ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
One of my correspondents says she cannot support Israel because of the treatment by the Israelis of the people of Palestine. I regret that there are many who agree. I understand that point of view. The Palestinian people have suffered for over 6 decades. What wasn’t said was whether she supported the right of Israel to exist. The Palestinians have made it clear that the destruction of Israel is the only acceptable solution to the conflict..
I as sure my correspondent is fully aware of the history of the Israeli and Arab conflict. It started many years before the Nazi Holocaust, the United Nations partition and the establishment of the state of Israel. The conflict escalated in 1948 when Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq invaded Israel, assuring the Palestinians who fled that they could return as soon as the Jews were driven into the sea. That didn’t happen, and those who fled were kept in refugee camps. Jordan actually waged war against the refugees and many fled to Lebanon.
The 1948 war was followed by a succession of wars, resulting in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Many peace efforts brokered by the United States resulted in agreements that the PLO and Hamas failed to live up to. The PLO and Hamas charters still call for the destruction of Israel. Probably, as you read this, Hamas is sending rockets into Israel.
There are now 7 million Jews living in the state of Israel surrounded by hordes of hostile Arabs and Iran. Israel wants peace. Israel offers peace on terms which concede and meet almost all Arab demands. I wonder what my correspondent would have the Israelis do. Suicide is not an option..
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
WHAT’S THE MATTER
It’s true!
Matter cannot be created
Matter cannot be destroyed.
Man dies, the remains are recycled.
What of man’s soul?
If soul is matter
It cannot be destroyed
If not destroyed where does the soul go?
If soul is matter
It would be a waste
Not to reuse the good souls.
Oh well,
Does it really matter?
It’s true!
Matter cannot be created
Matter cannot be destroyed.
Man dies, the remains are recycled.
What of man’s soul?
If soul is matter
It cannot be destroyed
If not destroyed where does the soul go?
If soul is matter
It would be a waste
Not to reuse the good souls.
Oh well,
Does it really matter?
Saturday, March 27, 2010
TWO QUESTIONS
TWO QUESTIONS
WHY I AM HERE?
You ask me
“Why are you here?
You don’t believe in God
In retribution and reward
In a life hereafter”
So, you ask,
“What is your purpose in life?
Why are you here?”
A good question
I have an answer
I am here because I am here
I am here to live this life
With no expectations
Of retribution
Reward
Or afterlife
If I’m right, I won’t know.
If I’m wrong, I won’t tell.
So be it.
AM I A JEW?
You ask me
“Why do you say you are a Jew?
You don’t believe in God
You don’t go to synagogue
You don’t pray to a supreme being
You deny the myths of the Bible
And question even the 10 Commandments
How can you call yourself a Jew?”
A good question
I have an answer
My parents were Jews.
Therefore, I was born a Jew
I associate with Jews
I give to Jewish causes
Whether right or wrong,
I support the Jewish people
They are my people.
My people include
Einstein, Freud, Hillel, Jesus
Maimonades, Marx, Salk
Sabin, Spinozza, Steinmetz
Bernard Madoff and Bugsy Segal
They are all my people
All my people are not perfect.
.
WHY I AM HERE?
You ask me
“Why are you here?
You don’t believe in God
In retribution and reward
In a life hereafter”
So, you ask,
“What is your purpose in life?
Why are you here?”
A good question
I have an answer
I am here because I am here
I am here to live this life
With no expectations
Of retribution
Reward
Or afterlife
If I’m right, I won’t know.
If I’m wrong, I won’t tell.
So be it.
AM I A JEW?
You ask me
“Why do you say you are a Jew?
You don’t believe in God
You don’t go to synagogue
You don’t pray to a supreme being
You deny the myths of the Bible
And question even the 10 Commandments
How can you call yourself a Jew?”
A good question
I have an answer
My parents were Jews.
Therefore, I was born a Jew
I associate with Jews
I give to Jewish causes
Whether right or wrong,
I support the Jewish people
They are my people.
My people include
Einstein, Freud, Hillel, Jesus
Maimonades, Marx, Salk
Sabin, Spinozza, Steinmetz
Bernard Madoff and Bugsy Segal
They are all my people
All my people are not perfect.
.
AM I LUCKY?
AM I LUCKY?
I read the obits
So many my age
Even younger
But not yet me
That’s lucky.
Sulfa drugs
By-pass surgery
Radioactive seeding
Medicare
That’s lucky
Nursing home
Assisted living
Not yet for me
That’s lucky
First generation born
Free to pursue
The American Dream
That was really lucky
I’ve had the good life
Most ups, few downs
Unconditional love
Yes, I’m lucky
I read the obits
So many my age
Even younger
But not yet me
That’s lucky.
Sulfa drugs
By-pass surgery
Radioactive seeding
Medicare
That’s lucky
Nursing home
Assisted living
Not yet for me
That’s lucky
First generation born
Free to pursue
The American Dream
That was really lucky
I’ve had the good life
Most ups, few downs
Unconditional love
Yes, I’m lucky
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
WHO CARES
WHO CARES
Writers’ block
Nothing new to say
What’s the use?
Nobody listens
Nobody cares
Why should I care?
I have mine
Three pensions
A big home on two acres
So why should I care.
Millions unemployed
What’s it to me
I’m retired
Don’t need a job.
I’m on easy street
So why should I care.
No health insurance?
Can’t afford to get sick
What’s it to me?
I have Medicare
So why should I care
Two endless wars
Thousands killed and maimed
I care, but what can I do?
Just carp and complain
What’s the use?
Nobody is listening
Nobody cares.
I post to my blog
No one reads it.
Maybe my classmates will.
I’ll give it a try
Go to:
www.riverroadpoet.blogspot.com
Writers’ block
Nothing new to say
What’s the use?
Nobody listens
Nobody cares
Why should I care?
I have mine
Three pensions
A big home on two acres
So why should I care.
Millions unemployed
What’s it to me
I’m retired
Don’t need a job.
I’m on easy street
So why should I care.
No health insurance?
Can’t afford to get sick
What’s it to me?
I have Medicare
So why should I care
Two endless wars
Thousands killed and maimed
I care, but what can I do?
Just carp and complain
What’s the use?
Nobody is listening
Nobody cares.
I post to my blog
No one reads it.
Maybe my classmates will.
I’ll give it a try
Go to:
www.riverroadpoet.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
12/16/2009
TERROR
Terror strikes; so many dead.
Suicide bombs; we live in dread.
No compromise with fanatic zeal
A war of the worlds seems all too real
Muslim Jihad, our surge will fail,
The surge will be to no avail
Our civilization is at stake
This is war, make no mistake.
Jihadists demand Mohammad’s rule
Sharia law, so ugly and cruel
Uncivilized law, a brutal perversion
Demanding death or forced conversion
Is there no hope? Will Jihad spread?
Can Muslims live in peace instead?
Modern Muslims oppose their word
But only whispers from them are heard.
Modern Muslims! You must arise.
Shout the truth, deny the lies.
Jihad is turning the world clock back
To stoning and the torture rack.
What use will be an American surge
If modern Islam does not emerge
Defeat of terror is in Muslim hands
Denying Jihadists their evil demands.
TERROR
Terror strikes; so many dead.
Suicide bombs; we live in dread.
No compromise with fanatic zeal
A war of the worlds seems all too real
Muslim Jihad, our surge will fail,
The surge will be to no avail
Our civilization is at stake
This is war, make no mistake.
Jihadists demand Mohammad’s rule
Sharia law, so ugly and cruel
Uncivilized law, a brutal perversion
Demanding death or forced conversion
Is there no hope? Will Jihad spread?
Can Muslims live in peace instead?
Modern Muslims oppose their word
But only whispers from them are heard.
Modern Muslims! You must arise.
Shout the truth, deny the lies.
Jihad is turning the world clock back
To stoning and the torture rack.
What use will be an American surge
If modern Islam does not emerge
Defeat of terror is in Muslim hands
Denying Jihadists their evil demands.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
THE CUSTER SYNDRONE
Irwin Garfinkle 7/28/2006
I was 23 years old in 1948, so what did I know? I had graduated from law school, passed the Massachusetts bar and was practicing law in my own office. I thought I was pretty smart. I thought the establishment of a Jewish state amid millions of hostile Arabs was foolhardy. George Custer’s chances for survival at Little Big Horn were much better. I knew I was right when the Arab hordes, including forces trained by the British attacked on all fronts. But I didn’t know about miracles. The Jews not only survived, but prevailed to establish Israel, a democratic state. A miracle! Unbelievable!
I was proud of those Jews. They were my people, my family. They proved to the world that Jews were not nebbish. They proved that I was not so smart, that I was wrong, that my people could prevail against overwhelming odds. Unlike Custer, we Jews, my people would have prevailed at Little Big Horn.
That was 60 years ago. Now, I’m older and perhaps, wiser. I am still proud of how my people defended themselves in 1948, and throughout all the succeeding wars including the intefada. The Jews are no longer regarded as nebbish. Indeed, we Jews are now regarded by many as part of a powerful worldwide conspiracy to rule the world. While the conspiracy accusations may be tainted by anti-Semitism, I actually prefer being regarded as powerful conspirator, rather than nebbish.
But after 60 years of military successes, I am concerned that the Israelis, and perhaps all Jews, are again at Little Big Horn, and the adversary is acquiring the means to overwhelm them. Not only will the enemy have technically advanced arsenals, Iran will have the bomb. Is the Muslim world prepared for mutual self-destruction? Islam as practiced by the fanatic is a culture of death. Paradise awaits the martyrs who die killing infidels. The martyrs want to ethnically cleanse the world of infidels, starting first with the Jews. An unthinkable nuclear attack? Yes, Israel can and would retaliate, but what then? The destruction of Iran, Syria, Iraq? The end of Israel? The Final Solution?
The Muslim world has been and is now at war with the West. Because of the West’s superiority of arms, the Muslim war is limited to suicide bombings and hit and run attacks. Israel learned to cope with that type of war, dreadful as it may be.
It is not politically correct, and probably not true, to suggest that all Muslims are enemies of the West. I think it is safe to say, however, that all Muslim theocracies are the enemy. The Muslim world hates the West. Note the celebrations following 9/11. Whatever the cause of this hate, the West is the infidel with lifestyles that offend the radical Islamist believer. No westerner is hated more than the Jew. The fanatical Muslims who now are in power will never accept a Western democracy in its midst, and half of the Jews of the world are at Little Big Horn, scorned and outnumbered by millions of “hostiles”.
Irwin Garfinkle 7/28/2006
I was 23 years old in 1948, so what did I know? I had graduated from law school, passed the Massachusetts bar and was practicing law in my own office. I thought I was pretty smart. I thought the establishment of a Jewish state amid millions of hostile Arabs was foolhardy. George Custer’s chances for survival at Little Big Horn were much better. I knew I was right when the Arab hordes, including forces trained by the British attacked on all fronts. But I didn’t know about miracles. The Jews not only survived, but prevailed to establish Israel, a democratic state. A miracle! Unbelievable!
I was proud of those Jews. They were my people, my family. They proved to the world that Jews were not nebbish. They proved that I was not so smart, that I was wrong, that my people could prevail against overwhelming odds. Unlike Custer, we Jews, my people would have prevailed at Little Big Horn.
That was 60 years ago. Now, I’m older and perhaps, wiser. I am still proud of how my people defended themselves in 1948, and throughout all the succeeding wars including the intefada. The Jews are no longer regarded as nebbish. Indeed, we Jews are now regarded by many as part of a powerful worldwide conspiracy to rule the world. While the conspiracy accusations may be tainted by anti-Semitism, I actually prefer being regarded as powerful conspirator, rather than nebbish.
But after 60 years of military successes, I am concerned that the Israelis, and perhaps all Jews, are again at Little Big Horn, and the adversary is acquiring the means to overwhelm them. Not only will the enemy have technically advanced arsenals, Iran will have the bomb. Is the Muslim world prepared for mutual self-destruction? Islam as practiced by the fanatic is a culture of death. Paradise awaits the martyrs who die killing infidels. The martyrs want to ethnically cleanse the world of infidels, starting first with the Jews. An unthinkable nuclear attack? Yes, Israel can and would retaliate, but what then? The destruction of Iran, Syria, Iraq? The end of Israel? The Final Solution?
The Muslim world has been and is now at war with the West. Because of the West’s superiority of arms, the Muslim war is limited to suicide bombings and hit and run attacks. Israel learned to cope with that type of war, dreadful as it may be.
It is not politically correct, and probably not true, to suggest that all Muslims are enemies of the West. I think it is safe to say, however, that all Muslim theocracies are the enemy. The Muslim world hates the West. Note the celebrations following 9/11. Whatever the cause of this hate, the West is the infidel with lifestyles that offend the radical Islamist believer. No westerner is hated more than the Jew. The fanatical Muslims who now are in power will never accept a Western democracy in its midst, and half of the Jews of the world are at Little Big Horn, scorned and outnumbered by millions of “hostiles”.
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