As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves

Ami Kaufman By Ami Kaufman October 16, 2011 | Edit

I was really looking forward to the #globalchange event that took place Saturday in Tel Aviv and all around the world. I even brought the family down to the Tel Aviv Museum, where the Israeli event was held.

Unfortunately, it was a dull happening. A few discussion groups, no speeches, no one to fire up the audience.

As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
I knew there weren't going to be many people at this event, when I saw the only one guarding a parking spot was this pooch
As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
The hula hoopers were pretty good

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTmck1SJOZU[/youtube]

As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
Funny how Gilad Schalit is everywhere
As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
The message has crossed the pond

We decided to go home, put the kids to bed, and I’d come back later, hoping that things would pick up a bit. There were a few more people when I came back after dark, but the vibe was even more somber.

As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves

As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
#J14 leader Stav Shaffir didn't stay too long
As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
MK Nitzan Horowitz engaged a few people, but looked bored out of his mind
As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
At lease someone was having a good debate
As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
What?

The only guys who seemed to cause some excitement were these four, who held signs saying (from right to left): “The people brought back Gilad Schalit”, “The medical residents brought back Gilad Schalit”, “Let each Hebrew mother know – 1 of yours is worth 1,000 of theirs”, and the last one is in English.

I engaged the leader of the pac, claiming his message sounded just a tad racist. He said “I knew people were going to say that, but we’re not racists. We’re here to support the people.” I told him he needs to work on his copy, in that case.

I couldn’t help but feel that the #J14 people could have made an effort to connect more with their counterparts abroad, seeing as how this is a global battle. The problem isn’t the Nohi Dankners, the Yitzhak Tshuvas or the Tsadik Binos.

The problem is the system.

But it seems most Israelis, and unfortunately most #J14 leaders, aren’t connecting the dots.

Daphne Leef, or Stav Shafir, or Itzik Shmuli should have spoken here.

They’re more interested in the local battle. Which has its pluses, I suppose.

After that it was off to Rothschild Blvd, where the #J14 protests began. The idea the organizers had was to have a street party in front of an apartment that was taken over by squatters (at least, that’s what I was told).

As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
The flat on Rothschild
As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves
The DJ at work

It wasn’t long before the kids got bored and decided to block the street. That’s when the police came.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtklGtVyhY[/youtube]

As the world protests, #J14ers seem preoccupied with themselves

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_i1coQsJAg[/youtube]

I couldn’t help but feel that these energies could have been put to better use in honour of #globalchange day.

Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman was chief night editor for Haaretz, for the prominent Israeli financial daily Calcalist, and correspondent on Israeli affairs for 93.6 RAM FM, a joint Palestinian-Israel radio station. His interest in food and cooking led to culinary studies at the "Israeli CIA" (Tadmor, Herzliya) and a brief stint in the restaurant business. Born in Tel Aviv, Ami lives in Bat Yam with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he blogs at Half & Half.