Yesterday I was infuriated about the British embassy attack in Iran that created a hostage situation. Today I have much happier news about Iran. The Times of London reported that an Iranian uranium facility was attacked and was "clearly showing billowing smoke and destruction." This will apparently slow down the Iranian nuclear process significantly. Israeli intelligence members stated that there is "no doubt" that the genocide-building facility was damaged severely by the attack, which they called "no accident."
You attacked the West's civilians yesterday. Back at you, Iran!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Western Embassies in the Middle East
Today in Iran, a group of protesters stormed the British embassy in Tehran. They created a hostage situation, in which the six workers at the embassy were literally being held captive by some crazy, fundamentalist Iranian students. Iranian forces were slow to react strongly, and only when this hostage situation had already been created did they stop the protesters.
On September 9 (less than three months ago), some crazy, fundamentalist Egyptian protesters stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptian forces didn't even try to stop this crime. A hostage situation was created, in which the workers at the embassy were literally being held captive by the protesters. Only hours later did Egypt even begin trying to do anything about the hostage situation, and because of their slowness (as you will see soon, "laziness" is not the right word) hundreds of people were seriously injured. Sound familiar?
It is not a coincidence that the embassy storming is all happening now, in the midst of the so-called Arab Spring. Granted, most protesters in the Middle East and North Africa have had at least somewhat positive intentions. Most have tried to free their countries from their tyrannic dictatorships and their own unemployment and fatal hunger. However, because of these protests, millions of more extremist people living in these countries have been inspired by the good protests and decided to begin their own, much more evil protests. The effect: crazy free-for-alls across the Middle East and North Africa. Innocent civilians killed, Western foreign embassies attacked, etc.
But that's not where it ends. I mentioned that it would be wrong to describe the Egyptian and Iranian governments' lack of a response to Israeli ad British embassies being attacked as an effect of their laziness. It is not so. Rather, this is another way in which countries all over the Middle East are quietly attacking modern society and democracy. Basically, Egypt and Iran are telling the West, "We don't like you, so we are going to let our people attack you and thereby scare you." This is completely contrary to morality and international law.
Arab Spring? No...I'd rather call it Arab Fall.
On September 9 (less than three months ago), some crazy, fundamentalist Egyptian protesters stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptian forces didn't even try to stop this crime. A hostage situation was created, in which the workers at the embassy were literally being held captive by the protesters. Only hours later did Egypt even begin trying to do anything about the hostage situation, and because of their slowness (as you will see soon, "laziness" is not the right word) hundreds of people were seriously injured. Sound familiar?
It is not a coincidence that the embassy storming is all happening now, in the midst of the so-called Arab Spring. Granted, most protesters in the Middle East and North Africa have had at least somewhat positive intentions. Most have tried to free their countries from their tyrannic dictatorships and their own unemployment and fatal hunger. However, because of these protests, millions of more extremist people living in these countries have been inspired by the good protests and decided to begin their own, much more evil protests. The effect: crazy free-for-alls across the Middle East and North Africa. Innocent civilians killed, Western foreign embassies attacked, etc.
But that's not where it ends. I mentioned that it would be wrong to describe the Egyptian and Iranian governments' lack of a response to Israeli ad British embassies being attacked as an effect of their laziness. It is not so. Rather, this is another way in which countries all over the Middle East are quietly attacking modern society and democracy. Basically, Egypt and Iran are telling the West, "We don't like you, so we are going to let our people attack you and thereby scare you." This is completely contrary to morality and international law.
Arab Spring? No...I'd rather call it Arab Fall.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Lovin' the Pats
Yesterday, to conclude my rant about the dominance of Boston sports, I said I had no doubt the Patriots' game against the Eagles would be an easy win. Well, it sure was.
After getting off to a 10-0 lead over the Pats, the Eagles were horrendous on both sides of the field. I don't have much time for this post, as I have a Packed schedule today (pun intended...). Basically all I want you people to know is that Boston sports are amazing and much better than you. Have a good day!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Boss-Town Sports
As many of you may know, I'm from the great city of Boston. I love everything about Boston. (OK, maybe not its politics, but still...) The highlight of my town is, without a doubt, its sports.
Seven championships in less than seven years, including at least one from all four teams.
Last time any Boston team ended a season with a losing record: 2007-08. The Celtics. The next season they won the championship with the then-newly formed Big Three.
The Patriots, Red Sox, and possibly Celtics teams in the past 5-10 years have represented some of the best franchises in any sport ever. Am I exaggerating? No.
What makes our sports so awesome? It would be hard to argue that it's our population size, given that Boston is around the 10-largest metro area in the US, and many of the metro areas that are larger than Boston have terrible sports teams.
Is it the amount we pay our players? I doubt it, given that only the Red Sox - and not the other three Boston teams - actually pay their players a lot more than the average payroll in their league.
I believe it is our fan base which makes Boston sports so awesome. If not, then I guess it must just be the "Luck of the Irish" that brings us so much success. Either way, I'm very excited to see that last night the Bruins won their 11th game out of 12 (after losing Friday night in a heartbreaking shootout to end their prior 10-game winning streak).
I hope to post happy news tomorrow about the Patriots. The game against the Eagles today should extremely easy. With a two-game winning streak and the best offense in the NFL, the Pats have what it takes to get past the Eagles shaky - though recently impressive - defense. I really hope I didn't just jinx it...
Seven championships in less than seven years, including at least one from all four teams.
Last time any Boston team ended a season with a losing record: 2007-08. The Celtics. The next season they won the championship with the then-newly formed Big Three.
The Patriots, Red Sox, and possibly Celtics teams in the past 5-10 years have represented some of the best franchises in any sport ever. Am I exaggerating? No.
What makes our sports so awesome? It would be hard to argue that it's our population size, given that Boston is around the 10-largest metro area in the US, and many of the metro areas that are larger than Boston have terrible sports teams.
Is it the amount we pay our players? I doubt it, given that only the Red Sox - and not the other three Boston teams - actually pay their players a lot more than the average payroll in their league.
I believe it is our fan base which makes Boston sports so awesome. If not, then I guess it must just be the "Luck of the Irish" that brings us so much success. Either way, I'm very excited to see that last night the Bruins won their 11th game out of 12 (after losing Friday night in a heartbreaking shootout to end their prior 10-game winning streak).
I hope to post happy news tomorrow about the Patriots. The game against the Eagles today should extremely easy. With a two-game winning streak and the best offense in the NFL, the Pats have what it takes to get past the Eagles shaky - though recently impressive - defense. I really hope I didn't just jinx it...
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Lockouts: Looking back
In just the last four months, two of the United States' big four sports have had major lockouts. Each negotiated, often fiercely, but in the end of the day both were solved.
The NFL lockout ended on July 24. Unlike the NBA, the NFL found a way to play all 16 games and all but one preseason game. Because of diligence, hard work, some dedicated owners and players, and (possibly) the lack of competition from leagues around the world, all the players stayed in America and have been able to play a full season of football.
However, the NBA lockout ended today. Why? Because of stubborn players and owners and a failed commissioner, David Stern. Stern, who for months has been attempting to make both sides stay civilized and come to an agreement, humiliated the NBA's image and the lockout negotiating process. If NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ran the NBA, this lockout would have been over two months ago. All teams would have played 82 regular season games as usual, fans would not have felt betrayed nearly as much, and all NBA players would be in America (as opposed to Europe, Israel, and other locations around the world where they now are because of the lengthy lockout). But no. David Stern had to fail as always.
Am I happy that the NBA lockout is over? I guess... Am I happy that each team is only playing 66 games and many players are not going to be in America for the season because of David "Idiot" Stern? No. How could I be?
The NFL lockout ended on July 24. Unlike the NBA, the NFL found a way to play all 16 games and all but one preseason game. Because of diligence, hard work, some dedicated owners and players, and (possibly) the lack of competition from leagues around the world, all the players stayed in America and have been able to play a full season of football.
However, the NBA lockout ended today. Why? Because of stubborn players and owners and a failed commissioner, David Stern. Stern, who for months has been attempting to make both sides stay civilized and come to an agreement, humiliated the NBA's image and the lockout negotiating process. If NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ran the NBA, this lockout would have been over two months ago. All teams would have played 82 regular season games as usual, fans would not have felt betrayed nearly as much, and all NBA players would be in America (as opposed to Europe, Israel, and other locations around the world where they now are because of the lengthy lockout). But no. David Stern had to fail as always.
Am I happy that the NBA lockout is over? I guess... Am I happy that each team is only playing 66 games and many players are not going to be in America for the season because of David "Idiot" Stern? No. How could I be?
Friday, November 25, 2011
One Hour in Jerusalem
"Israel is a racist, apartheid state. Jerusalem, in particular, exhibits Israel's racist ways." I am simply paraphrasing much of the content on most media sites in the Western world today.
Have any of these journalists cared to visit Israel? Have they seen how things really work? First things first, Israel is a democracy. A Jewish state in name and slightly in character, Israel gives members of all religions, races, and ethnicities the rights to vote, protest, and access Israel's public services. Often Palestinians in Israel protest directly against Israel, a legal and acceptable form of protest in Israel (unlike Syria, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, etc. -- i.e. all the countries around Israel that hate and want to destroy it). There are multiple Arabs who hold seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Racist? I don't think so.
One thing about which the Western media attacks Israel is its "occupation" of East Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem, unlike Judea & Samaria (a.k.a. the West Bank), Palestinians qualify for Israeli citizenship and can vote in Israeli elections. The new Jerusalem light rail goes through many East Jerusalem neighborhoods and makes access to the rest of the city much easier for Palestinians there, not to mention it connects people of different cultures and religions from both sides of the city. So why, in a BBC opinion article, does Matthew Teller spew that "The new tram line passes uninterrupted from sovereign Israeli territory in West Jerusalem into the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem?"(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15590267) For that matter, when has this territory ever belonged to a group known as the Palestinians (never), and then from whom is Israel occupying it?
Today I woke up at 5:45 here in Beit Shemesh to take a morning trip to Jerusalem. I arrived in Jerusalem at the Central Bus Station at 7:15 and then took the light rail to the City Hall bus stop right outside the Old City. I was again impressed by the fact that Palestinians, Jews, and tourists from multiple ethnicities could sit together so peacefully on the train. At the same time, I'm sure the New York Times was once again publishing lies about Israel's continuous "racist torture of the Palestinians."
Just after 7:30, I entered into Jaffa Gate and made my way into the Old City. The scene: an Arab merchant standing next to a Christian priest, selling bread to an observant Jew. All three of them are allowed to practice their religion freely in Israel. All of them have full rights as Israeli citizens. Next to them were a group of Asian tourists enjoying their experience in the Old City. I also saw two black priests and a bunch of Christian European tourists. Then I went to the Kotel (Western Wall) and prayed to G-d next to two Asians who I could tell were not Jewish. If this is racism, then every country in the world is horribly racist. In this day and age, that is not true. In less than one hour, I saw dozens of cultures and at least three religions coexisting peacefully in Jerusalem. THIS IS NOT RACISM!
I dare reporters and journalists to visit Israel and see how things truly operate here. I bet their hateful and negative anti-Israel views would fly out the window.
Have any of these journalists cared to visit Israel? Have they seen how things really work? First things first, Israel is a democracy. A Jewish state in name and slightly in character, Israel gives members of all religions, races, and ethnicities the rights to vote, protest, and access Israel's public services. Often Palestinians in Israel protest directly against Israel, a legal and acceptable form of protest in Israel (unlike Syria, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, etc. -- i.e. all the countries around Israel that hate and want to destroy it). There are multiple Arabs who hold seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Racist? I don't think so.
One thing about which the Western media attacks Israel is its "occupation" of East Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem, unlike Judea & Samaria (a.k.a. the West Bank), Palestinians qualify for Israeli citizenship and can vote in Israeli elections. The new Jerusalem light rail goes through many East Jerusalem neighborhoods and makes access to the rest of the city much easier for Palestinians there, not to mention it connects people of different cultures and religions from both sides of the city. So why, in a BBC opinion article, does Matthew Teller spew that "The new tram line passes uninterrupted from sovereign Israeli territory in West Jerusalem into the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem?"(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15590267) For that matter, when has this territory ever belonged to a group known as the Palestinians (never), and then from whom is Israel occupying it?
Today I woke up at 5:45 here in Beit Shemesh to take a morning trip to Jerusalem. I arrived in Jerusalem at the Central Bus Station at 7:15 and then took the light rail to the City Hall bus stop right outside the Old City. I was again impressed by the fact that Palestinians, Jews, and tourists from multiple ethnicities could sit together so peacefully on the train. At the same time, I'm sure the New York Times was once again publishing lies about Israel's continuous "racist torture of the Palestinians."
Just after 7:30, I entered into Jaffa Gate and made my way into the Old City. The scene: an Arab merchant standing next to a Christian priest, selling bread to an observant Jew. All three of them are allowed to practice their religion freely in Israel. All of them have full rights as Israeli citizens. Next to them were a group of Asian tourists enjoying their experience in the Old City. I also saw two black priests and a bunch of Christian European tourists. Then I went to the Kotel (Western Wall) and prayed to G-d next to two Asians who I could tell were not Jewish. If this is racism, then every country in the world is horribly racist. In this day and age, that is not true. In less than one hour, I saw dozens of cultures and at least three religions coexisting peacefully in Jerusalem. THIS IS NOT RACISM!
I dare reporters and journalists to visit Israel and see how things truly operate here. I bet their hateful and negative anti-Israel views would fly out the window.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving in Israel
Today is a today to be thankful. Today is a day on which - instead of whining, screaming, and complaining like we so often do - we appreciate what we already do have.
I am in Israel for almost a year studying at yeshiva. I am thankful for the opportunities which my yeshiva has provided to me to grow as a Jew and as a person in general. I am thankful that instead of completely overlooking the American holiday of Thanksgiving and considering it yet another "foreign, secular evil," our yeshiva decided to emphasize the positive focus of this holiday. We ate turkey for Thanksgiving "Dinner" at 12:30 pm, and then many of us played football for the next two hours. My day was incredible, and I am thankful to all my friends and rabbis for making it so nice.
There is no doubt that I wish I could be at home watching three football games in a row. However, at the same time, I get to appreciate something different today in Israel- the Torah. I appreciate everything that G-d gave us, and all the blessings He continues to give us every day. Instead of having today off to be lazy on my couch for 10 hours, we have today "on" to learn, grow in, and appreciate Torah.
I am thankful to my parents for giving me such an amazing upbringing and for supporting me through both my easy and hard times. I also appreciate that they are supporting me not only emotionally in my year of study in yeshiva, but also financially with both yeshiva and college. I don't know what I would do without my mom and dad.
So? Is that it? Will I never complain again? Is every day going to be a day of Thanksgiving? This reminds me of a very similar question many Jews ask themselves during the Neilah prayer of Yom Kippur. However, today's question is different- it is much more basic. On Yom Kippur, we ask ourselves whether or not we can keep our ENTIRE religious life and personality in the high and spiritual place for the rest of our lives. Today, we only ask ourselves one thing: can we appreciate? Can we stop complaining and asking for more nonstop, and instead self-reflect and see how much we already have? I think so...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am in Israel for almost a year studying at yeshiva. I am thankful for the opportunities which my yeshiva has provided to me to grow as a Jew and as a person in general. I am thankful that instead of completely overlooking the American holiday of Thanksgiving and considering it yet another "foreign, secular evil," our yeshiva decided to emphasize the positive focus of this holiday. We ate turkey for Thanksgiving "Dinner" at 12:30 pm, and then many of us played football for the next two hours. My day was incredible, and I am thankful to all my friends and rabbis for making it so nice.
There is no doubt that I wish I could be at home watching three football games in a row. However, at the same time, I get to appreciate something different today in Israel- the Torah. I appreciate everything that G-d gave us, and all the blessings He continues to give us every day. Instead of having today off to be lazy on my couch for 10 hours, we have today "on" to learn, grow in, and appreciate Torah.
I am thankful to my parents for giving me such an amazing upbringing and for supporting me through both my easy and hard times. I also appreciate that they are supporting me not only emotionally in my year of study in yeshiva, but also financially with both yeshiva and college. I don't know what I would do without my mom and dad.
So? Is that it? Will I never complain again? Is every day going to be a day of Thanksgiving? This reminds me of a very similar question many Jews ask themselves during the Neilah prayer of Yom Kippur. However, today's question is different- it is much more basic. On Yom Kippur, we ask ourselves whether or not we can keep our ENTIRE religious life and personality in the high and spiritual place for the rest of our lives. Today, we only ask ourselves one thing: can we appreciate? Can we stop complaining and asking for more nonstop, and instead self-reflect and see how much we already have? I think so...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Parental Control
Good morning from Beit Shemesh, Israel! Without boring the heck out of you, I will just get right into the point of this post.
I am a libertarian in most ways. What does this mean? It means I prefer that authorities of all types stay out of their subjects' lives. Governments should stay out of people's pockets, teachers and professors should stay out of their students' public lives, and parents should (for the most part) stay out of their children's business.
A few hours after I started this blog and posted for the first time, I got an email from my mother:
I am a libertarian in most ways. What does this mean? It means I prefer that authorities of all types stay out of their subjects' lives. Governments should stay out of people's pockets, teachers and professors should stay out of their students' public lives, and parents should (for the most part) stay out of their children's business.
A few hours after I started this blog and posted for the first time, I got an email from my mother:
David,
I just noticed you started a blog. I assume it will be about sports. If it is going to be about anything else, I suggest you ask your Rabbis whether they think it is permissible. Remember, everything you ever do on the internet is trackable by future employers, friends and colleagues....
Love, Mommy
Tell me this wouldn't make you angry if you got the same email from your mother. I am 18 years old, a full adult by the law. I love both my parents very much, and I respect them fully, but please, I don't need to get these friendly reminders anymore. Parental control has become such an immense part of our society that it exists even from 6,000 miles away.
Interestingly, with the development of - bluntly put - crime video games, the national crime rate for the US has gone down. In the early 1990s, the national crime rate was at its highest ever, at almost 15 million crimes per year. It began to drop very slowly throughout the mid-90s. Yet in 1997, there were still over 13 million crimes. This is where it all began to change. Grand Theft Auto was released for the first time that very year. By 1999, the number of crimes had dropped to 11.6 million. Then, in 2003, Call of Duty was first released. Today the majority of my friends (as well as the majority of the US without a doubt) play these games all the time. How many crimes were there in 2010? Just over 10 million. Even more shocking is the fact that in 1997, there were 5,997 crimes per 100,000 US residents. Today? 3,345.
What do all these incredible statistics show? I can guarantee you one thing: THEY DON'T SHOW THAT PARENTAL CONTROL IS A POSITIVE THING. The more our society, especially the children, plays violent games, the less it wants to be violent. Players of these video games realize how bloody our society would be if it looked like the scene in Call of Duty. A common mistaken belief is that by playing these video games, people (especially children) will want to go out onto the street and repeat these crimes in real life. WRONG, as shown by these statistics.
Mommy and Daddy- if you're reading this, I love you, and deeply care about you. I realize you care about me too, and that's why you sent me that email. But next time you want to send me a similar email, just remember this blog post.
I hope everyone has a great day. Remember to read my daily posts and follow...see ya!
I'm just about ready to get heeeeeeated
Hi guys. My name is David Schwartz. Or, more appropriately, Baaaastin David.
I will just say this right out: I am not going to be polite in this blog. I am going to express my views in their explicit form. I will always be honest, which sometimes means horribly rude. But don't get me wrong: I don't have any prejudices. I just hate you and your group because you already did something wrong.
Today I will not directly express any of my views and/or what makes me angry. You will have to wait in suspense for tomorrow's post, in which you can bet that I will lash out completely at someone. (Might it be you? You will just have to wait and see.)
All right. Enjoy your night (assuming you are on my side of the Atlantic). I love you all. Just kidding.
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