(Yes I spent that much on food and drink. In return I will be able to re-digest the experience at any moment until my last day. Just like a painting on the wall. Well worth the memory and sensory return.) We are winning the war on propaganda. The power centers cannot compete with a billion eyes watching, just fingers typing, and a super majority of lumpenproletariat, proles, and peasantry having plenty of time on their hands (and food secure) to read about U.S. horror reach, but not enough credit to consume the millionaire lies of its fake marketplace.
Thanks for another of your intelligent tirades. Good to feel less alone. I read an article by an Israeli journalist, a progressive, which quoted Netanyahu: told his band of right wing assassins that the way to get rid of Palestinians in Gaza was to support Hamas as the gov’t. So neither those guys, nor Hamas give a shit about civilians, not even their own.
Glad you enjoyed your trip. And while I abhor this country’s—my country’s—military might, and support Palestinian freedom, I also get why Israelis and many of Jewish Americans are scared. A friend’s daughter recently passed a sign in Manhattan on her way into her workplace: “Gas all Jews.” Not sure how Irish people feel about Jews, but here in the land of growing fascism, there is a lot of hate to spread around.
Acts of stupid make me truly sick in my throat. That is very scary.
I believe we live in a nation of mass ignorance. Israelis, not Jews, should be as angry at their government as I am of mine. A big problem of the West, I believe, is that we equate Judaism with Israel. Israel is a government—if it chooses to be a theocracy (identifying its existence by religious badge) like Iran and Saudi Arabia, then that’s the people’s choice problem. But Jews are everywhere on earth, as Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists are. Right now (since 1967) the Israeli government, as supported by the U.S. government and EU nations, is breaking international law and committing violent crimes daily. It (not Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists) must be held accountable. And quickly. An out of control war spiral in the Middle East has only one player holding illegal nuclear weapons—and their use will gas ALL of life on earth. Not good.
In the U.S. after 9/11 Muslims were a target for hate criminals. COVID spread and Asians were attacked. Now Jewish and Muslim people have to fear for their lives just walking down the street of whatever faux-religious power is in control of the neighborhood. Ask a south side Chicago kid about random outdoor activity, and she might say “Join the club fellow targets, America is crap”. I don’t think pick up Trump drivers give a damn about who they blame for prosperity in the United States. I don’t think they think about much at all except “us against them”. But I would say the same about “liberals” too. Groups pointing fingers, spreading ignorance. And our pathetic media, feeding it.
I believe our population is infected with violent ignorancism. Organized Fascism won’t evolve without mass suffering among the winners of society. When Chuck Schumer and Rand Paul are denied bread, then darkness will descend very quickly. Populists like Trump or Bernie Sanders are poised to be top dogs for the rest of the century, and they’ll support renegade theocracies with our tax money (Israel, Saudi Arabia) to achieve the monetary ends of group power above them (Corporations?). Unpopulists like Biden will sneak into Presidential power and still feed Apartheid, nonetheless. Everybody wants to be a millionaire.
I can only blame my government for its disgusting violence upon innocent people, animals, birds and trees in the Levant. On a federal level, Americans are disenfranchised. Justice. Fairness. Equality. None of it matters to the bottom line of Boeing, Inc. So none of it matters to foreign policy.
Sadly, more hate violence to Jews and Muslims is sure to come. I don’t have a solution, but rather a hopeful start. End the occupation of Palestine. Form a Palestinian nation (a long time coming), and open the borders for trade.
Remember when Vietnam was made the mortal enemy by Lyndon Johnson and Henry Kissinger? A lot of people died then so today we would have excellent sweatshop sweatshirts and choice noodle bowls to slurp while on holiday. All middle class Oswego citizens can afford a trip to Ho Chi Minh City (even Ireland too!). That sure as heck ain’t Fascism-a-creepin’ throughout the land.
Maybe violence in the Middle East will subside when Israel and the United States begin to abide by international law.
But here, at our own national doorstep? Perhaps we can spend some of that gooey Ukraine and Israeli fighter plane dough on universal health care so poor Americans don’t have to die younger than rich Americans. Or feed the hungry. Or house the homeless. I just cannot stand for another aircraft carrier. We are the dumbest, richest nation the world has ever known.
Thank you so much for reading and tolerating my confusa-rants:)
Thanks for another of your intelligent tirades. Good to feel less alone. I read an article by an Israeli journalist, a progressive, which quoted Netanyahu: told his band of right wing assassins that the way to get rid of Palestinians in Gaza was to support Hamas as the gov’t. So neither those guys, nor Hamas give a shit about civilians, not even their own.
Yup. Thanks Betsy. To you and H!
Glad you enjoyed your trip. And while I abhor this country’s—my country’s—military might, and support Palestinian freedom, I also get why Israelis and many of Jewish Americans are scared. A friend’s daughter recently passed a sign in Manhattan on her way into her workplace: “Gas all Jews.” Not sure how Irish people feel about Jews, but here in the land of growing fascism, there is a lot of hate to spread around.
Acts of stupid make me truly sick in my throat. That is very scary.
I believe we live in a nation of mass ignorance. Israelis, not Jews, should be as angry at their government as I am of mine. A big problem of the West, I believe, is that we equate Judaism with Israel. Israel is a government—if it chooses to be a theocracy (identifying its existence by religious badge) like Iran and Saudi Arabia, then that’s the people’s choice problem. But Jews are everywhere on earth, as Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists are. Right now (since 1967) the Israeli government, as supported by the U.S. government and EU nations, is breaking international law and committing violent crimes daily. It (not Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists) must be held accountable. And quickly. An out of control war spiral in the Middle East has only one player holding illegal nuclear weapons—and their use will gas ALL of life on earth. Not good.
In the U.S. after 9/11 Muslims were a target for hate criminals. COVID spread and Asians were attacked. Now Jewish and Muslim people have to fear for their lives just walking down the street of whatever faux-religious power is in control of the neighborhood. Ask a south side Chicago kid about random outdoor activity, and she might say “Join the club fellow targets, America is crap”. I don’t think pick up Trump drivers give a damn about who they blame for prosperity in the United States. I don’t think they think about much at all except “us against them”. But I would say the same about “liberals” too. Groups pointing fingers, spreading ignorance. And our pathetic media, feeding it.
I believe our population is infected with violent ignorancism. Organized Fascism won’t evolve without mass suffering among the winners of society. When Chuck Schumer and Rand Paul are denied bread, then darkness will descend very quickly. Populists like Trump or Bernie Sanders are poised to be top dogs for the rest of the century, and they’ll support renegade theocracies with our tax money (Israel, Saudi Arabia) to achieve the monetary ends of group power above them (Corporations?). Unpopulists like Biden will sneak into Presidential power and still feed Apartheid, nonetheless. Everybody wants to be a millionaire.
I can only blame my government for its disgusting violence upon innocent people, animals, birds and trees in the Levant. On a federal level, Americans are disenfranchised. Justice. Fairness. Equality. None of it matters to the bottom line of Boeing, Inc. So none of it matters to foreign policy.
Sadly, more hate violence to Jews and Muslims is sure to come. I don’t have a solution, but rather a hopeful start. End the occupation of Palestine. Form a Palestinian nation (a long time coming), and open the borders for trade.
Remember when Vietnam was made the mortal enemy by Lyndon Johnson and Henry Kissinger? A lot of people died then so today we would have excellent sweatshop sweatshirts and choice noodle bowls to slurp while on holiday. All middle class Oswego citizens can afford a trip to Ho Chi Minh City (even Ireland too!). That sure as heck ain’t Fascism-a-creepin’ throughout the land.
Maybe violence in the Middle East will subside when Israel and the United States begin to abide by international law.
But here, at our own national doorstep? Perhaps we can spend some of that gooey Ukraine and Israeli fighter plane dough on universal health care so poor Americans don’t have to die younger than rich Americans. Or feed the hungry. Or house the homeless. I just cannot stand for another aircraft carrier. We are the dumbest, richest nation the world has ever known.
Thank you so much for reading and tolerating my confusa-rants:)
Another great piece of writing Ron. Wish I could come to your exhibition.
Donald
Thanks Don. If I didn’t rearrange the grey matter from time to time, I’d burst:)
I’ll certainly get a video up of one of those exhibitions!