Israel-Hamas Conflict

Attack On Universities And Freedom Of Inquiry: Discrimination Against Foreign Students!

Ronald 17 Comments

The Donald Trump Administration has declared war on freedom of inquiry on college and university campuses, and have arrested and plan to deport foreign students on visas who have expressed criticism of the Israel-Gaza War, which has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, a vast majority being women and children, NOT Hamas terrorists. The government is claiming that these students expressing their views are a threat to national security.

This author and blogger agrees that Hamas is a terrorist organization, responsible for the deaths of 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023, the greatest loss of Jewish lives since the Nazi Holocaust of World War II, which murdered close to 6 million Jews in Europe.

One can consider Hamas reprehensible, and consider the right of a strong response to that horrendous massacre nearly 18 months ago. But with the continued assault and lack of concern about the loss of innocent Palestinian lives with no sign of ending, the fact that people of conscience and principle might speak out or write against the continued tragedy, should not be grounds for arrest and deportation for expression of their freedom of speech.

If violence takes place, that is a different story, but there is no indication that foreign students who have been detained and sent to a Louisiana ICE Prison facility, have indeed been engaged in more than their constitutional rights to the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, press, and assembly, with all who are living in the United States being entitled to such rights. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had stated that such was the case.

The use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 had not been used since World War II, and has only been used three times in a situation of declarations of war, which is not the case presently.

So Secretary of State Marco Rubio has abused his power to order arrests based solely on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 during the Red Scare “McCarthyism” Era, and reinforced in updating of the law in 1988. Again, Scalia had so declared his belief that these laws went too far!

Trump And Nation To Be Confronted With Massive Foreign Policy Issues Immediately Upon Inauguration On January 20!

Ronald 7 Comments

Like it or not, Donald Trump is going to face massive foreign policy issues immediately upon inauguration six weeks from today.

Trump has said the downfall of Bashar Al Assad in Syria is not our business.

But it changes the balance of power in the Middle East, and with the continuation of the Israel-Gaza War and the involvement of both Russia and Iran in the area, the ability of the United States to wish to ignore the problems is not reality!

Additionally, the Russia-Ukraine War is a crucial issue, with Trump seemingly ready to abandon Ukraine, which will undermine NATO.

Trump’s pledge to put high tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada will also upend our foreign relations, if followed through to fruition.

And, of course, China and North Korea remain difficult nations to deal with in international affairs.

The national security and stability of world affairs is dependent on an engaged America.

This brings up the inadequacies of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, and Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence, as both are totally ill-equipped for the challenges ahead.

So the Republican Senate must work to undermine Trump’s choices and force him to select individuals that are competent and qualified to be in charge of our defense and intelligence agencies, which are there to keep America safe.

76th Anniversary Of Israel: Great Division Among Jews Inside And Outside Over War Strategy In Gaza!

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When Israel was attacked by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on October 7, 2023, there was universal horror and shock at the massacre of 1,200 Israelis, the worst single event since the Holocaust of World War II, that killed 6 million Jews!

It was understandable that Israel would mount an offensive to do what could be done to eliminate Hamas.

However, the total eliminination is clearly impossible, as indicated by the reality that in areas that Israel seized in the northern Gaza Strip, already Hamas has returned to be an influence.

With 35,000 Palestinians, including 70 percent estimates of women and children killed, and others facing famine with the incessant Israeli military offensive, now being focused on Southern Gaza and Rafah, it is clear that if anything, the survivors of this brutal war will have resentment and bitterness and want revenge on Israel.

So all out war has failed to accomplish its goals and clearly, never will be successful in the manner that the Israeli government has set as a goal.

Meanwhile, many Israelis want the war ended and the remaining hostages released. The Jewish community in the United States is also divided, with many younger Jews alienated from the extremist government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist Orthodox Jew ministers and supporters, who want all Palestinians dead!

Support for Israel in general is waning, and antisemitism is rampant, so an insoluble situation for future stability and recovery seems unattainable.

This is also affecting political support for Joe Biden as he is against a full scale attack on Rafah, but Donald Trump does not represent a better future.

University Commencements NOT Place For Disruptions!

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The Israel-Hamas War has led to widespread demonstrations and occupations of college and university campuses, disrupting the whole purpose of higher education–to promote discussion, debate, and rational discourse.

Now, commencement time, a time of celebration of accomplishments, is threatened by disruptions, encouraged in many cases by faculty, as well as by students and outside agitators who, by their actions, are marring the experience that comes once in a lifetime for students who have accomplished their educational goals.

One can empathize and sympathize with those who are desirous of ending the Israel-Hamas War, as this author and blogger is, but the strategy of blockade and interference with the basic right of families to celebrate the accomplishments of their family members is totally uncalled for.

An Impossible Situation For Joe Biden In Israel-Hamas War!

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The Israel-Hamas War, now seven months long and counting, has seen about 35,000 killed in the Gaza Strip, with up to two thirds being civilian women and children.

Famine is occurring, and the situation is about to become worse, with the impending invasion of Rafah by the Israeli Defense Forces.

There is an argument that Israel must invade Rafah in order to exterminate Hamas, but many think more civilian deaths will certainly result, and that the goal will never be fully achieved.

The Democratic Party is split on strategy, and President Joe Biden’s decision to hold up on weapons shipments is alienating many Jewish voters, while Arab and Muslim voters are furious at Biden for having supported Israel so completely until now.

This is an impossible political situation, that could lead to the defeat of Biden in the Presidential Election of 2024, although there are many other factors involved in how people will vote.

Six Months To Presidential And Congressional Elections

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It is precisely six months to the Presidential and Congressional Elections of 2024, and polls indicate an extremely tight race for both the White House and control of both houses of Congress.

However, the fact that Donald Trump is unleashing lunatic statements and authoritarian threats daily, and is mired in a courtroom four days a week, are negatives that are affecting independent voters and undecided voters.

And abortion rights is seen as a definite loser for Trump and Republicans, as the vast majority of those polled, and particularly among women, clearly want women to control their own bodies and destinies.

The issue of the Israel-Hamas War, while creating problems for Joe Biden in Michigan, in particular, seems likely to calm down, as Muslims and Arabs voting for Donald Trump would not promote a different policy, as Trump has a record of working to persecute Muslims and support Israel.

The economy, and particularly inflation, is an issue, but one must remember that Trump did promote the largest tax cut and increase of the national debt for any one term President, and the economy was in free fall due to his inability to deal with the COVID 19 pandemic adequately.

The fight for control of both houses of Congress will be a bitter one, with the likelihood that both houses will have very small margins of the majority, with the House of Representatives likely to go Democratic, but the US Senate likely, at this point, to swing Republican.

So federal judge appointments and more environmental executive orders are crucial for the Democrats and Joe Biden to accomplish in the next six months.

And constantly reminding Americans of the danger to American Democracy cannot be emphasized enough.

May 4, 1970 Anniversary: A Sobering Moment Recalled

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It is now 54 years since the National Guard, called onto the campus of Kent State University in Ohio by Republican Governor James Rhodes, opened up fire on student demonstrators against the war in Vietnam, and specifically, the invasion of Cambodia.

Four students were killed, including Jeffrey Miller, who was shot in the back while walking far away from the student demonstration, and led to the infamous photograph of a young girl weeping over his body as his blood drained out. Nine students were also wounded, and one was paralyzed for life in this tragedy.

The idea that it was appropriate to call in military forces to a college or university campus, now being promoted by many Republicans, including Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, is an example of how nothing has been learned from that horrendous tragedy.

This tragedy only emboldened President Richard Nixon, as many Americans believed in so called “law and order”, and the fear is that the present college campus demonstrations regarding the Israel-Hama War might only embolden Donald Trump and his followers in the upcoming Presidential and Congressional Elections of 2024.

Joe Biden Takes The Right Stand On Campus Unrest

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One can be very proud of Joe Biden, as he has taken the right stand on campus unrest throughout the nation.

As he stated, there is the right of demonstration and freedom of assembly, but NOT to cause destruction or occupation by anyone or to promote persecution, discrimination, and hatred of any kind.

Biden will have problems with both the Jewish community and the Muslim community, since he is treading a very delicate balance on the Israel-Hamas War, wanting a ceasefire, release of hostages, and to prevent, if possible, any further bloodshed.

For any reasonable person to think Donald Trump is better situated to deal with the crisis requires a sense of delusion and naivete!

Universities And The Israel-Hamas War: The Appropriate Role For Professors

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The sad and tragic events occurring at many universities and college across tha nation regarding the Israel-Hamas War are inciting anti Jewish and anti Muslim hatred, which is deplorable!

And the fact that there are university and college professors who are abandoning their role as moderators of differences, and actively engaging in promoting occupation of university facilities and extremist actions and rhetoric, is totally outrageous and unacceptable behavior!

The role of professors is to promote dialogue and discussion, and work to promote understanding, but their standing as faculty does not give them the right to provoke extremist actions of any kind!

Free speech and the right to demonstrations on public issues does not certify the right to occupy buildings and provoke violence, so professors lose their high ethical and moral standing when they do so, and it should be condemned by all reasonable people!

College Campuses And The Israel-Hamas War

admin 26 Comments

The Israel-Hamas War in the Gaza Strip in the past seven months has led to the deaths of more than 34,000 Palestinians, including approximately two thirds being women and children.

It has become the biggest controversy on college campuses in many decades, and has led to massive demonstrations and occupations of many campuses by protesters, and by outside agitators not connected to the universities.

The ugly situation has many tones of antisemitism, endangering Jewish students, advocating violence, and calling for destruction of Israel.

Freedom of speech and the right to protest are basic constitutional rights, but it does not include the right to interfere with normal operation of educational institutions.

One can disagree with the strategy and tactics of the Israeli government, and yet also understand that a nation has the right to exist and to defend itself after the horrific massacre of about 1,200 people on October 7, 2023 by the extremist Hamas terrorist group.

One can also condemn right wing MAGA Republicans, led by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, Ohio Senator J D Vance, and other extremists, who want to employ military force to end the protests.

It is also disturbing that college students often have little knowledge and information, as they rely on social media, rather than established news sources, for their view of the world.

Colleges are supposed to be places for debates, education, empathy, and understanding, not for occupation and calls for genocide against an entire nation and people. To allow a small percentage of students and outside agitators to shut down a campus and threaten those who are opposed to their tactics is reprehensible.

These disturbances on college campuses are undermining the future of universities in the public mind, as extremism, violence, and occupation by many students and outsiders endanger public support for higher education.

It is also making more likely that many commencement ceremonies around the nation will be canceled, and this for students, who in many cases, did not have a high school graduation ceremony due to the COVID 19 Pandemic in the Spring of 2020.

Many of these demonstrators are destroying their education, as many will be suspended or expelled, will face possible criminal charges, and many corporations will be unwilling to hire people involved in civil disobedience without any conclusion.

Young people have a right to their beliefs, but not to stop the operations of universities, as many of these individuals will regret long term their youthful emotions that will not be good for their long term futures.

Every effort must be utilized to end the Israel-Hamas War and to free the remaining hostages, and Joe Biden has a major challenge ahead of him to convince Benjamin Netanyahu to change his strategy that has endangered the international community’s view of the conflict.

This issue could affect the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, bringing back memories of the disastrous Chicago Democratic convention in 1968, that led to the defeat of Hubert Humphrey and the Presidency of Richard Nixon.