Just a few thoughts on stuff that’s been “bothering” me… to say the least

1. My tax shekels pay too many idiots

I read a column today by Ofer Shelach [Heb], who writes for the daily Ma’ariv, and pounded my desk rather hard. Shelach was angry, rightfully so, for the words spewed by Army Radio talk-show host Avri Gilad on his morning show with Jacky Levi, called “The Last Word.” Unfortunately, they won’t be his last words on that show (no, I’m not calling for his death, for Christ’s sake). Shelach brings an excerpt:

Levy said that the fact that Israel is a special case does not exempt it from considering the tragedy of others, and “demands us to check how much available space we have.”

And this is what Gilad said in response, which I have shortened but kept things in context still: “It’s true we have to check how much available space we have, but let us not forget that those knocking on our doors belong to Islam, and Islam today is the most terrible disease raging around the world. It poisons its believers and poisons every place it reaches.

The people that come here, especially the South Sudanese, are very moderate people, the real beautiful face of Islam… the problem is that when you carry the virus, you don’t know when it will explode inside you…. every Muslim who enters here might become the flag carrier of the global Islam…. and therefore we must take care of our lives.”

Among many other stupid things, I pay for this crap with my taxes.

2. Don’t mess with us

So, apparently the thought police is here. I know, I know. You must think I’m exaggerating. “Ami, no need to compare to dark regimes immediately, come on, lay off it.”

How about I lay off it when the police stops investigating citizens on their future plans to protest? I repeat: “protest.” Which is my right in a democracy. Which is what we did last summer during #J14. Which was also the most peaceful #Occupy protest in the world last summer (not a single window smashed – and that, even though the Israeli protests were not only the largest in the world percentage wise, but also in absolute numbers).

Here’s what Haaretz reported:

Some activists received summonses in the mail, while others have been visited personally by officers. One such visit yesterday caused some anxiety at the home of Tamir Hajaj, who said his 17-year-old daughter called him in a panic to tell him police officers had come to their home looking for him. Hajaj told his daughter to give the officers his cellphone number.

“They phoned and said I was being called in for investigation,” Hajaj said. “When I asked why, they said they want to know my plans for the summer.” Hajaj said that last year he kept in touch with police, briefing them on events and demonstrations he organized.

So how about I stop comparing when this place stops interrogating me about my thoughts?

Deal?

Or, is this what happens when we “mess” with you…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBH97ma9YiI [/youtube]

3. Stem the meme

There’s a war going on on Facebook, and the right wingers are winning. A page called “All of us against the radical left” has managed to shut down profiles of people they don’t agree with (thought police, anyone?). One of the more well known figures is Amir Schiby, famous for his witty and provocative memes.

Schiby is on and off of Facebook now, because a large number of the 15,000 people who are fans of that page have reported him to Facebook administrators.

Counter-attacks by leftwingers (myself included) reporting the racist (and that’s an understatement, trust me) page to Facebook have resulted in a resounding failure.

4. I hate Arabs, but…

A Facebook friend posted a screenshot of a status update [Heb] he saw on a woman’s page, which demonstrated her love of others:

With all my hatred for Arabs, I must say there a few of them who are real aces in medicine!!! One of them is Prof. Abu Shakra who saved my life and I am grateful for him every day!!!

This Facebook friend of mine later posted a message saying that he forwarded her kind words to Prof. Shakra, who he happens to know.

This is the kind of racism I fear the most. The way she says it so easily, without giving it any thought. It’s acceptable to her, because it’s acceptable to so many others. She’ll never be reprimanded by those around her. Who are the majority. Who think like her.

And to all you trolls who plan to say “she doesn’t represent Israelis,” I say to you: “The hell she does doesn’t!”