Netanyahi: "Israel not a state of all its citizens"

Could Benjamin Netanyahu be more clear?

"Israel is not a state of all its citizens."   "According to the basic nationality law we passed, Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people - And only it.".

This reminded me of an incident at college in 2004 when I was an undergrad.  I wrote a piece on it and at the time, USC had a very progressive individual who was editor of "The Trojan".  My piece was published, but "The Trojan" has long ceased being printed though the very lightweight and superficial  "Daily Trojan" continues.....

Netanhay's words prompted me to look back at my 2004 essay (reprinted here).


Academic Freedom – A Double-Edged Sword



So when we have a fascist on campus teaching Middle East politics who invites other like-minded fascists and bigots to the sanctity of our classroom, what are we to do?  Do we sacrifice our graduation deadline and drop the course? Overlook our principles by continuing with the class while becoming a little more silent every day, and in my case, feeling the affects of it on my health and sanity?



The deception that lay lurking under professor Nabulsi’s smile first hit me when he passionately and categorically announced that all terrorists were Moslems.  What an assault on a religion, I thought.   Hello... did he take an amnesia pill that caused him to draw a blank on Timothy McVeigh blowing up half of Oklahoma City?  Maybe Aum Shinrikyo doesn’t factor in – they are, after all, just Japanese terrorists. FARC, in Columbia, are most definitely Christian.  IRA and ETA are Christians too.  Is this man being hateful or just stupid?  I thought I would just correct him this time, after all, he is a professor and I am the undergrad; and it may be that  I had taken courses in terrorism and  he had not.  Not being of a stingy disposition, I would share my information with him and the class.



But then, he moved onto Iran as his next subject of attack.  With confidence, he made the statement that Iran is the “leader of world Moslem fanatics.”  I thought someone ought to let him know that the Taliban were (are) far worse, and were created thanks to the help of the U.S.  Of course, no one can beat the life style of the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia.  At least in Iran the women vote, they can hold seats in the parliament, the Noble Peace Prize winner was a woman, and yes, the Iranian envoy to the world economic forum at Davos was the Vice President, a female.  She was no match for the stunning Angelina Jolie, but she was there representing her state as a female politician.  I wonder if Nabulsi knows where Davos is!



I decided to talk to him one on one – in his office.  Didn’t help much.  He thought I only object to the information he is giving out in class because I am afraid that people would realize how bad Iran really is and there would be mounting anti-Iranian feelings.  What an idiot this man is – he really doesn’t know anything.  There’s already plenty of anti-Iranian feeling going around.  In fact, it is considered to be the most disliked country by Americans, at least, according to a recent CNN poll.  But CNN is another story.



Next on Nabulsi’s assault list were the Palestinian people.  For this purpose, he had a fascist diplomat from Israel. The diplomat, with a poorly made tupe (hair-piece) and a badly stained suit, proudly announced--as if he had come by a brilliant realization--that the Palestinian population should not be allowed to go over 20%, for then it would become 30%, then 40% and so on.  He said that if it exceeded 20%, it would lead to civil war and then gave examples of civil wars in the Middle East, being careful to emphasize that Muslims were always involved:  Lebanon, the 8-year Iran-Iraq war (funny, I always thought that was an interstate war!), Sudan (that one, I thought, was in Africa), Yugoslavia (I guess Europe is now part of the Middle East), Russia (they moved borders lately?).  So I asked this “Diplomat” how he proposed to solve the Palestinian problem, by gassing them, sterilization, or what other method, and, secondly, why he had left out Rwanda in his list of ‘Middle-East’ civil wars? 



His answer was: “You misunderstood me, the Israeli population will also grow,” and “I left out Rwanda because I was talking about the wars in the Middle East, Rwanda is in Africa.”  Boy, he must have been told by Nabulsi that we are really dumb in that class.



A couple of days after the “diplomat’s” visit, Nabulsi walked in proudly and announced that “the diplomat did not have a solution for the Palestinian problem.”  He gave a whole bunch of statistics, compared the Palestinians to the French Canadians, and gave us his “solution” which entailed sending those Israeli Arabs who would fight for their fellow Palestinians out of Israel and into the West Bank.  I later found out that his “solution” comes from a book he has us read, and this little man takes credit—if you can take credit for bigotry—for other people’s ideas.



Of course, he is careful to cover his bases by always saying this is my opinion.  And as long as the students are not denied the chance to voice their opinion, then the school has done its part.  But there is more to it than that.  Is the school not responsible for selecting decent professors who are not only qualified, but have the moral capacity to teach.  Where is common decency and humanity?  At what point does the expression of one’s ideas infringe upon the right of others? 



We are here to learn values and become problem solvers.  I really don’t care if a Jew, a Moslem, Hindu, black or white is being attacked, it just shouldn’t happen.  Instead, we should all put on our armor, waxed with high morals, and fight bigotry and defend the least privileged link in the human chain.  The strong don’t need our support; it is the weak and down-trodden that need protection.  If we let go of this principle, we lose sight of humanity.  What this man is teaching in his lectures, as I tried to explain through the appropriate channels (which fell on deaf ears) is social Darwinism.  Survival of the fittest may work for some, but it is a very lonely concept. We can do better.



The silver lining is that this professor was a last minute substitute.  Let’s hope this is his last teaching assignment.  My message to him: Nabulsi, snap out of it, get a life, but not here.  Apply for a job at Fox.  Your racist bile doesn’t belong in the academia.

Democracy's Sirens

One of the first articles I wrote - first published by Payvand* in 2005.  Amateurish, but accurate.  It is just as applicable today.

One can easily change "Iran" with all the other countries the US is destroying under the banner of 'democracy' and 'human rights' (here I have Venezuela in mind).   And it continues as we have become keyboard warriors instead of  protestors.  How well they have managed to silence our voices by having it confined to cyberspace!  And we share the guilt.


Democracy’s Sirens



In Greek mythology, the SIRENS had maidens' features, but from the thighs down they had the forms of birds. One of them played the lyre, another sang, and another played the flute. By these means, and by clever, knavish, and deceitful words, they persuaded passing mariners to linger, thus causing their destruction.   The SIRENS are thought to be three, but the names given are more: Aglaope, Leucosia 2, Parthenope 3, Pisinoe 1, Thelxiepia.



Our ‘Sirens’, bearing the maiden features of Lady Liberty, seduce potential victims with sweet whispers of democracy, human rights, etc.. So much so that war drums are tuned out in the songs, coups are disguised as lyrics.  seduce potential victims with the sweet words of ‘democracy’ even though the lyrics and songs are taken to the intended victims in tune with war drums, their space intruded upon. Whispers and words so seductive that the intended victims don’t see the claws of the bird of prey, nor do they smell the stench of death of over a million dead in Iraq, untold number of Afghanis killed.  They are deaf to the wailing of the Palestinians –they don’t remember that it was ‘Siren’ that brought dictatorship to Iran at the cost of democracy – devouring those in Iran who sought freedom and autonomy.   



Once again, our  ‘democracy’ seeks to commit genocide in Iran while the Siren deceptively whispers  ‘democracy and human rights’.   It demands $75 million dollars to promote ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’ in Iran, yet it stops humanitarian aid to the victims of one of the worst earthquakes in recent history  - the beautiful and historic city of Bam with a reported death toll of 70,000 – 80,000 people.   The World Bank, caught up in the Bush administration's campaign against Iran, has had to suspend  $5.4 million in payments for four projects involving earthquake relief, water and sanitation, environment management and urban housing for earthquake relief, sanitation and other projects in Iran in response to new American sanctions on leading Iranian banks[i].  



As America continues its strangulation of Iranians, it chides China and Russia for their reluctance to further punish Iran for  having the audacity to exercise its right under the NPT[ii].   Yet the United States, home to the Siren, to independence, forgets that she lost her credibility long ago – when in 1971 Congress voted to flout UN sanctions and import key minerals from Indonesia.   



“[T]he imposition of economic sanctions against the state of Rhodesia by the U.S. and other countries at the instigation of the United Nations constituted nothing less than bare-faced aggression, unprovoked and unjustified by a single legal or moral principle.”[iii]



Following the above speech made by Dean Acheson in 1968, the Byrd Amendment of 1971 allowed the U.S. to purchase high-grade chrome from Rhodesia. 



Today, America forgets her past and wants only to rule, ruthlessly.  

* I no longer post for Payvand.   I spoke out against the 2009 failed color revolution in Iran which by all indications, they fully supported.

---

[i] http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/04/africa/sanctions.php

[ii] http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071102/wl_mideast_afp/usiransanctionsrussiachina_071102195359

[iii] http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/remembering_rhodesia.htm

IRI at 40 - Feminists Still Asleep

So some are claiming Iranian women are "oppressed". Seems to these misinformed people (put as politely as I could), I have to say this:

Iranian women are free from shackles, free to pursue their dreams and hopes. Look at this country and remember that laws were passed in the US to end discrimination. It was a law many did not like, but it was a law that benefitted the nation. In America the law forbids discrimination based on color, race, religion, etc. This opened doors for the less privileged. Blacks, white, and brown - and all in between could pursue education and careers not previously possible. In Iran, the imposition of hijab (which comes in many ways depending on your preference - a thin scarf covering hair -- which by the way, Europeans wore/wear -- to long black chador or not black chador, is akin to non-discrimination. In the old days, as I explain in my article, your religious and social belief reflected by hijab was an impediment to progress. No longer. If you want to look at the issue historically world-over, the veil/hijab was always worn by the affluent, the peasants and the prostitutes wore loose clothing. The peasants because they needed to dress freely to carry on with manual labor, and the other workers to attract clients. Then the West decided to reverse things. And this was really pushed and promoted by Hollywood and media. Half-way naked women were 'modern', 'emancipated' (even as they sold their nakedness for money) and the elite of society, and those who cover up are the opposite. We may all have our preferences as to which we prefer, but we do not have the right to impose our values on anyone.

So if you think hijab is oppression, I suggest you get educated. I do not defend hijab, just the truth and facts.

Odd that after 40 years, the misinformed and the propagandists are still going after women's headscarves in Iran. 

Discovering Iran

Trump: Impeding Impeachment?

Trump may be more clever than we give him credit for.

There is zero doubt that Jewish money (Adelson primarily) and Evangelicals brought him into power.   Israel has been the number one agenda for this President as well as with past presidents.   Trump actually confessed to this!

Trump was so eager to serve Israel that they actually made a coin of him on one side and Cyrus the Great on the other. 

The occupation is moving ahead full speed.  Israel even demanded that US acknowledge Israel ownership of Syria's Golan.   At the UN, America voted against censuring Israel for its occupation of the Golan Heights.

There is no doubt that Israeli-base think tanks planned the interference in Syria.  "Assad must go" not for the Syrians but for the Zionists. 

Having lost the House to a 'blue wave', Trump knows full well he is facing charges, and possibly impeachment. 

US presence in Syria and Afghanistan is hugely unpopular.  Obama refused to attack Syria and undermined himself by not 'honoring' the red line he had set because such a move would have been hugely unpopular.

Although Trump has been in Washington long enough to know who the boss is, there is little doubt that he is a master showman.

By announcing troop withdrawal from Syria (after discussions with Turkey and no doubt, Netanyahu),  he amassed huge support from the liberal, progressive, anti-war Americans.  With his Wall, he is holding onto his base while increasing support among his detractors.   NATO member Turkey was left in charge, as well as giving a green light to Israel to "defend itself".  A win win for all.

He will use this card (anti-war) to appeal to the public should they want to impeach him.

Mercenaries take over!

When in unanimous move, Congress voted to withdraw support for the Yemen war, it did so under the '1973 war powers act'.  This weakened Trump, but also was a positive move for US propaganda, showing a 'humanitarian' side!

The mercenaries (Blackwater) had been working in the region both under Obama and Trump, working alongside UAE.

Troops will leave, but mercenaries will replace them. 

Syria Troop Withdrawal?

By his own admission, not to mention empirical evidence, Trump/US serves Israel's interest by being in the Middle East.

Trump was selected by Israeli-firsters, the Jewish casino man Adelson and the Evangelicals.

Trump was lobbying for Netanyahu in 2013.

Jerusalem was recognized as "Israel'" capital.

Less than a month ago, in November, US vetoed UN resolution condemning "Israeli" occupation of Syria Golan.  As Congress in April 2018 demanded that US formally recognize "Israeli" occupation of the Golan.

US is in Syria for Israel's sake.

So why the announcement that US announced it would withdraw troops - after it guaranteed  Turkey with arms to hold off Iran


http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/turkey-patriot-missile-system-and-related-support-and-equipment

Turkey is preparing for an all out assault on Syria.

"Israel" says it feels threatened by the US troop pull out and may even start an assault - one on Syria and one on Lebanon (tunnels being the excuse).

I fear very unfortunate times are coming.

Yellow Vest, Yellow Jackets ...

.

Manage


https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/

I believe their first trial of this was the 2009 Iran elections.