As the readers of this blog will have noticed, I have studiously avoided writing about issues that were not local in nature. The focus of this blog has always been on how to make Saratoga Springs a better place. This is something that, in general, has brought together people from all political parties and from a broad spectrum from the left to the right.
I have worked hard and have successfully built a large readership during the last seven years. I know that addressing the events in Israel and Gaza will probably alienate many of the readers of this blog, but I feel impelled to respond to the current crisis.
I am a Jew. I grew up in a non-religious household that nevertheless identified deeply with the Jewish people.
The Holocaust was very much a part of my childhood. I had two cousins that were fraternal twins who endured and survived the experiments of the Nazi Doctor Joseph Mengele. One of my earliest memories (I was probably only three) was being in a large terminal in New York City to greet them when they disembarked from a ship.
My parents were people with the highest ethical standards and the greatest compassion. They supported the civil rights movement. Early on, as patriotic Americans, they supported the war in Vietnam, but they became disillusioned with that ill-fated war and eventually joined those who called for peace.
They would have, were they alive, shared my horror at the events of October 7, 2023, at the deaths of innocent Jewish civilians perpetrated by Hamas. They abhorred violence.
Having said that, they would also share my horror at the assault on Gaza. The images of Gazans attempting to dig out the bodies of children with their bare hands killed by Israeli bombs would have shaken them as they have me.
They would have been appalled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the Israeli people asking them to remember the Amalek. For those of you not familiar with this reference from the Hebrew scriptures, Yahweh (our God) directed the Jewish people to annihilate Amalek and his people.
“From man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, so that the name of Amalek not be mentioned even with reference to an animal by saying ‘This animal belonged to Amalek’.”.
When you consider that 47.3% of the population of Gaza are children, this is a particularly hideous allusion.
The killing of non-combatants and the denial of food and water to the people of Gaza is a form of collective punishment in violation of international law.
The belief that this kind of horrific violence against unarmed Palestinians will bring about some resolution to the conflict that is at the root of this war is madness.
Most people are unaware that Netanyahu is responsible for creating Hamas in an ill-fated strategy to weaken Yassir Arafat and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. October 7 demonstrated the folly of that delusional stratagem.
What do Netanyahu and his government plan to do with the 2.1 million Palestinians living in Gaza? Will his government somehow drive all these people into the Egyptian desert? Will the Israeli Defense Force occupy Gaza indefinitely? It is hard to understand where all this will lead.
Like so many other military misadventures, this will not end well. It didn’t end well for the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan in spite of massive expenditures and many soldiers’ and civilians’ lives.
I originally studied to be a historian. My reading of history is that this will not end well, not for the Palestinians and not for the Israelis.
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Saratoga Springs Politics 
Well said.
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I am also Jewish. This is all really, really well said.
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I am not Jewish. I feel that I have to be careful about what I say about this conflict because there cis so much emotion associated with it, as it should be.
The world was stunned by the ruthless attack of Hamas on innocent civilians. The people who are responsible should be found (I don’t know how) and held responsible. Relentlessly bombarding thousands of civilians in Gaza is not the answer and may actually be taking a very bad situation and making it, ultimately, much worse.
Chris Mathiesen
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Truly Sickening!
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John — I applaud you for speaking up about this in such a thoughtful and persuasive way. Brett Stephens piece in the NYT this morning was the opposite but I was encouraged that it elicited so many critical and withering responses.
Dick
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John,
John… I totally agree with your balanced, thoughtful analysis.
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John, you said it all! I applaud you! Our 15 yr old Grandson is Jewish. With your permission, I’d like to somehow share your post with him. *Namaste *, John.
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But of course
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That must have been really heavy to write about. I commend you for doing so. I do have a degree with a history concentration. It’s very hard to see history ebb and flow, especially during the worst of times. My interest in the holocaust has lead me to read extensively about the subject and visit many holocaust museums. I’ll never forget a traveling exhibit I saw when I was on a trip to Oklahoma City which focused on eugenics and Mengele. Having studied about the twin experiments, it was hard to see it all in real life. I also studied the aftermath of the lives of those who joined the cause of “The Solution.” So many very young minds overtaken to the point that they could not reconcile with their previous actions once self aware . I want to say more, but it’s too overwhelming. Voices should be heard. History has shown writing to be one of the most influential. There are so many examples. I’m glad you are able to get your thoughts out. Your readers support you. I agree it will not end well for anyone. Cycles would not be called cycles if they had an end.
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Your thoughtful and well-written piece is right on target…and heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Yay, John. THANK you. I share your view and heartache. We must all raise our voices, attend protests, or better yet (?), write to our senators and representatives, exhorting them to stop this injustice. We must get more serious international commitment to negotiate an equitable solution that supports long-term freedom, security, and rights all in the region.
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