This Is Now Our America, Part II

As readers know, I now refer to the mainstream media as the Democratic Party-Mainstream Media Complex, or D-MSM for short.  It pays to see what they are saying in today's America.  On the front page of today's Los Angeles Times, above the fold, is this story:  "Mideast war has campuses on edge."  The story continues on page 8, occupying the entire page.  It is not described as opinion or analysis.  Therefore, we are to take it as "news."  On the front page under the fold is this:  "Palestinians in Gaza scramble to evacuate."  It is continued on page 4.  On page one is also a picture of a young Palestinian said to be injured by an Israeli airstrike.  Let's talk about the main article, atop the fold.

We are told that over 1300 Israelis were massacred by Hamas "militants."  Many D-MSM news outlets refuse to refer to Hamas as terrorists.  But what do you call people who murder babies and children and unarmed civilians?  It is certainly not military conflict.  It is intended to terrorize the civilian population.  Earlier in the week, I was astounded by this front page headline in the LA Times:  "Israel, Hamas toll rises over 1100."  What?  Innocent and unarmed Israeli civilians are lumped together with Hamas terrorists?  The D-MSM does this quite often.  Such as when a bad guy shoots and kills two people for example, but then the police shoot him dead.  The headline will be "Three killed in shootout."  No!  It's two killed by a murderer, who was then shot dead by the police.  The criminals should never be equated with the innocent victims.  The same goes for terrorists.  But this is now America. 

Inside, we ae told that student groups across the country either criticized university administrators for not issuing sufficiently harsh statements condemning Hamas, or not condemning Hamas at all.  Palestinian students and groups wanted expressions of support for Hamas' actions.  I am reminded of when Representative Ilhan Omar made one antisemitic comment after the next, and the Republicans in the House tried to get a resolution passed condemning antisemitism.  But then Speaker Nancy Pelosi would only allow a generic type of resolution, condemning all discrimination and all hate.  Whereas many members of Congress knelt in the Capitol rotunda on behalf of George Floyd and black lives, no such special consideration could be given for Jewish lives.  

Here's something by the La F.U.E.R.Z.A. Student Association at Cal State Long Beach:  "WHEN PEOPLE ARE COLONIZED RESISTANCE IS JUSTIFIED."  How is it possible that so many young people are insensitive to the murder of babies even?  This is now America.  The National Chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (which, by the way, just like Hamas, is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood) said the Hamas attack was a "historic win for the Palestinian resistance."  "Bears for Palestine," a Berkeley student group, called Israel an "apartheid regime," and per the paper claimed that Israel "has occupied Palestinian lands for decades, depriving more than 2 million Gazans of their human rights and basic necessities for the last 16 years."  Here's an idea.  Tell Hamas to lay down their weapons, accept Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, use all the money they get to build a civil society, and let's see what happens.  We don't need to see what happens if Israel lays down its weapons...we saw that firsthand on October 7.  A day when more Jews were murdered than at any time since the Holocaust.  

I certainly would have preferred if the article quoted more Jewish professors and Jewish organizations.  But the article ended with a very telling quote from a 22 year-old Jewish student who did not want to walk alone on campus, because she did not want interactions with students supporting the recent actions by Hamas.  "It's a lonely feeling for I think a lot of us, where you see people that you thought you were friends with and they're blatantly promoting what's happening."  

That is a question for all of America.  That is a question raised in "Are We At War With Islam?"  I am sure most have us have seen Rashida Tlaib, a member of Congress, refuse to condemn the murder of even Jewish babies.  Yes, some in the "Squad" have.  But what if people like Tlaib become so numerous in the country and in Congress, that all support for Israel would end.  Can you imagine funding Hamas?  Oh wait, we do fund UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), which operates in Gaza.  And Hamas controls Gaza.  It is past time to cease funding for UNRWA.  Why, 75 years later, after so many people were displaced from so many countries following the end of WWII (including hundreds of thousands of Jews from Arab countries) do we have a UN agency devoted to one group of "refugees."  Stop calling them refugees.  Stop saying "refugee camps."  It is nonsense.

I cannot end this post without discussing Iran.  Iran is frequently called the leading state sponsor of terrorism.  Hamas and Hezbollah would not be able to operate without Iran supplying both money and weaponry.  Why should Iran be able to walk away from this conflict unscathed?  

This Is Now Our America, Part I

A few preliminary comments.  Early on in the blog, I wrote a post called "Are We at War with Islam?  Part I."  It was posted August 29, 2010.  Another five parts followed.  I do suggest a reading of that post, which can easily be found on the web version by typing the title (without the Part I) into the search bar.  Also, before I get to the bad/sad news, I want to thank President Biden for continuing to support Israel.  (Yes, I am aware of the critics who say he should have gone much further.  But for now, as I always say, give credit where credit is due.)  The President has sent two aircraft carrier groups to the eastern Mediterranean.  He has been sending necessary war materiel to resupply Israel.  And, according to a former Israeli special forces operator, the Navy's Seal Team Six and the Army's Delta Force are already on the ground, assisting the Sayeret Natkal, Israel's premier special forces outfit, in order to assist in finding and extracting the hostages.  The search for hostages has delayed the ground invasion of Gaza.

It is beyond sad that here in America it has become difficult to call what Hamas did terrorism.  What other purpose could there be when they target civilians, including babies.  I saw online a picture of a little baby riddled with bullets.  I do not know how I will ever get that image out of my head.  Are we at war with Islam?  Just look at what is happening at college campuses across the country.  Just look at what is happening in major cities across the country, with so many rallying in support, not just for the Palestinians, but for Hamas.  (No one needs to email to tell that there are Muslims who support America and even Israel.  I know.  But their voices do not seem to be in the majority.)

At Harvard University, over two dozen student organizations signed off on this statement:  "We the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence...today's events did not occur in a vacuum.  For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison...Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years."  Nothing like blaming the victim.

But let's break that down.  "The Israeli regime."  No, Israel has regular elections, like all democracies.  On the other hand, although Hamas won the election in Gaza in 2006, they have allowed no further elections.  Calling Gaza "an open-air prison."  This is how the radical Muslims and the Left use language as propaganda.  Somehow, in this "prison" Hamas has managed to build a huge military arsenal.  Money and weapons come from Iran.  Hamas has used tons of cement to reinforce their underground tunnels.  But this is a "prison."  Let me be clear, to the extent Gaza is a prison it is because of Hamas, not Israel.  Hamas rules with an iron fist.  Imagine using all that cement (and the accompanying electrical wiring and lights) to build infrastructure where businesses could thrive.  But, again, Hamas does not give a damn about the people of Gaza.  Their one and only goal is the destruction of Israel.

"Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years."  Just like the phrase "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," this is where these student groups tipped their hand and demonstrated their true beliefs.  Modern Israel has existed for 75 years.  When the United Nations voted partition of the British Mandate in 1947, the Jews were given a tiny piece of land.  But even that was too much for the Arabs, as 5 Arab nations attacked Israel in May, 1948, the day after the Jewish people announced the establishment of Eretz Israel, their historic homeland.  The fact that Israel still exists today is something that these pro-Palestinian groups cannot accept.  They still refer to the establishment of Israel as the "Nakba," which means catastrophe.  "From the river (the Jordan River) to the sea (the Mediterranean) Palestine will be free" means there is no Israel.  Keep in mind that Harvard is considered the premier university in the country.  But this is America now. 

Here is a professor from Yale, another one of the top universities in the country.  "Settlers are not civilians.  This is not hard," so said Zareena Grewal.  Calling Israelis settlers, people who live in Israeli towns outside of Gaza and outside of the West Bank (in what is considered Israel proper) again shows their true belief - all of Israel is land occupied by "settlers."  In other words, Israel has no right to exist.  You know what is "hard" professor?  It is hard to imagine that anyone who considers themselves a civilized person is unable to condemn the murder of babies, children and unarmed civilians.  Here is more from this professor:  "Israel is a murderous, genocidal settler state and Palestinians have every right to resist through armed struggle, solidarity."  Yes, Palestinians have every right to pump a dozen or more bullets into a baby.  This is beyond sick - it is pure evil.  I could give plenty of additional examples of what goes on our universities.  But this is America now.  

For those of you who may have supported Black Lives Matter (which I never understood as they are racist and antisemitic), here is what Mediaite reported:  "Black Lives Matter chapters across the country are celebrating the terrorist attacks that have claimed hundreds of innocent lives in Israel."  At last count, over 1300 hundred were murdered by Hamas terrorists.  Here is the LA Chapter of Black Lives Matter:  "...resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of self-defense."  When did the murder of babies and children come to be called "resistance?"

I don't want to make this post overly political. but facts are facts, and these are important facts.  According to a Gallup poll conducted in February of this year, Democrats were asked where their sympathies lie in the Middle East.  In the January, 2013, poll, only 19% (bad enough) said their sympathies lie with the Palestinians over Israel, whereas 55% chose Israel.  Fast forward 10 years to February, 2023, and 49% of Democrats said their sympathies lie with the Palestinians, with only 38% favoring Israel.  How did this happen?  It happened because many "liberal" Democrats simply went along with their party even after it was dominated by "leftists," who are decidedly not "liberal" in any way.  It happened because these leftists now dominate in our colleges and universities, and even in our public schools.  

My wife and I attended two stand with Israel events this past week, both sponsored by Chabad.  I was pleased to see the turnout.  I also saw large turnouts at synagogues, as seen on the nightly news.  I saw young people and old people.  I saw Reform Jews, Conservative Jews and Orthodox Jews.  I saw/spoke with politically liberal and politically conservative Jews.  And I saw Christians at these rallies.  All standing together, united, in support of Israel.  

I'll end with this.  Many of you may have seen scenes at airports around the country and around the world, where young Jews are trying to get flights back to Israel in order to fight for their country.  The only social media I am on is LinkedIn.  I saw a post (I do not recall the country) where an El Al (the Israeli airlines) plane was about to take off.  Every seat was filled, but there were more young people in the airport who wanted to fly back to Israel.  The Captain told the flight attendants to give up their seats.  Then, with even more wanting to get on the flight, the Captain ordered they may be permitted on the plane and be allowed to sit or lay down on the floor.  This brought tears to my eyes.  

The Jewish people, acting as one in support of Israel.  Am Yisrael Chai!  The people of Israel live!