I received the following missive from my good friend and longtime reader of my blogs, Larry K. The sentiments included are not new and have been published elsewhere many times. Some of you are likely familiar with them as am I, although I don’t necessarily agree with all of them nor the overall tone of the piece.
Larry and I don’t agree on most issues, but we respect each other’s opinions. One issue we do agree on is the pervasive, overt, evil anti-Israel and antisemitism in the world today and what it portends.
“To the antisemites of the world:
You say we run the banks. You say we control Hollywood. You say we dominate the media. You say we have too much influence, too much power, too much pride. But you never ask how — or why. So, let me tell you.
We were banned from owning land, so we learned to live by our minds. We were blocked from trade guilds and professions, so we became merchants, scholars, doctors, and lawyers.
Our commitment to education didn’t come from privilege — it came from necessity. From exclusion. From survival. When we were barred from universities, we built our own yeshivot. The Torah became our moral anchor. The Talmud, our intellectual training ground. When we were mocked for being “bookish,” we made knowledge our defense. The insult became our armor.
In medieval Europe, Christians were forbidden by the Church to lend money with interest. But kings still needed loans, and someone had to do the collecting. So they turned to the Jews — already despised, already othered. We became moneylenders not by ambition, but by force. Then we were hated for it.
In America, we were shut out of “respectable” jobs. So we went west and helped invent Hollywood — not to brainwash, but to dream. To tell stories. To make magic.
When Ivy League schools capped Jewish admissions, we founded Brandeis. When hospitals wouldn’t hire Jewish doctors, we built Cedars-Sinai. When law firms closed their doors, we opened Skadden and Wachtell. We weren’t trying to dominate — we were just trying to live.
We were expelled from Spain. Massacred in Poland. Hanged in Iran. Lynched in Georgia. Bombed in Germany. And yet, we survived. We learned. We remembered.
In 1948, the world watched as nearly a million Jews were expelled or fled from Arab lands. Their homes, businesses, and synagogues were seized or burned. There were no refugee camps, no UN agencies, no worldwide calls for justice. No “right of return” for the Jews of Baghdad, Aleppo, or Tripoli.
You say we’re tribal. But we tried to integrate. We changed our names. Straightened our curls. Abandoned our faith. But every time we tried to disappear, you reminded us who we were. So, we turned inward. We leaned on each other. We built synagogues when your houses of worship were closed to us. We built hospitals when we weren’t welcomed in yours. We built advocacy groups to defend ourselves when no one else would.
And when no country would have us — we built our own.
Then Came October 7, 2023.
You say you hate Israel because of its policies. Because of land. Because of borders. But on October 7, 2023, Hamas didn’t target soldiers. They didn’t storm checkpoints or military outposts. They raped women. They beheaded babies. They burned families alive. They slaughtered civilians in their homes, bombed shelters, and slaughtered young people at a music festival. It was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. And as our dead lay unburied, the world didn’t mourn with us — it rallied against us.
College students held “Glory to the Martyrs” signs. Protesters waved swastikas in Sydney. “Gas the Jews” was graffitied in Berlin. Jewish students were barricaded inside libraries in New York. MIT students were blocked from class. At Harvard, they were told to remove their Stars of David for safety. All while our hostages were still bleeding in tunnels.
So, no — this isn’t about borders. You hated us before 1948. Before the State of Israel existed. Before a single border was drawn.
What you hate is that the Jew now has power. A flag. A standing army. A government. A home. You preferred us weak. Wandering. Apologizing. Dependent on your pity or permission to live.
Israel Is Not a Gift. It Is a Necessity.
We didn’t colonize the land — we returned to it. Jews have lived in Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias for over 3,000 years. We prayed toward Zion for centuries. We spoke Hebrew while the world told us to forget.
We made the desert bloom. We drained swamps, planted forests, revived a lost language. We welcomed Holocaust survivors, Russian refuseniks, and Ethiopian Jews airlifted from famine.
We built a nation while surrounded by enemies, embargoed by the world, and haunted by the ashes of Auschwitz. Israel was not built because of the Holocaust. It was built because of 2,000 years of exile, genocide, and betrayal — and it is the only insurance policy against the next one.
Never Again is not a slogan. It’s the Iron Dome. It’s the F-35. It’s the 18-year-old girl in olive green standing guard so toddlers in Sderot can sleep.
Why the Double Standard?
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the world cried out. Blue and yellow flags adorned every profile. Weapons, refugee aid, solidarity — all rightly offered. But when Hamas burned Israeli children alive, we were told to “de-escalate.” When we defend our cities, we’re called monsters. When we bury our dead, you protest our grief. Why?
Peace Is Possible. We’ve Tried.
You say Jews are foreigners in the Middle East. But the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan disagree. The Abraham Accords proved peace isn’t just possible — it’s real.
Israel sends aid to Syrian earthquake victims. Arab doctors and lawmakers serve in the Israeli Knesset.
We seek coexistence. You chant “From the river to the sea.” We chose life. You chant death.
So yes — Israel is strong now. Baruch Hashem. Because a powerless Jew is a dead Jew. And history taught us: no king, no pope, no president will save us.
We don’t want to dominate. We just want to live. Freely. Proudly. Unapologetically.
You don’t have to like us. You don’t have to agree with us. But never again will you decide whether we’re allowed to exist.“Conclusion
In my view the author’s tone may be excessively strident, but he is not wrong. Why do so many people hate Jews? I maintain it is because they are different; different God; different Sabbath; different language; different appearance; different customs; etc.
People tend to mistrust and hate “different.” There have always been misconceptions about Jews, often due to ignorance and superstition, especially in the past. One example to illustrate the point – in the late 1950s a Jewish friend was attending a college in the South. A friend asked her if she could touch her head to feel her horns.
Even today, many misconceptions and stereotypes have persisted. You are familiar with some of them. Jews are “cheap.” Jews are “loud.” Jews are “brash.” Jews are “pushy.” I wonder how many of these people have actually interacted with a Jew, except on a cursory basis? Not too many I would guess.
I have said this before, but it bears repeating. For over 250 years American Jews have been treated relatively well. Consequently, they have grown too comfortable and too complacent. Many of them have become ambivalent towards Israel. They are ignorant of history. Jewish history tells us we cannot assume this beneficial situation will last. For example, by the early 20th century Jews had been living peacefully and prosperously in Germany for some 500 years. They were an integral part of the country’s social, economic and cultural fabric. We all know what happened. Israel is the only country in which Jews can rely on being safe and secure prospectively.
Month: October 2025
HALLOWEEN
Tomorrow, October 31, many of us will celebrate Halloween. We will dress up in costumes and attend parties. Children will go door-to-door “trick or treating.” Of course, some will use the holiday as an excuse to create mischief or even mayhem, but for most of us it will be a day of fun and games and an opportunity to gorge ourselves on candy. But few, if any, of us will bother to stop and think about the origins of the holiday. When and where did it begin? How did it evolve? Why do we dress up in costumes? Why do we go “trick or treating?” Glad you asked. Read on for the answers.
The origin of Halloween is a Celtic holiday dedicated to the dead. Although the Celts were interspersed in many areas of Europe, they were concentrated in what is now, England, Ireland and Scotland. The Celts divided the year into four sections, each of which was marked by a major holiday. The beginning of the winter season was November 1, which was celebrated by a festival called “Samhein,” pronounced “Sah-ween,” which means “end of summer” in old Irish.
The word “Halloween” can be traced back as far as 1745. It means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening.” It is derived from a Scottish term for “All Hallows Eve,” the evening before “All Hallows Day,” aka “All Saints Day.” Over time, the word “evening” was contracted to “e’en,” thus Halloween.
The Celts were a pagan people and very superstitious. They believed that the ghosts of those who had died during the year had not yet completed their journey to the “otherworld,” and at Samhein they were able to mingle with the living. Accordingly, to placate these ghosts and other spirits the Celts offered sacrifices and lit bonfires to aid them on their journey. It has been suggested that the origin of wearing costumes was to disguise oneself from any lost soul that might be seeking vengeance on the living before moving on the next world. Some, believing that the souls of those who had died recently were still wandering in a sort of purgatory, set a place for them at dinner. Many of these ancient traditions have persisted to this day in some locales.
In 601 Pope Gregory I issued an edict, the gist of which was that missionaries were to combine Christian holidays and festivals with existing pagan holidays and festivals and, hopefully, eventually supersede them. The ultimate objective was to foster the conversion of pagans to Christianity. As a result, All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, was moved to November 1 to coincide with Samhein.
By the end of the 12th century other Halloween traditions had developed. For example, the clergy would ring church bells for the souls stuck in purgatory; and “criers,” dressed in black, would parade through towns reminding the citizens to remember these poor souls. In about the 15th century people began to bake “soul cakes,” which are small round cakes, a practice called “souling,” which is believed to be a forerunner of “trick or treating.” Poor people would go door-to-door and collect these cakes in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. Interestingly, Shakespeare mentioned “souling” in “The Two Gentlemen of Varona” in 1593. Over time, celebrations of All Hallows Day began to include additional customs, such as “trick or treating,” lighting bonfires, attending costume parties, carving “jack-o’-lanterns, apple “bobbing,” and attending church services.
As mentioned above, it is believed that the practice of “trick-or-treating” was derived from “souling” or “mumming,” which is going house-to-house in disguise singing songs in exchange for food. This was believed to have originated in Scotland and Wales in the 16th century. Sometimes people would paint their faces and threaten mischief if they were not welcomed. This evolved into the customs of wearing costumes and playing pranks. Nocturnal pranksters needed illumination, hence the development of jack-o-lanterns. In England, people would fashion them out of turnips or mangel wurzels, which are large, thick roots suitable for carving. In America, pumpkins were used, because they were plentiful and better suited for carving anyway. Jack-o-lanterns are believed to frighten evil spirits. In France, people believed that the dead buried in cemeteries would rise up and participate in a wild carnival-like celebration known as the “Danse Macabre,” or “Dance of Death.”
“Trick or treating,” as such, is a relatively modern development. As I said, it is believed to have evolved from “souling” or “mumming.” The earliest mention of it in print was in 1927, and it did not become widespread until the 1930s in the US. Also, costuming has evolved. Popular fictional characters have been added to the traditional skeletons, ghosts and ghouls. Basically, now, anything goes. As I said celebrating the day is no longer exclusively limited to children. Many adults also wear costumes and attend Halloween parties.
CONCLUSION
At the present time, Halloween, like other holidays, has become highly commercialized. Selling costumes and other related paraphernalia has become big business. Several movie franchises, such as Halloween and Friday the 13th have become very popular, especially at this time of the year. The actress, Jamie Lee Curtis has made a career of starring in seven Halloween movies over the years beginning in 1978.
The original religious significance of the holiday has been eclipsed and forgotten by most people. Yes, some people still attend church, but many more attend parties. Many if not most people, especially children, know Halloween merely as a day to dress in costumes and go “trick or treating.” We do love our candy. Speaking of which, special kudos to my grandkids who, aware of my fondness for Snickers, remember to save a bar for me every year.
In the last few years, the “PC Police” have inserted themselves into the holiday. Some of them have maintained that certain costumes are “racist” and should be avoided. I think we can all agree that a Caucasian should not dress up in “blackface.” But, the PC Police go much further. They also disapprove of any costumes that could be perceived by anyone as mocking or derogatory. Some examples would likely include Disney’s Moana, Aztec Indians, Tom Thumb, or Pancho Villa, which, in their minds, could be objectionable to Polynesians, Indigenous People, short people (or should I say “vertically challenged?” I have trouble keeping up with all the PC buzzwords.), or Hispanics, respectively. I say, if your five-year-old loves Moana and wants to dress up like her, go for it. Is that really being insensitive or racist? Really? Do the people who are marketing Moana costumes really expect to sell them only to Polynesians? I think not! To me, these objections are just another example of some people who want to dictate to others how to act and live.
In recent years, due to the excessive violence and crime in many areas, safety has been a big concern. Undoubtedly, some parents are apprehensive about their children trick or treating in the traditional manner, particularly the younger ones. In addition, some children may be fearful. We don’t want to deprive the children from enjoying the holiday. So, some parents have been accompanying their children. Others have been meeting in a designated area as part of a group and trick or treating as a group in that area.
Hopefully, after reading this blog you will have gained some knowledge of and perspective as to the origin and meaning of the holiday. Enjoy, and stay safe!
2025 WORLD SERIES, PART II
The second part of my 2024 WS blog will be a quiz to test your knowledge and recollections. I realize that my readers have a wide disparity of WS knowledge. Some follow baseball very closely and are very knowledgeable, others not so much, which made it somewhat challenging to construct a fair quiz. My apologies if you find it too hard or too easy. As always, no peeking at the internet and no using Seri.
- When was the first WS played? (a) 1885; (b) 1895; (c) 1903; (d) 1911
- Who won the first WS? (a) NY Yankees; (b) Boston Pilgrims; (c) Cincinnati Reds; (d) Pittsburgh Pirates
- The WS was contested every year since its inception except twice. Once was in 1994 due to a players’ strike. What year was the other occasion? (a) 1904; (b) 1919; (c) 1920; (d) 1942
- To which team did the Black Sox lose? (a) Cincinnati Reds; (b) NY Giants; (c) Chicago Cubs; (d) Philadelphia Phillies.
- Besides the Yankees which is the only team to win three WS consecutively? (a) St. Louis Cardinals; (b) NY Giants; (c) Boston Braves; (d) Oakland A’s.
- What year was the first WS game that was played at night? (a) 1963; (b) 1971; (c) 1977; (d) 1979.
- What is the only MLB team never to appear in the WS? (a) LA Angels; (b) San Diego Padres; (c) Colorado Rockies; (d) Seattle Mariners.
- The Yankees have won the most WS – 27. Which team has won the 2nd most? (a) Dodgers; (b) Cardinals; (c) Giants; (d) Braves
- Which Dodger made the last out in Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956? (a) Gil Hodges; (b) Al Gionfriddo; (c) Dale Mitchell; (d) Sandy Amoros?
- What was the first year the WS was televised? (a) 1946; (b) 1947; (c) 1948; (d) 1949
- Who was the only player from a losing team to win the WS MVP? (a) Bobby Richardson; (b) Yogi Berra; (c) Whitey Ford; (d) Warren Spahn.
- For whom is the WS MVP named? (a) Henry Aaron; (b) Babe Ruth; (d) Ted Williams; (d) Willie Mays
- In the 1969 WS won by the Mets over the Orioles which player made the last out? (a) Brooks Robinson; (b) Boog Powell; (c) Mark Belanger;(d) Davey Johnson.
- In game 7 of the 1946 WS won by the Cardinals, Enos Slaughter famously scored the winning run from first base on a single. Who was the Red Sox player who held the ball for a second allowing Slaughter to score? (a) Bobby Doer; (b) Johnny Pesky; (c) Dom DiMaggio; (d) Ted Williams.
- Four players have won the WS MVP twice. How many of them won it for two different teams? (a) 1;(b) 2; (c) 3; (d) all 4).
- Who was the WS MVP last year? (a) Freddie Freeman; (b) Kike Hernandez; (c) Mookie Betz; (d) Shohei Ohtani
- Which player has hit the most WS homeruns? (a) Babe Ruth; (b) Lou Gehrig; (c) Yogi Berra; (d) Mickey Mantle
- When the LA Dodgers won the WS in 1959 who was the MVP? (a) Sandy Koufax; (b) Charley Neal; (d) Duke Snider; (d) Larry Sherry.
- In the 1960 WS, which was perhaps the oddest WS ever played (The Yankees won three games by a combined score of 38-3 but lost four close ones.) who hit the series winning homerun in game 7? (a) Dick Groat; (b) Bill Mazeroski; (c) Roberto Clemente; (d) Bill Virdon.
- Who was the only athlete to play in both the WS and the Super Bowl? (a) Bo Jackson; (b) Deion Sanders; (c) Brian Jordan; (d) Drew Henson.
Bonus question for you baseball savants: When Babe Ruth famously “called” his homerun in the 1932 WS against the Cubs who was the Cubs pitcher?
Quiz answers: 1. (c); 2. (b); 3. (a); 4. (a); 5. (d); 6. (b); 7. (d) 8. (b); 9. (c); 10. (b); 11. (a) (1960); 12. (d); 13. (d); 14. (b); 15. (b) (Corey Sieger and Reggie Jackson); 16. (a); 17. (d); 18. (d); 19. (b); 20. (b)
Bonus question answer: Charley Root
2025 WORLD SERIES, PART 1
The 2025 World Series, featuring the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays will commence on Friday, October 24. The Dodgers will be pursuing the historic feat of winning two consecutive titles, which has not been accomplished by a National League team since the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds of 1975-1976. The 1998–2000) NY Yankees were the last team in either league to win consecutive WS.
In my view winning consecutive WS has become considerably more difficult than it was prior to the advent of wild card teams. Thanks to the current format in which three wildcard teams from each league make the playoffs it has become rare for the team with the best regular season record to win the WS. In this century it has only been done seven times – the 2007 Red Sox, the 2009 Yankees, the 2013 Red Sox, the 2016 Cubs, the 2018 Red Sox and the 2020 and 2024 Dodgers. That’s roughly 25%, which I consider to be a low number.
Why is that? There are various reasons, but I maintain that the primary reason is the nature of the game, itself. Normally, it takes many more than seven games for the best team to assert itself. Even the best teams will lose 60 games over the course of the season. Even the best teams will suffer through short slumps where they could lose three or four in a row. With the current multilayer playoff format the ultimate winner will have to win three or four short series. It has become common for a team to slump at the wrong time and lose a short three or five game series to an inferior team. Then it’s Sayonara.
This is the format the Lords of Baseball want. More playoff games mean more money. They don’t care. They will live with hottest team winning the WS rather than the season’s best team.
The Dodgers’ franchise was born in 1883. It joined the newly organized National League in 1890. Before being known as the Dodgers, the team was known, at various times, as the Atlantics, the Bridegrooms, the Grooms, the Superbas, the Robins, and the Trolley-Dodgers (a reference to the complex maze of trolley cars that existed in Brooklyn during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name, Trolley-Dodgers, was shortened to Dodgers in 1898.
The Blue Jays began operations in 1977 as an American League expansion team. Toronto had been mentioned as a potential major league franchise as early as the 1880s. From 1896 to 1967 the city had a franchise in the International League called the Maple Leafs. In January 1976, the San Francisco Giants seriously considered relocating to Toronto but did not.
My research disclosed two stories regarding the derivation of the team’s name “Blue Jays.” In one version the team held a “name the team” contest. The leading suggestion was “Blue Jays.” Another version holds that the name was selected by Labatt Breweries, which was the majority owner of the team at the time. Apparently, this name tied in with the name of Labatt’s feature brand at the time, Labatt Blue. The team’s primary color of blue adhered to the tradition of Toronto-based sports teams having that color.
The Blue Jays have appeared in the World Series twice, in 1992 and 1993, winning both. In 1992 they defeated the Atlanta Braves, and in 1993 they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball, which until recently was known as the National Pastime, is no longer the most popular sport in America. Most surveys place it second behind football, or even further down the list. However, there is something about the sport that still resonates. It gets in your blood. It is part of the social and cultural fabric of America. Who can forget their first game of “catch” with their father or the first MLB game they attended? For many of us the WS holds a special place in our memories. For many years the games were played during the day while fans were in school or at work. They would diligently try to ascertain the score from someone who had a radio. I can remember many a time when I raced home from school to catch the end of a WS game.
I was fortunate to attend game 2 of the 1956 WS with my father. As an 11-year-old it was a huge thrill. To this day I have a more detailed recollection of that game than of games I saw only weeks ago. For instance, I remember the Dodger starter, Don Newcombe, got knocked out early. The Dodgers fell behind 6-0, but they rallied to win 13-8. Duke Snider, my favorite Dodger, hit a crucial homer. As an added bonus initially, the game was postponed because of heavy rain. It was made up the next day, so I got to miss two days of school.
The Dodgers have been pioneers in many areas. For instance, they were the first team to:
1. appear on tv (1939),
2. wear helmets (1941), and
3. most significantly, play an African American (Jackie Robinson in 1947).
In addition, I would be remiss if I did not mention that the team employed the same announcer, Vince Scully, for a record 67 years. Many people consider Scully to be the best baseball announcer ever and having watched and listened to him for most of those 67 years, I would be hard-pressed to argue with that assessment.
The Brooklyn Dodgers had many outstanding teams, most notably “The Boys of Summer” teams of the late 1940s – mid 1950s. Those teams were replete with Hall of Famers such as Peewee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider and Roy Campanella. During the ten-year period from 1947-1956 those teams won six pennants and lost another in a playoff. Unfortunately, they were only able to win one WS in 1955. The Dodgers of that era had very strong teams, but they just couldn’t beat the Yankees in the WS. They lost to the Yankees every year except for 1955. The Yankees weren’t necessarily better; they just played better in the WS. After each loss frustrated Dodgers fans would lament “wait until next year.” Finally, in 1955 “next year” came, and the “Bums” as they were affectionally known prevailed in seven games. The next day the headline in the NY Daily News boldly proclaimed, “Who’s a Bum?!” That was the only championship the Dodgers won in Brooklyn. The Dodgers have had better results in LA. They have won seven WS since relocating there in 1958.
During this period fans were treated to classic moments such as Jackie Robinson stealing home in Game 1 in 1955 and Don Larsen’s perfect game in game five in 1956. A photo of Robinson’s steal is on display at the Baseball HOF. To his dying day Yankees catcher Yogi Berra insisted he was out. In those pre-instant replay days, it was hard to know for sure. The umpire said he was safe, so he was safe. In the WS despite the presence of superstars often it is the role players that have emerged as heroes. For example, Sandy Amoros was a little-used bench player for the Brooklyn Dodgers, who made a game-saving catch in the 7th inning of the 7th game of the 1955 WS. Amoros was only in the game as a result of a “double switch” (remember in those days pitchers actually batted).
As incredible as Larsen’s feat was it was enhanced by the fact that he was not a superstar pitcher like say Whitey Ford, Sal Maglie or Sandy Koufax. A perfect game by one of those pitchers would have been plausible, but Larsen was a journeyman. He pitched for seven teams in 15 years and had a career record of 81-91, although he had gone 11-5 in 1956. Furthermore, the 1956 Dodgers’ lineup was “stacked.” It was just an example of a pedestrian player catching “lightning in a bottle” in the WS.
In some 60 years of watching the WS I have been fortunate to witness several other memorable moments, such as Carlton Fisk’s 12th inning homerun just inside the foul pole in the 12th inning of game 6 in 1975, Reggie Jackson’s four consecutive homers in the 1977 WS, and Kirk Gibson’s game winning homerun off A’s closer Dennis Eckersley in game 1 of the 1988 WS. Many of you will recall Fisk standing at Homeplate watching his hit and waving his arms as if to “push” his homerun ball “fair.” Alas, the Reds won the WS the next day. So much for momentum.
Jackson, whose feat earned him the sobriquet “Mr. October,” was an obnoxious loudmouth who upon first arriving at the star-studded Yankees boldly proclaimed he was the “straw that stirred the drink.” This was a direct insult aimed at the Yankees’ popular captain Thurman Munson, but Jackson didn’t care. He doubled down by adding that “Munson can only stir it bad.” But he had a flair for the dramatic, and he sure could hit. He fit in perfectly with the “Bronx Zoo” Yankees teams of the late 1970s. As I recall Jackson hit the homers in four consecutive swings against four different Dodger pitchers (one in his last at-bat in game 5 and then three in game 6. (Don’t fact-check me on this. A memory is a memory.)
Gibson wasn’t supposed to play. He was injured and could barely walk. Yet, he hit the homer and then literally limped round the bases. Then, there was iconic announcer Jack Buck’s famous call on the radio, “I don’t believe what I just saw.” To tell you the truth, neither did I.
Conclusion
This year, on paper we have two deserving teams. No Cinderellas with mediocre regular season records who got “hot” at the right time. Toronto will host the extra home game, but the Dodgers are the betting favorites. One team may get the upper hand and win in a short series, but I expect a long series with many memorable moments.
As a lifelong Dodgers fan I admit to a bias, but I feel that if both teams bring their “A” game the Dodgers will win.
Dodgers in 6.
This was Part 1 of my WS blog. Part2 will be a WS quiz to test your knowledge and recollections.
COMRADE ZOH’S PHOTOGRAPH WITH A MUSLIM EXTREMIST
Comrade Zoh, emboldened by the polls that indicate he is maintaining his double-digit lead over former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo a mere two weeks before Election Day, has upped his game. Now, he is actually flaunting his communist, pro-Islamic, anti-American, anti-Israel, antisemitic proclivities. Rather than hiding or even downplaying the foregoing he is doing just the opposite. He is making no secret of his affiliation with or even affection for Imam Siraj Wahhaj. Zoh has characterized Wahhaj as “one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders.” Recently, a smiling photograph of the two along with NYC Councilman Yusef was widely published in various media outlets including the NY Post. Their relationship is now out there for all to see. Comments can be “spun” or “walked back” but not a photograph.
Wahhaj is a prominent and influential African American imam in New York City with deep, significant and longstanding ties to Islamic terrorism. He is the head of the Masjid At-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn and is a co-founder of the Muslim Alliance in North America. He is an Islamic extremist, an antisemite and a homophobe who has uttered many slurs against Jews and gays. With respect to gays and sex, he adheres to the Prophet Mohammad’s dictum that both “the one who does it and the one it is done to” should be killed.
Moreover, he is an unindicted co-conspirator of the 1993 WTC attack in which terrorists detonated a truck bomb in the North Tower’s parking garage that killed six people plus one unborn child and injured more than 1,000 others. In my view this attack was a precursor to the 9/11/01 attack on the WTC. He provided a character reference for El Sayyid Nosair, who assassinated Rabbi Meir Kahane. He has been accused of making anti-American and anti-LGBTQ comments and is reportedly an advocate for stricter Islamic law.
This is not the type of person with whom a candidate for NYC mayor should be photographed, unless he is so confident of victory that he feels it won’t matter. This may, in fact, be the case. This “in your face” photograph has triggered significant backlash from critics and political rivals, such as Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. President Donald Trump has also weighed in characterizing it as “a disaster waiting to happen.” Of course, those who have been paying attention are not surprised. They see it as yet another affirmation of Zoh’s personal and political leanings.
Conclusion
In my opinion the gaslighting of NYC voters has been so thorough that the controversial photograph is unlikely to dissuade them from voting for Zoh in the election. The Kool-Aide drinkers that support him have made up their minds. They view him as a savior who will improve their lives with free stuff paid for with other people’s money.
Some are hoping that Curtis Sliwa will drop out of the race in which case the polls predict the race would tighten considerably, but he has continually denied he has plans to do so. The other hope is for a low turnout, but Zoh’s zealots are the type of voters who would tromp through a blizzard to vote for him. In my view we should all steel ourselves for a communist mayor and hope he doesn’t do permanent damage to NYC.
WILL TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN HOLD TOGETHER?
The following is based on multiple media reports supplemented by my opinion as indicated.
Phase One of Trump’s Middle East Plan (the “Plan”) the exchange of 20 surviving hostages and the remains of four deceased hostages being held by Hamas for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners that had been held by Israel is just the first step of Trump’s 20-point Plan. (It is thought that there are 24 additional deceased hostages whose remains were not returned, and as reported by NBC NEWS it is unclear when they will be.)
This was widely hailed as a great success and rightly so. The man whose enemies have characterized him as “unstable,” “power-hungry,” and a “warmonger” managed to arrange a miraculous peace agreement that few thought was possible. The euphoric and poignant sight of hostages being greeted by members of the Knesset in Jerusalem and then being reunited with their families was something to see. Of course, Trump haters such as Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and AOC could not manage to say anything positive. As I write this, they have remained silent. Other Dem politicians tempered their praise and/or did not mention Trump by name. Also silent are the protesters who had been claiming Israeli genocide.
So, how did Trump pull this off? How did he manage to accomplish in just nine months what a host of past presidents could not? (1) Through a plethora of past actions, he established his bona fides as a tough, decisive person who means what he says and says what he means. (2) He convinced Netanyahu that America was a staunch ally in its fight against Hamas and would support it unwaveringly. (3) He demonstrated to the various Arab heads of state that he could eliminate the threat of a nuclear Iran. Everyone knew Iran was within months of attaining nuclear capability, and regardless of politics everyone was terrified what the unstable mullahs would do with it. He gave Iran a deadline to dismantle its nuclear program. Unlike prior US presidents he followed through. When Iran failed to comply, he bombed the s**t out of its reactors, thus destroying its nuclear capability. This was done precisely and decisively remotely from the US. The Arab world took notice. It was awed and cowed by America’s power and its president’s willingness to employ it. (4) He assembled a consortium of 27 nations who wanted peace and were willing to support his efforts to attain it.
(5) Along the way the US succeeded in eliminating several key senior terrorists, again precisely and decisively. (6) It decimated Hezbollah and the Houthis and convinced Qatar to cut off its support to Hamas. (7) Hamas was now weakened and isolated; its allies had been neutralized; and it knew Israel was poised to “finish the job.” Essentially, that was how the “dealmaker” brokered the peace deal.
As I said, Trump has assembled a consortium of some 27 world leaders to support his Plan. It appears that they all want this chance of peace in the ME to succeed. Trump hailed the Plan as “not only the end of a war, [but] the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God. It’s the start of a grand concord of lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a magnificent region.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that he is “committed to this peace [Plan]. Many other world leaders and US politicians expressed similar views. Even former President Barack Obama and former VP Kamala Harris managed to express tepid praise for the Plan and for Trump’s role in its success. However, Harris refused to mention Trump by name, citing “the president.”
In accordance with the first phase of Trump’s plan, Israeli forces have moved to an initial withdrawal line within Gaza (the “yellow line”). However, as miraculous as Phase One was, it was the easy part. Now comes the hard part, securing the agreement of all parties to the rest of the Plan and then maintaining the peace. As I delineated in my previous blog on this subject the Plan contains several contentious points, each of which is a potential dealbreaker, that need to be ironed out or else the Plan will fall apart. As the expression goes, “the devil is in the details.”
Hamas is moving quickly and decisively to fill the power vacuum that currently exists in Gaza. Some 300 miles of its vast tunnel system remain intact. They are purported to contain considerable amounts of weapons, food, and medical supplies that could easily support further fighting.
In addition, there have been multiple reports of Hamas soldiers indiscriminately and arbitrarily murdering persons of rival clans that they perceive as opponents. It claims that these clans collaborated with Israel, which is unlikely. This bloodletting is a danger to the Plan’s success. It is essential that the powers that be establish a central governing body in Gaza to stabilize and administer it. More on this later.
According to NBC News many Palestinians fear the resumption of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They are cognizant of the fact that Netanyahu and other members of his right-wing government have said that the struggle isn’t over yet. Indeed, Netanyahu has maintained that Israel’s “campaign is not over” until Hamas’ fighting capacity has been totally destroyed. Recently, as Israeli planes carried out strikes in Lebanon, he asserted that “some of our enemies are trying to recover in order to attack us again.” Many people have interpreted those comments as a disquieting indication that the halt to the fighting in Gaza did not mean an end to the wider conflict in the region.
The NY Times correctly denoted that persuading Hamas to disarm will be difficult (an understatement in my view). Hamas has steadfastly refused to disarm, and many (including me) doubt that it will. Israel has estimated that there are as many as 18,000 Hamas fighters still at large and armed. Indeed, Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, has declared that “the proposed weapons turnover is out of the question and not negotiable.” Conversely, Netanyahu has asserted that “if Hamas does not disarm there will be no further compromises,” and Trump has asserted that Hamas will disarm or “we will disarm them.”
According to the NY Post the Plan is unlikely to reduce the deep and bitter enmity between Israel and the Gazans. On the contrary the Post opines that it will exacerbate as the Israelis ascertain more details of the inhumane treatment of the hostages and as the Gazans return to their homes only to find a pile of rubble. The war has killed close to 70,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, and most of the buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Moreover, most of the population is still living without adequate access to food, shelter, care and other vital needs. These abhorrent conditions are not sustainable.
As I explained in my previous blog on this topic perhaps, the most problematic bone of contention is the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Support for this two-state solution has been growing internationally. Conversely, the idea is deeply unpopular among Israelis. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll only 21% of Israelis believe their country and a Palestinian state could coexist. This is the smallest percentage ever recorded since the survey commenced in 2013. Recently, when asked to opine on this issue Trump was noncommittal. He said “a lot of people like the one-state solution; some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see.” There is still a plethora of Muslim countries that do not recognize Israel as a country.
The rebuilding of Gaza will be an enormous task. For what it’s worth the UN has estimated that the area is covered with some 50 tons of rubble and debris that would take 30 years to remove completely. Additionally, the area is strewn with live ordnance, which must be removed for obvious reasons. It estimated the cost would be $50 billion, which will probably prove to be an understatement. Trump is expecting the various neighboring Arab nations to pony up the money, but as of yet there have been no volunteers. Furthermore, the area has suffered “brain drain” as many of the skilled and professional people have fled and are unlikely to return.
The issue of who will govern Gaza is another contentious point. The Plan calls for it to be governed initially by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” overseen by a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and others such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Some of the Arab states have suggested the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu has declared he would “never” agree to that.
The situation is fluid and fraught with uncertainty and contradictions. For instance, according to the NY Post Iran has expressed support for terminating the “genocidal war” in Gaza but asserted it will continue to support Hamas “if Israel continues its expansionist and racial plans.” There have already been indications that the Plan is fragile and may not hold together.
Conclusion
As I said, Phase One of the Plan was a rousing success, but there is still much work to be done in order to achieve a lasting peace. For the Plan to succeed will require a considerable amount of time, money and fortitude. It will probably fall to the US to hold the current coalition together. It will be important to prevent the rise of new terrorist groups and to keep guard against outsiders who will seek to take advantage of what they perceive to be a power vacuum.
Finally, once again, one must be mindful of the lessons of history. Often, ill-advised decisions made after a war have sown the seeds for the next one. For example, during WWI the ill-conceived Balfour Declaration was intended to secure Jewish support for the Allied war effort. The declaration boosted the legitimacy of the Zionist movement and influenced the British Mandate for Palestine, leading to increased Jewish immigration and the eventual establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Unfortunately, it was made without the consent of the majority Arab population in Palestine and came after Britain had made conflicting promises of independence to Arab leaders. This double-dealing, which many historians believe was intentional (since Britain needed both sides’ support to win the war) laid the groundwork for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian wars that have plagued the Middle East ever since.
Also, the Allies’ harsh peace terms foisted upon Germany after WWI planted the seeds for the rise of Hitler and Nazi Party, which led to WWII.
On the positive side we should seek to emulate the success of the Marshall Plan following WWII by which the US propped up the war-torn countries of Europe which, in turn, prevented the spread of communism to those areas.
COLUMBUS DAY
Tomorrow, Monday, October 13, we will celebrate Columbus Day, which is a holiday to honor the man who “discovered” America. CD is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States. But did Columbus really “discover” America? More on that later.
Federal offices and most banks will be closed, so there will be no mail delivery (although national parks will be open). On the other hand, financial markets and most schools will be open. Many cities and towns will hold their traditional Columbus Day parade, including NYC for the 81st year. If you’re planning to drive into midtown on Monday, don’t. There will be many street closures, and the usual heavy traffic will be especially brutal. Moreover, the weather forecast, heavy rain and high winds, will be an additional complication.
CD has been celebrated in the US since 1792. Originally, it was celebrated on October 12, the date on which Columbus made landfall. FDR proclaimed CD a national holiday in 1937. In 1971 pursuant to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act the date was changed to the second Monday in October where it has remained ever since.
In recent years Columbus and CD have become controversial. Many Native American and other activist groups have denoted his brutality toward the indigenous peoples he encountered, particularly in the West Indies. For example, Kerri Malloy, a professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies at San José State University maintains his arrival to the Americas “triggered a mass genocide of Indigenous People throughout the Western hemisphere,” which included deadly diseases being spread among them, their land being stolen and being forced into Christianity.
Currently, there is no uniformity with respect to the manner in which the holiday is celebrated throughout the US. Some states, such as Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Michigan and South Dakota, have designated alternate names, such as Fraternal Day and Indigenous Peoples Day. Others don’t celebrate it at all. According to the Pew Research Center 30 states and three US territories recognize CD in some way, while 17 states and D.C. commemorate Indigenous people on that day. Several states recognize both.
President Trump has been a strong advocate of recognizing the holiday in the traditional way as CD. Accordingly, this year in an attempt to “reclaim” what he termed Columbus’ “extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue “he signed a proclamation declaring Monday to be ‘Columbus Day.’ ” His stated reasoning was to bring CD “back from the ashes.”
For hundreds of years the conventional wisdom was that Columbus discovered America in 1492. Most of us know the basics of the story. Columbus was born in Genoa, which is now part of Italy, in 1451. According to Wikipedia the precise date is not known. He went to sea at around the age of ten and travelled extensively from the British Isles to the West African coast.
By the late 1400s the spice trade between Asia and Europe had become extremely lucrative. The problem was it took too long to travel between the two locations. Either ships had to sail around the “horn” of Africa or caravans had to travel overland through central Asia. Both routes were arduous and dangerous. Columbus became convinced he could find a quicker route. Time meant money, even in the 15th century. He was seeking a “Northwest Passage” to Asia, which would enhance the spice trade between Europe and Asia. His idea that he could find it by traveling west was generally considered radical and unrealistic.
At the time, most people believed the world was flat, and that if one sailed too far west the ship would simply fall off the edge of the earth. It was not until the 16th century, thanks primarily to the research of Copernicus and Galileo that the scientific community generally accepted the notion that the earth was spherical, not flat, and that it revolved around the sun, not the other way around. Columbus “pitched” his idea all over Europe seeking a sponsor. He was subjected to laughter and ridicule until King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain decided to take a chance on him. He set sail in August of 1492 with three ships – the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.
On October 12 he made landfall in the current-day Bahama Islands. He named the indigenous people “Indians,” as he thought he was in India. Of course, he was wrong, but the term Indians to identify Native Americans has “stuck.” As colonial Governor of the area he became known for his extreme brutality toward the indigenous people. It was so bad that eventually he was removed from his post.
On Monday NYC will host the 81st Annual Columbus Day Parade, which is organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. It is anticipated that thousands of people will pack Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd streets to view the approximately 35,000 marchers, floats, bands, and performers participate in the celebration. Hopefully, the extreme weather will not put a damper on the proceedings. The city’s celebration of its Italian cultural roots is a tradition that connects those of Italian heritage to their ancestors, who emigrated there. The parade will be broadcast and streamed live on ABC.
Eventually, Columbus would make three subsequent voyages to Central and South America. He never set foot in any part of North America. And he never did find the elusive Northwest Passage.
Based on new evidence, it is now generally accepted that Columbus did not “discover” America as we were taught in school. He did not “discover” anything. He was not the first person to set foot in America, not even close as you will see below. What he did accomplish was to make Europeans aware of the existence of a “New World,” which was chock full of unimaginable riches. His successful voyages ushered in a new era of exploration, exploitation, conquest, colonization and war that would last for centuries. He was not the first, but one can argue that he was the most significant.
So, who did “discover” America?
- According to historian Michael Bawaya, editor of the magazine, American Archaeology, the original settlers arrived about 15,000 years ago. At that time the Bering Sea, which separates modern-day Siberia from North America, was shallower than it is now. In some areas, there was an actual land-bridge. According to the US National Parks Service the land-bridge “played a vital role” in the spread of flora and fauna between the two continents. Animals such as mastodons, wooly mammoths, Arctic camels, horses and various species of fish and birds moved freely over the land-bridge establishing migration patterns that persist to this day. Of course, humans followed as they went where the food was.
- Archaeologists have discovered evidence of settlements in and around Clovis, NM that are some 11,000 years old. DNA evidence suggests that these inhabitants were the direct ancestors of some 80% of ALL indigenous peoples in the Americas.
- According to voanews there is ample evidence that the Vikings inhabited Newfoundland and other parts of eastern Canada as early as circa 1100. Two leaders of these intrepid Viking explorers were Leif Erickson and his son, Eric “the Red.” They did not establish any permanent colonies, but there is ample evidence that they used the area as a winter settlement to make repairs to their boats and “ride out” bad weather.
- There is evidence that Chinese and/or Polynesian explorers made their way to parts of South America well before Columbus.
CONCLUSION
In summary, I believe Columbus deserves credit (and blame) for introducing the New World to Europeans and all that followed, but it cannot be said that he “discovered” it. As indicated by his harsh treatment of the natives he was not perfect; none of us is. But I am not a proponent of “revisionist history” as advocated by many on the “left.” Therefore, I do not believe CD should be “canceled.” In my view, Columbus, regardless of his well-documented personal faults, deserves credit for his extensive and significant historical impact, and should continue to be recognized with a holiday in his memory.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN
First, my standard disclaimer. The following blog constitutes my personal opinion, except where otherwise noted. Feel free to disagree, but to paraphrase the late Leslye Gore, “it’s my blog, and I’ll write what I want to.”
President Trump, whom some detractors unfairly and inaccurately, have labeled a “warmonger,” among many other unsavory characterizations, deserves much praise for attempting to accomplish what many, if not most, observers including me have long opined to be impossible, that is broker a lasting peace in the Middle East. He has proposed a comprehensive 20-point peace plan (the “Plan”), which, as I write this, is being negotiated between the combatants. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas, actually an exchange with Palestinian prisoners currently being held by Israel, “in the coming days.” According to the BBC Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals in part but has not responded to several key demands, including its disarmament and not having any future role in the governance of Gaza.
A senior Israeli security source said that initially the negotiations would focus only on the release of hostages and would give Hamas a few days to complete that phase. The 20-point plan, which has been agreed upon by Trump, Netanyahu and a plethora of other countries worldwide, proposes an immediate end to fighting and the release of 48 hostages held by Hamas, only 20 of whom are thought to still be alive, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans and Palestinians.
According to multiple media outlets the Plan is essentially just a framework for a potential deal. It states that within 72 hours of an agreement all remaining hostages would be released. Recently, Trump optimistically told reporters – “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it’ll be a lasting deal.” He added that the hostages could be released “very soon,” perhaps within one week. I hope he is right, but I remain skeptical. It should be noted that Hamas is not fully onboard yet.
The Plan further stipulates that once both sides agree to the proposal “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip.” It also states that Hamas would have no role in governing Gaza, and it leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
The BBC has cautioned that Hamas’ agreement is contingent upon certain “field conditions” being met. What does that mean? Who knows? I view that response as too vague to be meaningful. Don’t forget, the hostages are Hamas’ only bargaining chip. I want to see them freed as much as anyone, but I don’t see why Hamas would willing to release them until a deal has been signed.
More on that below.
All of the above optimism should be taken with a huge grain of salt. After the Plan was announced publicly a week ago, Netanyahu reiterated his longstanding opposition to a Palestinian state, saying in a video statement: “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.” In addition, in my view Hamas has been insisting on a Palestinian state and furthermore will not abide by any plan that includes recognizing Israel. That would contradict Hamas’ long held foremost view that Israel is an illegitimate country and has no right to exist. I don’t know how those diametrically opposed positions get reconciled.
The Plan is the closest both sides have come to a deal since the war began two years ago, but I believe it has too many unresolvable points to achieve a lasting peace.
According to the BBC and other media outlets the major impediments to a lasting deal are as follows:
- Mutual antipathy– The two sides hate each other and don’t trust each other. Israel rightfully does not trust Hamas to abide by any peace agreement. Hamas’ longstanding goal has been the total destruction of Israel. It has continually refused to recognize Israel as a legitimate country, and it has long maintained that neither Israel nor Jews in general has a right to exist. Hamas is afraid that once the hostages have been released there would be nothing to prevent Israel from completing its stated mission to destroy it once and for all. Israel’s stated goal throughout the war has been the destruction of Hamas, and President Netanyahu has repeatedly reiterated Israel will not stop until [Hamas] is “finished.” This is not a realistic basis for a lasting peace agreement. This alone would likely prevent Hamas from agreeing to the Plan.
- Future governance of Gaza – According to The Plan initially Gaza would be governed by a temporary “transitional body of Palestinian technocrats” supervised by a “Board of Peace” headed and chaired by Donald Trump and involving former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Eventually, control would be handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas would not have any role in governance. I don’t see any way that Hamas would agree to that.
- Israeli withdrawal – The Plan envisions three stages of Israeli troop withdrawal. The first stage leaves about 55% of Gaza under Israeli control, the second 40%, and the third 15%. That final stage would consist of a “security perimeter” that would “remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.” In my view the vagueness of the wording and lack of a clear timeline for full Israeli withdrawal is problematic.
- Hamas’ disarmament – Hamas has consistently refused to disarm until a Palestinian state has been established, and even if they were to agree to do so who would believe them? Conversely, Netanyahu has reiterated consistently that “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized.” He has vowed to accomplish this “either the easy way or the hard way.”
- Netanyahu’s Political Future – Netanyahu is dealing with strong political opposition internally chiefly due to his prosecution of the war. His popularity is waning, and he is facing an election next year. A majority of Israelis are tired of the war and want it to end. They claim he is only continuing the war in Gaza to remain in power. This group is supported by recent polls that have disclosed that approximately 70% of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for the release of the hostages. Conversely a group of far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to dissolve his coalition government if the war were to end before Hamas is completely destroyed. Finally, Netanyahu would likely have to deal with a major corruption trial once the war ends.
Due to the foregoing, I am not optimistic regarding the likelihood of the Plan being agreed upon and even less optimistic that it would last if it were to be.
Hamas has been losing on the field of battle, but it has been winning bigtime in the court of public opinion. This is its biggest advantage, and I believe it has been the biggest impediment to a cessation of hostilities. I believe that Hamas is playing a delaying game in the belief that eventually public opinion will force Israel and the US to agree to more favorable terms. In the meantime, it will play lip service, but it has no intention of agreeing to the Plan.
Since October 7, 2023, open hostility towards Israel and, by extension, Jews in general has been increasing. I believe this antisemitism is not new. It’s always been there. Throughout history it has lain dormant, like a volcano, only to erupt at certain times of stress or misfortune. There have been many examples of this, which I have detailed in previous blogs. However, due to limitations of time and space I will only cite a few current examples to illustrate my point.
- Recently, the NY Post reported that the Democratic Socialists of America (which includes Zohran Mamdani as a member) promulgated a resolution in support of boycott, divestment, sanctions and armed resistance against Israel. Moreover, they are threatening to expel any members who do not support this position. According to the Network Contagion Research Institute, a nonprofit that tracks extremism, this resolution “signals intensifying ideological rigidity, intolerance and radicalism” towards Israel and Jews. Also, Mamdani’s extreme antipathy toward Jews has been well documented over the years. Accordingly, Matthew Schweber, a member of Columbia University’s Jewish Alumni Association, characterizes him as “unfit to be mayor of NYC.” Inexplicably, polls still show him to have a double-digit lead among NYC Jews in his campaign for mayor. Either they are being gaslighted or just don’t care about his antipathy, but if he wins, they will come to rue the day.
- The UN, which is supposed to be neutral, has long been dominated by antisemitic/anti-Israel sentiments. In 1975 it declared Zionism to be “a form of racism.” In the current conflict it ignores the facts and views Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters.” Its current narrative is that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza by blocking shipments of food and other necessities, whereas in reality it is Hamas that is stealing the relief supplies and reselling them on the black market. In the entire history of the world Israel is the only victim of aggression that has been criticized for retaliating against the aggressor.
- Various nations, including China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, have already expressed support for a Palestinian state and its membership in the UN. Trump has correctly opined that this would, in effect, reward Hamas for its attack on 10/7/23 and its ongoing terrorism.
- Public support for Israel has been waning even in the US. According to a recent NYTimes/Siena University poll only 34% of respondents sympathize with Israel in the current conflict compared to 35% for the Palestinians. Last year a similar poll reported 47% for Israel and 20% or the Palestinians. The same poll reported that 40% of Americans believe Israel is intentionally killing civilians in Gaza whereas the complete opposite is true. Even more disturbing is that 70% of voters under 30 oppose further economic or military aid for Israel. In addition, not surprisingly the same poll reported that 54% of Dems sympathized with the Palestinians
Conclusion
President Trump has worked hard to put this comprehensive Plan together and to garner widespread support for it. For that, he is to be commended. It is yet another example of his oft-stated desire for peace around the world.
That said, in my opinion he is “pissing into the wind.” Based on the foregoing, there is no way that Hamas would feel compelled to agree to the Plan. And, if it does sign it, it will not abide by it.
It knows it is winning the publicity battle, which makes it inclined to delay and delay some more. Quite simply, most of the world hates Jews. Always has; always will. At times this hatred has been covertly lurking just below the service. And then, at other times it has erupted like a volcano. This is not just my opinion; it is a historical fact as I have delineated in various previous blogs. It will not change.
Currently, this antipathy has been extended to Israel as well. It has often been said that the US is Israel’s only friend in the world. As sad as that is, I maintain that it is overly optimistic. I maintain that Trump is Israel’s only friend. Witness the above polls. Unfortunately, Trump will not be president forever. The GOP, which is more supportive than the Dems will not be in power forever either.
American Jews have grown complacent and content. Inevitably, the Dems or the Socialists with their strong antisemitic/anti-Israel faction will gain power. What will happen to Israel and the Jews then? That was a rhetorical question. The answer, based on history, is nothing good.
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – OCTOBER
October has had more than its share of significant historical events. Please see below:
10/1/1908 – The first Model T cars, designed by Henry Ford, went on sale.
10/1/1938 – German troops occupied the Sudetenland section of Czechoslovakia.
10/1/1949 – The Peoples’ Republic of China was founded with Mao Zedong as its leader.
10/1/1979 – The US formally turned the Canal Zone over to Panama.
10/2/1967 – Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the Supreme Court.
10/3/1863 – President Abraham Lincoln promulgated a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving (later changed to the fourth Thursday).
10/3/1929 – The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was officially renamed Yugoslavia.
10/3/1932 – Iraq gained its independence from Great Britain.
10/3/1974 – Hall of Famer Frank Robinson became the first African American to manage a major league baseball club (the Cleveland Indians). Later, he also became the first AA manager to be fired.
10/3/1990 – East and West Germany were united as the Federal Republic of Germany ending 45 years of separation.
10/4/1830 – Belgium gained its independence from the Netherlands.
10/4/1957 – Russia ushered in the Space Age as it launched the first satellite, named Sputnik.
10/5/1908 – Bulgaria proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire.
10/6/1927 – “The Jazz Singer,” the first “talkie,” opened in NYC.
10/6/1928 – Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek became the president of the Republic of China.
10/6/1973 – The “Yom Kippur War” commenced as Egypt and Syria launched surprise attacks against Israel, which was busy celebrating the most sacred of Jewish holidays.
10/6/1981 – Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated.
10/7/1985 – Palestinian terrorists seized the cruise ship, “Achille Lauro,” and threatened to blow it up if their demands were not met. They infamously murdered an elderly wheelchair-bound passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, by pushing his wheelchair off the deck into the sea.
10/7/2023 – Hamas terrorists perpetrated the worst attack on Israeli civilians since the Holocaust murdering, raping and terrorizing thousands of innocent women, children and elderly people.
10/8/1871 – The Great Fire of Chicago destroyed much of the city. Legend has it that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow started it by kicking over a lantern in her barn.
10/8/1918 – Sergeant Alvin York, arguably the US’s greatest war hero, single-handedly took out a German machine-gun battalion, killing and capturing nearly 150 enemy soldiers. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the French equivalent, the Croix de Guerre.
10/8/1998 – The House of Representatives voted to launch a formal impeachment inquiry of President Bill Clinton.
10/9/1962 – Uganda gained its independence from Great Britain.
10/10/1973 – Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned amid allegations of income tax evasion stemming from his tenure as Governor of Maryland.
10/11/1939 – Scientist Albert Einstein issued a warning to President FDR that Germany was seeking to develop an atomic weapon. His warning led the US to marshal its resources to develop its own atomic weapon (the Manhattan Project).
10/12/1492 – Christopher Columbus landed in present-day El Salvador, erroneously thinking he had found the elusive northwest passage to India.
10/12/1811 – Paraguay declared its independence from Spain.
10/12/1822 – Brazil declared its independence from Portugal.
10/13/1792 – George Washington laid the cornerstone of the White House.
10/13/1884 – Greenwich, England was established as the basic time zone from which all time is calculated.
10/14/1066 – The Normans defeated the English at the decisive Battle of Hastings, which resulted in the Normans’ conquest of England.
10/14/1912 – Former president Theodore Roosevelt was shot while campaigning for re-election, but he survived.
10/14/1947 – Test pilot Chuck Yeager became the first to break the sound barrier.
10/14/1964 – Martin Luther King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
10/15/1991 – Following several days of contentious hearings regarding allegations of sexual harassment against a former aide, Anita Hill, the Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
10/16/1701 – Yale University was founded in Killingworth, CT as the Collegiate School of Connecticut.
10/16/1793 – French Queen Marie Antoinette, known for her extravagance and contempt for her subjects (“Let them eat cake.”), was beheaded.
10/16/1853 – The Crimean War (Russia, England and France vs. the Ottoman Empire and parts of present-day Italy) began.
10/16/1995 – Louis Farrakhan led the Million Man March on Washington.
10/17/1777 – The Colonial Army defeated the British at Saratoga in what many historians believe was the turning point of the Revolutionary War.
10/17-25/1944 – The US succeeded in decimating the Japanese Navy at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which was the largest naval battle in history.
10/18/1945 – The Nuremberg War Crimes Trial commenced with indictments against 24 former Nazi leaders.
10/19/1781 – English General Cornwallis surrendered to the Colonial Army at Yorktown, VA. marking the end of the Revolutionary War.
10/19/1987 – This day was dubbed “Black Monday” on Wall Street as stocks plunged 508 points or 22.6%, at the time the largest one-day decline ever.
10/20/1818 – The US and Great Britain agreed to establish the US-Canadian border at the 49th parallel. The 5,525-mile border is the longest in the world between any two countries.
10/20/1944 – General Douglas MacArthur, who upon fleeing the Philippines in 1942 to escape the Japanese Army boldly asserted “I shall return,” returned as promised.
10/20/1968 – Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of President John Kennedy, married Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.
10/21/1805 – The British Navy defeated the combined naval forces of France and Spain at the Battle of Trafalgar, obviating the threat of their invasion of England.
10/21/1879 – Thomas Edison successfully tested an incandescent lamp.
10/21/1915 – AT&T transmitted the first successful transatlantic radio voice message (Virginia to Paris).
10/22/1962 – President Kennedy warned Americans of the existence of Russian missiles in Cuba. The so-called “Cuban Missile Crisis” was probably the biggest threat of nuclear war during the Cold War.
10/23/1942 – The British Army led by General Bernard Montgomery launched a major offensive against the German Afrika Corps, led by General Erwin Rommel, at El Alamein, Egypt. Montgomery’s victory marked a major turning point in WWII.
10/24/1931 – Notorious Chicago gangster, Al Capone, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for income tax evasion.
10/24/1945 – The UN was founded.
10/25/1854 – 673 British cavalrymen took on a Russian force in the Battle of Balaclava. This famous Crimean War battle was immortalized in a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson entitled “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”
10/26/1881 – In the infamous shoot-out at the OK Corral the Earp brothers and “Doc” Holliday defeated the Clanton Gang.
10/26/1825 – The Erie Canal, the first man-made waterway in America, opened for business.
10/27/1904 – The NYC subway system opened with a run from City Hall to West 145th Street as the first underground and underwater system in the world.
10/27/1978 – Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
10/28/1636 – Harvard University, the oldest university in America, was founded in Cambridge, MA, funded by donations provided by John Harvard.
10/28/1846 – The ill-fated Donner Party departed Illinois for California.
10/28/1918 – The Republic of Czechoslovakia was founded by combining three provinces that were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – Moravia, Slovakia, and Bohemia.
10/28/1919 – Prohibition commenced as Congress enacted the Volstead Act.
10/28/1962 – Russia agreed to halt the construction of offensive missile bases in Cuba and dismantle existing bases, thus ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.
10/29/1929 – The stock market “crashed” ushering in the Great Depression.
10/30/1938 – A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” without commercial interruption caused widespread panic, as many people thought that Martians had actually invaded Earth.
10/31/41- The sculptures of four US presidents on Mt. Rushmore was completed. Can you name them? (See below).
10/31/50 – Earl Lloyd became the first AA to play in the NBA (Washington Capitols).
10/31/84 – Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandhi was assassinated.
BIRTHDAYS – Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi – 10/2/1869; Rutherford B. Hayes (19th President) – 10/4/1822; Frederic Remington (artist)- 10/4/1861; Chester A. Arthur (21st President) – 10/5/1830; Robert Goddard (“Father of the Space Age”) – 10/5/1882; George Westinghouse (engineer and inventor) – 10/6/1846; John Lennon – 10/9/1940; Eleanor Roosevelt – 10/11/1884; Mary Ludwig (aka Molly Pitcher (Revolutionary War heroine of the Battle of Monmouth, NJ) – 10/13/1754; William Penn (founded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which bears his name) – 10/14/1644; Dwight (Ike) Eisenhower (WWII commanding general and 34th President) – 10/14/1890; Lido Anthony (Lee) Iacocca (auto industry executive) – 10/15/1924; Noah Webster (teacher and journalist who compiled the first dictionaries) – 10/16/1758; Oscar Wilde (Irish playwright and poet) – 10/16/1854; David Ben Gurion (“Father” of Israel) – 10/16/1888; Eugene O’Neill (playwright – “The Iceman Cometh”) – 10/16/1888; William O. Douglas (associate justice of the Supreme Court) – 10/16/1898; John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie (jazz musician) – 10/21/1917; Pablo Picasso (artist) – 10/25/1881; Hillary Rodham Clinton – 10/26/1947; James Cook (English explorer) – 10/27/1728; Theodore Roosevelt (26th President) – 10/27/1858; Dr. Jonas Salk (polio vaccine) – 10/28/1914; Bill Gates (Microsoft) – 10/28/1955; John Adams (2nd President) – 10/30/1735; Emily Post (arbiter of etiquette) – 10/30/1872; Admiral Will (“Bull”) Halsey (WWII fleet commander) – 10/30/1882.
Quiz answer: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
THE SCHUMER SHUTDOWN
The contents of this blog are a compendium of information gleaned from multiple media sources. Any content that is my opinion is noted as such.
As of today, October 1, the Federal government is shut down due to Congress’ failure to pass a CR to extend the federal government’s funding for next year. It seems that every year the funding agreement is a bone of contention between the Dems and the GOP. Normally, the two sides negotiate down to the wire and reach an agreement at the “eleventh hour,” but not this year.
As the deadline approached, a bill to keep the government operating passed in the House barely, but it failed in the Senate 55-45. (60 votes were required for passage.) President Donald Trump and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders met at the White House on Monday in a last-ditch effort to forestall a shutdown, but no compromise was reached. The Senate is expected to vote again on Wednesday, likely on the same two measures that failed Tuesday, and likely with the same result. So, we have a shutdown. The primary issue seems to be that Congressional Democrats are demanding overhauls to Medicaid cuts and extensions to health care tax credits, which would cost an estimated $1.7 trillion. Republicans are opposed, but they have signaled they would agree to address those concerns in a separate bill.
The current situation is far from unique. Since 1976 the government has undergone ten shutdowns and numerous additional funding gaps that did not result in a shutdown. The last shutdown was from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019 during President Trump’s first term. It lasted 35 days and was the longest ever. The primary issue was Congress’ refusal to provide funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Another recent notable shutdown was for 16 days in 2013 during the Obama presidency over the GOP’s demands to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Prior to the 1980s, funding gaps did not normally result in shutdowns. The difference between the two is a funding gap occurs whenever Congress has missed the deadline to pass a budget or a stopgap spending bill (also called a continuing resolution). In those instances, federal government agencies were able to continue to operate on the “assumption” that funding would eventually be restored. And eventually it was. No harm, no foul.
After 1980, however, Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issued legal opinions that eliminated this tactic. His opinion stated that under federal law agencies were prohibited from spending money without prior congressional approval. Only essential services – such as national security, air traffic control and law enforcement – could continue. Thus, funding gaps morphed into shutdowns.
Some of the implications of the current shutdown are as follows:
- “Essential” personnel – such as military service members (including hundreds of members of the National Guard that Trump has deployed to various U.S. cities), law enforcement officers ICE agents, and air traffic controllers – would be required to keep working, with pay deferred until funding has been restored.
- Federal contractors, including hourly workers such as janitors and security guards, are not required to work and are also not guaranteed back pay.
- Congresspersons would continue to get paid their $174,000 annual salaries (naturally).
- Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid disbursements would continue unabated, although there could be delays.
- Various “nonessential” federal services, such as national parks, monuments and museums, would be halted, reduced, or closed.
- Hundreds of thousands, or perhaps millions of nonessential government employees would be furloughed, placed on unpaid leave, or terminated. Most significantly, the determination of which employees get furloughed, placed on unpaid leave or terminated will be the sole province of the Executive Branch, i.e. President Trump and the Budget Office without recourse. Thus, they could take this opportunity to effect further DOGE cuts, which the Dems have opposed. The Office of Management and Budget has not yet provided an estimate of how many federal workers are expected to go without pay, furloughed or fired. However, OMB Director Russ Vought has threatened mass firings. Democrats have called this an intimidation tactic, but they cannot stop it.
- Mail would continue unabated as the U.S. Postal Service has its own revenue stream independent of government funding.
- Ultimately, the ramifications of the shutdown will likely spread beyond the purely political arena and impact the lives of many Americans who rely tangentially on the above government payments and services.
Conclusion
In my opinion, once again, the Dems have walked into a trap and find themselves on the wrong side of a critical issue. According to a recent NYT/ Siena Poll 65% of Americans are opposed to a shutdown.
In my view the blame for this one rests squarely on the Senate Dems and their inept, blundering leader, (Up)Chuck Schumer. His approval rating is very low, and he is facing a primary challenge for his Senate seat from AOC, which many believe he will lose. Moreover, the left wing of his party is dissatisfied with his leadership, and he faces a likely challenge there as well. I believe he is doing this to placate the left wing, but it will backfire.
To make matters worse Fox News has been playing recordings of Schumer, Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and other Dems condemning past government shutdowns, which contradict their current ranting in favor of this one. I don’t know how they can spin that discrepancy. The optics are really bad. Yes, they will try to blame the GOPers for the shutdown, but the public will not be fooled.
It is in the Senate where the Dems have blocked the CR. Even though the GOP has a slim majority there the Dems were able to prevent them from getting the required 60 votes.
Eventually, this shutdown, like all the others, will be resolved via a CR, and government operations will return to normal (such as they are). This shutdown will become known as the “Schumer Shutdown” and will constitute his political epitaph. Regular readers of my blogs are cognizant of my extreme antipathy for him and, I will not be sorry to see him go.
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 