July 30, 2006
"Are you a Jew?"
There are seminal moments in life that will always be etched in memory, like acid to glass, that affect the very marrow of who a person is.
When I was nine I remember going to the beach with my mom, dad and some friends of theirs. In a foolish moment I yelled out to my dad's friend, "Heil Hitler," not knowing of course, since I was an idiot 9 year old, what that meant -- and what it meant to population of Jews that lived on Miami Beach. An eldery gentleman started yelling at me and I got very scared. My dad's friend came to my rescue explaining to the man that I was a kid and I didn't know what I was saying. For the life of me I don't know why I said it, except for the fact that I was then, and still am today, utterly fascinated by everything having to do with World War II history. After the fuss was all over, my dad's friend explained to me that Hitler was a very bad man who had killed many Jews and that the old man was obviously very upset because I had reminded him of this. I felt terrible. What the hell did I know? I was nine.
Two years later, during the Six-Day War, I marvelled, as any 11 year old fascinated by militaria would be, how such a little country could do so much against its enemies. These were people who were willing to do whatever it took to survive. When I went to see Fiddler on the Roof I remember asking the mom of one of my friends who took me why were the Jews always singled out for punishment? Why were they hated so much? She did not have an answer to my question that was prompted by that terrible final scene when Tevye and his family have to leave his village, simply because they are Jews. That scene affected me in the worst way -- I still choke up when I see it. I made up my mind then and there to learn more about these Jews and why they had been persecuted throughout history.
I admire the Jews. My defense of Israel (and by extension Jews everywhere) is single-minded and adamantine. They have taken everything the world has thrown at them and they are still here. They practice their 4,000 year-old religion, they raise families, they pass along vital traditions about everything in their culture. 4,000 years! I am appalled by the anti-Semitism I see on a daily basis here and around the world. Just yesterday, a drunken Mel Gibson reportedly said to a police officer "Fucking Jews! The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson then asked the deputy, "are you a Jew?" I guess he's a chip off the old block after all.
In the introduction to the short story "The Ninth of Av" in the anthology Worlds Enough & Time Dan Simmons writes that he was trying to imagine the world one thousand years in the future. He wondered what would still be constant then? Of course, he wrote, someone would still be trying to kill Jews! Why the hatred? I don't know. It's a sad fact of life in our world. But I will repeat something that I have written before: the survival of our Western culture depends on the survival of Israel. I'll be right there next to them, trying to defend our world against an implacable enemy bent on our destruction.
If they go, we'll all go.
Posted by George Moneo at July 30, 2006 01:15 AM
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Comments
Heil Hitler?
I'm guessing 9 year old George saw too many episodes of Hogan's Heroes.
I see nossing, I hear nossing!
Stroooodel!
Posted by: conductor ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 30, 2006 01:50 AM
A great documentary is Civilization and the Jews narrated by Abba Eban.
A great quote by Mr. Eban is so apropos today as it was when he said it:
"If Algeria introduced a resolution declaring that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions."
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier at July 30, 2006 02:14 AM
Amen to this post. And yes, the documentary by Abba Eban (former ambassador who passed away not too long ago)is excellent, if anyone gets a chance to see it. Anti-semitism is the engine that drives so much western & middle eastern history. But the O.T. prophets laid it out, so to many Jewish people in Israel who are aware of it, this is no surprise.
Check out this clever little spoof on the current war (turn up your speakers!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WxQcWNHmAo
Posted by: Gigi at July 30, 2006 07:57 AM
Not to turn this into a religious thread, but...
Genesis 12:1-3 "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
Exodus 23:22 "But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."
Protect Israel and you protect yourself.
Posted by: pototo at July 30, 2006 08:21 AM
Actually Henry, it was one of my favorite shows. Little did I know the truth behind the laughs.
Posted by: George L. Moneo at July 30, 2006 09:17 AM
George, we all know that Werner Klemperer, was the son of the famous Conductor Otto Klemperer, who was a victim of the nazis. It is said that Werner would only play the role if Klink would always come out being a buffoon. John Banner who played Shultz, also Jewish, lost a lot of family members to the Nazi's. Robert Clary, Lebeau, was a member of the French Resistance.
It was fascinating how they could play these roles having seen the horror and having been the victims of nazis.
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier at July 30, 2006 09:28 AM
Oh great. I used to like Mel Gibson. Now I need to decide if he goes on the list of treasonous/morally reprehensible entertainers I won't support, like Jane Fonda, Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, or if he's just in the stupid, makes my eyes roll class like Sean Penn, Oliver Stone or the Dixie Chicks. It's not hard avoiding Jane et al because their movies stink, but I like Mel's stuff.
Posted by: class factotum at July 30, 2006 09:50 AM
I agree with George that "If they go, we'll all go". Israel has been, since it's creation, the provervial "canary in the mine". Luckily this particular canary is endowed with balls of steel. I think Obsession: What The War on Terror is Really About brings the point home quite nicely...
Posted by: Miguel-O-Matic at July 30, 2006 11:03 AM
"The Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." --Abba Eban
Posted by: George L. Moneo at July 30, 2006 12:17 PM
Sign a petition to support Israel here:
Posted by: Ziva at July 30, 2006 01:03 PM
George, great post. Pototo very true.
Why Jews suffer so much? I once saw a documentary on what being the chosen people of God meant. Rather than mean they would be favored, said the Rabbi and the Jewish studies professor, it meant the contrary. That they would endure trial and tribulations to earn the kingdom of God.
Ziva, on my way to sign that petition.
And on a personal note, for me it would be an honor to die defending America, defending my religious beliefs, and defending the life of a Jew.
Posted by: La Ventanita at July 30, 2006 01:55 PM
On top of all that, I refuse to live in a world without nova.
Posted by: Steve H. at July 30, 2006 01:56 PM
George, great post. Pototo very true.
Why Jews suffer so much? I once saw a documentary on what being the chosen people of God meant. Rather than mean they would be favored, said the Rabbi and the Jewish studies professor, it meant the contrary. That they would endure trial and tribulations to earn the kingdom of God.
Ziva, on my way to sign that petition.
And on a personal note, for me it would be an honor to die defending America, defending my religious beliefs, and defending the life of a Jew.
Posted by: La Ventanita at July 30, 2006 05:04 PM
George,
Muchas gracias for a most beautifully, heartfelt post. With your permission, I would like to print copies and share with my friends.
Thanks also to Ziva for posting about the petition. Now is the time for everyone to stand together.
On behalf of this Jewish family, g-d bless you, George & Ziva.
Posted by: Grammy in Phila. at July 30, 2006 08:50 PM
Grammy, thank you for the kind words. Feel free to reprint this and give it to your friends.
Posted by: George L. Moneo at July 30, 2006 10:17 PM
You are a true Righteous Gentile, George, and I can't thank you enough for saying such things.
Posted by: Dave J at July 30, 2006 10:36 PM
no,im not a jew,but my wife is,so,that shows that i have good taste after all...and yes..i support israel in everything they do to keep israel alive...
Posted by: tony44 at July 31, 2006 01:54 PM
George,
This is my first time at this site. I came for the news about Castro. Liking what I read, especially the updates--may Val's wife be correct!!!, may Little Havana rock tonight!!!, and may Havana itself finally be lifted from its oppression forever!!!!--I started to read more. Move down the page. I will continue to read more, I'm sure, but your post has brought me to a complete stop for now. You brought tears to my eyes. Your commentators brought more tears to my eyes. Compelled me to sign up with typekey so that I can thank you all. Thank you, George and friends. My spirit has been truly, truly lifted. I guess I should also thank Hogan's Heroes. G-d works in mysterious ways. P.S. I've got the Kosher sparkling wine just waiting to be popped...Let it be true. Let it be true.
Posted by: daniel at July 31, 2006 11:15 PM
Thanks for the petition link, Ziva...signed it just now. Cubans and Jews should feel a kinship...we share many things: persecution and oppression, courage and determination, intelligence and resourcefulness, and strong familial ties (Jewish mother, Cuban mother...what's the difference?). Perhaps it is due to the many Jews who settled in Spain and influenced its culture (I am less proud to admit that many Jews were forced to become Christians under the Spaniards...could it be that many of us with Spanish blood also have Jewish blood in us?) I feel this kinship with Jews regardless of the reasons for it. They are a marvelous gift to all of us...Christ, the most wonderful gift of all, is a Jew. I will always be on their side.
Posted by: Patricio Texidor at August 1, 2006 12:40 PM
Thanks for the kind words. I consider myself stridently anti-communist and wish peace, proseperity, and most importantly freedom in Cuba. I have always admired cuban-americans resourcefullness and tenacity in the face of hardship. Good luck getting your country fixed when that old tyrant kicks the bucket.
Posted by: Shtetl G at August 1, 2006 04:23 PM
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