Click here if the video fails to load.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Fjordman: Islamic Terrorists in the West and the West's Continued Denial
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Hat tip Gates of Vienna
Fjordman is a pseudonym for a Norwegian man who was studying Arabic in Egypt until the 9-11 attacks and left in disgust when he saw Egyptians celebrating. Back in Norway, he lives in an undisclosed location due to numerous threats on his life. He also has to be concerned about Norwegian authorities, who may slap him in jail for what they call "hate speech".
In this essay, Fjordman begins with a description of Somali immigrants to Norway who took part in the Kenya mall massacre. He also describes the refusal of the leadership of his country and the West in general to call Islamic terrorism for what it is preferring instead to focus on "Islamophobia" by those who react quite naturally to all the horrors.
http://gatesofvienna.net/2013/11/norway-and-kenya-terrorism/
Comment: By refusing to openly address the reality of the threat, are we not, in addition, doing a disservice to peaceful Muslims who wish this violence and hate would disappear from Islam altogether? It takes real courage for them to speak out and take on the jihadists and Islamists who seek to impose their domination on the rest of us. They need our support. Perhaps, if they knew our societies would support them, there would be more speaking out. Alas, we are not doing so.
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Hat tip Gates of Vienna
Fjordman is a pseudonym for a Norwegian man who was studying Arabic in Egypt until the 9-11 attacks and left in disgust when he saw Egyptians celebrating. Back in Norway, he lives in an undisclosed location due to numerous threats on his life. He also has to be concerned about Norwegian authorities, who may slap him in jail for what they call "hate speech".
In this essay, Fjordman begins with a description of Somali immigrants to Norway who took part in the Kenya mall massacre. He also describes the refusal of the leadership of his country and the West in general to call Islamic terrorism for what it is preferring instead to focus on "Islamophobia" by those who react quite naturally to all the horrors.
http://gatesofvienna.net/2013/11/norway-and-kenya-terrorism/
Comment: By refusing to openly address the reality of the threat, are we not, in addition, doing a disservice to peaceful Muslims who wish this violence and hate would disappear from Islam altogether? It takes real courage for them to speak out and take on the jihadists and Islamists who seek to impose their domination on the rest of us. They need our support. Perhaps, if they knew our societies would support them, there would be more speaking out. Alas, we are not doing so.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving
Chanukah Day 2
Click here if video fails to load.
Thanksgiving has nothing to do with Pilgrims, Indians, or Turkeys. Nor does it have anything to do with Football or Parades. (Sorry Macy's.) It has to do with a feast day, established by the government to thank G-d for the blessings that He has bestowed upon us. And given enough time, the anti-Christian element of the atheist movement will get the idea of Thanksgiving out of the American lexicon.
This used to be a solemn holiday. A day for the gathering of the family, Mother or Grandmother
would cook her best foods, serve the meal on her best china, and smile that her family would be enjoying a wonderful feast.
Today it is a day for watching football on the Big Screen TV, attempt to cook a turkey, and stand outside in all kinds of weather to get the best deals at midnight.
It is the celebration of the Maccabees saving the native population from the evil Pilgrims. After a lengthy struggle, the Maccabees (and their native allies) were victorious and celebrated with an 8 day feast.
Click here if the video doesn't load.
Not exactly true, but it is a fun story to tell.
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty G-d. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines,
as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High G-d, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign
lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
Click here if video fails to load.
This used to be a solemn holiday. A day for the gathering of the family, Mother or Grandmother
Today it is a day for watching football on the Big Screen TV, attempt to cook a turkey, and stand outside in all kinds of weather to get the best deals at midnight.
It is the celebration of the Maccabees saving the native population from the evil Pilgrims. After a lengthy struggle, the Maccabees (and their native allies) were victorious and celebrated with an 8 day feast.
Click here if the video doesn't load.
Not exactly true, but it is a fun story to tell.
HAPPY THANKSGIVUKKAH!!!!!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Jews Know How To Fight?
Chanukah Day 1
Jews fight? That was asked when I was a child. Right! They can't fight their way out of a paper bag. Jews don't know how to fight. That is why the Nazis were able to kill them.
But the reality is that Jews were known for their fighting prowess for thousands of years.
For this first night I did not choose a Chanukah video, but I do believe that this song says the meaning of Chanukah and the Jewish people more than any other could.
Andy Williams Sings "The Exodus Song (This Land Is Mine)"
Click here if the video doesn't load.
Jews fight? That was asked when I was a child. Right! They can't fight their way out of a paper bag. Jews don't know how to fight. That is why the Nazis were able to kill them.
But the reality is that Jews were known for their fighting prowess for thousands of years.
The miracle of Hanukkah wasn’t performed by G-d alone. The Maccabees played a crucial role in defeating the Syrian Greeks on the battlefields. It was a partnership of human courage and Divine guidance. Matisyahu and his sons prevailed because they were wise enough to recognize that although Jews revere peace, we acknowledge that there may be a time that demands we go to war.The people of Israel don't ask for war. They prepare for war, they train for war, they pray for peace. Yet their neighbors demand that they leave their ancient, ancestral land. A land that they fought for. Not just in the past, but for the last 65 years. And we will NOT just leave the land over a piece of paper. Will will NOT tear a city in 2 to appease Obama. And we will NOT give up our weapons to appease a world more concerned with finishing the job Hitler did, then allow the children of the Holocaust survive. Nor will we trust an enemy who for decades has threaten to wipe us off the planet.
And that was not an easy thing for our people to admit – neither then, nor today.
Psychologists tell us there are basically two ways in which we can cope with the world: fight or flight. Encountering any difficulty, one can either attempt to cope, grapple and wrestle with an issue and overcome it, or one can flee and give up at the outset.
Some may rationalize flight as the correct religious response. Let me not do anything, and if G-d really desires a certain outcome, let Him handle it to His satisfaction.
As I heard Rabbi Soleveichik once explain it, this was the way of Jacob, even from the time he was in the womb. Jacob had actually been conceived first. He should’ve been the one to be born before his brother. Technically, he was the eldest, with all the attendant privileges of primogeniture. His brother Esau, however, pushed himself forward and forced himself over Jacob. “And after that came forth his brother and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel and his name was called Jacob” [Genesis 25:26] . The very name Jacob comes from the Hebrew word related to heel. Jacob was holding on to his brother’s heel; he begins his life being trampled upon, unfairly deprived by force of his rights.
Jacob’s life continued to unfold, guided by the unspoken philosophy that “nice Jewish boys don’t fight.” His twin brother Esau fooled father Isaac into thinking that he was the more pious and deserving son - and were it not for the intervention of his mother, Jacob would not have said a word in the face of this injustice.
When Jacob fell in love with Rachel only to have his father-in-law switch brides and trick him into a marriage with Leah, his response was to quietly accept the obligation to work for yet another seven years in order to earn the hand of the woman that was already rightly his.
Passivity in the face of evil and the silent acceptance of ill treatment defined Jacob’s theology. Jacob eventually realized his error in the dramatic story that so altered his perception that it was responsible for a change of name, a change that acknowledged that his newfound insight literally turned him into a new person.
Left totally alone and attacked by a mysterious assailant the commentators identify as the evil representative of Esau, Jacob realizes he has no alternative but to fight. At the end of a long night of battle, Jacob is left limping but nonetheless receives a blessing. He is now no longer the stepped-upon Jacob, but from this time forward is Israel – “because you have striven with G-d and with men and have prevailed” [Genesis 32:29].
Jacob may have suffered a blow, but he won the greater battle – the battle over his unwillingness previously to engage in combat. Jacob won the greatest victory of all – he finally managed to conquer himself.
And, explain the commentators, if he was left limping, what of it? That would simply mean he would never again be able to run away from anyone or any place, not even from himself.
The name change of Jacob to Israel differs from that of Abram to Abraham. Once Abram became Abraham he would never again be called by his original name. Abraham identified his new mission as “the father of many nations,” the first one to bring monotheism to the consciousness of the world. That name change was exclusive.
However even after Jacob became Israel, when the pacifist became the fighter, we still find him at times referred to by his earlier name. The reason is obvious. It is what was stated so beautifully by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes: “There is a time for peace and there is a time for war.” Both names are to be used, both modalities are to be employed.
Peace is the ultimate goal. But until the messianic era, war remains an unfortunate necessity.
We wish we would only have to imitate the way of Jacob who sat peacefully in his tent dedicating his life to study. But as long as there remain those like Esau who threaten our existence we know we must assume the identity of Israel and do battle with our enemies.
The Maccabees understood this. While they surely would have preferred to lead the peaceful life of priests, they recognized the responsibility placed upon them by the threat of a Greek-Syrian army bent on their destruction.
Of course nice Jewish boys don’t want to fight. That is not our way. But the world needs to know that we are the nation of Israel, defending the land of Israel. And like our forefather Israel, we will fight for survival. Like the Maccabees, Israel will go to war when it’s necessary. That’s because we love peace so much that we are ready to fight for it.
And that is one of the contemporary messages of Chanukah.
Source
For this first night I did not choose a Chanukah video, but I do believe that this song says the meaning of Chanukah and the Jewish people more than any other could.
Andy Williams Sings "The Exodus Song (This Land Is Mine)"
Click here if the video doesn't load.
Happy Chanukah!!
Wednesday's Hero
This post was suggested by Kathi
You can read more about the Tlingit Code Talkers here
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look.
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Tlingit Code Talkers
We all know about the Navajo Code Talkers, but chances are you've never heard of the Tlingit Code Talkers from Alaska. During a ceremony on November 20, they were finally recognized for the contribution in the war with Congressional Gold Medals.
We all know about the Navajo Code Talkers, but chances are you've never heard of the Tlingit Code Talkers from Alaska. During a ceremony on November 20, they were finally recognized for the contribution in the war with Congressional Gold Medals.
You can read more about the Tlingit Code Talkers here
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look.
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Don't Blame Him
You cannot blame Barack Hussein Obama for anything. After all he is black (1/2 black any way) and is not responsible for anything that goes wrong in his administration.
15 Reasons Why Barack Obama Is The Greatest President In American History!
Stolen from Townhall.com
1) He's sending weapons to Libya to help repair America’s strained relationship with Al-Qaeda.
2) Parents all across the country can now point to Barack Obama's performance when they're explaining to their children why they shouldn't use drugs.
3) He won the Nobel Peace Prize. Hello!
4) Thanks to healthcare.gov, "New Coke" no longer has to bear the shame of being the worst product roll-out in American history.
5) Because of Obama, 91 million people without jobs now have plenty of time to spend with their family.
6) He extended childhood all the way up to 26 by allowing "children" to stay on their parents insurance until then.
7) He's kept goofy Uncle Joe Biden from becoming President for five long years.
8) No President in American history has done more to further gun sales than Barack Obama.
9) Without Barack Obama, none of us would have ever heard the name Sandra Fluke and what a tragedy that would be!
10) He has already broken Bill Clinton's record for the most lies told in one presidency with three years left to go in office.
11) When the SEALS asked for permission to kill Bin Laden, he didn't insist that they merely give Osama a good talking to instead.
12) He has worked tirelessly to know the American people better through invasive TSA searches, reading their emails, and listening in on their phone calls.
13) He's living proof that even a pothead who thinks there are 57 states can still live the American dream.
14) Because of Obama's economic policies, more Americans than ever have gotten to experience the sweet, sweet joy of funemployment!
15) Obama's policies are so bad that even real racists have stopped hating him for being black and hate him for his failed policies.
1) He's sending weapons to Libya to help repair America’s strained relationship with Al-Qaeda.
2) Parents all across the country can now point to Barack Obama's performance when they're explaining to their children why they shouldn't use drugs.
3) He won the Nobel Peace Prize. Hello!
4) Thanks to healthcare.gov, "New Coke" no longer has to bear the shame of being the worst product roll-out in American history.
5) Because of Obama, 91 million people without jobs now have plenty of time to spend with their family.
6) He extended childhood all the way up to 26 by allowing "children" to stay on their parents insurance until then.
7) He's kept goofy Uncle Joe Biden from becoming President for five long years.
8) No President in American history has done more to further gun sales than Barack Obama.
9) Without Barack Obama, none of us would have ever heard the name Sandra Fluke and what a tragedy that would be!
10) He has already broken Bill Clinton's record for the most lies told in one presidency with three years left to go in office.
11) When the SEALS asked for permission to kill Bin Laden, he didn't insist that they merely give Osama a good talking to instead.
12) He has worked tirelessly to know the American people better through invasive TSA searches, reading their emails, and listening in on their phone calls.
13) He's living proof that even a pothead who thinks there are 57 states can still live the American dream.
14) Because of Obama's economic policies, more Americans than ever have gotten to experience the sweet, sweet joy of funemployment!
15) Obama's policies are so bad that even real racists have stopped hating him for being black and hate him for his failed policies.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
What Was DOJ's Role in Canceling a Florida School Board Meeting?
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Hat tip Free Patriot and Act for America
The controversial school curriculum Common Core and Prentice Hall's World History textbook, which has ignited parental protests all over the country because of its extensive and positive coverage of Islam, have come together in Volusia County, Florida. A school board meeting was canceled, and it has been reported that the DOJ had made a call to the board expressing concern over parental protests. Parental protests??!!
http://freepatriot.org/2013/11/11/us-doj-cancels-school-board-meeting-amid-protests-over-common-core-book/
This particular textbook, which gives undue space to one religion at the expense of others, has been the object of protests by parents in several US cities. If it is true that the DOJ inserted itself into this Volusia County controversy, and a school board meeting was canceled as a result, that has to be cause for concern. here we have a government and a Justice Department that is inserting itself into local issues on a scale unprecedented.
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Hat tip Free Patriot and Act for America
The controversial school curriculum Common Core and Prentice Hall's World History textbook, which has ignited parental protests all over the country because of its extensive and positive coverage of Islam, have come together in Volusia County, Florida. A school board meeting was canceled, and it has been reported that the DOJ had made a call to the board expressing concern over parental protests. Parental protests??!!
http://freepatriot.org/2013/11/11/us-doj-cancels-school-board-meeting-amid-protests-over-common-core-book/
This particular textbook, which gives undue space to one religion at the expense of others, has been the object of protests by parents in several US cities. If it is true that the DOJ inserted itself into this Volusia County controversy, and a school board meeting was canceled as a result, that has to be cause for concern. here we have a government and a Justice Department that is inserting itself into local issues on a scale unprecedented.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Obama To Israel: F@%k You!
Tonight President Barack Hussein Obama and the leaders of Europe have told the Mullahs of Iran: Kill the Jews. The P5+1 leaders have caved in to all of Iran's demands and will lift the sanctions. (Although they claim that they will reinstate them again.)
Representatives of Iran and Western powers reached an interim deal on Iran’s controversial nuclear program early Sunday morning, after a weekend of intensive talks in Geneva.My sources tell me that Iran got everything they wanted. The right to enrich uranium, their nuclear program intact, the relaxation of sanctions. Israel on the other hand have been shafted up the ass. Iran doesn't have a peaceful nuclear program. They have made that clear over the last decade.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “Yes, we have a deal,” as he walked past reporters crowding the hotel lobby where marathon negotiations had taken place over the past five days. Asked if there was a deal, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said “Yes” and gave a thumbs up sign.
Diplomats refused to spell out details of the talks, but a senior Obama administration official said that the West had not conceded an Iranian right to produce nuclear fuel through uranium enrichment, a key sticking point in previous negotiations.
The official said the deal included an agreement that Iran would halt progress on its nuclear program, including a plutonium reactor at the Arak facility. The deal also calls on Iran to neutralize its 20-percent-enriched uranium stockpiles. Tehran has also agreed to intrusive inspections under the terms of the deal.
According to a Western diplomat quoted by Reuters, the deal would grant Iran access to $4.2 billion in foreign exchange.
In a statement Sunday morning, US President Barack Obama said the deal opened up a “real opportunity to achieve a peaceful settlement.”
“It won’t be easy,” he said, “and huge challenge remain ahead, but through strong and principled diplomacy, the United States will do our part” to deny Iran nuclear weapons. Obama acknowledged that the deal may be hard to stomach for some of Washington’s allies in the Middle East, saying, Israel and the Gulf countries, “have good reasons to be skeptical.”
The West has been seeking a six-month agreement to partially freeze Iran’s nuclear program while offering Iran incentives through limited sanctions relief. If the interim deal holds, the parties would negotiate final-stage deals to ensure Iran does not build nuclear weapons.
The agreement built on the momentum of the historic dialogue opened during September’s annual UN gathering, which included a 15-minute phone conversation between Obama and Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, after three decades of US-Iranian estrangement.
“The Iranian people’s vote for moderation and constructive engagement, plus tireless efforts by negotiating teams are to open new horizons,” Rouhani said in a statement Sunday morning.
“Agreement in Geneva: first step makes world safer. More work now,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a comment tweeted by the State Department Sunday morning. The statement was retweeted by Rouhani’s account.
Kerry and his counterparts from Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany headed for Geneva Friday after diplomats said Zarif and EU representative Catherine Ashton had made significant progress.
A previous round of talks between Iran and the six world powers ended November 10 with no deal, even after Kerry, Lavrov, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany and a Chinese deputy foreign minister flew in and attempted to bridge differences.
The United States and its negotiating partners had signaled they were ready to ease some sanctions in return for a first-step deal that starts to put limits on Iran’s nuclear program.
They wanted Iran to stop enriching to a level higher than its main stockpile and only a technical step away from weapons-grade uranium as part of such a deal. They also sought to limit overall enrichment, as well as a formulation that would reduce the proliferation danger from the Arak reactor, which, if completed, would produce enough plutonium for up to two weapons.
But they insist that the most severe penalties — on Tehran’s oil exports and banking sector — will remain until the two sides reach a comprehensive agreement to minimize Iran’s nuclear arms-making capacity.
No details on relief offered have been made public. And the US administration has not commented on reports from congressional officials that Obama’s team estimates Iran could get $6-10 billion in benefits over six months for rolling back its nuclear program.
Several US senators — both Democrat and Republican — have voiced displeasure with the parameters of the potential agreement, arguing that the US and its partners are offering too much for something short of a full freeze on uranium enrichment.
SOURCE
On September 30, 1938 then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain disembarked a plane from Germany, waved a piece of paper and stated clearly:
We have achieved peace in our time.
Click here if the video fails to load.
A year later Europe erupted in war. For Chamberlain also believed that this was the first step and he could negotiate a lasting peace.
History is repeating itself in spades.
We haven't become safer by this treaty, but it is only a matter of time before a Regional War will break out. A war that will become a World War.
Friday, November 22, 2013
The VA: Taking Care of the Troops?
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Back in the 1980s, when I was stationed in Italy with DEA, our medical costs were covered by the State Department since we were working in the embassies and consulates. In Milan, we also had access to the health clinic at the American Army base at Vicenza-a 2-hour drive away. On one occasion, I saw a doctor there about a minor skin problem I was having. He told me that they couldn't handle it there, but that they could arrange to have me "medevacked" to the army hospital in Nuremberg, Germany (medically evacuated). No, that didn't mean they were going to load me on a helicopter and fly me off immediately to Nuremberg. It meant that I could travel to Nuremberg at government expense and have my problem treated there at the larger facility. Since Nuremberg was just outside my old army station at Erlangen, I jumped at the chance. Subsequently, I caught a commercial flight to Nuremberg and visited the hospital. All expenses were covered.
That story came back to my mind during my just concluded trip to Germany. During my visit, I became friends with an American army veteran who has lived in Germany for 20 years now. ( I am keeping his name anonymous for obvious reasons.) He was stationed in Germany in 1991 when his unit was called up to go to the Middle East to drive the Iraqi army from Kuwait Op. Desert Storm). Unfortunately for him, he came down with that mysterious Gulf War Syndrome that also affected thousands of other soldiers who were involved in that war.
Returning to his post in Germany, my friend married a German woman, got his discharge in Germany, had two kids (now teenagers) and has become a legal resident alien in Germany. But there has been that problem with his illness, which plagues him to this day. To control the pain, he takes two capsules of morphine a day. He describes his symptoms as being almost identical to fibro myalgia.
But here is the kicker: Since he was living in Germany, the Veterans Administration told him they couldn't do anything for him unless he traveled to the US for his medical treatments. His applications for help and treatment were denied.
Fortunately, since he is a legal resident in Germany, it is that country which is covering all of his medical expenses. The US regulations were changed in 2011, but he would have to go through the whole application process all over again with all the attendant paperwork.
Compare my minor little experience with that of my friend. I am glad that the regulations were changed in 2011, but I question why they existed in the first place. In the 1980s, I was able to get treated by military doctors in Europe, and I wasn't even in the military. Is something wrong here?
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Back in the 1980s, when I was stationed in Italy with DEA, our medical costs were covered by the State Department since we were working in the embassies and consulates. In Milan, we also had access to the health clinic at the American Army base at Vicenza-a 2-hour drive away. On one occasion, I saw a doctor there about a minor skin problem I was having. He told me that they couldn't handle it there, but that they could arrange to have me "medevacked" to the army hospital in Nuremberg, Germany (medically evacuated). No, that didn't mean they were going to load me on a helicopter and fly me off immediately to Nuremberg. It meant that I could travel to Nuremberg at government expense and have my problem treated there at the larger facility. Since Nuremberg was just outside my old army station at Erlangen, I jumped at the chance. Subsequently, I caught a commercial flight to Nuremberg and visited the hospital. All expenses were covered.
That story came back to my mind during my just concluded trip to Germany. During my visit, I became friends with an American army veteran who has lived in Germany for 20 years now. ( I am keeping his name anonymous for obvious reasons.) He was stationed in Germany in 1991 when his unit was called up to go to the Middle East to drive the Iraqi army from Kuwait Op. Desert Storm). Unfortunately for him, he came down with that mysterious Gulf War Syndrome that also affected thousands of other soldiers who were involved in that war.
Returning to his post in Germany, my friend married a German woman, got his discharge in Germany, had two kids (now teenagers) and has become a legal resident alien in Germany. But there has been that problem with his illness, which plagues him to this day. To control the pain, he takes two capsules of morphine a day. He describes his symptoms as being almost identical to fibro myalgia.
But here is the kicker: Since he was living in Germany, the Veterans Administration told him they couldn't do anything for him unless he traveled to the US for his medical treatments. His applications for help and treatment were denied.
Fortunately, since he is a legal resident in Germany, it is that country which is covering all of his medical expenses. The US regulations were changed in 2011, but he would have to go through the whole application process all over again with all the attendant paperwork.
Compare my minor little experience with that of my friend. I am glad that the regulations were changed in 2011, but I question why they existed in the first place. In the 1980s, I was able to get treated by military doctors in Europe, and I wasn't even in the military. Is something wrong here?
50 Years Ago As It Happened.
50 years ago today, in the city of Dallas, in the state of Texas, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while driving towards a luncheon in Fort Worth. Lee Harvey Oswald constructed a hiding place of boxes on the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository. At 12:30 Central Standard Time, the Kennedy Presidency ended.
Here is the events of that afternoon:
Zapruder Film Slow Motion
Click here if the video fails to load.
On CBS As The World Turns was being shown. This was the time before instant news. It took a while to warm up cameras, apply makeup, get facts. That is what you will see on this video. Commercials, a soap opera and bulletins.
CBS New Bulletin Part 1
Click here if the video fails to load.
CBS New Bulletin Part 2
Click here if the video fails to load.
Walter Cronkite announces death of JFK
Click here if the video fails to load.
Only 50 years ago and thousands of conspiracy theories. If he had lived and won a second term it would have been very likely that the United States might not have gotten involved in Vietnam. JFK was not a liberal. His brothers Robert and Teddy were liberals but John was not. He was very conservative in fiscal policies. He stood up to the Soviets and made them back down. He was pro-life. The total opposite of his brothers in many ways. And definitely nothing like Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama. Today there would be no place in the Democratic Party for JFK, but in the Republican Party he would be a star.
Here is the events of that afternoon:
Zapruder Film Slow Motion
Click here if the video fails to load.
On CBS As The World Turns was being shown. This was the time before instant news. It took a while to warm up cameras, apply makeup, get facts. That is what you will see on this video. Commercials, a soap opera and bulletins.
CBS New Bulletin Part 1
Click here if the video fails to load.
CBS New Bulletin Part 2
Click here if the video fails to load.
Walter Cronkite announces death of JFK
Click here if the video fails to load.
Only 50 years ago and thousands of conspiracy theories. If he had lived and won a second term it would have been very likely that the United States might not have gotten involved in Vietnam. JFK was not a liberal. His brothers Robert and Teddy were liberals but John was not. He was very conservative in fiscal policies. He stood up to the Soviets and made them back down. He was pro-life. The total opposite of his brothers in many ways. And definitely nothing like Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama. Today there would be no place in the Democratic Party for JFK, but in the Republican Party he would be a star.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Worthless Concessions
With Obamacare falling apart, and new scandals arising every other week (soon to be weekly), and his foreign policy going South faster than a Cheetah on crack, President Barack Hussein Obama needs a "victory" somewhere with anyone fast. In this case it will be a atrocious agreement with the Mullah's of Iran.
The last time John Kerry tried to sign a bad agreement with Iran the French stopped the agreement. But with many companies already gearing up to supply Iran, the French will not do the same again. After the the P5+1 nations will not be living under an Iranian nuclear bomb. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc... are! But to Barack Hussein Obama and his pro-Iranian advisor Valerie Jarrett, the only thing that is important is that Obama looks good right then.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are talking about a mutual security pact. Israel is worried and Saudi Arabia is scared. Just one thing, is Israel worried enough to try and stop Iran?
From DebkaThe military has reminded Obama that their readiness has been destroyed by his policies towards the military and that they cannot mount an attack on Iran to stop them. Thus the need for an "agreement".
The Iranian negotiators face the delegations of six world powers in Geneva Thursday, Nov. 21, with strict orders not to give ground on the two major sticking points holding up a first-step deal on their nuclear program: The heavy water reactor under construction at Arak for producing plutonium and Iran’s “right” to uranium enrichment. If Iran gains those two points, whatever concessions its negotiators may come up with are worthless, because they will leave Tehran in possession of two optional nuclear weaponizing tracks instead of one - plutonium as well as enriched uranium.
debkafile’s sources report that Tehran is fighting tooth and nail for Six-Power acknowledgement of its “right to enrich uranium” – ostensibly to come away from Geneva with a “historic feat” to show the Iranian people that the economic hardship they suffered under economic sanctions was worth the candle.
But concession of this “right” has a more sinister purpose: It would give Iran’s nuclear aspirations the enormous boost of an international license to keep its uranium enrich facilities, including the underground plant in Fordo and the centrifuge production line, fully intact and ready to go at any time.
The infrastructure already standing, say US intelligence sources, is capable of topping up enriched uranium stockpiles already in hand to the amount needed for five nuclear bombs in less than a month – 26 days is the number often cited. The second option of plutonium would also be available when the Arak reactor is finished.
US, Russian and British sources are presenting the gap in the resumed Geneva talks Thursday as minor and bridgeable.
debkafile’s sources say they are just playing for time to chip away at a draft accord that by its nature would be a compromise solution which gives ground to Tehran.
And what compromise can be expected when Washington failed to challenge Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s avowal on Day One of the Geneva talks that Iran will not step back “one iota” from its nuclear rights, and his grotesquely barbaric rant against Israel as “the roguish, filthy, rabid dog of the region,” whose regime is “doomed to extinction?”
This degraded language, not heard since the Nazi German era, informed the Obama administration in the harshest terms that for the sake of a deal, Iran will not give an inch under pressure, whether from economic sanctions or from Israel and parts of the American Jewish leadership.
Khamenei also blasted US government as unworthy of trust.
If President Barack Obama was serious in his often repeated commitment to Israel’s security, he ought to have protested in some way against Khamenei’s unspeakable rhetoric, possibly even delaying the proceedings before they started their second day in Geneva. But the Iranian leader apparently got away with it, judging from the Obama administration’s mild response – a senior US official said it was “uncomfortable,” but did not condemn it as unacceptable like the French President Francois Hollande, and the British Foreign Secretary William Hague declined any comment at all, fearing to rock the boat in Geneva.
Their evasions told Tehran that Washington and London are so hooked on closing a deal at this time that they can be trusted to find some way around the Arak and enrichment hurdles to reach their goal.
The French team alone stood out in Geneva against Iran’s continuing construction of the Arak reactor, arguing that possession of this facility would nullify any other concessions Tehran might offer.
The last time John Kerry tried to sign a bad agreement with Iran the French stopped the agreement. But with many companies already gearing up to supply Iran, the French will not do the same again. After the the P5+1 nations will not be living under an Iranian nuclear bomb. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc... are! But to Barack Hussein Obama and his pro-Iranian advisor Valerie Jarrett, the only thing that is important is that Obama looks good right then.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are talking about a mutual security pact. Israel is worried and Saudi Arabia is scared. Just one thing, is Israel worried enough to try and stop Iran?
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Wednesday's Hero
This post was suggested by Michael
MSgt. Woodrow Keeble
64 years old from Waubay, South Dakota
May 16, 1917 - January 28, 1982
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Sangsan-ni, Korea, on October 20, 1951. On that day, Master Sergeant Keeble was an acting platoon leader for the support platoon in Company G, 19th Infantry, in the attack on Hill 765, a steep and rugged position that was well defended by the enemy. Leading the support platoon, Master Sergeant Keeble saw that the attacking elements had become pinned down on the slope by heavy enemy fire from three well-fortified and strategically placed enemy positions. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Master Sergeant Keeble dashed forward and joined the pinned-down platoon. Then, hugging the ground, Master Sergeant Keeble crawled forward alone until he was in close proximity to one of the hostile machine-gun emplacements. Ignoring the heavy fire that the crew trained on him, Master Sergeant Keeble activated a grenade and threw it with great accuracy, successfully destroying the position. Continuing his one-man assault, he moved to the second enemy position and destroyed it with another grenade. Despite the fact that the enemy troops were now directing their firepower against him and unleashing a shower of grenades in a frantic attempt to stop his advance, he moved forward against the third hostile emplacement, and skillfully neutralized the remaining enemy position. As his comrades moved forward to join him, Master Sergeant Keeble continued to direct accurate fire against nearby trenches, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Inspired by his courage, Company G successfully moved forward and seized its important objective. The extraordinary courage, selfless service, and devotion to duty displayed that day by Master Sergeant Keeble was an inspiration to all around him and reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army
You can read more about MSgt. Keeble here
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look.
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
MSgt. Woodrow Keeble
64 years old from Waubay, South Dakota
May 16, 1917 - January 28, 1982
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Sangsan-ni, Korea, on October 20, 1951. On that day, Master Sergeant Keeble was an acting platoon leader for the support platoon in Company G, 19th Infantry, in the attack on Hill 765, a steep and rugged position that was well defended by the enemy. Leading the support platoon, Master Sergeant Keeble saw that the attacking elements had become pinned down on the slope by heavy enemy fire from three well-fortified and strategically placed enemy positions. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Master Sergeant Keeble dashed forward and joined the pinned-down platoon. Then, hugging the ground, Master Sergeant Keeble crawled forward alone until he was in close proximity to one of the hostile machine-gun emplacements. Ignoring the heavy fire that the crew trained on him, Master Sergeant Keeble activated a grenade and threw it with great accuracy, successfully destroying the position. Continuing his one-man assault, he moved to the second enemy position and destroyed it with another grenade. Despite the fact that the enemy troops were now directing their firepower against him and unleashing a shower of grenades in a frantic attempt to stop his advance, he moved forward against the third hostile emplacement, and skillfully neutralized the remaining enemy position. As his comrades moved forward to join him, Master Sergeant Keeble continued to direct accurate fire against nearby trenches, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Inspired by his courage, Company G successfully moved forward and seized its important objective. The extraordinary courage, selfless service, and devotion to duty displayed that day by Master Sergeant Keeble was an inspiration to all around him and reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army
You can read more about MSgt. Keeble here
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look.
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Is Obama The Last Black American President?
Hat Tip to Faultline USA
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
Obama is, in fact, America's first black President, but he may well be America's LAST black President.
Why?
Racism.
No, I don't mean the practice of racism, I mean, instead, the CLAIM of racism.
We've had 5 years of abject failure by the Obama Administration and a refusal by the democrats to take responsibility for the crashing and burning of their progressive agenda. They continually blame racism for Obama's failure.
If one even disagrees with Obama's direction, he/she is promptly called a racist.
Well, we are sick of it. We have had it up the the gunwales and then some. So, we're not going there again, for a very long time, if ever.
Look. We gave it a chance. In fact, America bent over backwards to accommodate a black president. Many of us think, myself included, we bent way too far.
Obama's Administration was to have been a "feel good" presidency for the political left. They could point to a black man in the White House with vest busting pride and stroke each other over their open-mindedness and their diversity and all the leftist hogwash they regularly spew through the left wing propagandists in the mainstream media.
On inauguration day, 2009, they immediately circled the wagons around Obama with the intention of defending him ... no matter what.
Well, it has now been five very long years of "no matter what." Yes, they are STILL defending him, but they have grown weary, and their jobs are now endangered as a result of their unquestioning loyalty to an obvious Marxist president. The jobs of the press corp are not so much endangered as are the jobs of the democratic legislators in the Congress.
The press can bleed readers and subscribers for a fairly long time before having to cut their losses. Politicians can't bleed voters in like manner. In the past couple of weeks the democrats have been hemorrhaging voters. Thus their throat constricting fear.
As Election 2014 hoists itself over the horizon, panic has seized the hearts of many, if not most, of the democrats in the US Senate and the House. With good reason.
Americans are fed up.
It takes a lot to stoke the spark of rebelliousness in Americans. We put up with Great Britain a long while before rising up and throwing off the king's yoke. Once the American passion for freedom has been fanned into a flame it soon grows into a firestorm.
The democrats are staring down the barrel of a fiery maelstrom straight out of Hell itself ... and they know it!
Those on the right -- AND the left -- no longer feel constrained and are speaking boldly against America's first black President's lies and broken promises, promises not made in good faith to the American people.
In the past few days as I watched and listened to the democrats railing against their very own Obamacare law, William Shakespeare's words as spoken by Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, rolled through my consciousness: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." (Hamlet, act III, scene II) The democrats words sound hollow and insincere as did the words of the Player Queen to whom Hamlet's mother was referring.
One must wonder how all this sniping and back-biting -- and a few flat-out frontal attacks by those who have spent the greater part of the past five years defending him must feel to our deeply narcissistic leader. Obama's skin may be black, but it is seriously and legendarily thin.
Obama and his supporters would do well to remember that no matter what they may call it, this is NOT racism. It is POLITICS and it is a bruising, bitter, blood sport when played in the American political arena.
Black politicians, especially those interested in running for the highest office in the land, should learn that as long as they have coattails their fellow politicians (of the same political persuasion) will happily ride them to acclaim and even victory. BUT -- stumble so that it reflects badly upon them and they will happily hang you with those very same coattails and leave you swinging to and fro in the wind. Mr. Obama has to be feeling the falling away of the many layers of protective insulation he has enjoyed for five years now. It cannot be a pleasurable feeling.
So, our advice to any black politician considering running for President of the United States: insist that your followers, your supporters, your entourage, never allow the word racism to pass their lips. Americans having endured eight years of that lame excuse will not even allow the shadow of that politician to fall upon them.
As I said above -- we've had it with being slammed by accusations of racism when it is noting more than good ole American politics.
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
Obama is, in fact, America's first black President, but he may well be America's LAST black President.
Why?
Racism.
No, I don't mean the practice of racism, I mean, instead, the CLAIM of racism.
We've had 5 years of abject failure by the Obama Administration and a refusal by the democrats to take responsibility for the crashing and burning of their progressive agenda. They continually blame racism for Obama's failure.
If one even disagrees with Obama's direction, he/she is promptly called a racist.
Well, we are sick of it. We have had it up the the gunwales and then some. So, we're not going there again, for a very long time, if ever.
Look. We gave it a chance. In fact, America bent over backwards to accommodate a black president. Many of us think, myself included, we bent way too far.
Obama's Administration was to have been a "feel good" presidency for the political left. They could point to a black man in the White House with vest busting pride and stroke each other over their open-mindedness and their diversity and all the leftist hogwash they regularly spew through the left wing propagandists in the mainstream media.
On inauguration day, 2009, they immediately circled the wagons around Obama with the intention of defending him ... no matter what.
Well, it has now been five very long years of "no matter what." Yes, they are STILL defending him, but they have grown weary, and their jobs are now endangered as a result of their unquestioning loyalty to an obvious Marxist president. The jobs of the press corp are not so much endangered as are the jobs of the democratic legislators in the Congress.
The press can bleed readers and subscribers for a fairly long time before having to cut their losses. Politicians can't bleed voters in like manner. In the past couple of weeks the democrats have been hemorrhaging voters. Thus their throat constricting fear.
As Election 2014 hoists itself over the horizon, panic has seized the hearts of many, if not most, of the democrats in the US Senate and the House. With good reason.
Americans are fed up.
It takes a lot to stoke the spark of rebelliousness in Americans. We put up with Great Britain a long while before rising up and throwing off the king's yoke. Once the American passion for freedom has been fanned into a flame it soon grows into a firestorm.
The democrats are staring down the barrel of a fiery maelstrom straight out of Hell itself ... and they know it!
Those on the right -- AND the left -- no longer feel constrained and are speaking boldly against America's first black President's lies and broken promises, promises not made in good faith to the American people.
In the past few days as I watched and listened to the democrats railing against their very own Obamacare law, William Shakespeare's words as spoken by Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, rolled through my consciousness: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." (Hamlet, act III, scene II) The democrats words sound hollow and insincere as did the words of the Player Queen to whom Hamlet's mother was referring.
One must wonder how all this sniping and back-biting -- and a few flat-out frontal attacks by those who have spent the greater part of the past five years defending him must feel to our deeply narcissistic leader. Obama's skin may be black, but it is seriously and legendarily thin.
Obama and his supporters would do well to remember that no matter what they may call it, this is NOT racism. It is POLITICS and it is a bruising, bitter, blood sport when played in the American political arena.
Black politicians, especially those interested in running for the highest office in the land, should learn that as long as they have coattails their fellow politicians (of the same political persuasion) will happily ride them to acclaim and even victory. BUT -- stumble so that it reflects badly upon them and they will happily hang you with those very same coattails and leave you swinging to and fro in the wind. Mr. Obama has to be feeling the falling away of the many layers of protective insulation he has enjoyed for five years now. It cannot be a pleasurable feeling.
So, our advice to any black politician considering running for President of the United States: insist that your followers, your supporters, your entourage, never allow the word racism to pass their lips. Americans having endured eight years of that lame excuse will not even allow the shadow of that politician to fall upon them.
As I said above -- we've had it with being slammed by accusations of racism when it is noting more than good ole American politics.
Monday, November 18, 2013
LA CAIR Director Flips Out Over Hamas Question
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Hat tip Investigative Project on Terrorism
It seems CAIR's Southern California director Hussam Ayloush has a short fuse. That was evidenced Saturday night at the annual CAIR convention at the Anaheim Hilton when a photographer interviewed him and asked him the magic question of whether he or CAIR would condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization. The interview started casually enough when the topic was about the FBI cutting off relations with CAIR and allowed Ayloush to get in a couple of sideways jabs at the FBI. Then things went south when the subject of Hamas came up. Watch and enjoy.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/4214/cair-ayloush-gives-dishonest-bullying-answer-to
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
Hat tip Investigative Project on Terrorism
It seems CAIR's Southern California director Hussam Ayloush has a short fuse. That was evidenced Saturday night at the annual CAIR convention at the Anaheim Hilton when a photographer interviewed him and asked him the magic question of whether he or CAIR would condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization. The interview started casually enough when the topic was about the FBI cutting off relations with CAIR and allowed Ayloush to get in a couple of sideways jabs at the FBI. Then things went south when the subject of Hamas came up. Watch and enjoy.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/4214/cair-ayloush-gives-dishonest-bullying-answer-to
President Pinocchio’s War of Distraction
From The Blaze
Once upon a time, the Prince of Hope-N-Change stomped angrily around the White Castle. He jumped on the furniture, and kicked his golf bag so hard he snapped the shaft of his favorite putter.
Why was he so filled with rage?
Because, for the first time ever, he had been caught in his gollywhomper lies.
“Like your doctor? Keep your doctor. Period.”
“Like your health care plan? Keep your health care plan. Period.”
Being nailed as a “mis-spoken teller of incorrect truth” had caused the Prince of Hope-N-Change’s popularity and job approval ratings to plummet. Even his media lap dogs had turned against him. Instead of being cheered as the “Chosen One,” he was mocked and called “The Lying King,” and “President Pinocchio.”
All those years of campaigning for his healthcare plan, traveling hither and yon, toughing it out in five-star golf resorts, accompanied by teleprompters, valets, drama coaches, and food tasters…all that effort had been expended for nothing. His adoring public had lost that lovin’ feeling.
How did this happen? Increasing numbers of citizens learned what was in the 2,000+ pages of his healthcare law. They discovered what he had known all along. Obamacare would force millions of citizens to lose their healthcare plans and doctors and be shoved into insurance programs they couldn’t afford and didn’t want.
Obamacare had been exposed for what it was: redistribution of wealth in America, a yellow brick road leading to single-payer socialized medicine.
Medicaid for all. Quality for none.
Desperate to escape the mantle of responsibility, the Prince snuck into a basement vault to consult his most trusted oracle.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, am I still beloved by all?”
“Poof!” The image of the magic mirror lady, Ezmerelda, floated into the mirror.
“Hello Dearie. You might want to rephrase? Begin with a question I can answer in a positive manner.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change thought for a moment.
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, can I still out snooker all?”
Ezmerelda nodded. “Of course you can. Simply launch a distraction or two.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change asked, “You mean, like a war with Iran or Syria? Maybe Israel?”
“Pray tell, why would you attack your one and only ally in the Mid East?”
“I told Israel to shift their border back to where it was in 1966, but they won’t do it, and I gotta’ teach ‘um a lesson about . . .”
Ezmerelda interrupted. “Dearie, you are the least qualified person on the planet to advise or demand anything from any country. Your foreign policy track record is exactly 100 percent failure. You gave the Mid East to Russia; betrayed your Brotherhood pals in Egypt; backed out of Libya; lost Yemen to terrorist control; armed Al Qaeda in Syria, and dumped Saudi Arabia and Israel under the bus. Better you should focus on distractions at home.”
“Start by hopping back onto the women’s rights bandwagon. But, beware. The right-to-life voices are louder than ever. It’s time to rewrite your history of infanticide support when you were in the Illinois State Senate. And bury those stubborn statistics about the one million babies murdered by your beloved abortion mill, Planned Parenthood, since you came into office.”
“Then, focus on how America’s children must be our #1 priority. Assign your journalists to plant Public Service Announcements about how Obamacare not only supports vital health services for women, but also covers prenatal, pediatric, and dental care for children.”
“And then there’s immigration reform. Sign an executive order to bring millions of your illegal amigos out of the shadows. Give them healthcare, food stamps, ballots printed in Spanish, a $15 minimum wage, and a fast track to citizenship.”
“You’ll love the opposition’s predictable reaction. They’ll jump on the you-can’t-do-that bandwagon and stop beating the drum to repeal Obamacare.”
“Last, but not least, bring gun control back into the national discussion. And for heaven’s sake, DO NOT mention your Fast and Furious gun running debacle. (Pardon my French, but that was a friggin’ stupid program! What were you thinking?) Round up survivors of various mass shootings for another show ‘n tell victim parade. Serve lunch and Kool-Aid to ensure a big media turnout.”
“Republicans are so predictable. They always chase after every diversion…like ferrets pursuing bright, shiny objects.”
Ezmerelda lowered her voice. “Dearie…you need to be aware that the illogical (and juvenile) advice from Michelle and Valerie has turned Obamacare into an industrial-strength train wreck. Those apology speeches? Totally lame. Irritated everybody. If you refuse to apologize, at least ask the most trusted man in America to teach you how to look remorseful.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change looked puzzled.
Ezmerelda explained. “Invite Tom Hanks for lunch and a coaching session.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change asked, “What will happen if Obamacare implodes or is repealed by my own democrats?”
“No problemo. Hillarycare’s single-payer system will finish the take-over program you botched.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change whined, “But, but, but…her plan is just like mine. It’s not fair to name it after her instead of me.”
Ezmerelda replied, “To the whinner go the spoils.”
“Oh, and one more thing, Dearie. Plan a private dinner party for your most important democrat Senators. Ply them with artery-clogging steaks, French wines, and Cuban cigars. And for dessert? Their just rewards. Promise to destroy the political future of any one of them who does not support the Obama team distraction strategies on women’s rights, amnesty, and gun control.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change protested. “But, but…they won’t want to come for dinner, or even be seen in the same room with me. Especially the senators coming up for reelection in 2014.”
Ezmerelda gave him a squinty-eyed look. “You need to convince them to go along with what you propose.”
“How can I do that?”
“Make them an offer they can’t refuse.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change was puzzled. “What would that be?”
Ezmerelda smiled, “Threaten to campaign for them on their home turf.”
Once upon a time, the Prince of Hope-N-Change stomped angrily around the White Castle. He jumped on the furniture, and kicked his golf bag so hard he snapped the shaft of his favorite putter.
Why was he so filled with rage?
Because, for the first time ever, he had been caught in his gollywhomper lies.
“Like your doctor? Keep your doctor. Period.”
“Like your health care plan? Keep your health care plan. Period.”
Being nailed as a “mis-spoken teller of incorrect truth” had caused the Prince of Hope-N-Change’s popularity and job approval ratings to plummet. Even his media lap dogs had turned against him. Instead of being cheered as the “Chosen One,” he was mocked and called “The Lying King,” and “President Pinocchio.”
All those years of campaigning for his healthcare plan, traveling hither and yon, toughing it out in five-star golf resorts, accompanied by teleprompters, valets, drama coaches, and food tasters…all that effort had been expended for nothing. His adoring public had lost that lovin’ feeling.
How did this happen? Increasing numbers of citizens learned what was in the 2,000+ pages of his healthcare law. They discovered what he had known all along. Obamacare would force millions of citizens to lose their healthcare plans and doctors and be shoved into insurance programs they couldn’t afford and didn’t want.
Obamacare had been exposed for what it was: redistribution of wealth in America, a yellow brick road leading to single-payer socialized medicine.
Medicaid for all. Quality for none.
Desperate to escape the mantle of responsibility, the Prince snuck into a basement vault to consult his most trusted oracle.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, am I still beloved by all?”
“Poof!” The image of the magic mirror lady, Ezmerelda, floated into the mirror.
“Hello Dearie. You might want to rephrase? Begin with a question I can answer in a positive manner.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change thought for a moment.
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, can I still out snooker all?”
Ezmerelda nodded. “Of course you can. Simply launch a distraction or two.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change asked, “You mean, like a war with Iran or Syria? Maybe Israel?”
“Pray tell, why would you attack your one and only ally in the Mid East?”
“I told Israel to shift their border back to where it was in 1966, but they won’t do it, and I gotta’ teach ‘um a lesson about . . .”
Ezmerelda interrupted. “Dearie, you are the least qualified person on the planet to advise or demand anything from any country. Your foreign policy track record is exactly 100 percent failure. You gave the Mid East to Russia; betrayed your Brotherhood pals in Egypt; backed out of Libya; lost Yemen to terrorist control; armed Al Qaeda in Syria, and dumped Saudi Arabia and Israel under the bus. Better you should focus on distractions at home.”
“Start by hopping back onto the women’s rights bandwagon. But, beware. The right-to-life voices are louder than ever. It’s time to rewrite your history of infanticide support when you were in the Illinois State Senate. And bury those stubborn statistics about the one million babies murdered by your beloved abortion mill, Planned Parenthood, since you came into office.”
“Then, focus on how America’s children must be our #1 priority. Assign your journalists to plant Public Service Announcements about how Obamacare not only supports vital health services for women, but also covers prenatal, pediatric, and dental care for children.”
“And then there’s immigration reform. Sign an executive order to bring millions of your illegal amigos out of the shadows. Give them healthcare, food stamps, ballots printed in Spanish, a $15 minimum wage, and a fast track to citizenship.”
“You’ll love the opposition’s predictable reaction. They’ll jump on the you-can’t-do-that bandwagon and stop beating the drum to repeal Obamacare.”
“Last, but not least, bring gun control back into the national discussion. And for heaven’s sake, DO NOT mention your Fast and Furious gun running debacle. (Pardon my French, but that was a friggin’ stupid program! What were you thinking?) Round up survivors of various mass shootings for another show ‘n tell victim parade. Serve lunch and Kool-Aid to ensure a big media turnout.”
“Republicans are so predictable. They always chase after every diversion…like ferrets pursuing bright, shiny objects.”
Ezmerelda lowered her voice. “Dearie…you need to be aware that the illogical (and juvenile) advice from Michelle and Valerie has turned Obamacare into an industrial-strength train wreck. Those apology speeches? Totally lame. Irritated everybody. If you refuse to apologize, at least ask the most trusted man in America to teach you how to look remorseful.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change looked puzzled.
Ezmerelda explained. “Invite Tom Hanks for lunch and a coaching session.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change asked, “What will happen if Obamacare implodes or is repealed by my own democrats?”
“No problemo. Hillarycare’s single-payer system will finish the take-over program you botched.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change whined, “But, but, but…her plan is just like mine. It’s not fair to name it after her instead of me.”
Ezmerelda replied, “To the whinner go the spoils.”
“Oh, and one more thing, Dearie. Plan a private dinner party for your most important democrat Senators. Ply them with artery-clogging steaks, French wines, and Cuban cigars. And for dessert? Their just rewards. Promise to destroy the political future of any one of them who does not support the Obama team distraction strategies on women’s rights, amnesty, and gun control.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change protested. “But, but…they won’t want to come for dinner, or even be seen in the same room with me. Especially the senators coming up for reelection in 2014.”
Ezmerelda gave him a squinty-eyed look. “You need to convince them to go along with what you propose.”
“How can I do that?”
“Make them an offer they can’t refuse.”
The Prince of Hope-N-Change was puzzled. “What would that be?”
Ezmerelda smiled, “Threaten to campaign for them on their home turf.”
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Muslim Persecution Of Christians: August, 2013
The attacks on Egypt’s Coptic Christians and their churches that began in July on the heels of the popular June 30 Revolution — which saw the ousting of President Morsi and prompted the Muslim Brotherhood to scapegoat and incite violence against the Copts — became even more brutal in mid-August after security forces cleared out Brotherhood “sit in” camps, where people were being tortured, raped, and murdered. Among other things, over 80 Christian churches were attacked and often torched. (Click here for a brief video of one of these many churches set aflame.)
Upper Egypt, especially Minya, which has a large Christian minority, was hit especially hard, with at least 20 attacks on churches, Christian schools and orphanages. “The Islamists,” one resident said, “burnt and destroyed everything. Their goal was to erase all the traces of a Christian presence; even the orphanages were looted and destroyed.” After storming the Prince Tadros el-Shatbi Church, Morsi supporters turned their attention to two homes for disadvantaged children located near the parish church; there, they stole church offerings, clothes, and children’s games before torching the entire building in a fire that lasted over five hours.
The attacks were not limited to inanimate objects. According to the BBC, 10-year-old Jessi Boulus, an only child, was walking home from her Bible class in a working-class area of the capital when a gunman killed her with a single shot to the chest. Her mother, Phoebe, devastated, believes Jessi was targeted purely because she was Christian.
The attacks on Egypt’s Christians were so fierce that, at one point, when they started to run out of food, they were afraid to come out of their homes for fear of being killed by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Many churches canceled services. Even at the Virgin Mary monastery, which was also torched, one priest said, “We did not hold prayers in the monastery on Sunday for the first time in 1,600 years.”
Although some in the West assert that the Christian minority needs to fight fire with fire, when one 60-year-old Copt tried to do just that, firing a gun in the air to scare away an invading Islamic mob, “It proved a fatal error,” the Sunday Times reported: “They took offence at the fact that a Christian fired in the air against them, and they stormed his home and shot him to death before taking his body away and hacking it into parts.”
Scenes reminiscent of the original Islamic conquest of Seventh Century Egypt replayed themselves: an Evangelical church in the village of Bedin was not only attacked but converted into a mosque. Similarly, as reported by the AP, “After torching a Franciscan school, Islamists paraded three nuns on the streets like ‘prisoners of war’ before a Muslim woman offered them refuge. Two other women working at the school were sexually harassed and abused as they fought their way through a mob.”
Meanwhile, the Western mainstream media sympathized with the Brotherhood while ignoring the Coptic victims. Even the Coptic Church criticized the “false broadcast by Western media” and called for an “objective” revision to be made of the actions of those “blood-thirsty radical organizations…. [I]nstead of legitimizing them with global support and political coverage while they are trying to wreak havoc and destruction upon our beloved laid, report all events truthfully and accurately.”
One activist said of the U.S. and the EU, that they “almost daily issue statements threatening to take further actions against our interim government and army, portraying the Muslim Brotherhood as victims while not even mentioning the destruction of over 80 churches, as well monasteries, orphanages, businesses and Coptic schools by the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Father Rafic Greiche, the chief spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, criticized President Obama for not speaking out against the worst violence against Egyptian Christians in nearly 700 years: “President Obama when he made a speech he just touched on the burning churches instead of telling the Muslim Brotherhood that they are terrorists and they are making terror on Egypt. He did not speak loud for this and shame on him if he is a Christian that he does not speak out loud.”
Even more telling, although human rights activists and lawmakers have long been asking that U.S. aid to Egypt be made contingent on the respect for the human rights of minorities such as the Copts, the Obama administration failed to include such a condition. In a direct response to the ousting of the Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, however, the administration did reduce U.S. aid to Egypt by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The rest of August’s roundup of Muslim persecution of Christians around the world includes (but is not limited to) the following accounts, listed by theme and country in alphabetical order, not according to severity:
Attacks on Christian Places of Worship
Nigeria: A report revealed that, since January 2012 alone, 50 Christian churches were attacked and 366 people killed in those attacks. (Attacks on churches,
however, have been going on for well over a decade; hundreds if not thousands of churches have been destroyed.) In August, a Muslim mob with knives and iron rods injured several members of the St. James Anglican Cathedral in Nasarawa—including three pastors, four elders and choir members. According to a source, a “Muslim woman sent her children to purchase water from the church’s borehole, and then a misunderstanding over about 5 naira [less than 1 cent US$] occurred. The Muslim woman then went and invited some of her Muslim neighbors, who stormed the church and attacked the members of the church” as well as damaging Bibles and other property.Syria: The Antiochian Orthodox church of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus, one of only two churches that served many Christians, was demolished after the Free Syrian Army took over the region of Thawrah. According to one Christian refugee: “They [FSA] tore up the sanctuary curtains, Bibles and other holy books, and broke all the crosses, chairs and icons of Jesus and the saints. They stole electrical appliances like fans, chandeliers and lights. They took whatever was in the church, and sold it all. There is nothing there now.”
Turkey: After the Christian staff of the Saint Abraham monastery told a group of Muslims that visiting hours were over, the Muslims threatened, cursed, and ultimately attackedthe staff, saying “we own this land, obey us or you will be sorry.” According to a member of the monastery, “The monastery was attacked two months before this incident by young [Muslim] Kurds from the town of Batman, but we decided not to go public about it, this time we decided it’s enough. We gave the police the footage from the surveillance camera from the previous attack and now it is gone and no one was punished. They promised us to put guards here but we don’t see any and when they [the police] came yesterday, they attacked us with pepper spray instead of the attackers. Certainly all this cannot be merely coincidences.”
Apostasy, Blasphemy, and Proselytism
Iran: Mohammad-Hadi Bordbar, known as Mostafa, an Iranian convert to Christianity, was sentenced to ten years in prison under the pretext of “crimes against state security.” Court documents state that the man confessed to “having abandoned Islam to follow Christianity … considering evangelization his duty, he distributed 12,000 pocket gospels.” According to Agenzia Fides, “After having received baptism, Mostafa had set up a ‘house church,’ an assembly of home worship, with prayer meetings at home, which are considered ‘illegal.’ Mostafa was arrested in Tehran on December 27, 2012, after a police raid at his house. The security officers detained and interrogated all those present at the meeting for hours, about 50 Iranian Christians. In his home the police found material and Christian publications, such as movies, books, CDs and over 6,000 copies of the Gospel. Mostafa had already been arrested in 2009 for conversion to Christianity, found guilty of apostasy,
then released on bail. Similarly, Ebrahim Firouzi, another young convert from Islam to Christianity, was sentenced to one year in jail followed by two years in exile, after being accused of starting and directing an evangelism group, launching a Christian website, distributing Bibles and Christian literature, and attending house churches. The judge described such activities as “propagating against the Islamic regime” and said that Ebrahim was “an anti-Islamic Revolution agent inside the country.”Uzbekistan: In the Samarkand region, some 30 police officers along with 60 other officials raided a Christian children’s camp, subjecting all 22 children to questioning. Brandishing their batons, police collected statements from the nine adults present at the camp, and all the children, including the youngest, and took them all to the police station for further questioning before releasing them. Officials confiscated a number of items including Christian literature and Uzbek-language New Testaments. Next, police raided the homes of the four adults who organized the children’s camp, and confiscated more Christian literature. It is believed that anti-proselytism related charges will be leveled against the four.
Slaughter of Christians
Central African Republic: Anywhere from 15 Christians to dozens, including a five-month-old baby, were slaughtered and 14 Christian villages emptied, after the Islamic group Seleka, which earlier seized the African nation’s leadership, raided their villages. According to Fr. Gazzera, a local missionary priest from Italy, “It was terrible. Many villages are like ghost towns because they are completely empty. Witnesses told me that the rebels had thrown the bodies of those killed in the river.” During a sermon, the priest lamented how the Islamic takeover of the country is producing “victims of the worst kind of barbarism” who “are being tortured and killed,” while “our mothers and sisters are being raped.”Nigeria: A former Muslim terrorist recounted in detail the jihad on Christians and how Islamic organizations in the nation, not just Boko Haram, see the slaughter of Christians as one of the loftiest goals to which Muslims can aspire. He also explained how, “If we ask our victim, ‘Will you become a Muslim or not’ and he or she refuses, we will slaughter him like a goat…”
Somalia: Suspected al-Shabaab Islamic militants kidnapped and sexually abused a 28-year-old Christian wife and mother, while calling her an “infidel.” They also texted her husband, who had fled with their small children, saying: “Your wife has told us all about your Christian involvement and soon we shall come for you too.”
Syria: Islamic rebels killed Paolo Dall’Oglio an Italian Jesuit priest who had earlier disappeared in the east of the country. Before being slaughtered, the priest had served for three decades in the Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian. Activists say he was killed by the al-Qaeda linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Dall’Oglio’s disappearance follows the kidnappings of the Greek Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox archbishops of Aleppo; Paul Yazigi and Yohanna Ibrahim were both kidnapped after gunmen intercepted their vehicle and killed its driver near Kafr Dael as the clergymen returned from a humanitarian relief mission on April 22. They are both believed to be held by Chechen jihadists. Aside from religious leaders, hundreds of regular Christians have been abducted and held for ransom, an activity that is legal according to Sharia in the context of the jihad.
Dhimmitude
[Contempt for ‘Infidels’]
Indonesia: During celebrations marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and praying, an unidentified person hurled two Molotov cocktails into the compound of the Assisi Catholic School in South Jakarta, the
same school U.S. President Barack Obama attended as a pupil before moving to another facility located in Central Jakarta. According to police sources, the Islamic extremists responsible for the bombings and attacks on religious minorities in Java are linked to the same Islamic groups that beheaded three Christian girls on their way to school in 2005.Malaysia: A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal ruled unanimously in favor of the proposed ban on Christians publications from using the word “Allah.” In 2009, when this issue of Christians using the word “Allah” was popularized, churches were vandalized and those supporting the Christians’ using the word “Allah” threatened with death. Also in 2009, the government seized shipments of local language Christian Bibles because they contained the Arabic word for the deity.
Pakistan: A Christian woman and her children are under great pressure to convert to Islam or die by the Muslim family of their deceased husband and father. According to the mother, Martha Bibi, “When I got married, the relatives [of my husband] began to exert pressure so that I convert [to Islam]. But my husband stood up for me, saying that ‘my wife and my children should feel free to profess their faith.’ However, after his death his brothers have begun to terrorize us. They have sworn to kill us if we do not convert to Islam.” Also, approximately 30 armed Muslims attacked a Christian colony by opening fire at residents and throwing projectiles at their homes and local church. The colony, Shah Bagh, is near Joseph colony, where earlier nearly 200 Christian homes were torched by rampaging Muslims. The attack was prompted after a local Christian tried to stop the cable operator from charging Christians more money for cable access. Many Christians were injured, often with bullet wounds.
Sinai Peninsula (Egypt): In the Sinai Peninsula, now populated with jihadis, members of the Muslim Bedouins are abducting Christians and holding them ransom for exorbitant sums. When their often destitute families are unable to pay for their release, the Christians are tortured to death—including by crucifixion. Shahar Shoham, director of Physicians for Human Rights, told CBN News : “Sinai was always a place for human smuggling, but since around two years ago—even a bit more—it started also to be a place of human torture. They torture them in horrible methods, like hanging upside down from the ceiling, like using electric shocks, like burning them on their bodies.”
Syria: Concerning the Islamic rebel takeover of Christian regions, one refugee lamented how “if any Christians want to go back they have to become Muslim or else they will be killed.” Displaced Christians further report their property stolen, their homes confiscated, and their possessions sold on the black market. Another refugee lamented they were running out of places to flee: “All the roads are full of rebel fighters. It’s really dangerous. We have lost everything. There is nothing for us over there now, nothing to return to. We just need help to get out of here and settle in a country that is safe.”
About this Series
- To document that which the mainstream media does not: the habitual, if not chronic, persecution of Christians.
- To show that such persecution is not “random,” but systematic and interrelated—that it is rooted in a worldview inspired by Sharia.
Because these accounts of persecution span different ethnicities, languages, and locales—from Morocco in the West, to India in the East—it should be clear that one thing alone binds them: Islam—whether the strict application of Islamic Sharia law, or the supremacist culture born of it.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
What Ben White Doesn't Tell You About the Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
As reported this week, Ben White spoke at UC Irvine as part of his tour of North American college campuses. White is part of world-wide effort to discredit the Jewish state. Apart from his presentation being an old power point presentation that he repeats over and over, it only tells you one side of a complicated issue. Here are some examples:
White focuses on the plight of the Palestinian refugees who left what is now Israel during the fighting in 1948. What he doesn't tell you is that a large portion of these people were encouraged to do so by the Arab nations launching an attack upon Israel. They were promised that once Israel was defeated, they could return. Instead, Israel was not defeated and those people proceeded to languish in refugee camps over the ensuing decades.
White also doesn't tell you about the 500-600,000 Jews living in Arab lands who were driven out during the same period.
White likes to tell his audiences about the "discrimination" that Palestinians living in Israel suffer. What he doesn't tell you is they not only enjoy freedom of religion, but have more freedom and more rights than in the neighboring lands including Gaza and the West Bank.
White is very dismissive of Israel's desire to remain a Jewish state. He quotes Israeli politicians who have reportedly talked of the need to retain the Jewish character of Israel. Of course, he says nothing about the Hamas charter in Gaza, which quotes the hadith of hate about the Day of Atonement and the Jew hiding behind the tree which calls out to the Muslim, "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him." Or the quoting in the charter of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, or the Palestinian media in the West Bank which teaches the kiddies that Jews are evil apes and pigs. Palestinian terrorism? Not a word. Nor does White concern himself with innocent Israelis who are murdered by Palestinians. He doesn't talk about the Fogel family, for example. The first time he spoke at UCI in 2010, a woman in the audience brought up another family murdered in one of the settlements. White's reaction was that they were illegal settlers. The woman added that they were Jewish human beings. White dismissively responded that they were Jewish illegal settler human beings. I was there. I heard it.
White says that Gaza is "besieged". He doesn't tell you that there is not one single Israeli soldier or even one Jew in Gaza. Nor does he mention the rockets that fly into southern Israel from Gaza aimed at school yards. (This past week, there was a presentation at UCI by a resident of Sderot, which suffers the most from these rocket attacks. Aside from myself, only about 20 people, mostly Jewish students attended.)
White says that the West Bank is "occupied". That is the terminology of his side. The West Bank is still disputed territory, land that is to be decided by an eventual treaty between Israel and the Palestinians-if that ever happens. That includes those settlements, which White calls "illegal". If I am not mistaken that land was captured by Israel in 1967, when the Arab world decided to go to war with Israel. Egypt had Gaza, and Jordan had the West Bank. That's what happens when invading nations lose wars. Ask the Germans whatever happened to Koenigsberg, Stettin, Breslau, and Gleiwitz. Moreover, occupation is when one country occupies another. When was "Palestine" ever a country? The answer is never.
Of course, White said nothing about the recent prisoner release of convicted terrorists, which was part of some crazy deal to get the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. (I just read last night that the Palestinian negotiating team has resigned.)
And of, course, White has nothing at all to say about the murder, mayhem, civil war, and religious persecution going on from one corner of the Islamic world to the other, mostly at or near Israel's doorstep. White's only preoccupation is that tiny Jewish state of Israel, aside from its security issues, a free and successful state in a sea of failed states.
White presents one side of a very complicated issue. Few deny that Palestinians have some valid issues. However, to present only one side of this issue while ignoring the other side is what I call dishonest journalism and propaganda. That is what Ben White is; a propagandist and dishonest journalist.
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
As reported this week, Ben White spoke at UC Irvine as part of his tour of North American college campuses. White is part of world-wide effort to discredit the Jewish state. Apart from his presentation being an old power point presentation that he repeats over and over, it only tells you one side of a complicated issue. Here are some examples:
White focuses on the plight of the Palestinian refugees who left what is now Israel during the fighting in 1948. What he doesn't tell you is that a large portion of these people were encouraged to do so by the Arab nations launching an attack upon Israel. They were promised that once Israel was defeated, they could return. Instead, Israel was not defeated and those people proceeded to languish in refugee camps over the ensuing decades.
White also doesn't tell you about the 500-600,000 Jews living in Arab lands who were driven out during the same period.
White likes to tell his audiences about the "discrimination" that Palestinians living in Israel suffer. What he doesn't tell you is they not only enjoy freedom of religion, but have more freedom and more rights than in the neighboring lands including Gaza and the West Bank.
White is very dismissive of Israel's desire to remain a Jewish state. He quotes Israeli politicians who have reportedly talked of the need to retain the Jewish character of Israel. Of course, he says nothing about the Hamas charter in Gaza, which quotes the hadith of hate about the Day of Atonement and the Jew hiding behind the tree which calls out to the Muslim, "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him." Or the quoting in the charter of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, or the Palestinian media in the West Bank which teaches the kiddies that Jews are evil apes and pigs. Palestinian terrorism? Not a word. Nor does White concern himself with innocent Israelis who are murdered by Palestinians. He doesn't talk about the Fogel family, for example. The first time he spoke at UCI in 2010, a woman in the audience brought up another family murdered in one of the settlements. White's reaction was that they were illegal settlers. The woman added that they were Jewish human beings. White dismissively responded that they were Jewish illegal settler human beings. I was there. I heard it.
White says that Gaza is "besieged". He doesn't tell you that there is not one single Israeli soldier or even one Jew in Gaza. Nor does he mention the rockets that fly into southern Israel from Gaza aimed at school yards. (This past week, there was a presentation at UCI by a resident of Sderot, which suffers the most from these rocket attacks. Aside from myself, only about 20 people, mostly Jewish students attended.)
White says that the West Bank is "occupied". That is the terminology of his side. The West Bank is still disputed territory, land that is to be decided by an eventual treaty between Israel and the Palestinians-if that ever happens. That includes those settlements, which White calls "illegal". If I am not mistaken that land was captured by Israel in 1967, when the Arab world decided to go to war with Israel. Egypt had Gaza, and Jordan had the West Bank. That's what happens when invading nations lose wars. Ask the Germans whatever happened to Koenigsberg, Stettin, Breslau, and Gleiwitz. Moreover, occupation is when one country occupies another. When was "Palestine" ever a country? The answer is never.
Of course, White said nothing about the recent prisoner release of convicted terrorists, which was part of some crazy deal to get the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. (I just read last night that the Palestinian negotiating team has resigned.)
And of, course, White has nothing at all to say about the murder, mayhem, civil war, and religious persecution going on from one corner of the Islamic world to the other, mostly at or near Israel's doorstep. White's only preoccupation is that tiny Jewish state of Israel, aside from its security issues, a free and successful state in a sea of failed states.
White presents one side of a very complicated issue. Few deny that Palestinians have some valid issues. However, to present only one side of this issue while ignoring the other side is what I call dishonest journalism and propaganda. That is what Ben White is; a propagandist and dishonest journalist.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
MPAC Declaration Against Extremism
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
I recently reported on an event at the Islamic Center of Southern California on November 2 in Los Angeles, in which the Muslim Public Affairs Council was to make a declaration against extremism. The event was only attended by about 50 people and the much-anticipated declaration was not immediately published.
A friend has made inquiries about the declaration from MPAC and was provided with the below link:
http://www.mpac.org/assets/docs/2013/MPAC-Declaration-Against-Extremism.pdf
I will let the reader decide how specific this declaration is.
It should be noted that this link is not on the main MPAC website and thus, does not seem designed to garner much attention. It raises the question as to what will be the reaction from the rest of the major Islamic organizations in the US and abroad. Will they support this statement, interpret in their own way, ignore it, or denounce it?
The much-ballyhooed event in Los Angeles seems to have ended with a whimper.
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
I recently reported on an event at the Islamic Center of Southern California on November 2 in Los Angeles, in which the Muslim Public Affairs Council was to make a declaration against extremism. The event was only attended by about 50 people and the much-anticipated declaration was not immediately published.
A friend has made inquiries about the declaration from MPAC and was provided with the below link:
http://www.mpac.org/assets/docs/2013/MPAC-Declaration-Against-Extremism.pdf
I will let the reader decide how specific this declaration is.
It should be noted that this link is not on the main MPAC website and thus, does not seem designed to garner much attention. It raises the question as to what will be the reaction from the rest of the major Islamic organizations in the US and abroad. Will they support this statement, interpret in their own way, ignore it, or denounce it?
The much-ballyhooed event in Los Angeles seems to have ended with a whimper.
Boring Ben White Sings the Same Old Song at UC Irvine
Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
"And as you can see in this next slide....."
Tonight Ben White spoke at UC Irvine for the third time and guess what. He had the same tired old Power Point presentation as the last two times. On Thursday, this guy is going to speak at Brooklyn College, and everybody is acting like it's a big deal. Letters are being written, protests are being planned, and politicians are making statements.
Tonight, Ben spoke in a room half full of about 30-35 people. OK, maybe it was 36.
This is the third time I have pissed away an evening or afternoon watching and listening to this British bore repeat the same old points about Israel and the Palestinians and show the same faded slides with his little bullet points, maps and what-have-you.
Think about it; this guy is on a 13 day tour of North American college campuses saying the same things as he said the last time he was here. Who is paying for this, I wonder. Tonight's extravaganza was hosted by the Students for Justice in Palestine. They were expecting 70-100+ people. They got about 35-plus me.
If you are wondering, yes, I video taped it, but I don't know if I will go to the bother of posting it. Why put you through it?
Of course, I asked a question, and it went like this:
"When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questioned the Holocaust and threatened to wipe Israel off the map, you reportedly came to his defense on both occasions, saying, 'He didn't really mean it that way.' You have also been reported as having said that while you yourself were not anti-Semitic, you could understand why some people were. I can imagine if someone made a statement like that in the US about Hispanic Americans or black Americans, they would lose all credibility and support, but why have your supporters given you a pass when you say the same thing about Jews-and why shouldn't I, as a Gentile, suspect that this whole conflict is not so much about land as it is about religion?"
Well, young Ben handled that one pretty adroitly, I must say. He simply refused to address it. He said that he would not respond to personal questions, that his record of opposing anti-Semitism was clear, and that his statements were readily available on the right-wing smear sites. To that, Ben got applause from the other 35 people (almost all students) in the room. ( I will post that exchange later this week. It takes me a bit more time than others to handle the technology.)
So to all you folks in Brooklyn who are planning to go hear Ben talk Thursday, good luck. I suggest you bring along a good book to read. The guy is as dry as dust.
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
"And as you can see in this next slide....."
Tonight Ben White spoke at UC Irvine for the third time and guess what. He had the same tired old Power Point presentation as the last two times. On Thursday, this guy is going to speak at Brooklyn College, and everybody is acting like it's a big deal. Letters are being written, protests are being planned, and politicians are making statements.
Tonight, Ben spoke in a room half full of about 30-35 people. OK, maybe it was 36.
This is the third time I have pissed away an evening or afternoon watching and listening to this British bore repeat the same old points about Israel and the Palestinians and show the same faded slides with his little bullet points, maps and what-have-you.
Think about it; this guy is on a 13 day tour of North American college campuses saying the same things as he said the last time he was here. Who is paying for this, I wonder. Tonight's extravaganza was hosted by the Students for Justice in Palestine. They were expecting 70-100+ people. They got about 35-plus me.
If you are wondering, yes, I video taped it, but I don't know if I will go to the bother of posting it. Why put you through it?
Of course, I asked a question, and it went like this:
"When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questioned the Holocaust and threatened to wipe Israel off the map, you reportedly came to his defense on both occasions, saying, 'He didn't really mean it that way.' You have also been reported as having said that while you yourself were not anti-Semitic, you could understand why some people were. I can imagine if someone made a statement like that in the US about Hispanic Americans or black Americans, they would lose all credibility and support, but why have your supporters given you a pass when you say the same thing about Jews-and why shouldn't I, as a Gentile, suspect that this whole conflict is not so much about land as it is about religion?"
Well, young Ben handled that one pretty adroitly, I must say. He simply refused to address it. He said that he would not respond to personal questions, that his record of opposing anti-Semitism was clear, and that his statements were readily available on the right-wing smear sites. To that, Ben got applause from the other 35 people (almost all students) in the room. ( I will post that exchange later this week. It takes me a bit more time than others to handle the technology.)
So to all you folks in Brooklyn who are planning to go hear Ben talk Thursday, good luck. I suggest you bring along a good book to read. The guy is as dry as dust.
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