AmosL
08-27-2006, 01:03 PM
The Promised Land vs. The Land of Promise
Amos Lassen
It is extremely interesting that in the Land of Israel, the Promised Land, gays and lesbians have equal rights in every area whereas in America---the land of promise--we are still regarded as second class citizens in many cases.
Israel being the homeland of the Jewish people was founded on the basis of the Mosaic code of law as presented in the Old Testament and we all know how right wing extremists let us know that we are not acceptable in the eyes of God as written in the holy books.
Yet somehow Israel has interpreted the books of the Bible to allow for the freedom of all mankind. Conversely, America was founded on the principles of democracy and there are many things we can't do and even more so are prevented legally from doing. Certainly the gay community of America is more vocal than that of Israel so I wonder how this situation came to be.
***********
I spent many years living in Israel--watching her grow from a small country both geographically and population wise to a small country with a cultural life to rival the biggest countries in the world.
Israel boasts a world class symphony orchestra, dance companies, opera houses and the very best of live theater, an impressive movie industry etc. But it was not always like that and it was not always a Garden of Eden for gays.
When I first visited there in the 1960s the only gay bar in the country was on the verge of closing and when I returned two years later it was indeed closed. All meetings between members of the same sex moved to the parks of the country and stayed there for many years. When we began to feel oppressed and tired of police brutality in the parks we organized and began to demand acceptance. It was not an easy road but we found a test case when a steward of the national airlines was denied domestic partnership rights for his long time male lover and we went to the Supreme Court of the country after losing in the lower courts. Once the decision was won we realized that we could change everything in the country and we began to do so. And the rest is history. It was not an easy battle but the results were well worth it and Israel is on its way to becoming the gay center of Europe. Is it not ironical that a country that bases its laws on the Bible could achieve this degree of freedom?
***********
I ask why has this not happened in the USA? Are we not organized enough? Are we not afraid to make our presence felt? Are we not everywhere? The major restraints that have been put on us are by right wing religious fanatics and yet we do not rise as a unified group to battle their small mindedness. We take it and live our lives hating them for making us feel unimportant and insignificant. This is what really bothers me.
***********
In future blogs I want to have a look at the Bible and see what it really says about us — I know you have all heard it before but let me try a new approach. Let's put aside our prejudices and have a look at what is really there. Let us see why a country that is based on Biblical law can make its citizens safe and why a country based on the laws of democracy — under which man cares for his own — cannot.
Any comments are greatly welcomed and suggestions are great too.
Amos Lassen
Amos Lassen
It is extremely interesting that in the Land of Israel, the Promised Land, gays and lesbians have equal rights in every area whereas in America---the land of promise--we are still regarded as second class citizens in many cases.
Israel being the homeland of the Jewish people was founded on the basis of the Mosaic code of law as presented in the Old Testament and we all know how right wing extremists let us know that we are not acceptable in the eyes of God as written in the holy books.
Yet somehow Israel has interpreted the books of the Bible to allow for the freedom of all mankind. Conversely, America was founded on the principles of democracy and there are many things we can't do and even more so are prevented legally from doing. Certainly the gay community of America is more vocal than that of Israel so I wonder how this situation came to be.
***********
I spent many years living in Israel--watching her grow from a small country both geographically and population wise to a small country with a cultural life to rival the biggest countries in the world.
Israel boasts a world class symphony orchestra, dance companies, opera houses and the very best of live theater, an impressive movie industry etc. But it was not always like that and it was not always a Garden of Eden for gays.
When I first visited there in the 1960s the only gay bar in the country was on the verge of closing and when I returned two years later it was indeed closed. All meetings between members of the same sex moved to the parks of the country and stayed there for many years. When we began to feel oppressed and tired of police brutality in the parks we organized and began to demand acceptance. It was not an easy road but we found a test case when a steward of the national airlines was denied domestic partnership rights for his long time male lover and we went to the Supreme Court of the country after losing in the lower courts. Once the decision was won we realized that we could change everything in the country and we began to do so. And the rest is history. It was not an easy battle but the results were well worth it and Israel is on its way to becoming the gay center of Europe. Is it not ironical that a country that bases its laws on the Bible could achieve this degree of freedom?
***********
I ask why has this not happened in the USA? Are we not organized enough? Are we not afraid to make our presence felt? Are we not everywhere? The major restraints that have been put on us are by right wing religious fanatics and yet we do not rise as a unified group to battle their small mindedness. We take it and live our lives hating them for making us feel unimportant and insignificant. This is what really bothers me.
***********
In future blogs I want to have a look at the Bible and see what it really says about us — I know you have all heard it before but let me try a new approach. Let's put aside our prejudices and have a look at what is really there. Let us see why a country that is based on Biblical law can make its citizens safe and why a country based on the laws of democracy — under which man cares for his own — cannot.
Any comments are greatly welcomed and suggestions are great too.
Amos Lassen