Yesterday marked early celebrations for the 59th anniversary of the 51st state of the United States. As far as the home to the largest Jewish community outside, and possibly including, Israel, New York, was concerned, a celebration was in order. As one parade announcer remarked, "This is the biggest Israel Independence Celebration in the World."
Although I remembered reading an email from a friend publicizing a "LIBERATION & EQUALITY, NOT APARTHEID!" demonstration to "Protest the Salute to Israel Parade," to promulgate that in their words, "60 YEARS OF OPPRESSION IS NOTHING TO CELEBRATE," the event completely slipped my mind.
I actually accidently stumbled upon the parade while hot-footing it through Central Park to meet my visiting brother at the MET.
As it turned out, thanks to the confusing, compass-requiring labyrinthine that is the Park, I never made it to the MET in time, but, instead felicitously put my spanking new digital camera to use that day.
Beyond the Israeli supporters exercising their lungs, chanting propagandastic (I'm an anthropologist-we are the premier originators of academic slang) slogans and macking on this quasi-sleuth-like, Semitic-looking reporter; the most disturbing part of the hysteria of the day was the juxtaposition the American flag alongside and leading the procession of Israeli flags and floats. Here are some of the images I caught illustrating this sight for soring eyes:
However, what my camera didn't capture was just as visually and intellectually chilling:
Police planted every few feet on the upper east side of fifth avenue to protect. Police armed with canine dogs blocking off protesters on 59th and fifth. The message was clear. If you are for Israel, you deserve protection; however, if you are against Israel, you are considered a danger or threat to society.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
One Nation Under Israel
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14 comments:
like most of your posts, huh?
"Maytha" says that his (her) friend protests that "60 YEARS OF OPPRESSION IS NOTHING TO CELEBRATE". That clearly refers to the almost 60 years that the state of Israel has existed. Maytha and his friends' opposition to Israel is not opposition to any Israeli policy. It is opposition to Israeli existence.
"If you are for Israel, you deserve protection; however, if you are against Israel, you are considered a danger or threat to society".
puh-leeze..
Ya 12:07, how dare Maytha's friend be against Israel's expulsion of Palestinians! The outrage!
Looked like a beautiful day for a parade. Awesome! Wich I could have been there, but I celebrated here in MI.
Palestine.. Oh how heavenly that sounds..
"Police planted every few feet on the upper east side of fifth avenue to protect. Police armed with canine dogs blocking off protesters on 59th and fifth. The message was clear. If you are for Israel, you deserve protection; however, if you are against Israel, you are considered a danger or threat to society."
You can learn whatever message you want, but you should know that pretty much all parades in nyc have along with them extensive security, particularly those regarding fiery issues like israel/palestine
(unless jews don't deserve protection, but this blog thankfully hasn't degenerated into that type of ideology yet).
hello
vous pouvez laisser vos commentaires sur jewisheritage
a bientot
any ethnic national parade in NYC -- irish, italian, ukranian, etc, has US flags next to their respective flags. not a big deal.
also, each year kahanists have been coming over to the protest pen and do provocative stuff. that's why they put the guards there, not to keep the protestors in.
Points well taken. Wow-didn't know about that. What have the kahanists done in the past?
Re: Adam (a nice jewish boy)'s comments-I would like to clear up a little something:
"unless jews don't deserve protection"
I never said anything about Jews. The conflation of categories like "Jewish" and "Zionist" is problematic and only serves to harfully obfuscate discussion. I have no qualms with anyone who practices Judaism or calls him or herself a Jew-and would never reduce myself to the Bushian language of "There are some good Jews, and then there are some Bad Jews." However, I do have pronounced critiques of Zionism and Israel. The two terms are not interchangeable-and to do so, as aforementioned, would harmfully obfuscate discussion.
"What have the kahanists done in the past?"
Said mean things.
Unlike your supporters who shoot up El-Al counters, run over students at UNC, attack Jews in the streets, create riots on college campuses to protest free speech by Israeli speakers, support HezBullah and Hamas financially and morally ,threaten, intimidate, spit, etc. You name it. We've already learned there's nothing we would put past you. Quite fine friends you have there.
99% of Jews are Zionists, genius. Call us what you want to dehumanize us. The Nazis taught you well.
maytha -- well to use that dude's list, certainly they've threatened, intimidate, spat. mostly they shake their fists and say stuff like "they have 22 states," blah blah.
my favorite protest moment in new york was at a wall protest a few years ago, a woman pushing a baby carriage became incensed when she encountered JATO there and tried to ram the carriage into a couple young women. her rage at these "traitors" overrided her concern for her infant.
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