Posted June 1 2008
Natan Sharansky - Defending Identity
This morning I had the privilege of hearing a true giant speak, Natan Sharansky, about his newest book, Defending Identity, which goes on sale tomorrow. Sharansky spoke about the changes in nationalist vs. religious or other personal identity from Communist Russia on to post-war Europe and now in Israel and America. The statement that hit home the most with me, and one which I have written about before, was that when he was the unofficial spokesperson for Zionist and Human Rights movements in Communist Russia, he was seen by many to be holding up the ideals and identities of two opposite mentalities.
“How can you want an identity (Judaism) as well and fight for human rights (no identity; we are all equal)?” - Natan Sharanksy [not a direct quote (dw)]
Another thing that struck me about this morning’s speech was that although the room was packed, there were but a tiny handful of individuals under 40. I remember as a kid going to rallies to save Soviet Jewry. I remember going to Mirabel airport in Montreal and welcoming Refuseniks who had gotten out of Russia. I remember my father talking about Natan Sharansky as a hero and someone that he truly looked up to. Have we, gen X and gen Y -ers, already forgotten the struggle of our brothers? Sharansky was only released from prison 22 years ago, during my lifetime, and yet many of my friends today do not even know whom I speak of.
“Those who grew up only knowing freedom take it for granted” - Natan Sharanksy
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