While We Bring Freedom With Bombs, Gaza Burns..

Just another day in the life. Coalition allies bomb the crap out of Libya for reasons that personally escape me. I've yet to hear a clearly defined explanation that even hints of honesty, considering we seem to pick and choose those we 'help' based on the amount of oil they sit on top of. In the meantime, Israel retaliates for the murder of a settler family, by a person or persons unknown, though last I heard, an Asian worker was the prime suspect.

I don't for a second deny that there have been rockets and mortars fired from Gaza into Israel, but really, what can you expect when Israelis persistantly poke caged lions? That they'll just take it, without swatting back? I think not.

No matter how you may look at it, in clear conscience you can't possibly believe that the use of heavy artillery and F16 fighter bombers in a confined space such as Gaza, where there is no means of escape, is acceptable. In reality, it's completely unacceptable, inconceivably brutal, and utterly criminal.

I'm Back..

With so much going on in the world, I feel the time is right to resurrect Not Much, But All Mine.. Abe, I see you're still lurking.. Lonely? So you should be, the likes of you are becoming more ostracized every day now, and your cries of 'anti-semite', 'neo-nazi' and the like aren't working so well anymore are they? See the light and give it up man! Zionism's time is going the way of the dodo, thankfully, and the world is starting to realize and understand the bitter truth of zionist's aryan nation-like delusions.. You don't honestly believe that you are any better than anyone else, do you?! Must really suck to know that so many of those who practice Judiasm are starting to turn on Israel, too..

My advice to you and those like you Abe, whether you want it or not: Pssssstttt, the neighbourhood is changing, perhaps you should too before you get your asses kicked really hard.. Mind you, Israel and it's zionist masters are still soon going to have to answer for the blatant human rights abuses and atrocities it's committed for 62+ years, but some serious heartfelt apologies and conceding defeat may soften the blow, just a leeeetle bit..

I'm Done..

I'm done. Thththththththat's all folks.......

Trip Like I Do...

This is probably the most amazing BDS video you'll ever see!! Please watch and share as far and wide as possible.

The Bitter Taste Of Reality......

It's been a busy year. So, with that said, here's my message to those whom I've made so much effort to piss off and have tried to shed the light of truth on for so damn long:

Take that you dirty neo-Zionist sons-of-bitches! You've managed to hide behind your self-serving, manipulative guilt tactics since the Nakba but you're about to find out what happens when liars, cheats, thieves, murderers and just plain fucking bastards get what they have coming to them! How long did you think it was going be before you were unmasked in front of the eyes of the world and exposed for what you are? Forever? Your reign of tyranny is oh so tantilizingly close to reaching its inevitable sorry end.

The Palestinian people are finally letting you reveal your true nature by not retaliating to the brutish bullying and oppression, exposing you for the charlatans you are. Did you think that if you continually persisted in making their lives a living hell, just as you have for the last 60+ years, they'd start suicide bombing and firing the heavy artillery at you again? Then you could bring out that tired old refrain "Poor Israel!" and have the world weeping for you? Obviously they're a lot smarter than you are. Pretty hard to whine about being the victim when you arrogantly continue to behave like a pack of rabid Nazis without even having the brains to try to hide it, isn't it. The world is turning against you all of a sudden, without a shot being fired from the side of those you've tried so hard to destroy! That's how it's done you pricks, I hope you choke on the taste of bitter reality.

There, I feel better now. I despise with every fibre of my being those who promote and feed off hate, no matter who or what they are and I can honestly say that I have never been one of them. It's been a long haul, sometimes frustrating, occasionally frightening, and more often than not rewarding. I've "met" some amazingly creative, talented, brave, inspiring people and give them my thanks and appreciation. I've also had interaction with some outright nut-jobs, a few quacks, racists of from all tribes, sheeples, haters and even one who suggested I was better off dead. Thank you all for showing me the best and the worst that the human race has to offer. All in all I think the good outweighs the bad.

Just for you, Raphael. :)

Rage And What To Do With It............

Apparently I can't post on Facebook this evening and as anyone who actually reads this blog knows, I like to post lately. :D So there's more than one way to skin a cat and here I am back at blogger.

It's good to know there are so many people out there in the world who are willing to throw themselves onto the gears of the machine. Most of the people on my favourites list, and a whole lot of people on facebook. :D Lot more than 4,000. That's all I wanted to say.:) ♥ ♥ ♥



cindysheehansoapbox.blogspot.com

There's A Name On Every Bullet.....

Disgrace in The Hague - Haaretz - Israel News

There’s a name on every bullet, and there’s someone responsible for every crime. The Teflon cloak Israel has wrapped around itself since Operation Cast Lead has been ripped off, once and for all, and now the difficult questions must be faced. It has become superfluous to ask whether war crimes were committed in Gaza, because authoritative and clear-cut answers have already been given. So the follow-up question has to be addressed: Who’s to blame? If war crimes were committed in Gaza, it follows that there are war criminals at large among us. They must be held accountable and punished. This is the harsh conclusion to be drawn from the detailed United Nations report.

For almost a year, Israel has been trying to argue that the blood spilled in Gaza was merely water. One report followed the other, with horrifyingly identical results: siege, white phosphorous, harm of innocent civilians, infrastructure destroyed - war crimes in each and every report. Now, after the publication of the most important and damning report of all, compiled by the commission led by Judge Richard Goldstone, Israel’s attempts to discredit them look ludicrous, and the empty bluster of its spokespersons sound pathetic.

So far they have focused on the messengers, not their messages: the researcher for Human Rights Watch collects Nazi memorabilia, Breaking the Silence is a business and Amnesty International is anti-Semitic. All cheap propaganda. This time, though, the messenger is propaganda-proof. No one can seriously claim that Goldstone, an active and ardent Zionist, with deep links to Israel, is an anti-Semite. It would be ridiculous.

Although there were some propagandists who actually tried to use the anti-Semitism weapon against him, even they knew this was farcical. One had to hear the moving interview that Goldstone’s daughter Nicole gave to Razi Barkai on Army Radio Wednesday, to understand that he is in fact a lover of Israel and its true friend. She spoke, in Hebrew, of the mental anguish her father experienced and of his conviction that, had he not been there, the report would have been much worse. All he wants is an Israel that is more just, she explained.

Neither can anyone doubt his legal credentials, as a top-level international jurist with an impeccable reputation. The man who found out the truth about Rwanda and Yugoslavia has now done the same regarding Gaza. The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague is not only a legal authority, he is also a moral authority; therefore complaints about the judge won’t hold water. Instead, it is time to look closer at the accused. Those responsible are first and foremost Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak and Gabi Ashkenazi. So far, incredibly, none of them has paid any price for their misdeeds.

Cast Lead was an unrestrained assault on a besieged, totally unprotected civilian population which showed almost no signs of resistance during this operation. It should have raised an immediate furor in Israel. It was a Sabra and Chatila, this time carried out by us. But there was a storm of protest in this country following Sabra and Chatila, whereas after Cast Lead mere citations were dished out.

It should have been enough just to look at the horrendous disparity in casualties - 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli - to shake the whole of Israeli society. There was no need to wait for Goldstone to understand that a terrible thing had occurred between the Palestinian David and the Israeli Goliath. But the Israelis preferred to look away, or stand with their children on the hills around Gaza and cheer on the carnage-causing bombs.

Under the cover of the committed media, and criminally-biased analysts and experts - all of whom kept information from coming out - and with brainwashed and complacent public opinion, Israel behaved as if nothing had happened. Goldstone has put an end to that, for which we should thank him. After his job is done, the obvious practical steps will be taken.

It would be better for Israel to summon up the courage to change course while there is still time, investigating the matter genuinely and not by means of the Israel Defense Forces’ grotesque inquiries, without waiting for Goldstone. Olmert and Tzipi Livni must be brought to pay for their scandalous decision not to cooperate with Goldstone, although at this point that is spilled milk. Now that the report is on its way to the ICC and arrest warrants could soon be issued, all that remains to be done is to immediately set up a state inquiry commission in order to avert disgrace in The Hague.

Perhaps next time we set out to wage another vain and miserable war, we will take into account not only the number of fatalities we are likely to sustain, but also the heavy political damage such wars cause.

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Israel, deservedly, is becoming an outcast and detested country. We must not forget it for a minute.

I should imagine that your mother told you at some point in your life not to nag. Now is the time to put that life lesson aside and nag for all you are worth.

With the advent of the internet, this has become much easier to do. Years ago, an activist had only snail mail and newletters to rely on and the process was painfully slow, but now support and rallying can be nearly instantaneous. So, with that said, anyone who feels that Israel and her supporters should be held accountable for their crimes, nag at your governments, nag at your family, nag at your friends. Make your voice heard and refuse to be silenced even when you become tired and frustrated. When we speak together from the heart as one, we are an unstoppable force.

Israel is feeling the pinch of a stirring global outcry and experience has shown me that this works. Don't give up because it seems that you aren't being heard because believe me, you are.

Renewing The Call To Boycott 729.....

Surprised? You shouldn't be. Consumers with conscience can check the bar code of the goods they buy to ensure that they are not purchasing Israeli products. Here's an example of the one you shouldn't touch with a ten foot pole:



If you're shocked by the piece from RealNews, you'll be disgusted by these:







The following also have strong ties to Israel and its Apartheid regime:



To purchase product from or financially support any of the aforementioned companies in any way makes you complicit in crimes against humanity, therefore you are equally as guilty.

Do I Dare Be Optimistic?.....

:-)

"There are people in US and Israeli politics who ideologically oppose Obama, and are willing to sacrifice the special relationship between the two countries in order to advance their political agenda."

"The "atmosphere of confrontation", he warned, was alienating the US public and putting the Jewish community in a difficult position."
Memo by Nadav Tamir

The poor bastard's going to be roasted over the coals now.

Onward to Victory!.....

I know, it's supposed to be Only the Good Friday, but if you truly examine this post, despite all the grief there is something very good in the works. I have applied to Okanagan University College for this September and if I can manage to get in, I will attempt to organize a delegation representing the school. Look out OUC, here I come!

Ghandi would be proud.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.....

"Our sovereignty over it is unquestionable". Ah, the smug arrogance smells particularly foul today.

"provocative" and "unacceptable". And now they object?!?!.

“illegal” and “unacceptable.” No shit!

refrain from provocative actions. They couldn't get much more provocative.

Israel continues with it's crimes against humanity, undeterred yet sternly tisk, tisked.

Ah, The Smell Of Desperation.....

Reaction to Breaking Silence Report

They sound as desperate as they should be. The bastards are well and truly caught yet they’re still attempting to convince the world that there’s no evidence, and claiming their investigations are impartial. Who the hell do they think they’re kidding? Bloggers and civilian reporters, putting their lives on the line reporting live at the time via cell phones and laptops all over the Internet, and the Zionazi propaganda machine still have the balls to claim innocence?!?!

I myself am going to stay optimistic this time. There’s just too much evidence for Israel to simply sweep it away and hope the world forgets all about the atrocities they’ve committed. A global economic collapse doesn't hurt either, it's pretty hard to fund the propaganda machine with no money. My advice to them is to start figuring out how they’re going to explain the last 60+ years. Millions of people globally are beginning to remove the rose colored glasses that have been blinding them to the truth, and they’re realizing who the real terrorists have been. It must really suck to have their arrogant, self-righteous assuredness rammed right back down their throats.

I can hardly wait until the Zionazi rats start jumping the sinking ship and claiming that they, their fathers and perhaps even their grandfathers knew nothing, or were simply following orders.

BBCNews Interview With Israeli Spokeswoman

The Thought Police Are On The March.....

Yup, me, Steve, the Palestinians, Hamas ect., ect., have just had our opinions of Israel totally justified and can now simply say "I told you so". If this law passes, people like Steve will face jail time. It seems that most of the members of the Knesset and the people who voted for them are completely and totally out of their freaky minds.

MK Haim Oron (Meretz) attacked the proposal, saying "this insane government, what exactly are you doing? Creating a thought police? Have you run off the rails?"

I appreciate Mr. Oron's attempt to question the sanity of the members, but run off the rails is an understatement. This and the other bizarre bills proposed recently are the culmination of 61 years of a people suffering mass hysteria and paranoid delusions. Batshit crazy.

Big City Weeds Infesting Country Living…..

I was talking with a friend the other day and she told me that her new boss , who is a recent transplant from the Fraser Valley, spends most of her time discussing her new community with a disgusted tone in her voice and belittling the people who live here.  So, my question is: Why the hell did she move here in the first place?

I’ve lived in Enderby and the surrounding area for almost 20 years, and like most who run away from the big city mayhem, the gang wars, the brazen break and enters, brutality, and rampant drug abuse, I arrived not knowing anyone and had a full-blown “I’m better than you, you country bumkin” attitude. The difference between then and now is that there were very few like me around and I learned quickly to integrate myself to survive. These days it’s very different. The old timers are giving up the farms, their kids are moving on to bigger and better wealth, homes are getting larger and more obnoxiously flamboyant, the newbies have far more money, cars, motorized toys and immensely condescending demeanours. With the influx of Alberta oil money and Vancouver wealth in the last few years it’s positively overwhelming, and that which they are running from is being brought with them.

I have an absentee neighbour who thinks it’s perfectly acceptable for his family and friends to arrive on the July 1st long weekend and run amok. Speed boats and jet skis ripping up the river and its shoreline, fireworks, bad ‘80’s hair music blasting all day and night for three days straight, drunks in expensive cars speeding up and down this little dead-end road killing any critter who gets in their way, screaming and yelling, you name it they do it. This guy is a so-called businessman from Vancouver, and the fact that he hid out up here for nearly three months at the height of the gang shootings and arrests down there kinda makes me wonder exactly what kind of a “businessman” he is. Nobody seems to know even though from what I’ve been told he grew up here. Sigh……

I know it won’t make any difference, but I’ll feel a little better for perhaps a minute just putting it out there and venting, so here goes. To all those who feel they need to bring their shit-for-brains lifestyles with them when they come here: Take your obnoxious, rude, arrogant, ignorant selves, along with your over-stimulated, over-indulged, disgusting children, shove your toys up your asses then go back to where you came from and stay there. Screw your money, we’ll find a better way to make a buck than rely on the likes of you, you damn scum!

Aaaaahhhhh………..

Peacemaker.....

Hopes and dreams on the Gaza coast
Every day, as the sun sets on the coast of Gaza, people make their way to the coffee shop-lined beaches and the pot-holed streets that run parallel to its coastline.

On the terrace of the famed Al Deira Hotel, patrons jostle for position, sipping sweet Arabic coffee as the sounds of legendary Arab musicians delicately waft through the air, mingling with the aroma of flavoured tobacco.

They all share one aim - to gaze out into the Mediterranean Sea as its turquoise waters transform into blue, then purple and then disappear into the moonlit night.

Another day has passed in Gaza.

For the few minutes where the sun and water meet and the sky glows warm, people here are moved by a deep beauty and for those few minutes, the beaming smiles of children frolicking in the sand, the laughter of friends and the line of fishermen setting out into the horizon suspend Gaza's seemingly eternal suffering.

It is that time of year again, when temperatures rise and where the coast of Gaza takes on a whole new different meaning.

"In this tiny territory caged in by Israel on two sides, north and east, and by Egypt to the south, Gaza's west coast becomes its gateway to a world of possibilities"

In this tiny territory caged in by Israel on two sides, north and east, and by Egypt to the south, Gaza's west coast becomes its gateway to a world of possibilities and a painful reminder of its limited realities.

Gaza's shoreline is a deceptive one. Its long, white sandy beaches are the ideal location for luxury hotels, trendy cafes, a vibrant nightlife, boutique shops, a palm-tree lined promenade for the health-conscious jogger, the inspired artist seeking to capture its beauty or the local street vendor selling traditional Palestinian handicrafts.

With its year-round, perfect Mediterranean weather, rich history at the crossroads of continents and civilisations and Arab hospitality, Gaza should be a tourist haven and entrepreneur's dream.

Businesses, corporations and financial towers should be vying for this prime real estate.

Instead, today its 41km-long poorly paved corniche road is marked with potholes. Sections of it have been destroyed by Israeli air raids over the years.

A journey from its northern border to the south can take hours to travel, as you zig-zag through the destroyed stretches of road and the rubble of buildings levelled during Israel's recent war.

Refugee camps

All along the coastal stretch, crowded and dirty refugee camps edge closer to the water, squeezing every inhabitable inch available.

The drive along the coast is marked by the smell of raw sewage spewing out into the sea at various points. The coast's most underdeveloped stretches are the scars from where Israel maintained its military outposts and illegal settlements that were a chokehold on the Gaza Strip.

When the Israeli military and settlers pulled out in 2005, they left behind the land and the coast but left Gaza in ruins, caged in and cut off from the outside world.

Since 2006, when Hamas won democratic elections that were recognised by international observers as free and fair, Israel has imposed an increasingly stifling siege on Gaza, restricting everything that comes in and out of the strip.

The vast majority of the 1.5 million Palestinians living here have not been allowed to leave this territory, which is approximately 360sq km in size.

Every facet of life in Gaza has been restricted beyond imagination by Israel, crippling the economy and increasing the psychological pressure on the territory's people.

Nowhere else in Gaza is the economy more visibly in tatters then along its coast. Its hotels, once buzzing with vacationing Palestinians from the diaspora and the sounds of wedding parties during the summer, are a faint echo of their past.

A pyramid-shaped building on Gaza's northern shore was supposed to be the Movenpick Hotel. But it, like Gaza, never realised its full potential. Today it stands nearly complete but hollow, scarred by war yet towering over the pristine sands of the sea.

Gazan fishermen are forbidden to travel more than three nautical miles from the coast

For centuries, generations of Gaza's fishermen set sail from its port cities, earning a livelihood for their families, feeding hundreds of local restaurants and giving the territory a distinct fish flavour to its food.

In Rafah, fishermen annually prepared for the sardine harvest this time of the year. This would have been peak season for them. Today, these fishermen are not allowed to exceed three nautical miles off the coast, far short from what is legally permissible by international law.

When they do try to fish beyond the imposed limits, they are harassed, shot at and detained by the Israeli navy, which patrols Gaza coast ferociously.

Gaza City's fish market was known for its colourful array of seafood, from crabs to shrimps, sharks to local catches. The fish market at the port was so renowned that it was the preferred market for Israeli Jews, whose own coast dwarfs the length of Gaza's.

Back then, as it is today, Gaza was under Israeli military control but unlike now, Palestinians and Israelis were allowed to move freely between the two territories.

Gaza's gateway to the world was through its port. The blueprints had been already drawn up. The Gaza City Port was to be transformed into a modern day commercial trading hub, bringing cargo vessels from Europe, Africa and Asia across the Mediterranean Sea.

But that, too, never materialised. Today, empty vessels and rusted and decrepit dinner-boats encrust the port.

Besides the economic potential – or lack thereof - the coast has also come to symbolise something immeasurable.

At a time when the Palestinian people are under a siege that has prevented them from exercising their most basic rights and freedoms, the Gaza coast has become an important psychological tool.

Escapism

It has become a vehicle to escape their daily struggles.

Anyone who approaches the coast and stares aimlessly out at the horizon is forced to dream. Dream about what, it's up to them, but they find themselves thinking about what lies beyond their immediate physical limitations.

One simply cannot look at its beautiful waters and not imagine what lies beyond. Your brain begins to race with endless possibilities about the rest of the world. You immediately ask yourself "what if"?

What if Gaza was not under siege? What if I could take a ferry to Cyprus? What if Gaza was free to pursue its economic potential?

A few minutes staring at the coast and one suddenly realises the people are thinking about everything and anything that has nothing to do with Gaza. When people are thinking about Gaza - it is not about Gaza as it is, but what it could or should be.

As a good friend of mine who regularly frequents the Al Deira Hotel terrace put it: "Typical of the melancholy and pride of living in Gaza, its sea not only inspires unending spirit and wonder but it also, often times, instills a sense of sorrow as one sees this great symbol of freedom one is unable to touch.

But Gaza's sea will continue to inspire freedom no matter the circumstances."

So it is that, as the sun sets on its shores and the light merges with nightfall, days become weeks and months become years, Gaza's besieged coast becomes an outlet to nothing but hope for its people.

Israeli warplanes bomb Hamas target, Gaza tunnels
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli warplanes bombed a Hamas security outpost and tunnels by the Gaza border with Egypt on Tuesday, after a rocket fired from the coastal territory struck an Israeli town, Israeli and Hamas sources said.

Palestinian medics said a woman in Gaza suffered moderate wounds from one of several air strikes against tunnels Israel says are used to smuggle weapons into the coastal territory.

Another raid targeted a Hamas outpost near a border fence with Israel, a Hamas source said. It was the first time Israel has attacked the Islamic militant group since a January 18 ceasefire went into effect after an Israeli offensive.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the air raids saying Israel targeted four border tunnels and two sites in Gaza where weapons were produced, in response to rocket and mortar fire aimed at Israel from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Earlier a rocket fired from Gaza damaged a home in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, causing no injury. None of the militant groups in Gaza claimed responsibility for the attack.

The rocket was the first to strike inside an Israeli town in several weeks. Rocket fire from Gaza had previously dropped since the Israeli offensive against Islamic militants in the coastal territory four months ago.

The Israeli spokesman said 175 mortars and rockets have been fired at Israel since the campaign ended, while there were at least 500 such attacks aimed at Israeli towns during the 22 days of fighting.

An Israeli air strike responding to mortar fire from Gaza killed two Palestinians on May 2. That attack also targeted tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border.

Natural Growth - The Casual Lie.....

The perpetuation of lies old and new seems to be an Israeli national pastime. Holy crap in a bucket, how much longer are the citizens of the world going to put up with this backward little state before we start reacting to it appropriately? If any other state or nation tried to pull half the crap Israel does, they'd be invaded.

Peace Now: 'Natural growth' - Israel's trick for West Bank expansion
Figures released recently by the Central Bureau of Statistics cast doubt on government officials' claims of housing shortages for young couples living in West Bank settlements - the central argument Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to present to U.S. President Barack Obama against freezing settlement construction.

Figures for 2006-07 reveal that the housing shortage in settlements stems largely from "migration" from Israel proper to communities beyond the Green Line, as well as the addition of new immigrants from abroad.

The data show that in 2007, natural growth accounted for 63 percent of settlement population growth, whereas internal migration accounted for 37 percent. The previous year, they show an addition of roughly 5,600 residents (which accounted for those who arrived minus those who had left) across West Bank settlements. For every 10 residents leaving settlements that year, 15 others arrived.

President Shimon Peres told Obama in their meeting earlier this month that "It is unacceptable that children born in Judea and Samaria will not have a place to live. We can't put them on the roofs." Similar remarks were made to U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell when he headed the fact-finding commission examining the causes for the outburst of the Second Intifada. In the report he submitted to then-president George W. Bush in 2001, Mitchell rejected Jerusalem's assertion that Jewish construction in the West Bank was aimed merely at housing natural population growth.

Instead, the commission largely accepted the Palestinian claim that there is no difference between the creation of new settlements and expanding existing ones, and determined that Israel should cease all building in the settlements, even that intended for what Israeli officials described as "natural growth."

That demand was contained in the Road Map, an outgrowth of the Mitchell Report, presented to Israel in 2003. A letter sent from Dov Weisglass, then-prime minister Ariel Sharon's diplomatic adviser, to Bush that same year includes an explicit commitment to freezing settlement building, particularly in those outside the "settlement blocs" or east of the separation fence.

U.S. diplomats said their government rejected the argument that Israel must allow every young couple raised in the settlements to find suitable housing in the West Bank.

The diplomats said they had obtained a copy of a classified Defense Ministry report compiled by IDF Brig. Gen. (Res.) Baruch Spiegel attesting that unauthorized building had occurred at about 75 percent of settlements, and that significant infrastructure projects had been initiated at more than 30 of them - including roads, schools, synagogues, yeshivas and even police stations - on privately-owned Palestinian land.

At a press conference last week, the chair of the Yesha council of West Bank settlements, Danny Dayan, and council secretary Pinhas Wallerstein said every year a "quiet eviction" was taking place in the West Bank of young couples raised in settlements who were unable to find housing there. They said 1,600 young couples of the 2,100 who marry annually are forced to find accommodations outside of the communities in which they grew up. Dayan and Wallerstein called on Netanyahu to change construction policy to allow such young people to erect homes in close proximity to those of their parents.

Most legal analysts around the world, including U.S. State Department jurists, view the construction of settlements in the West Bank as a violation of international law relating to war and conquered territories. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits states from moving their own citizens into conquered land.

A response from Peace Now to the remarks made by the Yesha council officials, said the "bluff of natural growth is just one of the tricks the government is using to keep it from fulfilling its obligation to freeze settlement building. It is a shame that the president is perpetuating that lie."

AIPAC - Scorrrrrrre.....

Wiretap Recorded Rep. Harman Discussing Aid for AIPAC Defendants

Rep. Jane Harman denies wiretap report

Harman defiant at AIPAC

Last but not least, and what a f-----g suprise:

U.S. drops spy charges against two ex-AIPAC officials

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Israel's Independence Day.....

In honor of Israel's 61 years of independence, might I suggest you read the following article and then run out to the library and check out Ilan Pappe's book before you pass judgement on Palestinians.

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

For anyone who possesses a strong stomach and an equally strong desire to know the truth, I strongly recommend Israeli historian Ilan Pappe's new book "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine", which makes painstakingly and painfully clear the extent to which the expulsion of the great majority of Palestinians from their homes and homeland between 1947 and 1949 (an expulsion absolutely essential to create a "Jewish state" in a country where, in 1947, the population was still 70% Muslim and Christian and these non-Jews still owned 94% of the land) was meticulously planned, programmed and documented, ruthlessly carried out and, thereafter, efficiently covered up, sanitized, erased from minds and memories and, to the extent necessary, denied. Pappe also makes clear that the cleansing spirit and cleansing practices have continued ever since, with public discussion in Israel of the "demographic threat" posed by those Palestinians still remaining in Palestinian never more openly conducted and with a recent poll showing 68% of Israeli Jews in favor of expelling all Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Unfortunately, this book, published in England (and available from amazon.com), is highly likely to go unreviewed and largely unnoticed in the United States, a country where objective historical truth is much less popular than "revealed truth" and pure fantasy and where the Israel-First Lobby starts with a distinct home-field advantage in pursuing its successful efforts to convince American public opinion that American interests and values are identical to Israeli interests and values and to make American foreign policy and America's wars indistinguishable from Israeli foreign policy and Israel's wars.

While most of mankind, being comprised of peoples who have themselves been the victims of colonialism and racism, views racial-supremicist settler-colonial states founded upon the genocide or ethnic cleansing of an indigenous population as an abomination, Americans, exceptionally, are favorably inclined toward such states. The reason is simple. Until very recently, America was itself such a state, and the official Israeli narrative replicates the widely accepted American narrative of brave pioneers bringing civilization and economic advancement to a backward and savage land.

Furthermore, notwithstanding its history, America, as a nation, appears to have no regrets and to be troubled by no sense of national guilt. While, for reasons having less to do with bearing universal witness against man's inhumanity toward his fellow man than with justifying one particular instance of such inhumanity, there is a Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, there are no museums there devoted to the genocide of the Native Americans, to slavery or to the century of legalized segregation which followed abolition.

In addition, a significant proportion of the American population embraces a perverted interpretation of Christianity which ignores the humane message of Jesus Christ and the Golden Rule and focuses the devotions of its adherents not on God but, rather, on "God's Chosen People", through whose success in ethnically cleansing Palestine and provoking cataclysmic warfare these so-called "Christians" hope to achieve their personal, selfish "rapture" and "salvation".

Still, even in America, where Nakba denial is as obligatory as Holocaust denial is condemned, objective historical truth is available in Professor Pappe's book for anyone who cares.

Source

Retrospection And Introspection…..

I received an email from my best friend of 37 years the other day. She and her two children are heading for Vancouver Island, where the kids will be spreading the ashes of their father who chose to commit suicide recently. I’d known Steve for many years, longer than Jan had actually, and he chose an unvarying path to his destiny long before his children where even born. Daniel and Angie, there was nothing you could have ever said or done to prevent what happened, it was his choice and his alone, nothing is your fault. That goes for you too my friend, though I think you fully understand and accepted that many years ago.

I’ve spent a lot of my spare time thinking since getting this news. About my life, my circumstances, my choices. Like most other people these days, I’m overwhelmed and underpaid, wondering how I can pay the bills at the end of each month while doling out little bits and pieces to my creditors, hopefully keeping them quiet for another 30 days. I’ve been dirt poor for the last 5 years, and this current economic downturn with massive cost of living increases has completely consumed any financial security I thought I may have had. With that said, I realise I’m incredibly happy and amazingly fortunate.

I’ve experienced many things in my life, both good and bad, but I now know I wouldn’t trade away a single one of them. From minor involvement with drugs and a well known biker gang to being a fairly accomplished equestrienne. From choosing to give up a child for adoption to the thrill of being a thoroughbred racehorse groom and exercise rider. From being married, not once but twice to being a single parent of a teenager, who now seems to be growing up to be a fine young man. From moving to the middle of nowhere, leaving family and friends to managing a ranch and succeeding in a man’s world, gaining the respect and friendship of those who have been ranching for a lifetime. From having a nervous breakdown to overcoming and learning to deal with PTSD.

I’m a survivor. I taught myself to start my own seeds, organically garden and preserve what I grow years ago. I can fish and yes, I clean what I catch. I’ve butchered steers and cut the meat correctly so it isn’t ruined. I’m not afraid of getting dirty and hard physical labour and at 50, I must say, I’m pretty damn fit. I am a jack of all trades and a master of none, which suits me just fine. My life is incredibly good and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. I sincerely hope that anyone reading this can say the same.

Who's The Enemy Here.....

I received the following email yesterday from Jewish Voices for Peace. As you can see, the government of Israel is killing freedom of speech, expression, and association.

This latest state action reminds me of what used to happen to dissedents in the U.S.S.R., and anyone over the age of 40 should remember the outrage expressed by the outside world over that. Yet, our governments still fully support Israel without as much as a reprimanding word. Do any of you still have any questions as to who's really in control of our elected representatives, 'cause here's a newflash for you, it ain't us!

You might want to start asking yourself how the tiny little State of Israel can get away with atrocities that other much larger and apparently more powerful nations would be condemned for.

Dear Fiona,

Let me cut down to the chase. We have just learned that a number of Israeli peace activists have had their computers confiscated, have been called for interrogations, and have only been released upon signing agreements not to contact their political friends for 30 days. We are asking you to contact the Israeli Attorney General to demand an immediate stop to this harassment.

The activists targeted are members of New Profile, a group of feminist women and men daring to suggest that Israel need not be a militarized society. They are being wrongfully accused of inciting young people--like the shministim--not to enlist in the army. The charge is not true. While New Profile does not tell youngsters not to enlist, they certainly support those who do not: pacifists, those who oppose the occupation, and others. New Profile informs them of their rights and gives them legal support when necessary. But Israel is a country that does not acknowledge the basic human right to conscientious objection.

The government's accusation against New Profile is not new. It has been out there for some time, as a source of harassment. Today's police actions tighten the screws considerably. We've seen how international pressure has helped get many shministim out of jail. Now it's time to put as much pressure so that Israeli peace activists can do their work free of intimidation.

I leave you with a note from New Profile: "These recent acts confirm what we have been contending for many years: the militarism of society in Israel harms the sacred principles of democracy, freedom of expression and freedom of political association. One who believed that until now criminal files were conjured up "only" for Arab citizens of Israel saw this morning that none of us can be certain that s/he can freely express an opinion concerning the failures of society and rule in Israel."

Do you know the enemy?

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Violence is an energy
Against the enemy
Violence is an energy

Bringing on the fury
The choir infantry
Revolt against the honor to obey

Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
Burning down the foreman of control

Silence is the enemy
Against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well gotta know the enemy

The insurgency will rise
When the bloods been sacrificed
Don't be blinded by the lies
In your eyes.

Violence is an energy
From here to eternity
Violence is an energy
Silence is the enemy
So gimme gimme revolution

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well gotta know the enemy

Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
Burning down the foreman of control

Silence is the enemy
Against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul

Yup silence is the enemy, so for those who are now silenced, I'm speaking up LOUD and CLEAR!