The spectacle of Gay Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza fleeing to Israel in the face of intolerance, torture and death threats at home is now a well established fact. Most recently, a gay Palestinian from the northern West Bank village of Tamon, fearing for his life if he was deported back, petitioned the Israel High Court of Justice to allow him to stay in Israel with his Israeli boyfriend. He was granted a residency permit because the Court determined that his fears of being harmed were well founded.
But clearly that’s not the case! This was demonstrated by the Gay flag hoisted proudly on the yacht carrying 27 international activists that sailed into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. The Yacht, chartered by the Free Gaza movement, was carrying supplies (and stuff) to the beleaguered Palestinians, in defiance of Israel’s embargo. Obviously homosexuals are very welcome in Gaza despite the fact that it is controlled by Islamic fundamentalist Hamas.
Can’t wait till the next Gaza pride parade! I’ll sell a ton of rainbow “Palestine is for Lovers” t-shirts for sure!
OK but seriously now folks… how can anyone gay support a regime that systematically victimizes homosexuals? Is there anything more innately ludicrous than the spectacle of a “liberation boat,” prominently bearing a symbol of Gay Pride, undoubtedly manned by one or a number of gay activists, steaming (so to speak) into the port of Gaza City? Well, probably the notion that conditions in Gaza are a “humanitarian crisis on the scale of Darfur.†But other than that, pretty ridiculous right?
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Jewish, Christian & Islamic Holy Scriptures all condemn Homosexual acts in some way, yet are completely vague on their actual stances regarding Homosexuality. These Holy Scriptures respectively are for guideline purposes & everyone’s interpretation of these Holy Scriptures differ, it’s Human error that determines what is “correct†or not.
All Religions preach Peace, Respect & Love for all people of all walks of life. I am a Muslim Convert & I am also Gay, I live in Northern Ireland, and many Muslims that I have spoke to regarding Homosexuality have told me plain and simply this “Your sexuality is between you and God†This is a very liberal Islamic view.
It is the society in which we live & the judgement of the people we choose to represent us in Governments across the world that determine whats “correct†or not.
Iran gives the “Death penalty†for Homosexual acts whereas Turkey “tolerates Homosexual acts between two consenting adults in the privacy of their homes. I believe in God I believe in freedom for all walks of life of every creed and culture, I also believe that Palestine deserves the right to be declared a State in it’s own right and not be governed by Israel, just as I believe the British have no real legitimate claims over Northern Ireland, and that Northern Ireland should be reunited with the Republic of Ireland or become an Independent State in its own right.
Forget about your flags, they only serve one purpose and that is to show the divide between people and and to open peoples hearts towards hatred to others under a different flag. Your silly arguments over what colours are in the “Peace flag†& “Gay Pride flag†are examples of this in some form.
It does not matter whether you are Jewish Christian, Muslim or even a Pagan, we are all HUMAN and we have the gift of free will, to Error is HUMAN to Forgive is Divine (God).
We should all UNITE under one FLAG, and disregard the others that divide us into groups.
We should accept everyone for who & what they are, show tolerance towards everyone’s beliefs, way of life, creeds culture, even if we don’t agree with it. Who are we to judge others for their actions or deeds?
If we did this there would be no need for Armies, Weapons, Wars. We would achieve Peace on Earth, and become one. Peace Love & Respect.
This was posted twice because I forgot to hit the “receive an email if someone comments on this post” Plus has the added benefit of people reading it twice, so maybe someone out there may take heed to my comments and think “maybe there is some truth in this mans words”
Jewish, Christian & Islamic Holy Scriptures all condemn Homosexual acts in some way, yet are completely vague on their actual stances regarding Homosexuality. These Holy Scriptures respectively are for guideline purposes & everyone’s interpretation of these Holy Scriptures differ, it’s Human error that determines what is “correct” or not.
All Religions preach Peace, Respect & Love for all people of all walks of life. I am a Muslim Convert & I am also Gay, I live in Northern Ireland, and many Muslims that I have spoke to regarding Homosexuality have told me plain and simply this “Your sexuality is between you and God” This is a very liberal Islamic view.
It is the society in which we live & the judgement of the people we choose to represent us in Governments across the world that determine whats “correct” or not.
Iran gives the “Death penalty” for Homosexual acts whereas Turkey “tolerates Homosexual acts between two consenting adults in the privacy of their homes. I believe in God I believe in freedom for all walks of life of every creed and culture, I also believe that Palestine deserves the right to be declared a State in it’s own right and not be governed by Israel, just as I believe the British have no real legitimate claims over Northern Ireland, and that Northern Ireland should be reunited with the Republic of Ireland or become an Independent State in its own right.
Forget about your flags, they only serve one purpose and that is to show the divide between people and and to open peoples hearts towards hatred to others under a different flag. Your silly arguments over what colours are in the “Peace flag” & “Gay Pride flag” are examples of this in some form.
It does not matter whether you are Jewish Christian, Muslim or even a Pagan, we are all HUMAN and we have the gift of free will, to Error is HUMAN to Forgive is Divine (God).
We should all UNITE under one FLAG, and disregard the others that divide us into groups.
We should accept everyone for who & what they are, show tolerance towards everyone’s beliefs, way of life, creeds culture, even if we don’t agree with it. Who are we to judge others for their actions or deeds?
If we did this there would be no need for Armies, Weapons, Wars. We would achieve Peace on Earth, and become one. Peace Love & Respect.
Hey.you are right, that the flag calls only Peace, but not Gay pride flag. Definetly, that is different flag!!! Obviously, Did you look “7” color line of the flag? Peace Flag is “Purple line is first and Red Line is Last” Only 6 lines of flag (first line RED and last line Purple) means gay pride.
Please try again to look carefully how much of line on the picture around the checkpoint.
YOu will discover 7 lines, you will be know not LGBT. Am I right? I just explain to you about DIFFERENT flag between LGBT and Peace
Ephraim’s not gay either, I’m pretty sure.
Wait. You’re that Sarah? from Presentense? That Sarah? Thanks for commenting and stuff! I hope we weren’t too rough on you. Please tell me you found an apartment and are not living on the streets. Assuming I have the right Sarah… So look. Clearly we disagree on stuff, but I welcome your input here as you are totally polite and civil and all that. Are you sure you’re not Canadian??
Now here’s the question. How on earth do you know I’m not gay? I didn’t hit on you right? In any case, you seemed like a cool person when we met and I will respond to your future comments accordingly. Please accept my apologies if I was harsher than was merited.
And yes, I know that you’re not gay. Duly noted as well.
What?
Thanks, Ephraim. I really enjoy the arch condescension. I couldn’t call myself a Jew if I didn’t.
I have been reading for months (since ck first introduced himself to me), and have generally celebrated much of what is written here. Jewlicious a great concept and a fantastic way to celebrate the wonderful aspects of Jewish culture, news, etc. It is also a place to call each other out, which appears to happen regularly here. It’s wonderful, really. Keep it up. The forum is necessary.
CK…you’re really so charming. And yes, I know that you’re not gay. Duly noted as well. What is productive is your response. What a revolution.
Well, I like snide mockery.
But, yes, you do write some nice things too.
Just don’t make a habit of it, OK?
Uh… that’s not true Ephraim! I write nice things sometimes, don’t I?
You’re new here, Sarah, so you need to know that snide mockery is ck’s metier.
That’s what makes ck so Jewlicious.
If arch condescension isn’t your bag you’ll get you knickers in a twist over pretty much anything ck writes.
Sarah, I’m not trying to undermine anything. Am I critical of the embargo busters? Yes. See the post I linked to where the situation in Gaza was likened to that in Darfur. Also look at some of the other criticism leveled against this group from the fact that they hardly brought any supplies to the unfortunate naming of one of the boats after the USS Liberty, a cause celebre amongst right wing anti-Semites. Do I wish to mock gay activists who support Islamic fundamentalist Palestinians? Yes. Yes I do. That’s nothing short of idiotic.
You’ll notice that the first picture I used, there’s really no way to know that the flag wasn’t a gay pride flag. I have been corrected and it’s duly noted. It is indeed a peace flag. So what. It doesn’t change the fact that the situation in the West Bank and Gaza for Palestinian Homosexuals is terrible.
I’m glad that you recanted your charge of homophobia. Nonetheless, calling this post crude, well… that says more about your biases than it does about anything, you know… productive.
Wow. Touchy much, ck?
I was living in Tel Aviv in 2007, when the annual peace protest against the occupation took place in the streets. The characteristic “Pace” flag (the one you readily conflate in your argument) was carried proudly by members of the protest. The following day, a blurb in J. Post called it a “gay rights” protest. Nothing was mentioned about the message of the protest, which was similarly clear with signs and banners. Here, I am again wishing to point out to you that the way to undermine the legitimacy of an alternative voice is to call it “gay”.
(See Rachel’s response previous to mine.)
The irony of your point on the principles of human rights being similarly neglected by the PA is certainly well-taken and very serious, indeed. There can be no question that this is a grave problem. I completely agree. But the way you approach this matter offers nothing transformative other than informing your audience of a very clear level of snide mockery. Your jump from the symbolism of the peace flag to the gay rights flag is juvenile at best, condescending and, yes, crudely homophobic at worst. (Why homophobic? Because of the attempt to redefine the terms of the PACE flag itself to align with your argument in order to sound “ironic”.)
I see that the word “homophobic” disturbs you greatly. For the sake of your feelings, I shall recant and simply call this piece “extremely crude” by overlooking of the context in which the theme of the rainbow flag itself has been used. (Most especially by our subjugated Jewish brothers and sisters else where, who, for the record aren’t so partial to gay folks either. But, what do I know? You seem to be the popular authority on rainbow flags these days…)
sarah, you’re wrong. get your facts straight.
first off, like ck said – none of anything you addressed has anything to do with the complete disregard the PA has for any human rights, specifically with regards to protected groups, such as homosexuals.
second, the flag is NOT identical to the one used by the jewish autonomous oblast. both use a rainbow color scheme, but there are different – look it up. nor are the “gay flag” and the “peace flag” identical either. i pointed out that it was probably the peace flag not because of a hunch, but because of knowledge of the differences between those flags – which both use a rainbow color scheme, but different ones.
foot in mouth…now.
Homophobic?? You guys sure throw that accusation around a lot. How does pointing out the fact that both Hamas and the Palestine Authority have treated their homosexuals in a horrifically brutal manner, that homosexuals in the West Bank and Gaza walk in fear of their lives – how on god’s green fucking earth does that make me homophobic? Your lovely historical exposé on the history and usage of rainbow themes in prior flags is interesting and all but that doesn’t change the fact that you, Sarah, are completely off base.
I seriously doubt our brave friends on the “break the embargo” yacht were flying the flag of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast.
Totally wrong much? Unequivocally yes.
Wow…homophobic much, cK?
Just wanted to bring your attention to the fact that the use of this flag has been also used by the Jewish Autonomous Oblast of Russia, a region created in 1934 as a Jewish National District. It was the result of Joseph Stalin’s nationality policy, which allowed for the Jewish population of Russia to receive a territory in which to pursue Yiddish cultural heritage within a socialist framework.
Most importantly, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast has a flag identical to the one you mention here, with a seven-colour rainbow. The number of colours is meant to symbolize the seven-branches of the Menorah.
Ironic, much?
The last time I checked, the use of rainbow flags has a long tradition–displayed in many cultures around the world as a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning. I believe that one must be careful to point that peace activists are not just in Gaza to support the interests of Palestinians in a one-sided campaign to bring down the State of Israel. Simply: Peace cannot be one-sided; peace is in the interest of all people.
But let’s just be homophobic and mocking of “others” as Jews have been mocked, mutilated and murdered as “others” for so many centuries. Now that’s what I call progress.
Or is it that’s it’s only a gay symbol when the lines are, uh, horizontal. Vertical doesn’t cut it.
Somebody took a gay symbol and is shamelessly promoting peace with it? Damn homophobes!
Um, that’s not the Gay Pride flag. That’s the “Peace” flag that I’ve seen flying around in America since the invasion of Iraq.
Look, not that there’s anything wrong with being gay, but the real question is: are there any straight, single men over 40 and under 60 ANYWHERE?
Anybody? Anybody?
I mean REALLY single…not separated or in the process of getting divorced or still in love with their Ex.
And I mean REALLY straight, not just someone who masterbates in front of women to cover up their gayness.
Another one for the “Religion of Peace” file
Ok, ck, you’ve done much better this time. I’ll raise your grade from a D+ to a B+. Thank you for pointing out the dangerous tendancy of the left to identify and support any “under-dog” regardless how hostile it may be to the ideals of freedom and tolerance.
There is a radical left-wing gay group in Chicago that is reflexively anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian. They don’t seem to understand that their desire to “free Palestine” would just free it to repress and kill “others” (broadly writ).
Dude. Igor. Welcome to Jewlicious. I’m a Canadian citizen. And I live in Israel. I am not by any means representative of American Jewry.
Funny how one hand of Americas Jewry recognizes the insanity of the Palestinian regime and the other support Obama wholeheartedly who you will see will soon show his anti-Israel pro-Palestinian stripes very very soon.
JIDF: Thank you for pointing out that there has never existed an independent sovereign entity called Palestine. I think we all learned that in History of the Middle East 101.
there’s no such thing as “Palestine”
Of course you’re right on the money here regarding this repressive regime and the ridiculous amount of support it has from people who would not be allowed to live their lives as they wish under this regime.
However, I would think that flag is not actually the “Gay Flag”, (that would offend their Muslim sensibilities…), but the “Peace Flag”, as used in Italy and other countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_flag).