no more work!!!

I do NOT want to go to work today.... All I want to do is lay in bed work on learning Arabic and read about Palestine..... NO WORK NO WORK NO WORK........ gahhhhhh..... I wonder how to say I dont want to work in Arabic... la adri! (that means I have no idea).... Like right now, I really should be getting ready for work, but instead I am sitting in bed, smoking a cig, in my robe, watching videos on youtube about learning Arabic.... and now my forays into learning Arabic has turned into listening to Palestinian hip-hop.... I love DAM... Ana Hubb DAM... (I love DAM)...

Its absolutely incredible what Palestinian hip hop is doing in the conflict. Did you know that Israeli teenagers are listening to it? they crowd DAM show, and NWR (another Palestinian hip hop group) went on tour with a contemporary Israeli dance company. Music and art and expression are bringing together the youths of this conflict in a way that has never been done before. The youth is so important in these situations, only by changing perceptions of the other can we hope to achieve lasting peace.

True equality is not something that will happen during our lifetime, but peace, peace is possible if it is wanted by the people. I heard that there are a lot of Israeli youths that are refusing to serve in the IDF because they don't agree with the occupation. These kids are being jailed for refusing to serve, the IDF is MANDATORY for all Israelis. Why should these people be jailed for refusing to believe what their government is telling them? They aren't drinking the kool-aid... this gives me so much hope, Israelis refusing to serve, Palestinians refusing to become suicide bombers, now if only the leaders of both countries could see what their people are telling them, then something might really happen. The youth is the future of these countries, unfortunately Israel has steadily become more and more rightest, meaning that the country is becoming more hardline than has ever been precedented.

Netanyahu is arguably one of the most extremist Israeli leaders ever. He has figured out new ways to dehumanize the Palestinians and with this new law just announced the other day, has given more power to IDF soldiers to deport Palestinians than ever before. Basically what is happening is going to affect 70,000+ Palestinian civilians. If these civilians (which are men, women, and children) dont have an I.D. card (yes an I.D. card like the Nazis forced on the Jews just prior to WWII) then they can be evicted and turned into refugees.

Well enough from my soapbox for now, I really probably should get ready for work.....

so inappropriate

I like someone that I really should not.... Yeah I totally made out with him the other night. We have decided that we are not allowed to drink together ever again... but then he came over again........ yeah we made plans to hang out yet again. Oh jeez what am I doing? He has a girlfriend that he lives with!!!!! bahhhhhhh..... apparently they are not happy... and I told him that we should not be doing this because of his situation but ultimately he is cheating not me... oh man... needs to stop right??? he is just so awesome. I really don't want to stop... plus he is incredibly handsome... UGHHHHHHHHH I have found myself smiling all day for no reason... thinking about him all day again for no reason other than the fact that this whole thing is just so very exciting.... This is such a bad plan....

Have you ever liked anyone that you were just very much not supposed to like?

Pro-humanity, Pro-peace, Pro-conversation

I have been following Bradley Burston for some time now. He is an American Jew who went to college at Berkley and moved to Israel after he graduated. His columns are always insightful and very open minded. Speaking as someone that is neither pro-Palestine nor pro-Israel but rather as someone that is pro-humanity, I give this guy a lot of credit. I have learned a lot from is witty and open-minded words and while there are times I disagree with him, there are also times when I have to take a step back and examine why I disagree. Because these whys are fundamental in understanding bias and self. Ultimately life is about the conversation we have. Extremists must be valued as having a valid point of view just as much as any other person must be valued for their point of view. If only we as humans could learn to value one another and listen to one another as much as we listen to and value ourselves, don't you think the world would be better? I have to think it would be.... there can be no middle with out an end, and there can be no end with out an opposite end... or if you prefer an analogy closer to a circle (like I do myself) then there is no middle, beginning or end, just different positions on the same line which eventually inevitabley connects. because if we polarize our selves put oneself in a position of pro and anti than we miss the point completely. My mom always used to say, "you can bet the truth lies somewhere in the middle." but who is to say what truth is? well this is enough post-modern bull for now... I love GREY... no black no white just grey... infinite shades of grey, which eventually come back around

A Palestinian peace plan Israelis can live with
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Israel News, Ray Hanania



Ray Hanania is a compassionate and, in fact, delightful person, with rare insight into the aspirations and failings of Palestinians and Israelis. In the eyes of many, that alone ought to disqualify him from consideration as a leader in the Holy Land.

Add to that, the fact that the acclaimed journalist also happens to be a first-generation Palestinian-American married to a Jewish woman, as well as a stand-up comedian who has appeared alongside Jewish comics, and the self-destructively polarized electorate of the Holy Land will need to expend not a whiff of thought in dismissing him out of hand.

Which all makes his candidacy for the president of Palestine, and the Mideast peace proposal that is his platform, all the more compelling. He is realistic about his chances ("No, I don't expect to win"). But the Hanania plan embodies the radicalism of the truly moderate, and deserves much more than cursory consideration.

Consider his proposal for one of the thorniest municipal quandaries in the West Bank. Jews who wish to live in Hebron in a future state of Palestine, should be allowed to do so, he writes, "and should be protected, just as non-Jews. In fact, for every Jewish individual seeking to live in Palestine, a Palestinian should be permitted to live in Israel."

What Hanania is proposing is a two state solution that addresses not only quantifiable issues, but underlying emotional grievances, and the anguish in the histories of both sides. Cynics, and, in particular, the extremists among them, will reject it out of hand as simplistic and artificially balanced. But if peace is ever to be made in the Holy Land, it will be made despite extremists and not by them.

The following is the text of Hanania's outline. I have taken the liberty of numbering the clauses, with an eye toward facilitating discussion:

1. I support two-states, one Israel and one Palestine. As far as I am concerned, I can recognize Israel's "Jewish" character and Israelis should recognize Palestine's "non-Jewish" character.

2. I oppose violence of any kind from and by anyone. I reject Hamas' participation in any Palestinian government without first agreeing to surrender all arms and to accept two-states as a "final" peace agreement. But I also reject allowing Israeli settlers to carry any weapons and believe Israelis must impose the same restrictions on them.

3. I can support some settlements remaining - given the reality of 42 years of time passing - in a dunam-for-dunam land exchange. If Ariel is 500 dunams with a lifeline from Israel, then Israel gives Palestine 500 dunams in exchange.

4. Jerusalem should be a shared city and Palestinians should have an official presence in East Jerusalem. The Old City should be shared by both permitting open access to the city to all with a joint Palestinian-Israeli police presence.

5. Palestinian refugees would give up their demand to return to pre-1948 homes and lands lost during the conflict with Israel. Instead, some could apply for family reunification through Israel and the remainder would be compensated through a fund created and maintained by the United States, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the United Nations.

6. I also think Israelis should find it in their hearts to show compassion and offer their apologies to Palestinians for the conflict.

7. I support creation of a similar fund to compensate those Jews from Arab lands who lost their homes and lands, too, when they fled.

8. I think the Wall should be torn down, or relocated to the new borders. I have no problem separating the two nations for a short duration to help rebuild confidence between our two people.

9. All political parties, Palestinian and Israelis, should eliminate languages denying each other's existence, and all maps should be reprinted so that Israeli maps finally show Palestine and Palestinian maps finally show Israel.

10. A subway system should be built linking the West Bank portion of the Palestine state to the Gaza Strip portion of the Palestine State. Palestine should be permitted to build a seaport access to strengthen its industry, and an airport to permit flights and too and from the Arab and Israeli world.

11. I would urge the Arab World to renew their offer to normalize relations with Israel if Israel agrees to support the creation of a Palestinian State.

12. And I would ask both countries to establish embassies in each other's country to address other problems.

13. While non-Jewish Palestinians would continue to live in Israel as citizens, Jews who wish to live in settlements surrendered by Israel could become Palestinian citizens and they should be recognized and treated equally.

14. If Jews want to live in Hebron, they should be allowed to live in Hebron and should be protected, just as non-Jews. In fact, for every Jewish individual seeking to live in Palestine, a Palestinian should be permitted to live in Israel. In fact, major Palestinian populations in Israel could be annexed into Palestine (like settlements).

15. Another concept is to have non-Jews living in Israel continue to live there but only vote in Palestinian elections, while Jews living in Palestine would only vote in Israeli elections. A special citizenship protection committee could be created to explore how to protect the rights of minorities in each state.

16. Israel and Palestine should create joint-governing and security agencies working with the United States to monitor the peace, and establish an agency to pursue criminal acts of violence.

As in every potentially workable peace proposal, Hanania's plan has something in it to upset and disappoint everyone. But its underlying principle of compromise based on mutual respect and compassion, its openness to the needs and wounds of two victimized peoples, and its suggestion that grassroots sentiment for peace can succeed where leaders have so consistently failed, are surely as worthy of serious consideration, as anything currently on the table.

taken from Haaretz at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1130354.html

My first Post

This is the first post by me, the Mad Renegade. Not really sure what this blog will serve as. Partial political outcry, partial mad rants, partial philosophical medium. I am ok with that.

Random note... Got a new tattoo 2 days ago. I must admit it is very fantastic. It says Salaam (in Arabic of Course) on top, Shalom (in Hebrew) underneath and the main part is a peace dove holding an olive branch. Very simple, very elegant, very zen. Translation uber me. oh you don't know this about me, well cause you don't know me, I am moving to Palestine/Israel at some point. Definitely moving to Turkey in September. I can't wait! Going to teach English abroad to build up my CV. But aside from Turkey. Palestine.... my dream..... I am not Jewish, or Arab, or really anyone. But I care. And I will wage peace and not war.

I have pretty much refused to get into this whole blogging thing because it seems so self-serving... Who am I to go on and on about nothing? Why does anyone care? I just really don't get it. But then I realized that its just a way to assert your identity and maybe connect with people in a (hopefully) meaningful way, so ok thats cool whatever. I can get down with it.

Quick Bio:

I am 25

Still have not graduated college (ohhh the shame)

Still live with my mom (ohhhh the shame)

I work at a small coffee shop

Love love love Anthropology especially the Middle East

mmm Guilty pleasure... anything salty

ok thats all for now, thank you readers, if there are any!

Till next time!