In Nazi Germany much disgusting nonsense was made about the greatness of the
human spirit, the triumph of the will and the role of the superman. Well, in my opinion, in Israel all of these principles have been implemented (and, thank God, in a very different way). Israel, in my opinion, is an anthem to the power of the human spirit.
Think about it: this small country is surrounded by a sea of enemies. Yet it manages not only to exist (which would be an achievement in itself), but to have built itself a humane liberal society, an economy based not on natural resources, but on technology and human resources - and above all, to have instilled in its citizen a genuine patriotism for their country. The latter point, in particular, should be reflected upon.
For example, let's look at military service. Evading military service in Russia - it is so commonplace that people hardly care. In fact, when we think of the PR campaign against Alexei Navalny - the scoop that was unearthed about his evasion of military service hardly registered on the public. They were more interested in the tragicomic reports about the theft of the forest, or the paintings,
On the other hand, in Israel, it is a completely different story. Evading military service brings a deep personal shame. Such that even people who have real problems with their health, are ready to do anything just to get into the army. And ready to do anything to join the army of a country which (unlike Russia) is at war.
Maybe it is a certain rule that attracts the loyalty of the citizens to the army? The rule is: if a soldier was captured, he is obliged to do anything to save himself and his life: to pass any information to the enemy - all that he knows. Troops also required to immediately change the plan to relocate and take all actions related to changes in the plan of war. Agree, very different from what is taught our soldiers. Understanding the value of every life, the inevitability of punishment for criminals (the work of the Mossad after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics is all proven ) - a very important foundation of patriotism.
In the Israeli army, sadly I was not, but I came to Tel Aviv exactly on the day of a huge gay parade, which took place on the Sabbath, with hundreds of thousands of participants. We must understand that Israel is a parliamentary republic, yet at the same time, a religious country. There is very strong Rabbinate: permission to build hotels is given only if they keep kosher; non-religious marriages are not possible (atheist Israelis fly to Cyprus to register their marriage.) And here's the paradox: in this religious country a few hours before the Sabbath, I saw such a gay pride parade. And no one, even the most orthodox Jews, can stop it, although, unlike the Bible, which says about homosexuality only indirectly, in the Torah there is an outright ban on such relationships.
I expressed my surprise to my driver - he was an Israeli. He was surprised at my surprise. What's the controversy? How does a gay parade offend the Sabbath? One - the Sabbath, the other - a parade, everything is fine.
Maybe that's why Israel has a huge gay community, and it's easy to get along with the ban on non-religious marriages and - excuse me - the inability I found to drink a milkshake with my hamburger, even while I was staying at the five-star luxury Ritz Carlton hotel.
Tolerance - is another important part of patriotism. Patriotism is impossible to develop simply through hatred of foreigners. True love for the motherland tightly connected with love and tolerance. Mixing these two essential ingredients - the declared value of the life of every citizen of the country and tolerance - this engenders a natural patriotism. Patriotism, not imposed from above, but has to be awoken naturally in man.
And just as amazing. This sense of importance to the state of your life creates another set of small, as if invisible actions. A friend in Moscow with whom I met for lunch just after she received her Israeli citizenship (as so many have done - 'just in case, and then in Russia, can see for yourself what's going on'), with a tremor in his voice told me that when you get citizenship at the airport, Israeli Scouts sing the anthem to every new citizen of Israel. And prior to arrival you receive an official letter stating that the law of any state pays to the flight to repatriate you from anywhere in the world.
These small details are much more effective than our attempts to create patriotism through speeches on May Day and Victory Day. And I sit, listen and feel the bitterness of that in my home country we just do not have this patriotism. I feel like the son of alcoholics feel when the children in the class to talk about their kind and loving parents ...
One evening we went to the Israeli opera festival, which takes place in an ancient fortress of Masada. For three days only, Israelis create a whole town in the desert, with cafes, luxurious leather sofas and bars atop the sand - just build an oasis in the desert. And then you walk into a huge amphitheater, the light goes out, the director comes out - and before the performance the orchestra begins to play the national anthem of Israel. And I witness the many thousands in the hall rise and sings their national anthem. Unlike in Russia, I didn't feel an ounce of vulgarity, officialdom, or the desire to prove something to someone. People really love their country, sing about it and smile at me, a foreigner, who recording it all on my iPhone.
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Putinist Sobchak. Putin saved the family, securing that her family fortune was not taken away by police.
Attention-seeking youth of the Sobchak
'Liberal' Sobchak attacking Putin. Wearing glasses apparently created strange personality change and liberal politics. Now she hates Putin.
Sobchak falls in love with the IDF soldiers. Doesn't sound that 'liberal' - probably would vote for Lieberman after repatriation.
human spirit, the triumph of the will and the role of the superman. Well, in my opinion, in Israel all of these principles have been implemented (and, thank God, in a very different way). Israel, in my opinion, is an anthem to the power of the human spirit.
Think about it: this small country is surrounded by a sea of enemies. Yet it manages not only to exist (which would be an achievement in itself), but to have built itself a humane liberal society, an economy based not on natural resources, but on technology and human resources - and above all, to have instilled in its citizen a genuine patriotism for their country. The latter point, in particular, should be reflected upon.
For example, let's look at military service. Evading military service in Russia - it is so commonplace that people hardly care. In fact, when we think of the PR campaign against Alexei Navalny - the scoop that was unearthed about his evasion of military service hardly registered on the public. They were more interested in the tragicomic reports about the theft of the forest, or the paintings,
On the other hand, in Israel, it is a completely different story. Evading military service brings a deep personal shame. Such that even people who have real problems with their health, are ready to do anything just to get into the army. And ready to do anything to join the army of a country which (unlike Russia) is at war.
Maybe it is a certain rule that attracts the loyalty of the citizens to the army? The rule is: if a soldier was captured, he is obliged to do anything to save himself and his life: to pass any information to the enemy - all that he knows. Troops also required to immediately change the plan to relocate and take all actions related to changes in the plan of war. Agree, very different from what is taught our soldiers. Understanding the value of every life, the inevitability of punishment for criminals (the work of the Mossad after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics is all proven ) - a very important foundation of patriotism.
In the Israeli army, sadly I was not, but I came to Tel Aviv exactly on the day of a huge gay parade, which took place on the Sabbath, with hundreds of thousands of participants. We must understand that Israel is a parliamentary republic, yet at the same time, a religious country. There is very strong Rabbinate: permission to build hotels is given only if they keep kosher; non-religious marriages are not possible (atheist Israelis fly to Cyprus to register their marriage.) And here's the paradox: in this religious country a few hours before the Sabbath, I saw such a gay pride parade. And no one, even the most orthodox Jews, can stop it, although, unlike the Bible, which says about homosexuality only indirectly, in the Torah there is an outright ban on such relationships.
I expressed my surprise to my driver - he was an Israeli. He was surprised at my surprise. What's the controversy? How does a gay parade offend the Sabbath? One - the Sabbath, the other - a parade, everything is fine.
Maybe that's why Israel has a huge gay community, and it's easy to get along with the ban on non-religious marriages and - excuse me - the inability I found to drink a milkshake with my hamburger, even while I was staying at the five-star luxury Ritz Carlton hotel.
Tolerance - is another important part of patriotism. Patriotism is impossible to develop simply through hatred of foreigners. True love for the motherland tightly connected with love and tolerance. Mixing these two essential ingredients - the declared value of the life of every citizen of the country and tolerance - this engenders a natural patriotism. Patriotism, not imposed from above, but has to be awoken naturally in man.
And just as amazing. This sense of importance to the state of your life creates another set of small, as if invisible actions. A friend in Moscow with whom I met for lunch just after she received her Israeli citizenship (as so many have done - 'just in case, and then in Russia, can see for yourself what's going on'), with a tremor in his voice told me that when you get citizenship at the airport, Israeli Scouts sing the anthem to every new citizen of Israel. And prior to arrival you receive an official letter stating that the law of any state pays to the flight to repatriate you from anywhere in the world.
These small details are much more effective than our attempts to create patriotism through speeches on May Day and Victory Day. And I sit, listen and feel the bitterness of that in my home country we just do not have this patriotism. I feel like the son of alcoholics feel when the children in the class to talk about their kind and loving parents ...
One evening we went to the Israeli opera festival, which takes place in an ancient fortress of Masada. For three days only, Israelis create a whole town in the desert, with cafes, luxurious leather sofas and bars atop the sand - just build an oasis in the desert. And then you walk into a huge amphitheater, the light goes out, the director comes out - and before the performance the orchestra begins to play the national anthem of Israel. And I witness the many thousands in the hall rise and sings their national anthem. Unlike in Russia, I didn't feel an ounce of vulgarity, officialdom, or the desire to prove something to someone. People really love their country, sing about it and smile at me, a foreigner, who recording it all on my iPhone.
---
---
---
---
Putinist Sobchak. Putin saved the family, securing that her family fortune was not taken away by police.
Attention-seeking youth of the Sobchak
'Liberal' Sobchak attacking Putin. Wearing glasses apparently created strange personality change and liberal politics. Now she hates Putin.
Sobchak falls in love with the IDF soldiers. Doesn't sound that 'liberal' - probably would vote for Lieberman after repatriation.
