Unity in the Middle East?
What attributes do you think of when you contemplate religion? Love, peace and understanding? Nice idea. And if the Big Bloke in the Sky was handing out free doses of the stuff, then you'd think that religious leaders in the Middle East would be rushing to the head of the queue to claim their handouts, wouldn't you?
Ah, but there's no need. Because some of the region's religious bigwigs have been putting on one great big display of unity in the past week or so. And what unites them where other things have failed? That's right - a bunch of queers.
The people at World Pride are planning to hold this year's celebration in Jerusalem next month, and that's quite enough to get Christians, Jews and Muslims up in collective arms.
Fifty prominent religious figures have already visited the Interior Committee of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to campaign against the celebrations. They claimed that "never before has the Holy Land seen such a union of religious leaders." And now they're trying to get the backing of the Pope, whose predecessor got more than a bit antsy when World Pride was held in Rome in 2000.
New York rabbi Yehuda Levin, a representative of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, insisted that "we are outraged and disgusted over this event. There are millions of people who, with their bodies, souls and money, will stand against this... I will be here afterwards to remind you and to say, 'I warned you and you did nothing'."
And Knesset United Arab List MP Ibrahim Sarsur joined in by saying that, "if gays will dare approach the Temple Mount during the parade, they will do so over our dead bodies".
"Over our dead bodies"?
What is it that scares these people so much? Surely not the sartorial elegance that'll be on display? The hairdos and make-up? Perhaps that's what Rabbi Levin means when he mentions money – the Rabbinical Alliance of America is going to offer all the demonstrators free makeovers if they promise not to mince around the ancient city?
Nah... somehow that doesn't seem likely.
So what is it that so upsets them? Oh yes: one man putting his you-know-what into another man's you-know-where. (Have you noticed that they never seem to waste much hot air getting so upset about the lezzies?)
You could be excused for thinking that peace, love and understanding in the Middle East is a teensy weensy bit more important than who shags whom and how.
And as for the American rabbi, he needs a little lesson in history; starting with the history of the pink triangle.
One or two voices have dared to ask if World Pride is being responsible organising the event in such a volatile area. The reaction of some of these supposedly peace-loving men is the perfect illustration of why they're right to take it there.
But then again; who ever needed love, peace and understanding when hate is apparently such holy fun?
Ah, but there's no need. Because some of the region's religious bigwigs have been putting on one great big display of unity in the past week or so. And what unites them where other things have failed? That's right - a bunch of queers.
The people at World Pride are planning to hold this year's celebration in Jerusalem next month, and that's quite enough to get Christians, Jews and Muslims up in collective arms.
Fifty prominent religious figures have already visited the Interior Committee of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to campaign against the celebrations. They claimed that "never before has the Holy Land seen such a union of religious leaders." And now they're trying to get the backing of the Pope, whose predecessor got more than a bit antsy when World Pride was held in Rome in 2000.
New York rabbi Yehuda Levin, a representative of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, insisted that "we are outraged and disgusted over this event. There are millions of people who, with their bodies, souls and money, will stand against this... I will be here afterwards to remind you and to say, 'I warned you and you did nothing'."
And Knesset United Arab List MP Ibrahim Sarsur joined in by saying that, "if gays will dare approach the Temple Mount during the parade, they will do so over our dead bodies".
"Over our dead bodies"?
What is it that scares these people so much? Surely not the sartorial elegance that'll be on display? The hairdos and make-up? Perhaps that's what Rabbi Levin means when he mentions money – the Rabbinical Alliance of America is going to offer all the demonstrators free makeovers if they promise not to mince around the ancient city?
Nah... somehow that doesn't seem likely.
So what is it that so upsets them? Oh yes: one man putting his you-know-what into another man's you-know-where. (Have you noticed that they never seem to waste much hot air getting so upset about the lezzies?)
You could be excused for thinking that peace, love and understanding in the Middle East is a teensy weensy bit more important than who shags whom and how.
And as for the American rabbi, he needs a little lesson in history; starting with the history of the pink triangle.
One or two voices have dared to ask if World Pride is being responsible organising the event in such a volatile area. The reaction of some of these supposedly peace-loving men is the perfect illustration of why they're right to take it there.
But then again; who ever needed love, peace and understanding when hate is apparently such holy fun?
posted by Amanda Kendal at 4:41 pm
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