Why activists are active, and the rest are passive
We already care and picked certain priorities
Yes, the rest are very busy and often overwhelmed. But we may be too. We still try to do something because it has a priority to us and we care.
Contributing is more important to us than short-term comfort. Again, that has to do with setting priorities.
Truth and honesty still have precedence to us. We may be as confused as everyone else, but we deeply care about what really is going on.
We somehow understood that intention is only foreplay, that wanting without doing is falsehood.
We don’t see activism as an act of generosity to the outside world or others but as dear expressing ourselves, an important part of us.
We are not as naïve as most people. We don’t think everything is fine or automatically will be fine soon.
We have some more measure of hope. We ‘smell’ success is coming. We may be off by centuries, but the end will prove us right.
Somehow, growing up, we missed giving up on some of our teenage ideals. Sometimes, older people rediscover them. We are believers.
Sometimes, we forget that we really want this life and we start resisting things because we feel we must. Before burnout, we must recalibrate.
We have the three P’s. We are Principled and People Persons.
And what about hate-driven activists? Well, at least, they are active; now they only need to learn honest principles and love-driven care as motives.
Most people are still decent but misinformed about what is decent.
And as soon as anyone does some of the above, they’d be activists too. You are invited to join us.
***
Imagine Lennon with Jewish annotations
Not only a deeply spiritual text but also a highly Jewish one
Lyrics
≈
Meaning
Imagine there’s no Heaven
Don’t live for later reward (Avot 1:3)
It’s easy if you try
Try and you’ve done it (Deut. 30:14)
No Hell below us
Not from fear of punishment later
Above us only sky
See the enormity, be meek (Avot 3:1)
Imagine all the people
Think beyond your self-interests
Living for today
Doing what’s becoming and right, now
Imagine there’s no countries
Nationalism is used to incite wars
It isn’t hard to do
Easy does it (Deuteronomy 30:14)
Nothing to kill or die for
Live for all of humanity (Isaiah 42:6)
And no religion too
Many religions have justified wars
Imagine all the people
Think beyond your own identities
Living life in peace
Shalom holds all blessings (Chulin 57b)
You may say I’m a dreamer
Yes, it takes idealism and ensuing deed
But I’m not the only one
And it takes a couple of us to succeed
I hope someday you’ll join us
No pressure, but know you’re invited
And the world will be as one
So, all folks will be united (Prayer HH)
Imagine no possessions
No more haves versus have-nots
I wonder if you can
Can you go from deserves to needs?
No need for greed or hunger
Hunger comes from a lack of solidarity
A brotherhood of man
A siblinghood comprising all humans
Imagine all the people
Think beyond your favorite people
Sharing all the world
Ensuring we all have our needs met
About the Author
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1