Yesterday, my daughter asked me who I was going to vote for, and then Baruch Marzel of the Herut party called me. I've never spoken to him before and I must admit that he speaks rather quickly on the phone. I politely listened to him speak for a few minutes, telling me about how important it is for me to vote for his party at this time, and then he hung up the phone.
I guess I should also admit that this was the first time I've ever heard his voice and I doubt he'd have called me if not for the election. When I heard Marzel speaking, I was intrigued. Normally, when I realize that I am the recipient of a recorded message, I hang up. After all, I reason to myself, if it was so important, they can call me for real. And, if they don 't have the time to talk, well, I don't have the time to listen.
Marzel spoke of it being "them" or "us" and I must admit that I can't argue the basic premise - depending, of course, on how you define "them." The Arabs that I meet don't really fall into the "them" category. For the most part, they are fathers who want to provide for their families. They speak of education and making a decent livelihood as their main concerns. They hope for better conditions in their villages, and income to buy food, clothes and more. They don't like Yasser Arafat or the Palestinian Authority, and blame them for the poor road conditions, the poor schools and for the Intifada itself.
After I got off the phone with Marzel, I realized that I was fast running out of time. So, who would I vote for?
I didn't vote for Herut because I don't think Ariel Sharon will include them in the next coalition, and Herut certainly won't sit with the likes of Shinui and Meretz. That leaves them on the fringe, where perhaps they most want to be, but where I didn't want to place my vote. One party down.
I didn't vote for Shinui because their hatred leaves me endlessly sad. What a waste to vote against, rather than for something. How sad that a Holocaust survivor could pour out such hatred against a group of people - the very same group so hated, hunted, and abused by those who tried to kill him. Two parties down.
I didn't vote for Meretz, because I can't get past the absurdity of Yossi Sarid endlessly blaming our victims for being killed. Where a person is murdered doesn't determine the value of their lives or the depths of pain we feel. A mother murdered with her children in Itamar is as much a tragedy as the murder of a mother and her babies from Metzer, and I can't forgive him for accusing parents of putting their children in danger - not in a bus in Kfar Sava, a mall in Netanya, or a school in Netzarim. Three down, a few more to go.
Amram Mitzna did me a favor by being honest and direct. He will split Jerusalem, tear out our heart and offer it to the Palestinians on a platter, hoping that will stop the violence. He will take Hebron and forsake our history and exile us back into the desert. No, I wouldn't vote for Labor, but I am grateful that this time, they at least didn't lie about their plans.
I do not understand a country that allows those who deny its existence to have a stake in defining its laws. Neither Neturei Karta nor most of the Arab parties recognize our rights to live in peace in our country and so, needless to say, my vote didn't go there.
I was quickly running out of parties, but I knew that I would not vote for Shas. I want to see more female representation in the Knesset and an understanding of democracy. I would have my vote go towards tolerance not only towards our neighbors, but towards ourselves. The reality is that the State of Israel is a pluralistic society and if we are to remain a cohesive, united state, we must accept the differences among us. Just as I cannot accept the hatred of Shinui, I cannot close my eyes to the needs of the secular community. I would listen to a spiritual leader for personal matters, but I would wish our leaders to be more worldly, for it is in this world we are commanded to live. Tolerance must be a watchword for the Knesset we elect.
There were still more parties to choose from, but I was quickly coming to the realization that I didn't have a choice. We had to elect a leader with the strength to govern, and give him enough of a majority that he will not become the tool of the smaller parties. We must reach a peace agreement, without giving in to terrorism.
What of the corruption that has plagued the Likud? What of the social issues - unemployment, high taxes, the depressed economy? I had no answers for these issues, yet I believe that the borders of our country will be set in the next few years and I would see us with the strongest possible leader to guide us through. For this reason alone, I didn't vote for Yisrael B'Aliya or Ichud Leumi. Their day may come, but not this election, when the prime minister's political backing determines so much. Voting for these parties might strengthen my beliefs, but weaken the government as a whole.
In the ten years since I came to live here in Israel, I?ve learned four things about bargaining. Walk away if you don't get a good deal. Don't tell the merchant your final price before you are ready to settle. If you think you are paying too high a price, you probably are. And finally, if the merchant keeps upping the price, he doesn't really want to sell and you can't afford to buy.
The minute Amram Mitzna said he'd start where Barak left off, I dismissed him from my mind. The man may know how to run Haifa, but he doesn't know how to bargain.
Somewhere between Marzel and Mitzna, there has to be a middle road that will lead us out whole, with our hearts, our souls, our land and our humanity still intact.
I knew I wouldn?t vote for Likud, because I can't stand the corruption, the arrogance of the politicians who believe themselves above the law, while they formulate new rules that govern my life and effect my future. So, having ruled out each and every party, where did that leave me?
In the end, I chose to believe in Ariel Sharon. By all accounts, Sharon is a brilliant tactician, a brave soldier, a dedicated grandfather and a man who loved his wife. I voted for Ariel Sharon because all that I am left with is the belief that he loves this land. I've seen it in his eyes when he's looked into the distance, surveying the hills. I've heard it in his voice as he's described the strategy needed to defend Israel. He's fought for Israel for most of his life, now I voted for that love.
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Paula R. Stern is the Founder and Documentation Manager of WritePoint, a technical writing company.
I guess I should also admit that this was the first time I've ever heard his voice and I doubt he'd have called me if not for the election. When I heard Marzel speaking, I was intrigued. Normally, when I realize that I am the recipient of a recorded message, I hang up. After all, I reason to myself, if it was so important, they can call me for real. And, if they don 't have the time to talk, well, I don't have the time to listen.
Marzel spoke of it being "them" or "us" and I must admit that I can't argue the basic premise - depending, of course, on how you define "them." The Arabs that I meet don't really fall into the "them" category. For the most part, they are fathers who want to provide for their families. They speak of education and making a decent livelihood as their main concerns. They hope for better conditions in their villages, and income to buy food, clothes and more. They don't like Yasser Arafat or the Palestinian Authority, and blame them for the poor road conditions, the poor schools and for the Intifada itself.
After I got off the phone with Marzel, I realized that I was fast running out of time. So, who would I vote for?
I didn't vote for Herut because I don't think Ariel Sharon will include them in the next coalition, and Herut certainly won't sit with the likes of Shinui and Meretz. That leaves them on the fringe, where perhaps they most want to be, but where I didn't want to place my vote. One party down.
I didn't vote for Shinui because their hatred leaves me endlessly sad. What a waste to vote against, rather than for something. How sad that a Holocaust survivor could pour out such hatred against a group of people - the very same group so hated, hunted, and abused by those who tried to kill him. Two parties down.
I didn't vote for Meretz, because I can't get past the absurdity of Yossi Sarid endlessly blaming our victims for being killed. Where a person is murdered doesn't determine the value of their lives or the depths of pain we feel. A mother murdered with her children in Itamar is as much a tragedy as the murder of a mother and her babies from Metzer, and I can't forgive him for accusing parents of putting their children in danger - not in a bus in Kfar Sava, a mall in Netanya, or a school in Netzarim. Three down, a few more to go.
Amram Mitzna did me a favor by being honest and direct. He will split Jerusalem, tear out our heart and offer it to the Palestinians on a platter, hoping that will stop the violence. He will take Hebron and forsake our history and exile us back into the desert. No, I wouldn't vote for Labor, but I am grateful that this time, they at least didn't lie about their plans.
I do not understand a country that allows those who deny its existence to have a stake in defining its laws. Neither Neturei Karta nor most of the Arab parties recognize our rights to live in peace in our country and so, needless to say, my vote didn't go there.
I was quickly running out of parties, but I knew that I would not vote for Shas. I want to see more female representation in the Knesset and an understanding of democracy. I would have my vote go towards tolerance not only towards our neighbors, but towards ourselves. The reality is that the State of Israel is a pluralistic society and if we are to remain a cohesive, united state, we must accept the differences among us. Just as I cannot accept the hatred of Shinui, I cannot close my eyes to the needs of the secular community. I would listen to a spiritual leader for personal matters, but I would wish our leaders to be more worldly, for it is in this world we are commanded to live. Tolerance must be a watchword for the Knesset we elect.
There were still more parties to choose from, but I was quickly coming to the realization that I didn't have a choice. We had to elect a leader with the strength to govern, and give him enough of a majority that he will not become the tool of the smaller parties. We must reach a peace agreement, without giving in to terrorism.
What of the corruption that has plagued the Likud? What of the social issues - unemployment, high taxes, the depressed economy? I had no answers for these issues, yet I believe that the borders of our country will be set in the next few years and I would see us with the strongest possible leader to guide us through. For this reason alone, I didn't vote for Yisrael B'Aliya or Ichud Leumi. Their day may come, but not this election, when the prime minister's political backing determines so much. Voting for these parties might strengthen my beliefs, but weaken the government as a whole.
In the ten years since I came to live here in Israel, I?ve learned four things about bargaining. Walk away if you don't get a good deal. Don't tell the merchant your final price before you are ready to settle. If you think you are paying too high a price, you probably are. And finally, if the merchant keeps upping the price, he doesn't really want to sell and you can't afford to buy.
The minute Amram Mitzna said he'd start where Barak left off, I dismissed him from my mind. The man may know how to run Haifa, but he doesn't know how to bargain.
Somewhere between Marzel and Mitzna, there has to be a middle road that will lead us out whole, with our hearts, our souls, our land and our humanity still intact.
I knew I wouldn?t vote for Likud, because I can't stand the corruption, the arrogance of the politicians who believe themselves above the law, while they formulate new rules that govern my life and effect my future. So, having ruled out each and every party, where did that leave me?
In the end, I chose to believe in Ariel Sharon. By all accounts, Sharon is a brilliant tactician, a brave soldier, a dedicated grandfather and a man who loved his wife. I voted for Ariel Sharon because all that I am left with is the belief that he loves this land. I've seen it in his eyes when he's looked into the distance, surveying the hills. I've heard it in his voice as he's described the strategy needed to defend Israel. He's fought for Israel for most of his life, now I voted for that love.
--------------------------------------------------------
Paula R. Stern is the Founder and Documentation Manager of WritePoint, a technical writing company.