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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Commentary Home page  back Print  Send To friend Red Rag column: new school year and ongoing conflict By: Gideon Spiro 1 September 2016 (English translation 6 September 2016) An ongoing conflict Over 30 years ago, when my spouse and I accompanied our children to grade 1, I was troubled by anxiety about what kind of education system we were sending them to. Who would win out, the education system that volunteers students to be part of a colonialist racist system, or the system of humane values of their home? Fortunately for us, our children’s school was relatively open, which moderated the conflict, but did not eliminate it. Today, when both of them have PhDs, I can say with satisfaction that the system at home had the upper hand. This year one of our grandchildren began his studies in grade 1. The Israeli reality in general and the Netanyahu-Bennett government in particular are heightening the conflict between the humanistic home and the school. Today’s system is more racist, more militaristic and more colonialistic. If Netanyahu-Bennett-Regev’s system of values wins out, we will raise here a narrow-horizoned and cruel generation. The humanistic minority needs to work hard to save its children from the clutches of Benito and his friends. Given that there is no eternal life, I will not be able to take part in the struggle, but I am relying on our children, their spouses and those who share their views, as well as my spouse, long may she live, to stand like a solid cliff in saving our grandchildren from the clutches of the values of the apartheid state that is taking root here. Translated from Hebrew for Occupation Magazine by George Malent gm Links to the latest articles in this section Three weeks into the Gaza War - a somber and sober assessment, with some historical perspectives Israelis, Palestinians, Gaza, Hamas - trying to preserve sanity Gush Shalom: The UN decision is a very necessary message to Israel’s extreme right-wing government