It could have been mentioned earlier in the conversation, but I didn't read the whole thing. Anyhow, I apologize if you've been over that and already discussed it. However and strangely, I can trace in Cindy's post a flammable theme which outburst here, in another "liberal"/"touchy" issue: women at leftist demonstrations. Basically, you can read a little about it here: [link] . It also seems like there's unreported, gross sexual harassment of women and trans in demonstrations in the West Bank. There's even a course for activists to "learn how to cope with it".
Now, I'm not saying these are the same issues: an Israeli woman demonstrating in the West Bank isn't the same as a mosque next to Ground Zero. Not at all. But I recognize the same tone: what one can and cannot do, what one can be expected to be insulted for/things to be denied from (and when does it OK and justified - people who support women's right to demonstrate wearing what they want are now called and mocked as "feminists of spaghetti straps" who are willing to fight for "other people's rights" on their own terms.
All of these are important issues that we need to clarify as a whole, about "the other's" place in a liberal society. And a liberal can be a liberal under only certain terms, for certain freedoms contradict others.
And now, to another issue: people and the many ways on which they suck. Or, people and their lack of responsibility, to be precise.
As you may remember, I've been a research assistant the past year. Everything was good: I borrowed books (with my access to the library - she no longer a student here), searched for non-existent articles, same old tunes. However. Researcher went abroad with her husband, and some books were overdue. She's still abroad, and apologized for not telling me she went without returning the books I borrowed for her. Her husband is now back in Israel, and I was promised he'll get them back to me as soon as... yesterday, actually.
That was 36 hours ago. I've called him 8 times and left 2 messages. There's a fine growing here (which they said they'll pay), and I'm not sure if I can borrow other books in the meantime (I never, never had a fine or overdued a book here before). But that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is not answering my calls or getting back to me on something which is their responsibility.