Where “Subway” is just a sandwich

September 27, 2006 - 7:55 PM by

The young author of the blog “Sustainable Apple Pie” points to a recent op-ed piece about plans for a new Tel Aviv subway, and says that it would go a long way toward raising morale in this country, if only because finishing the subway would prove that our government is capable of actually getting something done.

. . . . people (particularly young people) still want to care about issues in the country, issues that go beyond security and war, but they have been raised into a culture lacking faith in a government that has lost all accountability since, well, I’d say since Yitzhak Rabin’s death in 1995. As an idealist myself (as I’m sure you’ve all noticed) I get a lot of funny looks from my friends when I talk hopefully about peace, cleaning up the environment, better social services, and a stronger economy in the future. I get that tsk tsk sound that Israelis love to make (and that I’ve happily adopted) and a look that if put into words would say, “Little sis, I love you, but open your eyes. The world is not as sweet and kind as you might think.”

. . . . .So, yalla! The arguments are there. Now action must be taken. Tel Aviv is amazing city, let’s give it one more thing that we can brag about. You can read more about the plan on Wikipedia. Or check out the project’s homepage (in Hebrew). This tongue-in-cheek subway aficionado site lists archived newspaper articles related to the project and ends with the words “Fat chance!” Sigh.

Tags: • Category: Business, Israeliness, Travel 

Comments

2 Comments on Where “Subway” is just a sandwich

  1. stephanie on Wed, Sep 27th 2006 8:19 PM

    2. I’m completely new to this blog. actually i looked at it today ’cause it’s mentioned in an email from Israel 21C. I only read the first paragraph of the first posting and I had to write something about this statement “if only because finishing the subway would prove that our government is capable of actually getting something done.”

    Wow, you Israelis have got to stop being so self-critical. Is this kind of negativity a symptom of a life of war?–maybe.

    Let me give you a reality check: I’m an American who’s lived in Israel and read the Israeli press for long enough to know something. YOUR GOVERNMENT IS FLAWED–AS ALL ARE, but your country (ok, maybe more the private sector than the public) gets a lot of REALLY GOOD STUFF DONE. To quote the late photographer whose name escapes me at this moment, “It’s a rockin’ little country!” Your output of high tech innovation, bio-tech innovation, art, music, design, is astounding for your size. Yeah, your government is sometimes corrupt, sometimes ineffective, but put it in some perspective. You have NOT SEEN GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION until you’ve lived in Chicago or New York City. Sorry to “one up” you on that one. But that’s the truth.

  2. David on Thu, Sep 28th 2006 1:33 AM

    3. This is definitely something Israelis and Americans have in common – both are overly self-critical, and both tend to pull no political punches during political bunfights.

    I do think that the American political system is superior to that based on the Westminister system.

    But Steph, I do agree with you on Chicago and New York City. I think both those cities and Israeli politics have a lot in common.

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