Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest in Jerusalem
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An Israeli MP has blamed parliament’s tolerance of gays for earthquakes that have rocked the Holy Land recently. Shlomo Benizri, of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Shas Party, said the tremors had been caused by lawmaking that gave “legitimacy to sodomy”.
Israel decriminalised homosexuality in 1988 and has since passed several laws recognising gay rights.
Two earthquakes shook the region last week and a further four struck in November and December.
Adoption
Mr Benizri made his comments while addressing a committee of the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, about the country’s readiness for earthquakes.
He called on lawmakers to stop “passing legislation on how to encourage homosexual activity in the state of Israel, which anyway brings about earthquakes”.
Israeli court rulings in recent years have granted inheritance rights to gay couples and recognised same-sex marriages performed abroad.
Last week, Israel’s attorney general ruled same-sex couples could adopt.
Source: My beloved BBC News
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Oh, Shlomo. It’s ridiculously apropos, but as I read this article, the music streaming from my computer was Rufus singing Do I disappoint you, in just being human? Yeah. Keep your homophobia to yourself, Shlomo.
Ultimately, this just amuses me. Can you imagine what a frightening world it would be to live in if you thought God was making the ground beneath your feet shake because someone else can now inherit their spouse’s belongings? Scary. Accepting bribes? Apparently God’s totally down with that. Granny’s doilies passing from husband to husband? Now, that pisses God off.
I also enjoy how steps toward equal rights under the law equates to how to encourage homosexual activity. Yes. Because no longer throwing people in jail changes the way they feel. Because your sexuality is something you choose. Indeed.
My standard question to homophobes is: Do you choose who you’re attracted to? Sure, you choose what your actions are, but do you choose how you feel?
I keep waiting for rebuttal on that one.
I’m still slammed and overwhelmed. I promise, posting will resume soon. Ish. Soonish.
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Categorized under my late night boys because if had I my way, Jon Stewart would adapt this (make it funnier) and use it. I used to think I wanted to write for Craig. Really, I think it’s Jon…
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*Edit: I changed this because I felt like I was being judgy and…lord knows, rule number one is, this is a judgment-free zone. *sigh* There will be no tolerance – no tolerance – of homophobia in this space, but telling people to go to hell isn’t going to help my argument…jt is tired and shouldn’t post when she’s tired.
an interesting train wreck 
That photo needs to be sent in to the Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks. It would go nicely with the church sign my mom sent in.
By: Amber on February 21, 2008
at 7:36 am
it’s Jon for me too! always was, always will be. cheeky is lovely but brillant is as brillant does.
I don’t even know how to comment on gay people causing earthquakes! was it because of all the parades?
By: Dianne on February 22, 2008
at 12:20 pm
Dianne, I just want to hug you! I love your comments and your blog. :-)
And see…this is why I would give up Craig for six months to get another book. Between the Bridge and the River is brilliant, I think. As much as I love the show, I want more of his writing. It’s all of his cheek (and then some, perhaps) and his insightful side too. Not that there aren’t brilliant moments on the show, but…yes. Cheeky is lovely but brilliant is as brilliant does. :-)
*sigh* I’m also two full weeks behind on my LLS viewing. :-( I was just going to call it a wash and start deleting, but then I watched one and was laughing out loud.
Oh! Did you see Leonard Nimoy on The Colbert Report? Speaking of brilliant. That is the difference prepping for an interview makes! It was the kind of dialogue we could have seen with Craig. If he could be bothered to prep at all.
Hm. Perhaps I should just email you. :-)
By: jt on February 22, 2008
at 2:49 pm
First off, I completely disagree with any law segregating the rights of homosexuals and heterosexuals.
But in response to your “standard question to homophobes:”
Having once been legit homophobic, I can say that it’s not really a choice.
Discriminating because of sexuality is a choice. And it’s wrong and a truly poor choice.
But my homophobia was something that really affected me because my father was bisexual and I found out two of my best friends were homosexual.
It was something I had a hard time dealing with, and like you said, you can’t control your feelings.
It was something I actually decided to go to therapy for because I didn’t want my life having boundaries because of someone else’s sexuality.
I’m pretty completely comfortable with any type of sexuality now, but I’m just standing up some for homophobic people.
By: random viewer on July 14, 2008
at 9:42 am
First, thanks for your comment. This reminds me that I really should post about homophobia in a more direct and analytical way.
To respond without that type of post (i.e. as briefly as I can), I absolutely understand homophobia. I was quite the homophobe before I got to college. I wasn’t overtly or actively bigoted, but I was the very definition of the word: afraid. I grew up in a very conservative small-city community and was raised to be a good little conservative Christian girl. Anything outside of heterosexuality just didn’t fit with the worldview I knew.
And then I went to a small, private college in a progressive big(ish) city. And spent a lot of time in the music department. And grew up a little. And [gasp] actually got to know some real, live gay people.
I do need to post about this in greater detail, because I think my journey from quiet little homophobe to outspoken advocate (to the point where people frequently mistake me for a lesbian and, unless it’s a guy I’m interested in, I see no reason to correct their misperceptions) is significant.
I think that homophobia, like any form of bigotry, generally stems from ignorance and lack of experience/exposure. If all you know about a community or individual is what the mass media sells you, it’s difficult to have an informed perspective.
With all of that said, it is the responsibility of leaders and legislators to educate themselves and develop an understanding of the impact of the laws they seek to pass.
We’ll add this to the ever-growing list of topics I need to find time to address in a thoughtful way. :-)
Thanks for being a reminder and for forcing a bit of a clarification on my part.
By: jt on July 14, 2008
at 11:57 am