I was on the phone with a good friend the other day and, although we tried to avoid discussing politics, the chat gradually gravitated towards issues of national concern, until she said, ?I voted Likud because, quite frankly, palestinian statehood is a reality and although I don?t like the idea, I?m a very realistic person.?
Well, I just wasn?t sure how to respond. The conversation ended and I was left hanging in the air, in the midst of preparing vegetable soup and reflecting on the ultimate question - What is ?reality??
It?s time we all paused for a reality check. Just over ten years ago, two deranged, arrogant, but cultured diplomats named Yossi Beilin and Shimon Peres breathed life into an all but obsolete abomination named Yasser Arafat and his monstrous PLO. Shimon and Yossi then sold their idea to an incompetent prime minister via the goading of America and Europe and got the parties to sign a few pieces of paper in front of some pompous politicians. After padding it with billions of both governmental and private-sector dollars, they then imported the no longer obsolete terrorist and company from the deserts of Tunisia to Israel, gave them weapons, equipment, pretty new uniforms, and renamed them ?president? and ?police? respectively. As a result of this ill-gotten farce of a deal, executed by a bunch of delusionary fools, thousands of people are dead and wounded and all the despotic tyrants in the world have now raised their dirty little heads with hopes of perpetuating their own new ?reality?. The whole thing sounds like some nightmarish fiction or demented fantasy - anything but reality.
Now, just because it appears that Zionism has given way to cynicism, fatalism, and nihilism is no reason for us to accept this as reality. In fact, quite the opposite. If a few rather sinister individuals could conceive, develop and implement this catastrophe, then I imagine that those with a bit of good in them could, with a little creative thinking, initiative and faith, avert further disaster. Really. Not only can we, as individuals, change the world, but we?re required to do so. Think I?m a bit grandiose, do you? Grandiose, yes. Delusional, no.
We are put on this earth to dream good dreams and cause them to become reality through our actions. When we cease to dream and act responsibly, then the world rapidly deteriorates. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every G-d-fearing individual to do all they can to stop the current madness. Positive, creative action translates into prayer.
There is only one reality that we need be concerned with and that is the Truth. President Bush, Prime Minister Sharon and the rest of us would do well to acknowledge and take action to uphold the following not-so-little truism: The Land of Israel belongs and will always belong to the Jewish People. This is a Divine promise and, as such, any endorsement or acceptance of palestinian statehood is a perversion of everything that is right. To proceed with any plan for a two-state solution is simply wrong and will result in further chaos.
As an artist, I?m engaged in a constant struggle with my runaway imagination. When faced with either a daunting challenge or moment of inspiration, I often have to pause and ask myself, ?Is this fantasy, reality or within the realm of possibility?? So I?ve formulated this little rule which keeps me in line: Dreams grounded on a foundation of eternal truth will become reality. Those built on sand or conceived in the air will fail to develop or shatter.
If we cease to dream, then we will cease to hope and if we cease to hope, then we will cease to pray. Then what?
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Ellen Horowitz, a painter and writer, lives on the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She can be reached at ilan-acu@netvision.net.il.
Well, I just wasn?t sure how to respond. The conversation ended and I was left hanging in the air, in the midst of preparing vegetable soup and reflecting on the ultimate question - What is ?reality??
It?s time we all paused for a reality check. Just over ten years ago, two deranged, arrogant, but cultured diplomats named Yossi Beilin and Shimon Peres breathed life into an all but obsolete abomination named Yasser Arafat and his monstrous PLO. Shimon and Yossi then sold their idea to an incompetent prime minister via the goading of America and Europe and got the parties to sign a few pieces of paper in front of some pompous politicians. After padding it with billions of both governmental and private-sector dollars, they then imported the no longer obsolete terrorist and company from the deserts of Tunisia to Israel, gave them weapons, equipment, pretty new uniforms, and renamed them ?president? and ?police? respectively. As a result of this ill-gotten farce of a deal, executed by a bunch of delusionary fools, thousands of people are dead and wounded and all the despotic tyrants in the world have now raised their dirty little heads with hopes of perpetuating their own new ?reality?. The whole thing sounds like some nightmarish fiction or demented fantasy - anything but reality.
Now, just because it appears that Zionism has given way to cynicism, fatalism, and nihilism is no reason for us to accept this as reality. In fact, quite the opposite. If a few rather sinister individuals could conceive, develop and implement this catastrophe, then I imagine that those with a bit of good in them could, with a little creative thinking, initiative and faith, avert further disaster. Really. Not only can we, as individuals, change the world, but we?re required to do so. Think I?m a bit grandiose, do you? Grandiose, yes. Delusional, no.
We are put on this earth to dream good dreams and cause them to become reality through our actions. When we cease to dream and act responsibly, then the world rapidly deteriorates. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every G-d-fearing individual to do all they can to stop the current madness. Positive, creative action translates into prayer.
There is only one reality that we need be concerned with and that is the Truth. President Bush, Prime Minister Sharon and the rest of us would do well to acknowledge and take action to uphold the following not-so-little truism: The Land of Israel belongs and will always belong to the Jewish People. This is a Divine promise and, as such, any endorsement or acceptance of palestinian statehood is a perversion of everything that is right. To proceed with any plan for a two-state solution is simply wrong and will result in further chaos.
As an artist, I?m engaged in a constant struggle with my runaway imagination. When faced with either a daunting challenge or moment of inspiration, I often have to pause and ask myself, ?Is this fantasy, reality or within the realm of possibility?? So I?ve formulated this little rule which keeps me in line: Dreams grounded on a foundation of eternal truth will become reality. Those built on sand or conceived in the air will fail to develop or shatter.
If we cease to dream, then we will cease to hope and if we cease to hope, then we will cease to pray. Then what?
--------------------------------------------------------
Ellen Horowitz, a painter and writer, lives on the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She can be reached at ilan-acu@netvision.net.il.