bmberger

[bmberger]

why even deny jewish indigeneity to the land of israel, it doesn’t change the fact that palestinians deserve better and it doesn’t help them receive better so why

why assert such an antisemitic position, why say that jews are really from europe or whatever and make it your hill to die on, why deny a simple fact when denying it doesn’t help palestinians whatsoever

jews are indigenous to the levant, that isn’t negotiable and any argument that tries to deny this very basic fact will never succeed in improving the lives of palestinians

[bmberger]

Reblog to get the creature to come to you. Like to give them a little gift of some sort.

[bmberger]

Is there some connection between being trans and Linux?

Yes, yes there is. You seem like you haven't been on tumblr very long.

[bmberger]

i am so happy and queer. i shield us all from antisemitic bigots this month. my queer jewishness will protect us all. kiss consenting people and wear tight pants

[bmberger]

“When I was a student in yeshiva, I asked one of the rabbis why Jews talk so much. We were studying Talmud, and I was trying to understand the comprehensive, obsessive inquiry into questions from the minuscule and seemingly pedestrian–are the water cisterns adjacent to a house included in the price of its sale?–to the transcendent, like what is the nature of God. “Jewish time is circular, so we work to make things perfect for the next time around,” he replied, before adding world-wearily: “Also, we don’t believe in perfection.””

— Alana Newhouse, NYT Book Review of Stranger in a Strange Land by George Prochnik (via spikenards)

[bmberger]

Omg! Pratchett wrote a line about a kosher butcher in Ankh-Moorpork in Unseen Academicals!!! There are Jews in Discworld!!!!! I’m so happy!!!!

[bmberger]

“May I be permitted to say a few words? I am an Edinburgh graduate (MA 1975) who studied Persian, Arabic & Islamic History under William Montgomery Watt & Laurence Elwell Sutton, 2 of Britain ‘s great Middle East experts. I later went on to do a PhD at Cambridge & to teach Arabic & Islamic Studies at Newcastle University . Naturally, I am the author of several books & 100s of articles in this field.

I say all that to show that I am well informed in Middle Eastern affairs & that, for that reason, I am shocked & disheartened for a simple reason: there is not & has never been a system of apartheid in Israel. That is not my opinion, that is fact that can be tested against reality should anyone choose to visit Israel.

Let me spell this out, since I have the impression that many students are absolutely clueless in matters concerning Israel, & that they are, in all likelihood, the victims of extremely biased propaganda coming from the anti-Israel lobby.

Hating Israel

Being anti-Israel is not in itself objectionable. But I’m not talking about ordinary criticism of Israel . I’m speaking of a hatred that permits itself no boundaries in the lies & myths it pours out. Thus, Israel is repeatedly referred to as a “Nazi” state. In what sense is this true, even as a metaphor? Where are the Israeli concentration camps? The einzatsgruppen? The SS? The Nuremberg Laws?

None of these things nor anything remotely resembling them exists in Israel, precisely because the Jews, more than anyone on earth, understand what Nazism stood for. It is claimed that there has been an Israeli Holocaust in Gaza (or elsewhere). Where? When?

No honest historian would treat that claim with anything but the contempt. But calling Jews Nazis and saying they have committed a Holocaust is a way to subvert historical fact. Likewise apartheid.

No Apartheid

For apartheid to exist, there would have to be a situation that closely resembled how things were in South Africa under the apartheid regime. Unfortunately for those who believe this, a day in any part of Israel would be enough to show how ridiculous this is.

The most obvious focus for apartheid would be the country’s 20% Arab population. Under Israeli law, Arab Israelis have exactly the same rights as Jews or anyone else; Muslims have the same rights as Jews or Christians; Baha’is, severely persecuted in Iran, flourish in Israel, where they have their world center; Ahmadi Muslims, severely persecuted in Pakistan & elsewhere, are kept safe by Israel; or anyone else; the holy places of all religions are protected by Israeli law.

Free Arab Israelis

Arabs form 20% of the university population (an exact echo of their percentage in the general population). In Iran , the Bahai’s (the largest religious minority) are forbidden to study in any university or to run their own universities: why aren’t your members boycotting Iran ?

Arabs in Israel can go anywhere they want, unlike blacks in apartheid South Africa. They use public transport, they eat in restaurants, they go to swimming pools, they use libraries, they go to cinemas alongside Jews — something no blacks were able to do in South Africa.

Israeli hospitals not only treat Jews & Arabs, they also treat Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank. On the same wards, in the same operating theatres.

Women’s Rights

In Israel, women have the same rights as men: there is no gender apartheid. Gay men & women face no restrictions, and Palestinian gays oftn escape into Israel, knowing they may be killed at home.

It seems bizarre to me that LGBT groups call for a boycott of Israel & say nothing about countries like Iran, where gay men are hanged or stoned to death. That illustrates a mindset that beggars belief.

Intelligent students thinking it’s better to be silent about regimes that kill gay people, but good to condemn the only country in the Middle East that rescues and protects gay people. Is that supposed to be a sick joke?

(…)

I do not object to well-documented criticism of Israel. I do object when supposedly intelligent people single the Jewish state out above states that are horrific in their treatment of their populations.

(…)

Israeli citizens, Jews & Arabs alike, do not rebel (though they are free to protest). Yet Edinburgh students mount no demonstrations & call for no boycotts against Libya , Bahrain , Saudi Arabia , Yemen , & Iran. They prefer to make false accusations against one of the world’s freest countries, the only country in the Middle East that has taken in Darfur refugees, the only country in the ME that gives refuge to gay men & women, the only country in the ME that protects the Bahai’s…. Need I go on?

(…)

Your generation has a duty to ensure that the perennial racism of anti-Semitism never sets down roots among you. Today, however, there are clear signs that it has done so and is putting down more.”

[bmberger]

Eventually some redneck is going to be the reason why an emergency drone wasn't able to provide emergency assistance.

And it's quite possible that they could cost a life.

The internet likes to joke, but there are serious implications to hating on tech constantly and never talking about the good it can do.

These ignorant people are only exposed to drones violating privacy, they don't even consider that there's good being done.. again, because you're too busy making Terminator jokes.

[bmberger]

Reblog if it's okay to befriend you, ask questions, ask for advice, rant, vent, let something off your chest, or just have a nice chat.

[bmberger]

not so friendly reminder with diwali coming up that the swastika (swuhs-theek-ahh) is of vedic origin, and it's a symbol of well-being, auspiciousness, and prosperity in hinduism, jainism, and buddhism. it's still common in nepal, mongolia, china, japan, and, most famously, india.

it's been around since 500 BC, and germany appropriated it, making it a symbol of hate.

the symbol on the right? THIS is not offensive. it's stolen culture. please be fully informed before you make any accusations this upcoming holiday season.

[bmberger]

Pride parade blocked by antisemites

[bmberger]

Right, considering the current state of corporate politics on this site, and that it seems that only those affected seem to be actively speaking on the matter, it is up to I, the only fucking cishet on tumblr, to drag this out to a wider audience.

REBLOG IF YOUR ACCOUNT IS A TRANSFEM SAFE SPACE.

We need to show these higher ups how much we truly value them.

[bmberger]

Holy shit Klik is international now

[bmberger]

In Israel, the pride flag's yellow is expanded, to represent the kidnapped

[bmberger]

[bmberger]

You hate the IDF because you are an antisemite

I hate the IDF because they want me to cut my hair

We are not the same

[bmberger]

Queer Jews Project Day 5 - Harvey Milk

It’s literally impossible to have a list of queer jews without Harvey Milk. He won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials. The “Mayor of Castro Street,” Harvey’s legislative achievements include stopping the Briggs Initative, which would have banned gay teachers from California schools. He was assassinated by fellow Supervisor Dan White in 1978, but his legacy lives on – especially through his nephew, Stuart Milk.

Learn more about Harvey Milk here.

Queer Jews Project