While I think the creation of Israel by the British was bound to create a focus for fighting that would (apparently) last for all time and while I think Israeli treatment of Palestinian interests has been far from perfect, I stand by the country’s right to defend itself and for Jewish people worldwide to have the right to live in harmony without being targeted by rising antisemitism.
It’s intolerable that Jews, according to the FBI, faced more hate crimes in 2022 than any other religious group. This makes no sense to me any more than progressive college students supporting Hamas makes any sense to me.
According to a PBS story, “The rise in Jew-hatred in the U.S. is not limited to white supremacists. It said that “the antisemitism of the far-right and far-left are pushing into the mainstream of American culture and politics from both sides.” The intolerance is so old that it’s difficult to sort it out other than to say it often leads to spurious beliefs held by the Nazis during WWII.
The Anti-Defamation League exists “To stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” I don’t think that’s too much to ask. According to the ADL website, “Our values guide our internal culture and shape the approach we take to our programs and initiatives externally. Confronting antisemitism, our founders established ADL based on their Jewish values. We build on their legacy as we speak out on behalf of all marginalized communities across the country and around the globe.”
The recent attacks against Israel some from a terrorist organization supported by rogue states. Why do so many Americans support this? Apparently, they have been brainwashed by old myths and old fears. I have no tolerance for that any more than I have any tolerance for those who said the 9/11 attacks were justified and proclaimed their support for Bin Laden. They are like those who support the KKK.
I’m a pacifist and cannot support violence against individuals or legal states of any kind and so I fear that those who openly support Hamas are creating a larger problem that ensures the violence against Israel will continue. And it will probably never end.
“This film will be the biography of the continent’s most magnificent species, an improbable, shaggy beast that nonetheless has found itself at the center of many of our nation’s most thrilling, mythic, and sometimes heartbreaking tales. It is a quintessentially American story, filled with a diverse cast of fascinating characters. But it is also a morality tale encompassing two important and historically significant lessons that resonate today.” – Ken Burns Website. I’m looking forward to this October 16 and 17.
It upsets me to read that “progressive” university students support the terrorist organization Hamas which is backed by Qatar and Iran under the pretense that it’s the real government of Palestine. The reports of Hamas’ attack against Israel read as war crimes, not legitimate protests against Palestinian problems. I stand by Israel against these barbaric terrorist organizations that won’t leave it alone.
I continue to enjoy the Kathy Reichs “Temperance Brennan” series of novels, having just ordered the 12th book in the series 206 Bones. I started reading these novels to learn more about the inspiration behind the “Bones” TV series and have not been disappointed. They read well, often put Temperance in danger when she goes into the field on her own recognizance, and have plenty of humor.
As I fight against the stomach infection I got in June from unknown sources, I see that even after two rounds of antibiotics (along with green tea), the old medication Tagament that cured my stomach when this first happened years ago may prove to be the most effective. When I first had it, it was a prescription drug. Now it’s OTC. I’m feeling better.
It’s been interesting noting the difference between “Chicago Fire” and the older series “Emergency.” The fire trucks on “Emergency” hit the burning structure with water immediately while “Chicago Fire” sends firefighters into the burning building first to search for those trapped and/or injured without charging up a hose. The “Chicago Fire” approach makes for good drama but intuitively looks like a wrong-headed way to fight fires. My own experience comes from a hands-on Navy fire fighting school. And yes, we learned that water will put out an oil fire.
Malcolm's Round Table 