In Memoriam -- Nov. 4, 1995 -- Yet Another Depressing MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

This really should have been last week’s OP; except I didn’t think to reserve the date ahead of time – I only realized I needed to share when I got back from the rally.

OK, I’ll start from the beginning…

Nov 4, 1995, a huge rally was held in Tel-Aviv, in what is now known as Rabin Square, and was then still just “Kings of Israel Square.” In support of Rabin’s peace initiative, and Rabin himself who was being portrayed, along with all of the Left, as a bunch of Evil Traitors.
I was there. Along with at least 249,999 others. Out of a population of 6 million, that was huge.
I might mention that, at the time (although no longer,) I firmly believed in the political stances of the Right Wing. I self-defined myself as “rightist.” Only, even then the people on the Right pissed me off. I thought they were hurting the cause… And I went to the rally to show my support for the belief that, while I thought (at the time) that he was wrong, Rabin was no traitor.

Of course we didn’t know the place was going to be renamed so soon, so dramatically, and so tragically. *

This is the Song for Peace, that the crowd, a quarter-million strong, along with Rabin himself, the old war-horse, sang just before he descended the stage. The words to the song were found, bloodstained, in his pocket.

Another song sung at that rally was the still new Winter of '73 (lyrics)… telling the story of the children of the soldiers who fought in the 1973 war… as they find themselves in the army, in their parents’ footsteps…

*When we were born the elders blessed with tears in their eyes
They said:" we wish those kids will not have to go to the army"
And your faces in the old picture prove
That you said it form the bottom of your hearts
…

You promised a dove,
an olive tree leaf,
you promised peace
…

We are the children of winter 1973
We grew up and now in the army
with our weapon and helmet on our heads
…*

Fast Forward 12 years to last Saturday. I rarely go to the yearly memorial services. But this year… was important. The waste-of-sperm murderer, over the years, had been granted the right to marry (another Right Wing dingbat who married him just to spite the world. I swear she’s part of his punishment… but I digress)… then the right to… *privacy *with his wife. And a week prior, she had given birth to Waste of Sperm, Jr. And all of the Rabid Right had been rejoicing that the birth was so close to the date of the murder… that the child would grow up to be the Savior of the People when the next traitor came along… you get the idea :rolleyes:

So I, my family and 150000 other showed up this time. To remember Rabin… and to remember that the milieu in which the murderer grew was still alive and well in this country, as it is in so many other places.

As I came home from the rally, I realized that I needed to share my concern that, the world over, the extremists are still winning far too many battles… both the physical ones, and the battles for the hearts and minds of people.

From The Song for Peace:
So - sing only a song for peace,
Do not whisper a prayer.
Better sing a song for peace
With a big shout.

What is my point? I’m not sure I have one. Maybe just that freedom and democracy are not our to enjoy, work free… our forebears had to fight for them, and we have to fight for them still.

And some days I feel like Leonard Cohen, and once again, I quote:
Everybody knows the war is over,
Everybody knows the Good Guys lost…

Anyone who is not aware – Rabin was murdered by a Right Wing Religious fanatic* when leaving that rally. For more background, see Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin - Wikipedia here

** Disclaimer – while I firmly believe that Rabid Right-wing Lunacy is closely associated with religion, I firmly do not believe that all religion is closely associated with Right-wing Lunacy.

2

I’ve never even posted in an MMP, but I know you get extra brownie points for being the first to respond, so let me say:

Touching story. As long as a hundred and fifty thousand people show up to celebrate the work of Rabin, the Good Guys haven’t lost, and it’s not the milieu of extremists.

3

Thank you for sharing this, Some1. The struggle you speak of reminds me a lot of Korea in the late 1900s; my parents were born in an era where many were killed for speaking against the government. It really irks me when certain people talk of “inalienable rights.” There is no such thing - rights are very alienable, and most of the time many shed blood in the fight to secure them. I think many of us, living the sheltered lives we do (and I know that I am one of them) tend to forget that, and need to be reminded that the rights we take for granted are the ones others are dying for somewhere on this earth.

In Korea as well, one former dictator, who was responsible for one of the bloodiest massacres in modern history, was granted a presidential pardon (he had been sentenced to death by the courts). People still RESPECT him. Honestly, there are some things in this world which I will never understand.

4

Wonderful OP, Special One. Although I’m not Jewish, I went to the memorial rally right after Rabin’s death in L.A. with a Jewish friend; there were many thousands of people there – I don’t know how many – and it was a really moving experience. (Although, it being L.A., it would have been easier to hear what was going on had there not been the obligatory 20 or so news helicopters circling overhead. :rolleyes: )

This is actually an appropriate day for your OP, being Veterans Day weekend and so many people thinking about war and its effects. And it is so heartbreaking that so many good people who have stood up for peace have been rewarded by untimely death. It’s a shame that we still have to fight for peace in so many parts of the world. I know it’s a whole lot fresher for you folks in Israel than for us here in the U.S., but I still hold out this vain hope that someday we’ll all just get along and live together, with all the myriad of beliefs in this world, without having to resort to so much hatred and war.

5

What a moving OP, special one, I have tears in my eyes and sadness in my heart, because I believe that you spoke true words. The world is a frightening place to live, and it seems to just keep snowballing. I fear my country’s government, and I fear for the future for my children and grandchild.

It’s still early evening here, it has not been a good day in my life either. I am gonna chalk it all up to emotions for now, but some things have got to change.

Happy Monday to you all, I won’t be checking in (probably) until the afternoon, which is evening to most everyone else. That is with the assumption that I get any sleep tonight, I am not a happy woman and that generally precludes sleep. Big wah…(::sad smilie::slight_smile:

6

The topic actually reminded me just now of a somewhat amusing/depressing anecdote (I may have mentioned this before): On a tour bus in Toronto, I met a group of people my own age, including two Irish girls and a guy from Israel. They were talking about their respective countries, and the girls were talking about the violent in Northern Ireland when the guy responded, “Yeah, I know what it’s like to live in a country that’s still at war, more or less.” The girls stared at him, round-eyed. “Is Israel like that too?” one of them questioned. :eek: I swear, I almost laughed out loud because I thought she was being sarcastic. She wasn’t.

7

Heh… this made me smile. People being clueless about … well pretty much anyplace they don’t live… that, I am used to. No doubt I’m guilty of it from time to time (for example, I knew S. Korea was still… less than fully Liberal-Democratic, shall we say… but I had no idea it has been ***so ***violent, so recently :eek: )

But usually people think we’re shooting and bombing in the streets all the time (probably from behind the shelter of our camels :rolleyes: ) – somebody thinking we’re some kind of peaceful oasis of peace is actually a bit of welcome ignorance, almost :slight_smile:

8

Yes, it is a shame. But it is downright dangerous that so many people seem to think that “we” (who’s “we”?) don’t have to fight for peace… that all we have to do is be nice and everybody will be nice in return.

… Of course, those who would have “us” fight for political dominance and financial gain, and claim the “Fight for Peace” (Um. I mean “the War on Terror” :rolleyes: ) as the rationale … these are doubly dangerous. While I’m no pacifist, I’m not blind to the misuse some groups make of the “Fight for Peace” meme.

9

Well, if you’re not cowering behind your camels, where do you keep them, then? :slight_smile:

10

Inside the box, 20 a pack, 200 a carton… like everybody else :smiley:

(No, I don’t personally smoke. but this was too godd to let go)

11

Very sobering thoughts, Special1.

I’m caffeinated and at work - time to go and play with the feckin’ golf students again.

12

Thanks for sharing, SO. I agree with Diomedes that 150,000 showing up means there are lots of people who aren’t ready to concede to the rabid extremists. It’s so difficult to see paths to peace today - it seems like most politicians who ought to be looking for them are all looking for excuses instead. :frowning:

And here I am…awake at an unreasonable hour again. About to try to get back to sleep.

Oh, Diomedes, responding first also means you have to come back and say something completely unrelated to the OP. :smiley: And send chocolate to FCM, of course.

GT

13

Gee thanks, Noone, you made me cry. Nah, not really. I was already crying. Welcome to my early monday morning. Don’t know if I’ll make it to work today or not.

14

Great OP, Special One.

{{{Kid}}}

Off to get ready for work.

15

FWIW, I just emailed my psychiatrist my last post from last week’s MMP. I really am tired of feeling this way. I don’t enjoy being miserable. So we’ll see what she has to say.

16

Sorry… :frowning: Really, I know seeing sad stuff can trigger things. Maybe though I got you to cry about something outside yourself for a few moments…

I think it’s a good idea you’re seeking professional help – there’s only so much we can do to help; pretty much limited to e-hugs and lending an ear.

{{{PurpleKid}}}

GT – hope you managed to get back to sleep

17

I have to wonder if the more reasonable among us don’t generally see the need to protest or take up a cause because it’s so obvious that it should be that way and it makes no sense that someone would oppose something so sensible, so we don’t get as politically or socially active as maybe we should be… does that make sense? You’d think by now I’d have shed that naive point of view.

When I was a child, I believed the President of the US was elected because he was the Best Man in the Country. I think that’s why I was so crushed and upset when Kennedy was assassinated (dang, that anniversary is coming up next week) - how could someone kill the Best Man in the Country?? :confused: Apparently, some of that thinking has lingered far longer than it should have. I’ve always voted - OK, I’ve missed a few small, local ballots over the years, but mostly I make the effort. I try to stay informed, but mostly, I get aggravated.

There seems to be so much focus on inanities (oh noes! Obama isn’t wearing a Flag Pin!!!) and not nearly enough on substance. No wonder we get the leaders we do. More of us need to get out in the street and see what’s going on and make our voices heard. Yeah. Maybe tomorrow. I’m, um, kinda busy today… :o

Sorry. Cynical is not my best side. So, to switch gears.

Happy Monday! It’s raining here - a few more drops against the drought, so yay! Critters are having their post-kibble snooze, **FCD ** is still snoozing, I hear the cat scratching in her box, and I’m caffeinating. It’s an extra short week for me since I have jury duty on Weds. And next week is a 3-day extravaganza, since I’m doing a long Turkey Day weekend. This is such a slacker time of year at work. It’s hard to get motivated.

Errrands will be run today - **FCD ** needs to refill his pain meds (no ibuprofen allowed till April) and he needs something from Lowes… I hope he recalls what it is because I’ve forgotten. I’ve got a humongo pile of laundry to sort and process. My kitchen is a disaster - gotta do something there, too. At least I’m sitting here in my fleece robe and not in the office. I like me these 3-day weekends.

Hugs all around! Profound OP notwithstanding, let’s get happy, dammit!!! :smiley:

18

Morning, y’all. I are at work; my first blast of freedom since VWife came home. I have little available time off left, and she’s demanding I burn it left and right playing chauffer.

Some1, I have a spot in my heart for Israelis. Youze guyze are in a rough spot. The best of your neighbors sneer across the fence and dump their yard waste on your side out of spite; The rest have Molotov cocktails with your name on it, and are waiting for the perfect chance to throw them at you.

I spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon picking my nuts. I’m up to 13 gallons so far, and there’s about 3 weeks to go in the season. The record to beat is 40…

19

“The dearest things in life are free - but only in terms of money.”
“People understand working for food, why do they think peace is free?”

Re. Kennedy’s assasination, something I was reading yesterday. It’s from The Prometheus Project, by Steve White, mangling mine to avoid making it too long:

On less earth-shattering news, Lilbro is starting his new job today. It isn’t the job he wanted so hard but Og and Ogette know anything is better than having him mop around both his house and Mom’s, claiming he’s useless because he’s not adventurous (le sigh) when actually all that happened is that he was more expensive than the people in the Dream Job Du Jour wanted to pay. (His current love interest considers herself very adventurous and wants a man who is adventurous as well but, and this I think is incompatible, who follows her - good luck with that, hunny)

20

Fantastic OP Special1. Like others have said, I think 15000 people showing up for a rally does send a message that the hope for peace is still out there.

{{{Kid}}} Getting help is a good thing.

I’m up and caffienating. Part of me says I should still be in bed but I was sound asleep by nine last night, so up I am. Maybe I can sneak in a little nap later this mornin’. At any rate, I think I’ve done pretty good adjusting my sleep schedule to fit second shift now. Maybe. Hopefully I won’t nod off and fall into any of the machinery at work.

Last night I ate a dish called “Chicken With 40 Cloves of Garlic”. I was gonna google the recipe but I forgot, so if’n y’all wanna know, you can get it off the Food Network site. It was good! Also, we had some hot buttered rum. I like hot buttered rum and this was particularly good. I stopped after one because it could have gotten really, really good and I was driving after all.

Ok, off to check email and fun stuff. Later Y’all!