By the by…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on July 4, 2009 by skulz fontaineI stole the Bullwinkle thingy from Michael Rivero’s WhatReallyHappened.com. Yup, I surely did.
A Most Excellent Letter…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on July 3, 2009 by skulz fontaineAn Open letter to President Obama: Why Are we supporting Israel’s war crimes in Gaza?
by Mohamed Khodr
(Thursday, July 2, 2009)
“All it takes President Obama for a series of events to occur to liberate Palestinians, our foreign policy, and our freedom from fear to debate Israel is ONE, just one, Oval office speech on the issue. You will be shocked and surprised at the outpouring of support of the American people who just need a courageous leader to unleash their oppressed voice in support of freedom and security for all in the Holy Land. Is Barack, the blessed one, the man of destiny, the deliverer of peace for the Holy Land? Should we have the audacity to hope for such?”
“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.”
– Abraham Lincoln
“Right and wrong are the same in Palestine as anywhere else. What is peculiar about the Palestine conflict is that the world has listened to the party that has committed the offence and has turned a deaf ear to the victims.”
– Arnold Toynbee;
Dear President Obama:
Peace Be With You, your family, our nation, and all of humanity as we prepare to celebrate Our Independence Day, a day illegally denied to so much of humanity, but none more so unjust and cruel than our illegally and immorally supported Israeli occupation of millions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the besieged concentration camp we call Gaza.
The world is quite cognizant of the power and influence Israel and its powerful lobbies and Congressional allies hold on our foreign policy toward the Mideast and the Muslim world. Yet, in your destiny to become our President you have the innate intelligence, ability, charisma, and oratory skills to become the agent of change, the one to dare to accomplish the divine duty of justice for all, at home and abroad.
No greater need for your audacity to challenge injustice is needed than to end what the world knows to be the cruelest of injustice upon a hapless population who lost their nation by force and ethnic cleansing, not even sparing their churches and mosques, nor their cemeteries where generations of their ancestors are buried–the victimized, demonized, unseen and unheard cries of Palestinians living under the brutalism of a heartless regime, a regime we Americans fund, support, and protect as they unleash their military power at whim knowing their actions are above all divine and human laws. We Americans subsidize their continued war crimes as they invade their neighbors, bomb with banned weapons, fly into sovereign nations to destroy as they deem, knowing full well our government will stand behind their “right to defend themselves.”
Mr. President, you chose to challenge Israel on the simplest and safest issue deemed illegal even by most Israeli’s: the Settlements. Yet, even in this small matter Israel is wielding enough strength to force your retreat and compromise being shameless in insulting the very hand that feeds it. This superpower nation is paralyzed to even force a food convoy of milk and medicines through an Israeli border crossing to feed a Palestinian infant. History tells us that Israel has the power to withstand Presidents as long as Congress, Wall Street, and the media ensure its lies and propaganda are the sole “true” narratives reaching the White House or Main Street.
Today, Amnesty International joins every other international human rights body, including those in Israel in portraying Israel’s Pre Planned devastation in Gaza as a war crime. Two days ago Israel again violated International Law by hijacking a ship, the “Spirit of Humanity”, in International waters that carried emergency aid to Gaza and imprisoned its human rights activists including Cynthia McKinney whom you know was a six term former Congresswoman and Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate and other activists from several nations. What would you do Mr. President if Iran committed this crime?
You, Mr. President, chose, like our media to remain silent on this outrageous act of piracy. Is might more powerful than right in our democracy, the democracy you spoke of so passionately in your speech to the Muslim world? Is your support among Jewish Americans, your legislative agenda that will be watered down to negligibility or defeated, or your re-election more valued by you than the lives of young girls in Palestine who are as worthy in the eyes of God as your two precious daughters? Elie Wiesel said; “Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
America voted for you in hope and out of despair, sadly our nation after the vote hibernates back to its self serving niche believing their deed is done and the elected will do the right thing. Tragically, after the elected move to the bubble of D.C. they become the pawns of the very special interests you railed against in your campaign.
As long as Israel occupies Palestine and our capitol, America will never know peace and will always be on the verge of fighting another Mideast or Muslim nation to serve Israel’s and not our national interest. The key to an enduring peace with the entire Muslim world, a world rich in oil, gas, and Pro American markets, begins, as you well know, with ending Israel’s decade’s long oppressive and inhumane occupation of Palestinians allowing their own July 4th celebration.
All it takes President Obama for a series of events to occur to liberate Palestinians, our foreign policy, and our freedom from fear to debate Israel is ONE, just one, Oval office speech on the issue. You will be shocked and surprised at the outpouring of support of the American people who just need a courageous leader to unleash their oppressed voice in support of freedom and security for all in the Holy Land. Is Barack, the blessed one, the man of destiny, the deliverer of peace for the Holy Land? Should we have the audacity to hope for such?
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.”
– Abraham Lincoln
God bless, your family, and this planet yearning for peace
Source:
by courtesy & © 2009 Mohamed Khodr
A State Department Briefing…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on July 3, 2009 by skulz fontaineI have time for one more question.
QUESTION: One more?
MR. KELLY: Yeah, go ahead.
QUESTION: Erin Connors from Press TV. Former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and members of the Free Gaza Movement were intercepted by the Israeli army when they were on a humanitarian mission over there. What’s being done about that? Are they on their way home? Will they be deported? What’s the next step there, and will their supplies ever get to where they’re going?
MR. KELLY: On that last question, I don’t know the answer, actually. I think I have to refer you to the Government of Israel. We can confirm that the Israeli navy did arrest those on board this – the ship which is known as Spirit. We can’t comment on any of the individuals or the number of individual American citizens on board because of Privacy Act concern. Our Embassy has been in touch with the Israeli authorities. We have been told that the boat was stopped in Israeli waters and is being escorted to an Israeli port, or may have already gone to an Israeli port. We understand passengers are safe and all accounted for. We’re seeking consular access to the American citizens who are on board. And we don’t take any position regarding the Free Gaza Movement or any of its messages.
QUESTION: Anything on Mitchell-Barak meeting yesterday?
MR. KELLY: I think we issued a statement.
QUESTION: In addition to that?
MR. KELLY: Well, I think I’ll let the statement stand for itself.
from the Visigoth- State Department’s Mr. Kelly is about the dumbest freaking sycophant crawling over the surface of Planet Earth. Ass-clown would be insufficient a lable for such a disgraceful performance.
rollin’ rollin’ rollin’…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on July 2, 2009 by skulz fontaine
The Outrage Continues…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 30, 2009 by skulz fontaineFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 June 2009
For more information contact:
Greta Berlin (English)
tel: +357 99 081 767 /
friends@freegaza.org
Caoimhe Butterly (Arabic/English/Spanish):
tel: +357 99 077 820 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk
www.FreeGaza.org
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm] – Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. “President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of “Cast Lead”. Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”
Arraf continued, “Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release.”
###
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Justice
tel: +972 2646 6666 or +972 2646 6340
fax: +972 2646 6357
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: +972 2530 3111
fax: +972 2530 3367
CONTACT Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office at:
tel: +972 5 0620 3264 or +972 2670 5354
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
CONTACT the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask for their assistance in establishing the wellbeing of the kidnapped human rights workers and help in securing their immediate release!
Red Cross Israel
tel: +972 3524 5286
fax: +972 3527 0370
tel_aviv.tel@icrc.org
Red Cross Switzerland:
tel: +41 22 730 3443
fax: +41 22 734 8280
Red Cross USA:
tel: +1 212 599 6021
fax: +1 212 599 6009
###
Kidnapped Passengers from the Spirit of Humanity include:
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of Bahrain.
Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.
Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.
Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.
Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief=2 0worker and community activist from Bahrain.
Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.
Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.
Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries focus on international struggles for social justice.
Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.
Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit of Humanity.
Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.
Fathi Jaouadi, UK
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.
Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.
Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.
Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as well as a=2 0former U.S. congressperson and presidential candidate.
Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.
Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.
Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.
ten thousand
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 30, 2009 by skulz fontaine
ten thousand
twenty thousand
thirty thousand churches
across our land and
at the appointed hour
they each and every one
slammed their doors shut
closed and
your kind can’t come in here
because and simply
jesus can’t love you
see?
because unequivocally
you’re not good enough
as we!
