A friend graduated on Friday. As my story as a student in NYC begins, hers has come to an end. She studied for the past year at the NY Film Academy - a school with not the best reputation to be honest... BUT tonight her and her classmates present their final projects. Its an exhibit of their Photos. Each project is followed by a tag line which explains the meaning of their photos. To be honest not all the pictures were that great, but some could find their way in the hands of a collector, I'm sure!
To celebrate the end of their studies, I joined them at the Vig Bar with the rest of her class for some drinks and dancing. I got to meet a new side to all her friends - the drunken messy side. It was actually kinda nice to see everyone loosen up and let out one last Hoorah before they each went on their separate ways. I started to think of my graduation party. Who will be hanging out with? Will I be happy? And who will I have under my arms?
When I stepped outside to have a cigarette, I leaned on a car where the new graduates were all messing around. As they were fooling around, I was introduced to a short dark fella from Eritrea (I don't remember his name since I met so many people that night). I was introduced as a friend from Israel, which seemed to create an interest. This was the first time out of many times I'm sure that my background stood in someone's way...
He asked me in a polite manner, "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Not all," I reply.
Him: Would you consider yourself a progressive Israeli?
Me: What do you mean by progressive? I drive cars and watch TV if that's what you mean...
Him: No, no... I mean do you recognize the injustices of Israel?
Me: Oh! Ummm, well Israel has its faults and has made its mistakes and continues to do so. But I don't think thats what you mean.
Him: Well how do you feel about the actions that its taking against the Palestinian people? Do you think its fair that the Israeli guns should be used against the Palestinian stones?
Me: I don't believe that this is a physical war, I believe it is a media war... I quit mid sentence and notice that everyone around is paying attention to our conversation and that it seems to have put a damper in the celebration - I try to change the subject before it gets ugly. I also believe that the actions of a country and its leaders shouldn't be represented by a single, random, individual like my self. The one belief I am interested in sharing with you is that Politics ruins Parties. Cheers!
The conversation moves elsewhere and I overhear him saying to a friend of his about the anti-Israel conversation we just shared. So I interrupted and said Anti-Israel? I think you mean Progressive! (big smile!)
I'm a bit of a stickler for linguistic and word choices. I really don't mind having a conversation with someone that wants to know something about my experiences in Israel. But I'm not interested in trying to change someone's opinion about it, or have them try to change mine. Its not healthy to speak with people who confuse words like progressive and anti-Israel. Thats like saying that people who aren't Pro-Life are Pro-Death. These redefinition of words are one of the most dangerous weapons used in the World today and the better we get at understanding their power, the more dangerous they become.
This was my first experience as an Israeli representative in the social night life of NYC and although I hope it will be the last, I know it won't. I didn't come here to speak politics with anyone, I came here to learn how to make movies. Why doesn't that make sense to people?
To celebrate the end of their studies, I joined them at the Vig Bar with the rest of her class for some drinks and dancing. I got to meet a new side to all her friends - the drunken messy side. It was actually kinda nice to see everyone loosen up and let out one last Hoorah before they each went on their separate ways. I started to think of my graduation party. Who will be hanging out with? Will I be happy? And who will I have under my arms?
When I stepped outside to have a cigarette, I leaned on a car where the new graduates were all messing around. As they were fooling around, I was introduced to a short dark fella from Eritrea (I don't remember his name since I met so many people that night). I was introduced as a friend from Israel, which seemed to create an interest. This was the first time out of many times I'm sure that my background stood in someone's way...
He asked me in a polite manner, "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Not all," I reply.
Him: Would you consider yourself a progressive Israeli?
Me: What do you mean by progressive? I drive cars and watch TV if that's what you mean...
Him: No, no... I mean do you recognize the injustices of Israel?
Me: Oh! Ummm, well Israel has its faults and has made its mistakes and continues to do so. But I don't think thats what you mean.
Him: Well how do you feel about the actions that its taking against the Palestinian people? Do you think its fair that the Israeli guns should be used against the Palestinian stones?
Me: I don't believe that this is a physical war, I believe it is a media war... I quit mid sentence and notice that everyone around is paying attention to our conversation and that it seems to have put a damper in the celebration - I try to change the subject before it gets ugly. I also believe that the actions of a country and its leaders shouldn't be represented by a single, random, individual like my self. The one belief I am interested in sharing with you is that Politics ruins Parties. Cheers!
The conversation moves elsewhere and I overhear him saying to a friend of his about the anti-Israel conversation we just shared. So I interrupted and said Anti-Israel? I think you mean Progressive! (big smile!)
I'm a bit of a stickler for linguistic and word choices. I really don't mind having a conversation with someone that wants to know something about my experiences in Israel. But I'm not interested in trying to change someone's opinion about it, or have them try to change mine. Its not healthy to speak with people who confuse words like progressive and anti-Israel. Thats like saying that people who aren't Pro-Life are Pro-Death. These redefinition of words are one of the most dangerous weapons used in the World today and the better we get at understanding their power, the more dangerous they become.
This was my first experience as an Israeli representative in the social night life of NYC and although I hope it will be the last, I know it won't. I didn't come here to speak politics with anyone, I came here to learn how to make movies. Why doesn't that make sense to people?
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