I wanted to deal with this on Wednesday night, but I came down with the flu and after arriving home I collapsed with a nice fever into bed and was pretty much stuck in the same position for the rest of the weekend.
Finally, it’s beginning to lift and I can get to what I wanted to say.
I couldn’t agree more with what Yael wrote. There are certain institutions in a nation that are far more important than the person currently sitting in the chair. Such is the case of the Presidency. This is a ceremonial position, designed to be filled by someone who is beyond day to day politics and petty bickering. It should be someone who inspires the country, the epitome of a statesman. The President and not the Prime Minister receives new ambassadors. This was a very good idea that keeps politics out of such ceremonies. The President is the “elder statesman”.
Where the heck did we get lost then? It doesn’t matter at all anymore whether Katzav is guilty or innocent. It did at some point, but not anymore. It wasn’t the media that changed this, but rather Katzav himself. By ranting with such hatred in his eyes, he disgraced a country. He looked more like someone from the gutters of society than the elder statesman. His act would have even been rude in the street market. Whether he is guilty or innocent of rape will determine whether he spends time in jail or not I suppose, but by his own actions he has disgraced, embarrassed and humiliated this country and the position of the President almost beyond repair.
Katzav must go home, and fast.
[tags]Israel, Katzav, politics[/tags]
