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Last update - 07:41 11/06/2009
OPINION / Jews gone wild: Why camcorders and booze don't mix
By Benjamin L. Hartman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Obama speech Cairo 

The night before Barack Obama thrilled Cairo, two cameramen strolled through downtown Jerusalem and filmed a handful of drunken American kids doing their best David Duke impressions. Forty-eight hours later, the video has gone viral, linked from a hundred political blogs, and is circling the internet at a critical velocity on a mission to humiliate the Jewish people.

As someone who lives on and off in the American bubble in Tel Aviv and came to Israel on a Birthright tour like some of the kids in the video may have, this is embarrassing, shocking, bizarre, but familiar. And as someone who spent many nights grimacing at similar overheard conversations from American Jews in town for the week from Long Island, the booze-fueled hubris and uber-Zionism is not so strange at all. In the Jewish homeland for the first time, on a free trip, fleetingly experiencing a place gripped by a visceral realism and powerful sense of purpose, it's easy to let the beer overtake you.
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While documentary filmmaker Max Blumenthal rejects this argument ("No amount of alcohol could make me express opinions that were not authentically mine," he says. "If anything, alcohol is a crude form of truth serum that lubricates the release of closely held opinions and encourages confessional talk."), many American Jews understand how hubris and chutzpah can flow much freer in Israel. Spared the political correctness, decorum and social mores of America (or Britain, South Africa or Australia), many find that they walk taller, step louder, and even sprinkle their speech with words they'd never say back home.

Not to excuse the behavior of those in the video, I don't believe this idiocy reflects the values of young American Jews or their opinions on Obama, but rather the way that Israel, in particular Jerusalem, can radicalize the young to the left or the right. It also proves (once again), that fools and alcohol and camcorders do not make a good match.

Coincidentally, the video comes about a week after Haaretz reported on the campaign launched by far-right Israelis called "No, you can't," meant to persuade their countrymen of the dangers of the "anti-Semitic" Barack Hussein Obama - with the emphasis on "Hussein." So far, the campaign appears to consist of sparsely attended rallies and posters of Obama in a kaffiyeh, much like those of Yitzhak Rabin before his 1995 assassination.

For many, the video is shocking because they think Jews aren't supposed to be racist. Especially not nice Jewish boys like those in the video, showing off the hip hop gear bought on the mean streets of Great Neck, their hats cocked sideways as they survey the city they profess to own.

There are really only two types of young American Jews in Israel: the ones who head for Jerusalem, and the ones who go to Tel Aviv. I hope Blumenthal films his next segment in Tel Aviv, though the results would probably be far less salacious. On a balcony in Florentin, he would ask the drum circle what they think of Obama and through the purple haze would hear only praise for the president, before being forced to listen to a 30-minute account of a recent trip to Nepal.

This video either proves that drunk Americans are starting to resemble Kahanists, or Israeli far-rightists have achieved the rhetorical brilliance of drunk American Jewish yahoos. Talking to drunken American Jewish 19-year-olds to gauge Israeli opinion on Obama is like using far-right conservatives to measure American public opinion on gay marriage. You're speaking to the wrong crowd and at the wrong time of night, only in a country where there is no closing time or public drinking ordinances. One can only imagine what would be caught on film in an American college town under these circumstances.

More by Benjamin Hartman:
  • Making swine flu kosher: A symptom of the disease of Israeli politics
  • 'Lapdancegate': Strip club witch-hunt misses the point
  • Lieber-fear and Bibi-phobia: How fear of the far-right could make Livni PM
  • Benjamin Hussein Netanyahu, or, How a little bit of Obama goes a long way
  • Ben Hartman on the U.S. elections
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      1.   Ben 17:51  |  Barry 07/06/09
      2.   So Racist speech is OK in Israel? 17:53  |  mickle 07/06/09
      3.   What you have Virgin ears? This is US Opinion 17:58  |  Levi 07/06/09
      4.   Were they that drunk? 18:10  |  Jane 07/06/09
      5.   But that`s not the point 18:25  |  David 07/06/09
      6.   But when Sacha Baron Cohen does it.... 18:26  |  Aphemia 07/06/09
      7.   America`s future in action 18:45  |  Vince 07/06/09
      8.   You dont get wisdom with youth. You rarely get wisdom with acohol 18:52  |  Tcherkessi 07/06/09
      9.   Hideous 18:53  |  Nadav 07/06/09
      10.   The really scary thing .... 18:56  |  JW 07/06/09
      11.   Hate and Racism 19:07  |  Scott Gerber 07/06/09
      12.   i know these kids 19:31  |  sam 07/06/09
      13.   Your interpretation isn`t different from Blumenthal`s 19:35  |  David 07/06/09
      14.   Why such venom 19:49  |  US Citizen 07/06/09
      15.   I think it is a Russian proverb that says: drunken men don?t lie 19:54  |  Sober Man 07/06/09
      16.   Alcohol provides no exucse for racism 19:57  |  Joseph Blough 07/06/09
      17.   Put the video in context 20:00  |  Manny Goldstein 07/06/09
      18.   "Netan-who?" 20:22  |  L.A. Reader 07/06/09
      19.   Chosen by God 20:23  |  Matthew Houston 07/06/09
      20.   re: Joseph Blough 20:34  |  UsedToPostHere 07/06/09
      21.   Confusing Imagery 20:34  |  Amdragon 07/06/09
      22.   One undefined term here. 20:35  |  Colin Wright 07/06/09
      23.   Sober Man 20:39  |  Mark Lincoln 07/06/09
      24.   One can only imagine... 20:41  |  Colin Wright 07/06/09
      25.   The psycho-right in the US and Israel is wigging out 20:41  |  Mark Lincoln 07/06/09
      26.   They don`t speak for America`s Jews 20:50  |  Ben 07/06/09
      27.   OPINION / Jews gone wild: Why camcorders and booze don`t mix 20:53  |  Lawrence 07/06/09
      28.   Disgusting 20:54  |  Moshe 07/06/09
      29.   Max doesn`t miss a chance to bash Israel 20:58  |  neighbour 07/06/09
      30.   Insanity with Yiddishkeit 20:58  |  BDF 07/06/09
      31.   A few loudmouth kids do not change the 21:16  |  TOMY 07/06/09
      32.   Americans are the same everywhere 21:17  |  Mark B. 07/06/09
      33.   I`m not hyperbolic - Max is dangerous. 21:24  |  Mr. Red 07/06/09
      34.   Drunk Americans 21:37  |  Yankal 07/06/09
      35.   Well... 21:50  |  Yosemite 07/06/09
      36.   Cameras 21:58  |  John Bevi 07/06/09
      37.   No 3 Levi 22:07  |  Marcos 07/06/09
      38.   Even little Israeli kids can spew hatred 22:08  |  Janice 07/06/09
      39.   Hubris and chutzpah?Is that what Israelis call racism and hatred? 22:13  |  peacelover 07/06/09
      40.   P.S. Explain the popularity of Lieberman. Hartman is in denial... 22:14  |  peacelover 07/06/09
      41.   booze/camcorders 22:41  |  Dr. B. Sugarman 07/06/09
      42.   Wish he recorded me 22:48  |  Non-ignorant America 07/06/09
      43.   Unmasked 22:55  |  norm 07/06/09
      44.   #3 22:58  |  Edwin 07/06/09
      45.   When you don`t mince your words. 23:15  |  Frank Rubin 07/06/09
      46.   More proof of Caryl Churchill`s genius. 23:37  |  Mary 07/06/09
      47.   Purple Haze? 23:43  |  FOX 07/06/09
      48.   As "Netan-who?" tries to stand down Obama 00:25  |  binny 08/06/09
      49.   Fascinating. What a bunch of ignorant people. 00:30  |  Adam 08/06/09
      50.   JEWS GONE WILD 00:31  |  Recher 08/06/09
      51.   Ever see the movie... 01:37  |  American 08/06/09
      52.   "american kids" 01:46  |  atheostic 08/06/09
      53.   Are the Jews that go WILD in talk back drunk? 01:53  |  jim the mechanic 08/06/09
      54.   keep it up i love it!!! hahahahahha 02:10  |  USA all the way 08/06/09
      55.   These are Israeli`s not JewishAmericans 02:18  |  Myron Gold 08/06/09
      56.   In Vino Veritas 03:24  |  Amy Blouchard 08/06/09
      57.   To be a hip jew one must be, racist, ignoranct, lack respect 04:38  |  lydia 08/06/09
      58.   Same Experience 18 Years Ago 07:00  |  Dr. David Zuckerman 08/06/09
      59.   Just Sound Like Republicans 07:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/06/09
      60.   Why so important what drunk 20 year olds have to say? 07:59  |  Jon 08/06/09
      61.   Feelin Anti-American? 08:47  |  Michael 08/06/09
      62.   Never seen young men in western "civilizations"? 09:42  |  christoph 08/06/09
      63.   Drunk American College Students 09:42  |  Raoul Fenderson 08/06/09
      64.   videgrapher propoganda 10:01  |  david 08/06/09
      65.   and lets be honest 10:26  |  christoph 08/06/09
      66.   Yes, In Vino Veritas 10:45  |  Roscoe Robson 08/06/09
      67.   Weak Response 10:50  |  David J 08/06/09
      68.   If those kids are "innocent", then Mel Gibson must also..... 10:57  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/06/09
      69.   I know this scene 11:00  |  Jacob 08/06/09
      70.   American bigotry is a big factor in Israel`s problems. 11:12  |  Michael 08/06/09
      71.   Spin 11:43  |  Uetliberg 08/06/09
      72.   By the way, this is not an exclusively "Jewish" thing at all.... 11:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/06/09
      73.   slips of the tongue 13:07  |  Warren J 08/06/09
      74.   Monkeying Around For The Camera 14:44  |  UsedToPostHere 08/06/09
      75.   Talk is cheap when "the little princes" can avoid 14:51  |  Erastus CoupeDeVille 08/06/09
      76.   Two other possibilities 16:12  |  Profesora Isadora 08/06/09
      77.   PEACELOVER 15 seats out of 120! Is 8% of the vote."Popular"? 16:30  |  PETER SM 08/06/09
      78.   Republican? Swiss (Dino) 16:37  |  american 08/06/09
      79.   U.S. - Jews gone wild 17:16  |  THK 08/06/09
      80.   Jews Gone Wild 20:50  |  Jessica 08/06/09
      81.   They`re Israeli-Americans, not just Americans. 21:37  |  Mark 08/06/09
      82.   Haaretz should me ashamed 21:26  |  Yochanan 08/06/09
      83.   JESUSALEN 21:53  |  JESUSALEN 08/06/09
      84.   The true face of our community. 22:13  |  Avi 08/06/09
      85.   Why shouldn`t nice jewish boys be racist? 22:22  |  Montrealer 08/06/09
      86.   I saw this on a liberal black U.S. site a couple days ago... 23:52  |  Czarkazem13 08/06/09
      87.   #78 Yochanan 00:04  |  Michael 09/06/09
      88.   Wow. No wonder when many Israelis found out I`m an American... 00:38  |  MCA 09/06/09
      89.   Tel Aviv sophisticates 01:11  |  Lou 09/06/09
      90.   In Vino Veritas 01:24  |  Grif 09/06/09
      91.   Is Every Person That Was Interviewed Shown? Or Only Those That.. 03:40  |  Eli 09/06/09
      92.   THE Moslem world does not need alcohol to OFFICIALLY publish 04:07  |  PETER SM 09/06/09
      93.   !/4 million views. My, my, the elders have taught them, what? 04:55  |  Maureen Ann 09/06/09
      94.   Truth Serum 05:55  |  Brian 09/06/09
      95.   You shoot yourself in the foot. 06:29  |  Tex Long 09/06/09
      96.   MOSLEM World doesn`t need alcohol for OFFICIAL racist publication 06:52  |  PETER SM 09/06/09
      97.   #41 - Dr. B. Sugarman`s talkback 08:11  |  Michael 09/06/09
      98.   Montrealer: That day may be coming fast... 10:24  |  AmDragon 09/06/09
      99.   This is Shameful 14:54  |  MIKE 09/06/09
      100.   poor little us 15:40  |  Eli 09/06/09
      101.   To Maureen, Sorry Elders, Please explain 15:58  |  Eli 09/06/09
      102.   Classic New Yorkers 17:11  |  Stevie the K 09/06/09
      103.   Booze/camcorders not the point 17:14  |  JHoward 09/06/09
      104.   ORWELL 00:22  |  Chris Diaz 10/06/09
      105.   A shanda 00:36  |  Courtenay 10/06/09
      106.   I agree with the americans 00:46  |  Eli 10/06/09
      107.   Maureen 13:40  |  Rab Burns 10/06/09
      108.   re: Courtenay 15:07  |  UsedToPostHere 10/06/09
      109.   Obama`s Policy 21:32  |  RS Hanchett 10/06/09
      110.   These are not the Jews I know 07:41  |  Mark 11/06/09
      111.   Just read Haaretz comments for proof of racism 06:26  |  Israel_is_Done 14/06/09
      112.   You can find drunk idiots anywhere 10:27  |  Observer 14/06/09
      113.   Free speech 12:12  |  Craig 14/06/09
      114.   When a Prez bows to a king, one gets to call Obama a idiot 14:52  |  Susanna/Shoshana 14/06/09
      115.   what does t bag his ass mean,anyway -these kids were ambushed 15:23  |  Susanna/Shoshana 14/06/09
      116.   #104 Chris Diaz,If I am EU Jew I am Ashkenazi &my mothers fa 15:45  |  Susanna/Shoshana 14/06/09
      117.   Why should the parents sue, Susanna/Shoshana? 17:44  |  Ben 14/06/09
      118.   Re: RS Hanchett #109 18:15  |  Harry 14/06/09
      119.   Jews Gone Wild 21:26  |  bobo 14/06/09
      120.   Jews gone wild 13:05  |  Irit 15/06/09
      121.   Fair`s fair. 16:22  |  tony 15/06/09
      122.   lashon hara 02:13  |  anonymous 19/06/09
      123.   Jews Gone Wild 21:40  |  Warren D. 24/06/09
      124.   American Jews and Camcorders. 03:36  |  Joe Kelsall 01/07/09
      125.   Russian Proverb 06:13  |  Bernard Julian 30/07/09
      126.   Blumenthal is a propagandist at best 14:45  |  NewYorkJew 04/08/09
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