FOLIO
I am from the “Baby Boomer” generation. I was born and raised in the South, during segregation. I have experienced many changes and evolutions in our once great nation. There were no black students in my schools until my last two years in high school, 1970-71. But thank God, we came to our senses and strived and continue to correct the horrific injustices and disgrace of segregation.
I experienced the time when women and minorities were relegated to minimal roles and career choices. Besides the prejudice, compensation was also subjected to that “glass ceiling” in spite of their accomplishments and great abilities. Again, our nation strived and continue to correct this short-sighted social injustice.
There was a time when our nation exercised prejudice based on who you can love and marry. Although we are not completely there, again, our nation came to its senses and strived to correct and end these atrocities.
Throughout the past, our country has allowed ignorance, bigotry/prejudice, and greed to plague our common sense and decency. This has resulted in grave injustices to humanity. Hopefully, I was able to demonstrate, that our nation has shown the ability to correct our misgivings; and always instinctively tried to return to our core values as outlined by our forefathers. Now in my 70’s, I fear that our country is taking us on a path of evil from which we will not be able to recover.
I am not pro-Israel, not pro-Palestine and definitely, not pro-Hamas. I am simply a patriot who is pro-American and pro-United States of America’s Constitution. Above all, I am pro-God and pro-humanity. I am of the Christian faith however, I support and respect Judaism, Islam and all the other world religions and their followers. So, the intent of this letter is not to promote a specific religion, ethnicity, nor any political power aspiration. My intent is to wake up our hearts and consciences for the sake of humanity and to save our country’s future.
The October 7 attack on the Israeli citizens should never be accepted or rationalized as a provoked desperate response to an oppressive occupation. Nothing justifies the killing of innocent human beings. Israel has a right to defend its citizens against any terrorist threat. My issue is with the manner in which Israel is pursuing this objective. They (Israel) are overcome with blind vengeance. As a result, Israel is resorting to collective punishment, which is tantamount to violating international human rights law. This campaign of wholesale slaughter, has murdered, via bombing and starvation, tens of thousands of innocent civilians, mostly children including infants. They have leveled homes and buildings, cut off water and medical aid to civilians. Now, who is the terrorist? That is the question that the whole world is asking.
Israel is our ally and greatly revered by our nation. It is important that we remain loyal and supportive to its safety and overall welfare. Nevertheless, Israel is a foreign sovereignty.
No foreign country, whether an ally or not, should have such an unprecedented control over our congress. How have we allowed a foreign country to control and manipulate our congress to take our nation down this terrifying abyss? If we continue, to enable our ally, to pursue this path of inhumanity, time will find us on the wrong side of history. It {history) will imprint an indelible dark stain on our country’s legacy.
We have to question, how is it that American citizens cannot voice their concern on how our tax dollars are being used by Israel; especially, when those dollars are enabling this inhumane collective punishment. Our congress has made expressing our contempt for this horrendous cruelty illegal. Or, at the very least, this objection is subject to undesirable consequences, i.e. being blacklisted on social media, loss of career and employment opportunities, and defamation of character, etc. All this is perpetrated under the guise of “antisemitic” hate speech. The biggest irony of antisemitic prevention efforts is that Palestinians are semitic; and a significate number of Israeli Zionists are descended from Eastern and Central Europe (Ashkenazi).
How is it, under our Constitution’s First Amendment right, that we are allowed to criticize American policies and laws, and even defame our glorious flag, with impunity? But congress is taking this venerable right from us if it involves any criticism of Israel’s policies or actions, again under the guise of antisemitism. Is our blind loyalty for our ally, so entrenched, that we cannot even see our departure from our American ideology and values, more importantly, departure from our values of human rights and dignity?
We are expected to deny our common sense of decency and humanity and not condemn the conflagrations in Gaza, imposed by Israel. We are not allowed in any way to follow our conscience and free thinking. Our government is complicit in committing the very things that we have been criticizing what N. Korea, China, and the past Soviet Union, have been doing to their citizens. Have our elected leaders considered us so clueless and passive that we do not see this blatant hypocrisy? Or, what’s worse and frightening, do they (elected leaders) simply not care?
America would serve Israel better, as a true ally, if we can convince them to abandon this current strategy to eradicate terrorism. There is a better way to achieve this objective without the destruction and cruelty of innocent civilians. This is one time that the end will not justify the means. Israel must understand that the current path will perpetuate more violence, on both sides. Also, the current path will lead to their self-destruction; it will create a true sense of antisemitism throughout the international community, and this is not good.
Even, if it is believed, according to international law, that Israel’s creation was not properly thought through and is oppressive; Israel is here to stay. It would be pragmatic to accept this immovable fact. It would be wiser to focus on creating a permanent solution and not waste time, on fruitless efforts, to reverse the current situation of Israel’s sovereignty.
Jews and Palestinians (Christians and Muslims), have peacefully coexisted for centuries in that region. The disruption of this symbiotic environment occurred when Zionist extremism took hold of the land and displaced the indigenous inhabitants (Nakba).
I believe that there are good people, moral and humane, on both sides, Israelis and Palestinians. I further believe that they outnumber their respective fanatic fringes, i.e. Israeli administrative minister advocating the starvation of 2 million Gazans and Hamas’ atrocious massacre on October 7. These “good people” need to take control and lead. Let them collaborate and create a society and government conducive for the 2 semitic groups; an atmosphere where they can thrive and peacefully co-exist. This is not a new concept for them.
This can only happen if we (Americans) intervene. America must facilitate and lead this initiative. Let’s spearhead a coalition of peace-seeking nations to achieve this mission. All countries have vested interest in resolving this overdrawn conflict. America and Israel can no longer afford to be perceived as the pariah in the world community.
We keep saying that Israel is the only democracy in the region; one of the main reasons for our undying loyalty. Then Israel must live up to that image to earn our constant devotion. America has always stood with Israel, regardless of world opinion and dissent. I fear that Israel takes our commitment for granted and feels entitled to our support. If Israel is a true democracy, then they should allow Gaza inhabitants, as well, the “inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”.
I urge our American leaders to search their hearts and consciences and do the right thing. Commit to upholding the oaths to which you avowed; mainly to defend and support American citizens and the United States Constitution. Supporting Israel and our national interests should not be mutually exclusive.
I came across a speaker on social media. Paraphrasing, he said that if we remain silent and passive about the bombing destruction and starvation of Gaza, then we can assume that humanity no longer exists. This was the catalyst that prompted me to write this letter.
Sincerely,
Jed Howard
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