Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No return to the closet [HYPER MEGA PUKE ALERT]
Idiot Acharonot ^ | July 9, 2006 | Fania Oz-Salzberger

Posted on 07/09/2006 9:26:39 AM PDT by Alouette

Rabbi Akiva preferred 'love your neighbor as yourself' over the 'abomination' of homosexual sex

To those Orthodox Jews who oppose the Gay Pride parade

I write to you as a secular Jew, with a deep respect for you and your beliefs. But only when that respect is mutual. My principles, morals and my way of life are as important to me as Jewish law is to you. I feel no inferiority, need to apologize or discomfort with my "partial" Judaism.

My cart is not empty, and my beliefs are well reasoned and crystallized. They are called secular, liberal humanism. I have written these lines in a spirit of pleasantness and manners. I hope they are received in the same way.

Losing battle

I understand your anger and pain over the Gay Pride parade planned next month for Jerusalem. It is clear to me why it is difficult for you to see homosexuals and lesbians, alongside their straight supporters, marching through the holy city with their heads held high. I know you find kissing and hugging in public offensive, especially between members of the same sex, and I appreciate that it stands in contrast to your beliefs. Still, allow me to tell you why in the long run you are fighting a losing battle.

There is no way to turn back the clock. The values of a liberal society cannot be folded up and returned to the historical closet, unless we are willing to dismantle all of modern Israel society. Most Israelis would be unwilling to pay this price.

The fight against homosexual public legitimacy is lost, just like the fight against bare-shouldered women, bare-headed men and heterosexual couples walking arm-in-arm in public. Your fight is destined to fail, just like you failed to censure expressions of sexuality in the Israeli media and art and literature and film.

You have no hope, just like you had no hope when you tried to silence or scare or re-educate thousands of people with a wide variety of opinions from gaining public voice.

Free to offend

No longer will the multi-faceted Israeli society be channeled or disciplined, and the more society matures, the more faces it acquires. To me, this is a good thing, but even without my opinion, this is how liberal societies develop in the modern world. No one can beat a pluralistic society into an Orthodox template. Plenty of 20th century totalitarian regimes tried and failed, not before spilling huge amounts of blood.

Every free society now recognizes, on both a legal and societal level, the ability of each individual to express his sexuality openly, in addition to his political opinions and other preferences, as long as they do not physically harm others or present a clear danger to public safety.

I'll tell you something tough, but it's not something I created. The Bible itself, in the Book of Chronicles, says it is forbidden to hurt another person, but we are permitted to hurt other people's feelings. Essentially, it says we have no choice but to offend others: There is no way to express an opinion without offending someone else, and there is no personal freedom without freedom of speech, and there is no democracy without personal freedom, and there is no modern, functioning society that is not democratic. Therefore, until we find a better recipe, voices must not be silenced, and hands must not be tied of those whose actions upset others.

Proud about what?

But why must we march with our heads held high, ask "moderate religious people" and "enlightened secularists" alike. Even more, they want to know what these homosexuals and lesbians have to be proud about. I will propose several answers.

First of all is the principle of equality. Every person has the right to express his sexual identity in public, within normative limits of general society. If straights have this right, gays do, too. That which the former seek to forbid to the latter should be forbidden to the former as well.

The sight of two men kissing makes you sick, you say? So sorry to offend. I, for example, feel nauseous when I read the talkbacks to articles on this website that curse me and those like me, and those who aren't like me. It is nauseating, offensive and repulsive, and to me it is also a blow to a society's dignity, but it is also legal and legitimate and stems from the principles of free speech and individual freedom and democracy. Insults are a small price to pay, in my opinion, for living in a free society.

What is pride?

Secondly, what does "pride" mean? The literal Hebrew phrase for the homosexual community means "the proud ones," and there is a secret to their pride. It is a pride that pursues you, the pride of the outcast and the pride of the scorned. Allow every person to love who and how they want, and no one will feel the need to hang their pride out in the open.

Or the opposite: Let all lovers take pride, and let all haters be ashamed. Thus, love will be increased in the world. They say there isn't enough.

Competing commands

And what will happen to Jerusalem, our holy city, and to Israel, a country whose Jewish nature takes precedence over its democratic nature to many? Will the homosexuals and their supporters defile the holy, or will they remind Jerusalem that all people were created in the image of God? Both are written in the book of Leviticus, which commands, "you should not lie with a man as with a woman, it is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22), but also says, " You should not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you should love your neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord" (ibid 19:18).

These are two faces of Judaism, and sometimes we must make choices. There was once a great humanist called Akiva, who chose the command to love others, and said it was the Torah's greatest principle. But has Orthodox Judaism chosen to abandon the command to love others?

It is not my intention to bait you. Many of you are disgusted by the sight of a secular Jew preaching moral lessons from the Torah and Talmud (this should really have made you happy) (even if you could have been happy about it). But I ask you, humbly and respectfully, to think again about your beliefs and to examine your ethical priorities. What do you do when two Torah commands contradict one another?

Choose democracy

I assume that the fury and the threats will work, and that the pride march will not take place this year in Jerusalem. I assume a violent man will commit the sort of crime prohibited by the ten commandments (which, by the way, don't prohibit homosexual sex).

These two options will be very bad for Israeli society, for us, for our humanity and for our Judaism. So shout out. Protest. Hold a counter-protest. Try to get a democratic majority to change the law. And if you offend my liberal, secular senses, so be it. Those are the rules of the game.

And as far as the Torah is concerned, listen respectfully. But remember that all the Torah's paths are pleasant, and all the Torah's roads are peace.

Dr. Fania Oz-Salzberger is a senior lecturer at Haifa University and the head of the Posen Forum for political thought


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aids; gays; getthekids; heatherhas2mommies; homosexualagenda; israel; nambla; perverts; queers; worldpride
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last
"The Love that dare not speak its name" just can't STFU.
1 posted on 07/09/2006 9:26:43 AM PDT by Alouette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 1st-P-In-The-Pod; A_Conservative_in_Cambridge; af_vet_rr; agrace; ahayes; albyjimc2; ...
FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel/Russian Jewry ping list.

Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

2 posted on 07/09/2006 9:27:22 AM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 66-68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DBeers; little jeremiah; DirtyHarryY2K

homo agenda alert


3 posted on 07/09/2006 9:28:37 AM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 66-68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Okay, fine no closet... Couldjya at least put the bullhorns and amps away for a few?


4 posted on 07/09/2006 9:29:32 AM PDT by Teacher317
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
1) Where did do you get this stuff?
2) Don't you have better things to do than surfing the web for this trash?

I realize that we need to be on the lookout for deviants like this but please next time at least exerpt it or maybe just a link would do.

Thanks

Pharmer
5 posted on 07/09/2006 9:33:46 AM PDT by Pharmer (How am I supposed to rule the world when I surrounded by freakin liberal idiots!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
I write to you as a secular Jew, with a deep respect for you and your beliefs. But only when that respect is mutual.

"I respect your beliefs, as long as you don't really believe in anything."

Have some hyperbolic rodomontade, fella, and much good may it do you.

6 posted on 07/09/2006 9:33:56 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("Hyperbolic rodomontade of the most puerile type." ~ Aaron Elkins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Personally I don't care if they're out of the closet or not, but what they do in their bedrooms still belongs in their bedrooms, not in a parade or in a public restroom. We wouldn't tolerate a parade of porno actors behaving in the way gay pride parades do, so why should we tolerate them either.


7 posted on 07/09/2006 9:37:29 AM PDT by elmer fudd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
"The Love that dare not speak its name" just can't STFU.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

8 posted on 07/09/2006 9:37:36 AM PDT by SweetCaroline (.....once there was a way to get back homeward.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmer
Don't you have better things to do than surfing the web for this trash?

Don't you have better things to do than click on a thread with a HYPER MEGA PUKE ALERT warning?

9 posted on 07/09/2006 9:38:07 AM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 66-68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Dr. Fania Oz-Salzberger

The fight against homosexual public legitimacy is lost, just like the fight against bare-shouldered women, bare-headed men and heterosexual couples walking arm-in-arm in public.

Can she be any more short-sighted. If gays get their way and become mainstream and grow the human race can't go on. Why dont' they get this.

10 posted on 07/09/2006 9:38:40 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: raybbr
If gays get their way and become mainstream

They never will. We will outbreed them.

11 posted on 07/09/2006 9:39:41 AM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 66-68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: elmer fudd

In San Francisco the NAMBLA people used to march in the Gay Pride Parade (perhaps they still do).


12 posted on 07/09/2006 9:42:16 AM PDT by Honestfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
No return to the closet..., except in permissive European countries, where hand-holding gay couples get menaced by young Muslim hoodlums.
13 posted on 07/09/2006 9:48:57 AM PDT by syriacus (Clinton's legacy in a book on US Presidents-- blank pages; merely a motionless place holder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette; DBeers; wagglebee

"There is no way to turn back the clock."

The motto of moral (so-called) relativists, as though the passing of time automatically confers desired, and inevitable, progress and advancement of civilization.

I could only read half of the article, then I got kind of sick. I'll try again later. But since this is a window into the mentality of those who are destroying human civilization, everyone should read it.


14 posted on 07/09/2006 9:50:30 AM PDT by little jeremiah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmer

It's important to know what those who want to destroy human civilization think.


15 posted on 07/09/2006 9:53:37 AM PDT by little jeremiah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

"I, for example, feel nauseous when I read the talkbacks to articles on this website that curse me and those like me, and those who aren't like me."
nauseous

SYLLABICATION: nau·seous
PRONUNCIATION: nôshs, -z-s
ADJECTIVE: 1. Causing nausea; sickening: “the most nauseous offal fit for the gods” (John Fowles). 2. Usage Problem Affected with nausea.

At least she's truthful.


16 posted on 07/09/2006 9:54:07 AM PDT by BruceysMom (.I'm hot & not in a good way, menopause ain't for sissies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Hear me puking.


17 posted on 07/09/2006 10:02:56 AM PDT by lilylangtree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
"I assume a violent man will commit the sort of crime prohibited by the ten commandments (which, by the way, don't prohibit homosexual sex)."

Wow. I was taught that THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY pretty much covered homosexuality as well as other things. Example:

This Commandment is to allow men to better understand that wrong use of bodily communication with other men has a definite disgrace in God's Plan. Promiscuous involvement to satisfy only the senses has many areas wherein men sin against their role in God's Plan.

This Commandment definitely says that homosexuality, lesbianism, abortion, pornography, and all promiscuous endeavors of man, have a permissiveness that is against the reason for creating mankind.

God said to Moses, ‘Men will have many excuses and will justify their sins against this Commandment. Also, men will deliberately attach only specific sins on this Commandment, for shame will make them call this The Hidden Commandment’.”

I found the above text here.

18 posted on 07/09/2006 10:08:25 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JustaDumbBlonde
I was taught that THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY pretty much covered homosexuality as well as other things.

The Hebrew of the 7th Commandment Lo Tinof (Exodus 20:13) literally translates as, "Don't be vile," and includes all forms of sexual immorality that are covered in more detail in Leviticus 18.

19 posted on 07/09/2006 10:22:33 AM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 66-68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: elmer fudd
From the article. The fight against homosexual public legitimacy is lost, just like the fight against bare-shouldered women, bare-headed men and heterosexual couples walking arm-in-arm in public. Your fight is destined to fail, just like you failed to censure expressions of sexuality in the Israeli media and art and literature and film.

Actually the fights are quite different. Two men kissing is just really icky. In public, it's disgusting. A bare-shouldered woman is not. Maybe provocative depending on the shoulders. But definately not icky or disgusting. That difference is never going to change. The vast majority of people will always, either publically or in secret, regard two men kissing as stomach turning.

That's why homosexual marriage will only be imposed by courts or aberant leftist legislatures (maybe).

20 posted on 07/09/2006 10:23:20 AM PDT by ModelBreaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson