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October 06, 2008
0:27
Haveil Havalim #185
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I am pleased to announce that Haveil Havalim #185 is now live and ready for your consumption.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
October 05, 2008
20:45
AP does editorials now
» ‎ The Muqata

Guest post by Lurker:

The American news media was always biased toward the left, but never, in my judgement, were they as blatantly obvious about it as the Israeli media. That seems to have changed, however. Get a load of this Associated Press article from today. It's about Palin's remarks regarding Obama's "palling around" with 1970's Weather Underground terrorist bomber Bill Ayers. (Ayers held a parlor meeting in his home in 1995, at which Obama spoke, to promote Obama's campaign for State Senator. He also donated to Obama's campaign in 2001. See more in this New York Times article.)

As you read the AP article, keep reminding yourself that this is supposed to be a news article from America's premier wire service, not an editorial or a political campaign ad. Note particularly the following paragraphs:

While it is known that Obama and Ayers live in the same Chicago neighborhood, served on a charity board together and had a fleeting political connection, there is no evidence that they ever palled around. And it's simply wrong to suggest that they were associated while Ayers was committing terrorist acts.
Nonetheless, Palin made the comments at two appearances in separate states.

Clearly, the AP has decided for the rest of us that hosting Obama in his home doesn't constitute "palling around". And never mind that Palin didn't say that Obama and Ayers were associated at the time of the Ayers' terror attacks.

In an interview with CBS News earlier in the week, Palin didn't name any newspapers or magazines that shaped her view of the world. On Saturday, she cited a New York Times story that detailed Obama's relationship with Ayers.
I suppose that if the AP has no ethical problem with the publication of subjective value judgements and even implied falsehoods in their news articles, then we should not be surprised that their journalistic ethics do not bar snarky, sarcastic innuendo either. Update: Incredibly, the AP didn't stop with this. They've now decided that because Palin has dared to speak about Obama's relationship with a terrorist, she is therefore a racist. See here for details.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
20:02
Look who's backing McCain/Palin
» ‎ The Muqata

Guest post by Lurker:

From the Muqata U.S. election campaign bureau:

Here's something interesting that seems to be getting rather short shrift in the news media: Shelly Mandell, the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), is supporting and campaigning for McCain and Palin. No kidding.

Long Beach Press-Telegram:
Palin was introduced by Shelly Mandell, the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women. Mandell supported Sen. Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary, but has now endorsed the McCain-Palin ticket.
In thanking Mandell, Palin cited a quotation from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that Palin had seen the day before on a Starbucks mocha cup: "There's a place in hell reserved for women who don't support other women."
(The quotation was slightly off. Albright used the word "help" instead of support.")
After the cheers died down, Palin made it a two-fer: "Let's see what a comment like I just made, how that is turned into whatever it'll be turned into tomorrow in the newspaper."
CBS:
Shelly Mandell, president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Organization for Women and a self-described lifelong Democrat, introduced Palin at the event.
In rarity for a Republican event, Mandell bragged about her efforts campaigning for the failed Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and her support for Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 1984.
"I know Sarah Palin cares about women's rights," Mandell said. "As vice president, she will fight for you. She cares about our children and she cares about women's lives."
In another rarity for a major party national candidate, Palin discussed a quotation she found on a cup of coffee from Starbucks Friday by former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, a Democrat who served in the Clinton Administration.
"'There's a place hell reserved for women who don't support other women,'" Palin quoted. "Let's see how that comment is turned into whatever it's turned into in tomorrow's papers."

Can you imagine? A feminist leader daring to support a woman, instead of the men whom her own organization endorses?
I can't imagine that this departure from NOW's orthodox groupthink bodes well for Mandell's future in that organization...
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
17:54
Modiin and Raanana: Flipping out?
» ‎ The Muqata

Two Israeli cities, Modiin and Raanana have been in the news lately, due to 2 extremely strange news items. Since many bloggers live in these cities**, I'm interested in their feedback...(I guess Petach Tivkva should be lucky they didn't appear in this post.)

** Commenter Abbi posts here @ The Muqata too... Apologies if I forgot to give you a link...will gladly update the post :)

Story 1 -- Modi'in
A high school in the central city of Modiin forbade a student to bringing his tefillin onto school grounds, threatening to expel him.

"It started on the first day of school," says A, an 11th grader. "Two classmates of mine told me they wanted to put on teffilin every morning, and asked me to take them to a rabbi to have them checked. I did that, and the rabbi found the tefillin to be damaged and in need of repair."

For the time being, A. started bringing his phylacteries to school, and in their free time, during breaks and free periods, the three would gather at a small classroom which was not being used, and put on the phylacteries for a few minutes every day.

Other students heard about this and asked to join them, and they would all meet every morning. This went on uninterrupted until one day the students wanted to put on the phylacteries when a class was cancelled and their regular classroom was occupied.

Instead, the group entered the school library, where the librarian pointed them in the direction of the unoccupied photocopy room.

When the students returned to the same room the following day, the librarian told A. that the school principal, Nurit Zak, wanted to see him in her office.

A.'s mother was amazed by the decision. "I am shocked and astonished," she said. "We came from France, where such things happen on occasion, but we never imagined that they could happen here, in Israel. It hurts me that he was punished so severely, as if he had brought drugs or alcohol to school."

The high school principal refused to respond and directed us to the Modiin Municipality's spokesperson, who said that "nothing is stopping those who wish to put on teffilin at the school privately and personally. The student was asked not to bring his tefillin to school and to pursause others to join him." [source: ynetnews]
This past Friday, I took my 5 year old to buy new pairs of tzitzit -- at our local "moetza datit" (religious community council -- they also sell Judaica, books and religious items). Unfortunately, it was closed. While walking away, my 5 year old queried, "Where is the Moezta Chilonit" (the "secular community council" -- a non-existent concept...or so I thougt) I didn't have an answer for him till now -- it must be run by the Modiin high school principle, Nurit Zak.

Story 2 -- Raanana
This past Shabbat, dozens of religious teenagers blocked cars on the "Sheshet HaYamim" street in Ra'anana. This is a very unusual event, as Raanana has always been seen as a city of good neighborly relations between the religious and secular communities. City officials are extremely concerned that this will inflame tensions in the city and degragde the relationship between the two sides.
The event took placed on Friday evening, close to midnight, when approximately 60 teenagers took to the street and closed it to traffic. They reportedly told the shocked drivers, "It is forbidden drive on Shabbat"
When one motorist's vehicle was blocked from driving, she called the municipal hotline who sent the police and munipal security patrols to the scene -- they disperesed the crowd which was next to the Ariel religious school.
Despite this being a unique event, the Raanan education department will start a campaign among the religious students,"in order to ensure these events do not reccur in Raanana" [source: mynet (Hebrew)]
I can understand religious Raanana teenagers wanting to teach their fellow neighbors about the importance of Shabbat, but blocking the road? That will not win them any brownie points with their neighbors...let alone convince anyone to stop driving. Maybe give out leaflets, or even hold up banners at the side of the road about the holiness of Shabbat, but blocking the roads? What's going on in Raanana?
It's almost Yom Kippur...can't we keep these sort of incidents to a minimum?

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
17:27
IDF Praises Yitzhar's Youth
» ‎ The Muqata

In a move that has shocked Israel's media, the IDF Shomron Brigade Commander, Itzik Bar awarded an IDF commendation to...a 9-year-old resident of the Yitzhar community, Tuvia Shtatman.

Three weeks ago at 6 AM on a Saturday morning, a Palestinian terrorist infiltrated the Shalhevet community of Yitzhar and set fire to a home.
Nine year old Tuvia ran outside to see what was going on and began to alert people that there was a fire. The terrorist saw Tuvia, ran after him, attacked him, and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife.
Not losing his cool, Tuvia continued to yell for help, and bravely fought off the terrorist, breaking the knife and throwing it to the side. In response, the terrorist threw Tuvia off a 4 meter (12 foot) embankment, and fled.

Miraculously, Tuvia only suffered minor injuries.

This past Friday at the IDF Shomron headquarters, IDF Commander Itzik Bar presented an IDF commendation to Tuvia and stated, "I am astounded by the bravery and heroism of Yitzhar children -- despite [this young child's] slight build, he determinedly fought with the terrorist." [source]

For some reason, this story has not been picked up by Israel's mainstream media.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

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A Peek into Others' mind » The Muqata » October 5, 2008

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The Muqata (5 unread)

Haveil Havalim #185

AP does editorials now

Look who's backing McCain/Palin

Modiin and Raanana: Flipping out?

IDF Praises Yitzhar's Youth