02/20/2008
Israel Has Its Own Pat Robertson: MK Blames Gays for Earthquake
Knesset Member Shlomo Benizri is apparently the Pat Robertson of Israel. Robertson is known for his statements associating the acceptance of gays with natural disasters. On Wednesday, Benizri made a statement blaming homosexuality for earthquakes in reaction to a strong tremor that was felt across the nation last Friday.
"The recent earthquake that was felt across Israel was the result of the 'homosexual activity practiced in the country', Knesset Member Shlomo Benizri said Wednesday. During a special Knesset session on Israel's preparedness for the possibility of another earthquake hitting the region, the Shas member said "the Gemara refers to earthquakes as disasters, but you are searching only for the practical solutions how to prevent and repair. 'But I no of another way to prevent earthquakes; the Gemara mentions a number of causes of earthquakes, one of which is homosexuality, which the Knesset legitimizes,' Benizri said. An earthquake registering 5.3 on the Richter Scale was felt by residents across Israel at 12:36 pm Friday. The trembling lasted for 19 seconds and shook structures in many major towns and cities."
Said Mike Hammel, chairman of the Israeli Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association: "It is sad that a religious MK in Israel doesn't think earthquakes are God-made. On the other hand, I suppose we should be flattered he attributes us with such magical powers."
Perhaps Benizri was feeling threatened by the recent advances Israel has made with regard to gay people, specifically the ruling earlier this month that will allow gays and lesbians to begin adopting children in the country.
Homosexual activity cause of earthquake, Shas MK says [ynet]
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Israeli Attorney General Mazuz: Let Gay Couples Adopt [tr]
Posted 12:35 PM EST by Andy Towle in Israel, News, Pat Robertson | Permalink
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I'm afraid I will have to take the blame for that earth quake. On 2/15 at 2:36 am PST, I was having gay sex with my boyfriend while thinking about Israel. My apologies to Shlomo Benizri and the citizens of Israel.
Posted by: Brian | Feb 20, 2008 12:54:51 PM
Watch out Israel, we have other tricks up our sleeves,"Tornados and torrential rains? Coming up!"
Posted by: Ty | Feb 20, 2008 1:00:04 PM
Boy, all the gays must have been having rough sex last Friday to cause such a big earthquake. Shalom Shlomo.
Posted by: davefromtampa | Feb 20, 2008 1:01:23 PM
It's good to know that flaming idiocy is not restricted to Christians.
Posted by: protogenes | Feb 20, 2008 1:11:26 PM
Schlomo is really a schlemeil! Now he has really angered us gays. I suggest we all plan to have sex at the same time and send a shock wave over to Scholmo and knock his thick skull into the Wailing Wall. Moron.
Posted by: Jack | Feb 20, 2008 1:12:02 PM
"It's good to know that flaming idiocy is not restricted to Christians."
All the Abrahamic faiths have equal claims.
Posted by: Iko | Feb 20, 2008 1:15:28 PM
Just goes to show, the important issue isn't Christians vs Jews vs Muslims, it's delusional oppressors of whatever variety vs sane people who just want to live their lives.
Posted by: Miles | Feb 20, 2008 1:17:58 PM
Jewish theology basically requires this sort of thinking: G*d punishes the entire Jewish nation for the sins of individuals. The fact that there are many counterexamples and a decided lack of evidence overall does not deter the faithful, however. Christianity has no unanimity on this theory, with Baptists and Calvinists more predisposed to "Old Testament" thinking along these lines (see Pat Robertson, et al), while Catholics and others see only individual punishment for sin, and only after death--though in popular theology and historically, all branches of the faith have made similar points. But then, parents have been known to use similar logic with their kids ("see what happens when you use bad words!")
Posted by: anon | Feb 20, 2008 1:28:09 PM
My gayness made God himself fall out of the sky.
Posted by: DD | Feb 20, 2008 1:28:54 PM
"it's delusional oppressors of whatever variety vs sane people who just want to live their lives"
At times it does seem that way. They can hurl abuse upon us, wave whatever book backs them up, and they are taken seriously (by some).
But just let us criticize back, and we are evil God hating sinners who want to stamp out religion (to some).
For me, I've had enough. Hate is hate no matter where it comes from and it's time we called them out on it. Religion gives them no shield of protection.
Shlomo Benizri, you are a flaming idiot.
Posted by: protogenes | Feb 20, 2008 1:38:24 PM
I noticed that, in typical fashion, Pat Robertson made NO proclamation of blame for the tornadoes that tore through the heart of the Bible belt a few weeks ago, killing people in Arkansas, Tennessee and in the town where my parents live in Mississippi.
Robertsom never seems to want to explain God's inconsistency in his vengence. Like, why on earth would the God who punished Florida with Andrew for Gay Disney and New Orleans with Katrina for Decadence possibly punish the MOST fundamentalist and anti-gay states in America (all of which have gay marriage amendments)?
This is the relative wrath that fundamentalists of all stripes (especially the Abrahamic religion stripes) spout every time there is a natural disaster.
When I was about ten years old a tornado went through my home town in Mississippi. It destroyed some homes, a bar and the town's largest Baptist Church where my father was pastor. The very next Sunday my father preached a rousing sermon in the rubble strewn church parking lot where he, almost in the same breath, said that: 1) the church's destruction was a test of our faith that should be considered a blessing from God since he always tests those he considers most faithful and righteous (you know, like Job) and what a MIRACLE it was that no one had been hurt or killed in the church (a real miracle considering the tornado went through at about 10 pm on a Thursday evening when NO ONE was EVER at the church) AND; 2) the destruction of the bar a few blocks down the street was God showing His anger that the county had voted to allow the sale of alcohol just one year earlier.
I almost laughed out loud. I was really embarrassed that my own father was making such a fool out of himself. I looked around to see if anyone else was rolling their eyes and was suprised to see that EVERYONE was just shaking their heads in smug agreement with the ridiculous claim.
I told my dad about my concerns with his logic and got a real talking to about how inappropriate it was for me to question him AND GOD. From that day forward I have had a real suspicion of all things religious and it got me into trouble almost weekly with my family and at church.
When I came out to my parents my Mother claimed that I wasn't really a "homa-sek-shul", it was just my latest and greatest attempt to challenge their faith. She claimed that I was so determined to question their faith that I was willing to break their hearts in the process. I was thrown out of the house about a week later. In retrospect it was one of the best days of my life.
It's taken a bit of time and attention and a refusal to cave on my part, but my parents are both VERY different people now, especially in the last couple of years. Never give up on people. It took them 70 years but they finally got it and they are now some of the most accepting and coolest people I know.
Fortunately my parents didn't have fame and fortune that was dependent on their homophia the way the Pat Robertson's and Benizri's of the world do. That's why people like Robertson, Dobson etc. will NEVER change. They are too deeply invested in their homophobia (figuratively and literally) to give it up. They mey believe the world was created in six days six thousand years ago but even they are intelligent enough to know that you never bite the hand that feeds you.
Posted by: Zeke | Feb 20, 2008 1:59:30 PM
Those must be some aggressive tops over there. If the country's a rockin' don't come knocking.
On a more serious note, ZEKE thanks for the positive story. Really nice to hear every once in a while that people can change for the better. Kudos to you.
Posted by: Gregus | Feb 20, 2008 2:09:00 PM
let me tell you something, schlomo homo momo, everytime i have sex it registers a 10 on the richter scale... ooooo, babeeeeeeee....
Posted by: the queen | Feb 20, 2008 2:42:09 PM
this guy Knesset Member Shlomo Benizri is a disgrace....Guess he forgets about ALL the Propaganda the Germans USED to MAKE JEWS look bad...what a Pathetic sick person he is!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Feb 20, 2008 3:08:54 PM
Mr. Shlomo Benizri has it all wrong. The earthquake was the punishment from God to show his anger of the jews for killing his Son 2008 years ago. From time to time He reminds them. Stalin progroms and Hitler Holocaust are two examples in modern history. The next will come from Assyria (Iran) again and in the shape of an atomic bomb. Wait and see.
Posted by: Oscar | Feb 20, 2008 7:47:08 PM
I am so flattered!
And, Disgusted American, it was the Romans who killed the Christ, by the way.
Posted by: ioni | Feb 21, 2008 4:40:26 AM
These two need to get a room already.
Posted by: Cory | Feb 21, 2008 12:49:33 PM
Zeke:
Thanks for the wonderful testimony, Brother. As I said earlier, I love life stories/anecdotes from other posters to illustrate (or add color) to a point their making. I especially love it when I do it.
Oscar:
There is a group of senior citizen Jewish Defense League members in Miami. I'm going to tell them about you. Sholom.
IONI:
It wasn't Disgusted American who made the "...killed his Son" comment.
Zeke:
I think we know someone who was among the congregation that nodded their heads "yes" to your father's sermon 30 years ago. He now resides in Miami Beach...for now.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Feb 21, 2008 2:01:59 PM