He was Juan Vicente Pérez, a rural Venezuelan father of 11. Bravo to him for his long and humble life. But would most of us really want to live that long? How long is too long? Health, mental acuity, and mobility do contribute to the enjoyment and continuing purpose of a human life. At age 86, especially after Covid, I’ve already lost considerable ground, but admit to not being ready to throw in the towel just yet.
On an issue related to my own family, readers already know that despite being a life-long Democrat, as both an adoptive and a birth mother, I am more pro-life than pro-choice. That said, more financial and social support for new mothers and for both parents is urgently needed. For the US and other countries facing a dearth of births, there is the example of Scandinavian countries’ successful efforts to prevent abortions and incentivize steady population maintenance. Having and raising children needs both more financial support and greater social validation to reverse a population decline in our own country and many others. After the dire warnings of Malthus, the pendulum may have swung too far in the opposite direction. Now a course correction is needed before it’s too late. Changes in food production and distribution and many other factors have allowed our earth to provide for more people than ever before.
The gratuitous killing of humans in war also needs to be reduced. The excess deaths attributable to the use of outdated World War II tactics is no longer acceptable.
As for the Gaza war, all around the world and even among US allies, ceasefire advocacy has been growing exponentially. Initial support for Israel had surged worldwide after the surprise Hamas attack but has since given way to growing opposition to what is now regarded as excessive retaliation by Israeli forces. And what exactly is Israel’s end game? To inflict genocide on another ethnic group? The aim remains unclear. Wiping out an aid convoy is not the only mistake the Israeli military has made. Or maybe that was not actually a mistake?
Here was a ceasefire rally in London back in Feb. Now even
more ceasefire supporters have been rallying there and everywhere.
According to the Palestinian Authority, 137 of the 193 UN members already recognize a Palestinian state.
According to the Palestinian Authority, 137 of the 193 UN members already recognize a Palestinian state.
Reuters, Spain to recognise Palestinian statehood by July, leader says -reports
AP, Biden faces protest over his support for Israel during
White House meeting
USA Today, Exclusive: Concern over Biden's stance on Israel-Hamas war rattles high-profile campaign donors
CNN, Israeli doctor says detained Palestinians are undergoing ‘routine’ amputations for handcuff injuries, Haaretz reports
Rolling Stone, Nancy Pelosi Among 40 House Democrats Demanding Biden Halt Weapon Transfers to Israel
Fox, Biden warns Netanyahu that US will change policy on Gaza unless Israel protects civilians
Recount, Antony Blinken on Israel: If we don't see the changes we need to see in Gaza, “there'll be changes in our own policy.”
Is the Biden administration now starting to become concerned that its unqualified political and economic support of Israel and of Netanyahu might affect the president’s own reelection chances? A growing number of Americans have completely lost confidence in Israel’s war conduct in Gaza.
But Israel is facing more than just a PR problem. Netanyahu is losing ground even within Israel itself and time is also taking a toll on the hostages and their supporters.
Guardian, Bernie Sanders to Benjamin Netanyahu: ‘Stop murdering innocent people’
Wash. Post, Muslim leaders decline White House Ramadan invitation
NY Times, Biden Is
‘Outraged.’ But Is He Willing to Use America’s Leverage With Israel? …[I]t
left a sour taste among some of Biden’s critics that the president’s most
visceral expression of anger at Israel’s military campaign came over the
killing of seven foreign humanitarian workers rather than over the deaths of
the many thousands of Palestinian civilians that preceded them.
leaders. He has been eroding trust in America worldwide, affecting our national reputation as well as making our country complicit in harming unarmed civilians. Those of us who voted for him feel responsible now.
Israel
has also been squandering all the good will accorded that nation after the
Holocaust, reawakening antisemitism around the world.
CNN, Israel attacked aid workers ‘systematically, car by
car,’ charity founder says, as fury builds over deadly strike
World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore slammed the attack on the aid workers as “unforgivable,” saying that “This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war.”
AP, Rights group says Israeli strike on Gaza
building killed 106 in apparent war crime A Human
Rights Watch investigation published Thursday said an Israeli attack on a Gaza
building in October had no apparent militant target, but killed 106 civilians,
including 54 children, making it an “apparent war crime.” International law
prohibits attacks on military targets that will likely cause disproportionate
harm to civilians. The Oct. 31 attack was one of the
deadliest since the start of the war nearly six months ago. Human Rights Watch
says four separate strikes collapsed the Engineer’s Building in central Gaza,
which was housing some 350 people, around a third of whom had fled their homes
elsewhere in the territory.
Those killed included children playing soccer outside and
residents charging phones in the first-floor grocery store, it said. Thirty-four
women, 18 men and 54 children were killed in the strike, according to the group.
Wash. Post, U.S. approved more bombs to Israel on day of World Central Kitchen strikes
USA Today, 'Unforgivable': World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres accuses Israel of committing 'war against humanity'
NY Times, Gaza War Turns Spotlight on Long Pipeline of U.S. Weapons to Israel
To what extent is President Biden willing to remain complicit in support of Israel? So far, pretty darn far. For months, he has been slavishly committed to Israel in public while doggedly following Netanyahu’s lead. He has kept on pouring in money to enable gratuitous civilian and humanitarian deaths and injuries and to rain widespread destruction on Gaza. He may have urged moderation with the Israeli leadership in private, but, if so, it was not having any discernible effect. Yes, there was the Holocaust; yes, Israel offered vital refuge to Jews around the world. But that does not give Israel a permanent get-out-of-jail-free card nor justify unlimited American support for what is turning out ironically to be a genocide being perpetrated by Israel itself. Our president is also enabling a resurgence of antisemitism all over the world. Biden could pull the plug on Israel aid tomorrow, even today. So, just STOP all this right now!! Joe Biden, you have the power! Maybe Joe Biden really has become as senile as his critics allege.
Unless you reverse course, Mr. President, you will be forcing many of us to vote for a 3rd-party candidate, as how can we still possibly continue to support you? What about your legacy? I voted for you once but never again.
Now, at long last after half a year, Biden seems to be hearing the calls for a ceasefire coming from within the US and from all around the world. The Israelis’ long threatened strike on Rafah may finally have been averted. But for Joe Biden to just say “sorry” now will not be enough. He needs to incentivize Netanyahu’s immediate retirement, press for Israel’s prompt withdrawal from the war, and embark on rebuilding Gaza. Most urgent is facilitating the immediate entry of food aid. We are no longer living in a world that tolerates the killing and starving of civilian populations or of wars prolonged not for protection but merely for vengeance. How and when did the Israeli leadership actually plan to conclude this war? No end-game has been in sight.
The Hill, Democrats fear Israel-Hamas war could cost them in November
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