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   Friday, October 22, 2004  
Permalink Israel

Did you know?

By the end of World War I, half of Baghdad was jewish.

The most popular name in Israel is Muhammad.

Ten percent of the Israeli Army are palestinian.

Over ten percent of the Israeli Army are vegetarian.

Gays are allowed to be officers in the Israeli Army.

About 15% of Israelis are African-born black, over 12% are Asian born.

About 20% of Israelis are Arab (mostly Sunni Muslim).

The three languages spoken in Israel are Hebrew, Arabic and English in a country smaller than New Jersey.

Christmas trees are common at Christmas time in Israel because of the large population of russian immigrants.


This and many other facts can be found in:
The Israelis : Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land


Pet Peeve
One of my pet peeves is the "anti-semitic" label thrown around all too often, and usually out of context. Today, being 'anti-semite' means you hate jews, but the semites are Arabs and Jews. They are of the same race. Therefore, if you are anti-arab, then by definition, you are also 'anti-semite'.

So, if someone hates jews, they should be called 'anti-jewish' or 'jew-haters' and that would be more descriptive of them.

posted: by veggiedude: 10/22/2004 05:46:38 PM  

4 Comments on: "Israel"
Posted by: Dennis on
10:54 PM  

Hi, are you Jewish?

Posted by: veggiedude on
11:24 PM  

No.

Posted by: Joanna Terpstra on
10:50 PM  

I can't imagine too many atheist jews... Then again, is being Jewish a birthright or a choice? Is it national identity or believing in god? Is there such a thing as an ex-jew like an ex-catholic? Buddhism is effectively atheist, but plenty of christians practice buddhism. Things to ponder...and perhaps study.

I have a book called, "The Original Jesus - The Buddhist Sources of Christianity", by Elmar R Gruber and Holger Kersten. It's a scholarly work, well researched. Its kind of cute to think that the things recorded as Jesus' words in the new testament had their origins in atheism.

My attitude is that if believing in something comforts you, then be comforted. But I think deep down all religions and philosophies (including atheism) are all different paths to the top of the mountain. When you get there, the view is the same, no matter what you believed.

Posted by: Anonymous on
12:48 AM  

not very brilliant you lot. Anti-Semite comes from HITLER'S REGIME. Judaism is a religion and an ethnicity. The only one. Thats why you have Jewish DNA markers and Jewish Diseases.

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