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I know as a Jew and a Zionist I am supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy today. After all the President of the United States did greet the Israeli Prime Minister with great respect and they expressed their long lasting friendship. To make it even better, President Trump went as far as saying that he would move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. That’s never been said before. Oh wait. It has been said before. By just about everyone else to run or step into the office since at least the mid 90s. So although I appreciate the nice words, right now they are nothing more than that, and as a Jew I am yet to be convinced.
For example, outgoing President Barack Obama, a disappointment to so much of the Jewish community started off by making the following comments.
“Let me be clear,“Israel’s security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. … Any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel’s identity as a Jewish state with secure, recognized, defensible borders.”
“Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided.”
Go back to recently defeated candidate Hillary Clinton who wrote the following in a letter, dated July 2, 1999 to Dr. Mandell Ganchrow of the Orthodox Union in New York.
“If I am chosen by New Yorkers to be their senator, or in whatever position I find myself in the years to come, you can be sure that I will be an active, committed advocate for a strong and secure Israel, able to live in peace with its neighbors, with the United States Embassy located in its capital, Jerusalem.”
Her husband, former President Bill Clinton declared in February 1992, at the height of the Democratic primaries, that he supported recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a step that would alter U.S. policy, but never signed the 1995 congressional mandate to move the embassy.
Senator John McCain pledged to move the U.S. embassy in Israel “right away” from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as did Senator Robert Dole and George W. Bush who actually did become president. Candidate Bush made the pledge to move the embassy on his first day in office. Once in office he said he went from doing it on the first day to saying he would begin the process on his first day. Instead he signed a waiver every 6 months delaying the same 1995 congressional mandate and in the end never did it.
Enter President Donald J. Trump. Yes he has said some very nice things. He too promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem. But now he is looking into it. He promised to rip of the Iran deal on his first day. We must have missed it. And he publicly stated the following at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“I would like you to hold back on settlements for a little bit.”
Donald Trump may end up being the best friend Israel ever had in the Oval Office. I certainly hope so. But forgive me if I’m not ready to throw a party yet. I’ve heard this song before.
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Dear Michael,
I just finished reading your statement as to the reasoning behind you cancelling your trip to Israel, and although your message was masterfully articulated, it is sadly riddled with an enormous undercurrent of serious & unfortunate ignorance. You see Michael, what you and so many others fail to realize, is that over the years filled with constant terrorist attacks murdering Israelis and manipulated uprisings, citizens of Israel have been victims more than the Palestinians have and most of the victimization of the Palestinians has been predominantly at the hands of their very own leaders, not the Israeli government.
If even a small fraction of the funding given to the Palestinian leadership had been put into developing their neighborhoods and cities, the Palestinian quality of life would be so much better we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Instead the billions of dollars received has primarily been used for funding terrorism and making their leaders extremely wealthy people. Naturally they do not want you to know this because that would destroy their illegitimate narrative of having a plight similar to those of non-white citizens of the former Apartheid regime in South Africa. The truth is that even blacks from South Africa have come out often attacking this comparison saying that what happens in Israel is far from being Apartheid. I urge you to view this video of a South African member of Parliament and a man of color, Kenneth Meshoe, discussing the misguided view that Israel is an Apartheid State. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykFVV9QdvZU
I further encourage you to take note of these 3 quotes from the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whose picture you chose to exploit as evidence for your misguided stance.
“When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You’re talking anti-Semitism!”
“The whole world must see that Israel must exist and has the right to exist, and is one of the great outposts of democracy in the world”
“Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity. I see Israel as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality.”
No one with any decency and reason will say or has ever said that Israel has done everything right, but the stance you have taken puts the entire burden of blame of the government of Israel. That is not only disingenuous and harmful towards the very people you claim to now care so much about, it is also blatantly anti-Zionist, and if you are to use Dr. King’s picture as a tool on your Twitter page you best know that he would have seen you as being anti-Semitic as a result. Whether that is your intention or not, your judgment and subsequent actions create that perception and destroy your credibility. I suggest you revisit this issue and reconsider your stance.
Sincerely,
David Groen
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Watch the world argue about the immigration ban while Trump sneaks in his Supreme Court pick. He’s created the perfect distraction while pandering to the base that got excited when he said he would ban Muslims from entering the US. He needed a big distraction from the naming of the next Supreme Court Justice and he got one. 90 days from now, love it or hate it, this executive order will be far less relevant than who takes the place left by Antonin Scalia. The media is falling for this because ultimately President Trump is giving them what they want the most. ratings. Meanwhile he has his base loving him for looking as though he is doing everything he promised he would do. This is no out of control idiot in the White House. This is a very calculated marketing genius.
Far more people know about crowd size and the “dishonest media” than do about the details of the new president’s executive orders. I am guessing that is esactly how he wants it. The ethical arguments taking place today are small potatoes compared to how this administration is playing everyone. Including those who supported him.
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I did not vote for Donald Trump, I did not want him to win, and I was one of those millions of Americans stunned and at least somewhat horrified by his victory. But that’s over now. He is indeed the 45th President of the United States, making him my president and the person in government I now need most to succeed.
I believe in free speech, I believe in protest, and I believe in the right to challenge our leaders. I however will choose only to exercise the first one I mentioned, free speech. Why? Because personally, and I emphasize personally because I get and respect the need others have right now for expression, I believe in a different approach at this time. That approach is a reset.
Part of what makes my ability to reset is one of the things that made it impossible for me to vote for Donald Trump in the first place. I was never sold that he meant and believed anything he told the American people. I believe he found the path to victory and took it. Love him or hate him, he certainly gets points for being clever. Now that he is president however, there is no more fooling anyone. Now he has the responsibility to act, and I as an American choose to wait and see what kind of actions he takes.
The time for talk is over. Now is the time for President Trump to get things done. Now is the time to protect us as promised, heel us as promised, better our lives and strengthen our economy. By us, I don’t just mean white males like myself. I mean people of all colors, all races, religions, sexual orientations, and political beliefs. Am I asking for a lot. I don’t think so. He’s the President of the United States of America and he promised to “Make America Great Again”. Despite the fact that I am one of those who already feels America is great, the bottom line is that President Trump has promised he will leave it even greater, and that task begins now.
As an American who loves his country, I want nothing more than to see our new president succeed, and rather than continue to oppose him, at this time I choose to press my own personal reset button. That reset means that nothing he has said or even done matters to me today. All that matters is what he does from this point forward. I went into inauguration day stunned at what was happening. I still could not believe that enough of America voted for this man to make him our Commander in Chief. But they did and he is, and now I start fresh in the hope that they were right and I was wrong. I not only hope and pray, but I am willing to allow for the possibility that President Donald J. Trump will be an outstanding president for all Americans in all walks of life. It’s not the easy thing to do, but in my opinion, it’s the American thing to do.
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It will be interesting to see how many people see the words Anti-Trump in the title and conclude that I am complaining about the President-elect’s victory and upcoming administration, when in reality I am doing just the opposite.
Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t all of a sudden become a Trump supporter. What I have become instead is tired. Tired of continuously litigating the same things people chose to ignore before the election. Tired of talking about his behavior, what he meant, what he tweeted and what is in his heart.
It’s safe to say that many of us who publicly shared an opinion about either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton before the election did so in the hope that something they would say would make a difference. They hoped, albeit in most cases naively, that their words would either influence many or cascade into support behind their viewpoint and help elect their personal choice for president. Now that the election is over there is no influencing anyone’s vote or impacting any outcome regardless of the popularity of the words written or spoken. Now all it is to most people is a lot of hot air.
I’m not saying we don’t have a right or even the obligation to keep the next president and his administration honest, but do so moving forward. Do so in assessment of his words or actions starting on January 21st. Even if one makes the argument that it’s important to know who you elected, how do we know with any certainty that Donald Trump even showed us who that was? I for one am far from convinced that the persona displayed in order to be elected is the man we are actually getting as the next president. In fact, I dare say it’s possible that people like me, people leaning towards the left on many issues, might be pleasantly surprised by what comes next. But if not, we need to deal with it then.
Not that I expect any credit from my right wing friends for telling the naysayers to keep quiet for now, but it is the first time in a long time I dare say that we see eye to eye on any issue other than Israel. The question is, will they be tired of the combativeness just as I am, or will they continue down their favorite road of belittling those who have different ideas than they do? If they truly feel as I do, they will have reached a point where the same criticism of the same people over and over feels like nothing more than an exhausting exercise in futility.
It’s time to move forward people. Pay attention, speak out and be active if that is your choice, but move forward. It’s better for everyone involved, and a lot less tiring.
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I didn’t vote for Trump. Given the opportunity I wouldn’t vote for him again. So you get my point. I don’t particularly like him. But you know what I do like? America. Part of America and what makes it great is the peaceful transfer of power. So for all of those like me who are not fans of the President-elect, I have the following message for you. Enjoy Inauguration Day and celebrate it.
I expect Democratic lawmakers to challenge the incoming President and hold him accountable for his actions. That is part of democracy and no matter how many Republicans try to shut Democrats up I am 100% in favor of them doing their job, which is to represent those who voted them into power. But the inauguration is a different story. It’s not about the individual you support for president rather your support for the office of the president. Boycotting, disrupting, or attempting to ruin the inauguration in any way is not partisan politics, it’s unpatriotic. Inauguration day is not dependent on who is elected, it’s the step that takes place after that individual is elected. Inauguration day, like election day, is an American institution.
The irony of protesting against or boycotting the inauguration is that it turns it into something it’s not. Partisan. It is not a Republican institution and when Democrats or Independents use their voice by trying to put a damper on the the inauguration, their efforts backfire. So do the right thing whether you celebrate who is becoming the next President of the United States or not by celebrating America’s democracy and enjoy and celebrate inauguration. It’s not the Republican or Democrat thing to do, it’s the American thing to do.
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Dear Secretary Kerry,
It took me less than 5 minutes of listening to your speech earlier today to get a very good idea of where the disconnect is between you and the administration’s approach and those of us who proudly and unapologetically support the State of Israel and its government. Since the problem is more in the method and approach than it is in the desired outcome, I am willing to assume, albeit reluctantly and mostly for the purposes of making the more important point, that your intentions are at the very least meant to be fair to both parties.
Mr. Kerry, Israel is not your child and you are not its father. I do not believe you have the right to sit in judgment over what she does as a sovereign state to protect her borders and the lives of her citizens. The philosophical discussion of whether or not a two state solution is the only way to guarantee the continuing existence of the State of Israel is a discussion that can be had by any party coming to the table with legitimate and peaceful intentions. The building of settlements, on land conquered by Israel when her very existence was threatened by hostile neighbors working towards her destruction, is an issue that can be legitimately addressed. However, like so many other things in life, things must be done at the right time, in the proper manner, and most of all prioritized correctly. The point being, until Israel’s rights are recognized and they can have an open and equitable discussion with a sincere partner in peace, discussions of Israeli policy and actions taken on any land falling under Israeli rule is not only inappropriate, it is hypocritical and immoral.
This is not a chicken and egg situation. Before there was any violence or settlements, the very same United Nations that condemned Israel last week for the building of said settlements, approved the creation of the Jewish state that this same governing body now chastises. The very same organization that once had Syria on its human rights commission, has done very little to protect the persecution and murder of Christians by ISIS and has repeatedly taken the side of terrorist organizations against Israel, now claims some high and mighty moral imperative. The reality may just be that what it is actually doing is the bidding of the very wealthy Arab states that see Israel as a Jewish thorn in their proverbial sides. This is the United Nations that you Secretary Kerry and the rest of the Obama administration have chosen to side with.
I have heard the argument that a large percentage of Israelis are against the settlements. Regardless of whether or not this is true, it is irrelevant, and frankly not the business of anyone outside of Israel. In fact, and understand that this is coming from someone who has voted Democrat far more often than Republican, I find it particularly distasteful because of the recent evidence of Russia tampering in America’s elections. How can we genuinely scream and shout in disgust over Putin’s actions when our leadership chooses to insert its influence over matters that speak to the very root of Israel’s existence? The settlements may or may not be a moral or wise course of action, but they began with actions of self defense by an Israeli government, and unless an outside nation intends to put its citizens in danger, have their young men and women fight, or risk their very survival, what right do they have to dictate Israeli policy? I do not question that the United States has done a lot to help Israel, but that means they are entitled to expect a fair and equitable friendship and alliance, not the right to control her destiny. It would be like my best friend saying that as a result of all he does for me he can determine how I furnish my home. It’s unethical and the reality is that it just doesn’t work that way.
Mr. Secretary, I started the second paragraph by saying that Israel is not your child and you are not its father. I use this analogy to make the following point. There are only a few people I feel have had the right to speak out over how I live my life. One of them was my father of blessed memory. If anyone else felt they had the right to speak to my actions as my father did or mother does, I would have every right to react in a very harsh and critical manner. Israel is America’s best and strongest ally, certainly in the Middle East and very possibly in the entire world. That fact does not give you or anyone else the right to decide how they move forward in protecting their people and territory and representatives of Israel’s government are correct for their negative and critical reactions.
Finally I leave you with this thought. When referencing all America has done for Israel, a fact I not only do not dispute but appreciate as well, understand the following important fact. America’s friendship towards Israel has always been a way of strengthening her security and insuring her existence, not a bargaining chip to be held over her head. Once the United States government takes the stance that because of its support they have the right to make demands, that friendship turns into something completely different. It turns into a tool of power and control, something no Israeli leader, no matter how inclined to the left he or she may be is likely to respond to positively. Something I am even more thankful for. The actions of the current administration in showing support for these actions have been anything but friendly, and sadly and ironically have done more damage to the peace process than any action taken by anyone or any government in quite some time. That Mr. Secretary will be most likely be your Middle East legacy.
Sincerely,
David Groen
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I have spent the past year, over the course of the US Presidential election cycle speaking out against the concept of what many might call the concept of defending the indefensible. I take pride in being anything but a hypocrite. So much so that I sometimes have views that are not in line with where I appear to stand politically. Therefore I can no longer keep silent regarding the current administration’s recent stance regarding Israel and the United Nations condemnation of the only true democracy in the Middle East.
This piece is not about Donald Trump, so I will only refer to him this one time, merely to make a point. Those who have read my work over the past year or so are fully aware that I did not support him. I found it bizarre and a bit scary when his supporters defended words and behavior many of us saw as indefensible. I can not be sure of what kind of person he actually is, but as president, to be blunt, I just don’t like him. That being said, when I speak of dislike, my feeling towards the United Nations is on a different level. So as I sit here and realize that my president, a man I voted for, has chosen as one of his last acts as leader of the free world to align himself with this bastion of corruption, I find myself in the position where I can not and will not defend the indefensible on a level far greater than any over the past year.
Ironically the issue, at least in my opinion, is not so much in the details. There are many people in Israel who are opposed to the settlements. There are also many people who believe the only real solution to the conflict is a two state solution. But that’s not the issue. What is more significant here is the condemnation by the United Nations and the lack of loyalty and support the United States has shown to Israel in not only not obstructing this condemnation, but very possibly being a driving force behind it. The United Nations has made a very lucrative business out of criticizing and condemning the Jewish State. While nations have murdered and tortured their citizens, while terrorist groups have begun to form in various parts of the Middle East, and nations like Iran have called for the death and destruction of Israel and the United States, the United Nations has encouraged and arguably promoted the idea that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. For any United States government to do anything other than oppose this, truly falls in the category of indefensible.
Just as a lie of omission is still a lie, an abstention by the United States at a United Nations vote of this significance is the same as a show of support for the vote. I truly believe Israel will get through this, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a clear act of disloyalty towards an important friend, and if it is personal and based on the relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is far worse than that. It interferes in Israeli politics in a manner not too dissimilar from a foreign government hacking America’s political parties and possibly influencing the election. It tells the Israeli people, I don’t like the person you elected through your democratic process and subsequently as a result I am turning my back on you as I walk out the door.
This is not about being a Liberal or Conservative. Alan Dershowitz, a man as liberal as anyone in the public forum has spoken out against this without any filter, and clearly feels the same sense of betrayal so many of us do at this time. This is about how to treat a friend and knowing and acknowledging the difference between right and wrong. Israel is a nation of equality. A nation where people of all religions, races, nationalities and orientations have the opportunity to live in peace. If an outgoing president and an international body decide to end the year attacking Israel instead of going after the real manifestations of evil in the world, this becomes nothing other than a vendetta, be it political, racial, or as many believe in this case, personal. Regardless of the motivation it is an act that is truly indefensible.
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Holland's Heroes 