to enter such a position through strength (i.e. aliyah) than even partially through weakness (Diaspora ultra-assimilation).
On a similar note, by the way, a new study of American Jews has found a highly expanding Orthodox contingency. In light of the above information, this should be quite expected, as the Orthodox virtually never intermarry and frequently have large families.
In other Israel-related news:
Hebron community leader David Wilder rightfully explains why the existence and location of his community (considered by Israel's government to be a settlement) is entirely legal.
Pundit Ilana Mercer defends Israel's security wall.
And finally, give a great big Mazel Tov to huge Israel supporter (and one of TheSolidSurfer.com's favorite fellow bloggers) MadZionist, who's wife is expecting a new little tot.
What, haven't heard of the date? Well, it's not July 4th, but yesterday was Israel's Independence Day, and the Jewish state just put 58 candles on its birthday cake! Israel Insider provided some excellent coverage, plus a heartfelt assessment of Israel's past, present, and future.
Meanwhile, for the first time in about 2000 years, more Jews live in Israel than in any other nation. This trend, as I see it, is both welcome and troubling for the Jewish people. On the plus side, the Israeli population grows due to aliyah (Jewish immigration) and high birth rates. On the other hand, however, the Jewish population has fallen in America and other nations, as many Diaspora Jews intermarry and fail to raise Jewish children. At current rates, demographers estimate that within 25-30 years, the majority of *worldwide* Jewry will reside in Israel. This too is not unprecedented, as most Jews lived there throughout Biblical times. But it's far better to enter such a position through strength (i.e. aliyah) than even partially through weakness (Diaspora ultra-assimilation).
On a similar note, by the way, a new study of American Jews has found a highly expanding Orthodox contingency. In light of the above information, this should be quite expected, as the Orthodox virtually never intermarry and frequently have large families.
In other Israel-related news:
Hebron community leader David Wilder rightfully explains why the existence and location of his community (considered by Israel's government to be a settlement) is entirely legal.
Pundit Ilana Mercer defends Israel's security wall.
And finally, give a great big Mazel Tov to huge Israel supporter (and one of TheSolidSurfer.com's favorite fellow bloggers) MadZionist, who's wife is expecting a new little tot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)