I've never been so ashamed to admit I'm an American citizen. The past weeks have demonstrated clearly that this nation hates children. Not only does it hate its own children for whom there's no safety net, but the suffering, endangered children fleeing Central America and being threatened, harassed, and jailed, as well as children being murdered in occupied Palestine, over 40 to date.
Mass-murdering Israeli dictator, Netanyahu, had the chutzpah to thank Obama and thank Americans for our support on network television! It enrages me that we have to listen to some fascist thanking us for slaughtering children.
A report last week indicated that of more than 400 children who fled their homes in Central America, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees “found that almost 60 percent of children had legitimate claims to seek asylum in the United States. Most were escaping recruiting attempts by violent gangs who forced participation or threatened the entire families of children who refused.”
And yet, rather than refer to these children as just that — children — or possibly refugees, some politicians have taken to calling their entry into the country an invasion and suggesting these kids are disease-ridden and pose a threat to the nation. Instead of adhering to existing law that affords these children due process, Congress is considering changes to the 2008 law intended to stop sex trafficking and make it harder to deport tens of thousands of children caught crossing the border.
Engraved on the Statue of Liberty is the famous poem by Emma Lazarus that includes the following words:
"A mighty woman with a torch... and her name
Mother of Exiles." (I repeat MOTHER OF EXILES)
She goes on to say:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore...
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
We must all take a strong stand against these inhumane policies misrepresenting the majority of Americans. I believe Americans would be empathetic and supportive of all of these children if they were told the whole truth about what's really going on. (This commentary was followed by an interview with three Palestinian members of the AYO, Arab Youth Organization.)
Israel's War on Gaza, July 20, 2014
This morning, news reports indicate Israel's brutal ground invasion has reported death tolls that made Sunday the deadliest day in the war. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 87 Palestinians had died, and the Israeli military said 13 soldiers were dead.
"Since July 9, 417 people have been killed in Gaza, among them more than 100 children, and more than 3,000 injured." (NY Times).
I'm appalled at the deafening silence of Obama and company as Israel continues its massacres of civilians, to blow up Palestinian homes, schools, even a rehabilitation center for the disabled, killing wheelchair users, among others, at least a quarter of them children -- decimating whole communities, bombing and wrecking, killing indiscriminately, all the while expressing extremely racist rhetoric of absolute hatred against an occupied and brutalized, incarcerated people.
Nevertheless, the Palestinians have shown the world their willingness to fight on, to stand up for their dignity and human rights, their culture and indigenous land on which their ancestors of at least 5,000 years have lived -- and once thrived. They remind me of Black Panther George Jackson's words: It's better to die fighting than to die dying. Gaza is an open-air prison, although the air is as polluted as the water, often cut off as another form of genocidal collective punishment. Gazans cannot leave this extremely densely populated area unless by special permission of the Israelis. Israel controls all trading, importing, exporting. Check points abound. Prison! No refugees! No escaping the bombing and carnage!
Don't be the ugly American Netanyahu is thanking. Stand up in solidarity with our struggling Arab sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers if only to save the children. Jam this rotten-ass government for supporting, financing and condoning Israel's genocide!
Many of you already are: The turnout in S.F. last Saturday was amazing for such short notice. A huge crowd rallied and marched in protest of this siege. It was organized by young people with the endorsements of a myriad of Bay Area organizations and parties. Another is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, at San Francisco's Ferry Building @ 3:00 p.m.
Let's not stop there.
The struggle continues and we should all participate in the BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) Movement.
Power to the people.
Mass-murdering Israeli dictator, Netanyahu, had the chutzpah to thank Obama and thank Americans for our support on network television! It enrages me that we have to listen to some fascist thanking us for slaughtering children.
A report last week indicated that of more than 400 children who fled their homes in Central America, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees “found that almost 60 percent of children had legitimate claims to seek asylum in the United States. Most were escaping recruiting attempts by violent gangs who forced participation or threatened the entire families of children who refused.”
Central America, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, is one of the most violent regions on the planet. In fact, Honduras is the murder capital of the world.
And yet, rather than refer to these children as just that — children — or possibly refugees, some politicians have taken to calling their entry into the country an invasion and suggesting these kids are disease-ridden and pose a threat to the nation. Instead of adhering to existing law that affords these children due process, Congress is considering changes to the 2008 law intended to stop sex trafficking and make it harder to deport tens of thousands of children caught crossing the border.
Engraved on the Statue of Liberty is the famous poem by Emma Lazarus that includes the following words:
"A mighty woman with a torch... and her name
Mother of Exiles." (I repeat MOTHER OF EXILES)
She goes on to say:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore...
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
We must all take a strong stand against these inhumane policies misrepresenting the majority of Americans. I believe Americans would be empathetic and supportive of all of these children if they were told the whole truth about what's really going on. (This commentary was followed by an interview with three Palestinian members of the AYO, Arab Youth Organization.)
Israel's War on Gaza, July 20, 2014
This morning, news reports indicate Israel's brutal ground invasion has reported death tolls that made Sunday the deadliest day in the war. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 87 Palestinians had died, and the Israeli military said 13 soldiers were dead.
"Since July 9, 417 people have been killed in Gaza, among them more than 100 children, and more than 3,000 injured." (NY Times).
I'm appalled at the deafening silence of Obama and company as Israel continues its massacres of civilians, to blow up Palestinian homes, schools, even a rehabilitation center for the disabled, killing wheelchair users, among others, at least a quarter of them children -- decimating whole communities, bombing and wrecking, killing indiscriminately, all the while expressing extremely racist rhetoric of absolute hatred against an occupied and brutalized, incarcerated people.
Nevertheless, the Palestinians have shown the world their willingness to fight on, to stand up for their dignity and human rights, their culture and indigenous land on which their ancestors of at least 5,000 years have lived -- and once thrived. They remind me of Black Panther George Jackson's words: It's better to die fighting than to die dying. Gaza is an open-air prison, although the air is as polluted as the water, often cut off as another form of genocidal collective punishment. Gazans cannot leave this extremely densely populated area unless by special permission of the Israelis. Israel controls all trading, importing, exporting. Check points abound. Prison! No refugees! No escaping the bombing and carnage!
Don't be the ugly American Netanyahu is thanking. Stand up in solidarity with our struggling Arab sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers if only to save the children. Jam this rotten-ass government for supporting, financing and condoning Israel's genocide!
Many of you already are: The turnout in S.F. last Saturday was amazing for such short notice. A huge crowd rallied and marched in protest of this siege. It was organized by young people with the endorsements of a myriad of Bay Area organizations and parties. Another is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, at San Francisco's Ferry Building @ 3:00 p.m.
Let's not stop there.
The struggle continues and we should all participate in the BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) Movement.
Power to the people.
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