tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47180280809162989452024-02-19T19:24:53.676-05:00Dont Tread On Me - Journal of an American TroublemakerThis is a blog dedicated to my country, the greatest country on earth, the United States of America.
Please join me in continuing the brilliant spark in this world that was created by our Founding Fathers and protected by our military.
Each of us has the obligation to continue making this country great, generation by generation. It must remain "of the people, by the people, and for the people."Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-53481448481123588602016-11-10T17:28:00.003-05:002016-11-10T17:29:52.136-05:00The Hypocrisy of Democrats<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Part I: Written a few weeks before the 2016 election: </u></div>
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When I was in law school back in 2004, the
presidential election took a nasty turn. I was called an idiot, ignorant, sworn
at, yelled at, and dropped as a friend because I couldn’t <i>possibly</i> be that smart and
still vote for Bush. </div>
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Eight years ago,
in 2008, I was called racist because I didn’t want to vote for Barack
Obama. And now I am sexist, homophobic, and a racist because I am
thinking of voting for Donald Trump for President.</div>
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Am I really all these things? Apparently I am, according to some of my Democrat friends and acquaintances.</div>
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The funny thing is, I’m <i>not</i> a Republican. I’m not
registered as one and I don’t vote as one. I vote by the person, not the
party, and there have been plenty of times where I have voted for the
Democrat candidate (and there are several on
my list this election that will get my vote again, quite confidently).
So what’s the issue? My conclusions:</div>
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<u>Democrat thinking:</u> If you’re not a Democrat,
there must be something wrong with you. You want to vote for a crazy
cowboy Bush? You’re an idiotic, ignorant war hawk. You don’t want to vote
for Obama? You must be racist and not want a Black
president. You don’t want to vote for Hillary Clinton? You must be
sexist and not want a female President. </div>
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If you <i>are</i> a Democrat, then you
are wise, caring, sympathetic, a lover of people and animals, against
corrupt corporations and governments (and as such,
if you’re a Republican, you’re ignorant, stupid, uncaring, boorish,
hate people, especially poor and underprivileged ones, hate and want to torture animals, are
for corrupt corporations and governments – you get the idea). Think
this is outlandish? I and others have LITERALLY been accused
of this stuff.</div>
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Let me introduce myself. I am a 38 year old female
litigator with two small children. I was a SAHM (stay at home mom) for over a year and am now back at the office. I am also an artist and entrepreneur.
I am a little hippy; I cloth diaper, co-sleep, carry my kids, and nurse
in public. Do I confuse you yet? I believe
in recycling and love a good steak. I am against illegal immigration
and for greater maternity leave, against unlimited handouts and for
greater military strength. I believe prisons should have better
rehabilitation programs and that mentally ill people shouldn’t
be imprisoned, rather, they should be helped (and that mental illness is a
top issue to be addressed). The business tax should be lowered, the tax code needs to be simplified, and we need to start looking at the differences in class rather than color. Long story short, I’m all over the map
(party-wise).</div>
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In my humble opinion, I try to be reasonable but
expect people to take responsibility for themselves and others, but not
go so far as to damage yourself. Be reasonable and fair, but have high
expectations of others. BELIEVE in others so
that they can rely upon you when they don’t believe in themselves.
Don’t allow others to become lazy and dependent. It hurts everyone
involved, including the next generation. Don’t keep your mouth shut when
you should be speaking against bad choices or evil
simply because you’re outnumbered.</div>
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These are all things about which I have never kept
my mouth shut, but some of my Democrat friends automatically go on the
defensive when I attack their candidate – this time around my wrath is
directed at Hillary Clinton and her supporters.</div>
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She is the lesser of two evils, they say. It’s not
even a close comparison [between her and Trump], they say. She is not
ideal, but she is fit to be President, they say. <b>I strongly disagree</b>.
The Democrat party has a dark and sordid <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/05/the_secret_racist_history_of_the_democratic_party.html">history</a>
and she is just another example of a seriously corrupt, unfit, self-centered
Presidential candidate.</div>
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<u>Part II: Written the day <i>after</i> the 2016 election:</u></div>
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Americans are scared… or at least half of them are.
They crashed the Canadian immigration website, are spouting nonsense
about America turning into the Weimar Republic, it’s a nightmare, they
are disappointed to be American, claiming they
need to get drunk, and wondering about what to tell their children in
the morning (to quote my childhood friend Charles Ornstein, tell them
this: “First, lots of Americans voted. Lots. That’s great. A sign that
our fellow citizens care. Also, we elected a
new president peacefully and will have a peaceful transition of power,
unlike many countries. People feel passionately about their candidate on
both sides. That’s great. Someone had to win, someone had to lose.
Never give up fighting for what you believe in.
Ever. And always speak up for what’s right.”).</div>
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The day after Trump is elected and Democrats are,
again, NASTY, if not worse than before. </div>
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Republicans have now been
accused of lying, cheating, and stealing in every way to hold on to
power; using voter suppression and gerrymandering to
win. Last night, when they realized she was losing, Clinton’s manager
told the supporters to just go home. Clinton never gave a thank you
speech to her loyal followers and didn't concede until the next day. How arrogant of her. How obnoxious of
Democrats. You think Trump and his supporters are
immature and venomous? Listen to yourselves and your compatriots’ venom
and hatred. Your behavior
<i>disgusts</i> me. If for no other reason, that reason would be a good enough one to distance yourself from the Dems.</div>
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Calm yourselves, Dems. The sun will rise again.
The end of the world is not upon us, nor is it nigh. We aren’t going to
be building concentration camps or detention centers. We are simply
changing horses and this one is a little wilder
than the donkey we were going to put on.</div>
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Let me remind you that Republicans felt the same
way you did when Obama won the Presidency. No joke. I wasn’t sure that
the United States could survive him, his executive orders, and his
ability to divide the country and (partially unintentionally)
reinforce racism; then I wasn’t sure the country could survive
four more years. But we did. WE DID. And we will again.</div>
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Did Obama do some good? Sure he did, but the
American public is tired of Democrat attitudes and policy and decided
to vote for a change. They decided they were tired of being marginalized by the large, arrogant cities; they were tired of jobs being exported; they wanted <i>change</i>. And even Democrats were seriously displeased with their choice as demonstrated by <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cw1bPulWEAAXOsL.jpg:large">voter turnout</a> in this election as compared to the past two. </div>
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Ignore what the media has informed you, what the
celebrities have demanded you do, what the international community
insisted you MUST do, and read about President Trump’s actual policies (you can start with what he wants to accomplish in his <a href="https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/_landings/contract/O-TRU-102316-Contractv02.pdf">first 100 days</a>). Yes, he
is <i>seriously</i> flawed (so was Hillary), but let’s
read about what he wants for our country and hope that he can learn as
he goes (as Obama had to). If he steps over the line, let's be there. We are the people. Act as such instead of pitching a fit!</div>
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[Side note: There are checks and balances and
honestly, in day-to-day life, the State is more important and more
impactful. Be more upset about who your new governor and state
government is rather than your President.]</div>
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Will I ever tell who I voted for? I’m not sure. I
am strong enough in my convictions and beliefs to be secure in my vote
and I simply do not have the patience to deal with those who will call
me names. If I voted for Hillary, I supported
a liar, a corrupt, self-serving politician. If I voted for Trump, I am
racist, misogynist, and anti-immigration. I don’t vote for Clinton just
because she’s female and I don’t vote for a Trump just because he is
Republican.</div>
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As a side note: YES, I retain the right to vote even as I live
in Israel. And no, I don’t have to personally “live” with the outcome
since I’m in Israel, but I DO have close family and friends there so
stop telling me that I’m not feeling the boots
on the ground (thanks for that insult). Additionally, having America remain friends with Israel is of vital importance, especially with the UN Security Council. </div>
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The difference is that I have a
better attitude than many. I have high hopes. I am optimistic and
polite. I think the best of people and of our future. I don’t resort to
name-calling, doomsday-promoting, promotion of
hatred, and unfriend people because they think differently than me. You
worry about your family? I worried about mine. <br />
<br />
<u>Part III: Written TWO days after the 2016 election:</u></div>
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Burning flags. Riots in numerous cities where people are getting critically injured. Name-calling. Death threats against Trump and his supporters. Colleges cancelling classes and giving pizza to distraught students. Unfriending people due to different beliefs (um, democracy?). Calling for the Electoral College to go against their instruction next month in order to overturn the election. Refusing to accept the outcome of the election. "He's not my president." Circulating a petition to eliminate the Electoral College (which is IN THE CONSTITUTION). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hh3Eoj1AqK0VQ3G6zGr6sVEAqHzRPYOH9qYZA_d7acLY0_RoZyP621gdeo3d7mHJT5C0FtS-yisQvvwG3A0qqnPAs3z7DBrbyDpMLXpEcHHKZiSuIHVekFzIvysm1oZx-U4aVoTKAmIu/s1600/riot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hh3Eoj1AqK0VQ3G6zGr6sVEAqHzRPYOH9qYZA_d7acLY0_RoZyP621gdeo3d7mHJT5C0FtS-yisQvvwG3A0qqnPAs3z7DBrbyDpMLXpEcHHKZiSuIHVekFzIvysm1oZx-U4aVoTKAmIu/s320/riot1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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I thought it would calm down by now. Some more cool-headed Dems have calmed down and made a call to action, but others have gotten worse. </div>
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HYPOCRISY. These are the same exact people who, the day before the election, called for civility and coming together. That we can get over this divisiveness... and the <i><b>second </b></i>(the SECOND) Trump looked like he was winning, the vitriol came out. The 'F' bombs came out... Democrats did a complete 180 and went off on Trump supporters as stated above.</div>
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Please don't get me wrong... I understand people are really scared and freaking out. I get it. You worry about your children, your LGBT friends, your Jewish friends, your Black friends...</div>
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But seriously, how can you defend this behavior? Aside from it being downright disgusting, immature, and anti-American, it is counter-productive. What does it accomplish except make you look like spoiled brats who are upset that your (horrible) candidate lost? Grow up. Stop whining - instead, volunteer and/or donate money to causes close to your heart! Most Republicans (and others) voted for Trump <i>despite</i> his idiotic behavior and speeches... accept that as truth because it is. There are idiots out there that used Trump as an excuse to "come out" as racist but they were always there.<br />
<br />
Let's come together... President Trump is our 45th President. He's my President <i>and yours.</i> Let's hope for the best and work together. Make a difference - make sure your actions count. Stand for
the disenfranchised, the weak. Make sure that the negatives
of Trump won't come to fruition. </div>
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We ALL have to do our best to work together. We need to ALL make sure Trump
is good for our country. We all have to live with this. Together.</div>
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Let's start now. </div>
Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-52543063508168045702016-05-04T15:40:00.003-04:002016-05-04T15:40:54.357-04:00We Remember.Tonight starts <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaShoah">Yom HaShoah</a>, literally "Day of the Holocaust." The world also remembers with Holocaust Remembrance Day. This will be my first Yom HaShoah as an Israeli citizen, with two small children, living the the land that G-d gave us.<br />
<br />
It starts with a program at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yad_Vashem">Yad Vashem</a>, with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu speaking, poetry being read... it's being broadcast on Mako TV, where my husband and I are watching, crying. My Hebrew may not be 100% but it is good enough to feel the pain when they read a daughter's letter to her mother, written while she was on a train to her death. I may not know all the words, but my soul knows a mother's anguish over her children traveling to their deaths simply because they were Jewish.<br />
<br />
Have we learned <i>anything</i>? Jews? Non-Jews? The world?<br />
<br />
The point of Yom HaShoah is to remember, but the lesson is to act.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow at 10am, my husband and I will stand on the bridge over Route 4, listen for the two minute siren commemorating our six million lost souls, and watch as every single car, bus, and taxi stops on the highway. Jews will be together as each driver exits his and her vehicle and stands at attention, recalling how we were slaughtered by the Nazis and other Axis powers. My husband and I will hold hands as our tears fall. We will all hug our sons, daughters, and families tighter tomorrow night, knowing that without people and nations acting consciously and deliberately, this can happen again and, if we are not careful <i>now</i>, it will.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gA_kGlxGWsi9eOagbmCOTMHFVs0HWCfG_DvZ3OmCUOCbkj8H7VbjoueZ-l61MHqlocRx-OByzKmPbAkin8nsbUtdwNmuT0q6Bfa2CWGUNBQgM4TWCmz5q0Om4tZx7dJcH-w44SUsfdvN/s1600/Holocaust-Journey518x304.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gA_kGlxGWsi9eOagbmCOTMHFVs0HWCfG_DvZ3OmCUOCbkj8H7VbjoueZ-l61MHqlocRx-OByzKmPbAkin8nsbUtdwNmuT0q6Bfa2CWGUNBQgM4TWCmz5q0Om4tZx7dJcH-w44SUsfdvN/s320/Holocaust-Journey518x304.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />We have been hunted and murdered. We have been burned, literally and metaphorically. But, like a phoenix, from the ashes of our previous generation, we have burst forth with new life, strength, and ferocity. We have birthed our new country of Israel and provided her with strong young soldiers, intelligent and clever commanders; we have created technology that the entire world uses; we have won amazing amounts of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_Nobel_laureates">Nobel Prizes</a>, adding our intellect and insight to the planet's education; we have donated time, money, bodies, and blood to other countries who are in desperate need of help during emergencies (and many times been first in line to do so).<br />
<br />
And with all this, we look back and wonder, who did we lose? Not just fathers, mothers, grandparents, children... But in those six million (and more), what would have been discovered, accomplished, created, not just for us, but for the world? How many family trees were brutally cut with wide, evil swings of the Nazi scythe? How many lives in how many countries were shredded in each day that passed, with each train car that left its station, with each boat that was turned back from safety?<br />
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Never forget what happened. Never forget that evil is everywhere, waiting for its opportunity to strike. Never forget that millions of children (babies, toddlers, school-age kids) were murdered, shot point-blank, because they were simply of no use to the Nazi party. Never forget that people <i>voted</i> for the Nazi party, that Austrians cheered as Germans came in, that there is a special award for Righteous Gentiles because, well, there were so <i>few</i> of them.<br />
<br />
The world is still against the Jews. Anti-semitism is still raging like wildfire, consuming everything and everyone it touches. It lives out in the open, in <a href="http://antisemitictweets.tumblr.com/">tweets</a>, Facebook pages, and jokes; it lives in groups on campuses, in BDS, in organizations taking over countries, and in your average citizen in Europe, South America, North America, Australia, Africa, Asia.... Don't doubt that hatred of Jews and Israel is alive and everywhere.<br /><br />Never forget that the best way to remember is to act, open your mouth, <i>do something</i>! Whether it's to pray, donate money, be an advocate for good, do <i>your</i> job against evil. Every Jew and non-Jew is different, everyone has a role to play.<br /><br /><b>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. </b>Don't do nothing. Don't EVER do nothing.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Don't EVER assume you don't have a choice. </li>
<li>Don't EVER assume that someone else will do it.</li>
<li>Don't EVER stop!</li>
</ul>
<br />
Never forget. Always act.<br /><br />NEVER AGAIN.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBX1kLG5vQJERbNK7ivMR9s6dmpT8NKNdeOS8X13HvRIT-LskhNZRQH2mVuH13rq9Uu1mn9LmecDZ1PEn48I4nwihUNhPUKDNk95eHWJubDxVbDQOqnx8zk1O06w65jKGh8BtpZTCBawO/s1600/yom+hashoah+candle.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBX1kLG5vQJERbNK7ivMR9s6dmpT8NKNdeOS8X13HvRIT-LskhNZRQH2mVuH13rq9Uu1mn9LmecDZ1PEn48I4nwihUNhPUKDNk95eHWJubDxVbDQOqnx8zk1O06w65jKGh8BtpZTCBawO/s320/yom+hashoah+candle.jpg" width="320" /></a>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-80163160932563563382015-11-14T15:19:00.000-05:002015-11-14T15:28:33.471-05:00World War III has Begun.This article was originally posted on August 3, 2014 on <a href="http://shiradrissman.com/">shiradrissman.com</a>... I have now updated it with proper numbers. It seemed appropriate to repost it here, today, after the attacks in France and Lebanon and after the <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/13/pope-francis-warns-piecemeal-world-war-iii-has-begun.html">Pope decided to declare that World War 3 has begun</a> (I guess he needs to follow my blog). The truth is...<br />
<br />
It's been headed in this direction for a while now, but in case you've only just noticed (or haven't yet because you're in denial), World War III began a while ago.<br />
<br />
Here are the larger and more well-known events (I have only included the murdered, not the injured) <br />
<ul>
<li>February 26, 1993: WTC bombed (6 murdered) </li>
<li>December 24, 1994: Air France Flight 8969 hijacked in Algiers (3 murdered) </li>
<li>June 25, 1996: Khobar Towers bombed (20 murdered) </li>
<li>October 12, 2000: USS Cole attacked in Aden, Yemen (17 murdered) </li>
<li>September 11, 2001: WTC bombed (nearly 3,000 murdered) </li>
<li>August 5, 2003: Marriott Hotel bombing in South Jakarta (12 murdered) </li>
<li>March 11, 2004: Train bombings in Madrid, Spain (191 murdered) </li>
<li>September 9, 2004: Bombing at Australian embassy in Jakarta (9 murdered) </li>
<li>July 7, 2005: Multiple bombings in London underground (53 murdered) </li>
<li>July 23, 2005: Bomb attacks at Sharm el-Sheikh (64 murdered) </li>
<li>February 1, 2007: Plot to behead British Muslim soldier (thwarted) </li>
<li>September 13, 2008: Bombing series in Delhi, India (33 murdered) </li>
<li>November 26, 2008: Coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India (166 murdered) </li>
<li>June 18, 2009: Beledweyne bombing in Somalia (35 murdered) </li>
<li>May 1, 2010: Times Square car bombing attempted (thwarted) </li>
<li>December 10, 2010: Stockholm bombing (2 murdered) </li>
<li>July 18, 2011: Attack in Hotan, China (2 murdered) </li>
<li>February 23, 2012: Attacks in Baghdad (83 murdered) </li>
<li>March 20, 2012: Attacks in Baghdad (52 murdered) </li>
<li>April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon bombing (3 murdered) </li>
<li>May 22, 2013: Two men with cleavers murder British soldier in Woolwich. </li>
<li>September 21, 2013: Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya (67 murdered) </li>
<li>September 22, 2013: Two Jundallah suicide bombers attack at a church service (105 murdered) </li>
<li>January 6, 2014: al-Qaeda linked terrorists execute "prisoners" at a children's hospital in Aleppo, Syria (50 murdered) </li>
<li>February 11, 2014: In Nigeria, Islamists come into a local village and slaughter residents (62 murdered) </li>
<li>March 15, 2014: Muslim herdsman in Nigeria shoot, burn, and hack their way through three Christian villages (150 murdered) </li>
<li>May 7, 2014: Islamists slaughter over villagers in Nigeria in an attack that lasts over twelve hours (336 hours) </li>
<li>June 12, 2014: The Islamic State massacres unarmed cadets at Camp Speicher, Iraq (1,566 murdered) </li>
<li>August 6, 2014: Boko Haram fire indiscriminately at Christian villages in Nigeria (997 murdered) </li>
<li>August 7, 2014: Yazidi death toll continues to rise in Iraq (397 murdered) </li>
<li>December 17, 2014: Human rights groups report the execution of women in Iraq for refusing to become brides of caliphate Jihadis (150 murdered) </li>
<li>January 7, 2015: Boko Haram goes on a massive killing spree that spans 16 villages in Nigeria (2,000 murdered) </li>
<li>April 2, 2015: Devout Muslims storm a Christian college in Kenya, separate out the non-Muslims, and execute the rest in cold blood (148 murdered) </li>
<li>October 1, 2015: Fatah gunmen shoot a Jewish couple to death in their car in front of their four young children in Israel </li>
<li>October 3, 2015: Two men walking with their families in Jerusalem are stabbed to death by an Islamist, who also shoots a baby in the leg </li>
<li>November 13, 2015: In Otniel, Israel, a father and son are murdered the week before the daughter's wedding. </li>
<li>November 13, 2015: ISIS orchestrated seven relatively simultaneous terrorist attacks in Paris (128 murdered). </li>
</ul>
For a more detailed list of the 27,269 terror attacks since 9/11, please <a href="http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#PriorYears">click here</a>.<br />
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World War III is an ideological war between Islam and the rest of the world and it started HUNDREDS (really, thousands) of years ago (have you heard of the Marine Hymn? The "shores of Tripoli" are a reference to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War">Barbary Wars</a>, wars against Muslim pirates). Nobody informed us it was instigated, and the majority of people today still don't know it's going on or don't want to admit it. It started insidiously and quietly. It's widespread and dangerous. The only way to fight it is to educate yourself and others, be aware, and acknowledge its existence.</div>
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Only in August 2014, after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_kidnapping_and_murder_of_Israeli_teenagers">three boys</a> were kidnapped in Israel and after Hamas started firing rockets (again) at Israeli civilians, did people start to really notice the raging anti-Semitism occurring around the world. It has gotten horribly worse since. Not that it wasn't going on before - it was. But people see what they want, and don't see what they don't.</div>
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For years, there has been increasing acts of violence and intimidation against Jews, most notably, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_21st-century_France">France</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_the_United_Kingdom">the UK</a>, and other European countries. A <a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/culture/article/hitlers_e_book_blitzkreig">statistical analysis</a> has shown that 150 million people across Europe have serious anti-semitic views or a "demonic view" of Israel. The new anti-Semitism stems from the far right (authoritarianists, anti-communists, nativists, and fascists), the political left, and a growing Muslim population in these countries.</div>
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Even in peaceful Canada, there have been riots and violence against Jews and non-Jewish supporters of Israel. In Calgary the other day, hundreds of Muslims and non-Muslim Jew-haters <a href="http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/featured/prime-time/867432237001/anti-israel-rallies-spark-violence-across-canada/3689511026001/page/2">rioted "peacefully"</a> right before they attacked the group of a dozen or so pro-Israel protestors. No police were present and it <i>almost</i> escaped the attention of the media.</div>
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Take a close look at these numbers. </div>
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There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world today. It is estimated that 15-25% of those Muslims are radical, potentially active terrorists according to all intelligence sources around the world. That means, mathematically, that 240-400 MILLION Muslims are active, or potentially active, radical terrorists dedicated to the destruction of democracy and Western civilization. That's as many people, or more, as occupy our United States of America.</div>
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Let me repeat this. <b><i>These 240-400 million people devote their lives and deaths to murdering and mutilating YOU, the infidel.</i></b></div>
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If you want to count how many radical Muslims there are in the world (who may not personally act on their beliefs but agree with them, morally, financially, or religiously, then you're looking at over<a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/243220/ben-shapiro-myth-tiny-radical-muslim-minority-truthrevoltorg"> 800 million Radical Muslims, more than half of all Muslims on the planet, adhere to the beliefs of the terrorists. </a>(see Pew Research 2011).</div>
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According to the Qu'ran, they believe that men are worth more than women... in inheritance (4:11, 4:176), in court testimony (2:282), purity (5:6), dominion over the body (2:223), wife to husband ratio (4:3), sex slaves (4:24, 33:50), and more. This is supported by the Hadith, the record of the sayings of their prophet Mohammed, which supplements the Qu'ran.</div>
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Women are not alone. Muslims also look down upon homosexuals, Christians, hypocrites (those who claim to be Muslim but are not quite radical enough), and, of course, Jews.</div>
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Do not think that you will be spared.</div>
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"Oh ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty." -Qu'ran, Sura 9:123.</div>
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They are encouraged to lay low, to lie to non-believers, to gain in numbers until such a time when they can take over. This is how they work. We can now see that their hard work and patience is paying off. Look at France where synagogues are burned and people are murdered in metal concerts. Look at Chicago where tens of thousands march in support of Hamas and their murderous methods. Look at Ann Arbor - where pro-"Palestinian" rallies and take place and people are afraid to act. </div>
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It will only increase (and has). Keep your eyes open and do not blind yourself to what is happening. The war has begun. Jewish, not Jewish. White, Black, Yellow, Purple. Heterosexual, homosexual. If you aren't a radical Muslim, YOU are the infidel. YOU are their enemy. </div>
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Be prepared to fight... because they already are.</div>
Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-6416198427545726982014-08-03T00:26:00.000-04:002014-08-03T00:26:51.824-04:00Israel Doesn't Matter<u><b>The Land of Israel Doesn't Matter</b></u><br />
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<u>Jewish Ideology</u><br />
Jews believe in the sanctity of life. We are even instructed to break the holy Sabbath in order to save a life; it's called "<a href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/pikuach_nefesh.html">Pikuach Nefesh</a>." The rules of Kosher and fasting can be broken as well for sick and dying people.<br />
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Jews grant the same love of life to others. Even in our military actions against the Muslims, we pamphlet, text message, make phone calls, and even send soldiers in on the ground in order to reduce the amount of civilian Arab casualties.<br />
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Israelis wish only to live in peace. They gave back the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and, in the past decade, they offered 98% of what the Arabs wanted and Arafat, on the Arabs' behalf, rejected it outright. Even today, all Jews want is peace and quiet.<br />
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<u>Islamic Ideology</u><br />
I'll let them speak for themselves.<br />
<u><br /></u>
"We love death like our enemies love life.<br />
We love Martyrdom, the way in which [Hamas] leaders died." - Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Al-Aqsa TV [Hamas], July 30, 2014<br />
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"Say (O Mohammed): Oh ye who are Jews! If ye claim that ye are favoured of Allah apart from (all) mankind, then long for death if ye are truthful." - Qu'ran 62:6<br />
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Ayman al-Zawahiri told Muslim women, "I advise you to raise your children in the cult of jihad and martyrdom and to instill in them a love for religion and death."<br />
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Hamas uses human shields, and fires missiles from private homes, schools, ambulances, and hospitals. They kidnap innocent teenagers and soldiers. They attempt to steal the bodies of murdered Jews. They rejoice when they hear of violence and heartbreaking news on the part of Israelis.<br />
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I<a href="http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Majority-of-Palestinians-now-oppose-two-state-solution-new-poll-finds-360489">n a recent poll</a>, 60% of those Arabs polled (including 55% in the West Bank and 68% in Gaza) reject permanent acceptance of Israel's existence, instead wanting one Palestinian state "from the river to the sea."<br /><br />Hamas wants Israel destroyed and the Jews dead. Their own <a href="http://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/880818a.htm">charter</a> emphasizes, in several places, the desire to eliminate the Jews. Here is one of the juicier points, "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." -Hamas Charter Preamble<br />
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The Land of Israel, if it were ever truly an issue (rather than an excuse), is no longer of any importance. The Muslims want the Jews dead. Every last one of us. Even if we were to give away every last square meter of Israel, they would still run us through with spears, cut off our heads, and dangle us from the rooftops until the last one of us was dead.<br />
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Don't believe me? Just check out what they're doing to the Christians in Iraq.Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-2386835777144984232014-08-01T15:36:00.002-04:002014-08-02T22:15:58.537-04:00An Accurate History about Palestine, Israel, and the "Palestinians," Part III (1956-1966)<b>PART III</b><br />
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<b><u>The 1956 Sinai Campaign</u></b><br />
In the early 1950s, <a href="http://archive.adl.org/israel/record/sinai.html">Egypt violated the terms</a> of the Armistice Agreement it had signed with Israel after the 1948 War of Independence. They blocked Israeli ships from passing through the <a href="http://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/">Suez Canal</a>, a major international waterway. It also began to block traffic through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_of_Tiran">Straits of Tiran</a> linking the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilat">port of Eilat</a>, in the south of Israel, to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. This seriously damaged Israel's trade with Asia.<br />
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The Arab fedayun/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedayeen">fedayeen</a> from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria continued to infiltrate across the border in order to maintain their attacks against Jewish civilians and military outposts. Arab infiltration and Israeli retaliation became a regular pattern and though Israel hoped its reactionary behavior would discourage more invasions, in 1955 alone, 260 Israeli innocent civilians were murdered or wounded by fedayeen.<br />
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In July 1956, Egyptian President <a href="http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gamal_abdel_nasser.htm">Gamal Abdel Nasser</a> nationalized the Suez Canal, threatening British and French interests in oil supplies and western trade. <br />
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Since everyone had converging interests,<a href="http://archive.adl.org/israel/record/sinai.html"> Israel, Britain, and France planned an attack on Egypt,</a> and on October 29, 1956, Israel began its assault on Egyptian military positions. She captured the whole of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. On October 31, 1956, France and Britain joined in and the hostilities ended on November 5, 1956, only seven days after it began. Israel didn't withdraw until 1957.<br />
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The United States had no knowledge of this attack, voiced strong opposition (due to its fear of the USSR and its interest in the Middle East), and urged Israel to withdraw from Egyptian territory. The UN stationed itself along the Egypt-Israeli border to prevent a blockage and further infiltrations, but Israel warned them that if Egypt blockaded the Gulf of Aqaba, it wouldn't hold back.<!--EndFragment--><br />
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<b><u>After the 1956 Suez Crisis</u></b></div>
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There was an uneasy truce after the Suez Crisis, but Arab states started competing among themselves for power and dominance. To quiet internal dissent, the governments expanded and strengthened their anti-Israel feelings.</div>
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<b><u>Palestine Liberation Organization</u></b></div>
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In 1964, to continue the war against Israel, the Arab states, at the first Arab League Summit meeting, formed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization">PLO</a> (Palestine Liberation Organization). It had the purpose of creating an independent State of Palestine through armed struggle. The group used guerrilla tactics to attack Israel from Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria. The US and Israel considered it a terrorist organization until the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid_Conference">Madrid Conference</a> for peace in 1991, when the PLO decided to grow an alleged 'political' branch.</div>
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The PLO has a nominal legislative body, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), but most of their power is controlled by the PLO Executive Committee, made up of 18 people elected by the PNC. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat">Yasser Arafat</a> was the chamber of the PLO Executive Committee from 1969 until his death in 2004.</div>
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He was succeeded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Abbas">Mahmoud Abbas</a> (a.k.a. Abu Mazen). He is also a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatah">Fatah</a> party. He was elected to serve until January 9, 2009, but due to internal conflict, he unilaterally extended his term for another year and, since then, has not stepped down. Because of this, Hamas (Fatah's main rival and founded in 1987, to be addressed later) announced it would not recognize Abbas. </div>
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Mahmoud Abbas is a terrorist. He financed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_massacre">1972 Munich Massacre</a>, but since he was the best of the worst (other high ranking "Palestinians" were under arrest for multiple murders), he emerged as a leader. </div>
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In February 1966, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Syrian_coup_d'%C3%A9tat">coup d'etat</a> took place in Syria, and the government was replaced by a union of the party's Military Committee and the Regional Command, ruled by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salah_Jadid">Salah Jadid</a>. This new government further increased the anti-Israel rhetoric as well as the infiltrations into Israeli territory.</div>
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<b><u>Fatah</u></b></div>
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Fatah is formerly known as the <a href="http://fas.org/irp/dni/osc/fatah-charter.pdf">Palestinian National Liberation Movement</a>. It has had a strong involvement in revolutionary struggle and has maintained a number of militant groups. Its <a href="http://fas.org/irp/dni/osc/fatah-charter.pdf">charter</a> allows anyone who believes in the liberation of Palestine to be a member. It states, "Revolution is our path to freedom, independence, and construction. It is a revolution until victory ..."<br />
<blockquote>
This movement and this work are a national trust and a historic responsibility. You must shoulder the precious trust and recognize the historic responsibility. You must prepare yourself to inspire the spirit of organized revolutionary work in every Arab soul that is sincere to Palestine and that believes in its liberation. Let us train ourselves to be patient and to face ordeals, bear calamities, sacrifice our souls, blood, time and effort. All these are the weapons of revolutionaries. Therefore, Brother, do not stop. With the calm of the workers, the silence of the sincere, the determination of the revolutionaries, the resolve of the believers, and the patience of the strugglers, you must act quickly because our people cannot spare a single moment after our tragedy continued throughout all those long years. You must know that our enemy is strong and the battle is ferocious and long. You must know that determination, patience, secrecy, confidentiality, adherence to the principles and goals of the revolution, keep us from stumbling and shorten the path to liberation. Go forward to revolution. <i>Long live Palestine, free and Arab.</i></blockquote>
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Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-20767649010817490422014-07-29T00:02:00.000-04:002014-07-29T00:03:08.804-04:00In Short, There Are No "Palestinian" RefugeesIn 1917, the British Empire wrested Palestine away from the Ottoman Turks and occupied the land there until 1947. Shortly thereafter, the UN decided to divide the area into a country for the Jews and the Arabs. The Jews accepted this partition plan even though they were only going to receive 20% of the land <u>and</u> even though Jerusalem would not be completely included either.<br />
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Not one of the 22 Arab states were happy with this partition simply because it provided Jews with a Jewish country. Not only did they reject it, but five Arab nations (with help from a couple others) decided to wipe it off the map within one day of its birth.<br />
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In order to protect Arabs, those nations warned the Arabs living in Israel at the time to flee, to get out of the way of their incoming armies. Those Arabs, approximately 539,000 of them, followed their instructions and <i>voluntarily</i> abandoned their homes and property so that the Jews would (in their hope) be murdered and eliminated. The Arab nations promised the Arabs that they could return and move into the Jews' houses after the anticipated successful annihilation of the Jews.<br />
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"We will smash the country with our guns and obliterate every place the Jews seek shelter in. The Arabs should conduct their wives and children to safe areas until the fighting has died down." -Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Said, quoted in Sir Am Nahbah ("The Secret Behind the Disaster") by Nimr el Hawari Nazareth, 1952<br />
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The Jews of Palestine tried to get the Arabs of Palestine to stay.<br />
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"Every effort is being made by the Jews to persuade the Arab populace to stay and carry on with their normal lives, to get their shops and business open and to be assured that their lives and interests will be safe. [However] ...A large road convoy, escorted by [British] military... left Haifa for Beirut yesterday... Evacuation by sea goes on steadily. ...[Two days later, the Jews were] still making every effort to persuade the Arab populace to remain and to settle back into their normal lives in the towns... [as for the Arabs,] another convoy left Tireh for Transjordan, and the evacuation by sea continues. The quays and harbor are still crowded with refugees and their household effects, all omitting no opportunity to get a place on one of the boats leaving Haifa." -Haifa District HQ of the British Police, April 26, 1948, quoted in <u>Battleground</u> by Samuel Katz<br />
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The Arabs refused, choosing instead to abandon their possessions and land. "The Arabs did not want to submit to a truce; they rather preferred to abandon their homes, their belongings and everything they possessed in the world and leave the town. This is in fact what they did." -Jamal Husseini, Acting Chairman of the Palestine Arab Higher Committee, told to the United Nations Security Council, quoted in the UNSC Official Records (N. 62), April 23, 1948, p.14.<br />
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At the same time, <i>850,000 Jews were expelled</i> from other Arab countries where they had lived for hundreds of years. Some of the people who were forced to leave were successful professionals, and they left behind their property which was, of course, immediately confiscated. They all fled to the newly born Israel.<br />
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These Jewish refugees were immediately accepted by the State of Israel. They were given shelter, food, and clothing. They were treated as equals.<br />
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The Arab refugees who had voluntarily abandoned their land and property for the other Arab nations were not welcomed. They were treated as unwelcome migrants and placed in dilapidated refugee camps. The UN, through UNRWA, gave assistance because the host countries refused to.<br />
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Eventually, the camps become training camps for terrorists whose goal was to eliminate Israel. The host countries provided the training, weapons, explosives, and yet, the Arabs still weren't considered full citizens.<br />
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Rather, these Arab countries kept the displaced Arabs in misery, fed their anger, and used them as tools against the Jews and Israel, and pawns in the worldwide media.<br />
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According to the <a href="http://www.unrefugees.org/site/c.lfIQKSOwFqG/b.4950731/k.A894/What_is_a_refugee.htm">UN Refugee Agency</a>, a refugee is "someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence." Based on this definition, there are no Palestinian Arab refugees. The Jews of Palestine never forced any Arabs of Palestine to leave. Quite the contrary. The Jews practically begged the Arabs to stay.<br />
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The Haifa Workers Council posted a bulletin on April 28, 1948, stating, "...our city flourished and developed for the good of both Jewish and Arab residents... Do not destroy your homes with your own hands; do not bring tragedy upon yourselves by unnecessary evacuation and self-imposed burdens. By moving out you will be overtaken by poverty and humiliation. But in this city, yours and ours, Haifa, the gates are open for work, for life, and for peace, for you and your families."<br />
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Even Great Britain recognized what was going on. The <i>Times of London</i> reported on April 4, 1948, "...the Jewish Hagana asked (using loudspeakers) Arabs to remain at their homes but most of the Arab population followed their leaders who asked them to leave the country."<br />
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Additionally, even if they were refugees, this status <u>does not</u> extend to further generations.<br />
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"The refugee status of the Palestinians was perpetuated by the host countries and the Palestinian leadership, and by the international community, through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the only UN body dedicated to a specific refugee group (all other refugees in the world are the responsibility of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees). As a result, refugee status was passed down from father to son to grandson over 50 years, so that, today, they number three million to four million. That is why the Palestinians now account for about one-fourth of the world's refugees -- an impressive figure until one imagines how many refugees there would be if all the Finns and Germans and Indian Hindus and Muslims and European Jews who were made refugees after the Second World War (not to speak of the Greeks and Turks and Armenians who were made refugees during and after the First World War) were still considered refugees in the year 2000." -Mark Heller, co-author of <i>No Trumpets, No Drums: A Two-State Settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict</i><br />
<i><br /></i>In essence, the "Arab Palestinian Refugee" problem is of their own doing. They made the decision to abandon their land, property, and possessions because they assumed the Arab countries would kill the Jews and defeat Israel. Their intent was evil and their actions backfired. They trusted other Arab countries who, not only failed to protect and take care of them, but then used them as weapons against the Israeli state and the Jews. They are now trying to take advantage of other countries, the UN, and people's ignorance of history and law. We cannot allow this.<br />
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The Jews of Palestine had requested that the Arabs of Palestine stay. Israel has repeatedly gone above and beyond to make peace with them. They still turn it down. [Most of] The Arabs still hate and kill. History hasn't changed, and neither will the future. Even today, as of June 2014, <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Majority-of-Palestinians-now-oppose-two-state-solution-new-poll-finds-360489">60% of "Palestinians"</a> oppose a two-state solution; they prefer that their leaders "work toward reclaiming all of historic Palestine, from the river to the sea." Two-thirds of those polled support continued resistance against the Jewish state. And if you're wondering about the remaining 40%... well, they view such a move as "part of a 'program of stages' to liberate all of historic Palestine later."<br />
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Let us be honest with them and ourselves and move forward from here. Let us focus on Israel, her <i>Jewish</i> future, and those who truly support her.Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-28111570644959827142014-07-28T17:12:00.000-04:002014-08-02T22:15:28.396-04:00An Accurate History of Palestine, Israel, and the "Palestinians," Part II (1948 - Early 1950s)<b>PART II</b><br />
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<b><u>War of 1948</u></b><br />
One day after the State of Israel was born, on May 15, 1948, no less than five Arab nations <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/history/pages/israels%20war%20of%20independence%20-%201947%20-%201949.aspx">invaded Israel</a>. The new State fought against Syria and Lebanon in the north, Iraq and Transjordan (Jordan) in the east, Egypt (assisted by contingents from the Sudan) in the south, and Arabs and volunteers from other Arab countries from within. Being that Israel had just been born, these five Arab countries had superior armor, artillery, and air forces.<br />
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On May 31, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haganah">Haganah</a> was renamed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and suffered initial setbacks, but after three weeks, they were able to halt the offensive, stabilize the front, and even initiate some local offensive operations. By mid-July 1949, Israel was able to capture the upper Galilee, the Negev in the south (which had been allotted to the Jewish State by the UN), and end the war. The Arab countries signed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1949_Armistice_Agreements">Armistice Agreements</a>; first came Egypt on February 24, 1949, Lebanon on March 23, 1949, Jordan on April 3, 1949, and Syria on July 20, 1949. Only Iraq did not sign an agreement. It preferred to withdraw its troops and hand over its sector to the Arab Legion of Jordan. In the end, not only did Israel eject the Arab forces, but it also took 5,000 square kilometers over and above the areas allocated to it by the United Nations.<br />
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As soon as the armistice agreements were signed, the IDF was disbanded. But it was too soon to do so. The former Arabs of Palestine (and neighboring Arab countries, in an effort to show Israel and the rest of the Arabs that they hadn't given up the war) started sending suicide troops across the ill-protected border to steal farm equipment, laying of mines, killing of individuals, and wholesale massacres. They were trained, equipped, and paid by Egyptian intelligence, but they operated from bases in Jordan (which caused Jordan to bear the brunt of the retaliation). Each time Israel would retaliate, the UN Security Council would condemn it.<br />
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<b><u>Post-1948 War through the Early 1950s</u></b><br />
Despite the refugee problem being admittedly caused by the Arabs fleeing (due to the Arab Higher Committee encouraging them to leave their lands) and the surrounding Arab states, Israel was still willing to take back the Arabs who had scattered in the hopes of an Arab victory in 1948. <br />
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On November 19, 1948, the General Assembly created the UN Relief for Palestinian Refugees, later renamed UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to dispense aid to the refugees. The Arab refugees of Palestine are the only refugee group that gets their own UN organization. All other refugees utilize the UN Refugee Agency. Regardless, UNRWA was originally given a budget of $50 million to assist the estimated 650,000-<a href="http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/b792301807650d6685256cef0073cb80/93037e3b939746de8525610200567883?OpenDocument">711,000 Arab refugees of Palestine</a> (according to the UN). <br />
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According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a refugee is someone who has been forced to leave a country because of war or for religious or political reasons. Recall that Israel never forced the Arabs to leave Palestine/Israel. In fact, Israel insisted and requested that they stay and help them build the country. The Arabs were the ones who rejected the Jewish request and abandoned their property.<br />
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According to the <a href="http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c125.html">UN Refugee Agency</a>, pursuant to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is someone "who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country" (emphasis added).<br />
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On <a href="http://www.unrefugees.org/site/c.lfIQKSOwFqG/b.4950731/k.A894/What_is_a_refugee.htm">another section of the UNHCR website</a>, refugee is defined as "someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence." Again, the Jews of Palestine practically begged the Arabs to stay; the Jews were not the reason the Arabs left. <br />
<br />
Additionally, the new Israeli government was more than willing to take the Arabs back into the country. The Arabs rejected this offer (see below).<br />
<br />
[Note: For this reason alone, there are no Arab refugees from Palestine. For argument's sake, even if there were, the number would be limited to the original 650,000-711,000. Refugee status does not extend to additional generations. There is no international law that provides for this and no other refugee group can, or does, claim this. Despite this, Arabs from Palestine insist that their descendants are entitled to keep this label (and UNRWA supports it), thus making the number of "Palestinian refugees" an unwieldy and ridiculous five million people. And reductio ad absurdum, if you continued along these lines another 20-30 years, you would have over thirty million Arabs claiming the Right of Return to Israel.<br />
<br />
In the history of the world, all refugees have eventually been assimilated (since WWII, 165 million). All but one -- the Arabs of Palestine. Due to the application of the definition of refugee, all numbers of refugees have declined to zero (either from absorption or from them dying off); all except the Arabs of Palestine. Their numbers have increased, despite all rules of law and mathematics.<br />
<br />
We won't discuss here the ignored issue of the Jewish refugees, mainly because Israel absorbed them as soon as they fled and arrived in Israel.<br />
<br />
For a more in depth conversation on the refugee issue, please refer to my already written blog, <a href="http://tdrissman.blogspot.com/2014/05/there-are-no-jewish-palestinian.html">There Are No Refugees</a>.]<br />
<br />
According to UNRWA (now the largest UN agency, with a staff of over 30,000) and the US Department of State, from 1950-1999, the US gave $2,222,000,000.00 to UNRWA. That's over $2 BILLION (with a "B"). As of 2012, the US has given a total of $4,300,510,350.00 to UNRWA, whose only focus is the Arabs from Palestine alleged refugee problem. In 2010, the European Commission gave UNRWA $165 million. <a href="http://www.unrwa.org/?id=246">That same year</a>, Sweden gave $47 million, the UK gave $45 million, Norway gave $40 million, and the Netherlands gave $29 million.<br />
<br />
On December 11, 1948, the UN passed <a href="http://www.unrwa.org/content/resolution-194">Resolution 194</a>, which stated that, "refugees willing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so ... and that compensation should be paid for property of those choosing not to return..." (emphasis added). Those emphasized words show that the UN did not expect Israel to repatriate a hostile population that might endanger its security. The solution to the problem would have to include resettlement of Arabs into neighboring Arab countries. Israelis did not expect the resettlement issue to be a problem, but the Arabs were, still, unwilling to negotiate and cooperate and unanimously rejected the UN Resolution, on claimed moral and political grounds.<br />
<br />
The only country that has assimilated, in significant numbers, the Arabs of Palestine is Jordan. No other Arab country has absorbed them or given them full citizenship despite the fact that many of them were born in those countries and have lived there for years.Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-64098836829108262822014-07-27T01:04:00.001-04:002014-07-27T01:26:17.220-04:00An Accurate History of Palestine, Israel, and the "Palestinians"After reading many articles that claim to know the history of the Middle East, but are incorrect, I have decided to put together a very accurate history for you to use as a reference. It requires much research, but I have no problem doing the legwork for my readers. This will come in parts (so that it's not too long) - please feel free to use it as a reference.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>PART I</u></i></b><br />
<br />
<u><b>The Name "Palestine"</b></u><br />
The definite origins of the word "Palestine" are unclear, but it is believed that the name is derived from the Hebrew word "peleshet." It is roughly translated as "rolling" or "migratory," the term was used to describe the inhabitants of the land to the northeast of Egypt, the Philistines. The Philistines were an Aegean people, more closely related to the Greeks and with no connection ethnically, linguistically, or historically with Arabia.<br />
<br />
A derivative of the name first appears in Greek literature in the 5th Century B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) when Herodotus called the area "Palaistine." In the 2nd Century C.E. (Common Era), the Romans crushed the revolt of Shimon bar Kochba (132 C.E.), during which Jerusalem and Judea were regained, the Romans renamed the area Palaestina in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel.<br />
<br />
Under the Ottoman Empire (1517-1917), the term Palestine was used loosely as a term to describe the land south of Syria. Many Ottomans and Arabs instead used the term "Souther Syria" rather than "Palestine."<br />
<br />
After WWI, the name was applied to the land that was under the British Mandate (present day Israel and present day Jordan). Prior to 1948, it was customary to use the term "Palestinian" to the Jews that lived in the area. Only years after Israel's independence did the Arabs living in the Gaza Strip and West Bank (of the Jordan) call themselves Palestinians. They themselves pronounce it "Filastin," a term which does not appear in the Qu'ran.<br />
<br />
<u><b>The Birth of Israel</b></u><br />
On September 3, 1947, the UNSCOP (United Nations Special Committee on Palestine) submitted its report to the UN General Assembly declaring its majority recommendation that Palestine be divided into separate Jewish and Arab states. The Arab Higher Committee rejected the issuance of the Report, issuing a <a href="http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/a8c17fca1b8cf5338525691b0063f769?OpenDocument">statement</a> on September 29th, saying that the "Zionists are conducting an invasion of that country [Palestine]" and claiming that they advocate freedom and independence for an Arab state <i>in the whole of Palestine</i> which would respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and equality of all persons before the law, and would protect the legitimate rights and interests of all minorities whilst guaranteeing freedom of worship and access to the Holy Places. Not once did the Arab Higher Committee use the term "Palestinian," instead only using the term "Arabs of Palestine."<br />
<br />
On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly passed <a href="http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/46815f76b9d9270085256ce600522c9e?OpenDocument">Resolution 181</a> (33 votes in favor, 13 votes against, 10 abstentions). Resolution 181 was a recommendation that the partition plan be implemented and requested that the Security Council take up the matter from there.<br />
<br />
More discussions took place and on February 6, 1948, the Arab Higher Committee again objected to the Jews getting a state of their own, <a href="http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/5ba47a5c6cef541b802563e000493b8c/fdf734eb76c39d6385256c4c004cdba7?OpenDocument">declar</a><u>ing</u>, "The Arabs of Palestine will <i>never recognize</i> the validity of the extorted partition recommendations or the authority of the United Nations to make them." They continued, saying that they would consider "that any attempt by the Jews or any power or group of powers to establish a Jewish state in Arab territory <i>is an act of aggression</i> which will be resisted in self-defense by force" (emphasis added). The Arabs of Palestine also stated,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It is very unwise and fruitless to ask any commission to proceed to Palestine because not a single Arab will cooperate with the said commission ... The only way to establish partition is first to wipe them out -- man woman and child." <i>Id</i>.</blockquote>
Further, it wasn't just the Arabs within Palestine. According to the <a href="http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/5ba47a5c6cef541b802563e000493b8c/fdf734eb76c39d6385256c4c004cdba7?OpenDocument">First Special Report</a>, "powerful Arab interests, both inside and outside Palestine, are defying the resolution ... and are engaged in a deliberate effort to alter by force the settlement envisaged herein." Guerrilla groups from numerous adjacent Arab states were recorded as coming in to assist in attacking the Jews of Palestine, civilian and security personnel alike. <i>Id</i>.<br />
<br />
The argument raged on for months since the UN was afraid of causing increased violence in the Mideast (borne of Arab dissatisfaction). The US (along with other countries) tried to find a solution. Mindful of the worsening situation, and wishing to avoid further debate, the US proposed another draft resolution calling for a truce between Jewish and Arab groups. It was adopted as <a href="http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/676bb71de92db89b852560ba006748d4?OpenDocument">Resolution 43 on April 1, 1948</a>. Several more resolutions were passed to calm everything down, but after nothing but violence and hopeful ideas continued, on May 14, 1948, the Zionist leadership <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/declaration%20of%20establishment%20of%20state%20of%20israel.aspx">declared the existence</a> of the State of Israel, citing Resolution 181 as constituting "recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their state."<br />
<br />
Palestine, which had not been in existence for very long, was no more. It was divided into Israel -- for the Jewish people of Palestine (between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River) and Trans-Jordan, which became Jordan -- for the Arabs of Palestine (the land east of the Jordan River).<br />
<br />
[Note: Prior to this time, the term "Palestinian" referred to both Jews <i>and</i> Arabs, though the Arabs who lived in the area were generally from other, surrounding Arab countries.]<br />
<br />
<u><b>Attacks on Israel</b></u><br />
Not one of the 22 Arab states were pleased with this and not only did they reject the declaration, but decided they also needed to <a href="http://tdrissman.blogspot.com/2014/05/there-are-no-jewish-palestinian.html">wipe Israel off the map</a>. Surrounding Arab countries urged the Arabs who lived there to flee, to get out of the way so that they could run the Jews into the sea. Despite being urged to stay by Palestinian Jews (civilians and government), they ran away, abandoning their houses, land, and property, in the hopes that they would be able to return and take the property back tenfold -- after all the Jews were murdered. See <a href="http://tdrissman.blogspot.com/2014/05/there-are-no-jewish-palestinian.html"><i>There Are No Palestinian Jewish Refugees; There Are No Palestinian Arab Refugees</i></a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>to be continued...</i>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-27249009394460296742014-07-23T00:07:00.000-04:002014-07-23T14:27:07.650-04:00Now is the time...It's been headed in this direction for a while now, but in case you've only just noticed (or haven't yet because you're in denial), <i>World War III has begun</i>.<br />
<br />
Here are the more well-known events (I have only included the murdered, not the injured)<br />
<ul>
<li>February 26, 1993: WTC bombed (6 murdered)</li>
<li>December 24, 1994: Air France Flight 8969 hijacked in Algiers (3 murdered)</li>
<li>June 25, 1996: Khobar Towers bombed (20 murdered)</li>
<li>October 12, 2000: USS Cole attacked in Aden, Yemen (17 murdered)</li>
<li>September 11, 2001: WTC bombed (nearly 3,000 murdered)</li>
<li>August 5, 2003: Marriott Hotel bombing in South Jakarta (12 murdered)</li>
<li>March 11, 2004: Train bombings in Madrid, Spain (191 murdered)</li>
<li>September 9, 2004: Bombing at Australian embassy in Jakarta (9 murdered)</li>
<li>July 7, 2005: Multiple bombings in London underground (53 murdered)</li>
<li>July 23, 2005: Bomb attacks at Sharm el-Sheikh (64 murdered)</li>
<li>February 1, 2007: Plot to behead British Muslim soldier (thwarted)</li>
<li>September 13, 2008: Bombing series in Delhi, India (33 murdered)</li>
<li>November 26, 2008: Coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India (166 murdered)</li>
<li>June 18, 2009: Beledweyne bombing in Somalia (35 murdered)</li>
<li>May 1, 2010: Times Square car bombing attempted (thwarted)</li>
<li>May 28, 2010: Attacks on mosques (100 murdered)</li>
<li>December 10, 2010: Stockholm bombing (2 murdered)</li>
<li>July 18, 2011: Attack in Hotan, China (2 murdered)</li>
<li>February 23, 2012: Attacks in Baghdad (83 murdered)</li>
<li>March 20, 2012: Attacks in Baghdad (52 murdered)</li>
<li>April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon bombing (3 murdered)</li>
<li>May 22, 2013: Two men with cleavers murder British soldier in Woolwich.</li>
<li>September 21, 2013: Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya (67 murdered)</li>
</ul>
<div>
For a more detailed list of the <b>23,450</b> terror attacks since 9/11, please <a href="http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#PriorYears">click here</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
World War III is an ideological war and it started years ago. Nobody informed us it was instigated, and the majority of people today <i>still don't know it's going on.</i> It's insidious and quiet. It's widespread and dangerous. The only way to fight it is to educate yourself and others and to be aware.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Only now, after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_kidnapping_and_murder_of_Israeli_teenagers">three boys</a> were kidnapped in Israel and after Hamas started firing rockets (again) at Israeli civilians, did people start to really notice the raging anti-Semitism occurring around the world. Not that it wasn't going on before - it was. But people see what they want, and don't see what they don't.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
For years, there has been increasing acts of violence and intimidation against Jews, most notably, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_21st-century_France">France</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_the_United_Kingdom">the UK</a>, and other European countries. A <a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/culture/article/hitlers_e_book_blitzkreig">statistical analysis</a> has shown that 150 million people across Europe have serious anti-semitic views or a "demonic view" of Israel. The new anti-Semitism stems from the far right (authoritarianists, anti-communists, nativists, and fascists), the political left, and a <b>growing Muslim population</b> in these countries.<br />
<br />
Even in peaceful Canada, there have been riots and violence against Jews and non-Jewish supporters of Israel. In Calgary the other day, hundreds of Muslims and non-Muslim Jew-haters <a href="http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/featured/prime-time/867432237001/anti-israel-rallies-spark-violence-across-canada/3689511026001/page/2">rioted "peacefully"</a> right before they attacked the group of a dozen or so pro-Israel protestors. No police were present and it almost escaped the attention of the media.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world today. It is estimated that 15-25% of those Muslims are radical, according to all intelligence sources around the world. That means, mathematically, that 180-300 MILLION Muslims are radical, dedicated to the destruction of democracy and Western civilization. That's as many people as occupy our United States of America.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Let me repeat this. These 180-300 million people dedicate their lives and deaths to murdering and mutilating YOU, the infidel.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
According to the Qu'ran, they believe that men are worth more than women... in inheritance (4:11, 4:176), in court testimony (2:282), purity (5:6), dominion over the body (2:223), wife to husband ratio (4:3), sex slaves (4:24, 33:50), and more. This is supported by the Hadith, the record of the sayings of their prophet Mohammed, which supplements the Qu'ran.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Women are not alone. Muslims also look down upon homosexuals, Christians, hypocrites (those who claim to be Muslim but are not radical enough), and, of course, Jews.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Do not think that you will be spared.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Oh ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty." </b>-Qu'ran, Sura 9:123.</blockquote>
<div>
They are encouraged to lay low, to lie to non-believers, to gain in numbers until such a time when they can take over. This is how they work. We can now see that their hard work and patience is paying off. Look at France where synagogues are burned. Look at Chicago where tens of thousands march in support of Hamas and their murderous methods. Look at Ann Arbor - where pro-"Palestinian" rallies and take place and people are afraid to act. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It will only increase. Keep your eyes open and do not blind yourself to what is happening. The war has begun. Jewish, not Jewish. White, Black, Yellow, Purple. Heterosexual, homosexual. If you aren't a radical Muslim, YOU are the infidel. YOU are their enemy. Be prepared to fight.</div>
Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-66069328362484178302013-12-24T13:50:00.002-05:002013-12-24T13:50:52.747-05:00Freedom of Speech: Your First Amendment<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." -Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The First Amendment to the Constitution was adopted on December 15, 1791, and it applies to laws enacted by Congress as well as the fifty states through the 14th Amendment. It does NOT apply from one individual to another or one individual to a company/employer.<br /><br /> Here's a very brief understanding of your 'freedom of speech' rights:<br /><ul>
<li><b>Political speech</b> is protected: "...freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government." --Justice Brandeis (minority opinion) </li>
<li><b>Desecration of the flag</b>: You can burn the American flag (though in my personal opinion, you shouldn't): "...if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable." --Justice Brennan, Jr., <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._Johnson">Texas v. Johnson</a>. </li>
<li><b>Commercial speech</b> (speech done on behalf of a company or individual for the purpose of making a profit) doesn't get full protection under the First Amendment. It is more interested in avoiding fraud than anything else. </li>
<li><b>School speech</b>: Students in school have certain speech rights as well. A school cannot restrict symbolic speech that does not "materially and substantially" interrupt school activities, according to Justice Fortas. "[S]chools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. School officials do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students ... are possessed of fundamental rights which the State must respect, just as they themselves must respect their obligations to the State." --<a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/393/503">Tinker v. Des Moines.</a></li>
<li><b>Obscenity and pornography</b> is a completely different issue, and their definitions have changed over time. That's a fun topic for another blog. </li>
<li><b>Defamation</b> (slander/libel): Consists of actionable words that are false, articulated to a third person (whether by writing or in speech), not subject to legal protection, and motivated by malice. The malice standard differs for public figures in that it requires actual malice (knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not).</li>
</ul>
</span><ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">In the recent uproar over Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson's comments and his employer A&E, people have claimed that his first amendment rights have been curtailed. This could not be further from the truth. If you are unfamiliar with the facts, here's a brief recap:</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">Phil Robertson, in a <a href="http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson">GQ interview</a>, expressed his biblical views on homosexuals, sin, and morality. I can't imagine that anyone was surprised that he held these views. He's a very old-fashioned, redneck Southerner, familiar with the Bible. He is not ignorant; he has a Master's Degree in Education. He quoted the New Testament's views on homosexuality and sin. Anyone familiar with the New Testament, again, shouldn't be surprised.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">As a result of his comments and pressure from gay rights organizations, his employer, A&E has put him on permanent suspension. Critics are claiming that Robertson's freedom of speech rights are being crushed by A&E, but they are ignorant of the law. And while Robertson's comments were made on his own time and quoted the New Testament, he still represents A&E, and it is their <i>choice</i> to react (or not react) to his behavior.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me be clear: I have never watched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Dynasty">Duck Dynasty</a>. It's not my idea of entertainment. I'm coming at this from a purely ignorant point of view, so to speak. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But if someone is going to form an opinion on what should or should not be done in this particular (or similar situation), they should do so with <i>knowledge and fairness</i>. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Facts:</u></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Phil Robertson made his remarks on his own personal time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In some respect, Robertson represents A&E (as employees represent their employers).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Phil Robertson was closely quoting the New Testament.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Laws do not protect our feelings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Employers are allowed to do whatever they want when employees behave in a certain way (provided it's not illegal).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is not a 1st Amendment issue; it's an employment issue.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In truth, this could have gone either way... Either the way it went OR A&E <i>could</i> have chosen to view Robertson's statements as what they were, his personal religious views (to which people are entitled) and to support his right to hold those opinions. They could have rejected the pressure from outside groups and stood up for each individual's right to possess a personal belief. If they were truly worried about public opinion, they simply could have released a statement saying that Robertson's views do not represent the views of the station, but that they support an individual's right to a personal belief. <u>Done.</u></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone on this planet is different. That's what makes our society an interesting place! As long as someone's belief and opinion does not infringe on another's rights or safety, that belief and opinion shouldn't be restricted. I shouldn't have to fear or be ashamed of my beliefs. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With that in mind, A&E retains the right to do what it wants in response to Robertson's actions, but it shouldn't have been pressured to act one way or another. I understand that perhaps the point of the pressure was to promote tolerance, but instead of doing that, this has instead been a forced silencing of personal opinion and differences to which we are, and should be, entitled. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Whether or not each of us agrees with Robertson and the New Testament is irrelevant. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If Robertson isn't allowed to have and express his opinion on his own time, what's to stop another group/company/government organization from suppressing <i>our</i> personal belief and opinion (popular or unpopular as they may be)?</span></div>
Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-39927325376448496102013-10-13T17:16:00.001-04:002013-10-13T17:17:59.173-04:00A joyous birthday to America's Navy: A Global Force for Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_yUoGgswHZEH209u2q808TP80aPp6L14ihYX7GtsHsRpQiBooyGz8Q4TVAg_2fIdF_RDVhtguAAHcvDHhWyy13b-UkMdeoz3EHqlG9jAyFpIUoMKpPCV5qw1ZvaEl70-HEl7n09d3Fur/s1600/US-DeptOfNavy-Seal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_yUoGgswHZEH209u2q808TP80aPp6L14ihYX7GtsHsRpQiBooyGz8Q4TVAg_2fIdF_RDVhtguAAHcvDHhWyy13b-UkMdeoz3EHqlG9jAyFpIUoMKpPCV5qw1ZvaEl70-HEl7n09d3Fur/s320/US-DeptOfNavy-Seal.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day,
that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definite, and with it,
everything honorable and glorious.” – <i>George Washington</i></blockquote>
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October 13<sup>th </sup>commemorates the birthday of the
United States Navy, 238 years ago today. It was founded in 1775, before the
official birth of our country.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy">US Navy</a> traces it origins to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Navy">Continental Navy</a>, which
the Continental Congress established on this day over 200 years ago, by
authorizing the procurements, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two (yes,
two) armed vessels to cruise around in search of munitions ships supplying the
British Army in America. The legislation also established a Naval Committee to
supervise the work. Over the course of the Revolution, the Continental Navy
numbered about 50 ships, with approximately 20 warships active at its maximum
strength. It was disbanded at the end of the war.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Constitution, ratified in 1789, empowered Congress “to
provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress ordered the
construction and manning of six frigates in 1794 and the War Department
administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the
Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Today, the US Navy has exceeded its modest roots by now
being larger than the next thirteen largest navies (combined in terms of battle
fleet tonnage). It also has the world’s largest carrier fleet, with ten in
service, one under construction (two planned), and two in reserve. The service
has over 317,000 personnel on active duty and over 100,000 in the Navy Reserve.
It operates 285 ships in active service and more than 3,700 aircraft.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The US Navy is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-water_navy">blue-water navy</a> (a maritime force capable
of operating across the deep waters of open oceans) able to project force onto
the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward areas during peacetime,
and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it an active player in US
foreign and defense policy.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The mission of the United States Navy is to protect and
defend the right of the United States and our allies to move freely on the
oceans and to protect our country against her enemies.” – <i>New Recruits Handbook</i></blockquote>
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The Navy’s three primary areas of responsibility are: </div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The preparation of naval forces necessary for
the effective prosecution of war;</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The maintenance of naval aviation, including
land-based naval aviation, air transport essential for naval operations and all
air weapons and air techniques involved in the operations and activities of the
Navy; and</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The development of aircraft, weapons, tactics,
technique, organization, and equipment of naval combat and service elements.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>In 2007, the US Navy joined with the US Marine Corps and US
Coast Guard to adopt a new maritime strategy called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cooperative_Strategy_for_21st_Century_Seapower">A Cooperative Strategy for21st Century Seapower</a> that raises the notion of prevention of war to
the same philosophical level as the conduct of war. The new strategy charts a
course for the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps to work collectively with
each other and international partners to prevent crises (man made or natural)
from occurring or reacting quickly should one occur to prevent negative impacts
on the United States.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> There is so much history to our US Navy, and so many positive things that it provides (and can provide to its soldiers)... Check out the <a href="http://www.navy.com/about.html">official website</a> for more information, and if you're interested in signing up, just click <a href="http://www.navy.com/careers.html">here</a>! </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES NAVY.</o:p></div>
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Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-38702620327928748612013-09-18T12:14:00.001-04:002013-09-18T12:16:19.831-04:00Happy Birthday, United States Air Force!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-qgFOK-SX3d0nZwF5ZAqi-3ONWvlDmrU3pfPyFF7kpgjGC_uP64Ni9MPj22IM8SJInaJPbi3t7gglLjkwhkdbFOjUKyaKZdTj_koBiH1hpuylyKceoVMiYocfMiT5PqH9YRkyQEzfy4b/s1600/AirForceLogo-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-qgFOK-SX3d0nZwF5ZAqi-3ONWvlDmrU3pfPyFF7kpgjGC_uP64Ni9MPj22IM8SJInaJPbi3t7gglLjkwhkdbFOjUKyaKZdTj_koBiH1hpuylyKceoVMiYocfMiT5PqH9YRkyQEzfy4b/s320/AirForceLogo-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Today, in 1947, our <a href="http://www.airforce.com/learn-about/our-mission/">United States Air Force (USAF)</a> was created (through the National Security Act of 1947).<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Air_Force#cite_ref-AF_Welcome_8-0">USAF</a> is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States military and one of the seven American branches of <a href="http://forloveoftheusa.blogspot.com/2010/11/proud-to-be-american.html">armed forces</a>. It is the youngest branch, but also one of the most technologically advanced in the world.<br />
<br />
The Air Force is a military service within the Department of the Air Force, one of three departments within the Department of Defense. The USAF is headed by a civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In general the United States Air Force shall include aviation forces both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat">combat</a> and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war.</i> -National Security Act, 1947.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The purpose of the USAF is to preserve the peace and security, and provide for the defense, of the United States, the Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States; to support national policy; to implement national objectives; to overcome any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States.</i> -§8062 of Title 10 U.S. Code</blockquote>
<div>
The stated mission of the USAF today is to "fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace." That's right, cyberspace as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The USAF takes great pride in its creativity, air shows, technology and engineering, science, and holds <a href="http://www.airforce.com/learn-about/events/">events</a> regularly around the country.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of the USAF's most exciting and coolest interests is its <a href="http://www.airforce.com/learn-about/stem/">science</a>! It works with lasers, micro air vehicles, g-forces, remotely piloted aircraft, GPS and satellites, supersonic and other forces in flights, and more. In addition, the <a href="http://www.wpafb.af.mil/AFRL/">Air Force Research Laboratory</a> is constantly discovering and developing new war-fighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The USAF doesn't also work for our great country; it also <a href="http://www.airforce.com/learn-about/humanitarian-efforts/">serves mankind</a>. It helps assist in humanitarian crises via air deliveries, fire response, goodwill, and more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The United States Air Force may be less than 70 years old, but it has accomplished quite a bit in its time. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIR FORCE!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-38984289214090981392013-09-17T21:14:00.001-04:002013-09-17T21:14:15.719-04:00The Guardians of Humanity<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Human rights are commonly understood to be inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because he or she is a human being.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
The <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/AboutCouncil.aspx">United Nations Human Rights Council</a> is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/CurrentMembers.aspx">47 States</a> responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"All victims of human rights abuses should be able to look to the Human Rights Council as a forum and a springboard for action."</i> -Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, 12 March 2007, Opening of the 4th Human Rights Council Session</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Apparently, the UN has decided that the topic of human rights is important. Sadly, this is as good as it gets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Here's a closer, cursory look at the 47 wonderful and humane State members of this "Human Rights Council."</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>The Worst Offenders</u></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.globalissues.org/article/88/sierra-leone" style="font-weight: bold;">Sierra Leone</a>, a country who went through a horrific <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Civil_War">civil war</a> from 1991 to 2002, leaving 50,000 dead, over one million displaced, using large quantities of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_soldiers">child soldiers</a>. The Revolutionary United Front committed horrendous abuses, including rapes, limb amputation, and more. In 1999, the UN brokered a peace deal, but even that came under serious scrutiny because it gave amnesty to the rebel forces for their grotesque human rights violations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<b>Congo</b>, another member of the HR Council, went through a civil war as well. More than <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/world/africa/23congo.html?ref=congothedemocraticrepublicof">5-6 million people died since the civil war began</a> in 1998 (nearly half the dead younger than 5 years old). If that weren't bad enough, UN peacekeepers themselves weren't interested in doing the job their name implied. Three years ago, there were <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/world/africa/04congo.html?ref=congothedemocraticrepublicof">mass rapes</a> taking place in Congo just up the road from those "peacekeepers." Nothing was done. Why didn't <i>that</i> qualify as violations of human rights? We'll discuss that later. Another good question: Why is this extremely guilty country on the UN Human Rights Council? Sorry. I can't help you with that one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<b>Uganda</b>, another of the 47 members, is the home of the Lord's Resistance Army and the infamous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kony">Joseph Kony</a>. The LRA's "ranks are filled with boys who have been brainwashed to burn down huts and pound newborn babies to death in wooden mortars, as if they were grinding grain" (according to Jeffrey Gettleman, <u>The Perfect Weapon for the Meanest Wars</u>, <i>New York Times</i>, 29 April 2007). How pleasantly appropriate for the UN Human Rights Council.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.8125px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.8125px;">In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cote_d%27Ivoire#2011_Civil_War"><b>Ivory Coast</b></a>, yet another member, the 2010 presidential election led to the 2010-2011 Ivorian crisis and the Second Ivorian Civil War. International organizations reported numerous human rights violations on both sides. In the first civil war, in 2002, child soldiers were used, often forcibly, by both sides.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.8125px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.8125px;"><b>Libya, </b>a vacation destination in Northern Africa, saw such terrible human rights violations that their rights as a member of the UN Human Rights Council were suspended from March 2011 - November 2011. It was so bad that Libya's own UN delegation urged the UN to kick them out. Makes me wonder; if Libya's own delegation hadn't done so, the UN likely would never have done anything at all because...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.8125px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.8125px;"><b>Switzerland</b>, one of our illustrious 47, has nominated Jean Ziegler, co-founder of the "Moammar Qaddafi Human Rights Prize," for the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, to represent the Western group (election scheduled for September 27, 2013). He has publicly endorsed such infamous a**holes as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro">Fidel Castro</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mugabe">Robert Mugabe</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez">Hugo Chavez</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam">Colonel Mengistu</a>, and other repressive rulers. Impressive, especially because we, in the West, always consider Switzerland as one of the 'good guys.' If you want to take action and oppose this election (as well you should), you can complete <a href="http://www.unwatch.org/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.1288071/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?aid=5863">the form on this page</a>. Perhaps someone will listen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">In the </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">Philippines</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">, children are recruited by rebel forces (MILF, ASG, NPA, acronyms explained below), but it is also reported that the government (Armed Forces of the Philippines) uses them in paramilitary units. It is known, even by the UN, that the rebel forces </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">and</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;"> the government subjects these kids to the most brutal violence, including killings, maimings, rapes, and other sexual assaults and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_National_Liberation_Front#Terrorism_and_Human_rights_issues" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">human rights issues</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">"There is a United Nations Security Council Report in 23 April 2010 that says that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF, yes, MILF), Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), New People's Army (NPA), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are among the groups around the world that recruit and use children. In the report, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is not mentioned as a human rights violator.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.8125px;">In a separate corroborating report, the State Department of the United States of America also had a 2009 Human Rights Report and it has never mentioned MNLF as a violator.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On 28 October 2011, the Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo admitted that some members of the Abu Sayyaf are related to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and even government officials."</span></blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm sure I could go into more detail about the 47 member States and their impressive human rights history, but that would turn this blog into a novel (as if it isn't approaching that already). There's no need. The two questions remain the same: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) Why are the aforementioned countries members of the UN Human Rights Council? </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) Why is the UN only now looking into </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Syria</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for its human rights violations, especially when </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_violations_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">both sides (government and rebel forces) have been accused</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of gross, systematic, and wide-scale violations of human rights?</span></blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For as smart and clever as I am, I cannot explain or shed light into the thought processes of the UN. Perhaps they felt there were just too many offenders to have a truly humanitarian Human Rights Council. Or maybe, as I believe, they just don't give a crap and so remain intentionally blindly ignorant. As such, I'll stick to Question #2. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Why Syria? Why now?</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Russia</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Russia has never stopped being a communist country (though now I suppose it might qualify as pseudo-communist), and with our crazy ex-KGB <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin">Vladimir Putin</a> in charge, he wants to become a super power again. He has gotten our attention and wants to remind us that he's a Someone we should all be worried about. We need to remember that he is no one's friend, least of all the U.S. or Israel's.<br /><br />Putin has been angling for the power card for a while now. From 2000-2010 Russia sold $1.5 billion (with a "B") worth of weaponry to its ally Syria, making Damascus its 7th largest client. During the Syrian civil war, Russia threatened to veto any sanctions against the Syrian government (yes, they do have veto power) and continued to supply them with arms.<br /><br /> Some may argue that Russia is concerned about an Syrian overthrow further destabilizing the region which may then affect them, but it's more realistic to remember that Syria is in the heart of the Middle East and Russia has had four decades supporting the Assad regime. Further, Putin's tactics seem to be succeeding. Obama has capitulated and is letting Putin run the show. Somehow, we are supposed to trust that Russia, who has a long-term relationship with Syria and supplied them with billions of dollars in weapons, will finally force their customer to dispose of the weapons they just purchased because of the September 14, 2013 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framework_For_Elimination_of_Syrian_Chemical_Weapons">Framework For Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><br /></span><div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chemical weapons</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other countries, as mentio</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ned above, have horrendous human rights violations (note that I only mentioned member States, not countries who have had violations but aren't currently Human Rights Council members), but they haven't been threatened with invasion and attack by the US or UN. This is because the violations in those countries were done the 'old-fashioned' way, so to speak (say, with machetes and such). The murders and attacks were not considered as brutal or cruel as those conducted by chemical weapons, which can be considered a weapon of mass destruction (though in a separate class from biological weapons, nuclear weapons, or radiological weapons). </span><div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We aren't talking about your run-of-the-mill mass murder... Chemical weapons are so brutal to the human body that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_Weapons_Convention">Chemical Weapons Convention</a> (CWC), held in 1993, made a legally bin</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ding worldwide ban on the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical w</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">eapons and their precursors, and international law has prohibited them since 1899, under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Conventions_of_1899_and_1907">Hague Convention</a>: Article 23.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">98% of the world has signed, if not ratified, the CWC. Conveniently, Syria was one of only seven s</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tates in the world who weren't a signatory (until they were forced to several days ago), though it was a party to the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_Geneva_Protocol" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1925 Geneva Protocol </a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">prohibiting the use of chemical weapons (but is silent about production, storage, or transfer of them-- I guess they didn't have lawyers back then).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Racism</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />For as far as we have come in this world, I believe that the UN and others feel, though won't admit, tha</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">t Blacks are less human/humane than others. That's why there was, and still is, a delay in doing anything of significance in the African countries where human rights violations and atrocities are being committed daily. Some may claim that we only go into Arab countries because it's an oil issue, but diamonds, timber, and chocolate, all vital goods that the US and the world need/want, are all produced in Africa.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No. As unpopular and controversial as this may be to put in writing, I sadly believe that the crux of the matter is that the UN, European, and Arab countries feel that Africans are more tribal than organized and that, therefore, African countries are merely glorified tribes. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">UN logic is that the Black Africans will continue to kill each other so there is no reason for the UN to go in and interfere unless it becomes so excessively brutal that they can literally no longer ignore </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it (e.g. against Liberia for the blood diamonds or Sudan, where it took the UN and International Criminal Court 16 years to step in, and immeasurable numbers of </span><a href="http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/genocide-in-sudan.htm" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Darfuris are still suffering even today</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br />Though the Arabs are also of darker skin, they are viewed to be slightly more civilized than the Africans, and therefore, able to be manipulated (since that's what the UN tries to do </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">anyway).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Israel</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Israel isn't truly a reason but I wanted to address it since some might assume otherwise. Other than American news sources making the claim, there is no documentation proving that Israel actually asked for US assistance. In fact, Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador to Washington, emphasized that Israel was not pressuring or even recommending that the US engage militarily in Syria.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Israel and the United States are sovereign countries, and whether it’s with Syria or Iran, each country has the right to determine how best to act and defend itself,” Oren said. “I think it’s important to point out that Israel has a different red line than the United States.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu has stated that Israel’s red line is any attempt by Syria to transfer chemical or other game-changing weapons to Hezbollah. That is our red line, and we stand by it.” </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-</span><a href="http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Steinitz-Israel-didnt-ask-for-US-help-in-Syria-311372" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sam Sokol, Michael Wilner; "Steinitz: Israel Didn't Ask For US Help in Syria."</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Jerusalem Post, 4/28/2013.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Additionally, Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz asserted that Israel never asked the US to take military action in Syria, "never asked and never encouraged the US to take military action." Id.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In that same article, Steinitz was quoted as saying that he has had to deal with categorically untrue statements from American outlets such as the NY Times and NBC News that Israel </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was encouraging action.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Conclusion</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />It's really too bad that the Human Rights Council is a joke (not surprising, though, since it is a outshoot of the UN). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It permits the very same human rights violators to be the watchdogs over other human rights violator countries, does a less-than-stellar job of watching over the countries who everyone knows is murdering and torturing its own citizens, and picks and chooses who it's going to "help" next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It sets no bar for respectful countries to surpass (or even reach) and even allows so-called Western countries to make proposals that are laughable, at best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Logic dictates that we wait it out and see how well the UN (or rather, Russia and the US) does with Syria. Then again, I haven't really been impressed with the UN's past track record, who they trust, or who they enlist as guardians of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately, with this type of organization in charge, there's no reason to hope that the situation in Syria will turn out positively.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-13063107115632660452012-12-20T16:50:00.000-05:002012-12-20T16:50:39.293-05:00Proper Focus is Key<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a rough week for Americans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately, when a tragedy occurs (especially one that
involves children), we want to do something to prevent it from happening again.
Americans are fixers. This time is no different, but we have wrongly identified
the problem that needs to be solved. It doesn’t help that the media
sensationalizes the murderer, and it doesn’t help that we haven’t been focusing
on the victims, or on the mental health aspect of these instances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All states have laws in place that make it unlawful for
certain individuals to acquire and possess guns. The <a href="http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/connecticut.aspx">laws in Connecticut</a>, for
example, state that a person must be twenty-one years of age to possess a
handgun; that it is unlawful to possess a handgun by a person who has been
convicted of a felony; convicted as a delinquent of a serious juvenile offense
which includes illegal possession of a controlled substance, negligent homicide,
third degree assault, first degree reckless endangerment, second degree
unlawful restraint, rioting, or second degree stalking; discharged from custody
within the preceding 20 years after acquittal by reason of mental disease or
defect; confined by court order for mental illness within the preceding 12
months; subject to a restraining or protective order involving physical force;
or an illegal alien. It is unlawful to possess any other firearm by a person
who has been convicted of a felony.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each state has comparable laws in place, but they do not
affect how criminals and bad guys obtain their weapons, and never will. Perhaps
<i>those</i> laws have to be harsher, but
punishing law-abiding citizens and preventing them from obtaining guns so that
they may defend themselves and loved ones is simply not the solution.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of arguing about our country’s problems, debating
what they might be, and using the deaths of small innocent children to push
through restrictive laws, we should be focusing on finding a solution, both for
schools and other public areas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teachers have always had a challenging job. Not only do they
have to educate our children, but they are also responsible for keeping them
safe. Principals and superintendants have the most pressure and the most
children to watch over. One small town in Texas, Harrold, has found a <a href="http://www.policeone.com/rural-law-enforcement/articles/6070647-Texas-town-allows-teachers-to-carry-concealed-guns/">solution</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since it’s so small, the nearest sheriff’s office is thirty
minutes away, much too long if something evil happens. They don’t have the
money for a security guard either.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, the school board voted to let teachers bring guns
to school. Their teachers aren’t just anyone. They have master’s degrees, are
older, have extensive training, and their guns are hidden. Normally, Texas law
bans guns in school unless the school has given written authorization. In 2007,
Harrold’s school board voted unanimously to allow employees to carry weapons.
After obtaining their state concealed-weapons permit, each employee who wants
to carry a weapon must be approved by the school board based on his or her
personality and reaction to a crisis. This is a strict standard, and it
continues. Employees must also undergo training in crisis intervention and
hostage situations and must use bullets that minimize the risk of ricochet
(similar to the ones used by air marshals on planes).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Harrold, Texas is not alone. Superintendant David Thweatt
stated that there are other Texas schools that allow teachers to carry weapons,
but would not reveal their locations due to negative publicity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Texas solution is a smart one. It allows the teachers
and administrators to protect their students and provides them with training so
that they may do so. Most parents would do anything to protect their children,
and want to be able to trust other adults to do the same. They want responsible
and trained individuals to be watchdogs for their little loved ones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is important for administrators and principals to be able
to protect their wards. Principals and vice-principals should be encouraged to
go a step further and either carry weapons (and undergo training) or persuade
interested teachers to do the same. Superintendants should be looking into
similar solutions for their districts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rep. Mark McCullough of Oklahoma is working on a bill that
would allow teachers and administrators to receive firearm training through the
<a href="http://www.ok.gov/cleet/">Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Richard Fairburn<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4718028080916298945#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--></span></a>
suggested <a href="http://www.policeone.com/active-shooter/articles/6067353-Newtown-shooting-Why-Minutemen-can-protect-against-active-shooters/">another solution</a>, which can complement the above policy. While there
simply aren’t sufficient policemen or military personnel to provide each school
system with an armed guard, there is a no-cost solution available: Minutemen,
defined as “an organization of citizens with limited military training who are
available for emergency service, usually for local defense.” According to
Fairburn, Minutemen must be exempted from every geographic restriction placed
on those who currently carry concealed weapons since virtually every mass
killing in recent history has occurred in a “gun-free zone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fairburn lists three different categories of Minutemen: (1)
former law enforcement officers; (2) retired military personnel; and (3)
honest, armed citizens. This opens it up to hundreds of thousands of volunteers
who would selflessly give their time (and lives) to serve and protect our next
generation – and would do so at a moment’s notice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These proposals will not deter opponents of the Second
Amendment or eliminate fear. People still have doubts that more armed people,
even trained ones, will equal more injuries and deaths. However, doubts can be
eliminated, or at least seriously reduced, with extensive training and
responsible guards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s sad that it has come to this, and nothing is guaranteed,
but it’s better to be prepared and trained than it is to be ignorant and
fearful. Let’s protect our little ones and our public with more than just hopes
and wishes. Let’s teach them that we love them and care for their safety. Let’s
find and utilize reliable solutions first, so that we can then have breathing
room to address the real problems and not the guns.</div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4718028080916298945#_ftnref" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Richard Fairburn has more
than 30 years of law enforcement experience in both Illinois and Wyoming,
working patrol, investigations and administrative assignments. Richard has also
served as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst and as the Section Chief of a major
academy’s Firearms Training Unit and Critical Incident training program. He has
a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University and
was the Valedictorian of his recruit class at the Illinois State Police
Academy. He has published more than 100 feature articles and two books: Police
Rifles and Building a Better Gunfighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-10316568339509999462012-06-07T00:16:00.000-04:002012-06-07T00:18:28.673-04:00The Hell of D-DayYesterday was June 6, 2012, the 68-year anniversary of D-Day, the day during the Second World War where Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which "we will accept nothing less than full victory." More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the invasion. While casualties were high (and the number is still disputed), more than 100,000 soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx0syonEt2Gq7vvt71J7rVp1jnvvRk6-KRscoCi5aQtxMU6wa05oBcx4eMcFoVchsG94JJoZDsUJF4ZDt_2-j0n1Lqd4VW8aSs9lgOEXpne6ZRZDx6lsazOZdREIizy_rLRtd3SvSN1R4/s1600/Into+the+jaws+of+death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx0syonEt2Gq7vvt71J7rVp1jnvvRk6-KRscoCi5aQtxMU6wa05oBcx4eMcFoVchsG94JJoZDsUJF4ZDt_2-j0n1Lqd4VW8aSs9lgOEXpne6ZRZDx6lsazOZdREIizy_rLRtd3SvSN1R4/s320/Into+the+jaws+of+death.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are about to embark upon the great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. -General Dwight D. Eisenhower</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Normandy landings, nicknamed <i>Operation Neptune,</i> commenced on Tuesday, June 6, 1944. The landings took place along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Operation Neptune ended on June 30, 1944, and by that time, the Allies established a firm foothold in Normandy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall, the 2nd Army contingent (which invaded Sword Beach, Gold Beach, and Juno Beach) consisted of 83,115 troops (61,715 British). The First Army contingent (which invaded Omaha and Utah Beaches) totalled approximately 73,000 men, including 15,600 from the airborne divisions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The German defenses used an interlocking firing style, had large bunkers, including intricate concrete ones containing machine guns and large-caliber weapons. Their defense integrated the cliffs and hills overlooking the beaches, and these defenses were all built and refined over a four year period.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The most commonly known aspect of the attack was the invasion of Omaha Beach, but the entire attack by the Allies was "a never surpassed masterpiece of planning." There was an invasion fleet drawn from eight different navies (out of the 2,468 major landing vessels in the two task forces, only 346 were American) and there were 195,700 naval personnel involved. Operation Neptune addressed German naval threats, air surveillance, and provided supporting fire for the land forces (to suppress shore defenses and to break up enemy concentrations). There were airborne operations which were used to seize key objectives, to ease the egress of amphibious forces off the beaches, and to neutralize German coastal defense batteries and more quickly expand the area of the beachhead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Juno Beach</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Canadian forces that landed on Juno Beach faced two heavy batteries of 155mm guns and 9 medium batteries of 75mm guns, as well as machine gun nests, pillboxes, other concrete fortifications, and a seawall twice the height of the one at Omaha Beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first wave suffered 50% casualties, the second highest of the five D-Day beachheads.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By the end of D-Day, 30,000 Canadians had been successfully landed, and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had penetrated further into France than any other Allied force.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gold Beach</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">25,000 men landed and the casualties were quite heavy, but the 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division overcame these difficulties and advanced almost to the outskirts of Bayeux by the end of the day. With the exception of the above Canadians, no division came closer to its objectives than the 50th.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Omaha Beach</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Omaha Beach was the most heavily fortified beach, with high bluffs defended by funneled mortars, machine guns, and artillery, and the pre-landing aerial and naval bombardment of the bunkers proved to be ineffective. They had difficulties in navigation, causing heavy casualties in tanks, infantry, and engineers. Of the 16 tanks that landed, only two survived the landing. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Within ten minutes of the ramps being lowered, [the leading] company had become inert, leaderless and almost incapable action. Every officer and sergeant had been killed or wounded... It had become a struggle for survival and rescue.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">American casualties at Omaha on D-Day numbered around 5,000 out of 50,000, most in the first few hours, while the Germans suffered 1,200 killed, wounded, or missing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointe du Hoc</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The massive concrete cliff-top gun emplacement was the target of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and their task was to scale the 30 meter cliffs under the cover of night in order to attack and destroy the German coastal defense guns, which were thought to command the Omaha and Utah landing areas. The Rangers were eventually successful and captured the fortifications, but then had to fight for two days to hold the location, losing more than 60% of their men.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Utah Beach</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Casualties on this beach (the westernmost landing zone) were the lightest of any beach, with 197 lost out of 23,000 troops that landed. This was due primarily to a current that pushed their landing craft to the southeast, to Victor sector, a light defended German location. By early afternoon, the 4th Infantry Division had succeeded in linking up with elements of the 101st.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Revised estimates of deaths are 4,414 Allied dead (2,499 American and 1,915 other Allied dead). But these numbers do not tell the story of the hell these soldiers went through in order to defeat Hitler and Nazi Germany.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I thought were piles of cordwood I later learned were the bodies of 2500 men, killed by withering fire from the Nazi gun emplacements built into the cliff. -Tracy Sugarman</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And I heard this shell coming in. And I knew, although I had never heard one before, I knew what it was. And I rolled over on my side and it exploded, and I jumped up to run for a fox hole. And I didn't know that Germans shot more than one shell at a time, and there was another one right behind it that was covered up from the sound of the first one going off. And when that one exploded, it jarred me real, real bad, and I was completely numb all over. I could not feel anything. And I jumped into the fox hole and I looked down, and the back of my hand was all covered with blood. And I couldn't -- since I couldn't feel anything, I had to feel my hand to see where I had been hit, but I couldn't feel any place where it was torn or anything. And I tried to realize that maybe I brushed my hand against my leg, and I felt that leg and I was all right. And then I saw that the blood was running off my nose, then that really scared me because I didn't know how much of my face was gone. But I got out of it pretty good. Very, very lucky. -William Jennings Arnett</blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even the soldiers who escaped physical harm came home with mental and emotional scars. Their families and loved ones suffered with them. For being the greatest generation and saving the world from Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler, please take the time to thank a vet (or their family for making the sacrifice). As the days march on, fewer of our WWII vets remain. Take the time to learn about our heroes and what they went through. It's the least we can do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>For more information on this historic WWII Operation, please check out the following sites:</i></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The American Experience: D-Day</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/00/a4182400.shtml"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WWII Memories: D-Day</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/onthebeach.html"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Library of Congress: Memories of D-Day</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Normandy Landings</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.army.mil/d-day/"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Army: D-Day</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.army.mil/d-day/resources.html"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">US Army: D-Day Resources</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-27251956919049489412012-06-05T17:15:00.003-04:002012-06-05T23:40:38.410-04:00What's wrong with having children?This article is written at the risk of insulting some of my closest friends, but since they know me well, they know that it is <i>not</i> meant as an insult or as a passed judgment. It is a curiosity on my part, something I do not understand but want to. Despite my lack of understanding, I have and will always accept an individual's personal choices (as I would hope people accept mine). Please understand... Having kids is a heavy choice, and if you don't want them, I respect your choice and perhaps it's better that you not have them if you don't want them... I'm just trying to understand.<br />
<br />
I know of three amazing (married) couples who are fantastic people, individually and as a couple. They are strong, intelligent, patient, talented people who would put their lives on the line for me (and some do, in the military) if it were necessary. I consider them some of my closest friends, people who make the world a better and safer place. We are better off because they are in our generation, and yet, these are people who have decided to not have children. It makes me wonder what kind of awesomeness I/we are missing out on. I don't understand this logic.<br />
<br />
There are so many individuals in this world who should not be procreating, and yet, not only have kids, but have a plethora of them. Seriously. You probably know some of them. Why then do the smart, industrious citizens choose to deprive the world of their next generation of goodness?<br />
<br />
It reminds me of the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/">Idiocracy</a>, an admittedly stupid movie, but one that makes a good point. If the dumb people keep having children and the intelligent, well-educated people have one (or fewer), we will quickly be outnumbered by the idiots. Where will the world be? Where is the world now?<br />
<br />
Perhaps it is a regional issue. At first thought, I feel that midwesterners tend to have more children than New Yorkers or Californians. My voluntarily childless friends, however, are from Michigan. This <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/10/21/cities-where-women-are-having-the-most-babies">US News article</a> found that more women in the Western United States are having children (Utah, California, and Nevada being the highest). There goes that theory.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it is the cost of children. The same article mentions that the birth rate declined with the economic downturn. Granted, kids are expensive. Diapers, food, and schooling are just some of the costs associated with having children. But they provide so many positives in life that I feel those outweigh the negatives or difficulties of having them. Additionally, there are so many other things in life on which we throw money away, why shouldn't we use the money as an investment in the next generation and in the planet? Speaking of the planet...<br />
<br />
Perhaps it is a matter of being too scared of the world to bring children into it. True enough, the planet, the economics, and the politics strike fear into our hearts. Countries getting the nuclear bomb, clashes between nations, drug and alcohol issues, bullies... from the local to the international, there is plenty to keep us on our toes. But if you do a good job raising your kids, making sure you keep them aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly about society, they can make a difference. They can shine a light and a beacon in this otherwise dark world, a light that we all desperately need.<br />
<br />
Religion does play a role in families having children (think Catholics, Orthodox Jews, Muslims, and Mormons), as does ethnicity. Hispanics and African-Americans are having the most children. Perhaps they (as well as the religious) understand the value of children more than the rest of us?<br />
<br />
The scariest (inverse) correlation is the one that involves education and fertility. The more education, the fewer children. Period.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The US News article explains.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Likewise, education and fertility are inversely related; more educated populations tend to delay childbearing in favor of school. For example, for many highly educated people, the ages of 18 to 22 are devoted to college, not starting a family. "Highly educated people, they get out of college, they have jobs, and then they have families. So the timing is being pushed. ... They're likely to have children at later ages," says Qian, meaning a smaller window for having children and therefore potentially smaller families. The Northeast tends to have more college- and advanced-degree holders than the rest of the country, which may also account for lower fertility rates in many northeastern cities.</blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Think about that. What that means is that our horror flick, Idiocracy, isn</span>'t that far off the mark.</div>
<br />
I admit that I am somewhat guilty of this phenomenon. I am 34 years old, I have my B.A. in English, my J.D., and I have been practicing business and bankruptcy law for almost six years. The difference is that I never intended to delay getting married and having children. I have been looking for the right guy for me; it just took me a little longer to find him. With him, I want at least four kids (we'll see what nature and G-d have in mind for me). I figure that since I'm going to have cute, smart, and well-behaved children, I want to have as many as possible. My family, my neighborhood, my country, and the world will benefit.<br />
<br />
Perhaps, above all else, that's the issue, at least for women. Education is so highly valued and demanded nowadays (and it is readily available to us) that we believe we have a smaller selection of qualified males from which to choose (I believe the "pussification of America" is also an issue, though I'll save that for another article). We don't want to settle and our careers are important to us. We want to make a mark in this world. Sadly, many women (and men) don't realize how children make us immortal, that we only have a certain amount of years with which to make our true mark.<br />
<br />
Men and women alike want to make sure their progeny, should they have any, have a proper education, a proper upbringing, and think that they can only do this with one or two children. But again, this brings up the same question.... Why let your name die? Why deprive the world of your genes entirely?<br />
<br />
Why have <b>none</b>?Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-54427972581602636962011-10-23T04:50:00.000-04:002011-10-23T04:50:31.530-04:00New Math: 1027 = 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXYHXHTxA94TjXB3rG3ZP3uRhJJbuN-Kkj-kVZU6iqYnZ0ki745I30nMLm08s7ahHSJvf5siP8Z28ZxXfYXLmRE2SQexOyEMQ6ZDapZrQgD8xBKqfafXhyphenhyphen_f5vLUeWZNnuRn7Fgyq-duV/s1600/180px-Gilad_Shalit_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXYHXHTxA94TjXB3rG3ZP3uRhJJbuN-Kkj-kVZU6iqYnZ0ki745I30nMLm08s7ahHSJvf5siP8Z28ZxXfYXLmRE2SQexOyEMQ6ZDapZrQgD8xBKqfafXhyphenhyphen_f5vLUeWZNnuRn7Fgyq-duV/s1600/180px-Gilad_Shalit_portrait.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There has been quite an uproar around the world surrounding the trade of over one thousand Muslim terrorists for the return of Gilad Shalit. In case you aren't familiar, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit">Gilad Shalit</a> was a 19 year old Corporal (now Staff Sgt.) in the Israeli Army (I.D.F.) when he was kidnapped by Hamas over five years ago -- conveniently, only five months after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas">Hamas</a>, a terrorist organization, was democratically voted into government by the "Palestinian" people. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In case you're wondering why I put quotation marks around "Palestinian," it is because they are Muslim Arabs, NOT Palestinians. True Palestinians were Jews that lived in the area during the British Mandate. But the Arabs have manipulated history and the world has been brainwashed by them. It's not just me making this claim. It's the Arab leaders themselves:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<i>The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct 'Palestinian people' to oppose Zionism.</i>" -- PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein, 1977</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Hamas will never recognize the existence of a Jewish State in the region"</i> -Mahmoud al Zahar, Senior Hamas member</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These monsters stuck Shalit i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">n a dungeon and refused to allow any international agency, not even the International Red Cross, to visit or make sure he was healthy. Just recently (last Tuesday), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binjamin_Netanyahu">Binyamin Netanyahu</a> and the Israeli government agreed to release 1,027 murderers from prison to get Shalit returned to his family (half now, half in December 2011). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In response, Hamas declared Tuesday a national holiday and called for three days of rejoicing. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal hailed the deal as a victory for the Palestinian people.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These terrorists to be released have been convicted, and have admitted happily, that they have murdered and spilled the blood of Israelis for no other reason than that they are Jews living in the State of Israel. </span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I begin, let me say that I am eternally grateful that Gilad Shalit is home. The Israeli people has a particular affinity for life, its soldiers and citizens. We will do anything to make sure we can ensure their safety and health, but sometimes we act beyond the realm of logic and wisdom. Personally, I am torn about this subject. It pains me that Shalit was ripped from his family and country, that he had to spend 25% of his life in the hands of terrorists, clearly underfed and not taken care of, but there has been so much Israeli blood spilled by these 1,027 terrorists, and I guarantee... there <b>will</b> be more Israelis who are murdered because of the release of these prisoners. This is not right, and can only lead to more kidnappings, trades, and terror in an endless cycle of violence perpetuated by the Muslims.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Further, there are military, moral, and religious dilemmas associated with this trade (or any similar trade that has taken place in the past). Dealing with the religious and moral aspects is an entirely different article, so let's focus on the military/strategic issues.</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20111021/OPINION/111021001/Dangerous-trade?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p">"The mass release [of prisoners] has given a boost to Hamas, whose leaders have given their troops order to capture more Israeli soldiers. The goal is to win the release of even more Palestinian prisoners in Israel who then could rejoin the fight to battle Israel until a Palestinian state is created or until Israel is destroyed."</a> -<a href="http://thespectrum.com/">TheSpectrum.com</a></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've spoken to several Americans about this trade, and they are flabbergasted. They asked me, "who is this soldier?"... implying he was someone special. He was, but wasn't. The key is that he was no one special, but he was everyone; anyone's son, brother, cousin. We are all family in Israel. Every Jew is special. Israel loves its people, but that's the point. Hamas knows this, and does not hesitate to act in as evil a manner as possible. They do not value their own people's lives, and certainly not a Jewish one. If they can manage to get a thousand of their murderers released for one boy, then why wouldn't they do it again and again? <i>They wouldn't.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Israel has officially set a precedent. The government has now officially told Hamas that it is acceptable to kidnap soldiers (or anyone, really) in order to get convicted murderers free. Hamas is destructive enough - why did we need to provide them with further incentives?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please also be aware that prior to this trade, Israel had already released twenty Arab prisoners for a videotape of Shalit. Yes, you heard me... <a href="http://www.debbieschlussel.com/43246/warned-ya-israeli-soldier-shalit-in-absurd-trade-for-mega-terrorists/">a videotape</a>. Again, I will reiterate that I am grateful that Shalit is home, but what of the innocents whose lives have all now been marked for death at the hands of the released terrorists? This doesn't count all the trades in the past that have already taken place that led up to this point. I speak of the future, that is already being written by Hamas, its terrorist soldiers, and the Israeli government who participated in the negotiation for this very bloody result.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the terrorists scheduled to be released is <u>Ahlam Tamimi</u>, a 31 year old woman who assisted in the logistical planning of the infamous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sbarro_restaurant_suicide_bombing">Sbarro terrorist attack</a> that killed 16 Israelis, and who drove the bomber to the restaurant in August 2001. She was sentenced to 16 life terms in prison, and was quoted as sayin</span>g, "I’m not sorry for what I did. I will get out of prison and I refuse to recognize Israel’s existence. Discussions will only take place after Israel recognizes that this is Islamic land."<br />
<br />
The remainder of the terrorists who will be released in exchange for Shalit can be found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prisoners_released_by_Israel_in_the_Gilad_Shalit_prisoner_exchange">here</a> (may their names be blotted out from the history books). <br />
<br />
They include Salehi, Abd al-Aziz Yussuf Mustafa of Ramallah, a participant in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Ramallah_lynching">2000 Ramallah lynching</a> who was iconically photographed displaying his blood-stained hands to the Palestinian mob after having beaten to death an IDF reservist who had accidentally entered the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Ramallah. <br />
<br />
And Ghanim, Abd al-Hadi Rafa of Gaza, the surviving perpetrator of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv_Jerusalem_bus_405_suicide_attack">Tel Aviv Jerusalem bus 405 suicide attack</a> in which Ghneim seized the steering wheel of a crowded Egged commuter bus line No. 405 and managed to pull the bus into a ravine in the area of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiryat_Ye%27arim">Qiryat Ye'arim</a> causing the bus to be caught on fire while passengers whom could not get off the bus were burned alive. (16 killed, 27 injured). <br />
<br />
And Amrin, Fuad Muhammad Abdulhadi of Gaza, who <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Helena_Rapp">fatally stabbed 15-year-old schoolgirl Helena Rapp</a> on her way to school in the Israeli city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Yam">Bat Yam</a>.<br />
<br />
My personal "favorite," Badran, Husam Atif All of Nablus, the former head of Hamas' military wing in the West Bank, who orchestrated the the 2001 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphinarium_discotheque_suicide_bombing">Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing</a>, 2001 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sbarro_restaurant_suicide_bombing">Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing</a> (15 killed, more than 100 injured) and in the 2002 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_massacre">Passover massacre</a>.<br />
<br />
Let's not forget Bahit, Ismail Musa Hussein of Gaza, a Popular Resistance Committee member who killed six Palestinians he believed to be collaborating with Israel. Attempted to kill four others. Killed one Israeli civilian in a terrorist attack. He killed his own people, who were trying to truly end terrorism and bring peace to the region.<br />
<br />
We'll end on a "high" note, with Walid Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Hadi Anajas of Ramallah, who took part in the execution of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Moment_bombing">Café Moment bombing</a> in 2002 (11 killed, 54 wounded - 11 of them seriously), the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_University_massacre">Hebrew University bombing</a> in 2002 (9 killed, more than 100 injured) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Rishon_LeZion_bombing">Rishon LeZion bombing</a> in 2002 (16 killed, more than 60 injured - 20 of them seriously). Originally sentenced to 26 consecutive life sentences, changed to 36 life sentences.<br />
<br />
I could keep listin<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">g all the terrorists and murderers who have already been released (and who will be released in December), but it would take pages. Take the time and review their bloody </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prisoners_released_by_Israel_in_the_Gilad_Shalit_prisoner_exchange" style="line-height: 20px;">records</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> yourself.... You'll feel like I do. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The more I research and investigate this trade, the sicker I feel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">The sad part is that the Muslims are right.</span></span><br />
<blockquote><br />
“We have discovered how to hit the Jews where they are the most vulnerable. The Jews love life, so that is what we shall take away from them. We are going to win, because they love life and we love death.” -Hizbullah's Nasrullah, 2004 (after a prisoner exchange)</blockquote><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/8841737/What-Gilad-Shalit-tells-us-about-the-respect-for-life-in-Europe-Israel-and-Palestine.html">Journalist Richard Landes</a> understands. Not only does Israel have a love and respect for the life of their citizens, but they have it in gener<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">al. Israel outlawed the death penalty in 1954, only 6 years after the country was born. Landes points out that,</span><br />
<blockquote>"Palestine, on the other hand, represents almost the polar opposite. This is a place in which killing daughters and wives and homosexuals for shaming the family with (even suspected and loosely interpreted) inappropriate sexual behavior is <a href="http://www.worldandi.com/newhome/public/2003/may/clpub.asp">a regular feature of society</a>, where <a href="http://fromoccupiedpalestine.org/node/944">“collaborators” are summarily executed</a>, where<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment#Global_distribution"> official statistics for executions put the PA</a> [Palestinian Authority] at a rate of formal, legal execution that cedes only to China, Iran, N Korea, Yemen and Libya."</blockquote><div>Another journalist, <a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/10/17/palestinians-celebrate-murder-shalit/">Jonathan S. Tobin</a>, makes a s<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">uccinct point: </span>"Rather than ask why Israel is willing to trade so many terrorists for one soldier, the world should be asking why the Palestinians are cheering the release of sociopaths." An interesting question.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the past, Israel never used to negoti</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ate with terrorists. That was their policy, and I remember that policy from when I was growing up. It's a difficult road to follow, but it is the correct one. Once you negotiate with the terrorists and attempt to appease them, you have already lost. You have put your citizens in further danger, and condoned the behavior of the enemy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The author of <a href="http://lindasog.com/">Lindasog.com</a> had a brilliant <a href="http://lindasog.com/public/terrorvictims.htm">solution</a>: "I would take the list of prisoners the palestinians want released, and I would execute one a day, until Gilad Shalit is released, or I run out of prisoners. That way, the end result is a good one, either way." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I agree. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If the Muslims only understand power and death, then we must speak to them in their own language in order for them to understand we mean business. We will not give in to murderers and terrorists. We will not accept their terms for "peace." <b>We are the Jewish people and we will live in our own country without fear! </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But first... <i>we</i> have to believe that.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Additional sources for information & debate:</u></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.ocjewish.com/media/pdf/505/hUtX5059074.pdf">The Shalit Dilemma</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/2011/10/swap-1-israeli-soldier-for-1027-muslim-terrorists.html">Right Truth</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/8841737/What-Gilad-Shalit-tells-us-about-the-respect-for-life-in-Europe-Israel-and-Palestine.html">Respect for Life, by Richard Landes</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/10/18/3089876/op-ed-shalit-israel-and-rabbinic-debate">Op-Ed: Shalit, Israel and Rabbinic Debate</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/10/17/palestinians-celebrate-murder-shalit/">Palestinians Celebrate Murder</a></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDfM95uZVFoqX6cMOmRWiEAsIaEgIMXRV6wJgQfAwCebi1A4NuBWqYw5wtL5jdQPyMElymc2DQjHeH6m9KzuYECGvaK5MXWKOqWkKAzo_0tZ8QzrOHSILtmuHVr65K3qUyUTef7XiYXT5/s1600/Israeli+menorah.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDfM95uZVFoqX6cMOmRWiEAsIaEgIMXRV6wJgQfAwCebi1A4NuBWqYw5wtL5jdQPyMElymc2DQjHeH6m9KzuYECGvaK5MXWKOqWkKAzo_0tZ8QzrOHSILtmuHVr65K3qUyUTef7XiYXT5/s1600/Israeli+menorah.jpeg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In memory of all the Israelis that have been murdered in cold blood, please take a moment and review all their names - found <a href="http://lindasog.com/public/terrorvictims.htm">HERE</a> and <a href="http://www.onefamilyfund.org/article.asp?id=3158">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please help support the victims' families by donating to <a href="http://www.onefamilyfund.org/">OneFamilyFund</a> - click on this <a href="http://www.onefamilyfund.org/article.asp?id=3304">link</a> to help.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><br />
</u></span></div>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-43200533408382866482010-12-23T23:53:00.000-05:002010-12-23T23:53:44.952-05:00The Exception is the RuleThe greatness of America is that we are born with the freedom to be whatever and whomever we want. We love a good story where an underdog, someone with a challenge or circumstance, refuses to give up and beats the odds to become great, popular, or even just to live when they weren't expected to. Americans love this because that's what we are; it's how we started, and how we continue to exist.<br />
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The British left the United Kingdom for religious freedom and for a new start. Even as colonists, they still considered themselves -and were proud of being- Britons. The problem arose when the government refused them the respect and autonomy that they felt they deserved, due to their exertions in the French and Indian War, as well as their position as British subjects. Instead, the King and Parliament imposed tyranny and oppression with taxes and denial of rights (ehem, sound familiar? - Note: it's never-ending... you must always defend your rights!).<br />
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British-Americans became "more attentive to their liberties, more inquisitive about them, and more determined to defend them," John Adams. The colonists were being contemptuously referred to as Yankees, and while William Pitt had warned British Parliament not to treat us as the "bastards of England," they didn't listen and treated our cause as illegitimate. The British insulted and verbally attacked us as well as some of the most venerable people of that era, including most notably, Benjamin Franklin.<br />
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We went on to declare our independence from the United Kingdom and fought an enormous war to cement that. And suddenly, the Yankees, the troublemaking colonists beat the biggest empire of that time. We were victorious over England, who had a huge army and the largest naval fleet <i>in the world</i>, and won our freedoms, becoming the United States of America. We had a couple fits and starts along the way, but we succeeded, and continue to succeed, because we are tenacious in our beliefs, persistent in our love of individuality and freedoms, and just plain stubborn about what we know is right.<br />
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This bulldog-ish personality has trickled into each and every American, for each and every of the 234 years that we've had our independence. In Britain, if you were born into a class, you stayed there. But in our great country, that is simply never the case. We all know what the American dream is - the possibility and opportunity to become <i>something</i>. To create yourself in any image you desire. There is no limit unless you believe there is one. There are no rules except self-imposed ones...<br />
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In our country, the exception <b>is</b> the rule. Yes, people suffer hardships. Yes, some roads are far more difficult than others. But it's possible in this country as long as you persevere. I could go on and name numerous examples, but here are just a few: John D. Rockefeller, Conrad Hilton, Chris Gardner, Ray Charles, Mark Wahlberg. Our predecessors came to this land to seek the American dream before there was an America... people still come to our country just to have that same <i>chance</i>. We are lucky enough to be born here. You have the opportunity in your reach.<br />
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Choose your dream and run after it. Never stop running, never stop working to achieve it, and never, <b>ever</b> listen to your detractors.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Be an American. <b>Live the dream</b> ... to the very last second.</div><div><br />
</div>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-31507564294978605912010-12-01T22:23:00.000-05:002010-12-01T22:23:00.833-05:00Chanukah - The Festival of LightsMy father came home from work today, infuriated about an ignorant, denigrating, and just plain <i>wrong</i> article written about the holiday of Chanukah. I proceeded to read it and become outraged as well. Of course it was written by a fellow Jew (sometimes we are our own worst enemy). If you're interested, here's the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/opinion/01jacobson.html?pagewanted=1&sq=hanukkah&st=cse&scp=2"><b>link</b></a>. My blog will primarily address the true history of the holiday as well as attacking the article's fallacies, so it might help to read it - please do keep in mind that the article is misleading, misrepresentative, and inaccurate (to say the least)!<br />
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Let me begin by saying this in response to the article, <b><u><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/opinion/01jacobson.html?pagewanted=1&sq=hanukkah&st=cse&scp=2">Hanukkah, Rekindled</a></u></b> (by Howard Jacobson):<br />
Mr. Jacobson mocks our Jewish holidays before unfairly and ignorantly ripping into Chanukah (it's Hebrew so all English transliterations are correct, in case you're wondering). Click on the holiday names for the <i>real</i> story.<br />
<i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover">Passover</a></b></i>: "... relates the great narrative of the Jewish flight from Egypt in a form that lends itself to rumbustious family dinners - those who want to recite every word of it in Hebrew contesting with those who want to get it over and done with expeditiously in English, but everybody coming together in exaltation to visit boils and locusts on the ancient Egyptians."<br />
<i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purim">Purim</a></b></i>: "... gives us a pantomime villain in Haman the Jew-murderer and the chance to eat hamantashchen, the delicious little fruit and poppy-seed pastries, spiced with anger and made in the shape of the scoundrel's dastardly three-cornered hat. Food and vengeance: that's what you want from a festival."<br />
<i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah">Rosh Hashanah</a></b></i>: "...tolls the bell of the preceding year, each day pregnant with the sins we hope to expiate on Yom Kippur, on our knees to the fearful mountain G-d of the Torah. Food, vengeance, terror and guilt."<br />
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Apparently, according to Mr. Jacobson, with the way the Chanukah story is told, it "struggles to find a path to Jewish hearts." Really?<br />
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The only impression I ever got throughout my life is that my Jewish friends simply did not know the story in detail. They knew about the miracles of the Maccabees over the Greeks, and the eight days of oil, but they didn't outright DENY and DOUBT the history like our friendly author does. They never openly ridiculed the Hasmoneans and Maccabees, referring to them as "Scottish Jewish."<br />
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And Mr. Jacobson, perhaps Hasmoneans "rings no bells" because you're an ignorant individual who refuses to read up on your own religious history. Further, the only 'proof' you supply in support of your argument that Chanukah isn't "authentic" is that it didn't "draw on events described in the Hebrew Bible." News flash, Mr. Big Shot Reporter for the New York Times, it wasn't included in the Torah because it took place AFTER the Torah was written. Logic helps sometimes, no?<br />
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Chanukah <i>is</i>, however, referenced briefly in the Mishna (Bikkurim 1:6, Rosh Hashanah 1:3, Megilah 3:6, Bava Kama 6:6). It wasn't covered more intensely because, according to Rav Nissim Gaon, information on the holiday was so commonplace that the Mishna felt <i>no need to explain it</i>. Chanukah is also mentioned and described in the Talmud (Gemara, tractate <i>Shabbat 21</i>).<br />
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The story of Chanukah is also alluded to in the book of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees (links below). You can also find it in the Megilat Antiochus (both in Aramaic and Hebrew), which has been dated back to the 2nd and 5th Centuries, and whose Hebrew text with an English translation can be found in the Siddur of Philip Birnbaum. And the Christian Bible refers to Jesus being at the Jerusalem Temple during "the feast of the dedication and it was winter" in John 10:22-23. Lastly, if you want to go secular, one can review the Narrative of Flavius Josephus in his book Jewish Antiquities XII, where he refers to Chanukah as the Festival of Lights.<br />
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Mr. Jacobson also states that while "escaping from bondage in Egypt by dint of magic and smart talk is comprehensible," it's a "touch suspicious" that the Maccabees defeated the Syrian-Greek army (because Jews, I guess, are supposed to be weak, skinny, and nerds). Again with the mocking. At this point, I will bring two fair comparisons into play: (1) the American revolution against the mighty British Empire. If it hadn't happened, I think it'd be fair to say that the concept of a tiny colony throwing off an Empire with the strongest navy in the world is a "touch suspicious," perhaps even spurious! (2) the Jews who fought in the camps at Warsaw Ghetto, and who held off the mighty Nazis longer than the Polish Army did.<br />
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Our distinguished author continues with his mocking of our holiday of Chanukah, using phrases such as "excruciating rabbinic banalities" and "horrible imitation[s] of shtetl simplicity" in his attempts to gain sympathy from his adoring public. He requests better songs, states so nonchalantly that it is a "children's festival, after all" (completely untrue - see below), and that we should sarcastically insist upon presents like vehicles rather than dreidels (which have serious historical significance).<br />
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Mr. Jacobson, the only reason I am taking the time to respond to your (mostly) ignorant, baseless, and insulting article on Chanukah is because I don't want other mis- or uninformed Jews being misled by your mischaracterizations of the holiday. Sir, the "cruel truth" is that your accusations of Jews being "the Polish equivalent of the Flintstones" (which is insulting to both Jews and Polish people and to the Flintstones), that your mistruths (lies) about Chanukah having no pretext and thus being "doomed to be forever the poor relation of Christmas" only displays your blatant disregard for your own religion. I hesitate (only briefly) to use this label, but I am forced to apply it to you. <b>You are nothing but a self-hating Jew</b>... No one else would claim that the holiday has no chance to engage our imaginations. No one else (no Christian, no Jew) would have the chutzpah, even facetiously, to suggest that Chanukah merge with Christmas. You are appalling and a disgrace to the Jewish people.<br />
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Now... On to the facts.<br />
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<u>Chanukah</u><br />
Chanukah is an eight day Jewish festival that begins on the eve of the 25th day of our Jewish month of Kislev. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, purity over adulteration, and of spirituality over materialism. Chanukah is one of the best known Jewish holidays, primarily because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews and many assimilated Jews (along with our ignorant author above) don't understand the holiday and think of it as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration. It is bitterly ironic that Chanukah, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and the suppression of Jewish religion, has become the most assimilated, secular holiday on our calendar.<br />
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<u>The Jewish Calendar</u><br />
To start, the Jewish calendar is lunar and consists of twelve months. Because it follows the moon, it falls behind the Gregorian calendar each year, so once every 3-4 years, we add a "leap month" to catch up. This year, Chanukah is extremely early; it starts tonight, December 1st. Also, our days start at sunset (and continue until the next sunset), which is why our holidays and Sabbaths always begin the night before it's mentioned on American calendars.<br />
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<u>History of Chanukah</u><br />
The story of Chanukah starts in the time of Alexander the Great, who conquered Syria, Egypt, and Judea, but allowed the people under his control to continue observing their own religions and retain a certain degree of autonomy. More than a century later, after Alexander died, no one was strong enough to keep the entire land mass under one rule, and it was split into three parts. One of those parts (Egypt) was ruled by King Ptolemy V Epiphanes, who was defeated by King Antiochus III (of Syria) in 200 BCE at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Panium"><b>Battle of Panium</b></a>. At that time, Judea (what was then Israel), which had been part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, fell under the rule of Antiochus. Antiochus III the Great continued in Alexander's footsteps, and guaranteed the Jews' right to "live according to their ancestral customs" and to continue to practice their religion in the Holy Temple. In 175 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, his son, invaded Judea and began his oppression of the Jews.<br />
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Antiochus IV oppressed the Jews severely in his attempts to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel and bring them into Greek culture. He massacred Jews, placed a Hellenistic priest in the Holy Temple, further desecrated the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs on the altar (as well as placing an altar to Zeus as well), and outlawed aspects of Jewish observance, including the study of Torah. This all began to decay the foundation of Jewish life and practice. He was relatively successful since during this period of time, many Jews began to assimilate into Greek culture, taking on Greek names, and marrying non-Jews.<br />
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In response to this oppression, a small group of courageous Jews took to the hills of Judea in open revolt against this threat to Jewish life. The group (called the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees">Maccabees</a></b>) was led by Matisyahu (Mattathias, in English) and his five sons, one of whom was named Judah, and they led an attack of guerilla warfare against the Syrian-Greek Army. Matisyahu belonged to the priestly <b><a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Hasmonean.html">Hasmonean</a></b> family.<br />
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King Antiochus IV sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush this rebellion, but somehow (with a little help from upstairs), a miracle occurred, and the Maccabees succeeded in driving the foreigners from their land.<br />
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The fierce Jewish fighters entered Jerusalem in the Jewish month of Kislev, 164 BCE. The Holy Temple was in shambles, defiled, and desecrated by foreign soldiers. The Maccabees cleansed the Temple and rededicated it on the 25th of Kislev. When it came time to re-light the Eternal Lamp, they could only find enough pure oil (bearing the seal of the High Priest) to last for one day. They were crushed; it took eight days to manufacture and properly cleanse oil so that it was pure enough for the Lamp, but what choice did they have? They used the oil and -again- miraculously, it lasted for eight days, long enough for them to produce a new supply of oil for use in the Temple. From then on, Jews have observed Chanukah for eight days, starting on the 25th of Kislev, in honor of this historic victory and the miracle of the oil.<br />
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Following further Hasmonean victories (147 BCE), the Seleucids were forced to restore autonomy to Judea, and with the collapse of the Seleucid kingdom (129 BCE), Jewish independence was again achieved.<br />
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<u>Religious Observance & Tradition</u><br />
Chanukah is not one of the more religiously significant holidays in the Jewish calendar. The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a chanukiah (incorrectly referred to as a menorah, which only holds six plus a shamash, and is located in the Temple). The chanukiah holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shamash (helper candle) at a different height or separated. On the first night, there are three blessings recited (<i>l'hadlik nehr</i> - a general prayer over candles; <i>sheh-asah nisim</i> - a prayer thanking G-d for performing miracles for our ancestors; and <i>sheh-hekhianu</i> - a general prayer thanking G-d for allowing us to reach this occasion), and the following seven nights, only the first two blessings are recited.<br />
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The Chanukah candles are not to be used for anything productive. The shamash is the one that lights all the candles and for the chanukiah to be kosher, all the candles must be on the same height, in the same line, and the shamash must remain separate.<br />
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It is traditional to eat fried foods on this holiday because of the significance of oil to the holiday (e.g. <b><a href="http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/latkes.htm">latkes and sufganiyot</a></b> - potato pancakes and doughnuts, respectively). Gift giving is <u>not</u> a traditional part of the holiday, but has been added lately because of the conflict with Christmas and commercialization of Chanukah. The only traditional gift of the holiday is <i>gelt</i>. Chanukah gelt is a Jewish custom rooted in the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talmud">Talmud</a></b> (a central text of mainstream Judaism in the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs, and history):<br />
<blockquote>The Talmud states that even a very poor person must light Chanukah lights, even if he can't afford it. A person with no money is required to go knocking on doors until he collects enough to buy at least one candle for each night of Chanukah. The Torah concept of charity --tzedakah-- requires us to help the recipient in the most dignified manner possible. Therefore, the custom arose to give gifts of money during Chanukah so that someone who needs extra money for Chanukah candles can receive it in the form of 'Chanukah Gelt.'</blockquote>Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. It has four sides, each with the following four letters, <i>nun</i>, <i>gimel</i>, <i>hay</i>, and <i>shin</i> (an acronym for the saying, "Nes gadol hayah sham," or "<b>A great miracle happened there</b>"). In Israel, the four letters are <i>nun</i>, <i>gimel</i>, <i>hay</i>, <i>peh</i> for the saying, "Nes gadol hayah poh," or "<b>A great miracle happened here</b>"). The tradition of dreidels started back in the time of the Seleucids. When the Jews were forbidden to study Torah by Antiochus IV, Jews would sneak into the forests to learn about their religion. When they were occasionally found, they would pull out their dreidels and pretend to play and gamble so that their unlawful Torah study was not discovered.<br />
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Lastly, there are traditional songs that go along with this holiday. The most well-known is <i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma'oz_Tzur">Maoz Tzur</a></b></i>, with another being <i>Haneros Hallalu</i>.<br />
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<u>If you have any questions, here are some additional Jewish/Chanukah links and sources for you:</u><br />
<a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday7.html">Jewish Virtual Library</a> (a division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise)<br />
<a href="http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm">Judaism 101</a><br />
<a href="http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/">Chanukah on the Net</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah#Background">Wikipedia on Chanukah</a><br />
<a href="http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/Chanukah-in-a-Nutshell.htm">Chabad on Chanukah</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Maccabees">1 Maccabees</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Maccabees">2 Maccabees</a><br />
<a href="http://ajewishminute.org/">AJewishMinute.org</a>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-44537040975062396082010-11-29T17:41:00.000-05:002014-08-03T00:41:53.074-04:00A Happy Thanksgiving to All!Since 1863, on the fourth Thursday in November, Americans celebrate the national holiday of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)">Thanksgiving</a>.<br />
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Here's a quick timeline (I'll spare you the history lesson... this time):<br />
The First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving was given by the Continental Congress in 1777.<br />
In 1789, President George Washington made a Thanksgiving Proclamation. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War, proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving.<br />
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It has been my impression that Americans have been taking this holiday more seriously, more lately, than ever before (that makes me very happy). Sometimes it is frowned upon as merely a holiday where we gorge ourselves and have leftovers for a week straight, but it's more than that...<br />
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Thanksgiving is a day where each of us get to value what's most important to us. For me, that's family. Only twice a year do all the Drissman family members get together (the other occasion being Passover and, even then, we don't always get to have everyone at the same table); I wouldn't miss this day for anything. My family celebrates over a brunch/lunch, which allows us avoid any scheduling conflicts and permits spouses to have their dinners with all family members as well, and while my mom does most of the cooking, there is some "pot-lucking" as well. This year, my SIL (sister-in-law) baked one of her ever famous desserts, a chocolate chip pie, my sister made a cucumber salad, and I made an apple cider-cranberry relish for our turkey. YUM on all three counts.<br />
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My brothers and sisters, my mom and dad, we may not all get along all the time, and we may not agree on political/social/religious/other issues, but we are blood. We may argue and we may disappoint, we may take actions that the other just doesn't understand (and never will), but we are family. In this country of 300 million, I have THREE sisters (one by blood) and FOUR brothers (three by blood). That's it - a very small number. I understand that there are many individuals who are simply not as lucky as I am when it comes to family - that's why I value and love them that much more. I'm not telling you to respect someone who doesn't deserve it - I'm saying, embrace those that do.<br />
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You also may have noticed that I consider my in-laws family. They absolutely are. Family does not need to be someone who is related to you genetically. I say blood, but family can (and <b>should</b>) be applied to those people (friends, cousins, etc.) who have similar values and morals to you, to those who take time out of their lives to be there for you during great times and difficult ones, to those who understand you and who don't (and don't judge). Family can be anyone who is worth the title. <i>Judge wisely, embrace tightly.</i><br />
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Americans are one big dysfunctional family (we put the "fun" in it). We're not perfect. We aren't a melting pot; we are a stew.<br />
<blockquote>
America is not like a blanket - one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt - many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread. -Jesse Jackson</blockquote>
Americans are individuals who may not agree on political/social/religious/other issues, but we are blood. We believe in our country and what she can accomplish. We love what she stands for, and we are proud that she is good (<i>not</i> perfect). Don't put anyone on a pedestal, it just gives them further to fall. But don't be fooled; she is the best country on this Planet Earth, and we are lucky to be born here. Don't take her (or any family) for granted.<br />
<blockquote>
America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. -Alexis de Tocqueville</blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the best things about a good family (both immediate, national, and everything in between) is that we can have civil discourse. We can "discuss" all day long, and in the evening, we still know that they have our best interests at heart and that they are only giving us a hard time because they care about what path we're on. Family is one of the most frustrating things, but as we are deep into this Thanksgiving Day (Season), remember that it is also one of the best. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Find your family and embrace them. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Happy Thanksgiving. May it last all year 'round.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BTW, in case you're interested, since relish can be eaten anytime, the recipe is below! Enjoy, and be grateful to all the wonderful, little, and big things all year long!</span><br />
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<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Apple Cider-Cranberry Relish</span></u></span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Items:</span></span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3 cups apple cider</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3/4 cup sugar</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4 cinnamon sticks</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1 tablespoon orange zest</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">12 cloves</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Directions:</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">In a pan, bring cider, orange zest, sugar, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Stir and simmer for 15 mins until sugar dissolves. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Add cranberries, increase the heat, and bring to a boil. Cook on high heat, stirring until cranberries begin to pop, about five to ten mins. Reduce heat, cook on low until relish begins to thicken, stirring occasionally. Remove from stove and discard cinnamon sticks. Pour into a bowl to cool.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Serves 8.</span></span></div>
Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-58171405929678065202010-11-22T19:53:00.002-05:002010-11-23T21:31:31.906-05:00Be An American Troublemaker; Have Fun With Your Constitutional Rights!<a href="http://noblasters.com/post/1650102322/my-tsa-encounter"><b>Matt Kernan</b></a> had fun with <i>his</i> rights regarding the TSA...<br />
Next time you have a few hours to spare, and don't need to be anywhere, follow his lead and exercise your superfun Constitutional rights!<br />
<br />
<i>Food for thought:</i><br />
At least with regards to the Marines JAG Corps, if you have an arrest on your record within the past year (non-conviction notwithstanding), you <b>cannot apply to join said branch </b>(at least until one year after the arrest date). Thus, due to the ridiculousness of the TSA situation, if you decide to defend your Constitutional rights, you CANNOT join the military.<br />
**This is something that occurred to me after I read about the "<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40314284/ns/travel-news/"><b>Strip-Down Passenger</b></a>," who is facing two misdemeanor charges after he fought for his Constitutional rights.Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-16228237468080406302010-11-18T16:00:00.000-05:002010-11-18T16:00:22.980-05:00Our Security and the TSA<blockquote>.<i>..Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people -- a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, <b>attached to the same principles of government</b>, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.</i> -John Jay, Federalist Paper, No. 2 (emphasis added).</blockquote>The above passage was written centuries ago and, unfortunately, not many Americans have read the brilliant Federalist Papers. Despite this, they remain relevant even today, especially in these troubled times. They remind us how gifted our Founders were, and that we are one of the most powerful countries on earth, if not <i>the</i> most powerful; some of the greatest things to which we can lay claim are our freedoms and liberties.<br />
<br />
The reality is, there are serious security issues that threaten us in our very own land, but these are not the first occasions of these threats. They <i>are</i> the first threats of this magnitude. The point of terrorism is to scare the citizens of a country, to make them doubt themselves, their brethren, and their security. To cause a collapse of national and personal values and beliefs with threats of violence. We cannot allow them to succeed.<br />
<br />
Let us not be cowed into giving up our liberties by those who don't value life. Let us not be intimidated by those anti-American, anti-West terrorists who are threatened by our Judeo-Christian ideals and ethics. Let us not submit to their way of life - one that praises intimidation, glorifies death and murder, and worships fear and coercion.<br />
<blockquote><i>Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.</i> -Benjamin Franklin</blockquote>In our fears, we have allowed the Transportation Security Administration (<a href="http://www.tsa.gov/">TSA</a>) to go too far; we have permitted the federal government to restrict our freedoms. It is our own fault. In our trepidation of insulting the Other, we have embraced the wayward and evil concept of political correctness. The combination of our actions has blinded us to the solution to the problem of terrorism. The insistence upon political correctness has led to the <i>illusion</i> of security, and not the actuality of it.<br />
<br />
Americans, do not be deluded. <a href="http://shop.cafepress.com/tsa">YOU ARE RIGHT!</a> You are correct in your disgust of the assaults on your body and on your liberties! A certain level of security can be attained, but <i>not</i> the way we are handling it right now.<br />
<br />
Before we delve into the solution, let's briefly review the law regarding the Fourth Amendment:<br />
In 1968, the Supreme Court decided the landmark case of <i>Terry v. Ohio</i>. Then Chief Justice Warren, joined by seven other members of the Court, held that it is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment for an officer to detain and search a man's person for a weapon in absence of a search warrant, so long as the officer acts upon a <b>reasonable belief</b> based upon objective factors that the man is <b>armed and dangerous</b>.<br />
<br />
According to Peter Siggins, Chief Deputy Attorney General for Legal Affairs in charge of all the legal work of the California Department of Justice, in the weeks following September 11, 2001, "federal, state and local law enforcement officials worked feverishly to investigate those responsible for the most reprehensible crime on American Soil and to assess our state of vulnerability to further acts of terrorism. As part of those efforts conclusions about the ethnicity and national origin of the prime suspects was inescapable. <b>This crime was committed by a group of foreign nationals of middle eastern descent</b>" (emphasis added).<br />
<br />
The United States Congress passed the USA Patriot Act, an omnibus bill containing reforms to federal criminal procedure, laws relating to foreign intelligence surveillance, wiretaps and interception of electronic communications, laws relating to the gathering of documentary evidence, and DNA and immigration laws. The Act makes it easier for federal investigative agencies to obtain wiretaps on multiple electronic devices, and procure electronic and documentary evidence from ISPs and cable and telephone companies. It relaxes prohibitions on the sharing of information obtained in investigations by different federal agencies. Section 412 of the Patriot Act permits the attorney general of the U.S. to detain aliens he certifies as threats to national security for up to seven days without bringing charges (the standard to establish grounds for detention are based on <i>Terry</i>).<br />
<br />
According to a <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/125078/americans-back-profiling-air-travelers-combat-terrorism.aspx">USA Today/Gallup poll</a> conducted in the weeks after the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight headed for Detroit, Americans <i>widely endorse</i> the use of profiling to single out airline passengers for more intensive security searches before they board U.S. flights, based on their age, ethnicity, or gender.<br />
<br />
As well they should. There is no need to curb our rights.<br />
<br />
Israel, a country that is surrounded by its enemies, has solved the problem. El Al, the national airline of Israel, collects $2.1 billion in revenue, and has 1.9 million passengers fly annually, and not one flight leaving Ben Gurion Airport has ever been hijacked.<br />
<br />
How has Israel solved the problem?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/video/how-israel-screens-for-terrorists/987D025A-145D-42F5-9756-7B43CC7613CE.html"><b>Ethnic profiling</b>.</a> They work smarter, not harder. El Al has utilized sky marshals for over thirty years on each and every airplane so that potential hijackers and terrorists know that their life is over if they behave in a threatening manner. They don't make passengers take off their shoes or belts, and passengers can even bring liquids onto flights. El Al is proactive. They think like the terrorists and anticipate trouble. They are realistic; they target the potential enemies instead of the 99.9% of flyers who are innocent. And if it makes you feel better, rename it. Don't call it ethnic profiling - call it criminal profiling.<br />
<br />
The solution is <b>not</b> to physically assault little old ladies and barefoot munchkins who can barely speak; there is no reasonable belief that those individuals are armed and dangerous. The solution is <b>not </b>a personal assault prior to a flight, whereby had any other civilian committed a full body pat-down, it could have constituted a felony.<br />
<br />
Teachers profile students in order to increase educational success, managers profile employees in order to increase productivity, and life coaches profile in order to find business leaders.<br />
<br />
Profiling can help in certain situations, and it will help in ours. Proper profiling (not just racially and religiously, but also regarding personality, etc.) will give us back our privacy rights, our liberties, <i>and</i> our security.<br />
<br />
Let's liberate the idiocy of political correctness, and take back our bodies, our country, our values, and our freedoms.Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-84715672263192821842010-11-16T14:51:00.000-05:002014-08-03T00:40:48.349-04:00May G-d Bless our Newest Medal of Honor Recipient: Army Staff Sgt Salvatore A. Giunta<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWOeIObSXHywdIdT1N8f-Qynfpqw292hVdcdsFLOBdw3hC_i8dtNlOqhuTgmfrza62tGSWK36Uhccu5aPSZCc7OoOCJT_bM3tOh6YyR0qiZk6_0huA6F0yFH891WMFr2aWH3NfQwHwQ1V/s1600/StaffSgt+Giunta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWOeIObSXHywdIdT1N8f-Qynfpqw292hVdcdsFLOBdw3hC_i8dtNlOqhuTgmfrza62tGSWK36Uhccu5aPSZCc7OoOCJT_bM3tOh6YyR0qiZk6_0huA6F0yFH891WMFr2aWH3NfQwHwQ1V/s1600/StaffSgt+Giunta.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta<br />
2010 Congressional Medal of Honor Winner<br />
The first living recipient since the Vietnam War</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Three years ago, on 25 October 2007, at 22 years of age, while serving our country in the hellish Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, exercising extreme bravery and uncommon valor, then-Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta risked his life to save two comrades who had been severely wounded by enemy fire. Under heavy fire, he was shot twice (one hit his body armor, another hit his secondary weapon), but managed to not only save his comrades, but to medically save their lives.<br />
<br />
To see the CBS video interview with Staff Sgt. Giunta, please<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7054225n&tag=contentMain;contentAux"> click here</a>.<br />
For the written article on Staff Sgt. Giunta, please <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/11/60minutes/main7044681.shtml?tag=currentVideoInfo;segmentTitle">click here</a>.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Giunta's official citation states:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<blockquote>
Then-Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself by acts of gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifle team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan on October 25, 2007. When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta's squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to cover. Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Specialist Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security. His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon's ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands.</blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank G-d for our military, and for such humble, yet fierce, soldiers. Because of them, our flag still flies high, and the United States of America remains the best country on the face of this earth.</span></span>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-30808803960055745942010-11-11T17:16:00.000-05:002014-08-03T00:40:11.038-04:00Proud to be an American<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73Qb0SxrIC8OmByEsyhS4evf62nJKmB30ZejenBXt6M4aJ30ei88Q6sFBRmB-7Cb0s0sJbz0f4ITmXzAR-ZNnDp6B9j0ghexSofyWnsBOrwoJhHIVpCQAQkk8Ryw-QSNqxcD3zxiF28vW/s1600/Coast+Guard+Logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73Qb0SxrIC8OmByEsyhS4evf62nJKmB30ZejenBXt6M4aJ30ei88Q6sFBRmB-7Cb0s0sJbz0f4ITmXzAR-ZNnDp6B9j0ghexSofyWnsBOrwoJhHIVpCQAQkk8Ryw-QSNqxcD3zxiF28vW/s200/Coast+Guard+Logo.jpeg" height="200" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The United States Coast Guard (<a href="http://www.uscg.mil/">USCG</a>) is a branch of the United States armed forces and one of seven uniformed services. The USGC is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by President or Congress during time of war.<br />
To check out USCG careers, click <a href="http://www.uscg.mil/top/careers.asp">here</a>. <i>Semper Paratus!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5I-ZArckWde1eR_ylSWV5A92D9aBHXiJmCbuZeYVqMdEHHbPkCQOYU_34DPuYpQMRyUBrvWH5czZALOwivpA_BEQAku8_b-Kz5Ascfh6QacMmruZVvSi7rOmScSqZMHiB7SYO5boF2Eu/s1600/National+Guard+Bureau+logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5I-ZArckWde1eR_ylSWV5A92D9aBHXiJmCbuZeYVqMdEHHbPkCQOYU_34DPuYpQMRyUBrvWH5czZALOwivpA_BEQAku8_b-Kz5Ascfh6QacMmruZVvSi7rOmScSqZMHiB7SYO5boF2Eu/s1600/National+Guard+Bureau+logo.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. The National Guard of the United States is a joint reserve component of the United States Army, United States Air Force and maintains two subcomponents: the Army National Guard of the United State for the Army and the Air Force's Air National Guard of the United States. The state National Guard serves as part of the first-line defense for the United States, is divided into units stationed in each of the 50 states and US territories, and operates under their respective state governor or territorial adjutant general. The National Guard may be called up for active duty by state governors or territorial adjutant general to hep respond to domestic emergencies and disasters. The National Guard of the United States is administered by the National Guard Bureau, which is a joint activity under the Department of Defense.<br />
To contact the National Guard, click <a href="http://www.ng.mil/sitelinks/default.aspx">here</a>. <i>Always Ready, Always There!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInHpkv0qnOz1nvL1B4PrQE4Huc0iPmkJD2XVHwBqtXmbviGjBES9_s8udI9bO4nOaS3lahkmne2u5ZrnQxCTgg_Wme0gKoZ5QpZrDtAdV-7pKNkcczfx4CboqhsbjH07P9jVpdhsx1Ng6/s1600/United+States+Navy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInHpkv0qnOz1nvL1B4PrQE4Huc0iPmkJD2XVHwBqtXmbviGjBES9_s8udI9bO4nOaS3lahkmne2u5ZrnQxCTgg_Wme0gKoZ5QpZrDtAdV-7pKNkcczfx4CboqhsbjH07P9jVpdhsx1Ng6/s200/United+States+Navy.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The United States Navy (<a href="http://www.navy.mil/swf/index.asp">USN</a>) is the naval warfare service branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The USN is the largest in the world and its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The USN traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War; the United States Constitution provided the legal basis for a military force by giving Congress the power "to provide and maintain a navy." The USN is administratively managed by the Department of the Navy, which is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Navy. The Department of the Navy is itself a division of the Department of Defense, which is headed by the Secretary of Defense.<br />
To check out US Navy careers, click <a href="http://www.navy.com/navy/">here</a>. <i>Honor, Courage, Commitment!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The United States Air Force (<a href="http://www.airforce.com/">USAF</a>) is the lead aerial warfare and space warfare service branch of the United States armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the US Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. The USAF articulates its core functions as Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Special Operations, Air Superiority, Global Integrated ISR, Space Superiority, Command and Control, Cyberspace Superiority, Personnel Recovery, Global Precision Attack, Building Partnerships, Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat Support. The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who oversees all administrative and policy affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the Department of Defense, headed by the Secretary of Defense.<br />
To check out USAF opportunities, click <a href="http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/">here</a>. <i>Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.army.mil/">United States Army</a> is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the US military, and is one of the seven US uniformed services. The modern Army has its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on 14 June 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. The primary mission of the Army is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities ... in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies." The Army is a military service within the Department of the Army, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense, and is headed by the Secretary of the Army.<br />
To check out Army careers and opportunities, click <a href="http://www.army.mil/join/">here</a>. <i>This We'll Defend!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The United States Marine Corps (<a href="http://www.marines.mil/Pages/Default.aspx">USMC</a>) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the USN to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the United States Department of the Navy; however, in the military leadership structure, the Marine Corps is a separate branch, and the Marine Corps is the smallest of the United States armed forces in the Department of Defense.<br />
To join the United States Marine Corps, click <a href="http://www.marines.mil/usmc/Pages/Recruiting.aspx">here</a>. <i>Semper Fidelis!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (<a href="http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/">NOAA Corps</a>) is a federal uniformed service of the United States which operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific agency within the Department of Commerce. The NOAA Corps is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, has over 300 commissioned officers, though it has no enlisted or warrant officer ranks. The NOAA Corps traces its roots back to the former US Coast and Geodetic Survey, which dates to 1807 under President Thomas Jefferson. Coast and Geodetic Survey officers were commissioned so that under the laws of war, they could not be executed as spies if they were serving as surveyors on a battlefield.<br />
For information on the NOAA, click <a href="http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/recruiting/index.html">here</a>. <i>Forward with NOAA!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (<a href="http://www.usphs.gov/">PHSCC</a>) is the federal uniformed service of the United States Public Health Service (PHS) and is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The PHSCC is one of two uniformed services that only consists of commissioned officers and has no enlisted or warrant officer ranks, although warrant officers have been authorized for use within the service. Officers of the PHS are classified as noncombatants, unless directed to serve as part of the armed forces by the President or detailed to a service branch of the armed forces. Members of the PHSCC wear the same uniforms as the USN with special corps insignia and hold ranks equivalent to those of naval officers. Officers of the PHSCC receive their commissions through the PHSCC's direct commissioning program. The PHSCC is under the direction of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is led by the Surgeon General who holds the grade of vice admiral. The Surgeon General reports directly to the Assistant Secretary for Health who may hold the rank of admiral if he/she is a serving member of the PHSCC.<br />
To check out opportunities with the PHSCC, click <a href="https://dcpweb.psc.gov/rab/scripts/app_main_menu.htm">here</a>.</td></tr>
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For over 234 years, the United States of America has been protected and guarded by our brave military men and women. They have dedicated and donated their lives in service to our country, and they have not been afforded the proper respect. They have been spit on, yelled at, accused of evil acts, and disrespected. On this <a href="http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/">Veteran's Day</a>, we <i>must</i> all remember and honor those who have been there for us - those who have voluntarily and involuntarily, directly and indirectly (including families), performed the most noblest deed of all: military service. Let us all restore this day to what it should be. It's never too late; patriotism has no expiration date.<br />
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Every day our military puts themselves in harm's way, at home and abroad, to guarantee the freedoms and rights enumerated in our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_to_the_United_States_Constitution">Bill of Rights</a> (the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution). Men used to be drafted and today join the selective service, and now, both men and women voluntarily sign their name on that dotted line. Once they do so, they are dedicated to each other, watching each other's backs. They are dedicated to us, the 300 million Americans who forget how lucky we are and take for granted this greatest country on earth.<br />
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Our soldiers are vanguards and protectors of our amazing Bill of Rights. No one but a soldier can understand what they go through, what they have experienced, what they feel for each other and for our country. No one but a soldier can know what dangers exist, both visible and hidden, and those dangers <i>are</i> present, especially today. We cannot simply pretend that the threats are not there; we must face them head on. <b>We must support our troops, financially, emotionally, and physically.</b><br />
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Know and remember that our troops are human beings, still Americans, still someone's child, sister, brother, mother, father, cousin, co-worker... Know and remember that no one is perfect and they do the best they can. Know and remember that our military is doing their job when they guard us, when they go where Uncle Sam instructs them to go, when they die for us. Know and remember that they are still scared when they get deployed, when they serve, and when they hear about their fellow soldiers fighting on the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.<br />
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Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. -Edward Vernon Rickenbacker</blockquote>
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Courage is what preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things. -Titus Maccius Plautus</blockquote>
The men and women of our military are the most courageous people in our country. These are the most honorable. They put our country before themselves, they put us before themselves, and they put our liberties and rights before their own lives. They do what the rest of us are unwilling, or unable, to do.<br />
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So please, on this Veteran's Day, <i>and on every day thereafter</i>, please thank a soldier whenever you see one. Shake their hand. Tell them just how indebted you are for their service, and ask them what you can do for them since they have done more for you than you ever could. Make a donation or volunteer at the <a href="http://www.volunteer.va.gov/">VA</a>, the <a href="http://www.uso.org/">USO</a>, your local <a href="http://www.vfw.org/">VFW</a>. Join a veteran's organization and support them - be there for them as they have been there for us. Let them know that we appreciate and love what they do and who they are. Remember what they stand for and who they stand for.<br />
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They have lived and died for us.<br />
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The least we can do is honor and respect them.Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718028080916298945.post-29040258399423269702010-11-10T17:43:00.000-05:002014-08-03T00:38:35.478-04:00Happy 235th Birthday to our USMC!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On this day, in 1775, the <a href="http://www.marines.mil/Pages/Default.aspx">United States Marine Corps</a> was born in Tunn Tavern, Philadelphia. The first Marine (and Commandant) Captain Samuel Nicholas formed two battalions of Continental Marines as naval infantry. Since then, the Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict. It includes just over 203,000 active duty Marines (as of October 2009) and just under 40,000 reserve Marines. It is the SMALLEST of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense, but is larger than the armed forces of many significant military powers (e.g. IDF and the entire British Army).<span id="goog_1234570091"></span><span id="goog_1234570092"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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The USMC traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War, by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress to raise two battalions of Marines. At the end of the American Revolution, both the Continental Navy and Continental Marines were disbanded in April 1783, and it would not be resurrected until 1798. In that year, in preparation for war with France, Congress created the United States Marine Corps.<br />
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Under Commandant Jacob Zeilin's tenure, Marine customs and traditions took shape. The Corps adopted the Marine Corps emblem on 19 November 1868 and the Marines' Hymn was first heard. Around 1883, the Marines adopted their current motto, "Semper Fidelis." John Philip Sousa, the musician and composer, enlisted as a Marine apprentice at the young age of 13, serving from 1867 to 1872, and against from 1880 to 1892 as the leader of the Marine Band.<br />
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Since their birth, our Marines have acted in numerous actions, including the First Barbary War against the Barbary Pirates (immortalized in the Marines' hymn and Mameluke Sword carried by Marine officers), the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terrorism.<br />
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Commandant James F. Amos is currently the highest-ranking officer of the Marine Corps, is the symbolic and functional head of the Corps, and has the U.S. Code Title 10 responsibility to man, train, and equip the Marine Corps. He is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports to the Secretary of the Navy.<br />
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On this day, we remember and respect all our Marine brethren, those who have fallen, those who fight for our freedoms, and those who have always stood true to our United States of America. If you come across a solder, thank him. Your freedom isn't free. May G-d watch over them, bless them, and keep them safe. They do the same for us every single day.<br />
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Happy birthday to our devil dogs, leathernecks, jarheads, gyrenes, and soldiers of the sea... and here's to many more!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1svMgNcyWq8">Semper Fidelis and Oooorah!</a>Talya A. Drissmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462777111153540839noreply@blogger.com0