serenissima | The Promised Land (Reply)

[re-posted from DiaryLand]

Today I showed our least proficient ESL student how to do email: she logged in and sent a one-line message to one of her fellow students. Friday we'll go over logging into the computers and review email.

After lunch I went shopping. Among other things, I got a new pair of sandals for $7, and a new swimsuit. Yay Target. :) However, the swimsuit was mistagged and was way too big, so I'll have to exchange it.

I wanted to try out my new acquisition, so I went swimming again this afternoon, this time with a roommate (and in an old suit). It was later in the afternoon, so there were more people around, but I think also it was warmer. I only did five laps but tread water for a minute or two and was less tired afterward than on Monday. Maybe I should make a habit of this. I don't like putting my face in the water, though, and it's tough to keep my eyes open in backstroke when the sun is shining overhead.

This evening I attended a panel discussion on the situation in Israel/Palestine. It was excellent. The panelists were two Israeli-American students and an Israel-American recent alum, two Palestinian-American students, and an Egyptian-American student. All have family members involved in some way with what's been going on. They explained the different viewpoints and issues very intelligently. It's too bad that the people in charge over there aren't like that -- and by the people in charge, I don't just mean the heads of governments, I mean bunches of people, whole voting blocks. Also, the leaflet that was handed out conveniently summarized the relevant history of Israel. I hadn't known anything about it before.

One thing that surprised me was that the panel unanimously agreed that there needs to be a Palestinian state as well as a Jewish state. Another thing that seems clear to me is that the US should make its aid to Israel and its aid to Palestine of comparable amounts. It does seem to me that the US is favoring Israel. I suppose my grandfather would disagree. He sends me forwards like the following, which passed from at least four other people before him:

These are some important facts about the present day war between Israel and the Palestinians. This will take just a few moments to read! Jew or a non-Jew, if you see the logic, you can reach but one conclusion. Please read on.
Nationhood and Jerusalem.
Israel became a state in 1312 B.C. - 2000 years before the rise of Islam.
Arab refugees in Israel began to identify themselves as Palestinians in 1967, two decades after the foundation of modern-day Israel.
Following the conquest of the land in 1272 B.C. the Jews ruled the Land for one thousand years and enjoyed a continuous and uninterrupted presence there of 3,300 years.
The sole Arab control after the conquest of 635 B.C. lasted only 22 years.
For over 3,300 years Jerusalem was the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Islamic entity. Even the Jordanians, when they conquered Jerusalem, did not make it their capital, and Arab dignitaries never visited her.
Jerusalem is mentioned more than 700 times in the Bible, and never once in the Koran.
King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Muhammad's foot has never trolien on Jerusalem's soil.
Jews pray with their faces turned towards Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs to Jerusalem.
Jewish and Arab Refugees.
In 1948, Arab leaders encouraged the Arab refugees to leave Israel, promising them that they would rid the land of the Jews. 68% of them left Israel without seeing a single Israeli soldier.
Jewish refugees were obliged to escape from Arab states because of violence, persecution and Pogroms conducted by the Arabs.
The number of Arabs who departed from Israel in 1948 is estimated to be approximately 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab countries is estimated to be a similar number.
Arab refugees were deliberately not absorbed into the Arab countries, although they are huge. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees in the world since WW2, they are the only group not to have been absorbed by or assimilated into their own nations. The Jewish refugees were mostly absorbed by Israel, a country no larger than New Jersey.
The Arab-Israeli Conflict.
There are eight Arab countries, not including Palestine. There is but one Jewish state. The Arabs initiated all five wars against Israel and lost. Israel defended herself each time, and was victorious.
The PLO charter demands the eradication of Israel. Israel granted the Palestinians most of the West Bank, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and supplied them with arms.
During Jordanian occupation, holy Jewish sites were violated, and Jews were denied access to them. Under Jewish rule all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved, and are accessible to believers of all faiths.
Israel and the Arabs in the United Nations.
Out of 175 resolutions carried by the Security Council of the UN, until 1990, 97 were against Israel.
Out of 690 resolutions carried by the General Assembly until 1990, 429 were against Israel.
The UN was silent when the Jordanians destroyed 58 Synagogues.
The UN was silent when the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
The UN was silent when the Jordanians conducted a policy of Apartheid, preventing Jews from reaching Temple Mount and the Wailing Wall.

********

These are terrible times. Ask yourself these questions:
What is my role in this conflict?
What shall I tell my grandchildren that I did when faced with a turning point in the destiny of the Jews?
Did I make a difference?

Now is your chance to make a difference. Send this letter to 20 people and ask each of them to send it to another 20. Jew or non-Jew, no matter. Truth and peace are universal values... and everyone must know the truth for there to be peace!!!!!!