Putting my Thoughts into Words
Nov. 8th, 2006 02:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eumeliaI've been doing some thinking as am known to do.
And I began to think about the real issue of the Pride Parade (I'll probably keep thinking about it until it's over).
The whole point of a Pride Parade is to show pride in who we are, in our identities as human beings and what can be done, sexual and gender identity are two of the major identity factors, how we relate to other people and how we relate to ourselves.
What the Charedim (so it seems to me) don't approve of is the fact that we want to express who we are in the Holy City.
While Jerusalem is a Holy City and I have a great appreciation to it's history and presence as a focal point to the two strongest religions on Earth and to Judaism, it is still the Capital of Israel which, last I checked, is a democratic country.
That to me means that, with all due respect to the Faithful, I, my friends and others can walk where we want, express who we are and demand respect for that.
Before anyone even mentions Tel-Aviv, I'd like to remind people that Jerusalem has it's own GLBT organization known as the "Open House" and that isn't the first, second or third march happening, last year a Gay man was stabbed by a Religious Orthodox Jew during the fourth march.
Tel-Aviv has had Pride marches since the late 80' and early 90' and it has since become something akin to a festival with little to do with GLBT issues and rights in Israel and more of a day long party for Queers and our allies which is all very nice and in a way necessary, but the message is lost.
Tel-Aviv is the cultural centre for any Trend, Pop-Culture and Counter Culture in Israel, if it's in Tel-Aviv it's "In" if it dissipates it's "Out".
But that really doesn't mean a whole lot outside of Block of Metropolis.
This march is not a festival, this march is about standing up for our right not to be stabbed by those who irrationally hate us. To call us "Deviants" and "heretics" goes against everything I thought Judaism stood for, because to me being Jewish means that I was born into a culture with a long history of standing up for our right to be who we want to be. To me being Jewish means I can look back at those who came before me and know that by opposing tyranny and oppression I am being a good person and that others will likely follow in that direction.
I am Israeli - I was the first of my family to be born here, I served my two years in the Army, I served my in the reserves during the War with Hezbollah and I vote on the day of Election. I know people who dies during their army services, I felt the ground shake during a Suicide Attack a few dozen metres away from in my town mall, I think what the Army is doing in Gaza is wrong and I believe that free speech, the freedom of expression and the right to stand up for our rights is more important than giving the Charedim what they demand through acts of violence and destruction.
Because guess what if you don't want to see march, no one is forcing you to come and see it, you think what we're doing is wrong, that's fine, but to cause violence, disruption and destruction in order to keep fellow citizens, most of whom pay taxes that keep them educated, in not fine. It is in fact utterly wrong and I am ashamed that these are my fellow Jews and citizens.
And I began to think about the real issue of the Pride Parade (I'll probably keep thinking about it until it's over).
The whole point of a Pride Parade is to show pride in who we are, in our identities as human beings and what can be done, sexual and gender identity are two of the major identity factors, how we relate to other people and how we relate to ourselves.
What the Charedim (so it seems to me) don't approve of is the fact that we want to express who we are in the Holy City.
While Jerusalem is a Holy City and I have a great appreciation to it's history and presence as a focal point to the two strongest religions on Earth and to Judaism, it is still the Capital of Israel which, last I checked, is a democratic country.
That to me means that, with all due respect to the Faithful, I, my friends and others can walk where we want, express who we are and demand respect for that.
Before anyone even mentions Tel-Aviv, I'd like to remind people that Jerusalem has it's own GLBT organization known as the "Open House" and that isn't the first, second or third march happening, last year a Gay man was stabbed by a Religious Orthodox Jew during the fourth march.
Tel-Aviv has had Pride marches since the late 80' and early 90' and it has since become something akin to a festival with little to do with GLBT issues and rights in Israel and more of a day long party for Queers and our allies which is all very nice and in a way necessary, but the message is lost.
Tel-Aviv is the cultural centre for any Trend, Pop-Culture and Counter Culture in Israel, if it's in Tel-Aviv it's "In" if it dissipates it's "Out".
But that really doesn't mean a whole lot outside of Block of Metropolis.
This march is not a festival, this march is about standing up for our right not to be stabbed by those who irrationally hate us. To call us "Deviants" and "heretics" goes against everything I thought Judaism stood for, because to me being Jewish means that I was born into a culture with a long history of standing up for our right to be who we want to be. To me being Jewish means I can look back at those who came before me and know that by opposing tyranny and oppression I am being a good person and that others will likely follow in that direction.
I am Israeli - I was the first of my family to be born here, I served my two years in the Army, I served my in the reserves during the War with Hezbollah and I vote on the day of Election. I know people who dies during their army services, I felt the ground shake during a Suicide Attack a few dozen metres away from in my town mall, I think what the Army is doing in Gaza is wrong and I believe that free speech, the freedom of expression and the right to stand up for our rights is more important than giving the Charedim what they demand through acts of violence and destruction.
Because guess what if you don't want to see march, no one is forcing you to come and see it, you think what we're doing is wrong, that's fine, but to cause violence, disruption and destruction in order to keep fellow citizens, most of whom pay taxes that keep them educated, in not fine. It is in fact utterly wrong and I am ashamed that these are my fellow Jews and citizens.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-08 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-08 08:25 pm (UTC)*scuffs shoes* shucks.
I don't even know what to say.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-08 11:20 pm (UTC)This makes perfect sense if you are a rational person, but you must know that the ultra orthodox are not rational. I lived in Israel for 14 years and watched the Haridim pervert the tenets of Judaism and the religious parties ride roughshod over the non- religious majority. I admire your tenacity in standing up for your beliefs and wish you well! B'hatslacha,
bigmackie
i hope my spelling is correct....
Date: 2006-11-09 04:33 am (UTC)and it cheers me up.
תודה רבּה
Re: i hope my spelling is correct....
Date: 2006-11-09 08:22 am (UTC)בבקשה ותודה לך.
Tomorrow
Date: 2006-11-09 12:06 pm (UTC)Anyhow, I wanted to see if I could get your phone number to call you tonight or tomorrow morning to see about meeting up for the parade. You can email me at danavdw@yahoo.com, or call me at 052-203-8649. Or you can call Nurit, as I am going to be at her place tonight.
Anyway, can't wait for tomorrow, it should be fun and well, interesting . . .
no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 12:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 12:15 pm (UTC)If not my number is 050-8434613.