I thought that once I came back from Israel and reflected on all my blogs that I was done with this holy land adventure, I was wrong.
Since returning we have heard from many new voices from Lehigh and beyond and I have read articles including an amazing issue by Time Magazine on the holy land.
Today via Twitter I read this article and learned of a startling political move made in Israel by Netanyahu and Mofaz...forming a unity government. It makes me think back to a previous post about "democracy" and what that means and if Israel is a democracy (through the eyes of someone who lives in the world's largest democracy, but I will admit it isn't ideal and has it's issues as well).
Upon sending this to Seth (the classes professor and Rabbi) he equated this move to Obama and Romney joining forces to create a new third party at this point in our election process. That seems crazy to think of in the US no? I mean I guess Obama could take Romney as his VP running mate (or vice versa) and run under which ever of the two parties they came to agreement on. And other parties do pop up from time to time and work to make an impact for their believes like our own Tea Party. I am not saying that we are right or wrong but I seem to find comfort in our checks and balances here. I am sure that it is money that is really talking behind many of our political decisions and alliances, and as an advocate for social justice that is hard to admit, though I do cognitively accept that reality, my heart hurts because of it. I am not sure I understand either parties nominating committee policies, or the electoral college (in fact the skeptic in me leans to believing that those bodies of power were created to keep the powerful in power) but what I do believe is that when there is so little structure and oversight that one candidate (or two in this situation) has enough power, authority and ability to make a decision like Netanyahu and Mofaz were able to make is scares me. It makes me think that while that power could be used for the good, it seems that more likely that level of power and persuasion is usually used to oppress others, for what a few think are the common good but likely in retrospect it will not be seen that way by many. Shocking...that statement coming from my brain based off a decision made by those in power in a country that largely believes that is stands today as the rightful home for those to return to that were the targets of oppression that started similar to this. This sentiment is one common view to the conflict in this area. I also admit that I learned first hand when I was there that when you live surrounded by constant fear and anxiety about what "might" happen that could cause tragedy, it is hard to view things objectively and without skepticism for the other.
So what is the take home message of this post...I believe when in Israel I called this what is the change? I am uncertain accept to reiterate that I am blessed to live where I do and to have the rights and freedoms that I do, we are not perfect but we are stable and that stability, system and order came from a place of common persecution that individuals shared with each other. It sound cliche but that is what founded our country and the more I think about it the more I look back on my history classes in my K-12 education and wish that I had this perspective then, I think I would have been inspired to learn more and understand the need for learning what I was being taught. History does repeat itself, that can be a good thing, or it can be a tragic thing....I just pray for those I met in Israel & Palestine that they can learn from history and move forward to create a future that will be worthy of repeating, not one or perpetual terror and oppression.
In surprise move, Netanyahu, Mofaz agree to form unity government, cancel early elections - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
