As a tireless advocate for Israel, I often get bewildered, enraged, and depressed at the insanity, hostility, and sheer stupidity of much of the human race. A Facebook friend recently posted yet another in the series of pathetic man-on-the-street polls taken about Israel (this one in my former hometown of Portland, Oregon).
To think that these are registered voters in the most powerful country in the world is astonishing. (That there were only 13 ignoramuses in this small sampling is cold comfort when you realize that they probably represent a good chunk of the American population overall.)
And then, to preserve my sanity, I look for a glimmer of humor (hope is too much to look for here) and remember this priceless scene from Mel Brooks’s “Blazing Saddles” (1974):
Proof of Hashem’s love for the Jews: He inspires Mel Brooks to come up with the antidote before the rest of the world comes up with the disease.
Shimshonit 
Hi Shimshonit, is your view wide spread in Israel? Yes, we have poorly educated people in the U.S. (sadly, I being one of them). I am kind of offended by your post. I am pretty sure, when push comes to shove, that these same people, rather they like it or not, would support the defense of Israel against hostile aggressors. Yeah, it might not seem that way by what is shown on the news, but I am talking about reality here. Calling us ignoramuses is a bit unfair.
James: I’m grateful for the support of Americans and don’t expect every American to know the answers to all of the questions the Hebrew High kids asked them. But when some Americans (not necessarily the ones in the video) support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement but wouldn’t even know that to do so they’d have to give up their cellphones and instant messaging, then we’re talking about some real joiners (not thinkers). The apparently well-meaning people in this video may or may not support Israel, but their brand of ignorance is shared by people in much higher office than they, with potentially disastrous results. And while it’s generous of you to cast your lot with the people in the video, for them to believe that Israel doesn’t even exist (yet) is unconscionable, no matter how limited the American educational system is. Such people easily play into the hands of Arab propagandists who exploit that ignorance and manage to pass patent untruths off as fact. My post is meant to poke fun at such people, and to see a humorous side of something that is really not very funny at all.
Shimshonit, have no other choice but cast my lot with the people in the video, they are fellow Americans. You said that you are a tireless advocate of Israel, well, I feel the same way about America. I am a veteran and I am proud of my country (even though we screw up allot). I have a hunch if we flipped this around, you would feel the same way.
I am sorry that there is Americans that just don’t get it, even in high places. I suspect that they are a minority and they just do a lot of barking (that seems to be how we roll here. Hmmm…Like the Tea Party). Actually Shimshonit, we have been through this before and now I have no opinion about what goes on in Israel. How would I know? I don’t live there. What ever Israel wants to do is fine with me.
I don’t know what to say. Personally, if someone accepts my help and then bad mouths me behind my back. How can I realistically respect that person? If the person does not like me, fine, let’s go are separate ways. I just don’t like being used. Just saying…
I am hoping that this is truly not the case in this issue. That is why I asked the question.
James: Some of the people who fail to understand Israel or respect its right to make its own decisions are MUCH higher on the food chain in the US than the Tea Party — like Obama and Clinton, for starters. And while they likely do not reflect the overall pro-Israel views of most Americans, they use their bully pulpit to try to make Israel compromise its own security in pursuit of a peace that could justify Obama’s on-credit Nobel Peace Prize, but which we are nowhere near to achieving in reality.
I don’t want you to walk away from this post without getting the point of it. It was to blow off steam after a particularly difficult few weeks in Israel (of which, if you read my blog regularly, you are well aware of the details). The enemies of Israel I’m fed up with are the ones who claim that the Fogel family in Itamar deserved to be slaughtered like sheep for living in the West Bank, that Israel is an apartheid state, or the world’s greatest human rights abuser. The people in the video represent the ignorance I am often astonished by, nothing more. If you didn’t know any more than the people in the video, I’ll bet you do now that you’ve seen it. No one HAS to be informed about anything to be a citizen of the world, but I certainly think it’s a good idea, don’t you?
This post was meant to elicit laughter (at the “Blazing Saddles” clip); I’m sorry it had the opposite effect on you.
You bring up great points and I totally understand were you are coming from. In my opinion, the U.S. foreign policy needs a drastic facelift. I do think that we mean well but we still can’t seem to get it right. It has hurt us a lot political on the world stage.
Anyway, I will just leave it at that. I shouldn’t have commented, sorry.
I grieve for the Fogel family and the people in the latest bus bombing. It is past stupid and has no political gain. If they are truly oppressed and their backs are at the wall, they might want to take a look at Ghandi for advice. Other than that they are just plain disgusting killers.
Take Care…
James: You are always welcome to comment, but if I think you’ve missed something, be ready for a conversation. (Not usually a bad thing.) Shabbat shalom.