Give it a rest
 | By Joe Millis
July 17, 2011 | Share |
Jeff Barak, formerly of this parish, has made a few very good points in his Jerusalem Post columm about the stupidity of those who passed the boycott law or who support the politicisation of the Israeli national anthem.
Education Minister Gide’on Sa’ar wants all non-haredi Jewish kindergarten-age children to know the words to Hatikva, the national anthem, by heart before Independence Day next year, and the Education Ministry has already issued a chilling directive on how to foster our children’s “national identity.”
This kind of forced patriotism recalls unhappy memories of certain European political movements in Germany and Italy in the past century, and has no place in a modern kindergarten.
If the Education Ministry was really serious about strengthening young people’s pride in this country, it would invest more in improving literacy and basic math abilities, rather than the ability to memorize a not-particularly impressive piece of 19th century verse.
JUST AS the Boycott Law forces me to give up some of my favourite Israeli wines (as to protest the law’s passing I will now actively seek not to buy produce that originates in the West Bank or Golan Heights), the Education Ministry directive is also turning the national anthem into a political issue.
But of course they aren't serious about about strengthening young people’s pride in Israel because if they were, they'd put a lot more money into improving declining standards of literacy and maths. But they don't have that money because it's been squandered on maintaining a military occupation and colonialist policies on the West Bank, just to satisfy the zealot minority.
COMMENTS
18 July, 2011 - 12:21 Rate this: 0 points | I've been a US citizen and resident all my life. When I went to school, we always cited the Pledge of Allegiance. At baseball games, they always play The Star Spangled Banner. I've never had a problem with that. Rituals help bind us. They establish a common culture. |
18 July, 2011 - 14:40 Rate this: -1 points | This American habit is not felt necessary by mature democracies. Compulsory patriotism is an indication of an amalgam of insecurities and a lack of national self confidence. Bravado is not the same thing as confidence. Likewise Israel ? |
18 July, 2011 - 15:19 Rate this: 0 points | Ben F, it is Europe which is convulsed with insecurities, resulting in shame and self-flagellation - there is almost no patriotism left in Europem which of course is the goal of the left. That is why they don't understand the patriotism of Americans or Israelis. Europeans don't have any pride in themselves anymore. And a society with no self-belief is not going to be around much longer. |
18 July, 2011 - 15:24 Rate this: 0 points | The American habit is more by tradition than law. There's a difference. Nobody attending a baseball game is fined or imprisoned for not standing up during The Star Spangled Banner. In schools, it's more by school policy than law. I could understand some objection if it were a legal mandate. |
18 July, 2011 - 16:40 Rate this: 0 points | I am not objecting to it, merely pointing out that it is not very grown up, and not indicative of national self confidence, but rather the opposite. |
18 July, 2011 - 16:44 Rate this: 0 points | Amber could you give me an example of one of these European societies you don't think is going to be around much longer ? |
19 July, 2011 - 12:27 Rate this: 1 point | It was smart for Israel to befriend Greece. It's mutually beneficial, and now Turkey is looking to mend fences with Israel. Greece and Turkey have been historic enemies. During the Cold War, Richard Nixon recognized China, to the consternation of the USSR, who weren't exactly chummy with each other. They even had border skermishes at the time. It's realpolitik. |
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Harvey
18 July, 2011 - 10:12
Rate this:
While your at it ,Tell the yanks to make sure their kids no longer swear an oath of allegiance to the flag before school each day .