Uppity Wisconsin

On January 21, 2010 Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) signed a letter with the signatures of 54 members of Congress delivered to President Obama calling for a halt to the Israeli blockade of Gaza, describing the siege as an 'ongoing crisis' that would lead to 'disastrous' political and humanitarian consequences.

The stakes are rising, but you will not read about the current behind-the-scenes moves in the corporate press. From Jeff Gates:

Our President Needs Our Support

by Jeff Gates at Veterans Today

Forget your opinion of Barack Obama. Love him or loathe him, the reality remains unchanged: we have but one president at a time. And but one commander-in-chief.

U.S. national security is endangered perhaps now more than at any time in history. Both he and our military leaders took an oath to defend this nation from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

Recent events suggest that, in cooperation with senior military officers, President Obama is battling a cunning and committed adversary. To prevail, he needs public support.

Note: After a lifetime of fighting bigotry I have been called anti-Semite and Jew Hater (at Daily Kos yesterday). Such is the mindset of those dedicated to war and militarism. Stand up for innocent Palestinian families and you are a "Jew hater". [See The Politics of Anti-Semitism for a discussion of this repulsive tactic.]

An effective voice against Israeli militarism is the Free Gaza Movement, a "human rights group that in August 2008 sent the first international boats to land in the port of Gaza in 41 years ... (raising) international awareness about the prison-like closure of the Gaza Strip ... ."

Of course, militarists seeing Palestinians as less-than-human have said the effort to ship aid to starving families is inherently anti-Semitic or sympathetic to terrorists, yada, yada.

It's a lie. Support the Free Gaza Movement.

Update II: Gideon Levy in Haaretz: "The only recognition that is needed now is Israel's recognition of the Palestinians as human beings."

Update: Inside Gaza: The Land of Ghosts

Some wonder if the humanistic dictum of standing with the victims of militarism and racism that - far away from the slaughter of Palestinians and assorted Arabs - animated the creation of Israel lives on today.

When is killing enough killing?

From Robert Fisk in The Independent:

(Peace activist) Tom Hurndall had stayed in Rafah. He was only 21 where – in his mother's words – he lost his life through a single, selfless, human act. 'Tom was shot in the head as he carried a single Palestinian child out of the range of an Israeli army sniper.' Mrs Hurndall asked me to write a preface to Tom's book and this article is his preface, for a brave man who stood alone and showed more courage than most if us dreamed of. Forget tree huggers. Hurndall was one good man and true.

Don't know if there are still tickets, by the way, but if you are in Maidson next Tuesday, April 7, check out: Noam Chomsky;. "US Foreign Policy, Israeli Security, & Human Rights" (Event)

Ethan Bronner has what should be a blockbuster in the NYT, excerpted below.

[Shot below shows Israeli humanism at work, an all too typical photo from the Gaza Strip.]

How long are we going to support this hyper militarism and continuing war crime? What will Obama do?

Update: Rights group: Israel uses white phosphorus in Gaza
Sunday, January 11, 2009 3:41 PM EST
The Associated Press
By JASON KEYSER Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) — Human Rights Watch said Sunday that Israel's military has fired artillery shells with the incendiary agent white phosphorus into Gaza and a doctor there said the chemical was suspected in the case of 10 burn victims who had skin peeling off their faces and bodies.

This is what Rep. Baldwin and others are supporting. It's wrong, period.
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Update: Israeli Navy attacks and wounds human rights 'Dignity' ship in International Waters

Update: Washington Post: Food and Medical Supplies Grow Scarce in the Gaza Strip.

Personally, I can no longer regard Israel as a moral entity; it has lost its status as a state dedicated to humanism, veering into savagery in its worst attacks in decades. The only question is: Will we remain silent?

The sick irony of history bares its bizarre head as we head into the new year.

As Israel continues its strikes in Gaza enraging the Arab street, the Free Gaza movement is breaking the Israeli siege in another voyage of the Dignity ship to draw world attention to "Israel's draconian policies on the civilians of Gaza."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday 29th December 2008