Middle East Peace

There are only two ways to reach a peace settlement in the Middle East. One is for the Palestinians to have their own independent country. The other is for Israel to give Palestinians citizenship in Israel. 

In the case of the latter, pretty quickly Palestinians would be a majority, and Jews a minority, so that is pretty much a non-starter for Israel. Binyamin Netanyahu has now explicitly said he opposes creation of an independent Palestinian state. 

This is no shock to many of us who knew that was his position long before he said so. That being the case, Bibi will continue to have Israel rule over the Palestinians without giving them any rights. That will mean continued violence in the Middle East. 

This is unacceptable to many Jews and people of conscience. Several years ago, I said Bibi was not interested in peace and was called an anti-semitic asshole for saying so. I was right then and am right now in opposing any support for the existing government in Israel. 

I want Israel to continue as a state for the Jews, I also want peace in the Middle East and that will not happen with the current right wing government in Israel.

Donald Trump's Appeal

 I think I understand why some folks like Trump. He is aggressive and blustery, refuses to back down, and slams minorities. Most of his followers would like to be able to get away with the way Trump acts. When they do that, they get called out for bigotry, unless they are only with like minded people. 

Trump always slams people who criticize him and his followers wish they could too. He plays to their fears and hatreds and calls anyone who disagrees with him someone who hates America. 

They want to hearken back to a time when straight white Christian people controlled everything, and others had to stay in their 'place'. They see it all as a zero-sum game, and any time something goes to blacks, latinx, lgbtq, Muslims, etc, they feel they are losing out. What they have lost is privilege, and they want that privilege back.