The Israeli and Palestinian peace process is a complicated dance and obviously people have various impassioned views on this issue. However, I would warn Jewish people not to get too excited about ostensible Republican support for Israel. Much of it comes from “rapture politics.” For example, today’s New York Times listed Michele Bachmann’s divine reasons for supporting the Jewish state:
“We believe very strongly that nations also receive blessings as they bless Israel.” In 2010 she warned that “if we reject Israel, then there is a curse that comes into play.”
Such bizarre views strike me as odd and incoherent. If an allegedly all-powerful God wanted a particular nation to be blessed, would he really need the help of yahoos like Michele Bachmann and the ignorant sheep who follow her? As a supporter of Israel, I find such primitive and superstitious thinking abominable and a great threat to the long-term health and well-being of that nation. Irrational views and destructive policies can only come from partnering with people who have a medieval mindset and a dizzy worldview.
Whatever one’s views are on the peace process, decisions should be made based on rational thought, not rapture fantasies by misguided fundamentalists.
With all the crazy talk that is so prevalent today, I really miss hearing such rational speak!
Thanks Wayne.
Oh, come on. She only wants to be President of the United States. A little belief in spells, blessings, curses, etc as applied to foreign policy couldn’t hurt. Of course, I just learned something new – God will place curses on people/countries if one doesn’t suck up properly. It’s a bit confusing ’cause I also keep hearing about all the love/compassion/caring/forgiveness of the Lord. I remember Jerry Falwell talking about God lifting his “veil” of protection over the USA after 9/11. When will we know that we have groveled sufficiently, bent low enough, sacrificed enough rams, etc to consider ourselves on His good side? Perhaps when Michelle Bachmann is President she’ll teach us that, too. I can’t wait.
Jewish Americans should be very concerned about this so-called “unconditional” support of Israel by Christian Zionists. This support depends on two things. First, all Jews on the planet must relocate to Israel (this includes you, too Wayne). Second, once they have returned to the Promised Land, all Jews, without exception, must then accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Once this occurs, Jesus will then return and begin his 1000 year reign here on Earth. Now think about what will happen when neither of these two events occur? Do you think zealots who are part of the Christian Zionist Movement are just going to wait around for this to take place on its own? I don’t think so. What types of measures will they try to institute in order to force these events? I think many in the “Israel-should-have-carte-blanche-to-do-anything-it-wants” crowd should really consider the consequences of allying themselves with Christian Zionists.
I heard a rumor that in a past life, Michele Bachmann was a hybrid between a horse and a Macaw parrot. If you look carefully at the current juxtaposition of her mane-like hair-do and her beak-ish nose, as well as the way she parrots idiocy, you might consider that perhaps this above-mentioned rumor is true.
I’m not Jewish, but somehow my name got put on a mailing list for an organization called jewsonfirst.org. It comes in my email so I usually read it. They keep track of how the antics of the religious right wingnuts affects Jews in particular and the rest of us in general. They are very supportive of full equality for lgbt people. And Nick K is right. Jews should be aware that this crowd thinks everyone who is not a ‘born again Christian’ is going to hell, and they only give a crap about Israel because it fits into their bizzaro timetable for the second coming. Why any Synagogue would invite these clowns, who think that the rest of us are all *less than*, to come speak at their houses of worship is beyond me. But of course we have gay republicans, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
It would also be nice that Israel got rid of the frum theocrats that run the country and decide who should be married there.