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Seems as if we're fighting now partially to stop that sort of thing. But what I'm describing is in Israel, where Orthodox Jews in a certain town are trying to use the city government to ban dancing in discos and driving of cars on the Sabbath, and in particular are trying to put a butcher shop out of business because it sells pork products. That violates the "holy Torah" and can't be permitted. Never mind that not everyone who lives in Israel is Jewish (many are Muslim, many are Christian) nor that even among Jews there is disagreement about how to interpret the "holy Torah"; the Orthodox Jews know they are right and aren't willing to let other people make up their minds. The rest damned well will be forced to live the right way whether they want to or not -- or we'll toss the bastards in jail. The rhetoric some people spew on why we're supposed to be supporting Israel often includes statements like the fact that Israel is the bastion of European Civilization in the Mid-East; that it's the only liberal democracy there, and yada yada. Well, it seems that there's one principle of liberal democracy they don't even give lip service to: separation of Church and State, and religious tolerance. I don't like any nation that has a state religion and uses the power of the state to enforce religious practice. (discussion in progress) What next? Forcing all the men to grow their beards long? |
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