The one thing I have gotten flack with the last couple months, was the Israel War situation with Gaza and all their neighbors. Many here especially politicians have been weak to take a side. Even some Democrats have disappointed lately, one of which was Jasmine Crockett who, like many others doesn't support the government there, will yet... still vote for bills to send more defense money to them while also sending relief to the people of Gaza. Seems two faced to me in certain ways. Take a stance, so few have. Which is why I have a lot of respect for Mamdani for taking a firm stand on this even though he has no direct bearing on voting for bills in congress to fund the war. I have and will never support that country and they would all be better off if Netanyahu was taken out, however that would happen. I used to feel bad about this stance and would keep quiet on it, but now, lately some friends of mine who are Jewish feel the same. One even echoed the late Dr Israel Shahak, who was an Israeli professor of organic chemistry, a holocaust survivor and a civil rights advocate who said-" The Nazis made me afraid to be Jewish. And the Israelis make me ashamed to be Jewish." My mother's friend Garnet who was here for dinner at Christmas, agreed with the quote to and she too is Jewish, and will not support that country in the slightest. Then an interview I recently caught over the holidays with actor Mandy Patinkin and his wife, playwright, Kathryn Grody and their son, were interviewed by David Marchese's podcast, The Interview, addressed the policies of Israel's prime minister and reflected on what it means to be Jewish today. It was a very emotional and moving interview and I have watched it numerous times. I agree with him.
I have said this over and over. Thank you. I don't even watch the news anymore. We've gone mad. And I share your feeling and sentiment.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Just a few countries are going to bring down the whole globe. And that sorry PM of Israel, I won't even say his name, like I won't the president of the US either. I have never seen such confident liars like them. I feel sorry of the citizens of both countries having to put up with this.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and have never commented before. I am Jewish and have been ashamed I have been numb to the situation in Gaza. Until I saw Mr. Patinkin's anger and frustration, it has now struck a chord with in me. I finally teared up about Gaza. How can we as humans turn a blind eye to Genocide? I’m in tears. That raw emotion is needed and it’s what people are feeling. The US and Israeli governments have been twisting this situation, and we can see through it His indignation at the end is spot on. A group of people like us Jews, who have experienced what it's like to be on the receiving end of these policies to turn around and do the same to others. It's maddening and evil.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting Hannah It's nice to see yet another perspective and thoughts from your community. I think humans never learn. Look what happen 911. And now here we are...a nation splintered and so sure of themselves yet again. How quickly we forget and never learn lessons. Your right...it a maddening circle.
Delete"For me, it feels as though we could be seeing the beginning of the collapse of society. It keeps happening, yet it seems no one cares and no one is stepping up to stop any of it.I have never felt more sad for the world and the US than ever before."
ReplyDeleteRight there with you. I wake up "pre-depressed" about what will I find when I start reviewing the activities from the night. I go to bed numb. I wake up numb. This sucks.
Much the same. I down to news twice a week, and I'm thinking that is too much.
DeleteIt is disheartening to view the news these days, I fing my self hoping for a future that has No ICE Agents that are "masked". To be "masked" is a sad commentary on our Justice System.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. They stay masked because 1-they know they not qualified correctly to deal with certain situations,2- are not trained and should mostly likely not be trained to use guns,3- know they are not doing the right thing, 4-know deep down this is wrong, and 5- are mostly likely rejects who couldn't get jobs as real police force teams or were kicked out of the proud boys.
DeleteOh wait...Proud Boys have been quiet for some time...are ICE AGENTS really just Proud boys???
ICE just needs to be disbanded. It's not needed. We have Border Patrol and we have TSA, we do not need ICE terrorizing our cities.
DeleteI agree with your position!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are tough times. Tough for everyone in the USA but even tougher now for minorities who never had it easy in the first place. Racism on steroids. The tragedy in Gaza is mind-blowing. It can’t be an Israel right-or-wrong attitude. The Israeli government is very wrong and many Israelis agree. But so many Americans see everything there in black and white.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same as you Mistress. I am so sad for this country. I fear for my grandchildren who are having to see this and will have to live in this. I fear for them. I would hate to think how bad it will be when they are older. The human race is greedier, materialistic and out of control with violence then I ever recall seeing. THE THING S ICE id getting away with is downright heartbreaking....only bound to get worst. And the business with trump wanting to take over all these countries...so he can then wreak and corrupt even more countries, instead of just ours.
ReplyDeleteIf my late husband William were here to see this, he'd been saddened, and appalled and angry as he was Jewish and I, but not practicing....I don't think I have heard one Holocaust survivor come out and defend the IDF. I have seen footage of Jewish people in Israel being arrested for opposing the treatment of the Palestinians. I admire the passion and courage of those speaking up. My heart truly breaks every day thinking of what is happening in Gaza and YET most politicians are STILL FUNDING this. One issue I did not agree with Biden or Harris on. And many on both sides are still sending millions to that war criminal in Israel. What a world we live in 😢
I have yet to see a president in the 20 years really take care of Americans first like we should be...from veterans, to homeless, the poor, the aged, to healthcare and better pay, affordability, rent control and sky rocketing prescriptions.... I could go on...but we seem to have billions and billions to help other countries!!!!!!!!! That's like seeing a homeless poor person sitting there starving, and yet right in front of them giving a sandwich to a perfectly fine person standing next to them. To be anti the policy of the current Israeli government is NOT being anti-semitic! And the politicians here NEED AT ONCE to stop funding it.
It's hard not to feel despair as our world sinks further and further into the madness of fascism, hatred and violence. It's hard not to feel fear about where it could all end. And it's hard not to feel angry at all the perpetrators and people in denial about the situation.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I like Mandy Patinkin. Secondly, one of the reasons we're in the mess is because to many voters in this country vote straight party line and when you ask them why, they'll tell you, "it doesn't really effect me." Well, this time it's going to effect them badly. In the past, like with the Iran-Contra Affair, Republicans in power have always handed out pardons to the guilty parties. This cannot happen again. People are going to go down because of Trump, and when they're down, we need to do kick them repeatedly, and then keep them down, not give them a hand to get back up.
ReplyDeleteAs sad and difficult as it may be, I offer a cautionary stance on choosing to give up watching the news. A part of history's lessons tells us to stay informed of current events and to watch closely to what is happening in this country and the world. The progression of fascism and imperialism in the past was largely due to the population turning a blind eye to the evil overtaking their lives.
ReplyDeleteTake advice from my 87 year old sister who watches Fox News, several other media news sources and some trusted websites-to get a better idea of how news is produced and aired to the public. It's more important than ever to stay informed of both sides of this unprecedented time in our history, seek out the people who know the truth, you know who they are. We cannot put too much credence in the major news sources like CBS, ABD, NBC, CNN and FOX, who continue to curry favor with the current administration.
An uninformed, fearful, intimidated and weary populace is what they want, it is why ICE and its tactics was formed. Please do not offer your obedience so easily, it's resistance that's called for now.
Objecting to the appalling policies of Net a Yahoo does not make people antisemitic. If that were the case then many Jews would be labelled as antisemitic. Like Putrid, Net a Yahoo seems to be able to stop Israeli TV companies from recording the atrocities in Gaza. And Donald Duck is emulating the Nazis too. We are supposed to learn from history, but all we seem to do is copy the most egregious regimes.
ReplyDeleteIt's a collapse, for sure. Of society, maybe not so much. But the structures of democratic governments are certainly in their bullseye targets. If they can get NATO to collapse, they'll be very, very happy. The BS with Greenland is a big step in that direction: pitting NATO ally against NATO ally. With **some** latest polls showing only 23% support for what he's doing at home and abroad, I find myself wondering "WHO THE FUCK are those 23%???" Then I remember...his base that will never leave his side. Sadly, they are part of Congress --- who actually stopped DEBATE of the War Powers Act in the senate.
ReplyDeleteSad fucking news, to be sure. This sure isn't what I spent 9+ years of my life for.
Too many enablers and they will rue the day for their treasons !
ReplyDeleteNATO will reorganize without the USA, and the EU will increasingly trade with other countries leaving the USA scrambling. Already all of the NATO countries of Europe are standing to defend Greenland and the EU is increasing trade with other countries.
The tearing of our alliances and economic ties are proof that Trump is Putin’s little puppet. As for Netanyahu’s government in Israel, they should be ashamed for following the same racist and murderous policies of Nazi Germany. Netanyahu, like Trump, has no shame as both are desperate to keep from being tried in court and going to prison for their other crimes. All of this will only get worse as both follow the same Gestapo tactics their cohorts have studied and learned from the Nazis.
In the USA the subversion and submersion of democracy is already taking place, and the setting up of parallel organizations to takeover from federal institutions will be next, just as it was in Nazi Germany.
Rex in DC
We need more gin. And tonic.
ReplyDeleteOh, Maddie, we are feeling the same way these days! I posted about my own feelings today. I'm with you about the news, too! This morning the MITM and I both had the same reaction to the NYT's headline re: TFG threatening to use the Insurrection Act in Minnesota all the while we've known that was his plan no matter which state rose up in defiance of his illegal and villainous acts. I am struggling to remain hopeful, sweetpea. xoxo
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