Pilar Rahola
Pilar Rahola is a Spanish politician, journalist and activist and member of the far left. Her articles are published in Spain and throughout some of the most important newspapers in Latin America.
A quote from a recent speech at IDEA conf:
“Why don’t we see demonstrations against Islamic dictatorships in London , Paris , Barcelona ?
Or demonstrations against the Burmese dictatorship?
Why aren’t there demonstrations against the enslavement of millions of women who live without any legal protection?
Why aren’t there demonstrations against the use of children as human bombs?
Why has there been no leadership in support of the victims of Islamic dictatorship in Sudan ?
Why is there never any outrage against the acts of terrorism committed against Israel ?
Why is there no outcry by the European left against Islamic fanaticism?
Why don’t they defend Israel ‘s right to exist?
Why confuse support of the Palestinian cause with the defense of Palestinian terrorism?
And finally, the million dollar question: Why is the left in Europe and around the world obsessed with the two most solid democracies, the United States and Israel, and not with the worst dictatorships on the planet? The two most solid democracies, who have suffered the bloodiest attacks of terrorism, and the left doesn’t care.
And then, to the concept of freedom. In every pro Palestinian European forum, I hear the left yelling with fervor: “We want freedom for the people!”
Not true. They are never concerned with freedom for the people of Syria , or Yemen , or Iran , or Sudan , or other such nations. And they are never preoccupied when Hammas destroys freedom for the Palestinians. They are only concerned with using the concept of Palestinian freedom as a weapon against Israeli freedom. The resulting consequence of these ideological pathologies is the manipulation of the press.
The international press does major damage when reporting on the question of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. On this topic they don’t inform, they propagandize.
When reporting about Israel , the majority of journalists forget the reporter code of ethics. And so, any Israeli act of self-defense becomes a massacre, and any confrontation, genocide. So many stupid things have been written about Israel , that there aren’t any accusations left to level against her.
At the same time, this press never discusses Syrian and Iranian interference in propagating violence against Israel ; the indoctrination of children and the corruption of the Palestinians. And when reporting about victims, every Palestinian casualty is reported as tragedy and every Israeli victim is camouflaged, hidden or reported about with disdain.
And let me add on the topic of the Spanish left. Many are the examples that illustrate the anti-Americanism and anti-Israeli sentiments that define the Spanish left. For example, one of the leftist parties in Spain has just expelled one of its members for creating a pro-Israel website. I quote from the expulsion document: “Our friends are the people of Iran , Libya and Venezuela , oppressed by imperialism, and not a Nazi state like Israel .”
In another example, the socialist mayor of Campozuelos changed Shoah Day, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, with Palestinian Nabka Day, which mourns the establishment of the State of Israel, thus showing contempt for the six million European Jews murdered in the Holocaust.
Or in my native city of Barcelona , the city council decided to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel, by having a week of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Thus, they invited Leila Khaled, a noted terrorist from the 70′s and current leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist organization so described by the European Union, which promotes the use of bombs against Israel .
This politically correct way of thinking has even polluted the speeches of president Zapatero. His foreign policy falls within the lunatic left, and on issues of the Middle East , he is unequivocally pro Arab. I can assure you that in private, Zapatero places on Israel the blame for the conflict in the Middle East , and the policies of foreign minister Moratinos reflect this. The fact that Zapatero chose to wear a kafiah in the midst of the Lebanon conflict is no coincidence; it is a symbol.
Spain has suffered the worst terrorist attack in Europe and it is in the crosshairs of every Islamic terrorist organization. As I wrote before, they kill us with cell phones hooked to satellites connected to the Middle Ages.
And yet the Spanish left is the most anti Israeli in the world.
And then it says it is anti Israeli because of solidarity. This is the madness I want to denounce in this conference.
Conclusion:
I am not Jewish. Ideologically I am left and by profession a journalist. Why am I not anti- Israeli like my colleagues? Because as a non-Jew I have the historical responsibility to fight against Jewish hatred and currently against the hatred for their historic homeland, Israel . To fight against anti-Semitism is not the duty of the Jews, it is the duty of the non-Jews.
As a journalist it is my duty to search for the truth beyond prejudice, lies and manipulations. The truth about Israel is not told. As a person from the left who loves progress, I am obligated to defend liberty, culture, civic education for children, coexistence and the laws that the Tablets of the Covenant made into universal principles.
Principles that Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. That is to say that as a non-Jew, journalist and lefty, I have a triple moral duty with Israel , because if Israel is destroyed, liberty, modernity and culture will be destroyed too.
Mind Guerillas
We’re playing those mind games together,
Pushing barriers, planting seeds,
Playing the mind guerilla,
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth,
We all been playing mind games forever,
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil.
Doing the mind guerilla,
Some call it the search for the grail,
Love is the answer and you know that for sure,
Love is flower you got to let it, you got to let it grow,
So keep on playing those mind games together,
Faith in the future outta the now,
You just can’t beat on those mind guerillas,
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind,
Yeah we’re playing those mind games forever,
Projecting our images in space and in time,
Yes is the answer and you know that for sure,
Yes is the surrender you got to let it, you got to let it go,
So keep on playing those mind games together,
Doing the ritual dance in the sun,
Millions of mind guerrillas,
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel,
Keep on playing those mind games forever,
Raising the spirit of peace and love, not war,
(I want you to make love, not war, I know you’ve heard it before)
- John Lennon
A Great Elephant In The Deep Forest
Photo by Nick Brandt
I love this quote. I find it to be so serene and noble. And for a while I used this as a mantra to mend a broken heart.
Yeah, That’s You!
I have special presents for you! Just make sure to give me another kiss. Happy Birthday once again sweetness.
Victory Over a Cobra
My absolute favorite as a child.
RIKKI TIKKI TAVI.
PART I:
PART II:
PART III:
Angel Baby
Not sure if my readers understand how serious I am about golden oldies aka “old-timey” music (in particular “lowrider oldies”). It’s a major passion. Catch me at the Make Out Room in SF on a Tuesday night in sheer ANANDA (bliss). Nevertheless, Angel Baby by Rosie & The Originals is a classic tune we all know and love.
It’s cultural influence is still thriving, hence the contents of this post.
My homegirl from Ladies Lotto, Naomi Robbins (pictured below), puts out a mean podcast on Lost In Paradise. Her pseudonym, Angel Baby. She is on fire and consistently pulling out all the stops, her collection & continuous DITC cannot be topped.
<3 Naomi. Such a nice Jewish girl. <3
In 1961 the movie Angel Baby was released starring Salome Jens (pictured below). Please note I have yet to see this film but by the looks of this image, it’s next on my non-existent net flix cue. Since I’m in LA right now, it’ll have to be Rocket Video or Vidiots.
Here’s a photo of LA’s “sick ass Angel Baby” – she is standing in front of her portrait by Estevan Oriol. By the looks of it, she & I could become really good friends.
For those of you familiar with the Inland Empire, you may know the radio station 99.1 FM. Angel “Baby” Rodriguez, a long time host & East Los Angeles native, kicks his old skool show every Sunday. You can listen to it live via the internetz!
And of course, this post-modern reverence session would not be complete without the following video.
Peace out Angel Baby.
Don’t You Want Somebody to Love?
Don’t You Want Somebody to Love – Jefferson Airplane
Dedicated to the Sucka Free. How I miss thee…
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world. I want to be the one who walks in the sun…
Be a Humble Teacher
Be a Humble Teacher
“If you want to enlighten others, get enlightened yourself. What you read in books is not enough. As a Yoga teacher, you should show your students the way because you know it well. Don’t pose as an all-knowing person. That’s the problem: Are you going to teach or preach? Preaching is not important.
Practicing is what’s important.
In fact, nobody is a teacher; we are all learners. Sometimes, we learn from the students themselves. So be humble and gently impart what you know. Say: ‘This is all I know; this what I’m hoping for. You try. You may even get it before me.’ That kind of humility is important.
“God bless you. OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.”
- Sri Swami Satchidananda
Thinking About You.
Oh my city…I’m leaving you for a little bit. You are newly adopted. But you captivated my heart. You healed me, you gave me a life when I no longer knew what that meant. I love you.
There is Thunder In Our Hearts.
image courtesy of lucas byrne
Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill”
Friendship.
I’m just wondering why we can’t be friends? I’m ok with it. Nothing more, nothing less. Hope you can find it in your heart to try it.
Friendship.
It suits us better anyway…
Peace Pilgram.
This is the way of peace: “Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.” – Peace Pilgrim
“Speak to Us of Love”
Then said Almitra, “Speak to us of Love.”
And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:
When love beckons to you follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
- excerpt from THE PROPHET by Khalil Gibran
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