The students settled into their seats as the morning bell rang. Across the blackboard, in thick white chalk, were written two words, in bold four-inch letters. The instructor raised his hand indicating his desire to begin. Silence fell across the room. Pointing to the blackboard, he turned to the class.
“Good morning and let us immediately begin today’s lesson. Please note the two simple words in the phrase that I wrote here. Without further ado I’d like the first volunteer to explain the phrase according to his or her understanding. The rest of you are to pay close attention and formulate your own conclusion. Each of you will get the opportunity to voice his opinion. Who’d like to be the first? There, Avi. Please come to the front of the class and read the phrase out loud.”
Somewhat shy and a bit hesitant, Avi stood in front of the blackboard and read the words: RADICAL RIGHT.
Swallowing, he began.
“A radical rightist is a person whose ideas regarding these lands are considered outmoded, archaic and contrary to the opinions voiced by those who oppose and reject any ties to these lands. A radical rightist is one whose love for these lands is unquestionable, yet because of his expression of that love, his mental capacity is questioned.
“His assertion that these lands are liberated rather than occupied creates discomfort for those promoting the Islamic Big Lie, and therefore the mere voicing of such an absurd position conveys the inherent indecency of a radical rightist. As such, a person who places the Jewish values, morals and mores above all other considerations is a radical rightist worthy of persecution, expulsion, arrest and incarceration for daring to voice his convictions.”
Avi’s adrenaline was at its peak. Someone in the back raised his hand to ask a question. The instructor motioned for silence, and Avi continued:
“A radical rightist is one whose concern for his children and his neighbors – for Jews in general – is denounced as racial discrimination. For welcoming the security fence as a defense against terrorism, he is accused of promoting apartheid.
“A radical rightist is a person who insists that the primary responsibility of the Israeli government is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. His insistence that establishing a terrorist state on these lands is sacrilegious, idiotic and suicidal is dubbed a form of moral ineptitude. The radical rightist is the one who long ago voiced the audacious prediction that the guns Israel was giving the Palestinians would be used to murder Jews.”
Avi was on a roll. The class was mesmerized. All eyes were riveted on the speaker. Avi paced in front of the room and went on:
“A radical rightist is one who insists that terrorism must be eradicated and asserts that concessions are counter-productive. Demanding his G-d-given rights to these lands makes a radical rightist the obstacle on the path to brotherly coexistence between Israel and its enemies. If the radical rightist would only recognize the decency and keen understanding of those on the other side, tranquility and well-being would envelope the Middle East.
“Wait a minute, Avi,” the instructor interrupted as the students shifted in their seats. Some began to discuss what they had just heard. The instructor raised his voice requesting silence.
“Who, exactly, is this ‘other side’ you mentioned? Do you mean the counterpart to the Radical Right – the Radical Left?”
Avi smiled. “No, I do not mean the ‘Radical Left.’ In fact, there is no such thing as a ‘radical leftist.’ “
“There isn’t?” responded the surprised instructor.
“No. Radical leftism doesn’t exist. It’s a none-starter phrase. It does not describe the ‘other side’ I am talking about.”
The instructor and the class remained silent, waiting for Avi to explain himself.
“You see, the ‘other side’ is the liberal, democratic, open-minded, progressive, tolerant, broad-minded, unprejudiced, generous and charitable sector of the Jewish world in general and the Israeli public in particular. The ‘other side’ is fair, impartial, honest, moral and upstanding.
“The ‘other side’ seeks only justice and truth in its pursuit of evenhandedness. Its demands – that Israel cease all defensive actions, stop construction of the fence, retreat from all lands ceded to the terrorists, remove all road obstacles intended to deter the next suicide bomber, and allow the Palestinians unhindered movement – are not deemed radical but rather fair treatment for the poor persecuted Palestinians. Violence perpetrated by the ‘other side’ is a legitimate form of protest in the name of universal justice and liberalism.
“Therefore, there is no ‘Radical Left’ – only a ‘Radical Right.’ “
Avi stopped for a second and looked around the room. Not a whisper. He continued:
“When former Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek labeled the haredi minority ‘a cancer in our midst’ and urged that they be ‘pulled out by the roots,’ the liberal media hardly mentioned it. When Chief Justice Barak labeled the same group ‘lice and maggots,’ a loud yawn reverberated through the liberal ranks.
“But when rabbis quote the Torah to indicate the issur of relinquishing land, they are labeled ‘radical rightist provocateurs.’ Painting Mohammed with a pig is a shameless act of the ‘radical right,’ as is a tee-shirt with the slogan ‘No Arabs, No Terror.’ Yet Nazi caricatures of sinister-looking, long-nosed haredim are simply legitimate acts of frustration against ‘forced religious indoctrination.’ “
Fist clenched, eyes brimming with passion, Avi raised his voice.
“A radical rightist is an individual whose contrary opinion brings down upon him ‘administrative detention’ and incarceration without cause but shuts the halls of justice in his face. He is a person considered a danger, a menace – and therefore his basic human rights are waved aside. Trumped-up charges, insinuations, arrests and harassment by the ‘other side’ are justified as ‘preventive measures.’ Preventive of what? Of exposing the Left’s long-range plan for dismantling the State of Israel.”
“The ‘Radical Right’ has no right. We hear stories about how the Temple Mount is in danger of being blown up by these ‘radical’ men. We see the title of ‘potential assassin’ branded on their foreheads. ‘Respectable’ Israelis are quoted as saying the women of the ‘Radical Right’ are ‘lunatics,’ their children ‘disposable garbage.’ No measures are deemed too severe in quelling the danger they allegedly pose.”
Avi paused. He looked directly at the instructor and then turned back to the class.
“Were our prophets alive today, each of them would be characterized as a ‘Radical Rightist’ and prosecuted to the full extent of the law – as seen fit by the ‘other side.'”
Avi stopped speaking and returned to his seat. A thick silence hung over the room as the instructor walked to the front of his desk.
“Any more volunteers?”
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