Posted on 05/02/2004 3:09:08 PM PDT by Paul_B
Vowing to fight for coexistence and mutual respect among mankind around the world, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday laid the cornerstone of Jerusalem's Museum of Tolerance, and paid tribute to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
"The world should know we are not building a bunker. Israel is looking forward past the suicide bombers, the terrorists, past the blood, the violence and the hatred to a time people can live side by side in peace and coexistence," Schwarzenegger said in the keynote address at the museum groundbreaking ceremony in central Jerusalem.
In an emotional, highly personal address, Schwarzenegger recalled his native country of Austria, where "intolerance and ignorance led to atrocities and heartaches" more than six decades ago.
"Because of that I want to do whatever I can to promote tolerance and inclusion around the world," he said.
"If only those cramped in the darkened boxcars could have a glimpse of what we are doing today... if only those in the camps could know that we have them in our hearts half a century later," he said. The $200 million museum, a project of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, is being designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry and is expected to be completed in 2007. Calling the people of Jerusalem "some of the bravest people on earth," Gehry said that his lifelong dream of building a project in Israel was being realized.
The museum, which will be constructed adjacent to the city's Independence Park off Rehov Hillel, will include a separate children's museum, a theater complex, an international conference center, a library, and a gallery for special exhibitions.
In deference to Yad Vashem, whose own new museum is scheduled to be completed next year, the Museum of Tolerance will not deal with the Holocaust, but will focus on issues of human dignity and responsibility and seek to promote unity and respect among Jews and between people of all faiths.
During his busy day in Jerusalem, Schwarzenegger, wearing a kippa, laid a wreath at Yad Vashem in a ceremony in which he also rekindled the memorial's symbolic eternal flame.
Later in the evening, at a private dinner at the King David Hotel, the celebrity actor-turned-politician, who has contributed more than $1 million to the Wiesenthal Center, said that he felt it was his duty to help spread tolerance around the world.
"I'm not doing anyone a favor. It is my duty and obligation to do this, to promote peace, inclusion and tolerance around the world," he said, at the conclusion of his 24-hour lightning visit to Israel, his first foreign trip since being elected governor.
"Friends don't come when everyone is here, friends come when comfort is needed," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, calling the California governor – who defied the State Department warning against travel to Israel – "a true friend of the State of Israel."
"I know what it means to fly 16 hours back and forth within 24 hours to spend one day in the State of Israel," Industry, Trade, and Labor Minister Ehud Olmert said in his address directed to "a great friend of Israel."
On a whirlwind tour that included a morning meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Schwarzenegger was greeted with cheers by local residents and politicians at his every stop. Many wore Schwarzenegger T-shirts and some shirtless teenage boys scrawled "We Love Arnold" on their bare chests.
At the museum groundbreaking ceremony, Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that in the fight between tolerance and intolerance it was a seeming paradox that to crush "uncompromising evil" free society must use force. He added that militant Islam's attempt to attain nuclear weapons was still an ongoing battle "with the jury still out."
"We need to not only fight the bad but know what we are fighting about and what we are fighting for – for tolerance, diversity, and the right to have rights, the most basic of which is the right to live," he said at the ceremony, which took place minutes after an Israeli woman was gunned down with her four young children in Gaza.
At the start of his keynote address at the museum site – which was constantly interrupted by applause – the California governor stumbled over the pronunciation of the name of Mayor Uri Lupolianski, one of the many dignitaries in the crowd. "What names! It's worse than Schwarzenegger!" he said.
Later, the governor was greeted with thunderous cheers when he ended his speech with the Hebrew saying, "Am Yisrael hai" – the nation of Israel lives – gave the crowd a thumbs-up sign, and added his signature movie line, "I'll be back."
Perhaps.
I checked my globe. Kalifornia and Israel are just about as far apart as two points in the northern hemisphere can get. I had no idea that the problems in Kalifornia had been so thoroughly addressed.
It must mean that there is no emergency that would justify new taxes and that next years budget will be balanced without borrowing $15 billion dollars.
What a relief. Maybe Arnold can spend a few minutes to solve the impasse in Fallujah before his flight home.
If only Davis had realized just how easy it would be, he might still be Governor.
Wonder if he's offered any sacrifices to the good ol' Bohemian Grove Owl God too.
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