- "We the People of the United States, in Order to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America"
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- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
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- Beautiful words! The US Constitution has been for me
a timeless example of good and just government. Unfortunately, I do not
belong to such a "We The People."
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- In the place I come from, there is no Constitution.
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- In the place I come from, different kinds of people have
different rights and responsibilities. Usually, people with many rights
have few responsibilities. Some of the people must serve in the army on
pain of imprisonment; others are exempted. Of those exempted, some belong
to the elite and enjoy unusual benefits; others belong to minorities with
very few rights.
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- In a recent case, the Supreme Court of my country, sitting
down to its most special meeting of thirteen of our most prominent judges,
decided to forbid marriage between a citizen from one part of my country
with a person from a territory occupied by my country.
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- In the place I come from, my religion was decided for
me by the State and is coded into the internal passport required by my
government. Trying to officially change my religion could be a useless
lifelong struggle.
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- In the place I come from, I can marry a Christian in
a church; but the ceremony will not be recognized by the state and my children
will be bastards and denied many rights because my parents were Jews. There
are no civil ceremonies and one must get married in the temple belonging
to the religion indicated on the internal passport.
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- I come from Israel.
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- Can Israel justify discrimination using Scripture? Hardly
so. Perhaps the most beautiful text denouncing discrimination is Galatians
3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one..." You may say
that Israel does not recognize the New Testament and thus is not bound
by its message. But the whole of Isaiah 58 is a reminder that God requires
charitability and respect for all people, especially the less fortunate.
It is clear that the State of Israel is not the same as the spiritual Kingdom
of Israel promised to believers regardless of their ethnic background.
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- It is time for you, American citizens, carriers - at
least in name - of the Human Rights Torch, to decide if you will stand
by the sublime ideals institutionalized by your ancestors or if you will
continue to support a society which does not abide by such ideals and de
facto violates them every day. History teaches that discriminating regimes
do not last, the list is too long for such an article, hence I'll mention
only Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and the white regime in South Africa.
Israel, unless it adopts a Constitution promising equal rights and responsibilities
to all its citizens, regardless of religion, race and gender, will cease
to exist. It is time for you, American citizens, to decide if your nation
will follow Israel into the dustbin of history or will remember that "We
the People" must set an example for others to follow.
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- _____
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- Reuven Schossen is an Israeli political refugee, harassed
by security services across several continents since he chose to leave
his home country in disgust at the corrupt practises of Israel's leaders.
The four articles below were published after he signed a contract with
Publish America for his book, "Holygarchy," an account of his
political and spiritual awakening in Israel and a revelation to the world
of the racist, theocratic and "Big Brother" police state policies
of the State of Israel. His efforts to secure political asylum and a new
citizenship require the assistance of understanding individuals. Thorough
research indicates that the San Francisco area would be the best place
to apply for asylum in the US. Attorney fees will run to about $1,500.
We are asking for financial assistance and sancutary in the San Francisco
area so that Reuven can successfully secure political asylum here in the
US. If you can help in any way, please contact Reuven at (505) 982-3609
or schossen@gmail.com . His website is at www.schossen.com and it is possible
to donate via credit card or paypal from that site. During the Civil War,
Americans of conscience created an "underground railway" to shelter
African Americans who were brave enough to escape from slavery. Let's not
betray the American tradition of helping those in need by letting Reuven's
situation take a turn for the worse through our inaction. Even a brave
reform rabbi has been willing to help Reuven, so let's not be frightened
into paralysis by Israeli propaganda.
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- Leland Lehrman, Santa Fe, New Mexico leland.lehrman@gmail.com
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