I'm not sure Union County want to secede. One of the leaders of the movement lives here, and there's a reasonable proportion of the population that wants out . . . but I'm not sure if the majority is for the move; although the county voted 70%-30% for Trump in the last election. I think Wallowa County may have more people who want to secede. As for Knight, the distinction between those who really dislike Democrats (and democracy) and MAGA/Q is blurry.
Just read through your posts. Well done at 87! You’ve outsmarted Churchill which is remarkable! You are thinking and loving and trying. That’s a life well lived. If you’re interested in understanding even more than you already do I’d recommend looking into the documentaries that have examined the parallels between Israel’s apartheid and South Africa’s. I’ve been stunned by the walls, checkpoints, “sterile” roads., harassment, and the overall effort to eradicate a beautiful culture. My great grandmother (kaminsky) fled Poland prior to the holocaust. The Palestinian people deserve a respect that my Jewish great grandmother died never knowing. I can send links to some documentaries if you’re interested.
The verbiage used in this opinion piece shows a huge amount of bias against the Palestinians and for the genocidal government of Israel. Do better. The cause of the war was created in 1948 when Europe decided to warehouse the holocaust survivors on stolen land, not when Hamas, a US creation, attacked in the present. Seems history is constantly being repeated all for the machinations of power.
In 1957 Nevil Shute's book On The Beach was published. It told of a conflict breaking out between Israel and the Palestinians. Due to all the entangling alliances, the superpowers became involved and the war quickly escalated into a nuclear holocaust that threatened the end of life on earth. The path to peace, no matter how narrow, must be taken so On The Beach doesn't become a reality.
The instant gratification of social media is a big part of the problem. You can put out whatever pops into your brain as long as it fits your narrative, whether it is fact or fiction is what the readers have to figure out.
I knew the history you described; I remember the election and the civil war. I'm ashamed to say that I forgot that history, or found it inconvenient to remember. It's dangerous to fit the facts to my opinions rather than base my opinion on the facts. I'm rally grateful to you for the 'wake-up-call.'
There's no word strong enough to characterize the abhorrent policies of the Likud Party toward the indigenous Arab population in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Netanyahu is only the most recent of a string of such Likud prime ministers. I hear murmurs that the recent events have weakened the Netanyahu government . . . but even if it falls it's likely to be replaced by a government that seeks greater 'security' than a road to peace. That's a consequence of a brutal terrorist incursion.
I wish there were answers to the question you raise. I know there are many Israelis who would like to see a two-state solution, who would like to have the illegal settlements abolished, who would like to see rational borders for the West Bank. As always, the fate of Jerusalem will be a stumbling block. Are there enough votes in Israel to reverse its course? In spite of recent events, I think not. Instead, there is likely to be a bloodbath in Gaza, followed by a period of quiet, followed by more bloodbaths.
While I've seen much debate about who was responsible for the explosion in the media, I've not seen much discussion of the likelihood that the number of reported casualties is inflated. There is a long history of Palestinian distortions in this regard. See, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jenin_(2002) .
Yes, absolutely. It takes wisdom and humility to admit mistakes. President Biden, who has passed through so many human and very public sufferings, has become one of the wisest leaders I have seen in my 72 years. He wasn’t always this way. That is a great gift. We should cherish it. Good leaders can take us only so far. It is up to good citizens to do the rest.
No, no! Dems aren't the evil enemy. Right now they seem to be the heroes. I grew up many years ago in NYC where there were 'liberal' Republicans, and where politicians worked together after the elections were over. The divisiveness that now rules saddens me because it makes governing almost impossible. I live in a very rural area on a dead end road. Mine is the first home of five. I put up an election poster: "I'm a Republican, but not a Fool. Vote Biden." Two of my four neighbors quit talking to me. I was a prosecutor for years, elected District Attorney. I was also a criminal defense attorney, Public Defender in two counties. We need not see the 'other side' as evil. With respect we can balance each other for the good of everyone. Really, that's not pollyanna; it's practical. I haven't voted Republican in a goodly number of years. The Republican Party of my state in recent years put up as gubernatorial candidates a man whose claim on my vote was that he'd been a basketball player for the Portland Trailblazers, a female surgeon whose endearing quality was that the court had awarded her former boyfriend a restraining order because she had been stalking him. We used to have Republicans in my state that I could be proud of. You may know the name Mark Hatfield, and perhaps be less familiar with Tom Mc'Call. I could vote for them.
Before Chris Dudley became a professional basketball player, he earned a degree in political science and economics at Yale! Why don't you run for office?
So he has a degree in political science and economics. Then he played basketball for sixteen years for five different teams, in different states, with two stints in Portland. That qualifies him to be governor??? Notice that the voters turned him down. They didn't turn down Republican candidates like Tom McCall, Mark Hatfield, or Vic Atiyah. And by the way, not that it really matters, I did run for office . . . and won.
Newbies campaign on the platform of being fresh, not entrenched. Then they run for re-election, touting their experience and connections. Norma Paulus would have been a good governor. Can you run for office now?
Newbies are not only fresh, they're inexperienced. Let's for a moment forget everything about Donald Trump except that he was a newbie when elected--of all things, president: the highest and possibly the most complicated office in the USA. The disasterous beginning of his term (my opinion) was due in large part to his being a newbie and not having the slightest idea of what his new office entailed.
Could I run for office? Sure . . . except for two very important considerations. First, I'm 87 years old, and I'm tired, and I love my retirement and my hobbies. Second, although I'm a Republican, in the last election I put up a large sign on my fence: "I'm a Republican, but not a Fool: Vote Biden." My district went for Donald Trump 70%-30%. Any other questions?
You were brave to put that sign in your yard! You are in Union County, which wants to secede? Why don't those people just move to Idaho? Oregon's last Republican gubernatorial candidate refused to denounce QAnon, whose members supported her! She refused to admit that the presidential election was not stolen! Maybe she is herself MAGA/Q or she just pandered to them to get their votes. Phil Knight donated millions of dollars to her campaign, after donating millions of dollars to the Independent candidate! Same question: Is he MAGA/Q or he just really dislikes Democrats?
I personally believe the US Department of Defense view that this was an errant rocket (of some kind from Gaza someplace) and not Hamas’ screaming that Israel did this. They bombed their own people and will never admit this. The Palestinian people have been and are being used as pawns by Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, you name it, to perpetuate their “see how bad Jews are” rhetoric. None of those countries will take those poor, suffering, largely innocent people in. Egypt doesn’t even want to open the border! (Poland opened for Ukrainian women and children. Why can’t Egypt? ). Because the worse that happens to these poor Palestinians, the more hatred towards Israel can be stoked. This is not in any fog to my eyes. It’s clear and has been for a long time. I won’t sit this out on any fence. Without the hatred towards Jews being pushed as an acceptable narrative in these places, and even here at home (!) none of this would be happening at all. Where exactly are Israelis supposed to go? What are they supposed to do? Britain colonized a place. Then they drew a line and said “this is Israel” (with all the proper procedures and approvals of course) and people who were not welcome in Europe, and many other places, fled there for their lives. To try to live without being hated. Pushed from this place to that place over centuries. But none of their Arab neighbors could accept this. I once heard a Jewish politician speak on a news station. He said “people cannot remember what they ate for breakfast. Why would they remember any history?” Kind of true.
Thx, Dan, for this account, which clearly delineated the situation when it was written. Since then, some truths have come to light; and our remarkable President has traveled to the region, personally negotiating (at the risk of his own life) some limits on Israel’s autocratic leadership while affirming its absolute right to defend itself; humanitarian aid to the civilian souls trapped in Gaza; reiteration of the rule of law as primal in the democracies of the region; reaffirmation of the Palestinian’ right to self government; and our steady drip port and commitment to all the people of the region. I find myself very proud to be a US citizen in this moment.
I'm not sure Union County want to secede. One of the leaders of the movement lives here, and there's a reasonable proportion of the population that wants out . . . but I'm not sure if the majority is for the move; although the county voted 70%-30% for Trump in the last election. I think Wallowa County may have more people who want to secede. As for Knight, the distinction between those who really dislike Democrats (and democracy) and MAGA/Q is blurry.
Just read through your posts. Well done at 87! You’ve outsmarted Churchill which is remarkable! You are thinking and loving and trying. That’s a life well lived. If you’re interested in understanding even more than you already do I’d recommend looking into the documentaries that have examined the parallels between Israel’s apartheid and South Africa’s. I’ve been stunned by the walls, checkpoints, “sterile” roads., harassment, and the overall effort to eradicate a beautiful culture. My great grandmother (kaminsky) fled Poland prior to the holocaust. The Palestinian people deserve a respect that my Jewish great grandmother died never knowing. I can send links to some documentaries if you’re interested.
The verbiage used in this opinion piece shows a huge amount of bias against the Palestinians and for the genocidal government of Israel. Do better. The cause of the war was created in 1948 when Europe decided to warehouse the holocaust survivors on stolen land, not when Hamas, a US creation, attacked in the present. Seems history is constantly being repeated all for the machinations of power.
In 1957 Nevil Shute's book On The Beach was published. It told of a conflict breaking out between Israel and the Palestinians. Due to all the entangling alliances, the superpowers became involved and the war quickly escalated into a nuclear holocaust that threatened the end of life on earth. The path to peace, no matter how narrow, must be taken so On The Beach doesn't become a reality.
The instant gratification of social media is a big part of the problem. You can put out whatever pops into your brain as long as it fits your narrative, whether it is fact or fiction is what the readers have to figure out.
Truth & Rule of Law are the natural conditions for Peace, Freedom, Justice, and Humanity.
Unfortunately, those who desire to perpetrate Death and Destruction always corrupt or deny them (Truth & Rule of Law).
THE QUESTION IS:
ARE WE GOING TO SACRIFICE OUR HUMANITY (OUT OF COERCIVE CORRUPTION) TO ESTABLISH THIS CULTURE OF DEATH & DESTRUCTION UPON US?
I knew the history you described; I remember the election and the civil war. I'm ashamed to say that I forgot that history, or found it inconvenient to remember. It's dangerous to fit the facts to my opinions rather than base my opinion on the facts. I'm rally grateful to you for the 'wake-up-call.'
There's no word strong enough to characterize the abhorrent policies of the Likud Party toward the indigenous Arab population in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Netanyahu is only the most recent of a string of such Likud prime ministers. I hear murmurs that the recent events have weakened the Netanyahu government . . . but even if it falls it's likely to be replaced by a government that seeks greater 'security' than a road to peace. That's a consequence of a brutal terrorist incursion.
I wish there were answers to the question you raise. I know there are many Israelis who would like to see a two-state solution, who would like to have the illegal settlements abolished, who would like to see rational borders for the West Bank. As always, the fate of Jerusalem will be a stumbling block. Are there enough votes in Israel to reverse its course? In spite of recent events, I think not. Instead, there is likely to be a bloodbath in Gaza, followed by a period of quiet, followed by more bloodbaths.
Truth? I see the tragedy of loss of life, families and communities torn apart. And feeling powerless!
While I've seen much debate about who was responsible for the explosion in the media, I've not seen much discussion of the likelihood that the number of reported casualties is inflated. There is a long history of Palestinian distortions in this regard. See, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jenin_(2002) .
Good information! I have already heard all of this!
Yes, absolutely. It takes wisdom and humility to admit mistakes. President Biden, who has passed through so many human and very public sufferings, has become one of the wisest leaders I have seen in my 72 years. He wasn’t always this way. That is a great gift. We should cherish it. Good leaders can take us only so far. It is up to good citizens to do the rest.
Trump's Co-defendant Powell just pleaded guilty and agreed to testify when called upon. More truths to come.
No, no! Dems aren't the evil enemy. Right now they seem to be the heroes. I grew up many years ago in NYC where there were 'liberal' Republicans, and where politicians worked together after the elections were over. The divisiveness that now rules saddens me because it makes governing almost impossible. I live in a very rural area on a dead end road. Mine is the first home of five. I put up an election poster: "I'm a Republican, but not a Fool. Vote Biden." Two of my four neighbors quit talking to me. I was a prosecutor for years, elected District Attorney. I was also a criminal defense attorney, Public Defender in two counties. We need not see the 'other side' as evil. With respect we can balance each other for the good of everyone. Really, that's not pollyanna; it's practical. I haven't voted Republican in a goodly number of years. The Republican Party of my state in recent years put up as gubernatorial candidates a man whose claim on my vote was that he'd been a basketball player for the Portland Trailblazers, a female surgeon whose endearing quality was that the court had awarded her former boyfriend a restraining order because she had been stalking him. We used to have Republicans in my state that I could be proud of. You may know the name Mark Hatfield, and perhaps be less familiar with Tom Mc'Call. I could vote for them.
Before Chris Dudley became a professional basketball player, he earned a degree in political science and economics at Yale! Why don't you run for office?
So he has a degree in political science and economics. Then he played basketball for sixteen years for five different teams, in different states, with two stints in Portland. That qualifies him to be governor??? Notice that the voters turned him down. They didn't turn down Republican candidates like Tom McCall, Mark Hatfield, or Vic Atiyah. And by the way, not that it really matters, I did run for office . . . and won.
Newbies campaign on the platform of being fresh, not entrenched. Then they run for re-election, touting their experience and connections. Norma Paulus would have been a good governor. Can you run for office now?
Newbies are not only fresh, they're inexperienced. Let's for a moment forget everything about Donald Trump except that he was a newbie when elected--of all things, president: the highest and possibly the most complicated office in the USA. The disasterous beginning of his term (my opinion) was due in large part to his being a newbie and not having the slightest idea of what his new office entailed.
Could I run for office? Sure . . . except for two very important considerations. First, I'm 87 years old, and I'm tired, and I love my retirement and my hobbies. Second, although I'm a Republican, in the last election I put up a large sign on my fence: "I'm a Republican, but not a Fool: Vote Biden." My district went for Donald Trump 70%-30%. Any other questions?
You were brave to put that sign in your yard! You are in Union County, which wants to secede? Why don't those people just move to Idaho? Oregon's last Republican gubernatorial candidate refused to denounce QAnon, whose members supported her! She refused to admit that the presidential election was not stolen! Maybe she is herself MAGA/Q or she just pandered to them to get their votes. Phil Knight donated millions of dollars to her campaign, after donating millions of dollars to the Independent candidate! Same question: Is he MAGA/Q or he just really dislikes Democrats?
More hate, more war, less love and less God. That is all I have to say about any of this.
I personally believe the US Department of Defense view that this was an errant rocket (of some kind from Gaza someplace) and not Hamas’ screaming that Israel did this. They bombed their own people and will never admit this. The Palestinian people have been and are being used as pawns by Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, you name it, to perpetuate their “see how bad Jews are” rhetoric. None of those countries will take those poor, suffering, largely innocent people in. Egypt doesn’t even want to open the border! (Poland opened for Ukrainian women and children. Why can’t Egypt? ). Because the worse that happens to these poor Palestinians, the more hatred towards Israel can be stoked. This is not in any fog to my eyes. It’s clear and has been for a long time. I won’t sit this out on any fence. Without the hatred towards Jews being pushed as an acceptable narrative in these places, and even here at home (!) none of this would be happening at all. Where exactly are Israelis supposed to go? What are they supposed to do? Britain colonized a place. Then they drew a line and said “this is Israel” (with all the proper procedures and approvals of course) and people who were not welcome in Europe, and many other places, fled there for their lives. To try to live without being hated. Pushed from this place to that place over centuries. But none of their Arab neighbors could accept this. I once heard a Jewish politician speak on a news station. He said “people cannot remember what they ate for breakfast. Why would they remember any history?” Kind of true.
Thx, Dan, for this account, which clearly delineated the situation when it was written. Since then, some truths have come to light; and our remarkable President has traveled to the region, personally negotiating (at the risk of his own life) some limits on Israel’s autocratic leadership while affirming its absolute right to defend itself; humanitarian aid to the civilian souls trapped in Gaza; reiteration of the rule of law as primal in the democracies of the region; reaffirmation of the Palestinian’ right to self government; and our steady drip port and commitment to all the people of the region. I find myself very proud to be a US citizen in this moment.
What is happening right now is genocide. That is the truth. Our tax dollars at work. It is immoral on every level.