There is an excellent article by Karen Friedman Agnifilo who is an attorney and served as Chief Assistant District Attorney of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on the MeidasTouch Network https://www.meidastouch.com/
website. If you have a few minutes, it’s well worth reading.
Trump’s collection of disturbing and threatening videos, Truth Social Posts, etc…. Ending with Karen’s statement:
“Not only does Trump thumb his nose in the face of judicial authority making a mockery of the justice system, but he is also putting lives at risk!”
I cannot believe all the lies and disinformation and threats! It’s unbelievable what this guy has gotten away with and continues to get away with!
He alone has done more to harm our democracy and our country than anyone else in our history!
Trump has also exposed the worst of our society.
For the life of me I cannot believe he is still the leading candidate in the Republican Party. Our Freedoms are at risk of being destroyed by a minority of fascist members of our own government!
Support President Biden and his administration. They are working for the American people. While that other party can’t even elect a Speaker of the House! How PATHETIC!
I didn't know about this "President Biden told "60 Minutes" host Scott Pelley that while Hamas must be eliminated, Palestinians deserve a path to statehood, making an important distinction between the Palestinian people and Hamas extremists."
Oct 16, 2023·edited Oct 16, 2023Liked by Robert Reich
Robert if you’d like a little respite from hate amongst politicians, I invite you to view the debate between the leaders of New Zealand’s two main political parties the centre left Labour Party and the centre right National Party. They differ on issues and policies but were an example that you can differ without being hateful. This Saturday night (Oct 14) National won so we have a new Prime Minister. And surprise surprise the outgoing Prime Minister conceded on Saturday evening (graciously accepted by the new PM) and did not falsely claim a rigged election.
Thank you again, Robert, for embracing Palestinians and fairness while still grieving the atrocities of the terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. It’s unbelievable how many otherwise rational people have decided that it’s impossible to both grieve the attacks and also call for protection of Palestinian lives. And when others do demand a humane, measured response we are met with baseless, irrational insults of being antisemitic.
I used to tell my kids that hate hurts the hater.It is a cancer that eats a person from the inside out,takes away joy and peace,and also love, compassion and empathy.It leaves bitterness and ugliness.
To forgive is divine,what forgiveness does is take a burden of guilt from an innocent and puts it on the guilty,and both religious and secular counselors advise people to forgive people who wronged them.It isn't to condone the guilty or the offense,but to heal oneself and help them to move forward in their lives.Nations should practice forgiveness,and try to heal the rifts.Disagreements happen,but instead of entrenching hate we can be compassionate.
Not one of us is perfect,but to condemn people for petty stuff like skin color,nationality,religion,gender,and the list goes on and on and on is damaging to every person and every society.Encouraging hatred hurts every one.Look at the horrific ends it causes,from Ukraine and the Philippines,to Isreal and Palestine,and right here at home.Nothing good, positive or useful comes from hate.Only pain and destruction.Remember what happened with Hitler?He tried to destroy an entire race because of hate.They did nothing wrong,but he decided this race did not deserve to exist.We all deserve to exist,we should consider it wrong of anyone to think that way.
We also shouldn't punish an entire race of people to punish a handful of wrongdoers.Find the culprits,punish them,leave everyone else in peace.
Hoping some of the craziness in our world settles down.
So must Israeli politics led by Netanyahu be held responsible for engendering fear and hate against Palestinians. Netanyahu it appears was at one stage of his life from Philadelphia, USA, and he does not embody much of the ideals of brotherly love, or as written on the Statue of Liberty. It appears Netanyahu adopts the attitude towards Palestinians of "I'm alright, the hell with you jack".
I have no doubt that the majority of American Jewish people whom I worked with, and for, and lived with in peace in USA abhor the behaviour of Netanyahu as much as they abhor the behaviour of Hamas Palestinians. There must be a two State agreement to stop this constant war and suffering. This cannot be a one-sided equation only.
Humans are the only animal that show these characteristics. We are supposedly the smartest species yet mankind is the only species that works against itself. Examples of this are what man in his infinite wisdom has created. Weapons to kill other humans, religions, plastic, etc…..
Thanks, Bob. I’m not sure I could’ve said it or explained the use of fear and hatred, nor the need to not stoke either, any better. I will share this writing in hopes it will spark understanding in someone, anyone in fear of or filled with hatred toward others. That they will see the destructiveness that divisiveness and negativity it’s causing them both physically and mentally. How it’s affecting their family and others around them. Life is hard enough without being lead by those who promote hate and fear to enrich their own unsatisfactory lives. We all must strive to to stop those who do. So, we can care for and help others in hopes of bettering all our lives. Use the negative energy to instead work together for a positive society in which we all thrive.
Australia has just had a demonstration of hidden depths of hate and resentment by whites against our First Nation people. Most of the hate was stirred by far right wing politicians and especially by the Murdochracy of Rupert Murdoch which is working overtime in its drive to stir dissent and division among Australians. Since media ownership laws were eased we have seen a rise in fear mongering from the right via mainstream media. It was helped by the previous right wing government. Our current government must act to protect our egalitarian values. Australians must recognise that what is happening in the USA is only a breath away here too!
30 Americans died in the Hamas pogrom. 13 missing.
I've never been to Israel. For me, the old country is New Castle Pa, where we had so few Jews that all of us had to participate in the religion, although my family is not religious. .My brothers and I had bar mitvahs, but didn't attend Sunday school. My priorities were horses and golf.
As adults, after I left, my brother, a lawyer, became president of a synagogue, and because they had no money to hire a rabbi, gave sermons, officiated at funerals, etc. In retirement, he moved to Pittsburgh, where he attends services at the Tree of Life Synagogue, site of the massacre of 11 Jews.
My brother published a book of poetry. https://www.amazon.com/TREE-OTHER-POEMS-Jonathan-Solomon-ebook/dp/B0BZ1YP2GM According to the majority population in New Castle, despite our family's success, our existence was non-Anglo-Saxon and not Protestant, our whiteness only "honorary," and not of the kind that made America "great.
Today there is no Jewish congregation left in my home town.
For those of us who are Ashkenazi, the Hamas pogrom reminds of babushkas' tales how the Cossacks killed Jews indiscriminately. Now Chișinău, Moldova, Kishinev was the capital of the Bessarabia Governorate in the Russian Empire., In April] 1903, during the Easter Day pogrom, 49 Jews were killed, 92 were gravely injured, a number of Jewish women were raped, over 500 were less injured and 1,500 homes were damaged. American Jews began large-scale organized financial help, and assisted in emigration. The incident focused worldwide attention on the persecution of Jews in Russia and led Theodor Herzl to propose a Uganda Scheme as a temporary refuge for the Jews. Eventually, he became the head of Zionism. Israel became, out of necessity, the Jewish Homeland.
By that time, my family was living in New Castle. My dad was born ther in 1910. My mother 1914. My dad and 5 of my uncles served in WWII. My dad was wounded in North Africa, had frostbite at Monte Casino, Italy, I was born when he was there. After discharge he was in the reserves. He was the Commander of an American Legion post. I served also, in Vietnam, 1966 - 1967,
The Hamas pogrom has given antisemites an opportunity to express their venom. I am sorry to report that many unsuspecting people accept the white supremacist version. The pogrom is NOT justified. (that was a period,)
Historically, Jews have been scapegoated as a group that is defined as the “other.” With the conversion of the Roman emperors, Christianity became the sole established religion of the Roman Empire, and the early church fathers sought to establish Christianity as the successor to Judaism. The refusal of Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah was viewed as a threat to the Roman rulers and to Christianity. Since both religions came from the Old Testament, Christians sought to establish the validity of their new religion by claiming that it superseded Judaism.
As Jews were officially being ostracized6, certain bizarre fantasies about Jews arose in Northern Europe that foreshadowed the anti-Semitism of the 20th century. It was alleged7 that Jews had horns and tails and engaged in ritual murder of Christians. The latter allegation, referred to as “blood libel,” was devised by Thomas of Monmouth in 1150 to explain the mysterious death of a Christian boy. This theme recurs in English and German myths. In 1095, Pope Urban II made a general appeal to the Christians of Europe to take up the cross and sword and liberate the Holy Land from the Muslims, beginning what was to be known as the Crusades. The religious fervor that drove men, and later even children, on the Crusades was to have direct consequences for Jews. The Crusader army, which more closely resembled a mob, swept through Jewish communities looting, raping and massacring Jews as they went. Thus the pogrom—the organized massacre of a targeted group of people—was born.
When the crusaders git to the middle east, they treated the residents similarly. Jews fought with Muslim soldiers to defend Jerusalem against the Crusaders. Saint Louis University Professor Thomas F. Madden, author of A Concise History of the Crusades, claims the "Jewish Defenders" of the city knew the rules of warfare and retreated to their synagogue to "prepare for death" since the Crusaders had breached the outer walls. According to the Muslim chronicle of Ibn al-Qalanisi, "The Jews assembled in their synagogue, and the Franks burned it over their heads." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_and_the_Crusades
Jews still exist despite the Spanish Inquisition, and the Holocaust.
I have been promoting a two state solution to the pogrom. I support the two state solution. To do that, innocent Arabs should surrender to save themselves -- to the Palestinian Authority.
Even if the Palestinian version of the story were accepted, there is no moral basis to accept a pogrom. Hamas' military operation was aimed at innocent people. Reminds of similar “military” strikes at the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, at delis in Paris, Rome, at the Olympic team in Munich in 1972. Not much different than the murders of 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
When aid was given to Gaza, it was used to fund suicide bombers and munitions. The rockets' targets are indiscriminate.
Gaza has had self-determination since 2006. Their allies, like Iran could take care of all the social problems you describe but they send Hamas what they want -- more ammo.
In 1979, Edward Said, the famed Palestinian literary critic, declared himself “horrified at the hijacking of planes, the suicidal missions, the assassinations, the bombing of schools and hotels.” Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian American historian, called the suicide bombings of the second intifada “a war crime.” I'd try to mobilize (and empower) the Palestinian Authority like the UN peace mission in Lebanon. Establish safe areas within Gaza, but an airlift vis a viz the Berlin Airlift to safety if Jordan, Egypt, etc will permit them. When Hamas took control, chased out virtually all Arab Christians and Al Fatah, and in some cases liquidated them as "collaborators" with Israel. Residents will need to be protected.
When I was in the army we had the capacity to relocate villiges in a day.. Every unit has a table of operations and equipment that includes medical services, potable warter, tents etc.
When the settlements surrounding Gaza were vacated in 2006, Hamas refused to take advantage. This land is still available.
May I just say again something I posted a few days ago: it is crucial for someone of your stature to make PUBLIC statements in support of a humane and measured response to the attacks, and accelerate the two state solution. When people in power are silent on this (or make only private pleas to Israeli officials) it gives carte blanche for Israeli powers to blow up lives indiscriminately. And it gives anti-Muslim bigots carte blanche to hate and kill, as we saw in Chicago. Government officials need to draw the line. Please, as you may have some sway with politicians, could you ask them to speak PUBLICLY about how Israel needs to respond surgically, not emotionally. That every life of a Palestinian is just as valuable as a Jewish life.
In my country a coming member of parliament gave up her seat because her party was not conscious of the history of the conflict around Palestine and Israel.
Problem is that she is right. Palestine was given away for the displaces Jew in Europe. The British felt guilty about the situation they created (Balfour declaration) and limited the immigration to 10.000 Jews into Israel. Leon Uris romanticised the period in "Exodus". The displaced Jews were not welcome in their land of origin: the houses they lived in were confiscated, and so on. There was no respect for their suffering, because an enormous reconstruction was ahead of them. So, please emigrate. The last concentrationcamp of displaced persons was closed in 1957.
So, a lot of neo-colonial guilt.
Is this consciousness necessary to cope with the war? It does not help very much.
May be the U.N. can be convinced that it should intervene with all the power it can bring.
And to do something about the hatred. In South Africa Mandela and Tutu started the Truth Commission to influence public opinion. This approach is not a panacea but ikt helped to overcome Apartheid. Despair is no solution.
This is the same trap America fell into after 9/11. We wrapped patriotism into a vestige of hate, and Muslims suffered greatly. We saw a rise in hate crimes and deaths around the world. Americans and Muslims died, and in the end, nothing good came of it!
I watched liberal Americans last week cheer when innocent Israeli women and children were massacred. People were being brainwashed to think that Jews are not people, and now we’re seeing the same thing against Palestinians.
Somehow, many believe every Palestinian is responsible for the terror in Israel, and the same can be said, who think all Jews are responsible for Netanyahu’s and his far right government’s policies and crimes. Nothing could be further from the truth; but the dehumanization efforts begin; and hate is the end product.
I heard the President of Israel, Herzog, claim all Palestinians are responsible for the massacres; wrong! They are victims too. When we can no longer distinguish between the innocents on both sides, then Humanity is lost, and all is left is hate.
I truly hope Israel will not invade, because we’ve seen this movie before. Hamas attacks, Israel responds harder, and then implements even more draconian laws that strangle the Palestinian people. Rinse, lather, repeat!
And in the end nothing changes. Hamas grows stronger, not weaker and Israel responds in kind.
The definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result!”--Albert Einstein
Yes, this time will be different; lots more death and destruction that will make all of the past incursions seem tame. So I only question is, “and then what?”
My thoughts and prayers to all: Palestinians and Israeli’s alike. I have family in Israel and I am truly terrified for all.
There is an excellent article by Karen Friedman Agnifilo who is an attorney and served as Chief Assistant District Attorney of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on the MeidasTouch Network https://www.meidastouch.com/
website. If you have a few minutes, it’s well worth reading.
Trump’s collection of disturbing and threatening videos, Truth Social Posts, etc…. Ending with Karen’s statement:
“Not only does Trump thumb his nose in the face of judicial authority making a mockery of the justice system, but he is also putting lives at risk!”
I cannot believe all the lies and disinformation and threats! It’s unbelievable what this guy has gotten away with and continues to get away with!
He alone has done more to harm our democracy and our country than anyone else in our history!
Trump has also exposed the worst of our society.
For the life of me I cannot believe he is still the leading candidate in the Republican Party. Our Freedoms are at risk of being destroyed by a minority of fascist members of our own government!
Support President Biden and his administration. They are working for the American people. While that other party can’t even elect a Speaker of the House! How PATHETIC!
Thank you for these comments.
I didn't know about this "President Biden told "60 Minutes" host Scott Pelley that while Hamas must be eliminated, Palestinians deserve a path to statehood, making an important distinction between the Palestinian people and Hamas extremists."
Robert if you’d like a little respite from hate amongst politicians, I invite you to view the debate between the leaders of New Zealand’s two main political parties the centre left Labour Party and the centre right National Party. They differ on issues and policies but were an example that you can differ without being hateful. This Saturday night (Oct 14) National won so we have a new Prime Minister. And surprise surprise the outgoing Prime Minister conceded on Saturday evening (graciously accepted by the new PM) and did not falsely claim a rigged election.
Thank you again, Robert, for embracing Palestinians and fairness while still grieving the atrocities of the terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. It’s unbelievable how many otherwise rational people have decided that it’s impossible to both grieve the attacks and also call for protection of Palestinian lives. And when others do demand a humane, measured response we are met with baseless, irrational insults of being antisemitic.
At this point I believe that Robert Reich should be President.
I used to tell my kids that hate hurts the hater.It is a cancer that eats a person from the inside out,takes away joy and peace,and also love, compassion and empathy.It leaves bitterness and ugliness.
To forgive is divine,what forgiveness does is take a burden of guilt from an innocent and puts it on the guilty,and both religious and secular counselors advise people to forgive people who wronged them.It isn't to condone the guilty or the offense,but to heal oneself and help them to move forward in their lives.Nations should practice forgiveness,and try to heal the rifts.Disagreements happen,but instead of entrenching hate we can be compassionate.
Not one of us is perfect,but to condemn people for petty stuff like skin color,nationality,religion,gender,and the list goes on and on and on is damaging to every person and every society.Encouraging hatred hurts every one.Look at the horrific ends it causes,from Ukraine and the Philippines,to Isreal and Palestine,and right here at home.Nothing good, positive or useful comes from hate.Only pain and destruction.Remember what happened with Hitler?He tried to destroy an entire race because of hate.They did nothing wrong,but he decided this race did not deserve to exist.We all deserve to exist,we should consider it wrong of anyone to think that way.
We also shouldn't punish an entire race of people to punish a handful of wrongdoers.Find the culprits,punish them,leave everyone else in peace.
Hoping some of the craziness in our world settles down.
So must Israeli politics led by Netanyahu be held responsible for engendering fear and hate against Palestinians. Netanyahu it appears was at one stage of his life from Philadelphia, USA, and he does not embody much of the ideals of brotherly love, or as written on the Statue of Liberty. It appears Netanyahu adopts the attitude towards Palestinians of "I'm alright, the hell with you jack".
I have no doubt that the majority of American Jewish people whom I worked with, and for, and lived with in peace in USA abhor the behaviour of Netanyahu as much as they abhor the behaviour of Hamas Palestinians. There must be a two State agreement to stop this constant war and suffering. This cannot be a one-sided equation only.
Mr. Reich is right about hate.
Love is progressive
Hate is destructive
Humans are the only animal that show these characteristics. We are supposedly the smartest species yet mankind is the only species that works against itself. Examples of this are what man in his infinite wisdom has created. Weapons to kill other humans, religions, plastic, etc…..
Thanks, Bob. I’m not sure I could’ve said it or explained the use of fear and hatred, nor the need to not stoke either, any better. I will share this writing in hopes it will spark understanding in someone, anyone in fear of or filled with hatred toward others. That they will see the destructiveness that divisiveness and negativity it’s causing them both physically and mentally. How it’s affecting their family and others around them. Life is hard enough without being lead by those who promote hate and fear to enrich their own unsatisfactory lives. We all must strive to to stop those who do. So, we can care for and help others in hopes of bettering all our lives. Use the negative energy to instead work together for a positive society in which we all thrive.
Australia has just had a demonstration of hidden depths of hate and resentment by whites against our First Nation people. Most of the hate was stirred by far right wing politicians and especially by the Murdochracy of Rupert Murdoch which is working overtime in its drive to stir dissent and division among Australians. Since media ownership laws were eased we have seen a rise in fear mongering from the right via mainstream media. It was helped by the previous right wing government. Our current government must act to protect our egalitarian values. Australians must recognise that what is happening in the USA is only a breath away here too!
Hate.
30 Americans died in the Hamas pogrom. 13 missing.
I've never been to Israel. For me, the old country is New Castle Pa, where we had so few Jews that all of us had to participate in the religion, although my family is not religious. .My brothers and I had bar mitvahs, but didn't attend Sunday school. My priorities were horses and golf.
As adults, after I left, my brother, a lawyer, became president of a synagogue, and because they had no money to hire a rabbi, gave sermons, officiated at funerals, etc. In retirement, he moved to Pittsburgh, where he attends services at the Tree of Life Synagogue, site of the massacre of 11 Jews.
My brother published a book of poetry. https://www.amazon.com/TREE-OTHER-POEMS-Jonathan-Solomon-ebook/dp/B0BZ1YP2GM According to the majority population in New Castle, despite our family's success, our existence was non-Anglo-Saxon and not Protestant, our whiteness only "honorary," and not of the kind that made America "great.
Today there is no Jewish congregation left in my home town.
For those of us who are Ashkenazi, the Hamas pogrom reminds of babushkas' tales how the Cossacks killed Jews indiscriminately. Now Chișinău, Moldova, Kishinev was the capital of the Bessarabia Governorate in the Russian Empire., In April] 1903, during the Easter Day pogrom, 49 Jews were killed, 92 were gravely injured, a number of Jewish women were raped, over 500 were less injured and 1,500 homes were damaged. American Jews began large-scale organized financial help, and assisted in emigration. The incident focused worldwide attention on the persecution of Jews in Russia and led Theodor Herzl to propose a Uganda Scheme as a temporary refuge for the Jews. Eventually, he became the head of Zionism. Israel became, out of necessity, the Jewish Homeland.
By that time, my family was living in New Castle. My dad was born ther in 1910. My mother 1914. My dad and 5 of my uncles served in WWII. My dad was wounded in North Africa, had frostbite at Monte Casino, Italy, I was born when he was there. After discharge he was in the reserves. He was the Commander of an American Legion post. I served also, in Vietnam, 1966 - 1967,
The Hamas pogrom has given antisemites an opportunity to express their venom. I am sorry to report that many unsuspecting people accept the white supremacist version. The pogrom is NOT justified. (that was a period,)
Historically, Jews have been scapegoated as a group that is defined as the “other.” With the conversion of the Roman emperors, Christianity became the sole established religion of the Roman Empire, and the early church fathers sought to establish Christianity as the successor to Judaism. The refusal of Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah was viewed as a threat to the Roman rulers and to Christianity. Since both religions came from the Old Testament, Christians sought to establish the validity of their new religion by claiming that it superseded Judaism.
As Jews were officially being ostracized6, certain bizarre fantasies about Jews arose in Northern Europe that foreshadowed the anti-Semitism of the 20th century. It was alleged7 that Jews had horns and tails and engaged in ritual murder of Christians. The latter allegation, referred to as “blood libel,” was devised by Thomas of Monmouth in 1150 to explain the mysterious death of a Christian boy. This theme recurs in English and German myths. In 1095, Pope Urban II made a general appeal to the Christians of Europe to take up the cross and sword and liberate the Holy Land from the Muslims, beginning what was to be known as the Crusades. The religious fervor that drove men, and later even children, on the Crusades was to have direct consequences for Jews. The Crusader army, which more closely resembled a mob, swept through Jewish communities looting, raping and massacring Jews as they went. Thus the pogrom—the organized massacre of a targeted group of people—was born.
When the crusaders git to the middle east, they treated the residents similarly. Jews fought with Muslim soldiers to defend Jerusalem against the Crusaders. Saint Louis University Professor Thomas F. Madden, author of A Concise History of the Crusades, claims the "Jewish Defenders" of the city knew the rules of warfare and retreated to their synagogue to "prepare for death" since the Crusaders had breached the outer walls. According to the Muslim chronicle of Ibn al-Qalanisi, "The Jews assembled in their synagogue, and the Franks burned it over their heads." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_and_the_Crusades
Jews still exist despite the Spanish Inquisition, and the Holocaust.
I have been promoting a two state solution to the pogrom. I support the two state solution. To do that, innocent Arabs should surrender to save themselves -- to the Palestinian Authority.
Even if the Palestinian version of the story were accepted, there is no moral basis to accept a pogrom. Hamas' military operation was aimed at innocent people. Reminds of similar “military” strikes at the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, at delis in Paris, Rome, at the Olympic team in Munich in 1972. Not much different than the murders of 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
When aid was given to Gaza, it was used to fund suicide bombers and munitions. The rockets' targets are indiscriminate.
Gaza has had self-determination since 2006. Their allies, like Iran could take care of all the social problems you describe but they send Hamas what they want -- more ammo.
In 1979, Edward Said, the famed Palestinian literary critic, declared himself “horrified at the hijacking of planes, the suicidal missions, the assassinations, the bombing of schools and hotels.” Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian American historian, called the suicide bombings of the second intifada “a war crime.” I'd try to mobilize (and empower) the Palestinian Authority like the UN peace mission in Lebanon. Establish safe areas within Gaza, but an airlift vis a viz the Berlin Airlift to safety if Jordan, Egypt, etc will permit them. When Hamas took control, chased out virtually all Arab Christians and Al Fatah, and in some cases liquidated them as "collaborators" with Israel. Residents will need to be protected.
When I was in the army we had the capacity to relocate villiges in a day.. Every unit has a table of operations and equipment that includes medical services, potable warter, tents etc.
When the settlements surrounding Gaza were vacated in 2006, Hamas refused to take advantage. This land is still available.
https://twitter.com/hahussain/status/1712277203935760472?s=12&t=3aj0CFnc6OinEOS9i6cx5w&fbclid=IwAR3XKP8Ht8uxy9GD7943Ipl1VQ7pk9T4I9x5w9aiuwaXI7VvD-WagNvJvdQ
May I just say again something I posted a few days ago: it is crucial for someone of your stature to make PUBLIC statements in support of a humane and measured response to the attacks, and accelerate the two state solution. When people in power are silent on this (or make only private pleas to Israeli officials) it gives carte blanche for Israeli powers to blow up lives indiscriminately. And it gives anti-Muslim bigots carte blanche to hate and kill, as we saw in Chicago. Government officials need to draw the line. Please, as you may have some sway with politicians, could you ask them to speak PUBLICLY about how Israel needs to respond surgically, not emotionally. That every life of a Palestinian is just as valuable as a Jewish life.
In my country a coming member of parliament gave up her seat because her party was not conscious of the history of the conflict around Palestine and Israel.
Problem is that she is right. Palestine was given away for the displaces Jew in Europe. The British felt guilty about the situation they created (Balfour declaration) and limited the immigration to 10.000 Jews into Israel. Leon Uris romanticised the period in "Exodus". The displaced Jews were not welcome in their land of origin: the houses they lived in were confiscated, and so on. There was no respect for their suffering, because an enormous reconstruction was ahead of them. So, please emigrate. The last concentrationcamp of displaced persons was closed in 1957.
So, a lot of neo-colonial guilt.
Is this consciousness necessary to cope with the war? It does not help very much.
May be the U.N. can be convinced that it should intervene with all the power it can bring.
And to do something about the hatred. In South Africa Mandela and Tutu started the Truth Commission to influence public opinion. This approach is not a panacea but ikt helped to overcome Apartheid. Despair is no solution.
This is the same trap America fell into after 9/11. We wrapped patriotism into a vestige of hate, and Muslims suffered greatly. We saw a rise in hate crimes and deaths around the world. Americans and Muslims died, and in the end, nothing good came of it!
I watched liberal Americans last week cheer when innocent Israeli women and children were massacred. People were being brainwashed to think that Jews are not people, and now we’re seeing the same thing against Palestinians.
Somehow, many believe every Palestinian is responsible for the terror in Israel, and the same can be said, who think all Jews are responsible for Netanyahu’s and his far right government’s policies and crimes. Nothing could be further from the truth; but the dehumanization efforts begin; and hate is the end product.
I heard the President of Israel, Herzog, claim all Palestinians are responsible for the massacres; wrong! They are victims too. When we can no longer distinguish between the innocents on both sides, then Humanity is lost, and all is left is hate.
I truly hope Israel will not invade, because we’ve seen this movie before. Hamas attacks, Israel responds harder, and then implements even more draconian laws that strangle the Palestinian people. Rinse, lather, repeat!
And in the end nothing changes. Hamas grows stronger, not weaker and Israel responds in kind.
The definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result!”--Albert Einstein
Yes, this time will be different; lots more death and destruction that will make all of the past incursions seem tame. So I only question is, “and then what?”
My thoughts and prayers to all: Palestinians and Israeli’s alike. I have family in Israel and I am truly terrified for all.
Right on! Hate takes a lot of energy and only breeds more hate. It's easier than tolerance, which demands reflection and is not automatic.
Always appreciate your analysis and advice. This time it went straight to my head & heart. Working for peace ✌️
☮️ in Sacramento