Progressive Andrea Hailey Finds Love With Tough Love Banker David Williamson

Andrea Hailey and David Williamson, August 25 at Shelter Island, NY’s Sylvester Manor

A progressive woman seriously dating a guy associated with the investment world knows there’s a moment she dreads — that moment when the odds stacked against her reveal themselves to be true. She dating a Republican.

For Andrea Hailey, the moment came when her sweetheart David Williamson uttered familiar words … if Americans saved their money well and “took responsibility” for their finances, they might not need government intervention or a health-insurance mandate.

“It was like a movie where it happens in slow motion,” she said. “I was just like ‘Nooooooo … ’ I was horrified. But I was in love with him. We were pretty far into our relationship at this point.”

At this moment, the bride was leaving to run the Indiana congressional campaign of Dr. Woodrow A. Myers Jr., previously health commissioner of New York.

In writing about the new nuptials, the New York Times inspires hope for a resolution to America’s gridlocked Congress. Bottom line, though, it’s probably wishful thinking. Today’s Republicans and Democrats see few redeeming qualities in each other. Unlike Ms. Hailey and Mr. Williamson, they’re not in love.

In fact, our politicos are in perpetual divorce court, arguing for sole custody of the nation’s future. Can you imagine if there were children involved!!

Related: Netanyahu and Obama Need A Marriage Counselor The Atlantic

Is There A Map of Biblical Israel? No, writes Rachel Havrelock

The always-assured Israeli prime minister Netanyahu, along with the strident voices of Republican candidates for the 2012 presidential election ,make it sound as if the Old Testament or the Torah leaves no doubt as to the location of Biblical Israel.

The Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament and to Jews as the Torah or Tanakh) actually contains five different 'maps',  lists of boundaries that define the Promised Land. None of them resemble the modern-day Biblical Israel, says Rachel Havrelock, author of 'River Jordan: The Mythology of a Dividing Line'.

Citing Joshua chapter 15, verse 63, Havrelock writes that it’s very possible that a regional federation of the tribes of Israel overlapped and coexisted with locals — the very vision of disputed Israeli lands held by more secular Israelis.

Right-wing religious groups, whether Israeli or Palestinian, aspire to rule all of “Biblical Israel” or “Historic Palestine.” In truth, these maps result from British colonialism and not from religious tradition. Religious ideas about this land are, in fact, more fluid, more flexible, and more accepting of the different peoples who live within its uncertain borders.