Predominant among the stories captivating the media today is the current conflict in Israel/Gaza. One can scarcely get through to the next commercial without an update on this war. Generally speaking, the reporters are in Gaza pointing out Israel's actions. Occasionally they mention the thousands of rockets that have been fired into Israel by Palestinian terrorists. However, more prevalent are reports of the deaths and wounding of Palestinian civilians, complete with pictures of destroyed homes and videos of smoke from burning buildings. We have been treated to reporters surrounded by Arab children and inundated with videos and statistics of injured Palestinians (especially children) being rushed off in ambulances.
An extremely interesting opinion piece written by Thane Rosenbaum for the Wall Street Journal highlights some interesting sidelights:"There are now reports that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are transporting themselves throughout Gaza in ambulances packed with children. Believe it or not, a donkey laden with explosives detonated just the other day." (I know the animal-rights activists will be outraged by that.)
The reports continue as, "Oh yes, by the way, Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Israel today." Somehow they forget to mention that same thing happened yesterday and the day before, etc., ad nauseam. The unbiased media seldom mention the more than 2,000 rockets launched into Israel since the terrorists moved into Gaza after Israel withdrew. I have yet to see a video of Israeli children and adults dashing for a bomb shelter to escape Palestinian rocket attacks.
According to our own government, America has – along with Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union – officially designated Hamas as a "terrorist" organization. Additionally, Hamas has violated every ceasefire, continued to smuggle in arms and stockpiles of weaponry through elaborate tunnels, has continued firing rockets at Israeli citizens and has a number of times demanded the annihilation of the nation of Israel. Hamas is now an official part of the Palestinian government. Oddly enough, you hear almost no commentary on this, only calls for an immediate ceasefire by Israel.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I do not recall Secretary of State John Kerry flying in to meet with the Palestinian leadership to stop their firing rockets into Israeli towns and villages. Nor do I remember hearing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lambast, as he did Israel, Hamas for firing rockets into Israel and calling for an immediate ceasefire by the Palestinians first.
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There are, of course, those who vociferously and continually condemn Israel for its treatment of the "poor Palestinians" who, incidentally, overwhelmingly voted to incorporate terrorists into their government. You can read numerous articles about how badly the Palestinians Arabs are being treated by Israel, who, according to said articles, obviously "hate Arabs." Coincidently, these same authors neglect to mention that today there are almost as many Arabs (1.6 million) living as free, full-fledged citizens in Israel as there are living in Gaza (1.7 million).
However, neither Christians nor Jews (who freely accept their Arab and Christian neighbors) can live in Gaza.
Hamas, now that it is officially part of the government in Gaza, has edited its manifesto. It has shifted to a more moderate position; it no longer calls for the destruction of Israel but "the establishment of an independent state, whose capital is Jerusalem" (emphasis added).
"Since the establishment of limited Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the mid-1990s, the U.S. government has committed approximately $5 billion in bilateral assistance to the Palestinians, who are among the world's largest per capita recipients of international foreign aid" (Congressional Research Service).
Keep in mind, Israel and America are allies, yet the Obama administration announced a week ago that it is sending $47 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian government.
"Humanitarian aid" to a government that calls on its own citizens to refuse to leave buildings Israel has warned will be targeted? If these government officials are willing to have their people killed by pre-announced Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages, how much humanitarian concern does it have?
Quick question: In the history of warfare, how many nations have pre-warned the enemy of an impending strike? These government officials and religious leaders are willing to have their people killed during pre-announced attacks for political propaganda purposes. They encourage their citizens to die just to make an anti-Israeli political statement to the media. That's humanitarian concern for the wellbeing of its citizens? Does anyone really think a government that would sacrifice its own people to make a political statement to the media has any real concern for the actual wellbeing of its citizens?
In "da hood" (the neighborhood), "What up wid dat, Homies?" is essentially the request for a report on the status quo. They are looking for an answer to a specific issue from those currently in the know. If it is a question as to the current generalized state of affairs, "dat" (that) is left out. Specific information requires a "dat."
I have a question for the current administration. You just approved an additional $47 million in humanitarian aid to a government that openly calls for the destruction of its neighbor, continually allows rockets to be fired at civilians and promotes the death of its own citizens as martyrs and human shields.
"What up wid dat, Homies?"
Media wishing to interview Ben Kinchlow, please contact [email protected].
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