Positive views of Israel?
Shmuel Rosner puts two charts beside each other showing how other countries view the United States and Israel. If you want to be depressed, go have a look.The ONLY country of the 28 surveyed in which Israel is viewed positively is the United States (and not by much - what happened to that 63% approval rating?). The only other countries where we come close to being viewed positively are Russia, Kenya and Nigeria (go and figure). The negatives in Western Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia are much worse than I would have expected.
Life is not a popularity contest. But apparently no one else will care if Iran wipes us out with nuclear weapons (God forbid) until after we are gone and they realize what it means for them.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:37 PM
4 Comments:
This doesn't depress me. We are a Nation apart. If you read Tanakh and I know you do then you can see we, prophetically are right on track. This was foretold - Israel is a disgrace among the Nations and the Nations of the world will come up against us.. I used to get highly agitated now I'm working on my midot, especially emuna. Obama is nothing. Hashem is running this show.
"Life is not a popularity contest. But apparently no one else will care if Iran wipes us out with nuclear weapons (God forbid) until after we are gone and they realize what it means for them."
Indeed this has nothing and I mean NOTHING, to do with popularity. It has to do with what runs though our genetic compound which revolts others. It has everything to do with what runs inherently and most sadly through the genetic make-up of most humans.
I remember when my dear grandfather (may his memory be blessed) came to visit. I remember him laying tefillin. I was five years old. I looked at him with such great respect, just as I look up to you Carl. I went out to play as he was saying his prayers. This was one of the first times I remember being called a Christ killer and dirty Jew by my playmates. I will never forget that day as long as I live.
Nor will I ever forget taking a dear friend (non-Jewish)who came to visit Israel through Yad Vashem. The same friend who shared bar mitzvahs, weddings and other religious events with our family. Never did I suspect her dirty secret...she herself was not quite aware of until I observed her complete lack of expression at Yad Vashem. Latter in the day I had to ask her why? You can only imagine what she told me! This was a friend. A dear sweet friend who by a walk though horror could she admit and show what was in her heart.
We are in the fight of our lives from something which has sat on our shoulders our entire lives. We were born with this PRIDE and on the other side it is a burden. Our families paid dearly because they were Jews. We still pay.
Until we see friends who claim they care,actually walk the talk we are left with one ugly truth woven into our souls from one Jew to another, from generation to generation. May we find strength and resolve in our epiphany's. As the blinders come off we will act. We must.
The reason we are singled out and driven out and killed and hated and pushed into corners makes no sense except because of who we are.
Good Shabbos to you and your family Carl.
I don't know if this poll is correct, but whatever the true result it's not relevant.
Israel was very popular in 1967. What good did that do? France boycotted us, the USSR opposed us, and America sat on the sidelines... Foreign policy is decided by Realpolitic, and if Israel doesn't make concessions, keeps a strong army and economy and decent birthrate it would be fine.
It only underscores the uniqueness of the Jews. Life for better or worse - is looking after oneself. When Israel does, those ratings are bound to improve. No one likes a pushover, which is how the Jewish State is seen by most of the world these days.
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