Nakba Remembrance Day! 05/15/23

“2023 marks 75 years since the Nakba (“catastrophe”), the violent ethnic cleansing of nearly 800,000 Indigenous Palestinians.

In 1948, violent militias destroyed hundreds of villages, massacring and forcefully removing two-thirds of the Palestinian population. For 75 years, stateless refugees have been denied the internationally-recognized right of return to their homes.

The Nakba never ended. To this day, the Israeli government is still trying to erase an entire people by systematically displacing and dehumanizing Palestinians.

In violation of international law, Israel’s government continues to massacre, imprison, and steal land from Palestinians—all while denying Palestinians basic freedoms and needed resources such as water and electricity.

The U.S. is the top provider of military aid to Israel, using billions of taxpayer dollars each year to support this apartheid system. As far-right Israeli officials in power call for “another Nakba” and escalate human rights abuses against Palestinians, we cannot look the other way. We cannot allow this unbearable status quo to continue.

Israeli propaganda denies that the Nakba ever happened. We must tell the truth about the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

Educating U.S. lawmakers and residents is an important step toward Palestinian liberation.

Now is the time to speak out: May 15th is the 75th commemoration of the Nakba. Representative Rashida Tlaib just re-introduced a resolution in Congress to recognize the Nakba and support Palestinian rights.

The resolution calls on the United States to continue to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency—which provides social services to millions of Palestinian refugees—and to support the implementation of Palestinian refugees’ rights as enshrined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”   —   Rashida Tlaib

The More You Know!   —   YUR

Marjorie Taylor Greene is Dangerous

(A little over a month ago MTG stated to a crowd at a Trump PAC Save America rally:  “Democrats want Republicans dead and they have already started the killings.”   It’s bad enough that the level of vitriol is poisoning American civility, but resorting to blatant scare tactics is just playing on man’s basest emotion:  FEAR.  And, unfortunately, it’s not just her.  In New York, Lee Zeldin’s campaign ads state:  “Vote like your life depend on it . . . because it does!”

Zeldin’s scare tactic is geared towards those who the corporate media have convinced that crime has gotten out of hand.  The media, as a whole, is neither “liberal” nor “conservative”.  They are driven by just one thing:  PROFIT.  What generates these profits is ratings, as they all adhere to the old media mantra:  If it bleeds, it leads.  He’s taking advantage of what is largely a misperception of the facts.  Bottom line, some crimes are up, but others are actually down.  But when you turn on the news it can seem like we’re all going to Hell in the proverbial hand-basket!  Unless you are personally experiencing – or witnessing – crime you need to be cognizant of what these news reports are trying to do . . . get your attention, and elicit raw emotions.  Experts have attributed rises in certain crimes to the pandemic, and the resulting economic fallout.  Namely inflation, the downturn in the financial markets, and rising fuel prices.  These are global issues.  They’re NOT just happening in the U.S.  Regardless of whether you want to believe anything that I am pointing out, we should not be guided by fear.  We should be guided by our principles.

But getting back to MTG, and her even more blatant, and divisive assertions, do you really believe that Democrats want Republicans dead???  By now, you must know that I’m a Democrat.  And, not just a Democrat, but an actual liberal Democrat.  I say “actual” because so much of the political rhetoric has it that EVERY Democrat in office is an “extreme liberal”.  This is totally ridiculous, as the vast majority of Democrats in office are actually moderate Democrats.  There is a small group known as “The Squad” who are very liberal, but their influence is minimal.  They’re the exceptions, not the rule.  But I grew up in a highly Republican enclave where Democrats were in the minority.  Probably a good 70% of the people I grew up with are registered Republicans.  Many/most of my friends from work are Republican.  And a good number of my family members are Republicans.  Do you actually think that I would wish death – or any harm – on friends and loved ones?  I have protested the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, I have attended Occupy Wall Street rallies, I continue to support BLM and BDS because I see them as issues to correct glaring injustices.  I’m a friggin’ “tree-hugger”.  A “snowflake”, as some like to call me.  Yes, I am a reflection of all Democrats.  We want what everyone, pretty much everywhere, wants.  Just to get along in a peaceful, civil and just society.

Don’t give in to the ugly hype, folks.  We can all get along, as we have for generations.  We can agree to disagree on certain issues without being disagreeable.  We are all Americans.  We should be guided by the words of Voltaire, as interpreted by Evelyn Beatrice Hall:  “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  And, also by FDR’s:  “The only thing we have to fear . . . is fear itself.”  Now, go out there and bravely exercise your right – and privilege – as American citizens, and VOTE!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR 

Image courtesy of Google

A Timely Parody . . . using an old song

The Herschel went down to Georgia, he was lookin’ for an election to steal
He was outta his mind with a large behind
And spoutin’ that MAGA spiel
When he came across this reverend sawin’ on a fiddle and playin’ it hot
And the Herschel jumped up on a red clay clump
And said, “Rev, let me tell you what”
“I guess you didn’t know it but I like Fiddle Faddle too
And if you’d care to pet the bear, I’ll make a bet with you
Now you play a pretty good fiddle, Rev
But give the Herschel a clue
I’ll bet a fiddle of brass that I beat your ass
‘Cause I think I’m fitter than you”
The Rev said, “my name’s Warnock, and you know how to spin
But I’ll take your bet, and you’re gonna regret
‘Cause I’m the honest man who’ll win”
Reverend, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
‘Cause Heck’s broke loose in Georgia, and the Herschel’s in the yard
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of brass
But if you lose, the Herschel passes gas
The Herschel opened up his case and said, “I’ll start to crow”
And lies flew from his very lips as he rosined up his bow
And he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made a MAGA hiss
Then a band of Proud Boys joined in
And it sounded something like this

(Crazed Fiddle Interlude)

When the Herschel finished, Warnock said, “Well, you’re a pretty good BSer, son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how a senate seat is won”
“Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run
The Herschel’s in the House of the Stinking Bum
Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No, Rev, no
The Herschel bowed his head because it was full of meat
And he laid that brassy fiddle on the ground at Warnock’s feet
Warnock said, “Herschel, just come on back if you ever wanna try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch, I’m the honest man who’ll win”
He played “Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run
The Herschel’s in the House of the Stinking Bum
Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, will your dog bite? No Rev, no.

—   YUR

Can We Just STOP? Please!

This story is, or was, pretty much dead and buried already.  But only because one party was unjustly suspended, and forced to apologize, for engaging in a little friendly trash talk during a baseball game!

I think that most of you know me by now, as a very liberal individual, who supports voting rights, women’s rights, LGBT rights, and most of all civil rights.  I’m a firm believer in the Black Lives Matter movement, and I truly believe that our police systems should be reformed.  And, some of you may know – but for those of you who don’t, I’ll tell you – I hate the New York Yankees.  I can’t even get behind those who say you have to root for the home team!  Nonsense!  When you’re a New York baseball fan you have to make a choice.  Mine was, and is, the New York Mets.  The cross town rivals are my nemesis, and I always take great pleasure when they lose.  But when it comes to their individual players I’m generally pretty ambivalent.  The only one that I would ever really say I actually “hated” would be Roger Clemons, because he was a psycho-bitch.  But he has long retired – thankfully – and I have actually mellowed in my old age.

With that being said, I’ve always been ambivalent about Josh Donaldson.  He never played for my Mets.  This is his first year as a Yankee, but he has had an admirable career.  He’s been in the big leagues since 2010.  He’s a three time All Star, a two time Silver Slugger Award winner, and he won the AL MVP in 2015.  He’s now on his sixth team, and everywhere he’s gone he’s been considered a “team player”, and the antithesis of a trouble maker.

A couple of weeks ago the Yankees were playing the Chicago White Sox, and Josh Donaldson teasingly called White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson “Jackie”, because in a 2019 interview with Sports Illustrated Mr. Anderson made the statement:  “I kinda feel like today’s Jackie Robinson.”  He has been in the bigs about half the time Donaldson has.  He’s been in one All Star game, and won one Silver Slugger Award, and he was the AL Batting Champ in 2019 – the year he made the statement – so I guess you could say he’s an up and coming star.  Truth is I’d never heard of him before this happened, as I don’t pay too much attention to the American League, being a Mets fan.  So, I didn’t have ANY opinion of him . . . until now.  The Yankees had recently taken 3 – 4 games in Chicago, and then the White Sox were losing the game on Saturday, in New York, so I think Anderson was mainly frustrated with their efforts.  He went back to his bench and started complaining that Donaldson was “disrespecting” him.  Donaldson considered the calling him “Jackie” an “inside joke”, as he had also done so back in 2019, after Anderson had made his statement to SI.

In my mind, if you make a statement comparing yourself with one of the game’s greatest players you have to expect a good amount of blow-back.  I think that is why most rational people do not make these kind of statements, because it just opens you up to criticism . . . especially when you don’t live up to that comparison.  Jackie Robinson was in the MLB for only 9 seasons, and during that time he was the MLB Rookie of the Year – 1947, the NL MVP – 1949, a 2X NL stolen base leader – ’47 & ’49, and he was SIX time All-Star, with a batting average of .313!   You definitely have a ways to go, young man!

Josh Donaldson did not call Tim Anderson:  Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Willie Stargell, Ozzie Smith, or any of the other African American baseball players of renown.  Why?  Because Tim Anderson never made any statement comparing himself to any of them.  Only to Jackie Robinson.  And, Josh Donaldson has never called Josh Bell, Mookie Betts, Dee Gordon, Dom Smith, Michael Brantley, or any other current African American baseball player “Jackie”, because they never compared themselves to Jackie Robinson.  He very likely has called Jackie Bradley Jr. “Jackie” . . . but of course that IS his name.

Taking offense to someone calling you a name – that isn’t yours – is the furthest thing from being racist.  In this case it was just a well-deserved dig.  It’s playful trash talk, that he has set yourself up for with his own words.  To whine to your manager (Tony La Russa) about it, and then agree with him – publicly – that it’s disrespectful AND “racist” is just deplorable.  There is more than enough actual racism and hatred in this world, and besmirching a fellow ballplayer’s reputation with this kind of allegation helps no one whatsoever.

And, the fact that everyone seems to have fallen in line with the all too eager to condemn PC police is just as disgusting.  All the players that Josh Donaldson has played with, and against, over the years know that he is not a racist.  The fact that none of his current teammates have come to his support is just plain sad, and that MLB had the temerity to suspend him for a game is just a cowardly act of weakness and injustice.  And, to think that Tim Anderson got a pass for calling Brad Keller a “weak-ass f—— n—–“, after getting hit by a pitch, is the irony that takes the cake.  He can call a fellow player the “N-word”, but someone teasingly calling him “Jackie” is racist?

I have no affection for either of these players, as they’ve never really affected my Mets.  But this is a gross injustice!  Josh Donaldson does not deserve this kind of treatment/character assassination.  And, Tim Anderson has made a mockery of a very serious subject.  Maybe worst of all?  MLB, our media, and all who remain silent – or agree with this utter nonsense – have allowed this to happen!  Shame on us all.

—   YUR

Today’s Sarah Palin Comment???

Surprisingly, this arrived in my Spam folder!  I had no idea Ms. Palin followed my blog.

“I’ve be mindful your stuff previous to and you are just too excellent. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the best way during which you assert it. You make it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to stay it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you.“

Wow!  I can hardly wait for what she has to say next!   —   YUR  😉

Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 06/09/13

Visual Description:  Weekend warrior, enjoying the coolness of his creation.

FARDIA  =  AFRAID,  LEEHAX  =  EXHALE,  CEDAFE  =  DEFACE,  HOTMOS  =  SMOOTH,  CNETSH  =  STENCH,  LEXDUE  =  DELUXE   —   Giving us:  AIHDEAMHSTNDEE

Clue/Question:  After building a new deck underneath the large oak tree, he had it . . .

Answer:  MADE IN THE SHADE

(Of course his government is still spying on him . . . and lying to him, in just about everything imaginable.  And, his basic Constitutional Rights are now being featured on the Endangered Species List.  And, let’s not forget that the median male is now worse off on a gross, inflation adjusted basis, than he was in … 1968.  The top 1 percent control 43 percent of the wealth, and the next four percent control an additional 29 percent.  That’s 5 percent of the people in this country controlling 72 percent of the wealth!  The 95 percent of us are left fighting it out for the remaining 28 percent.  The worst disparity in this country since right before the Great Depression.  But other than that, this guy is on easy street.  At least until he realizes what is going on, and then dares to complain about it vociferously.  Then all he has to worry about is the federal alphabet soup kicking in his door, and possibly exercising extraordinary rendition on his ass.  I hear the weather in Jordan is lovely this time of year!  A lot of us voted for Hope and Change, in both 2008 and 2012.  Some of us are still hoping, but almost nothing is changing.  This corporate good cop/bad cop routine has been going on since 1980.  We’re currently experiencing the one who says all the right things, but does virtually nothing to back up the cheery rhetoric.  Blaming an uncooperative Congress only buys you so much time.  If Obama is truly interested in leaving some kind of positive legacy, and not just being another corporate puppet/hack, then the time is now to make deals with those in Congress who can be reasoned with, and to take some of the more recalcitrant behind the proverbial woodshed and just kick a little ass.  What’s it gonna be, Sir?  Trips to Dubai with the Bushs and the Clintons, or the people of the United States – and the world – remembering you as a great leader of American freedom and democracy?  It’s not too late.

And, how about that Jumble?  No new clue words, but some really spiffy jumbling.  I really enjoyed all of them, but especially “deface”, “smooth” and “stench”!  The answer letter layout was a thing of beauty.  Very cryptic.  Nothing given away.  And, the cartoon?  Brilliant!  Great attention to detail, especially the way the tree is casting its shade.  I think the phrase goes back to the ’50s.  I seem to remember it being a popular phrase on “Happy Days”.  Be well and do good, friends.  And, do yourselves a big favor and smell that coffee I’ve been trying to tell you about.)   —   YUR

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A 9/11 – 11 Year and 1 Week Anniversary Bonus!

Library sign designed by Jessamyn West (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From the Thought for Today:

“We want the facts to fit the preconceptions.  When they don’t fit it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions.”   —   Jessamyn West

(A little ironic that she died in 1984.  Not ironic that she was an American Quaker.  I wonder what she would make of the world today???  Be well, do good, and keep asking questions, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  Perhaps this quote has been mis-attributed.  There is also a living Jessamyn West, who designed the above sign!  Hmm!   —   YUR

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• Keith Olbermann Jumps on Truther Bandwagon on 9/11 Anniversary (redalertpolitics.com)
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• http://www.ae911truth.org/

  http://patriotsquestion911.com/

Lifting the veil

English: A map of Arab Spring countries updated and reframed to reflect the independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From an excellent article:

How the Corporate Media is Snookering You on Syria

“For those versed in the black arts of propaganda, the hijacking of Arab Spring must be a beauteous thing to behold.”  . . .

“As with Libya, Western countries were covertly overthrowing a Middle East regime, just as they have done over the decades. And, as before, the media said not a word about what was really going on. So the public did not really understand, and there was practically no debate at all.”  . . .

“When almost no media anymore question these barely disguised coups against uncooperative standing governments, we are in very deep trouble. Because if we can’t count on the media to tell us what is going on in far-off places, what may we expect of them closer to home?  We are witnessing a crisis for journalism that is nothing less than a crisis for democracy itself.”

For the complete article go to: 

http://www.alternet.org/story/156089/how_the_corporate_media_is_snookering_you_on_syria_?akid=9007.308895.GSko6z&rd=1&t=21

Excerpts of The Fundamentalist Threat to U.S. Liberty

afghanistan (Photo credit: The U.S. Army)

By: Henry A. Giroux

“Those governing the United States no longer have a moral compass or a democratic vision, nor do they have a hold on the social values that would engage modes of governance beneficial to the broader public. Governance is now in the hands of corporate power and the United States increasingly exhibits all the characteristics of a failed state. As many notable and courageous critics ranging from Sheldon Wolin to Chris Hedges have pointed out, American politics is being shaped by extremists who have shredded civil liberties, lied to the public to legitimate sending young American troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, alienated most of the international community with a blatant exercise of arrogant power and investment in a permanent warfare state, tarnished the highest offices of government with unsavory corporate alliances, used political power to unabashedly pursue legislative policies that favor the rich and punish the poor and perhaps irreparably damaged any remaining public spheres not governed by the logic of the market. They have waged a covert war against poor young people and people of color who are being either warehoused in substandard schools or incarcerated at alarming rates. Academic freedom is increasingly under attack by extremists such as Rick Santorum; homophobia and racism have become the poster ideologies of the Republican Party; war and warriors have become the most endearing models of national greatness; and a full-fledged assault on women’s reproductive rights is being championed by the current crop of Republican presidential hopefuls and a not insignificant number of Republican governors. While people of color, the poor, youth, the middle class, the elderly, LGBT communities and women are being attacked, the Republican Party is supporting a campaign to collapse the boundaries between the church and state, and even liberal critics such as Frank Rich believe that the United States is on the verge of becoming a fundamentalist theocracy.”

For the complete article go to:

http://www.alternet.org/story/154456/is_america_on_the_verge_of_theocracy_4_fundamentalist_ideologies_threatening_u.s._liberty?akid=8390.308895.UJ3BG2&rd=1&t=2

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 02/15/12

Image via Wikipedia

“It’s not the voting that’s democracy, it’s the counting.”   —   Tom Stoppard

(I wonder how he views the computerized voting machines, that have a very high potential for manipulating the actual count?  Hmm!  I know a lot of people don’t have a very high comfort level with this method.  And, they’ve come to doubt the democratic process because of this.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  BRING BACK THE LEVER MACHINES!!!   —   YUR

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