"Frozen"
A huge BRAVO to the Herculean efforts by hordes of utility repair workers from Metro Detroit and surrounding states who helped clean up our freak massive wind storm that knocked out the power of nearly 1 million homes/businesses. Many in our area suffered up to 6 days without electricity as they learned more about their resiliency than they had hoped to know. Then of course the
Lion dumped March snow on us just as the power returned to our lives. Though we dodged the bullet as the Northeast really got clobbered. It is now time for the Lion to enter his den as we welcome the
Lamb into our lives.
"Blazing Saddles"
I'm back in the saddle again...back at my comfortable home computer, back to updating you on my thoughts of the week. Though I didn't heed the warning of one friend who said,
"don't rush home, Trump is still president" and it doesn't give me solace that our founding fathers made it very difficult to get rid of a delinquent president. Even impeachment doesn't guarantee removal. It seems obvious to us his corrupt attachment to Russia (among his many other indiscretions) and, Yes, this is being investigated. But the process is lengthy and timely especially with our Republican led Congress. Check out this article for the step by step details to impeachment.
https://www.palmerreport.com/opinion/here-are-the-specific-steps-by-which-donald-trump-goes-down-for-his-russia-scandal/1905/
So we must sit tight and keep vigilant against Drumfp, his cronies, his nonsensical tweets and his dangerous policies, like his persistence to eliminate health insurance for 24 million Americans. After the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) crunched the numbers, respectable agencies jumped onboard to protest this Administration's intent on destroying the progress of the Affordable Care Act (aka: ObamaCare). These groups have all expressed concern about the misguided Repeal and Replace proposition and they cover the gamut of our society from left to right to center to nonpartisan.
American Hospital Association
Federation of American Hospitals
America's Essential Hospitals
Families USA
American Nurses Association
American College of Physicians
National Nurses United
National Physicians Alliance
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
American Academy of Pediatrics
Heritage Action
Cato Institute
Americans for Prosperity
FreedomWorks
Tea Party Patriots
Club for Growth
MoveOn.org
American Bridge
Center for American Progress
Our Revolution
Many legislators are also leery of this Health Care debacle so (I suspect) the likelihood of it's passing is dimming by the hour.
"Fame"
Some think Global populism is running rampant as seen by the Brexit and Trump victories. But this week the Dutch voters broke the streak with the reelection of their centrist leader. On the ballot and gaining popularity was far-right/anti-Islamic politician
Geert Wilders
whose been quoted to say
"Islam is not a religion, it's an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture." and "Islam is the Trojan Horse in Europe. If we do not stop Islamification now, Eurabia and Netherabia will just be a matter of time." Interestingly, Mr. Wilders is excessively protective of Israel. Dutch Voter turnout was high (80%, unheard of in the US) and with 28 parties to chose from, Wilders came in a far 2nd swashing his chances of wielding much power as he won't be invited into the coalition.
"Lemon Tree"
Meanwhile, back in Trump's fantasy world, he sent his (completely inexperienced) envoy this week to meet with Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas to help "kickstart" the elusive Peace Process with the ignorance that since the birth of modern Israel, there has never been a partner for real peace and there still isn't one in the 81 year old Abbas whose been in office for nearly a decade and a half. Abbas continues to support terrorism by glorifying the memories of Israeli murdering terrorist by naming streets and squares after them and supplementing the incomes of their families. Trump even invited Abbas to the White House for a future visit. Can a tiger change his stripes...? Miracles can happen but I'm not holding my breath. It is very disappointing that nearly 70 years after the legal establishment of the Jewish State of Israel, it seems Peace is even more distant than 7 decades ago. I am an optimist at heart but the only way to save Israeli lives, at the moment, is to isolate and protect until the emergence of a real partner who is willing to accept the right of a Jewish State to exist. There are grassroot coexistences efforts taking place in Israel that will hopefully sprout one day but only after the current political leaders on both sides "expire" and new more enlightened ones takes hold. But with hope in mind, today in
Rabin Square of Tel Aviv, there will be 1000 Israelis and 1000 Palestinians connecting to negotiate solutions for the conflict sponsored by an organization call
Minds of Peace.
https://goo.gl/vSA07M
There is great interest in the people of the region to end the conflict as their main goal (like all of us) is to focus on living a safe and comfortable life.
For 12 years there been a peaceful "Walk for Israel" in our Detroit community which unites all who support Israel's right to exit. But for the first time ever, the Walk's website was hacked and hijacked this week for 3 hours with anti-semitic obscene rhetoric. Also this week, 7 more JCCs received bomb threats during their Purim celebrations. These increasingly hateful incidents should cause major concern for all. Why the increase and why now...? Many speculate it is Trump's empowerment of the far right and his lackadaisical attitude toward their soap box. Also his right hand man, Steve Bannon, is one of their leaders.
Then of course, POTUS is contemplating the elimination of the Anti-Semitism Envoy, Ira Forman, to help cut costs. Congress is urging him to rethink this mistake, especially now with the rise of Hate Crimes.
http://gazette.com/167-house-members-ask-trump-to-retain-ambassador-to-combat-anti-semitism/article/1598931
And where is the outrage of his daughter and son-in-law. SNL did a skit recently that advertised a new
Ivanka Trump
perfume called "Complicit". She seem to tout her pro-women, pro-environment stance but even with her "favorite daughter" status, she never seems to exert her presumed influence toward her father. This leave us to keep vigilant and protective of the safety of our community during this surge of anti-semitic incidents.
Sunday May 7, 2017
"The King's Speech"
The first official UK Royal visit to Israel has been confirmed to take place this year to honor the Centennial of the
1917 Balfour Declaration, which was a letter written by UK Foreign Secretary Balfour sent to Walter Rothschild to be delivered to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. The letter stated: "
His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." As time progressed and political situations changed, Great Britain didn't quite
"use their best endeavours" to help establish the Jewish Homeland, but that's water under the bridge. Whichever official Royal is dispatched will be welcomed with open arms by the Israelis.
http://www.jta.org/2017/03/10/news-opinion/world/report-british-royal-family-to-end-decades-long-boycott-of-israel
"War of the World's"
6 years ago this week, it started with a peaceful anti-government protest but because of their ruthless dictator,
Assad al Bashar's reaction, the situation quickly exploded into one of the most brutal civil wars in history with a growing death toll of over 1/2 million people (including 10,000 children) and 5 million refugees. Add Iran, Russia and Hezbollah to Bashar's side as ISIS swooped into the chaos turning this region into a volatile catastrophe with no ending in sight. This photo of an elderly man smoking his pipe and listening to his record player in his bombed out room speaks volumes.
BS to Trump's cost cutting agenda on so many fronts, like the environment, HUD, transportation, education, FEMA, medical research, our Great Lakes, foreign aid, poverty programs, agriculture assistance, legal aid, arts and culture...to name of few. But specifically for literally taking the food from our neediest elderly citizens. In Trump's world, the tiny portion of government funding for
Meals on Wheels will be eliminated while huge increases to our Military Budget and the Mexican Wall construction will take precedence.
BS to our disrespectful attitude toward our environment. The signs are everywhere but many (like our current president) are too selfish to accept them. We've bleached and destroyed much of (91%) our
Great Barrier Reef due to global warming. This is a serious concern that needs immediate attention, unless of course we have a spare planet for us to live on.
BS to the 5th year of declining salaries for
Michigan Teachers causing less college students to choose this field. Without good teachers, there is no hope for our future. They are the essential element for a healthy society and deserve much more compensation, respect, gratitude and assistance than we currently give them.
BS to our lack of attention to the worst global
humanitarian crisis since the inception of the UN back in 1945. Famine faces 20 million people and without assistance this could get even worse. Our POTUS' response is to block refugees from the worst hit counties.
Bravo
to the Maryland and Hawaii Federal Judges for blocking the new travel ban from 6 Muslim countries.
Bravo to the underdog new
Israel Baseball team and their unexpected wins during this week's World Baseball Classic. They were knocked on their block by Japan, who moves on to the next round. The all Jewish team is made up of mostly Americans but maybe this will inspire Israeli sport establishment to diversify into a new playing field.
Bravo to Detroit's
Freedom House as the only agency in our county which provide support in all forms for asylum seekers (escaping torture and violence) with an excellent track record of success. For 20 years they've received 60% of their funding from HUD which will be ending as of April 1st (horrible April Fool's Day). They raised over 70% of their lost funding but more is needed. If you'd like to help, please click here to learn more about this amazing place and how you can help.
Bravo to Meijer Garden for spotlighting Chinese Human Rights activist and artist,
Ai Weiwei with his first show in the upper Midwest and runs through Aug. 2107.
Bravo to Ethan and Gretchen Davidson for sponsoring our Metro Detroit
Jewish Music Festival March 23-26. Check out some of the wonderful musical talents.
Bravo to Nick Cave, Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, Duran Duran,The Pixies, Radiohead, Macklemore and Aerosmith who all have
concerts planned in Israel. BDS tries to wield its devilish methods but many are ignoring their racist efforts.
I leave you today with
Pentatonix
newest video of their interpretation of John Lennon's Imagine with self identification
labels emphasising the need to accept diversity.
And f
or those of you celebrating
St. Patrick's Day, hope you enjoy your Corn Beef, Cabbage and Green Beer and for those of you enjoying
March Madness, hope your brackets are all winners.