Monthly Archives: June 2010

(Community Matters) Brilliant times in both.  Very little time to write or read, meeting heaps of new friends, seeing everything and staying in a beautiful home on the Mediterranean.  Will catch up postings sometime soon.  Headed to Akko with new friends, Diane & Steve this morning, then back to Tel Aviv.  Lily & Yigal will pick us up this evening for a bat mitzvah – very hoity-toity with important politicos.  for the generosity of dear friends

(Community Matters) I didn’t realize the National Organization for Marriage (anti-gay rights equality) were so actively involved in Carly Fiorina’s campaign:

Back in March, NOM was the first on the air with TV ads highlighting Tom Campbell’s liberal record on gay marriage and taxes. In May, we came back with a wildly successful automated phone campaign to 600,000 GOP primary voters, letting them know where Tom Campbell stands on gay marriage.

(Community Matters) The wedding was spectacular – about 250 family members and friends at the Yakum Kibbutz, just outside Tel Aviv. Jonathan’s parents, Lily & Yigal Saad are very dear friends. His sister Mikal in from Milan and looking like 2 million dollars

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(Community Matters) congrats to Badgerdog Literary Publishing, Communities in Schools of Central Texas, Austin Parks Foundation, CASA of Travis County and Austin Groups for the Elderly. Posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) Our friend, photographer Matthew Rainwater took this pic at the bird cleaning facility in Lafayette, LA.

he says the birds are shipped to Florida’s Atlantic coast after being cleaned up with Dove soap

(Community Matters) talking with a woman in the elementary school fair (just outside of Haifa) she mentioned she’d been to Austin.  I asked her what she remembered?  Her answer: “the I Live Here, I Give Here campaign.” She thought it so strategic, thought of Austin as future-oriented.  Congrats Patsy Martin

(Community Matters) haven’t had a chance to catch up blogging – sorry.  Will now post pics from first couple of days – which includes the rehearsal dinner in Tel Aviv (Jaifa actually), first of two days in Jerusalem & day in Bethlehem where we went into Al Walaja.  We were stopped returning from the West Bank, military even confiscated our passports while refusing us return.  Our passports returned  though we had to reenter Jerusalem from Bethlehem a bit unconventionally. I’m still processing our conversations with Christian & Muslim Palestinian activists, comparing to perspectives we’ve gotten and continue to get from leftist and conservative Israeli Jews.  pardon the quick post; I’ll add narrative.

Roni Gendler & Jonathan Saad wedding rehearsal dinner:

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(Community Mattters) so much to catch up on in posts – arrival in Israel, rehearsal dinner, unexpectedly being here with a former student, tours of Jerusalem and Bethlehem area of the West Bank with a Palestinian peace activist, being stopped at the West Bank check point on our return, refused reentry and our passport seized and waking up in this beautiful suite at the King David overlooking the old city.  much, I just need a wee bit of time to get on line, Perhaps in the morning after tonight’s wedding at Tel Aviv. Headed downstairs for breakfast with Israeli college student/activists.

(Community Matters) I’ve been in many email exchanges about this week’s flotilla confrontation and the Gaza blockade. I’ve expressed my opinion that the flotilla confrontation was mishandled by Israel, that the blockade of Gaza as it is being enforced against 1.5mm Palestinians is counterproductive, no longer in Israel’s best interest (if it ever was), and that Israel as a civil society must avoid rationalizing certain military practices.

Of course this path is not unknown to the US or any country which finds its citizens physically threatened. One must remember that Hamas continues to fire thousands of missiles from Gaza at Israeli families and to express its intention to wipe Israel off the face of the map. I’ve little doubt most Americans would be advocating even more aggressive practices were our citizens similarly threatened.

I speak these opinions as a friend & supporter of the State of Israel and Jewish people worldwide. One should not mistake my candidness for any softening of my support.  If Israel is attacked by its neighbors, I want US forces to join in defending the country. If my friend Kirk Rudy went to fight, I would join him. Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Charles Blow in the NYTimes

• For the first time, the percentage of Americans who perceive “gay and lesbian relations” as morally acceptable has crossed the 50 percent mark.
• Also for the first time, the percentage of men who hold that view is greater than the percentage of women who do
• This new alignment is being led by a dramatic change in attitudes among younger men, but older men’s perceptions also have eclipsed older women’s. While women’s views have stayed about the same over the past four years, the percentage of men ages 18 to 49 who perceived these “relations” as morally acceptable rose by 48 percent, and among men over 50, it rose by 26 percent

Additionally, I find the below interpretation especially encouraging and it causes me to reflect on my assumption about a cultural war underlying most of tea party revolt

• Men may be becoming more egalitarian in general. As Dr. Kimmel put it: “Men have gotten increasingly comfortable with the presence of, and relative equality of, ‘the other,’ and we’re becoming more accustomed to it. And most men are finding that it has not been a disaster.” The expanding sense of acceptance likely began with the feminist and civil rights movements and is now being extended to the gay rights movement. Dr. Kimmel continued, “The dire predictions for diversity have not only not come true, but, in fact, they’ve been proved the other way.”

(Community Matters) It’s been a relaxing few days “in the country” at the Hilton Resort & Spa (aka Fawlty Towers) between Bracknell & Wokingham. Steven is working with Dell while we’re here; I’m working on an EF project, touring a bit and reading. Last night a lovely dinner out with two friends from Limerick, Ireland. Super dinner and a long walk into the countryside where we found the idyllic pub w/ exquisite desserts and aperitifs. Up to Steven whether we go into London for a show tonight, already tickets for Royal National Theatre tomorrow.

We fly out Sun early, both to Frankfurt, though Steven stops there while I fly on to meet Diane Land & Steve Adler in Israel. Immediately to the rehearsal dinner for Jonathan Saad’s wedding, next day off to Jerusalem for West Bank tours with Palestinian peace activists. Thank you Rev Ed Hartwell for connecting us with Prof Mazin Qumsiyeh who will take us to Beit Jala, Bethlehem, Hebron and Nazareth. more touring of the country, the wedding, a bar mitvah and a couple of nights on the Haifa beach before my return. Posted from my blackberry – pardon typos, tiny little keys

(Community Matters) Punchdrunk’s next production but not until July 13 – 23 – ughh.  no, no way I can come back for it . . . but I never miss