Time to stop 'behaving like Arabs'

We have already forgotten the "Arabushim" (derogatory term for Arabs) scandal that occurred here two weeks ago - that's the nature of racism that hinges on self inflicted senility and the ease of sweeping it under the rug.

For those who need a reminder: A police officer used the term "Arabushim" in referring to Arab participants in a rally in Umm el-Fahm. The message, sent out just before the rally, said "15,000 Arabushim have so far arrived at the rally." The police officer was dismissed and al-Quds was redeemed, because now the world has been cleansed of racists.

Until that turning point, no one here knew what the word "Arabushim" meant, except perhaps for the crude members of a bold Jewish underground group comprising dozens, perhaps hundreds, but certainly no more than three to four million members. And all of them, judging by initial findings, have used the derogatory term "Arabushim" at least once in their lifetime.

Like an Arab?

An initial investigation shows that there are indeed several other covert expressions bearing a racist nature. One such example is the expression "a good Arab is a dead Arab," which apparently means negligence. And then there's the third and rather simple expression" "Arab," implying foolish conduct and used in contexts such as "hey you, you're such an Arab," or "you're acting like an Arab."

For example, one could say that the police officer who sent the beeper message using the term "Arabushim" in fact acted like an Arab.

The officer was dismissed not because he used the word "Arabushim," but rather because he used it openly. Not because of his ignorance, but rather because he illuminated an area we would rather keep in the dark recesses of our minds.

Silencing of his racist remark demonstrates Jewish-Israeli society's inability to deal with its own racism. Loosely translated, instead of silencing the affair by firing him, the matter should be opened for debate, now.

'Just' a minority

We can, however, continue ignoring and repressing this issue, because "they" are just a negligent minority:

They just comprise a fifth of the population, they equal the number of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, they are deprived, ticking like a time bomb, torn by the impossible dichotomy of national loyalty and personal identity, they suffer from the repulsive image of being informants, a fifth column, third degree citizens, woodcutters and subservient hummus servers. I would like to see them raise their heads above the humility.

Therefore, from now on I would like Israeli Arabs to call themselves "Arabushim." Out of pride, not humiliation. I would like them - of all people - to take this word and turn it into a symbol of their identity, a word expressing outward pride, a prime element in the national lingo.

Yet only they will be allowed to use it, just like Afro-Americans who exchanged the word "nigger" with the super cool nickname banned for use by the white population. They should turn the word "Arabush" into a weapon of determination, a barrel of power pointed toward the attacker.

And in the long run, Jewish-Israeli society would do well to pull its ostrich head out of the sand and look the harsh reality expected in the next 10 to 20 years in the eye, and to prepare psychologically and logistically for things to come.

We should part from the unrealistic vision of a Jewish majority and our condescending approach towards permanent borders and adequate legislation.

It really is about time we stopped behaving like Arabs.