I find myself as I age becoming insular. I do think USA needs close borders. Good decade. Every class and creed. We need get out of foreign wars and focus inwards. I also see the humanity in your writing - but I have bit into the bitter and want to regroup and close all out. Great writing as always. Regards, S
You had me until you erased the Oct. 7 massacre/torture/rape/kidnapping committed by Hamas (with the participation and celebration of Gazans).
And it’s not a genocide. The Palestinians are Arabs. That said, I want it to stop , too, but not without all hostages released and Hamas unable to commit another similar attack.
"Take the worst thing that you can say about Hamas, multiply it by 1,000 times and it still will not meet the Israeli repression and killing and dispossession of the Palestinians."
Gabor talks more sense than all of the protagonists in the débâcle combined. A victim of childhood trauma inflicted by the Nazis in Hungary, he knows too well the damage caused by senseless slaughter of the innocents of Gaza. Hamas were installed there as a controlling opposition, who then promptly eliminated all rivals, lumbering the Gazans with a mafia style leadership. There are people killed and being killed who were too young to have elected Hamas, but have been stuck with them all of their lives. There are as many Gazans who want rid of Hamas as there are Israelis want Benji out of power. This conflict ensures both remain .
If those are your only agreeable terms for the wholesale slaughter of Gazans, women an children included, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. The Hamas leadership does not reside in Gaza. The idea of Hamas cannot be killed. If anything, they will find it easier to recruit than ever. Part of the reason for the attack in the first place, it was one part of the gamble that will pay off. The sending of coalition forces warships scuppered any hope of immediate help from Iran. But the Israelis went ahead and poked that bear with their attack in Tehran. And if there are no Arabs left to recruit in Gaza, because of the mass murder being committed since October 7th, by an army killing civilians, those Arabs, you mention will fill the void. It’s been 11 months of non stop killings. Another 20 billion being made available from the US alone so Israel can continue their attacks. It will not end by any peaceful means. The hostages have no hope, as the Israelis will kill more of them than Hamas. The place is, in a word, fucked. Let’s hope Benjamin N does not go ahead with his promise of opening a new front with Lebanon. The Hezbollah are an extremely capable, battle hardened force. More than capable of fighting back, and will have a galvanised Arab backing that will mean they will be able to attack inside of Israel.
He speaks the truth, and it is painful
Excellent writing John. Great example, “It’s not people smugglers causing today’s refugee crisis…”, of systemic cause and effect.
I find myself as I age becoming insular. I do think USA needs close borders. Good decade. Every class and creed. We need get out of foreign wars and focus inwards. I also see the humanity in your writing - but I have bit into the bitter and want to regroup and close all out. Great writing as always. Regards, S
Cheers
Hi John. Sorry about the email. My account had been hacked.
You had me until you erased the Oct. 7 massacre/torture/rape/kidnapping committed by Hamas (with the participation and celebration of Gazans).
And it’s not a genocide. The Palestinians are Arabs. That said, I want it to stop , too, but not without all hostages released and Hamas unable to commit another similar attack.
"Take the worst thing that you can say about Hamas, multiply it by 1,000 times and it still will not meet the Israeli repression and killing and dispossession of the Palestinians."
Gabor Mate
Holocaust survivor
Gabor talks more sense than all of the protagonists in the débâcle combined. A victim of childhood trauma inflicted by the Nazis in Hungary, he knows too well the damage caused by senseless slaughter of the innocents of Gaza. Hamas were installed there as a controlling opposition, who then promptly eliminated all rivals, lumbering the Gazans with a mafia style leadership. There are people killed and being killed who were too young to have elected Hamas, but have been stuck with them all of their lives. There are as many Gazans who want rid of Hamas as there are Israelis want Benji out of power. This conflict ensures both remain .
If those are your only agreeable terms for the wholesale slaughter of Gazans, women an children included, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. The Hamas leadership does not reside in Gaza. The idea of Hamas cannot be killed. If anything, they will find it easier to recruit than ever. Part of the reason for the attack in the first place, it was one part of the gamble that will pay off. The sending of coalition forces warships scuppered any hope of immediate help from Iran. But the Israelis went ahead and poked that bear with their attack in Tehran. And if there are no Arabs left to recruit in Gaza, because of the mass murder being committed since October 7th, by an army killing civilians, those Arabs, you mention will fill the void. It’s been 11 months of non stop killings. Another 20 billion being made available from the US alone so Israel can continue their attacks. It will not end by any peaceful means. The hostages have no hope, as the Israelis will kill more of them than Hamas. The place is, in a word, fucked. Let’s hope Benjamin N does not go ahead with his promise of opening a new front with Lebanon. The Hezbollah are an extremely capable, battle hardened force. More than capable of fighting back, and will have a galvanised Arab backing that will mean they will be able to attack inside of Israel.
For the wholesale slaughter to stop*…