The corrupting influence of Zionism

Anyone confused about the political character of Zionism should check out their umpteen sites on Facebook. There is such disassociation from reality, such belligerence, racism, & hatred that what at first can seem amusing becomes deeply troubling.

Most are convinced the US betrays Israel; they’re fixated on & demonize Hamas; & they repeat Israeli military claims like they come from scripture. It is laughable when they claim Hamas strapped explosives to a donkey to attack Israeli troops in Gaza during Israel’s carpet bombing last summer. The military claimed it opened fire, killing the donkey & detonating the explosives. That becomes more odious when they liken that to the Israeli claim that Palestinians use their children as human shields to justify targeting children in Gaza.

What’s disturbing about all this & not one whit funny is that Zionism has so twisted people psychologically, intellectually, morally, & politically that paranoia is their normal state of mind, that they believe crazy-assed ideas as though they were rational, that they hate so irrationally as they do.

If this assessment is wrong, please suggest a Zionist Facebook site where the theoretical & political level doesn’t look like farce on the surface, folly in the commitments, & tragedy in the corruption of young people.

The travesty of US justice

The US Justice Department (JD) is running two investigations related to the police murder of Michael Brown last August. One is whether the cop violated Brown’s civil rights during the summary execution. Because, so it’s claimed, it’s difficult to prove willful intent beyond a reasonable doubt, no one expects civil rights charges will be filed against the cop. Didn’t someone once say, “the law is an ass”? Shouldn’t those who parse law to turkey trot around justice be thrown out of the practice on their ears?

There are also reports the JD will file a lawsuit against the Ferguson Police Department for discrimination against Blacks. Future prosecutors take note: any trial will be a real study in legal maneuvering.

Just a reminder that the JD is still investigating civil rights violations in the vigilante murder of Trayvon Martin in February 2012. What’s that mantra about ‘justice delayed’?

Human rights crimes on the Mediterranean

Young immigrants ( REUTERS:Antonio Parrinello) Feb 16 2015

These are some of the young men who survived the horrific crossing from Libya to the island of Lampedusa where there is an immigrant processing center. The survivors are from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Mali, & Mauritania, according to a UN immigration agency. They didn’t just survive the crossing but unlike 29 of their fellow countrymen, they survived the rescue by the Italian coast guard who use boats too small to accommodate people below deck.

The death of 29 immigrants rescued by the coast guard & forced to stay on upper decks in brutal weather for 18 hours has to be among the most horrific human rights crimes ever committed under EU immigration policy.

None of the damn officials from Italy, the EU, or the UN look anything but criminally stupid, incompetent, & vicious. But there are those in this otherwise bleak story who stand out for having some humanity. And not for the first time. In October 2013, when a boat carrying 364 immigrants mostly from Eritrea, Somalia, & Ghana sank off the coast of Lampedusa, local fishermen blew the whistle on the the Italian coast guard for intentionally bungling the rescue. When the Italian government moved the bodies of the drowned to Sicily for burial in scattered, unmarked graves, survivors were unable to attend the memorial service or hold funerals for their own loved ones. Residents of Lampedusa joined human rights activists, survivors of the accident, & detainees at the Lampedusa refugee center in protest.

Lampedusa’s mayor, Giusi Nicolini, has more than once publicly criticized the EU & Italian government for their immigration policies, including comparing them to organized crime & asserting that none of them cares if immigrants live or die.

These young survivors have just been put through hell & what’s remarkable to note is the air of defiance & dignity they still hold. Unless we rally to their defense as brothers & sisters, we should hang our heads in shame.

Immigration is a human right! No ifs, ands, or buts.

(Photo by Antonio Parrinello/Reuters)