M.K. 22 (2004)

Hadar Shahaf: Gili Lahav Nachmani

Quotes 

• Gili Lahav Nachmani : [TV Interview about the Supreme Court's decision to allow the handicapped to join Air Force Combat Pilot Training]  ... I'm here with Yoav Reim, who was afflicted with brain paralysis and therefore joined the Meretz party. Yoav, were you happy with the court's ruling?

  Crippled Man : [In a wheelchair, drooling and speaking somewhat slurred]  Of course, I was very excited.

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : But you didn't fall out of your seat.

  Crippled Man : No, I'm strapped to it. I think the courts have finally achieved justice. From now on, not only the best will be pilots, but everybody.

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : Yoav, you know you have a speech disorder, so if you can please use shorter sentences, because we haven't got all day.

  Crippled Man : Sorry.

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : It's ok. Also here is "Ayin", an Israeli Airforce pilot. Yoav, do you want to say anything to "Ayin"?

  Crippled Man : Yes. How do you know that crippled -

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : - Short sentences!

  Crippled Man : Yes yes, how do you know that crippled people can't be pilots?

  IAF Pilot : [chuckles and sighs]  Yoav, Yoav, now how are they going to get on the plane, huh? We'd have to rig some sort of electric device to the roof to lift up the chair!

  Crippled Man : Yes, but "Ayin" -

  IAF Pilot : - It'll cost millions to upgrade all the aircraft!

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : But, don't they deserve a chance?

  IAF Pilot : No.

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : If you had a crippled child, would you speak differently?

  IAF Pilot : Of course.

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : Thank you.

• Gili Lahav Nachmani : [after the supreme court has declared that handicapped people may try out for Air Force Combat Pilot training]  ... Thousands of handicapped people have begun preparing for flight school try-outs. We have selected just one. Michal Levinstein, a crippled girl, paralysed from the waist down, with one lung, one kidney, and mental retardation.

  Michal Levinstein : I'm not retarded!

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : So what? It's a better story if you are. Michal, do you REALLY believe you'll pass the selection program?

  Michal Levinstein : Of course! I have a motto: There's no "Can't", there's only "Won't"!

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : But in your case, there IS "Can't". Can't stand up. Can't run around. Can't feel this...

  [Gili kicks Levinstein in the shin] 

  Michal Levinstein : Owww!

  Gili Lahav Nachmani : Can't swim. Can't dance. Can't go into a room without everyone saying "Ecccch, look at that disgusting cripple... blehhhhh"