tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27494983287752050322024-03-12T17:20:20.071-07:00Thomas L. AreProud to be a LiberalThomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-3768298888202135322019-09-10T12:21:00.001-07:002019-09-10T12:21:30.210-07:00Who cares?<br />
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Who Cares?</div>
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Doctors without Borders reports:<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the year since the Great March
of Return began, thousands of Palestinians, mostly young men, from the Gaza
Strip have suffered life changing injuries at the hands of Israeli forces.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/WHO%20CARES.docx#_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title="">[i]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/WHO%20CARES.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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Most have developed “severe bone infections”,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Israeli forces have injured more
than 7,400 Palestinians during the protest. But, who cares?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Certainly not Benjamin Netanyahu. After all, it is his
troops who are causing the suffering. If the Palestinians would just get off
the world’s stage, all would be well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And certainly not Donald Trump. To him, the world belongs
only to the winners, like himself,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
anyone can see, the Palestinians are not winning. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, what can we do, if we care?. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might read the news with more critical eyes
and talk to our friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You see, when you get down to it, it’s not the Palestinians
who are on trial here. We are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Are we the kind of Americans who care?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only hope so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
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September 10, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/WHO%20CARES.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Yumma Patel, Over 1,000
patients In Gaza s uffering from “severe infections from gunshot wounds
sustained in GrwatMarch of Return. Mondoweiss.net, Sptember 4, 2019. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-71135563892171436682019-06-08T13:31:00.000-07:002019-06-08T13:31:23.588-07:00Liberty at Fifty-two<br />
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It was a warm, clear mild summer day, exactly fifty-two years
ago on, June 6, the sky was blue and the waters calm as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">USS Liberty</i> performed its responsibility
on a reconnaissance cruise in the international waters of the Mediterranean.
Captain McGonegle had every reason to relax and feel safe. A very large U.S.
flag waved in the wind and we were not at war. Overhead jets of our long time
friend and ally insured our protection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then suddenly, without warning, these friendly jets turned
on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liberty</i> firing bullets and
dropping bombs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Torpedo boats fired
rockets blowing a forty-foot hole into its side at the water line. When the captain
ordered abandon ship, our so-called ally strafed our sailors in their life
boats. Everything possible was done to sink the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liberty</i>. When the attack was finally over, 34 US servicemen had
been killed and 171 injured. Why the sudden attack? </div>
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<br /></div>
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To stop messages from reaching the
world that Israel was preparing to invade Syria and occupy the Golan Heights. .
The enemy that day was not Russia, North Korea or Chine. Our enemy was long
time friend, Israel.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I know it’s hard for most Americans to think that Israel
would deliberately attack an American ship, but it is impossible to deny that
that is exactly what happened. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
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June 8, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-23306280486174846232019-05-26T13:15:00.000-07:002019-05-26T13:15:06.744-07:00I Am Israel<br />
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I am Israel. What that means is that I can do anything I
want to do and nobody gives a damn. I can shoot unarmed Palestinians across the
fence in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaza, bomb their hospitals,
schools, sewerage treatment plants and drop white phosphorus bombs on their
citizens and nobody gives a damn. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
push more Palestinians off their land in the West Bank and I can strip
Palestinian citizens of their rights in Israel and nobody gives a damn. I can
ignore my own professed Jewish tradition and who cares?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Joel Doerfler, Jewish activist for social justice writes:<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Jewish ethical and historical
tradition is uniquely or especially committed to social justice and support for
underdogs. Empathy for the Palestinians and anger about Zionist depredations is
therefore a Jewish imperative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He goes on to add:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Actually, existing Zionism is a
betrayal of the essential Jewish tradition. Not only has it been disastrous for
the Palestinians, it has been bad for the Jews. It has turned them into
oppressors and caused them to abandon their historical “calling” of repairing
the world. As Jews, therefore, we are specially obligated to take up the
Palestinian cause.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/I%20AM%20ISRAEL.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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I ask myself, what motivated a Jewish activist to commit
himself so strongly to justice issues? The first answer is exactly that: he is
a Jewish activist, committed to his faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On top of that, a decade of Begin, Sharon and Shamir, settlements in the
West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza cuts across every Jewish value. I would also
guess that Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982 grated against his conscience.
Throw in a paranoid Zionism that ruthlessly seeks to shut down any criticism of
Israel, justified or not, and you have a major contradiction between Jewish values
and the State of Israel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But, I wonder if it has ever occurred to Israel that if
nobody gives a damn what Israel does --- that in time they may also not give a
damn what happens <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to</i> Israel. And, that
day could come soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
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May 26, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/I%20AM%20ISRAEL.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Joel Doerfler, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An Answer to the Question, “Why do you care
so Much about Israel/Palestine?”</i>, Mondoweiss.net, May 20, 2019.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-52571275272456468122019-03-25T14:53:00.001-07:002019-03-25T14:53:19.542-07:00<div class="pf-12" id="printfriendly" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 16px;">
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<h1 class="non-delete" id="pf-title" style="border-bottom: 2px dashed rgb(142, 142, 142); box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #24292e; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.45rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.3rem; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.3em;">
O’Rourke says special relationship with Israel goes against US values of equality and dignity</h1>
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<a class="non-delete" href="https://mondoweiss.net/2019/03/orourke-relationship-equality/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=orourke-relationship-equality&utm_source=Mondoweiss+List&utm_campaign=ce8cc41097-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b86bace129-ce8cc41097-398415221&mc_cid=ce8cc41097&mc_eid=49b49f1ffc" id="pf-src-url" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: #8e8e8e; cursor: default; display: block; font-size: 0.75rem; max-height: 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><img class="non-delete" id="pf-src-icon" src="https://s19453.pcdn.co/wp-content/themes/mondoweiss-responsive/assets/img/favicon.ico" style="border-style: none; box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; height: 16px; margin-right: 0.25rem; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;" /><span class="non-delete" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">mondoweiss.net</span><span class="non-delete" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">/2019/03/orourke-relationship-equality</span></a></div>
<span id="pf-author" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; display: block; float: left; font-size: 0.75rem; margin: -1.25em 0.05rem 1rem;">Philip Weiss on</span><span id="pf-date" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; display: block; float: right; font-size: 0.75rem; margin: -1.25em 0.05rem 1rem;">March 22, 2019</span><div id="pf-content" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #222222; direction: ltr;">
<img class="flex-width blockImage pf-size-small" src="https://s19453.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/D2JMa2vWoAAxSp7.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; float: none; margin: 1rem auto; max-width: 25%; vertical-align: middle;" /><div class="entry-content c2-8" orig-style="null" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">On Wednesday night, Beto O’Rourke spoke at the University of New Hampshire and said that Palestinian conditions don’t meet American values of “fundamental human rights and human dignity” and that the relationship with Israel is hurting America’s image in the world.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">Asked if he would condemn Israeli, Saudi and Turkish human rights violation, O’Rourke said:</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">These truths that we hold so dear — that we are all created equal– “all of us” needs to mean, “All of us,” not relationships of convenience for short term security gains but relationships that allow us to continue to be the example for so much of the rest of the world. And we cannot be that if we do not believe in the fundamental human rights and human dignity and safety of our fellow human beings regardless of what side of the line they may stand or sit on.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">The only way that I know that we can help to secure that in the Middle East specifically with the Palestinian Authority and Israel is to have two states whose people are guaranteed their security, their safety, their dignity and their political rights. Right now of course we do not have that.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">O’Rourke was responding to a Palestinian-American woman. “As an American who stands for the ideals that this country was supposedly built on, dignity justice and equality, I really want those ideals to be seen in Israel and Palestine for both Palestinians and Israelis,” she said, and then went on to ask O’Rourke if he would “hold Israel accountable for its human rights and international law violations,” as well as Turkey and Saudi Arabia too. She was cheered by the crowed.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">Then O’Rourke went on for a couple of minutes in this </span><span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">by the questioner.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">Thank you for your questions and the way in which you posed them and the context that you provided for everyone here. You’re right, we’ve got this opportunity to live our values. And these truths that we hold so dear, that we are all created equal. All of us needs to mean, All of us, not relationships of convenience for short term security gains but relationships that allow us to continue to be the example for so much of the rest of the world. And we cannot be that if we do not believe in the fundamental human rights and human dignity and safety of our fellow human beings regardless of what side of the line they may stand or sit on.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">The only way that I know that we can help to secure that in the Middle East specifically with the Palestinian Authority and Israel is to have two states whose people are guaranteed their security, their safety, their dignity and their political rights. Right now of course we do not have that. And we have problems on both sides. I don’t know that we have a willing partner on the part of the Palestinian Authority.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">I know that in Prime Minister Netanyahu we have someone who has openly sided with racists in that country, someone who has warned about Arabs coming to the polls, someone who seeks to exploit division and fear and hatred, that is not somebody who is negotiating in good faith.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">When I visited the West Bank and met a young woman perhaps your age… What surprised me when I was talking to her about a two state solution is that she said I don’t care. Whether it’s one state or two state, I want to be treated with dignity. I don’t want to be patted down and searched every time I go to work or try to go to school. I just want to live like everyone else just wants to live.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">We are about to lose the last best chance for a two-state solution. On one side wee are changing the facts on the ground. If we continue to allow settlement construction and expansion. On the other side, we are going to fail an opportunity for good faith and good will to make sure that we can guarantee the security of the Israeli people.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">So, dignity, safety and security for all concerned, that has to be our policy and our actions have to follow suit.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">The questioner later wrote on her Facebook page that O’Rourke had failed to answer her questions re Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, and refunding UNRWA.</span></div>
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<span class="text-node" style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box;">While I am most definitely disappointed by Beto’s inability to answer my concise questions regarding UNRWA, BDS and accountability for our allies, I am glad that so many people in the audience during my question and after felt compelled to tell me that they also thought he didn’t answer the question and voiced their concern for the situation in Palestine as well. I am glad that the dignity and human rights is an important issue even to Americans who are disconnected from the conflict and I hope we can continue together to hold our politicians accountable and show them that we will not accept progressive politics that exclude Palestinians.</span></div>
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<br style="box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 16px;" />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-79549726130895141542019-03-15T09:43:00.000-07:002019-03-15T09:48:16.289-07:00Letter to the Editor, Palestinians Do Exist<br />
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PALESTINIANS DO EXIST<o:p></o:p></div>
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I read with interest Wednesday’s AJC DIGGING DEEPER article,
“Mideast Conflict Flares up in Fulton School over Map,” with the subtitle,
“Display Seems to Show Palestine Before Israel.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article was condemned as “a slight to
Israel.” In other words, to simply acknowledge the existence of Palestinians
raises sticky questions. The school Principal immediately apologized in spite
of the fact that some of his students were Palestinian-Americans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Fifty years ago, Golda Meir said:<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was not as though there was a Palestinian
people and we came and threw them out and took their country. They did not
Exist.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Palestinians%20Still%20Exist.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which is exactly what they did and Israel has been singing her
song ever since. However, the Palestinians are still there in spite of illegal
settlements in the West Bank and the cruel occupation of Gaza.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
March 15, 2019 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
678-684-3765<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
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<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Palestinians%20Still%20Exist.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Quoted in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sunday Times </i>(June 15, 1969), also in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Washington Post</i>. (June 16, 1969)<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-23169681753506590042019-02-14T06:31:00.000-08:002019-02-14T06:31:16.673-08:00My Palestinian Flag<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every Friday, I fly a Palestinian flag in front of my
cottage. Have done so for years. My reward is that every now and then, someone
will ask what its all about. Just last Friday, a delivery man recognized it and
thanked me for showing it. Neither of us are Palestinian. He explained that he
was just committed to justice and the injustice meted out against the
Palestinians is blatant and well known.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While we praised each other, in Gaza, Israel killed two more
young men.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Two Palestinian youths were killed
by Israeli fire Friday during the weekly protest near the Israeli fence east of
Gaza. Hasan Shalabi was killed by Israeli live fire to the chest. He was 14.
Hamza Shtewi, 18 died after a shot in the neck. Another 17 Palestinians were
shot while protesting along the fence including two journalist and four medics.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The report goes on to say:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Israeli forces shot tear gas
canisters at an ambulance and sprayed demonstrators with chemically enhanced
sewage water known as “skunk juice”. Palestinians have for nearly a year
gathered weekly for unarmed protest since March 30, last year. Protesters are
also asking Israel to end its 12 year blockade of its coastal strip.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/FLAG.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two young men who could have become doctors or engineers and
made a valuable contribution to life. Now, thanks to Israel, they are dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cannot say that I am surprised. This kind of needless
killing has been going on for decades. A big portion of my anger is directed
toward our media. News reporters who stick their heads in the sand, more
interested in pleasing their advertisers than in standing up for truth or justice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, in protest, I fly my flag and Palestinians continue to
die at the hands of Israel and with the full support of my government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, every now and then, someone will stop
and ask,”What kind of flag is that?” And I get to explain a little history. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, they will ask. ”Why don’t we hear about this on the
news?” and I get to say, “Good Question.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
February 14, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/FLAG.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Two Palestinian teens Killed by Israel gunfire in Gaza on 46<sup>th</sup> Week
of Protest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Al Jazeera, Feb. 8, 2019.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-38474161615793477242019-02-02T07:12:00.000-08:002019-02-02T07:12:22.849-08:00The Gangsters<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s be clear. Who are the gangsters? Who simply chooses to
ignore even its own laws when it is convenient to do so? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory
clearly states:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 3.0pt;">
An occupying
power cannot transfer civilian population to an occupied territory, and is
considered illegal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sounds pretty clear: Israel’s settlements are totally
illegal. But, in Israel, unlike any other government in the world, if you don’t
like a law, just ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids playing
on the beach at Tel Aviv have no idea that just about an hour’s drive across
the way, their government is keeping millions of people locked up behind cement
barrows and barbed wire fences so they cannot get out and be noticed. Of course
they could know if they chose to, but lying to themselves is the only way to
live conscience free. It’s a gang mentality, a group of people who join forces
to bully others and to offer each other a rationale for their lawless
racketeering, according to Webster...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes, uproot their
olive trees, lock up their children in military prisons, steal Palestinian
water and land, while all the time hoping that by keeping them behind a wall
will keep the world from knowing or caring. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, my major concern is not with Israel. Israel is its
own problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My anger is with my own
country, the United States, which continues to support Israel’s atrocities to
the tune of billions of dollars every year, continues to veto U.N. resolutions
condemning Israel’s crimes, and all the time hoping a wall will keep the world
from knowing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I speak or write about Israel, my friends ask, is there
any hope?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is “yes.” The
gangsters do not intimidate the younger Jews in America or the younger Jews in
Israel who are no longer dead locked in covering up for Israel as were their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call that hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
February 2, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-66319853333214367282018-12-21T06:26:00.000-08:002018-12-21T06:26:12.058-08:00Blind Injustice<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump said, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you want
to know how effective walls are, just ask Israel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And boy, oh boy is he right. Israel survives by walls. One
huge wall snaking down through Palestinian West Bank, separating doctors and
patients from their hospitals, children and teachers from their schools and
farmers from their fields. The problem with walls is always what happens to the
people on the other side of the wall, the people we don’t see. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the West Bank, it means having their water stolen, olive
trees up-rooted, their children imprisoned and frequently tortured and because
it all takes place behind the wall, who is to object? Certainly not Benjamin
Netanyahu or Donald Trump. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Albert Einstein said:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The world is a dangerous place to
live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who
don’t do anything about it.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Blind%20Injustice.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in a situation
of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is this so devastating?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Palestinians in the West Bank face
– on a regular basis – violence meted out by both soldiers and settlers, long
waits at checkpoints, travel restrictions, home demolitions, theft of natural
resources, unfair economic practices, arbitrary detention and arrest, long
prison sentences, and countless other forms of humiliation.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Blind%20Injustice.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even worse is Gaza, with sewage running through the streets,
electricity cut off for twenty hour a day, water too contaminated to drink and
the ever-present threat of bombs from fighter jets, tanks and off shore gun
boats, anything Israel can do to make life in Gaza more miserable. And of
course, it’s all done behind the wall, so who is to know?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not hold Trump responsible for creating the misery in
Palestine, but I do hold him responsible for not caring and for not doing
anything to bring injustice to an end, especially when it is on the other side
of the wall and out of sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, that is precisely what Trump wants for us, the U.S. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Build a wall against Mexico. To hell with the
unfortunates on the other side of the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keep ‘em out of sight and who cares? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, to Trump’s chagrin, many people feel that we have a
responsibility to care and to hold our elected officials accountable. We owe it
to one another to not let injustice be swept under the rug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
December 21, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
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<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Blind%20Injustice.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Richard Hardigan, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Other Side of the Wall</i>, Cune Press,
Seattle, 2018, p. 12.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Blind%20Injustice.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Richard Hardigan, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Other Side of the Wall</i>, Cune Press,
Seattle, 2018, p. 10.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-24498244415434089512018-12-12T13:21:00.001-08:002018-12-12T13:21:26.213-08:00Speaking Out<br />
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Robert Reich said <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The ultimate tragedy is not the
oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good
people.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Speaking%20Out.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although Reich was writing about the Civil Rights movement
in the U. S., I immediately thought of the people of Gaza<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is there any thinking person in America who has not heard of
Gaza and the cruelty our government supports there to the tune of $3.1 billion
a year? Then are we not the good people who are silent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, that raises the question, if we
are really good people, how can we remain silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend says, “Well, it just doesn’t affect
me. Why should I get involved?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why? Because we are involved. Our government and our tax monies
go to supporting the oppression and we will levy a price on anyone who
challenges our “right” to do so. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The headline reads:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
CNN fires Marc Lamont Hill in wake
of Remarks Criticizing Israel and Calling for a “free Palestine.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Speaking%20Out.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon as Hill spoke to the UN supporting the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, he was cast as antisemitic and
fired. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cornel West, Harvard professor, philosopher, author, critic
and civil rights activist, writes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
No one gets closer to peace by
silencing voices critical of a lethal status quo. We need a candid debate about
the grim catastrophe unfolding in Israel.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Speaking%20Out.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have never had much respect for CNN and probable never
will as long as Wolfe Blitzer is their star, But I do have hopes in the
millions of Jews around the world who out of self-respect are not guided by
fear but speak out in expressing their time-honored faith in a vision of peace
and justice for all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 138.0pt;">
December 12, 2018<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Speaking%20Out.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>Robert B. Reich, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Common Good Are we not the good people
who are silent? Good,</i> Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2018, p 38.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Speaking%20Out.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Eli Rosenberg, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CNN fires Marc Lamont Hill in wake of
remarks criticizing Israel and calling for a “free Palestine”,</i> November 29,
2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Speaking%20Out.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Cornel West, Why did CNN
fire a pro-Palestinian Commentator?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dec. 4, 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-73578838841848271642018-11-27T06:31:00.000-08:002018-11-27T06:31:55.394-08:00TRUMAN TO TRUMP<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
From Truman to Trump, we have never had an American
president to speak with integrity when calling for peace in the Middle East.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What was it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eleven
minutes? And Truman was falling all over himself to be the first national
president to “recognize” the new state of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never mind the ethnic cleansing of hundreds of
thousands of Palestinians who had their homes, freedom and livelihood taken
from them by force. Truman celebrated “peace” in Israel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even a child will shout, “It’s not fair,” when forced to
accept tranquility without regard to justice. When Donald Trump casually announced
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, totally ignoring the historic, emotional
and religious claims of Jerusalem as their national capital, even children will
respond, “It’s not fair.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only that. It is not going to work. In spite of what
Trump and Netanyahu wish, Palestinians are not going to just disappear. Even
with the more than three billion dollars a year the U.S. sends to Israel to
enforce the repression of Palestinian rights, international law and human
conscience is caught in a bind facing the unlawful occupation and oppression of
another people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let us be honest, at least with ourselves. The United States
has never been an “honest broker” when it comes to Israel. From Truman to
Trump, we have acted more like Israel’s defense attorney while ignoring the
endless building of more and more settlement in the West Bank and Israel’s
repeated bombardment of Gaza, including the destruction of sewage treatment
plants, rendering what little water they have undrinkable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, Israeli snipers are firing live ammunition
into crowds of unarmed demonstrators at the border, having already killed
hundreds and wounded thousands. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What sickens me the most is that from Truman to Trump, every
American president has chosen to ignore this blatant injustice and the American
news media has chosen to look the other way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
November 27, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-43870062139037358442018-11-15T09:20:00.000-08:002018-11-15T09:20:56.114-08:00Living on Killing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s not just some kind of game board slogan, it’s the
daily policy and practice of the state of Israel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump keeps suggesting that he wants peace between Israel
and the Palestinians, but offers no plan that has a chance of working,
precisely because Israel has no interest in peace. What Israel wants is
Palestinian land for its settlements… and water. Why settle for peace when
Palestinians can be controlled by targeted assassination, home demolitions,
road blocks, check points, settler violence and the blockade of Gaza. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All Israel has to do, according to Amon Sofer of Haifer
University, is to treat Palestinians like animals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Seal the territory off from the outside
world and shoot anyone who tries to break out. When 2.5 million people live in
a closed off Gaza, it’s going to be a human catastrophe. Those people will
become even bigger animals than they are today. So, if we want to remain alive,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we will have to kill and kill and kill,
all day, every day</i>.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surely one would hope that was just the rantings of one
fanatic and not to be taken seriously. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
On Monday, May 14, in Gaza, Israeli
snipers shot and killed 60 Palestinians, including 6 children – and injured
almost 3,000 others amid scenes of smoke, fire, teargas, dust, agony and blood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
These are the children and
grandchildren of those who were driven from their homes during the ethnic
cleansing of Palestine in 1948 to make room for the new State of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their only crime was not being Jews.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No matter how you look at it, with the blind backing of the
U.S., Israel wins. With one very important exception. Israel is losing the
support of young American Jews <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jared Kushner does not represent the majority of young
American Jews. The New York Jewish Week reported a survey of 4000 Modern
Orthodox Jews:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
One of the study’s most concerning
findings, experts say, is a decrease in emotional connection and active support
of Israel…while 71 percent of those 55 and older actively support the Jewish
state, less than half – 43 percent – of Jews 18 to 34 do the same.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Robert Herbst, civil rights lawyer
and political activist, affiliated with Jewish Voice for Peace said,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
Today, I am ashamed to be Israeli.
– young Jewish snipers deliberately shooting down unarmed Gazans gathered in
protest at the border fence that helps keep them confined in the largest
open-air prison in the world, killing 18 and wounding more than 1,000 is an
unspeakable, unlawful outrage.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since Herbsy wrote those words on April 4, 2018, the number
of casualties has greatly risen. To date, Israel snipers have killed 214 and wounded
over 18,000.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
November 15, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kill and kill and Kill</i>, By Saree Makdisi, Washington Report on
Middle East Affairs, June/July,2018. P. 8.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kill and kill and Kill</i>, By Saree Makdisi, Washington Report on
Middle East Affairs, June/July,2018. P. 8.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Support for Israel is tumbling – even among young Orthodox Jews,</i>
Mondoweiss.net, 10/1/ 2017. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Robert Herbst, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jewish state, Jewish values, Jewish Shame,</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mondoweiss. April 4, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/LIVING%20ON%20KILLING.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Google: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gaza protest: All the Latest Updates,</i>
Palestinian News/ Al Jezeera.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-66819467412262215322018-10-03T10:27:00.000-07:002018-10-03T10:27:23.300-07:00Garbage, In and Out<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Garbage in – garbage out”, not only applies to
computers, it is equally true of people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Palestinians are like crocodiles,</i> - Ehud
Barak<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Palestinians are beasts walking on two legs </i>–
Menachem Begin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There is no such thing as a Palestinian people…It is not as if we came
and threw them out and took their country. They didn’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>exist. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can forgive them for killing our children.
We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. - </i>Golda Meir<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The way to deal with Palestinians is to beat them up, not once but
repeatedly, beat them up so badly, until it is unbearable.</i> – Bibi Netanyahu<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Palestinians are beasts, they are not human. A Jew always has a much
higher soul than a gentile </i>- Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When we have settled the land, all the Arabs will be able to do will be
to scurry around like drugged cockroaches in a bottle.</i> – Rafael Eltin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and
cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population. </i>–
Yisrael Koenig <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One million Arabs are not worth a Jewish fingernail.</i> – Rabbi Yaacov
Perrin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One hair on the head of an Israeli soldier is more precious than the
entire Gazan population. </i>– MK Moshe Feiglin<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/GARBAGE,%20IN%20AND%20OUT.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I find myself asking, how can any people expect to
survive when they depend upon such garbage to keep themselves pumped up? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At the same time, I have some Jewish friends who laugh at
such garbage. They take very seriously their Jewish values. They work to free
the oppressed, care for the unfortunate and speak out on justice issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would never consider themselves
extraordinary, but I would.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
October 3, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/GARBAGE,%20IN%20AND%20OUT.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> All of these quotes come
from Delinda C. Henley, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leaders Who
dehumanize Cross the Threshold.</i> Washington Report on Middle East Affairs,
October 2018, p. 33-34.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-37713616323131573782018-08-27T08:30:00.001-07:002018-08-27T08:30:58.712-07:00The High Cost of Israel<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our political leaders keep telling us that we just don’t
have the money to fund health care for all Americans, provide college level
education for our brightest young students or repair our crumbling
infrastructure. We just don’t have the money you understand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, we borrow billions of dollars on which we will pay
interest, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to give to Israel,</i> who in
turn “loans” it back to the U.S. on which we pay interest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder Israel, with a population of less
than the state of New Jersey, is among the world’s most affluent nations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Got an extra $115 billion dollars? That’s what the U.S. has
“given” to Israel since 1948. That’s about 3 billion a year, or 8.5 million
every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Oh, some will say, the U.S. gives $400 million to the
Palestinian Authority, which is true. But most of it is used to rebuild the
infrastructure destroyed by Israel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to cash handouts, there are hidden and indirect
cost for our blind support of Israel such as the Arab oil boycott of 1973,
imposed in protest of our taking Israel’s side against the Arab attempt to
reclaim of territory lost to Israel in 1973.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More difficult to tabulate is the hidden cost of getting
involved with Israel in a “war” with Iraq. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Iraq was no threat to the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We engaged ourselves in that war strictly on
behalf of Israel which has cost us not only the respect of the world’s leaders,
but the lives of 4,000 U.S. service men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to economist Joseph Stiglitz and
Harvard professor Linda Bilmes, the cost to the U.S. for the Iraq war is now over
$3 trillion dollars.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20HIGH%20COST%20OF%20ISRAEL.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Critics point out how much brighter
our future would be if we had invested these billions or trillions in veteran
rehabilitation and care, education, social security, housing, environmental
clean-up and prevention, roads, bridges, health care, and scientific and health
research.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20HIGH%20COST%20OF%20ISRAEL.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, some say, “That’s all water over the dam.”
Nothing can be done about it now. Except, the same crowd that rushed us into war
with Iraq are now trying to push us into a war with Iran. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s crazy. In the first place, Iran offers no threat to
America. In the second place, Iran is much stronger then Iraq was. And if we do
not want another 9/11, why provoke a nation that has no grip with us? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let Israel fight its own wars for its own interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for goodness sake, let us not get
suckered into fighting another war on Israel’s behalf. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
So now we are back to the question
of why America continues to pour money into a state that commits daily human
rights violations, defies US strategic interest, provokes rage and resentment
among billions of people, competes with and crowds out US interest using
technology subsidized by US taxpayers, and sells America’s military secrets to
its enemies.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20HIGH%20COST%20OF%20ISRAEL.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beats me. Fear of AIPAC is my first guess.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
August 27, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20HIGH%20COST%20OF%20ISRAEL.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Staggering Cost of Israel to Americans,</i> The New observer on
line.com, May 8, 2013.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20HIGH%20COST%20OF%20ISRAEL.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The New Observer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Staggering Cost of Israel to Americans</i>,
The New observer on line.com, May 8, 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20HIGH%20COST%20OF%20ISRAEL.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The New Observer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Staggering Cost of Israel to Americans</i>,
The New observer on line.com, May 8, 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-22604394570655785862018-08-20T06:13:00.000-07:002018-08-20T06:13:58.837-07:00How Long Will Israel Last<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
How long? Not long. I used to think one of its neighboring
states would get enough of Israel’s bullying and invade with force significant
to cause a down-fall. I no longer think that will happen, for two reasons.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One – any criticism, charge or attack on Israel brings the
mighty America into play. The U.S. has demonstrated total and blind support for
Israel for 70 years and there are no signs among our political leaders that any
change is forthcoming. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, there is a more logical reason that no power is going
to invade Israel. It will be unnecessary. Israel is crumbling from inside in
ways that even the U.S. cannot control. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are at least eight factions grappling
for power.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/HOW%20LONG%20WILL%20ISRAEL%20LAST.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ashkenazi elites</b>,
mostly from Europe are on top, at least right now. Their power stems from the
fact that they control the military. Israel has fought more than a dozen wars
with its neighbors since 1948. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
would not call the 2014 bombardment of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the mostly unarmed people of Gaza a “war.” It was more like a massacre. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
As victories go, this was a dubious
one. More than 2,100 Palestinians had been killed during seven weeks of
fighting, and even Israeli officials admitted that a majority of them were
civilians. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed, 25 per cent of the strip’s
population was displaced, and basic infrastructure was shattered. Aid agencies
estimated that it will take decades to repair the damage.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/HOW%20LONG%20WILL%20ISRAEL%20LAST.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ashkenazis definitely oppose establishing a constitution
which might impose limits on its power or insist on equal treatment for all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Drueze,</b> accounting
for about 2% of Israel’s population, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are
a unique religious and ethnic group incorporating elements of Islam, Hinduism and
Greek philosophy. They fight in the Israeli army with respect and distinction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But complain that as soon as they take off the
uniform, they are treated as second class citizens again. And this was before
Israel declared its democracy is for “Jews only.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Settlers</b> struggle
with a different set of feelings. In spite of the Fourth Geneva Convention’s
ban on moving civilians into occupied territories they live in the middle of
another people’s home lands. Thus, they constantly assert their “right” to be
there precisely because they know no such right exist. They cope with this
feeling of guilt which hangs on just below the surface by constantly treating
Palestinians as a sub-human race, not deserving basic human rights. Their
record of strong handed violence is astonishing. Guilt finds mysterious ways to
express itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ultra Orthodox </b>are
frowned upon by the majority of Israelis who see them as backward, uneducated draft
dodgers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They contribute nothing while
living on government stipends. All they do is study and interpret biblical text,
proclaiming that working on the sabbath is the worst possible sin. When David
Ben-Gurion granted them special exemption from military service, there were
only about 400 claiming this privilege. Today, they make up about 12 percent of
Israel’s 9 million citizens. Needless to say, there is little love lost between
Benjamin Netanyahu and this small but troublesome minority in its midst. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Non-Jewish citizens </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>add to this mix. Most are angry over the
discrimination experienced every day. Carlstrom writes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Half a century after the
occupation, there remains a vast disparity between east and west. Among East
Jerusalem residents, 75 percent live below the poverty line, and one third of
children do not complete a full twelve years of school…Basic services are scarce,
from health care to sewage to post offices. One refugee camp had no running
water for three months.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/HOW%20LONG%20WILL%20ISRAEL%20LAST.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does Israel justify such abuse? By claiming that GOD
wanted Jews to have this land, not them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add to this mix, about a million <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Russian immigrants</b> with their special interest, 130,000 F<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">alasha </b>from Ethiopia and the entire <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Palestinian nation</b> in the West Bank and
Gaza, Israel is standing on very shaky ground. It survives by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not having a constitution</i>. All it can
see now is that “might makes right”. But, for how long? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long can Ashkenazi control all these
factions by might (the army) alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
long? Not long.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
August 20, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/HOW%20LONG%20WILL%20ISRAEL%20LAST.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> - Most of this information
I gleaned from a book, Gregg Carlstrom,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How Long Will Israel Survive, the Threat
from Within.</i> (Oxford University Press, 2017) Great book, only he takes 260
pages to make his case. I try to do it in one.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/HOW%20LONG%20WILL%20ISRAEL%20LAST.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Carlstrom,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>page 59.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/HOW%20LONG%20WILL%20ISRAEL%20LAST.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Carlstrom, page 40.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-10807913728892978632018-07-25T11:53:00.000-07:002018-07-25T11:53:18.025-07:00Birthright Walkouts<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For decades, Israel has sponsored “Birthright” trips to show
young Jews the glories of the Jewish state. It has been a popular program
salted by easy “hook ups” with young sexy Israeli soldiers, both male and
female.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants are even provided
with “An Unofficial guide to Sex on Birthright Israel,” complete with
information as to which brand of condoms are safest. Most Birthright trips are
joined by young Israeli soldiers who surmise that the possibility of uncomplicated
sex with their choice of dozens of exotic foreigners, thousands of miles away
from Daddy, is too much of an opportunity to let slip by. So, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unofficial Guide to Sex on Birthright Israel
</i>says, “If you just want to have sex with an Israeli soldier, then by all
means go for it.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yet, in spite of the erotic pull, some Birthright kids
are walking out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Philip Weiss reports:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Yesterday two more Birthright
tours of Israel were struck by walkouts in Jerusalem. Two from one group, six
from another group – making 13 in all to stage these walkouts.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that each year the Israeli army arrest about
500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years old, most of them
subjected to physical violence and interrogation, without parents or lawyer,
grates against the Jewish values of more and more Birthright kids. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then there is Gaza. The number of Palestinians killed
by Israeli snipers since the beginning of the protest on March 30<sup>th</sup>
is over 135 with more than 15,000 injured. Over 2,530 of the injured are
children, 1,160 are women.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
B’Selem, the Israeli human rights group, condemns the shooting of unarmed
demonstrators across the fence as “crimes.” Some are saying that the American
Jewish love affair with Israel is over.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Younger Jews have heard too much about the forced displacement of 700,000
indigenous people and Israel’s continued abuse of their human rights to simply
buy into the Zionist narratives proclaimed by their parents and grandparents.
Younger Jews, both in Israel and America are asking what it means to have
Jewish values in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. And when Birthright tours refuse
to even acknowledge the existence of the wall, checkpoints and the blockade of
Gaza, some choose to express their Jewish values by walking out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
July 25, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
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<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Wendy in furs, The
Unofficial Guide to Sex on Birthright Israel, Jewlicious THE Jewish Blog,
February 12, 2011.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Philip Weiss, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eight more Jews Walk out on Birthright; saying
Tour has no Place for Palestinians</i>. Mondoweiss.net, July 16, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> These numbers are too
readily available to limit their source to any one website. Just Google.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Birthright%20Walkouts.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Israel just Lost American Jews,</i>Mondoweiss.net, April 5, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-12899005764408928372018-07-02T13:28:00.000-07:002018-07-02T13:28:06.945-07:00Jewish Heritage<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems that the children of the Rabbis are more Jewish
than their dads. The younger Jews, especially in America, place more value on
their morality than do their parents. They are supporting their Jewish heritage
above a blind commitment to the State of Israel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A poll recently conducted by the Pew Research Center
indicated that:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Each U.S. generation is less
sympathetic toward Israel than its predecessor. There is no guarantee that the
strong pro-Israel consensus that has long been a bipartisan feature of U.S.
politics will endure forever.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Younger Jews are offended when Israeli soldiers, firing from
behind barricades, shoot, maim and kill unarmed Palestinian protestors living
in inhumane condition created by Israel’s multi-decade siege in Gaza. They
have:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Learned too much about the forced
displacement, and on-going discrimination against an indigenous people to
accept that Zionism was, and still is, an innocent project of Jewish liberation…
They have questioned the myths and narratives accepted by their parents, while
their own understanding of what it should mean to “be Jewish,” in the 21<sup>st</sup>
century feels offended by what they see happening in a country that claims to
exist and act in their interest.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The creation and conditions in Gaza have triggered a
reaction in the conscience of many younger Jews, especially in America. When
Israel continues to bombard Gaza, blockade its water, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>electricity and medical supplies, many
younger Jews of conscience are saying, “the leaders in Israel may be Jews, but
they are certainly not Jewish.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jared Kushner does not represent the younger Jews of
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The New York Jewish Week
conducted a survey:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
One of the study’s most concerning
findings is a decrease in emotional and active support of Israel. While 87
percent of those 55 and older report feeling emotionally connected to Israel,
65 percent of those 18 to 34 feel the same way. And while 71 percent of those
55 and older actively support the Jewish State, less than half – 43 percent –
of Jews 18 to 34 do the same.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As of this posting, IDF snipers have shot and killed 133
unarmed protestors and wounded more than 13,000. In dozens of ways, including
the declaration that Israel’s democracy applies to Jews only, Israel has
demonstrated that the only lives that matter are Jewish lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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May God strengthen and bless those younger Jews who put the
glorious heritage of their faith above the idolatrous worship of the state of
Israel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
July 2, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
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<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Robert M. Dann, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Israel Among the Nations.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foreign Affairs, July/August 2016<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Mondoweiss.net. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jews must Ditch Zionism,</i> Now. April 8,
2018<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Mondoweiss.net. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Older Jews are Officially terrified of Young
Jew’s Views of Israel.</i> March 27, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Jewish%20Heritage.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Mondoweiss.net, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Support for Israel is Tumbling – even among
Young Orthodox Jews.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>November 1,
2017<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-66814639052005854932018-06-26T10:18:00.000-07:002018-06-26T10:18:13.225-07:00Zionist Bigotry<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been said, Pride goeth before a fall, meaning,
“People who act overconfident or too arrogant are likely to fall.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I remember where that quote comes from.
It’s in the Jewish Bible, God’s word to his chosen people. (Proverbs
16:18)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Israel celebrates 70 years of stateism, it has become a
nation of racism, arrogance and bigotry. Bradley Burston, writing in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Haaretz</i>, a leading newspaper in Israel,
says:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
It hurts me to write what I’m about
to. But it also hurts me to have to live in this place today. This is Zionism
as racism…As a public servant, as an Orthodox rabbi, as a settler, you’re free
to say anything, as long as it’s anti-Arab, anti-black, anti-Muslim, anti-
Palestinian anti-Nazi, anti-North American…For sheer, unadulterated Zionist
bigotry and hatred…no one can touch Benyamin Netanyahu <a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Zionist%20Bigotry.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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It’s amazing. Dov Lior, chief rabbi of Hebron issued a
religious edict saying:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
A thousand non-Jewish lives are not
worth a Jew’s fingernail. He also asserts that Arabs could be used for medical
experiments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ovadia Yosef, a former Sephardi chief rabbi said:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“The sole purpose off non-Jews is
to serve Jews.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This declaration was endorsed by 250 Jewish religious
figures.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Zionist%20Bigotry.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, Allan Brownfeld writes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Israel repeatedly refers to itself
as a “Jewish state,” but its current direction represents a rejection of Jewish
moral and ethical values. Slowly, more and more American Jews, who believed
Israel shared their values are coming to the realization that it does not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used to think of Israel as a century state, meaning that
it would survive for about 100 years. Israel seems to thrive on creating
enemies and I thought, one of these days, one of them is going to stomp in and
crush it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No more. I now think if Israel makes it ten more years it
will be a miracle. Not because some “enemy” will invade but because it will
implode from within. Israel has no foundation other than its illusions about
itself, such as: Of all the people on earth, we are God’s chosen. Jews are
smarter and more valuable than other people. Actually, Israel has little self-control,
no constitution and recognizes no borders. It has one true friend in the world,
the United States, and that could easily change as more and more young Jews
reject the actions and arrogance of Israel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most Americans have supported Israel over the years as, “the
only democracy in the Middle East.” But what kind of democracy is it when
Israel’s Jewish leadership declares that it is not a nation for all its
citizens but rather, its democracy is for “Jews only?” It is pure Zionist
bigotry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
June 26, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Zionist%20Bigotry.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Allan C. Brownfeld, Israel
at 70: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An Alarming Growth of Racism and Intolerance.</i>
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>June 2018, p. 40. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/Zionist%20Bigotry.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Also from Allan C.
Brownfeld, Israel at 70: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An Alarming
Growth of Racism and Intolerance.</i> Washington Report on Middle East
Affairs,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>June 2018, p. 40. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-36875699717375507262018-06-18T07:23:00.000-07:002018-06-18T07:23:34.366-07:00NIKKI<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is much to be admired about Nikki Haley, but her blind
excusing of Israel is not one of them. It seems that in her mind, Israel, no
matter what it does, is innocent and deserving to be given a pass. Israel can do
no wrong. If anybody says otherwise, she will not listen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last month at the United Nations Security Council meeting,
she described Israel’s forces at the Gaza border. ”No country in this chamber
would act with more restraint than Israel has.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the Palestinian Ambassador tried to explain some context to her
remarks, that the conflict at the border is a one sided massacre which has
already killed hundreds of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Palestinians
and wounded thousands more, including women and children, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nikki Haley got up and walked out.</i> So much for the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but. Just forget it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another story that Haley refuses to remember is that of Arnon
Sofer of Haifa University’s advise to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ariel Sharon in 2004:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Withdraw Israeli forces from within
Gaza, seal the territory off from the outside world, and simply shoot anyone
who tries to break put. “When 2.5 million people live in a closed-off Gaza, it
is going to be a human catastrophe.” Those people will become even bigger
animals than they are today… So, if we want to remain alive, we will have to
kill and kill and kill, all day, every day.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NIKKI.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The facts that Haley currently refuses to hear include a
report that on one day, May 14<sup>th</sup>:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The Israeli army shot and killed 60
Palestinians in Gaza – including 6 children – and injured 3,000 others amid
scenes of smoke, fire, teargas, dust, agony and blood.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NIKKI.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The “brave soldiers operating with restraint” to whom she
refers are of course snipers hiding behind barricades shooting unarmed
civilians from a safe distance of 1,000 yards or more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No problem for Nikki Haley. If Israel does it, and it seems
harsh, just forget it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some wise soul has pointed out:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Erase memory and you wash away the
blood from the perpetrator’s hands, you undo the done deed, make it disappear
from history. Erase memories of atrocities and you tempt future perpetrators
with immunity.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NIKKI.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nikki Haley is supposed to be our U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations. To use one of Donald Trump’s favorite words, it is “unfair.”
Actually, we have no ambassador to the U.N.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Israel has two.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
June 18, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NIKKI.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""></a>1 and 2 - Saree Makdisi, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kill and Kill and Kill</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, June 2018, p. 8<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> Miraslov Volf, cited in
Justin Schwegel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Greenhouse
Propaganda – How Gazan History is Being Rewritten to dehumanize Palestinians.</i>
Mondoweiss.net, August 10. 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-25144992726623680362018-05-29T07:48:00.000-07:002018-05-29T07:48:09.455-07:00Last Week in Gaza<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week, May 15<sup>th</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is said to be the bloodiest day of the recent
demonstrations in Gaza. Israel killed almost 50 unarmed Palestinians. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While Donald Trump, Jared Kushner and Benjamin Netanyahu
were celebrating the moving of the embassy to Jerusalem, just a few miles away,
Palestinians were living in concentration camp like conditions. United Nations
Human Rights Council leader Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein described the living
conditions in Gaza as being:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Caged in a toxic slum from birth to
death; deprived of dignity; de-humanized by the Israeli authorities to such a
point it appears officials do not even consider that these men and women have a
right, as well as every reason to protest.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/Last%20week%20in%20Gaza.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, Israel calls them “terrorists,” which provides an
excuse to humiliate, and ignore their basic human needs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human Rights Watch tried to motivate the
Israeli government into acting more responsibly by criticizing its brutal
policies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of hearing the
concerns of Human Right Watch, Israel kicked them out of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Problem controlled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What Israel cannot control are the demonstrations on the
Gaza border. It tries to by shooting into the crowds of people. It would be
comical if it were not so tragic. The IDF, the “most moral army on the globe”
crouched behind earth berms firing into crowds of unarmed protestors across a
fence, killing, at last count, 115 Palestinians and injured 13,190, since March
30<sup>th</sup>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These numbers include
13 children killed and 2,096 injured, and over a thousand women wounded.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/Last%20week%20in%20Gaza.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why do Palestinians in Gaza continue to risk their lives
to protest? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why? Because:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Gaza is a prison, Gaza is a
concentration camp, Gaza has been blockaded for a decade, Gaza’s occupation is
a perennial crime against humanity, but most of all Gaza is a target. Gaza is a
target because it suits the Israelis to have two million captive Palestinian
men, women, and children (half of them are children) to despise, starve, deny
medical supplies, reduce to inescapable and unlivable conditions, kill, and
then brand as “terrorists” for not surrendering and disappearing from the face
of the earth 70 years ago.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/Last%20week%20in%20Gaza.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, they demonstrate at the border, hoping someone will
notice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May 29, 2018 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/Last%20week%20in%20Gaza.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Bob Livingston, Editor,
The Bob Livingston Letter, <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/Last%20week%20in%20Gaza.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Imemc.org article: Health
Ministry: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Israeli Army Killed 112
Palestinians, Injured 13,190 Since March 30<sup>th</sup>. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May 21.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/Last%20week%20in%20Gaza.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> William Boardman, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Israeli Snipers Kill Unarmed, Defenseless
People: Isn’t that Murder?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reader
Supported News, May 21, 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-11152551236416916842018-05-15T06:58:00.000-07:002018-05-15T06:58:36.083-07:00Hamas Responsible<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The headline said, “Hamas is Responsible for Gaza’s
Hardship.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/HAMAS%20RESPONSIBLE.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After I picked myself up from the floor, (Ignorance,
especially when it is chosen and announced with pride), always overwhelms me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hamas responsible? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was not Hamas that drove out more than 700,000 Palestinians in 1948, both
Muslim and Christian, taking their homes and livelihoods. Many of them wound up
as penniless refugees in Gaza. Israel did that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it was not Hamas that murdered Count Folke Bernadotte,
the United Nations special envoy who mediated a “truce” not to Israel’s liking.
Israel did that, too. And it was not Hamas that pulled off a sneak attack in
1967 against Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and the U.S in attacking the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">USS Liberty,</i> an unarmed reconnaissance
ship, killing 34 American sailors. And it was not Hamas that drove nearly two
million Palestinians into the Gaza with limited access to water, food and
medical supplies. Israel did that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hamas did not bombard Gaza to smithereens in December
2008-09, and again in 2012, and again in 2014, destroying homes, sanitation
plants, hospitals and infrastructure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it is not Hamas who is shooting into unarmed crowds of
Israeli soldiers. Since March 30, when the people locked up in Gaza started
demonstrating against their occupation and abuse, sixty Palestinians have been
killed and over 2,700 wounded by Israeli fire. Not one Israeli soldier has
received a so much as scratch in this so called “conflict.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was a child, my mother asked, “Who broke the
window?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I answered, “Billy did.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw a rock at his head and he
ducked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that makes sense to you, then
I guess you can say, Hamas is responsible for Gaza’s hardship.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
May 15, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/HAMAS%20RESPONSIBLE.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Letters to the editor,
Atlanta-Journal-Constitution, Sunday, May 13, 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-65382549157961615712018-04-22T07:22:00.000-07:002018-04-22T07:22:39.044-07:00Narcissistic Nation<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Much has been written lately by psychiatrist and mental
health professionals about the “narcissistic mind-set.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defined as:<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NARSISTIC%20NATION.docx#_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title="">[i]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NARSISTIC%20NATION.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One – It
is all about me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two –
Other people don’t matter because they are not me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Three –
Regulations and laws are irrelevant because they restrict my being me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of it has been applied to the actions of Donald
Trump. And I certainly see the rationale for this concern. However, I wonder if
there should not also be a concern for a “Narcissistic Nation,” namely Israel?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One – It
is all about Israel<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>From
the bombing of the King David Hotel to massacre in Shebra and Shatilla refugee
camps, to the air strikes on neighboring countries, US politicians, media, and
the religious right, all give Israel a pass on atrocities. Even an attack on the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">USS Liberty</i>, killing 34 American
sailors, avoids accountability. The American attitude seems to be, if it’s
Israel, no questions allowed, no public debate. If it’s Israel, it is
sanctioned, (blessed) in the sense of approved, not punished.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Two – Other people don’t count.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
In keeping with
the narcissistic mindset, other nations and people don’t count. Just think of
Gaza. Two million people crowded into an “open-air prison,” deprived of clean
water, food, medicine, electricity and meaningful work to do. But, to Israel,
they are not Jews, so what’s the problem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the non-Jewish Arabs of Israel are treated as second class citizens
in their own country. They are not Jews.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Three – No
restrictions on Israel recognized.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It
is phrased as Israel’s “right to defend itself.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in reality, it is a cover for Israel’s
violence against its neighbors. It is not by mistake that Israel has never
declared its borders, nor subjected itself to a constitution. The core of Israel’s
society is its military might which does not even stand on its own, but is
guaranteed and financed by the US. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel
shouts, “The world is out to get us, because we are Jewish.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I would argue that the world condemns Israel, precisely
because it is NOT Jewish. Israel’s ancient prophets, from whom Jesus got his
message and mission, had much to say about caring for the poor, protecting the
weak, defending the oppressed, releasing the prisoner and forgiving debts.
These are the polar opposites of the “narcissistic nation” now called Israel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
April 22, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/NARSISTIC%20NATION.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Dr. Decker, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Trump’s Brain, an FBI Profile of Donald
Trump. </i>And especially, Bandy Lee, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, 27 Psychiatrist and Mental Health Experts
Assess a President. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(St. Martins
Press, New York, 2017.)<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-46711309780641951632018-04-14T14:29:00.000-07:002018-04-14T14:29:05.773-07:00Morals and Massacres<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel claims to be the most moral nation on the globe with
the most moral army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would settle for
an “almost” moral nation but Israel is not even close.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked up “moral” in my dictionary:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Distinction between right and
wrong, and the rule of right conduct.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also looked up “massacre.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The killing of a number of usually helpless
or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The history of Israel is much more identified with massacre
than moral.:<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/THE%20MOST%20MORAL%20NATION.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1946.
Zionists blew up the King David Hotel, killing 91 people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1948. Zionists kill over 100
civilians in the village of Deir Yassin which frightened thousands of
Palestinians to flee their own villages. The officer responsible for this
massacre was Manachem Begin who was later rewarded by becoming Israel’s prime
minister.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1948. More than 100 Palestinian men
are rounded up in the City of Lydda and massacred.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1948. Hundreds of Palestinian
civilians in the village of Al Dawayima, west of Hebron, killed in a barbarous
manner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1953. Israeli troops led by Ariel
Sharon raided the village of Qibya in the West Bank killing 69<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Palestinians, most of them women and
children, in retaliation for a cross border raid that killed three Israelis.
Sharon is called a hero.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1956. Israeli forces gun down
farmers in Kfar Qasim returning from the fields who were unaware that Israel
had ordered a curfew earlier that day. Forty-eight Palestinian citizens of Israel
were killed including women and children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1956. Israeli forces killed 275
Palestinians in Gaza..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1970. Israel killed 46 Egyptian
children during a raid on a primary school in the village of Bahr el-Baqar,
Egypt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1982. The Sabra and Shatilla
massacre of Palestinians in Beirut refugee camps while Israel Defense Forces
controlled the area. Somewhere between several hundred to 3000 Palestinians are
murdered under the control of Ariel Sharon, who was also rewarded by becoming Israel’s prime minister.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1996. The first Qana massacre too
place when Israeli missiles struck a UN compound in Southern Lebanon in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a clash with Hezbollah killing over 100
civilians. Ten years later, in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
2006, another Qana massacre by Israeli missiles
killed 36 civilians including 16 children. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
2008-09. Israeli assault on Gaza
killed 1400 Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
2012. Israel killed 160
Palestinians in Gaza. 2014. Israeli onslaught on Gaza killed upwards of 2200
Palestinians. This massacre is remembered for its “sniper killings” of unarmed
people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are like me and if you have read this far, you are
sick of reading about the facts on the ground by the “most moral army on the
globe.” That’s why it is hard, when reading today’s newspapers that Israel is
simply defending itself when firing into unarmed Palestinians demonstrating at
the border. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much damage has been done to Israeli property? Zero. How
many Israeli civilians threatened? Zero. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many breaches in that precious security
fence”? Zero.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/THE%20MOST%20MORAL%20NATION.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t be fooled. Israeli violence has nothing to do with
security. It is a basic lack of values that chooses massacre over morals and
given Israel’s Zionist record, when forced to choose between morals and
massacres, massacre will come out ahead every time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thomas Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
April 14, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/THE%20MOST%20MORAL%20NATION.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> This listing is gleaned
from Mondoweiss, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Brief, Unhappy History
of Israeli Massacres,</i> April 1, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/THE%20MOST%20MORAL%20NATION.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seven Things you need to Know about Israel’s latest Attack on Gaza.</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mondoweiss, April 5, 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-66414823492145625752018-04-10T14:02:00.001-07:002018-04-10T14:05:41.177-07:00What's New<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I tried. I honestly to goodness really tried to quit.
I was going to leave blogging to younger minds with sharper insights. But, I
made a mistake. I kept reading<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like today, I read that Israel shot and killed fifteen
Palestinians who were demonstrating against the siege on Gaza and wounded a
thousand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way that Israeli
troops could have hit that many was to have randomly fired into an unarmed
crowd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">According to today’s newspaper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Israeli troops opened
fire from across the border, killing at least nine Palestinians and wounding
491orhers in the second mass border protest in eight days. The deaths brought
to at least 31 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since last
week.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/I%20tried%20to%20quit..docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Among those shot down was Yasser Murtaja, a well-known
30 year-old journalist, wearing a flak jacket marked “Press” while holding his
camera. The IDF does not target journalists, Israel announced. No investigation
will be allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamas has declared that
in spite of the risks, it will continue its protest until Nakba Day, May 15<sup>th,</sup>.
the day Israel was declared a state and pushed 700,000 Palestinians into
refugee camps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“So,” my neighbor asks, “what does Hamas want that is
worth the risking of their lives?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
want a lifting if the siege, access to clean drinking water, electricity more
than a few hours a day and the right to live in freedom without being bombarded
by Israel every year or two among other freedoms that allow human dignity. All
of which Israel remains determined to never allow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, what’s new?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fact that this clash has been reported in the mainstream US media
for a week now, that’s new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And worth recognizing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas
Are <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">April
8, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/I%20tried%20to%20quit..docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Hundreds Attend Funeral of Journalist, By Fares Akman, The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, Sunday, April 8, 2018. P. A-3.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-33888923623786888092018-01-15T15:28:00.001-08:002018-01-15T15:39:50.763-08:00Hanging It Up<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe all writing is a combination of remembering
and research. Unfortunately, in my
previous blog, THE PAULINE CAPTIVITY, my
memory went haywire and I went way off track. I “quoted” Paul as saying things
he never said. I pulled an image from the Book of Revelation which was written
long years after Paul was dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, I have decided that it is probably time to hang it up and leave blogging to
younger and sharper minds. I remember saying once that 85 year old men don’t
write books and if they do, they shouldn’t. That also applies to
blogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am grateful to those of you who have hung in there
with me in trying to keep the oppression of the Palestinian people before
us. That injustice continues and is even
getting worse under Trump’s so-called leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopefully I can find other ways to add a little weight
for the cause of peace through justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">TOM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2749498328775205032.post-84914209143704927642017-12-28T12:22:00.000-08:002017-12-28T12:22:03.590-08:00The Pauline Captivity<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
don’t know much about the Apostle Paul, but what we do know it significant. The
Bible says that he came from Tarsus. Tarsus! Tarsus was the home of Mithraism,
one of the many so called “mystery religions” that were popular during the
first century. It is significant that Mithras was worshipped by placing a bull
on a rack and cutting its throat. Initiates would stand under the rack and wash
themselves “in the blood of the bull.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the rites of the bull-sacrifice, a bull
was slaughtered on a perforated platform through which the blood poured down to
bathe the initiate standing in a pit beneath. Afterward the initiate was
considered “born again.” Poorer people made do with a sheep in which the sheep
was sacrificed, and were literally “washed in the blood of the lamb.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20PAULINE%20CAPTIVITY.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most
people reading Paul’s talking about one being “washed in the blood of the lamb”
assume that he was referring to Jesus and not some mystery savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
fact, the ancients worshiped a “Son of God” who was considered God made flesh,
whose mother was a virgin. He was born on December 25<sup>th</sup>, visited by
shepherds, turned water into wine at a wedding ceremony, rode into town on a
donkey while people waved palm leaves, dies on Easter as a sacrifice for the
sins of the world, rose on the third day and his followers celebrate his death
and resurrection by a ritual meal of bread and wine. But few people have ever heard of this
god-man, His name was Osiris-Dionysus, one of the many mystery saviors of the
first century.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20PAULINE%20CAPTIVITY.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Does
that mean that I think Christianity was just another mystery religion? No, I do
not, <i>but I think Paul did.</i> He writes
nothing about the life and teachings of Jesus or his commitment to social
justice. Paul himself declares that his interest in Jesus was limited to the
shedding of his divine blood as a sacrifice. Nothing about the commitment to
the poor and oppressed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Paul
substitutes the faith of Jesus, what he taught and did, for a belief in Jesus,
that he was the second person of the trinity, the “only” begotten Son of God. That
little slip has dominated the fundamentalist branch of the church to this
day. It has even influenced our
translation of the Bible. The King James
version says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.
(KJV, I John 5:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sounds
very certain that Jesus was the second person of the Trinity. On the other
hand, the Revised Standard Version, based on much earlier manuscripts says
nothing like that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And the Spirit is the witness, because the
Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the
blood; and these three agree. (RSV. I John 5:7) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
why is any of this important? The basic
issue revolves around one question; are we faithful to Christ (Christian) by
believing things about him, or to be a Christian, must we strive to live by his
teachings and example? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas
Are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">December
28, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20PAULINE%20CAPTIVITY.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Timothy
Freke and Peter Gandy, <i>The Jesus
Mysteries, Was the “Original Jesus” a Pagan God?”</i> (Harmony Books, New
York, 1999) p. 53<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tom%20Are/Documents/My%20Stuff/THE%20PAULINE%20CAPTIVITY.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, <i>The Jesus
Mysteries, Was the “Original Jesus” a Pagan God?”</i> (Harmony Books, New
York, 1999) p. 5.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thomas L. Arehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039652816393444988noreply@blogger.com2