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Support Israeli Conscientious Objectors -- Free the Shministim

by Howard Zinn 12-03-2008 | 6:30pm
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I've been thinking a lot about courage. See that fresh-faced, bold young woman on the right? Her name is Raz Bar-David Varon. She's an 18-year-old Israeli who just graduated from 12th grade. And as I write this, she's sitting in jail in Tel Aviv because she refuses to join the Israeli army.

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In my day we called them the "refuseniks," and here in the U.S. they're "conscientious objectors." In Israel, they're still in high school and they are the Shministim. Get used to that word because I'm going to ask you to know it, to say it, to use it. You see, Raz Bar-David Varon and another dozen or so Shministim have asked us in the U.S. for our help, and this is one request we shouldn't refuse.

The Shministim -- all about ages 17, 18, 19 and in the 12th grade -- are taking a stand. They believe in a better, more peaceful future for themselves and for Israelis and Palestinians, and they are refusing to join the Israeli army. They're in jail, holding strong against immense pressure from family, friends, and the Israeli government. They need our support and they need it today.

They have asked people like us to let the Israeli government know we are watching and that we support their courage. They're hoping to receive hundreds of thousands of postcards to be delivered to the Israeli Ministry of Defense on December 18th, when they will hold a huge rally and press conference. They're hoping to stand strong on the steps of this majestic building -- and on the steps of history -- representing not only the thousands of refusers who came before them, not only the many young people to whom they are an example of a better world, but also to represent us. They have asked you, me, and every person who strives for peace to be on those steps with them, on that day. I will be there.

Will you join me? It's simple. Sign a letter now. And don't stop there -- ask your loved ones to join you. During this season of giving, signing a letter is the least we can give to the courageous among us.

Raz is a Shministit. Raz is Courage. And with our support of her, you and I are Shministim too.

Now go sign that letter.

Howard Zinn is an advisory board member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the American-based peace group that is organizing this letter-writing campaign on behalf of the Shministim. JVP joins a number of Israeli peace groups, including New Profile and Yesh Gvul, that have been supporting the Shministim. Zinn is a historian and author of many books, including A People's History of the United States, and most recently, A People's History of American Empire.

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by: stefanwarner

12-06-2008 @ 12:19am

yeah, sorry broski

by: carlcopas

12-06-2008 @ 1:16am

Thank you. Not that I'm a prude (indeed I'm working on a longtime and deeply rooted swearing habit myself), but there are other people on here who would be offended.

Peace.

by: stefanwarner

12-05-2008 @ 11:35am

nathanael snow, i was surprised to see you comment on here. i probably shouldn't be. i've read some of your comments and stuff on thecommonroot.org. your comment cracked me up. not because i disagreed with it or anything but mainly because it seems like it would piss of tons of people and i like that.
i don't really have anything else to say. zinn fucking rules though.

by: carlcopas

12-05-2008 @ 9:02pm

Can you clean up the language a bit, please?

by: jurisnaturalist

12-03-2008 @ 10:56pm

Welcome Dr. Zinn!
I wonder at what this young lady's principles are which lead her to choose such an interesting stance. While Christians have been among conscientious objects to military action often in the past, I am ignorant of other pacifist actions among Jewish groups. If there are more stories like this from history, I would be interested in reading them.
That said, I have no intentions of appealing to the secular-pagan nation-state of Israel on anyone's behalf. As a Christian, I do not recognize the Israeli government's right to exist, because I do not recognize any government's right to exist.
But if the secular-pagan Jews want a King (centralized government) then they can set up whatever kind of government they like under whatever arbitrary set of laws they like. If any of them disapprove of those laws, then protest they should, and protest they shall. Either they are protesting for their own self-interest because they don't want to face the potential risks of war, or they are protesting on moral grounds, out of concern for potential casualties of innocents. I'm fine with both. But if it is for the latter reason, then they also ought to protest the very existence of the nation-state. For the state is the monopolization of force, and if it is force they are against, as Christ was, then they also ought to be opposed to the other privileges sustained by the nation-state. My guess is, that if pressed, most of these individuals would not be willing to go so far. This is either a revelation of an inconsistency in their own ethics, or a mere exposure of their self-interested motivation for protesting.
Either way, I don't see why it is relevant for American Christians to say anything at all to the Israeli Government about it.
Nathanael Snow

by: stefanwarner

12-06-2008 @ 12:19am

yeah, sorry broski

by: carlcopas

12-06-2008 @ 1:16am

Thank you. Not that I'm a prude (indeed I'm working on a longtime and deeply rooted swearing habit myself), but there are other people on here who would be offended.

Peace.

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 12:55am

It's just to counter the effort expended by John Hagee on behalf of Israel.

by: Habakkuk

12-04-2008 @ 1:22am

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all Israeli citizens refused to serve? Then peaceful, democratic Arab states like Syria and religious service organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah would finally be free to build a just society based on nonviolence and human rights. Regional humanitarian powers like placid Iran and tolerant Saudi Arabia would loosen their purse strings and "invest" in infrastructure and education in Palestine. In time, the warmaking Jews might even be pushed into the sea, sealing peace and tranquility for all time in the Middle East. And it all begins with one Shministit.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 1:28am

I don't care if the Arab nations around Israel destroy it utterly.
I do care about the Jews. Peoples and their governments are not the same thing. I would gladly see the nation-state of Israel destroyed and the Jews assimilated into these nations or immigrated to the US, whatever they prefer. I am for open borders.
But there is no place for Christians to insist upon US Government support for either the Israeli government, the Palestinian government, any other government, or even the USG itself.
As for the innocents who might die, I have invited them to live with me, as every Christian should.
Nathanael Snow

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 2:33am

Just society? How in the world can you apply that concept to Israel? Apartheid, belligerent, secular, founded on the misappropriation of land inhabited by others using terrorist organizations like Irgun and the colonial mindset of Great Britain via the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate.

Truman should have listened to George Marshall.

by: Eric77

12-04-2008 @ 3:50am

Government mandated service of any kind is wrong regardless of what country one lives in. I'm glad she's objecting.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-03-2008 @ 10:56pm

Welcome Dr. Zinn!
I wonder at what this young lady's principles are which lead her to choose such an interesting stance. While Christians have been among conscientious objects to military action often in the past, I am ignorant of other pacifist actions among Jewish groups. If there are more stories like this from history, I would be interested in reading them.
That said, I have no intentions of appealing to the secular-pagan nation-state of Israel on anyone's behalf. As a Christian, I do not recognize the Israeli government's right to exist, because I do not recognize any government's right to exist.
But if the secular-pagan Jews want a King (centralized government) then they can set up whatever kind of government they like under whatever arbitrary set of laws they like. If any of them disapprove of those laws, then protest they should, and protest they shall. Either they are protesting for their own self-interest because they don't want to face the potential risks of war, or they are protesting on moral grounds, out of concern for potential casualties of innocents. I'm fine with both. But if it is for the latter reason, then they also ought to protest the very existence of the nation-state. For the state is the monopolization of force, and if it is force they are against, as Christ was, then they also ought to be opposed to the other privileges sustained by the nation-state. My guess is, that if pressed, most of these individuals would not be willing to go so far. This is either a revelation of an inconsistency in their own ethics, or a mere exposure of their self-interested motivation for protesting.
Either way, I don't see why it is relevant for American Christians to say anything at all to the Israeli Government about it.
Nathanael Snow

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 7:19pm

Does paying taxes count as "government service?" How is it different?

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 12:55am

It's just to counter the effort expended by John Hagee on behalf of Israel.

by: Habakkuk

12-04-2008 @ 1:22am

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all Israeli citizens refused to serve? Then peaceful, democratic Arab states like Syria and religious service organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah would finally be free to build a just society based on nonviolence and human rights. Regional humanitarian powers like placid Iran and tolerant Saudi Arabia would loosen their purse strings and "invest" in infrastructure and education in Palestine. In time, the warmaking Jews might even be pushed into the sea, sealing peace and tranquility for all time in the Middle East. And it all begins with one Shministit.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 1:28am

I don't care if the Arab nations around Israel destroy it utterly.
I do care about the Jews. Peoples and their governments are not the same thing. I would gladly see the nation-state of Israel destroyed and the Jews assimilated into these nations or immigrated to the US, whatever they prefer. I am for open borders.
But there is no place for Christians to insist upon US Government support for either the Israeli government, the Palestinian government, any other government, or even the USG itself.
As for the innocents who might die, I have invited them to live with me, as every Christian should.
Nathanael Snow

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 2:33am

Just society? How in the world can you apply that concept to Israel? Apartheid, belligerent, secular, founded on the misappropriation of land inhabited by others using terrorist organizations like Irgun and the colonial mindset of Great Britain via the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate.

Truman should have listened to George Marshall.

by: Eric77

12-04-2008 @ 3:50am

Government mandated service of any kind is wrong regardless of what country one lives in. I'm glad she's objecting.

by: stefanwarner

12-05-2008 @ 11:35am

nathanael snow, i was surprised to see you comment on here. i probably shouldn't be. i've read some of your comments and stuff on thecommonroot.org. your comment cracked me up. not because i disagreed with it or anything but mainly because it seems like it would piss of tons of people and i like that.
i don't really have anything else to say. zinn fucking rules though.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 7:19pm

Does paying taxes count as "government service?" How is it different?

by: carlcopas

12-05-2008 @ 9:02pm

Can you clean up the language a bit, please?

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by: jurisnaturalist

12-03-2008 @ 10:56pm

Welcome Dr. Zinn!
I wonder at what this young lady's principles are which lead her to choose such an interesting stance. While Christians have been among conscientious objects to military action often in the past, I am ignorant of other pacifist actions among Jewish groups. If there are more stories like this from history, I would be interested in reading them.
That said, I have no intentions of appealing to the secular-pagan nation-state of Israel on anyone's behalf. As a Christian, I do not recognize the Israeli government's right to exist, because I do not recognize any government's right to exist.
But if the secular-pagan Jews want a King (centralized government) then they can set up whatever kind of government they like under whatever arbitrary set of laws they like. If any of them disapprove of those laws, then protest they should, and protest they shall. Either they are protesting for their own self-interest because they don't want to face the potential risks of war, or they are protesting on moral grounds, out of concern for potential casualties of innocents. I'm fine with both. But if it is for the latter reason, then they also ought to protest the very existence of the nation-state. For the state is the monopolization of force, and if it is force they are against, as Christ was, then they also ought to be opposed to the other privileges sustained by the nation-state. My guess is, that if pressed, most of these individuals would not be willing to go so far. This is either a revelation of an inconsistency in their own ethics, or a mere exposure of their self-interested motivation for protesting.
Either way, I don't see why it is relevant for American Christians to say anything at all to the Israeli Government about it.
Nathanael Snow

by: jurisnaturalist

12-03-2008 @ 10:56pm

Welcome Dr. Zinn!
I wonder at what this young lady's principles are which lead her to choose such an interesting stance. While Christians have been among conscientious objects to military action often in the past, I am ignorant of other pacifist actions among Jewish groups. If there are more stories like this from history, I would be interested in reading them.
That said, I have no intentions of appealing to the secular-pagan nation-state of Israel on anyone's behalf. As a Christian, I do not recognize the Israeli government's right to exist, because I do not recognize any government's right to exist.
But if the secular-pagan Jews want a King (centralized government) then they can set up whatever kind of government they like under whatever arbitrary set of laws they like. If any of them disapprove of those laws, then protest they should, and protest they shall. Either they are protesting for their own self-interest because they don't want to face the potential risks of war, or they are protesting on moral grounds, out of concern for potential casualties of innocents. I'm fine with both. But if it is for the latter reason, then they also ought to protest the very existence of the nation-state. For the state is the monopolization of force, and if it is force they are against, as Christ was, then they also ought to be opposed to the other privileges sustained by the nation-state. My guess is, that if pressed, most of these individuals would not be willing to go so far. This is either a revelation of an inconsistency in their own ethics, or a mere exposure of their self-interested motivation for protesting.
Either way, I don't see why it is relevant for American Christians to say anything at all to the Israeli Government about it.
Nathanael Snow

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 12:55am

It's just to counter the effort expended by John Hagee on behalf of Israel.

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 12:55am

It's just to counter the effort expended by John Hagee on behalf of Israel.

by: Habakkuk

12-04-2008 @ 1:22am

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all Israeli citizens refused to serve? Then peaceful, democratic Arab states like Syria and religious service organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah would finally be free to build a just society based on nonviolence and human rights. Regional humanitarian powers like placid Iran and tolerant Saudi Arabia would loosen their purse strings and "invest" in infrastructure and education in Palestine. In time, the warmaking Jews might even be pushed into the sea, sealing peace and tranquility for all time in the Middle East. And it all begins with one Shministit.

by: Habakkuk

12-04-2008 @ 1:22am

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all Israeli citizens refused to serve? Then peaceful, democratic Arab states like Syria and religious service organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah would finally be free to build a just society based on nonviolence and human rights. Regional humanitarian powers like placid Iran and tolerant Saudi Arabia would loosen their purse strings and "invest" in infrastructure and education in Palestine. In time, the warmaking Jews might even be pushed into the sea, sealing peace and tranquility for all time in the Middle East. And it all begins with one Shministit.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 1:28am

I don't care if the Arab nations around Israel destroy it utterly.
I do care about the Jews. Peoples and their governments are not the same thing. I would gladly see the nation-state of Israel destroyed and the Jews assimilated into these nations or immigrated to the US, whatever they prefer. I am for open borders.
But there is no place for Christians to insist upon US Government support for either the Israeli government, the Palestinian government, any other government, or even the USG itself.
As for the innocents who might die, I have invited them to live with me, as every Christian should.
Nathanael Snow

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 1:28am

I don't care if the Arab nations around Israel destroy it utterly.
I do care about the Jews. Peoples and their governments are not the same thing. I would gladly see the nation-state of Israel destroyed and the Jews assimilated into these nations or immigrated to the US, whatever they prefer. I am for open borders.
But there is no place for Christians to insist upon US Government support for either the Israeli government, the Palestinian government, any other government, or even the USG itself.
As for the innocents who might die, I have invited them to live with me, as every Christian should.
Nathanael Snow

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 2:33am

Just society? How in the world can you apply that concept to Israel? Apartheid, belligerent, secular, founded on the misappropriation of land inhabited by others using terrorist organizations like Irgun and the colonial mindset of Great Britain via the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate.

Truman should have listened to George Marshall.

by: erbe

12-04-2008 @ 2:33am

Just society? How in the world can you apply that concept to Israel? Apartheid, belligerent, secular, founded on the misappropriation of land inhabited by others using terrorist organizations like Irgun and the colonial mindset of Great Britain via the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate.

Truman should have listened to George Marshall.

by: Eric77

12-04-2008 @ 3:50am

Government mandated service of any kind is wrong regardless of what country one lives in. I'm glad she's objecting.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 7:19pm

Does paying taxes count as "government service?" How is it different?

by: stefanwarner

12-05-2008 @ 11:35am

nathanael snow, i was surprised to see you comment on here. i probably shouldn't be. i've read some of your comments and stuff on thecommonroot.org. your comment cracked me up. not because i disagreed with it or anything but mainly because it seems like it would piss of tons of people and i like that.
i don't really have anything else to say. zinn fucking rules though.

by: carlcopas

12-05-2008 @ 9:02pm

Can you clean up the language a bit, please?

by: stefanwarner

12-06-2008 @ 12:19am

yeah, sorry broski

by: carlcopas

12-06-2008 @ 1:16am

Thank you. Not that I'm a prude (indeed I'm working on a longtime and deeply rooted swearing habit myself), but there are other people on here who would be offended.

Peace.

by: Eric77

12-04-2008 @ 3:50am

Government mandated service of any kind is wrong regardless of what country one lives in. I'm glad she's objecting.

by: jurisnaturalist

12-04-2008 @ 7:19pm

Does paying taxes count as "government service?" How is it different?

by: stefanwarner

12-05-2008 @ 11:35am

nathanael snow, i was surprised to see you comment on here. i probably shouldn't be. i've read some of your comments and stuff on thecommonroot.org. your comment cracked me up. not because i disagreed with it or anything but mainly because it seems like it would piss of tons of people and i like that.
i don't really have anything else to say. zinn fucking rules though.

by: carlcopas

12-05-2008 @ 9:02pm

Can you clean up the language a bit, please?

by: stefanwarner

12-06-2008 @ 12:19am

yeah, sorry broski

by: carlcopas

12-06-2008 @ 1:16am

Thank you. Not that I'm a prude (indeed I'm working on a longtime and deeply rooted swearing habit myself), but there are other people on here who would be offended.

Peace.