Bye, Felicia

US and Israel are both withdrawing from UNESCO, after one anti-Israel resolution too many.

Indeed, one rightful criticism of UNESCO is that it's abandoned its mission of preserving historic heritage and promoting arts, sciences, and ideas in favor of adopting the hateful politics of many of its members.

Earlier this year, UNESCO designated Hebron as a Palestinian World Heritage Site, despite the fact that Hebron is one of the oldest Jewish communities, housing such sites dating back to the biblical era as the Tomb of the Patriarch, whereas the concept of a  Palestinian nation was invented by the PLO and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. UNESCO has been using these heritage site designations to discredit Israel's indigenous roots and historic presence on its own land, which, coupled with the systematic destruction of the Jewish artifacts on Temple Mount by the Waqf, constitutes a dangerous attack on history itself.

UNESCO, despite having a great potential for promoting intercultural understanding among different countries, thanks to the efforts of such thoughtful and dedicated people as its Goodwill Ambassador Andres Roemer, It's a sad commentary on our society that more people do not openly stand up to and challenge bad ideas and promotion of ignorance, bias, and intolerance when they have that opportunity, and instead prefer to ignore the obvious, dismiss well-founded concerns, and engage in mental acrobatics and apologetics for preserving the status quo.

I look forward to the day when both Israel and the United States can reenter the UNESCO in good conscience, and when the membership in that organization will no longer mean having to contend with a shameful farce, but instead will focus on the meaningful promotion of the world's intellectual development and artistic and scientific accomplishments. Until that time, it is wiser not to contribute to the fray, and not to normalize illegitimate agendas that have nothing to do with UNESCO's mission.

Ambition and the American Dream

It's funny how the US expects (and rightfully so) people to be productive, and upwardly mobile, and invested in their country and communities, and socially active - but ambition is discouraged.

How can you really be upwardly mobile without being ambitious? And why do you have to hide it if you are? I say, encourage people to be honest about what they really want. Let big corporations focus on delivering profits for their shareholders, and let philanthropists donate so they could get tax write offs. Let politicians eye higher office the moment they get in place if that motivates them to do something that actually benefits their constituents.

No one should be ashamed of wanting to do better in life and wanting to accomplish goals and dreams. What's shameful is which path you pursue on the way to your ambitions. Are you a careless back-stabber who rises through the ranks by throwing your underlings and your boss under the bus just to make yourself look better? Or are you setting an inspiring example as you eye the fame, riches, power, or social status that await?

Be greedy. Be ambitious. Be incredibly successful. That's what the American Dream is all about. And be proud of it. But do it right.