The CTO told me that a certain political party was paying 40 seniors from his yeshiva to attend some sort of rally and “clap” (in his words). The party paid for their bus and is also giving them a significant amount of money, which they’re using toward their upcoming hachtarah (literally, coronation – refers to the traditional and elaborate Purim schpiel staged by 12th graders around the country).
Something about this bothers me, and I’m not sure what it is.
These are boys who know what it means to be active for important causes. For instance, they went to rallies and protests before the Expulsion. (I think they’re slightly too young to have been in either Gush Katif itself or, subsequently, Amona, but I could be wrong.) More recently, some of them were in Chevron, and others continue to participate in assorted political events. In short, when it comes to something they believe in, they get involved.
But at the same time, a number of our illustrious politicians have conspired to teach these kids a horrible lesson – namely, that their efforts don’t necessarily count. After all, despite the unprecedented human chain, the massive prayer rally at the Kotel, and all the other grassroots initiatives (Panim El Panim, Kfar Maimon, Ofakim, Kikar Rabin, etc.), the Expulsion happened.
Paying these same boys to now attend a rally seems to me to be the height of cynicism.
Your thoughts?
Im honestly shocked and appalled that we;re paying people to attend rallies.
ReplyDeleteUntil now, that was always the bastion of the Left (paying people to show up, bringing musical artists to attract crowds), etc., and we NEVER needed to pay anyone to show up.
I went to dozens if not hundreds of events over the past 18 years, and never knew of anyone who was paid to attend a pro-Eretz Yisrael rally.
Jameel - Thanks for your comment. Two things occurred to me:
ReplyDelete1. Maybe the point is that this wasn't a "pro-Eretz Yisrael rally". This was a rally in support of a certain political party. There's a difference.
2. Maybe this is yet another one of those things that's changed in the wake of the Geirush. I mean, YZG used to go to lots of events as well, but by the time the Expulsion rolled around, he had become extremely disillusioned. Nevertheless, he went to the events I mentioned in this post (I stayed home with the younger kids). He didn't think any of them would help, but he felt that we all had to do our share to demonstrate how important Eretz Yisrael is to us. But since the Expulsion, he hasn't been to a single event. He just doesn't see the point anymore, and I know that many of our friends and relatives feel the same way. So, I guess there's no choice but to hire kids to come "clap".
As Jameel wrote, that's what the left does. They have more money than supporters.
ReplyDeleteI am not happy with the fact that so many people get paid by parties during election time.
I've bben a volunteer activist for over 40 years.
Batya - That's why this is so strange. This party is not part of the Left...
ReplyDelete