Entry tags:
Good Friday Morning
This week had been so hellish, I don't even know where to begin.
( So I'll start at the beginning )
That was my week. I'm so glad it's over.
( So I'll start at the beginning )
That was my week. I'm so glad it's over.
Entry tags:
Good ol'e fashioned greed
The greed of the media companies is one of the more disgusting things plaguing our culture today.
Not to mention stifling it completely.
The public domain, as it currently stands, is in danger of being eaten away by the greed of corporate giants who could give a flying fuck about how art and dialogue are created and expressed.
When you deny new artists from being inspired and actually using the art, texts and music and images that have come before, you deny artists the right to actually create.
Not to mention that one of the points of copyright is to make sure the creators and artists are protected from intellectual property theft, such as it is. The whole point of taking things out of the public domain and licensing them is to make a profit out of them, which the original creator can no longer have a piece of.
Once again, corporate giants behaving like avaricious disgusting spoiled children.
When you think of platforms like Megaupload, which has been shut down, you can't help but wonder why the media moguls don't adopt that style of economy. I'd pay, I'm willing to pay a fee for a certain amount of downloads if the price is fair. People would rather pay a reasonable price than commit piracy. But you know, paying 20$ for a season in a DVD boxset, when I 20$ for a filesharing website gives me unlimited download ability - I know what I and millions of others, chose - if the moguls actually took into account the fact the internet has changed the way content is distributed and didn't see as a threat and rather an opportunity we would be seeing SOPA, PIPA, Copyright extension, etc. Well, they'd be making so much money they'd be thinking how they can more content distributed to more people with easier access.
But hey, what do I know. I'm just the consumer.
Speaking of Megaupload, this is absolutely sickening.
h/t to![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amethystfirefly for the links.
Not to mention stifling it completely.
The public domain, as it currently stands, is in danger of being eaten away by the greed of corporate giants who could give a flying fuck about how art and dialogue are created and expressed.
When you deny new artists from being inspired and actually using the art, texts and music and images that have come before, you deny artists the right to actually create.
Not to mention that one of the points of copyright is to make sure the creators and artists are protected from intellectual property theft, such as it is. The whole point of taking things out of the public domain and licensing them is to make a profit out of them, which the original creator can no longer have a piece of.
Once again, corporate giants behaving like avaricious disgusting spoiled children.
When you think of platforms like Megaupload, which has been shut down, you can't help but wonder why the media moguls don't adopt that style of economy. I'd pay, I'm willing to pay a fee for a certain amount of downloads if the price is fair. People would rather pay a reasonable price than commit piracy. But you know, paying 20$ for a season in a DVD boxset, when I 20$ for a filesharing website gives me unlimited download ability - I know what I and millions of others, chose - if the moguls actually took into account the fact the internet has changed the way content is distributed and didn't see as a threat and rather an opportunity we would be seeing SOPA, PIPA, Copyright extension, etc. Well, they'd be making so much money they'd be thinking how they can more content distributed to more people with easier access.
But hey, what do I know. I'm just the consumer.
Speaking of Megaupload, this is absolutely sickening.
h/t to
amethystfirefly for the links.
Entry tags:
"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go"
Never have those song lyrics been more appropriate. Only those lyrics, mind, as I'm not leaving a sweetheart behind and I'll most likely be coming back to my parents' house later this week, but man...
I'm moving out.
I have pots and pans.
A lamp.
A huge backpack full of clothes.
A desk.
A bookshelf.
Food that my mother foisted onto me and [Sexy!Roommate]
A bunch of stuff I already took up to my apartment.
My apartment. A place of my own. With a friend.
I'm overwhelmed, because there is still so much to do; register with the municipality, get my student card, my student bus card, a job.
One of my friends said I'd have a hard time finding a job in the city I'm moving to and I wanted to hit him, because who the fuck says something like that (but knowing him, I guess I shouldn't be surprised) - I am prepared to work a job that will suck if it pays the bills and gives me time to study (two days a week, this is an MLS) and do whatever I want.
But yeah, that's where I'm going.
This is what I'm doing.
I've been veering between excited, apprehensive, crying jags and simple rage because I've never done this before.
But I'm ready to go.
Like yesterday, today the first day of the rest of my life.
I'll most likely be without internet the first few days so I won't be around until I'm properly hooked up or find some public wi fi.
See you on the flip side.
I'm moving out.
I have pots and pans.
A lamp.
A huge backpack full of clothes.
A desk.
A bookshelf.
Food that my mother foisted onto me and [Sexy!Roommate]
A bunch of stuff I already took up to my apartment.
My apartment. A place of my own. With a friend.
I'm overwhelmed, because there is still so much to do; register with the municipality, get my student card, my student bus card, a job.
One of my friends said I'd have a hard time finding a job in the city I'm moving to and I wanted to hit him, because who the fuck says something like that (but knowing him, I guess I shouldn't be surprised) - I am prepared to work a job that will suck if it pays the bills and gives me time to study (two days a week, this is an MLS) and do whatever I want.
But yeah, that's where I'm going.
This is what I'm doing.
I've been veering between excited, apprehensive, crying jags and simple rage because I've never done this before.
But I'm ready to go.
Like yesterday, today the first day of the rest of my life.
I'll most likely be without internet the first few days so I won't be around until I'm properly hooked up or find some public wi fi.
See you on the flip side.
Entry tags:
[Hawaii Five-0] Episode 2.06: “Ka Hakaka Maika’i” Meta
I have in mind a meta in two parts.
The first, an outside view approach; in which I will pick apart the disturbing racial and class dynamics and intersections that were huge in this episode. I think that, among other things, will put into perspective why so many of us of feeling the Lori hate in this ep (besides the Mary Sue-ness of the character, that is).
We’ll call it the Doylist approach.
The second, an internal view approach, analysing the character interactions with each other and weaving it all into a coherent and cohesive narrative of what the characters – yeah, I’ll be honest – Steve and Danny - are going though at this first quarter of the season.
For every Doyle there is a Watson.
And just to show I’m not the pretentious arse that may be assumed from the introduction above, I give you the TVTropes Page Watsonian vs Doylist. Click at your own peril, etc.
( First Part )
( Second Part )
The first, an outside view approach; in which I will pick apart the disturbing racial and class dynamics and intersections that were huge in this episode. I think that, among other things, will put into perspective why so many of us of feeling the Lori hate in this ep (besides the Mary Sue-ness of the character, that is).
We’ll call it the Doylist approach.
The second, an internal view approach, analysing the character interactions with each other and weaving it all into a coherent and cohesive narrative of what the characters – yeah, I’ll be honest – Steve and Danny - are going though at this first quarter of the season.
For every Doyle there is a Watson.
And just to show I’m not the pretentious arse that may be assumed from the introduction above, I give you the TVTropes Page Watsonian vs Doylist. Click at your own peril, etc.
( First Part )
( Second Part )
Entry tags:
Not Vacant, Nor Vanished*
A month ago when the civil unrest in Israel began and I put aside my cynicism in order to participate in the protests and demonstrations, I was irked to hear people (friends and not friends) say they hoped these demonstrations don't turn "political".
I was baffled.
Social justice is probably the most political standpoint in society at large. The demand that resources, the economy and legislation treat everyone fairly is without a doubt a hard political line.
But in Israel, "politics" doesn't mean the power dynamics between groups of people, or how one's identity creates intersections of privilege and disparity, oh no, politics is that dirty laundry best left to elected officials, you know, which dirty laundry I'm talking about.
Racism. Occupation. "Security".
One of my friends the other day accused me of not liking her as much, because she's Right Wing. I'm like, you're not Right Wing, you support economic justice and she's said, in more words but that's the gist, that I was being deliberately obtuse and that Right and Left in Israel don't mean what they mean in other places in the world.
It's true, Left in Israel means opposing the Occupation to the point of hating Israel and Right means that the only way for Israel to survive is for the Occupation to stand because then Israel will be on the brink of destruction.
Safe to say those are two extreme positions even without breaking down the facets of race, nationalism and trauma that are intertwined into both arguments.
The demonstrations against the high cost of living, the class disparity and the over-all economic injustice that swept through the nation did not touch on the subject of the Occupation. I felt that it should have, because so much of what creates the economic disparity in Israel has to do with building settlements in the West Bank, has to do with building the Separation Wall, has to do with troops out there culling non-violent protests and with pushing an Apartheid economy in the West Bank.
An unregulated cartel like economy thrives in conditions like an Occupation.
I don't know much about the economy, but I do know that.
So the Occupation and the Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank were excluded from the discourse and activity to do with the social justice campaign the Tent Demonstrations started.
For good reason, Left and Right, such as they are conceived in Israel have to do with security, how Israeli Jewish bodies can be kept safe in the face of the big bad terrorists.
The government solution, bomb the shit out of civilians living under siege (because of Israel) and under social and religious oppression (because of Hamas), even though the People's Resistance Committee (PRC), who committed the co-ordinated attack, are not affiliated with Hamas, have nothing to do with the Hamas government and were all ID'd and killed by the IDF on the day of the attack.
And not to mention that the skirmishes that followed on the Egyptian border killed 5 Egyptian soldiers, after they had to deal with a suicide bomber of their own.
This, as they say, is a clusterfuck.
Beyond the diplomatic nightmare (Egypt has withdrawn its ambassador to Israel) and the "cease fire" between Israel and Hamas being thrown out the window.
Yes, beyond that, the Israeli paradigm that Security trumps society will be tested, and I fear that it will hold true, because we are nothing if not predictable. Our fear and trauma prevents us from seeing that war benefits very few (Israelis and Palestinians) and hurts the innocent more than anyone who actually perpetrates violence.
The Hebrew Leftists blogosphere is already talking about the end of the social justice demonstrations in light of the government's hawkish endeavours. I'm hoping the people have wised up a little, and notice that the government who sweated due to the fact that we know they used the economy against us, will have wised up and see that the government will exploit this renewed violent conflict in order to get back the control it had briefly lost on the citizens.
My response?
Resist and go back to the streets where we've been for the past month.
Resist and don't accept the idea that "security" demands social justice to be forfeited.
*V For Vendetta. What else?
I was baffled.
Social justice is probably the most political standpoint in society at large. The demand that resources, the economy and legislation treat everyone fairly is without a doubt a hard political line.
But in Israel, "politics" doesn't mean the power dynamics between groups of people, or how one's identity creates intersections of privilege and disparity, oh no, politics is that dirty laundry best left to elected officials, you know, which dirty laundry I'm talking about.
Racism. Occupation. "Security".
One of my friends the other day accused me of not liking her as much, because she's Right Wing. I'm like, you're not Right Wing, you support economic justice and she's said, in more words but that's the gist, that I was being deliberately obtuse and that Right and Left in Israel don't mean what they mean in other places in the world.
It's true, Left in Israel means opposing the Occupation to the point of hating Israel and Right means that the only way for Israel to survive is for the Occupation to stand because then Israel will be on the brink of destruction.
Safe to say those are two extreme positions even without breaking down the facets of race, nationalism and trauma that are intertwined into both arguments.
The demonstrations against the high cost of living, the class disparity and the over-all economic injustice that swept through the nation did not touch on the subject of the Occupation. I felt that it should have, because so much of what creates the economic disparity in Israel has to do with building settlements in the West Bank, has to do with building the Separation Wall, has to do with troops out there culling non-violent protests and with pushing an Apartheid economy in the West Bank.
An unregulated cartel like economy thrives in conditions like an Occupation.
I don't know much about the economy, but I do know that.
So the Occupation and the Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank were excluded from the discourse and activity to do with the social justice campaign the Tent Demonstrations started.
For good reason, Left and Right, such as they are conceived in Israel have to do with security, how Israeli Jewish bodies can be kept safe in the face of the big bad terrorists.
The government solution, bomb the shit out of civilians living under siege (because of Israel) and under social and religious oppression (because of Hamas), even though the People's Resistance Committee (PRC), who committed the co-ordinated attack, are not affiliated with Hamas, have nothing to do with the Hamas government and were all ID'd and killed by the IDF on the day of the attack.
And not to mention that the skirmishes that followed on the Egyptian border killed 5 Egyptian soldiers, after they had to deal with a suicide bomber of their own.
This, as they say, is a clusterfuck.
Beyond the diplomatic nightmare (Egypt has withdrawn its ambassador to Israel) and the "cease fire" between Israel and Hamas being thrown out the window.
Yes, beyond that, the Israeli paradigm that Security trumps society will be tested, and I fear that it will hold true, because we are nothing if not predictable. Our fear and trauma prevents us from seeing that war benefits very few (Israelis and Palestinians) and hurts the innocent more than anyone who actually perpetrates violence.
The Hebrew Leftists blogosphere is already talking about the end of the social justice demonstrations in light of the government's hawkish endeavours. I'm hoping the people have wised up a little, and notice that the government who sweated due to the fact that we know they used the economy against us, will have wised up and see that the government will exploit this renewed violent conflict in order to get back the control it had briefly lost on the citizens.
My response?
Resist and go back to the streets where we've been for the past month.
Resist and don't accept the idea that "security" demands social justice to be forfeited.
*V For Vendetta. What else?
Entry tags:
1 of the 300,000
Yesterday Israelis took to the street again, for the third week in a row.
Mass demonstrations and protests, which are planned during the weeks in the tent cities that have mushroomed all over the show.
The main reason this is happening now?
Because the neo-liberal economic system is hurting everyone and finally we middle class peeps don't have pockets as deep as we thought.
Yes, this is an economic justice protest, it is a socially political protest, it is a demonstration of my favourite thing - Vox Populi.
I was one of the 300,000 that walked the streets, I didn't sleep last night and I'm still wiped, who knows when I'll have a proper night's sleep this week.
On Twitter, someone asked, why are we having such huge protests if we are a democracy and chose our leaders through elections?
I didn't answer at the time, but I'll answer here, because it's true we are not like Tunisia and Egypt, though economic justice and welfare were the bottom line in many cases for those demonstrations as well (there are still people in Tahrir), but the fact that our fear, Israeli Jewish fear to be precise, for our survival in a hostile territory created a voting system based on national security rather then job security, affordable housing, a proper welfare system and public health care - every single one of those aspects of Israeli life has been eroded through privatisation (school children aren't getting their vaccines because of privatised school nursing system) and de-regulation (people can't buy milk and cheese and fruit and vegetables!).
And so we reached a brink, there's an idiom in Hebrew is to say enough is enough, literally it means "The water has reached our breath/spirit" and never before have I seen so many people demanding to what should have always been there.
And finally, little by little, I'm seeing more and more people demanding political justice as well, calling an end to the Occupation - because though it is the moral and ethical thing to do, it is also the practical thing to do. The Occupation take money out of our pockets and is used to opress another people in economic and political dire straights.
Come September, and the UN bid for Statehood, if things don't get moving, this whole summer may be a waste.
I have hope, actually, for real, seeing all those people, being among them with my friends, it's enough to start a revolution of some kind.
Mass demonstrations and protests, which are planned during the weeks in the tent cities that have mushroomed all over the show.
The main reason this is happening now?
Because the neo-liberal economic system is hurting everyone and finally we middle class peeps don't have pockets as deep as we thought.
Yes, this is an economic justice protest, it is a socially political protest, it is a demonstration of my favourite thing - Vox Populi.
I was one of the 300,000 that walked the streets, I didn't sleep last night and I'm still wiped, who knows when I'll have a proper night's sleep this week.
On Twitter, someone asked, why are we having such huge protests if we are a democracy and chose our leaders through elections?
I didn't answer at the time, but I'll answer here, because it's true we are not like Tunisia and Egypt, though economic justice and welfare were the bottom line in many cases for those demonstrations as well (there are still people in Tahrir), but the fact that our fear, Israeli Jewish fear to be precise, for our survival in a hostile territory created a voting system based on national security rather then job security, affordable housing, a proper welfare system and public health care - every single one of those aspects of Israeli life has been eroded through privatisation (school children aren't getting their vaccines because of privatised school nursing system) and de-regulation (people can't buy milk and cheese and fruit and vegetables!).
And so we reached a brink, there's an idiom in Hebrew is to say enough is enough, literally it means "The water has reached our breath/spirit" and never before have I seen so many people demanding to what should have always been there.
And finally, little by little, I'm seeing more and more people demanding political justice as well, calling an end to the Occupation - because though it is the moral and ethical thing to do, it is also the practical thing to do. The Occupation take money out of our pockets and is used to opress another people in economic and political dire straights.
Come September, and the UN bid for Statehood, if things don't get moving, this whole summer may be a waste.
I have hope, actually, for real, seeing all those people, being among them with my friends, it's enough to start a revolution of some kind.
Entry tags:
Brandishing The Un-Holy Brand
Israel is a problematic country.
Anyone who reads this journal knows how I feel about my little hell-hole.
Anyone who reads this journal knows how I feel about Israel being used as a paragon of liberalism because we have deigned to allow queers to have certain rights that enable some of us to live lives without as much fear as we once did.
So, you know, when I read that the Berlin Pride Parade will be honouring the Tel-Aviv municipality sans any signs of Israel i.e. flags, national symbols, etc. I call foul hypocrisy!
Especially when the excuse is branding things Israel excels at.
Yeah, pinkwashing.
Yeah, there's no racial hierarchy in Israeli queer culture. There's no misogyny towards lesbians or homophobia towards gay men, no equating being a gay man with being "feminine" thus inferior, no equating gay women with needing a "good fuck" in order to be corrected. There's no bi invisibility and of course there's no Transphobia, no siree bob, there is not.
And of course, it's not like there was an unsolved double homicide and terror attack less than two years ago.
This is me gagging.
Only this year, 2011, does a local bar (as in, it is ten minutes away from where I live and most anyone in my town) have an LGBT focused night. Why is my culture being "exported" in order to make the racist, bigoted, religiously coercive and over all oppressive country look better because it allows the queers to party!
This kind of fetishising of gay culture has gone on long enough, damn it!
ETA: Edited to fix some implications of Oppression Olympics.
Anyone who reads this journal knows how I feel about my little hell-hole.
Anyone who reads this journal knows how I feel about Israel being used as a paragon of liberalism because we have deigned to allow queers to have certain rights that enable some of us to live lives without as much fear as we once did.
So, you know, when I read that the Berlin Pride Parade will be honouring the Tel-Aviv municipality sans any signs of Israel i.e. flags, national symbols, etc. I call foul hypocrisy!
Especially when the excuse is branding things Israel excels at.
Yeah, pinkwashing.
Thus, there will be no Israeli flags and the emphasis will be on Tel Aviv as a global city – pluralistic and liberal, which accepts members of the gay community no matter where they're from. Moreover, visitors to the festival will receive information about Tel Aviv which will include a map that highlights LGBT entertainment centers.
Yeah, there's no racial hierarchy in Israeli queer culture. There's no misogyny towards lesbians or homophobia towards gay men, no equating being a gay man with being "feminine" thus inferior, no equating gay women with needing a "good fuck" in order to be corrected. There's no bi invisibility and of course there's no Transphobia, no siree bob, there is not.
And of course, it's not like there was an unsolved double homicide and terror attack less than two years ago.
A source within the tourism industry told Ynet that "in the past it has been proven that the correct and smart way to 'export' Israel, especially these days, is through emphasizing brands it excels in, without using anything that symbolizes the state of Israel. Unfortunately, the Israeli flag or Star of David can cause antagonism among many."
This is me gagging.
Only this year, 2011, does a local bar (as in, it is ten minutes away from where I live and most anyone in my town) have an LGBT focused night. Why is my culture being "exported" in order to make the racist, bigoted, religiously coercive and over all oppressive country look better because it allows the queers to party!
This kind of fetishising of gay culture has gone on long enough, damn it!
ETA: Edited to fix some implications of Oppression Olympics.
Entry tags:
I've Got the Power
The power of "shushing".
Yes, indeed, as a newly appointed Library Book stacker I get to tell people in the reading room to be quiet and talk on their phones outside.
I'm pretty sure the effect was ruined due to the massive head-cold I developed over the past couple of days.
It absolutely sucks to start a job, one that revolves around much physical work, when you're sneezing, blowing your nose and pretty much feel as though your head is surrounded by cotton wool.
It was pretty good, got to know the other people, helped some Firsties get their bearings in the Library and such. Being that it was the afternoon there wasn't a whole lot of action, which I think I'll get tomorrow morning. Hopefully, I'll be able to breathe.
Oh, fuck, you don't want to know how many times I had to spell check this thing.
Here I go, off to be a slave of minimum wage!
Yes, indeed, as a newly appointed Library Book stacker I get to tell people in the reading room to be quiet and talk on their phones outside.
I'm pretty sure the effect was ruined due to the massive head-cold I developed over the past couple of days.
It absolutely sucks to start a job, one that revolves around much physical work, when you're sneezing, blowing your nose and pretty much feel as though your head is surrounded by cotton wool.
It was pretty good, got to know the other people, helped some Firsties get their bearings in the Library and such. Being that it was the afternoon there wasn't a whole lot of action, which I think I'll get tomorrow morning. Hopefully, I'll be able to breathe.
Oh, fuck, you don't want to know how many times I had to spell check this thing.
Here I go, off to be a slave of minimum wage!
Entry tags:
With regards to employment
I got a job!
I'm employed!
I will be getting a salary!
My life as a leisurely student has been dented!
I'm so very pleased, as some of you may know, I've had a hard time keeping jobs, some of it my own fault, some of it utterly crazy employers.
I still recall the secretarial job I had nearly four years ago. I lasted a month and would have probably been able to continue on had it not been for the fact that I basically skipped out every day for nearly week in order to spend time with Neil Gaiman.
I was fired after that week. I have no regrets. My priorities may be skewed, but I was so much happier not to be there. It was also just before my break down following the war, so who knows what would have happened. Well, I broke down in the office really and cried in front of my boss.
Mortifying. Not to mention that much as I enjoy observing the aesthetic of an office space (I'm currently mainlining Mad Men) I think an office job is pretty anathema to me.
I sit at a desk for fun, more than anything. I think sitting at a desk and being at the beck and call of people would drive me insane.
But who knows there's time.
The job I got is a physical one at one of the libraries on campus.
Here's to seeing the end of next month with a job *holds thumbs*.
I also celebrated by getting a hair cut. Wow, so much hair came off, so much weight has been taken off. I don't know why I bother growing it when I love the longest sections (yeah it's layered now) just touching my nape and/or the underside of my chin. I should have got it whacked months ago.
There is political News I'm reading, but choosing to actively ignore. Not particularly good public service, but there you have it.
I've also currently started writing a fic that may be offensive, but I'll have to find a suitable beta that can smack me over the head, at the very least.
Now, back to my cup of coffee before it's too cold.
I'm employed!
I will be getting a salary!
My life as a leisurely student has been dented!
I'm so very pleased, as some of you may know, I've had a hard time keeping jobs, some of it my own fault, some of it utterly crazy employers.
I still recall the secretarial job I had nearly four years ago. I lasted a month and would have probably been able to continue on had it not been for the fact that I basically skipped out every day for nearly week in order to spend time with Neil Gaiman.
I was fired after that week. I have no regrets. My priorities may be skewed, but I was so much happier not to be there. It was also just before my break down following the war, so who knows what would have happened. Well, I broke down in the office really and cried in front of my boss.
Mortifying. Not to mention that much as I enjoy observing the aesthetic of an office space (I'm currently mainlining Mad Men) I think an office job is pretty anathema to me.
I sit at a desk for fun, more than anything. I think sitting at a desk and being at the beck and call of people would drive me insane.
But who knows there's time.
The job I got is a physical one at one of the libraries on campus.
Here's to seeing the end of next month with a job *holds thumbs*.
I also celebrated by getting a hair cut. Wow, so much hair came off, so much weight has been taken off. I don't know why I bother growing it when I love the longest sections (yeah it's layered now) just touching my nape and/or the underside of my chin. I should have got it whacked months ago.
There is political News I'm reading, but choosing to actively ignore. Not particularly good public service, but there you have it.
I've also currently started writing a fic that may be offensive, but I'll have to find a suitable beta that can smack me over the head, at the very least.
Now, back to my cup of coffee before it's too cold.
Entry tags:
There Will Be Good News Someday
Something y'all should know about gay rights in my locale. The majority of them, if not all of them, have come to be due to judicial precedence and not actual Knesset (Parliamentary) bills.
All same sex adoptions rights are due to court room precedence. All spouse benefit packages awarded to one's same sex partner, due to court room precedence.
You get the picture.
Our rights exist, not because we are almost equal, but because the court sees fit that we are human enough for civil rights.
Why am I telling you this?
In a bout of unimaginable cruelty, apathy and down right ignorance, a Judge has declared that gay partners aren't couples under the inheritance law.
I can't even pick out quotes that manage to make sense of this story, so I'm putting the entire article under a cut as well as the rest if my post: ( here )
All same sex adoptions rights are due to court room precedence. All spouse benefit packages awarded to one's same sex partner, due to court room precedence.
You get the picture.
Our rights exist, not because we are almost equal, but because the court sees fit that we are human enough for civil rights.
Why am I telling you this?
In a bout of unimaginable cruelty, apathy and down right ignorance, a Judge has declared that gay partners aren't couples under the inheritance law.
I can't even pick out quotes that manage to make sense of this story, so I'm putting the entire article under a cut as well as the rest if my post: ( here )
Entry tags:
PSA: Livejournal, Facebook, Twitter and such
Let it be known, that I will never cross post any entry made of Livejournal using these new Facebook and Twitter buttons. I will not violate an f-lock in place.
It is my wish that people do not do this in my Livejournal as well.
Public entries are public and thus are available for the whole Internet to read and while I appreciate the courtesy of asking permission or being informed when I'm linked somewhere, I am aware that it is a courtesy.
Let's move on.
Via![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rm I read that Livejournal hatched a deal with Facebook.
This is upsetting, because it means that even if the LJ staff didn't die after the stampede of "No" that's been happening over the past couple of days, their hands are most likely tied by contract and the cross post feature is here to stay.
Alas.
However! Not all hope is lost! Via51stcenturyfox you can work around the feature, detailed in her post.
You'll note that when you comment on my LJ, the twitter and facebook options are not there, you too can be rid of them by following the instruction in51stcenturyfox's post or just read what I copied from her (which I did without permission, I hope she doesn't mind!).
I've implemented it and find it absolutely fine! No accidental cross post from anyone! Huzza!
It is my wish that people do not do this in my Livejournal as well.
Public entries are public and thus are available for the whole Internet to read and while I appreciate the courtesy of asking permission or being informed when I'm linked somewhere, I am aware that it is a courtesy.
Let's move on.
Via
rm I read that Livejournal hatched a deal with Facebook.This is upsetting, because it means that even if the LJ staff didn't die after the stampede of "No" that's been happening over the past couple of days, their hands are most likely tied by contract and the cross post feature is here to stay.
Alas.
However! Not all hope is lost! Via
51stcenturyfox you can work around the feature, detailed in her post. You'll note that when you comment on my LJ, the twitter and facebook options are not there, you too can be rid of them by following the instruction in
51stcenturyfox's post or just read what I copied from her (which I did without permission, I hope she doesn't mind!).Okay! Take this chunk o' code:
.b-repost-item, FORM#qrform > TABLE[style="border: 1px solid black;"]:last-child TD[style="vertical-align: top; text-align: right;"]:first-child { display: none !important; }
Cut and paste it into the bottom of your custom CSS stylesheet box, which is here.
In your options, you can't have custom comment pages disabled. So under: Disable customized comment pages for your journal, choose "No"
If someone posts all comments to facebook or twitter by default it won't work, but it gets rid of those friggin' choices on your journal for most people, at any rate.
I've implemented it and find it absolutely fine! No accidental cross post from anyone! Huzza!
Entry tags:
Democratic Dictatorship
Are you ready to read about some politics?
Are you ready to read about the fact that soon those who advocate (as in speak words) economic boycott against Israeli products will be criminalised?
Are you ready to read about the fact Israel believes that the Occupation is a public relations problem and not an actual human rights problem?
Are any of these things News to you?
They are not to me, but here's the gist. The Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement is gaining momentum. So much so, that politicians are running scared and have drafted a law (which has already passed a first reading - for a Bill to be passed it needs to pass three reads in the Knesset) in which supporting, advocating and participating in BDS activities will be criminalised: Seriously.
Of course, this all came about because the Palestinian Authority boycotted Israel first!
Wrong.
The Israeli mind set, of which mine does not escape, views everything in terms of warfare, something that Dr. Dalit Baum articulated in the video embedded below. A boycott, by it's definition, is a pro-active non-violent form of protest by abstaining from economically participating and dealing with bodies, organisations and governments whose policies, for instance, you do not believe deserve to be supported.
But that, that's Antisemitism right there, not willing to wheel and deal with Israelis, well... that's you being a hateful bigot isn't it?
Never mind that an Arab man is currently in hospital for talking to a Jewish girl. But no, there's no racism.
None at all
It's all, one big PR problem. And you who are freakin' fantastic at PR?
Gays.
Yep, Liberals in Europe and the United States always approve of the Gays.
I mean, all Israel needs is a little re-branding.
Gays made the best logos.
Especially when they host great parties and have a fabulous night life.
C'mon over my brothers! Tel Aviv is just the City for you.
Don't mind that girl who was beaten to a bloody pulp by her brothers because she's trangender (the girl is constantly misgendered in the article).
Or the fact that it has been a whole entire fucking year since the murder at the Gay Youth club and the murderer is still at large.
But no, we queers have to be the pretty face Israel presents the world because while we continue to benefit for activist judges and some social progression, the IDF proclaims itself to be under no obligation to protect civilians. By the way, that white phosphorus Israel has been denying it used during the assault on Gaza? Well, now we're going to "reduce its use".
Brilliant hypocrisy.
Just fucking brilliant.
This is what Israeli democracy looks like - with Loyalty tests, religious persecution, racial inequality, human rights violations and hijacking the language of human rights in order to paint ourselves as better, more accepting, more tolerant and Normal.
Are you ready to read about the fact that soon those who advocate (as in speak words) economic boycott against Israeli products will be criminalised?
Are you ready to read about the fact Israel believes that the Occupation is a public relations problem and not an actual human rights problem?
Are any of these things News to you?
They are not to me, but here's the gist. The Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement is gaining momentum. So much so, that politicians are running scared and have drafted a law (which has already passed a first reading - for a Bill to be passed it needs to pass three reads in the Knesset) in which supporting, advocating and participating in BDS activities will be criminalised: Seriously.
Of course, this all came about because the Palestinian Authority boycotted Israel first!
Wrong.
The most brutal, naked boycott is, of course, the siege on Gaza and the boycott of Hamas. At Israel's behest, nearly all Western countries signed onto the boycott with inexplicable alacrity. This is not just a siege that has left Gaza in a state of shortage for three years. Nor is it just a complete (and foolish ) boycott of Hamas, save for the discussions over abducted soldier Gilad Shalit. It's a series of cultural, academic, humanitarian and economic boycotts. Israel threatens nearly every diplomat who seeks to enter Gaza to see firsthand the unbearable sights.
The Israeli mind set, of which mine does not escape, views everything in terms of warfare, something that Dr. Dalit Baum articulated in the video embedded below. A boycott, by it's definition, is a pro-active non-violent form of protest by abstaining from economically participating and dealing with bodies, organisations and governments whose policies, for instance, you do not believe deserve to be supported.
But that, that's Antisemitism right there, not willing to wheel and deal with Israelis, well... that's you being a hateful bigot isn't it?
Never mind that an Arab man is currently in hospital for talking to a Jewish girl. But no, there's no racism.
None at all
It's all, one big PR problem. And you who are freakin' fantastic at PR?
Gays.
Yep, Liberals in Europe and the United States always approve of the Gays.
I mean, all Israel needs is a little re-branding.
Gays made the best logos.
Especially when they host great parties and have a fabulous night life.
C'mon over my brothers! Tel Aviv is just the City for you.
Don't mind that girl who was beaten to a bloody pulp by her brothers because she's trangender (the girl is constantly misgendered in the article).
Or the fact that it has been a whole entire fucking year since the murder at the Gay Youth club and the murderer is still at large.
But no, we queers have to be the pretty face Israel presents the world because while we continue to benefit for activist judges and some social progression, the IDF proclaims itself to be under no obligation to protect civilians. By the way, that white phosphorus Israel has been denying it used during the assault on Gaza? Well, now we're going to "reduce its use".
Brilliant hypocrisy.
Just fucking brilliant.
This is what Israeli democracy looks like - with Loyalty tests, religious persecution, racial inequality, human rights violations and hijacking the language of human rights in order to paint ourselves as better, more accepting, more tolerant and Normal.
Entry tags:
Too Many Open Tabs
So many things worth writing about, so little time.
I have a huge amount of tabs, on eclectic subjects, open and waiting to be disseminated, but I have to simply linkspam, so many others do it. Also I have been told my perspective is worth something (who knew) so I like discussing the News in a post.
Like the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu (i.e. The Wannabe Master) has said things that make me laugh, for if I didn't I would surely cry:
You know what, yes, there are Human Rights violations in Iran one could argue that are Human Rights violations everywhere.
But honestly Bibi, you expect us to take you seriously when this is happening in YOUR backyard?
And scene.
This coming Friday there will be a big demonstration in Silwan neighbourhood, who do you think the police will beat up for being a "public nuisance"?
Yeah.
But wait! There is more... it's actually quite distressing how much more there is.
There is a troubling trend of double standard in the Religious Sector (that is, the Jewish Ultra-Orthodox sector) which eschews civil law and the court... seems to allow it.
Racism and sexism put together is the ugliest way possible.
You know, if I were ever arrested, I'm going to use this as precedence, that the court and the police can't arrest me. Why? because I don't want to be arrested that simple.
And so, racial/ethnic segregation in a religious West Bank settlement (because that's another fucked up thing to talk about!) is legitimised by default because the court is afraid to offend to poor "disenfranchised" religious people's little feelings.
Gotta love the fact that their racist convictions keep getting News, and that there is outrage (regarding what, I couldn't say, simply that there is OUTRAGE!).
This is me, gagging.
Especially because the Religious Culture War is winning and I fear that soon, the Religious will really from a Militia and I'll be dictated under a Theocracy, I mean this is just distressing:
Liturgy, yes. Battling homophobia, no.
Yeah, this is the way to democracy in the Middle East. Castes and Different Laws for Different People - there's a name for that you know, but shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's Antisemitic to say it in this context... *cough*apartheid*cough*.
Because yeah, the Left (by which I mean, me and the other people who think about what the above means) has a distorted view of Zionism, according to ex-General and current Vice Premier and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon - because being critical and sceptical and not being spoon fed the pig shit that comes out of the mouths of Authority is the anti-thesis of the history of secular Judaism!
In case it wasn't clear, the above paragraph is me being sarcastic!
I have a bunch of other links regarding the economy of the Occupation, but I think that's a bit much after the blasting of info I put here, so here it is, linkspam style, despite the fact that it's not my method of choice:
- Turkey is still hypocritical, but we likes the monies! Spat or not, Turkey still using Israeli tech in attacks on Kurdish PKK rebels.
- Two articles about an economic boycott on the same page, "Targeted boycott and divestment pushing companies out of the settlements" and "Boycott the Occupation: The Israelis promoting the boycott on settlement products".
- And on that note: Only a boycott will persuade Israel.
And now, I'm going out! Hope your democracy is having a slow News Week!
I have a huge amount of tabs, on eclectic subjects, open and waiting to be disseminated, but I have to simply linkspam, so many others do it. Also I have been told my perspective is worth something (who knew) so I like discussing the News in a post.
Like the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu (i.e. The Wannabe Master) has said things that make me laugh, for if I didn't I would surely cry:
Human Rights activists should sail to Tehran and not Gaza:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called on human rights activists who participate in Gaza-bound flotillas to sail to Tehran instead, where he says real human rights violations exist.
"I call on all human rights activists in the world - go to Tehran, that's where there is a human rights violation," said Netanyahu during his meeting with the Austrian Chancellor, Werner Faymann, in which he discussed Israel's ease of the Gaza blockade and flotillas planning on breaching Israel's Gaza blockade.
You know what, yes, there are Human Rights violations in Iran one could argue that are Human Rights violations everywhere.
But honestly Bibi, you expect us to take you seriously when this is happening in YOUR backyard?
Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem on Wednesday threatened to forcibly evict four Palestinian families they claim are living on property belonging to Jews in the neighborhood of Silwan.
The settlers said they would hire private security firms to implement the evictions if the four families, which include 40 individuals, do not leave by July 4.
And scene.
This coming Friday there will be a big demonstration in Silwan neighbourhood, who do you think the police will beat up for being a "public nuisance"?
Yeah.
But wait! There is more... it's actually quite distressing how much more there is.
There is a troubling trend of double standard in the Religious Sector (that is, the Jewish Ultra-Orthodox sector) which eschews civil law and the court... seems to allow it.
Racism and sexism put together is the ugliest way possible.
You know, if I were ever arrested, I'm going to use this as precedence, that the court and the police can't arrest me. Why? because I don't want to be arrested that simple.
And so, racial/ethnic segregation in a religious West Bank settlement (because that's another fucked up thing to talk about!) is legitimised by default because the court is afraid to offend to poor "disenfranchised" religious people's little feelings.
Gotta love the fact that their racist convictions keep getting News, and that there is outrage (regarding what, I couldn't say, simply that there is OUTRAGE!).
This is me, gagging.
Especially because the Religious Culture War is winning and I fear that soon, the Religious will really from a Militia and I'll be dictated under a Theocracy, I mean this is just distressing:
The educational curriculum in state-run institutions for this coming school year will include a new subject: Jewish culture and tradition. Initially, the subject will be taught in grades 6-8 for a period of two hours per week, and then expanded to additional grades.
The new subject will include lessons on Jewish culture, the Hebrew calendar and "the Jewish people's connection to the Land of Israel." In addition, students in the sixth grade will be required to learn the weekly Torah portion; students in seventh grade will be taught the order of prayers in the Jewish liturgy; eighth graders will undergo instruction in Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers ); and ninth graders will delve into Theodor Herzl's novel "Altneuland."
Liturgy, yes. Battling homophobia, no.
Yeah, this is the way to democracy in the Middle East. Castes and Different Laws for Different People - there's a name for that you know, but shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's Antisemitic to say it in this context... *cough*apartheid*cough*.
Because yeah, the Left (by which I mean, me and the other people who think about what the above means) has a distorted view of Zionism, according to ex-General and current Vice Premier and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon - because being critical and sceptical and not being spoon fed the pig shit that comes out of the mouths of Authority is the anti-thesis of the history of secular Judaism!
In case it wasn't clear, the above paragraph is me being sarcastic!
I have a bunch of other links regarding the economy of the Occupation, but I think that's a bit much after the blasting of info I put here, so here it is, linkspam style, despite the fact that it's not my method of choice:
- Turkey is still hypocritical, but we likes the monies! Spat or not, Turkey still using Israeli tech in attacks on Kurdish PKK rebels.
- Two articles about an economic boycott on the same page, "Targeted boycott and divestment pushing companies out of the settlements" and "Boycott the Occupation: The Israelis promoting the boycott on settlement products".
- And on that note: Only a boycott will persuade Israel.
And now, I'm going out! Hope your democracy is having a slow News Week!
Entry tags:
No, LJ No!
*Sigh* via synechdochic:
This is the letter synecdochic wrote for the feedback:
( Hi there )
Livejournal has done some bad coding shit over the past four years that I've been using - I was here forstrikthrough, boldthrough, the breast feeding icon fiasco and probably more but I don't recall.
In all those instances I've seen LJ users come together and fight and WIN.
I have a Dreamwidth account, if this gender crap passes I'll not be renewing any payments to Livejournal and making it my business to monetarily support Dreamwidth.
This is being done for advertising purposes (most likely) and it keeps on confirming that ads, advertising and the whole copy-writing industry is evil.
Just my opinion of course.
This is my letter, written in my own words and inspired by the the letter posted above:
( Hello )
* Gender will be a mandatory field at account creation,and it will be able to appear public on one's profile. (I can't tell if people with existing gender specification will be defaulted to "nobody can see it" or "everybody can see it".)(Subsequent changelog reading indicates that the public specificity has since been removed. It is unknown whether this is to require public specificity in the future or if it will remain private.)
* LiveJournal is removing the Unspecified option for the gender field. That's right: you get to be male or female. Period. That's it. (Source)
If this pisses you off as much as it pisses me off, go to Edit Profile and select Unspecified for your gender option. Then, go to http://www.livejournal.com/contact/?dept=feedback and politely register your displeasure. (The people who read and process Feedback are not the people who make the decisions. They are often the people who are yelling internally about the decisions.)
(This will likely take place at the next code push, which given LJ's history will be either this Thursday or next, so spread the word fast, especially to the genderqueer community. After that point, you will no longer be able to pick "Unspecified" as your gender.)
This is the letter synecdochic wrote for the feedback:
( Hi there )
Livejournal has done some bad coding shit over the past four years that I've been using - I was here for
In all those instances I've seen LJ users come together and fight and WIN.
I have a Dreamwidth account, if this gender crap passes I'll not be renewing any payments to Livejournal and making it my business to monetarily support Dreamwidth.
This is being done for advertising purposes (most likely) and it keeps on confirming that ads, advertising and the whole copy-writing industry is evil.
Just my opinion of course.
This is my letter, written in my own words and inspired by the the letter posted above:
( Hello )
This Art is for Buying!
My dear friend tamara_russo has opened up an Etsy Store: The Seagull's Aery.
It's her beautiful mixed media canvas art and photography.
( Some samples )
In addition, if you do chose to love her art as much as I do and have the funds (which I don't) to buy her art you'll be supporting one of the best people on Earth.
Go check it out!
tamara_russo has opened up an Etsy Store: The Seagull's Aery.It's her beautiful mixed media canvas art and photography.
( Some samples )
In addition, if you do chose to love her art as much as I do and have the funds (which I don't) to buy her art you'll be supporting one of the best people on Earth.
Go check it out!
Entry tags:
"Meet me at the Mall"
Today I accompanied a friend to one of the most expensive malls in the country - it's a five minute walk from the Uni campus - which is situated in one of the most up market neighbourhoods in Tel Aviv.
Completely unexpectedly, I bought shoes.
I do not simply walk into a shop and buy things on the spot.
It's simply something I do not do.
But for these, I was willing to be spontaneous.
They are, in the words of my father, Zooty!
Add to that, that I tried on pants I haven't fitted into for the past two years and they looked awesome!
I'm feeling pretty good.
In that utterly shallow, I really should be beyond this sort of sizeist thinking, kind of way.
Follow the link! Admire those puppies!
Completely unexpectedly, I bought shoes.
I do not simply walk into a shop and buy things on the spot.
It's simply something I do not do.
But for these, I was willing to be spontaneous.
They are, in the words of my father, Zooty!
Add to that, that I tried on pants I haven't fitted into for the past two years and they looked awesome!
I'm feeling pretty good.
In that utterly shallow, I really should be beyond this sort of sizeist thinking, kind of way.
Follow the link! Admire those puppies!
Entry tags:
The Polanksi Conundrum
Oh wait.
It really, really is not a fucking conundrum.
The man raped a child, plead guilty, then ran away because the sentencing was too harsh for him (U.S. Appellate Court! Hello!), not that I think there's anything to appeal, or condone or even sympathise with a criminal who decided to do a runner rather than serve the time given him for the crime he committed upon a 13 year old girl.
Is this getting into people's thick skulls?! Obviously not, seeing as there is a fucking petition (No! Tilda Swinton! Pedro Almodovar?!?! *weeps*... just a couple of names at first glance that popped out at me) calling for him to be let go and set free signed by a large amount of people, whose work I admire and inspire me. This is all so fucking Twilight Zone I'm having a hard time articulating it in a manner that doesn't include me tearing my hair out and run screaming through the streets like the "hysterical woman" that I am.
The man, drugged and raped a girl, is also an artist.
*crickets*
What? Is that so bloody hard to imagine? That people who create great things are also morally bankrupt and make no mistake, even if he personally feels guilty (but doesn't really want to sit in jail for it) he still raped a child.
It's really not that complicated. Either the rape of a child is punishable no matter who commits it, or those who are famous, wealthy and part of the artistic Elite are utterly exempt from the laws governing us lowly serfs.
An exaggeration? Please, this is once again a moment in history in which those who "Have" are entitled to get away with espousing the ugliest, most anti-social bullshit imaginable.
And for getting away with criminal behaviour, of course.
Obviously, this is no longer just about Polanski.
It really, really is not a fucking conundrum.
The man raped a child, plead guilty, then ran away because the sentencing was too harsh for him (U.S. Appellate Court! Hello!), not that I think there's anything to appeal, or condone or even sympathise with a criminal who decided to do a runner rather than serve the time given him for the crime he committed upon a 13 year old girl.
Is this getting into people's thick skulls?! Obviously not, seeing as there is a fucking petition (No! Tilda Swinton! Pedro Almodovar?!?! *weeps*... just a couple of names at first glance that popped out at me) calling for him to be let go and set free signed by a large amount of people, whose work I admire and inspire me. This is all so fucking Twilight Zone I'm having a hard time articulating it in a manner that doesn't include me tearing my hair out and run screaming through the streets like the "hysterical woman" that I am.
The man, drugged and raped a girl, is also an artist.
*crickets*
What? Is that so bloody hard to imagine? That people who create great things are also morally bankrupt and make no mistake, even if he personally feels guilty (but doesn't really want to sit in jail for it) he still raped a child.
It's really not that complicated. Either the rape of a child is punishable no matter who commits it, or those who are famous, wealthy and part of the artistic Elite are utterly exempt from the laws governing us lowly serfs.
An exaggeration? Please, this is once again a moment in history in which those who "Have" are entitled to get away with espousing the ugliest, most anti-social bullshit imaginable.
And for getting away with criminal behaviour, of course.
Obviously, this is no longer just about Polanski.
Entry tags:
"This... Is...Judeah!!!!"
A-la the famous 300 scream by Gerard Butler, ya know.
Education minister: More combat soldiers needed, is the title of the article, the sub-title is:
"Sa'ar visits military recruit center, promises full cooperation between education system and IDF".
Jesus fucking Christ, are they kidding!?
Because we need the IDF to venture even further into the brain washing tactics of the Israeli Education System.
The system, from kindergarten to high school, is built to prepare us for the fact that we, good Israeli citizens (so long as we're not Palestinian identified, that is) that we will serve loyally in the IDF.
Over the past few years there has been a huge moral panic regarding the "shirkers", those who through means and ways get an exemption from IDF service and usually go on to do some kind of civilian oriented national service which should (though it isn't) be considered equal to military service.
Conciousness objectors who are 18 are rare. That's why they're the ones spoken about more often than not.
The largest section of the (Jewish) population that do not serve in the military are the Yeshivah (Haredi - the people in shtreimels and black suits all year round) Boys who due to religious conviction do not serve, this is the reason Orthodox girls (not Haredi)
Backfire, is putting it mildly.
Demographically, they are also the fastest growing Jewish sector.
I feel the urge to mock and laugh, but that doesn't do much good, because the people vilified by the witch hunt committed upon the "shirkers" are the ones who do not serve either for physical health reasons or mental health reasons.
Bluntly, these are the people that the IDF, the system, rejected. Still, they continue to persecute those deemed "lesser" because serving in the IDF is the way you are "made" into a Good Israeli.
A Good Israeli is a Loyal Soldier, willing to Die for Land and Nation.
Whatever.
The State created loopholes through which people can avoid the draft, legally. Then they get their panties into a twist that people use it.
The IDF is supposed to be a defensive army, obviously it acts as a police force over a civilian population and commits as many war crimes as any other army in the world while it continues to chant: "Most Ethical Army in the World".
During my two years of service I'd never received more than a cursory skim over what constitutes an illegal order or command. I know from friends who were in combat units that they first heard of an illegal order during boot camp like everyone else and never heard those words again.
The skim is in a little pamphlet new draftees get when entering the system, reagrding the behaviour of an IDF soldier.
In the article linked above, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar says:
There you have it. Kids from low socio-economic backgrounds should be encouraged to follow a path in which they put their lives in danger for a state that would rather have cannon fodder than invest in the actual neighbourhoods.
Some of those kids may attain actual life skills that will grant them upwards social and economic mobility, but in the context of the Occupation and the destructive economy in which Capital and Capitol are more intertwined than ever, I find this a very discouraging development in what should be a civic establishment and not a pre-military education camp.
Education minister: More combat soldiers needed, is the title of the article, the sub-title is:
"Sa'ar visits military recruit center, promises full cooperation between education system and IDF".
Jesus fucking Christ, are they kidding!?
Because we need the IDF to venture even further into the brain washing tactics of the Israeli Education System.
The system, from kindergarten to high school, is built to prepare us for the fact that we, good Israeli citizens (so long as we're not Palestinian identified, that is) that we will serve loyally in the IDF.
Over the past few years there has been a huge moral panic regarding the "shirkers", those who through means and ways get an exemption from IDF service and usually go on to do some kind of civilian oriented national service which should (though it isn't) be considered equal to military service.
Conciousness objectors who are 18 are rare. That's why they're the ones spoken about more often than not.
The largest section of the (Jewish) population that do not serve in the military are the Yeshivah (Haredi - the people in shtreimels and black suits all year round) Boys who due to religious conviction do not serve, this is the reason Orthodox girls (not Haredi)
Backfire, is putting it mildly.
Demographically, they are also the fastest growing Jewish sector.
I feel the urge to mock and laugh, but that doesn't do much good, because the people vilified by the witch hunt committed upon the "shirkers" are the ones who do not serve either for physical health reasons or mental health reasons.
Bluntly, these are the people that the IDF, the system, rejected. Still, they continue to persecute those deemed "lesser" because serving in the IDF is the way you are "made" into a Good Israeli.
A Good Israeli is a Loyal Soldier, willing to Die for Land and Nation.
Whatever.
The State created loopholes through which people can avoid the draft, legally. Then they get their panties into a twist that people use it.
The IDF is supposed to be a defensive army, obviously it acts as a police force over a civilian population and commits as many war crimes as any other army in the world while it continues to chant: "Most Ethical Army in the World".
During my two years of service I'd never received more than a cursory skim over what constitutes an illegal order or command. I know from friends who were in combat units that they first heard of an illegal order during boot camp like everyone else and never heard those words again.
The skim is in a little pamphlet new draftees get when entering the system, reagrding the behaviour of an IDF soldier.
In the article linked above, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar says:
"The Education Ministry regards with great significance the issue of encouraging IDF service, increasing recruits' rate and combat recruits' rate," the minister said.
[...]
"The education system welcomes a full collaboration with the IDF. I feel positively regarding the introduction of officers into schools."
Minister Sa'ar also stressed that "some of the parameters of the success of an educational establishment are matriculation eligibility, social values and dropout prevention. Military service is an important parameter. Schools in which dropout rates are low should allow a special effort for raising recruitment rates."
There you have it. Kids from low socio-economic backgrounds should be encouraged to follow a path in which they put their lives in danger for a state that would rather have cannon fodder than invest in the actual neighbourhoods.
Some of those kids may attain actual life skills that will grant them upwards social and economic mobility, but in the context of the Occupation and the destructive economy in which Capital and Capitol are more intertwined than ever, I find this a very discouraging development in what should be a civic establishment and not a pre-military education camp.
Entry tags:
Entry tags:
Good news, bad news and WTF! news
The Good News.
In my cold, wet hands I now hold the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition of Iron Man.
Oh yes.
Oh so very yes.
Just as my fandom excitement began to dwindle due to the fact that I hadn't watched it in a while, the Universe (and the post office) decided that Yesterday would be the day for me to receive this little bundle of Movie Magic, too bad I couldn't actually get it yesterday due to some bureaucratic cock up.
But today.
They can kiss my shiny metal ass (it's actually peachy fuzz, but eh. Details).
The Bad News.
Who wants to go to Uni this year?
*raises hand*
Who, in fact, is getting screwed over by the Ministry of Finance by dragging their feet and allowing this catastrophic academic mishap.
*raises hand with thousands of other students and the Ministry of Education*
Speaking of the MoE... what an utter disappointment Minister Tamir has been. You really can't compare her to the unmitigated disaster that was Limor Livnat, but she was such a hope. I mean, here's an actual academic, someone who actually worked as a teacher!
And she somehow allowed her Ministry to be fucked over by venture capitalist pigs.
Ugh!
The WTF! News.
Related to the Bad News. The campus treasury sent me a notice asking for more money on top of the advance that I've already paid them.
This is not the tuition money.
This is most likely something to keep the admin office head above water.
This is so fucked up.
I cannot even describe it.
But at least I'll get to watch Iron Man today. So not everything is wrong with the world.
Right?
In my cold, wet hands I now hold the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition of Iron Man.
Oh yes.
Oh so very yes.
Just as my fandom excitement began to dwindle due to the fact that I hadn't watched it in a while, the Universe (and the post office) decided that Yesterday would be the day for me to receive this little bundle of Movie Magic, too bad I couldn't actually get it yesterday due to some bureaucratic cock up.
But today.
They can kiss my shiny metal ass (it's actually peachy fuzz, but eh. Details).
The Bad News.
Who wants to go to Uni this year?
*raises hand*
Who, in fact, is getting screwed over by the Ministry of Finance by dragging their feet and allowing this catastrophic academic mishap.
*raises hand with thousands of other students and the Ministry of Education*
Speaking of the MoE... what an utter disappointment Minister Tamir has been. You really can't compare her to the unmitigated disaster that was Limor Livnat, but she was such a hope. I mean, here's an actual academic, someone who actually worked as a teacher!
And she somehow allowed her Ministry to be fucked over by venture capitalist pigs.
Ugh!
The WTF! News.
Related to the Bad News. The campus treasury sent me a notice asking for more money on top of the advance that I've already paid them.
This is not the tuition money.
This is most likely something to keep the admin office head above water.
This is so fucked up.
I cannot even describe it.
But at least I'll get to watch Iron Man today. So not everything is wrong with the world.
Right?