Creativity
Israel is known as start-up nation. It is extremely creative, and one of my missions this year is to find out why that is. One thing I've noticed is that authority is questioned.
This starts young. Children may or may not listen to you when they get pummelled in waves in the ocean and you tell them that they need to back up or they might die because there is no lifeguard. It turns out Sivan's friend wasn't so into heeding our advice. And she's a great kid. But she is not scared of authority. Or big waves.
I'm now thinking potentially of doing some cross-cultural qualitative stuff on this issue of questioning authority. I have a feeling Israelis don't feel bad bringing something they read on the internet to their doctor whereas Americans are much more uncomfortable with it.
Where else is authority questioned? Parking. You can park in any direction, halfway up the curb, (as long as it's white--otherwise you'll get a parking ticket) Lines to delineate parking spaces? Those are "suggestions" not requirements. Feel like taking up two spaces? Go for it!
However, there is one place authority is not ever questioned. The red man. The adam adom. What is the adam adom?
This starts young. Children may or may not listen to you when they get pummelled in waves in the ocean and you tell them that they need to back up or they might die because there is no lifeguard. It turns out Sivan's friend wasn't so into heeding our advice. And she's a great kid. But she is not scared of authority. Or big waves.
I'm now thinking potentially of doing some cross-cultural qualitative stuff on this issue of questioning authority. I have a feeling Israelis don't feel bad bringing something they read on the internet to their doctor whereas Americans are much more uncomfortable with it.
Where else is authority questioned? Parking. You can park in any direction, halfway up the curb, (as long as it's white--otherwise you'll get a parking ticket) Lines to delineate parking spaces? Those are "suggestions" not requirements. Feel like taking up two spaces? Go for it!
However, there is one place authority is not ever questioned. The red man. The adam adom. What is the adam adom?
Him.
He is the "do not walk" sign when you cross a street. Israelis who don't give a shit about parking, being quiet when you are supposed to be quiet, talking back, arguing, cutting, respect this man above all else.
The other day, on my way to Misrad HaPnim for the 3rd time (see entry before this), I watched all these Israelis quietly and respectfully stopped for HIM. There were no cars anywhere near us. None. I looked at Adam, and my rebellious genes flared. I took a step and an elderly woman behind me sharply barks at me "LO!" (no).
I looked at Adam and he says "told you you can't here".
Seriously???
THERE ARE NO CARS!
So creative people should question authority. But there are limits people. Defying Him, the Adam Adom, is just crossing a line.
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