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Once They Burned Books
"Postcards from Israel - Postcards from America" ^ | February 19, 2010 | ari Bussel

Posted on 02/21/2010 7:33:27 PM PST by Ari Bussel

Once They Burned Books by Ari Bussel

The flames could be seen clearly in small streets far away from the city square. It was not the smoke or ashes, rather the sense of excitement that provided warmth and exhilaration. Jan came running in from the outside, his face red, eyes shining. His mother looked at him puzzled. Short of breath he exclaimed: They are burning books – tomorrow we are not going to school!

It was many years ago in a different part of the world books were burned. Treatises on philosophy, history, culture, the arts, sciences and medicine were carefully determined inappropriate and dangerous. Their writers’ only guilt, a sin as old as the Devil Himself, was their religious affiliation – they were Jews. In fact, the burners not altogether careful, every once in a while in their zeal included a book by a non-Jewish author.

Over the decades it seemed such an event could not reoccur. The slogan “Never Again!” reminds us of one of humanity’s darkest hours when layers were peeled off to expose only the rotten, and evil fermented and multiplied. We were clearly wrong. Most have forgotten this not-so-ancient promise and the prophecy that history will repeat itself is now being fulfilled in front our eyes.

It is 2010, the dawn of a new decade. The innocence of youth mingled with inner wisdom of our ancestors’ experiences guide the very young 21st century. Yet, our urge to run before we walk is too strong, like Jan’s excitement while his mother shuddered.

Five thousand dollars worth of detergents produced in a Jewish town in Judea and Samaria was confiscated from an Arab driving the consignment and was then destroyed. Using Israeli-made products “stands contrary to the national and moral obligations of the Palestinians.” Particularly when the production takes place in Judea and Samaria. The egregious action was sanctioned by no other than Israel’s “partners for peace,” the Palestinian Authority.

Once they burned books, now the Palestinian Prime Minister participates in such burning events. It might have been fruits during the event in which he participated, at the same time Jewish people around the world celebrated the New Year of the Trees. Jews build and innovate; the so-called Palestinians destroy and kill.

Yesterday, the Presidents of the Major Jewish Organizations in the USA went to visit that very same Prime Minister to see if peace could be advanced. They like Jan, while like Jan’s mother, fear evident in her eyes, I am amazed: Why are we those who initiate, bother, make the effort and extend a hand while our enemy, whose sights are clearly not set on peace, acts forcefully and effectively against us? Could a plea from B’nai Brith to Hitler have saved six million?

Israelis have long employed Arabs. Even at the most orthodox “settlements,” Arabs earn a respectable living and work alongside observant Jews, learning a trade, often treated like family. Israelis simply know no other way. Then one of those same Arabs returns with an axe and murders a young child, and attempts to kill another.

Israeli doctors treat Arabs, and then a young Arab woman comes for treatment, using a special Israeli waiver allowing her passage for health reasons. She was strapped with explosives as repayment, what she believed to be an “All Merciful” type of payment.

Arabs once worked in construction and to this very day are employed in numerous jobs in Israel. Is there anything wrong with this picture?

Once they burned books. Today they have embarked on a very effective campaign, sophisticated propaganda against the Jewish right to the Land of Israel. The response? To achieve peace, we must better their economic conditions, claims the Israeli Prime Minister.

Is everyone blind in Israel, or has everyone fallen victim to the most extraordinary campaign of deceit embarked upon since the Nazi regime? Apparently, in the Mediterranean little makes sense, history repeats itself and one should never be surprised.

“Gaza Under Siege” is another aspect of the Campaign to Destroy the Jewish State. The “Siege” is so effective, indeed, that people around the world protest to this very day against the Israeli “disproportional response,” “atrocities” committed and the on-going blockade. The Response? Humanitarian aid continues to flow from Israel, alongside fuel and electricity. Israel stands accused even as she continues sending Social Security funds into Gaza. Israelis are blamed for war crimes and crimes against humanity, yet they provide medical service, send an elevator to a hospital in Gaza and work to fight an outbreak of H1N1 in humans or Bird Flu among animals.

Jan’s mother was horrified, for her son did not know better. When humanity degrades itself to burning books, the end of days has come. I am petrified as I see the real entity under siege: Israel is being blamed for sins she never committed. Israeli doctors are being excluded from conferences and Israeli academics are not allowed into professional societies, memberships are being denied and participation is prohibited.

Israeli officials, at the highest levels, are unable to land in many countries lest they be tried for imaginary crimes, wrongly accused as a means of deterrence and an excuse for hatred. Worse, Israelis are being boycotted, multinationals are beginning to divest from Israel and she may soon find herself unable to export – whether produce, goods, services or knowledge and human capital.

We are still in the early stages of this campaign of evil. At present, Israeli officials are being silenced, they are not allowed to speak freely at universities around the world. The truth is unable to surface under the expanding web of lies and hatred.

Will Israel be able to survive on her own, until everyone finally recognizes the true nature of the beast? Will it be too late? How is it that we just live again the horrors of the past and those who can still remember keep silent?

Once they burned books, then they burned bodies, mountains of bodies of children, women and men, young and old, healthy and frail. Their only sin was being Jewish. Today they start the process again, yet the crematoriums are still cold. We must stop the process before the ovens are warmed up, for we will be unable to stop it once the ashes start spewing from the tall chimneys the world over.

### In the series “Postcards from Israel,” Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports from Israel as seen by two sets of eyes: Bussel’s on the ground, Zager’s counter-point from home. Israel and the United States are inter-related - the two countries we hold dearest to our hearts - and so is this “point - counter-point” presentation that has, since 2008, become part of our lives.

© Postcards from Home, February, 2010 Contact: aribussel@gmail.com


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; Israel
KEYWORDS: bloggers; bookburning; boycottisrael; holocaust; kristallnacht; palestinian

1 posted on 02/21/2010 7:33:28 PM PST by Ari Bussel
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To: Ari Bussel

bump


2 posted on 02/21/2010 7:36:50 PM PST by GeronL (I pledge allegiance to the Principles of the Bill of Rights and to protect and defend it...)
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To: Ari Bussel

wow


3 posted on 02/21/2010 7:52:05 PM PST by 1st Division guy
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To: Ari Bussel

Once again it will be the Christians who save the Jews. Seems the Jews don’t care enough to work on it.


4 posted on 02/21/2010 7:58:31 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Balding_Eagle

“Seems the Jews don’t care enough to work on it.”

You apparently have answers, what are they? The Jews have worked night and day to deal with issues of exclusion and attempts at extermination for eons. Would you have them toss down their guns and hand matches to the Pali’s after the Jews stack themselves up?


5 posted on 02/21/2010 8:15:26 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: Ari Bussel

Pretty powerful piece you wrote there .
Thanks


6 posted on 02/21/2010 8:26:29 PM PST by Lera
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To: Rembrandt

They should abandon Liberalism and embrace Conservatism. The rest will fall into place automatically.


7 posted on 02/21/2010 8:33:48 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Rembrandt

You apparently have answers, what are they

For God’s sake, wake up....the American Jew is an insult to themselves, Jews in general, and those of us who support Israel and their goals. I cannot figure out why the asinine liberal Jews in this country do what they do.....a political party backs them....they reject it, a political party rejects them, they embrace it....what’s with that?. I think that the Jewish community should combine forces for a change.....if you can’t actively take up arms to fight your enemies, give of the fruits of your labor, give money to those who are willing to physically defend Israel.and stop whining.....either put up or shut up (I’m Catholic)


8 posted on 02/21/2010 9:00:14 PM PST by terycarl (4)
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To: Rembrandt

After your snarky question surely you must have some response to my answer.


9 posted on 02/21/2010 9:02:40 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Ari Bussel

We still have wackos burning books elsewhere:

The Egyptians do it a lot.

Wacko extremist Christians burn the Potter books.

Cuba does it.

Wacko Israelis do it: The New Testament & messianic materials book burnings in Yehuda (2008).


10 posted on 02/21/2010 9:04:26 PM PST by Androcles (All your typos are belong to us)
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To: terycarl

“You apparently have answers, what are they

For God’s sake, wake up....the American Jew is an insult...”

I agree with you. American Jews are a disgusting bunch - too much time on the East Coast with the elitists who perch there. I was speaking as from the heart of the Israeli nation and its right to exist, more from the point of view of an Israeli Jew than an American Jew. I’ve lived in a Communist country (nearly 5 years collectively over the years) and have appreciation for the subjugation of a people and I despise those who reject the Israelis right to be. (I’m a Protestant)


11 posted on 02/21/2010 9:18:38 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: Balding_Eagle

“After your snarky question surely you must have some response to my answer.”

Sure, the deserved response is


12 posted on 02/21/2010 9:19:46 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

13 posted on 02/22/2010 4:23:43 AM PST by SJackson (In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.)
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To: Balding_Eagle
Seems the Jews don’t care enough to work on it.

You need to differentiate between Jews and Israelis. Israelis care about the preservation of their homeland. European and North American Jews (who long ago abandoned Judaism for Socialism) will not do anything until after the Second Holocaust, when it will be too late.

14 posted on 02/22/2010 4:47:24 AM PST by reg45
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To: Rembrandt; Balding_Eagle

Where are all the ‘Christians’ now?

Why aren’t all the Christians stopping this nonsense now?

Christianity is almost dead in the western world. If it was real, we would never allow Hamas to lead anything, neither would we have agreed to let the PLA to exist nor would we ever believe the terrorist organization Hizbullah was anything but a terrorist organization.


15 posted on 02/22/2010 5:20:52 AM PST by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: reg45
You need to differentiate between Jews and Israelis.

Good point, but even the Israelis seem to be having problems.

16 posted on 02/22/2010 7:25:50 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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