A Southern Poverty Law Center article talks about Johnson’s leanings here.
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Why indeed? To please Israel
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Sadje, I knew Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was a real kook, but I had no idea he was a white supremacist! I am worried for the protesting students, especially the ones who got kicked off campus and had their food charge cards canceled. Most of all the places where they are thinking about sending the National Guard in. Just like back at Kent State University where students were killed. The ripples from what’s going on in Israel, Gaza, and other places near there is having earth-shattering ripples. I fear what the end game to all is :(
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Those is power and in grip of this heedless dive into authoritarian politics aren’t thinking straight. Oppression is never the answer. It turns peaceful protests into violent ones. The end may be marred by more violence. It’s sad.
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Sadje, just re-reading through the comments and this sticks out for me:
“Oppression is never the answer. It turns peaceful protests into violent ones.”
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I’ve seen that happening in my own country and around the world too. The right to protest against a wrong is the right of the people.
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Atrocious. Thank you for bringing this injustice to my attention.
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You’re welcome, K.
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As long as they are peaceful and not inhibiting anyone else I’m fine with protests…I’ve seen this one get ugly on both sides.
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Max, thank you for sharing your thoughts on it. Agreed on peaceful protest and peaceful response. When a few bad apples (not sure what ugliness the protestor(s) did?) happen, arrest the bad apples, not use it as blanket justification to purge all protestors. IIRC the Kent State University students who were murdered were not even involved in the protest, but some trigger happy agent of the state blasted into the crowd and killed. I am very fearful about this all.
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Yea when genocide is mentioned is when both sides lose me Lisa.
I think in this charged atmosphere…they will hold back because all hell would break loose and they know it…at least I hope that is what they are thinking. I cling to that anyway.
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You’re right, genocide is also a trigger word. What complicates this is how much of a Jewish influence is in every area of American culture. One person mentioned the funding of the universities, which implies anything that blemishes anyone Jewish must be squashed. What is getting lost here is that just as many of those young students protesting are Jewish. The conditions on the Gaza strip were horrendous for a long time before any of the mayhem erupted. I HATE the U.S. continuing to fund the resultant all-out attempt to exterminate Palestinians by Israel, which has now drawn Iran into the fray. Where will the madness end?
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The middle east…as you know because we grew up at the same time…will always be fighting…it will never stop ever. Remember Arafat? He had a map behind him with no Israel at all. I’m convinced they will never get along. Carter came the closest…
I’m getting to the point where I don’t want the US to give money to ANY country….take care of us first. I know that is drastic but we have our own problems…I don’t want to be an isolationist…but until we get our stuff under control… what are we doing? Our debt is astronomical…and kids can’t even buy a house now.
I know I’m wierd lol…I have conservative and liberal thoughts…
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Absolutely, Max. In total agreement that we stop giving money we don’t have and get our own country in the pink again. The roads are crumbling, sanitation systems antiquated, and no sense of urgency in getting off of the oil teat before our planet stops supporting us. The only exceptions to the money thing is to Ukraine, to stop Russia’s voracious appetite (aren’t they big enough already?) and humanitarian aid ONLY for people in dire need, like in Gaza.
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Exactly! I mean what if we spent like they did? I mean it’s absolutely crazy. I don’t mind helping some but…and this would not be popular lol…but hey…once whoever we help…gets up and running again…both Ukraine and Israel…we want some back. That is the way the real world works…but it never happens. Use that to help pay off the debt.
America pays intrest on that every single day… Canada is going through the same thing right now.
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This reminds me of the protest in the 60s. Back then, students not only used a college campus, but the streets as well. Peaceful protest in America, for a good cause is acceptable, but these ones are organized by well funded groups used to whip the students into “their” frenzy. Most of these entitled kids can’t put a finger on exactly why they are backing a terrorist group. Kent State was bad, and this is headed that way.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Phil. I don’t consider the peaceful students protesting genocide as supporting terrorism. “well funded groups” is a trigger phrase. What are your thoughts on the white supremacist leanings of Mike Johnson and his showing up on one campus to admonish “wayward naughty children”?
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It seems the US is regressing LI?
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The Daily Show had a short segment on it last night but sounded almost apologetic for it? This is the program that prides itself on slicing and dicing. Regression of the media and old f*cks running things maybe, but the youth will not be silenced. We’ll have to see what happens…
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I’m actually seeing a lot of mainstream coverage of the crackdown – though the demonstrations are portrayed as anti-Semitic and violent toward Jews (without evidence), as though one cannot oppose the actions of the Israeli government without dehumanizing all Jewish people. The irony is that the people I know who are demonstrating are Jewish and part of Jewish Voice for Peace. BBC World Service ran a fairly long interview with a Jewish man on his way to Columbia to join the demonstration – yet the interviewer felt the need to contradict him at times.
Thanks for posting the Democracy Now! piece to counter that narrative.
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Steve, THANK YOU. Maybe I should have said I don’t watch mainstream coverage, unless by stumbling upon it by accident. I like what you are saying here. They are building a straw man by saying anyone against the genocide is anti-Jewish, which is absolutely WRONG. Just like when they bombed Iraq after 9/11, anyone who was against the bombing was made out to be unpatriotic. I’m sick of it!
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It’s in the news constantly here. (K)
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GOOD! I think one of the campuses they are camping (campus and camping, huh!) out and protesting has to be in NYC? How is NY reacting to it?
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There are competing, or should I say, different nuances of opinions. There’s so much pressure on all sides. I have a friend who works at Columbia, and she feels they should have just closed the campus to outsiders and let the protesters be. But others are upset about the disruption of classes and the vitirol directed without provocation at not only Jewish students but anyone not standing with the protesters. That’s not right either. I think everyone (even the NYC Police, surprisingly) agrees that bringing in the police was not only unnecessary but a huge mistake. Reading the differing interviews and coverage and talking to people I believe that there are some outside forces, most likely conservative, just trying to turn campuses into chaos so they can divert attention from the actual issues. Because that’s what it’s done. The real issue, trying to stop the killing and deliver aid, has been lost in all the noise. A friend of a friend (who is Jewish and has friends in Israel) told me today that the Israeli government had just stopped some rabbis from trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. She was beside herself. Crazy! As she said, Netanyahu has destroyed two peoples.
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I only students are not just wasting their time protesting with the lack of media coverage for their efforts. I would rather they show up this November in mass at the ballot box.
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YES.
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Lisa, I saw you mentioned Kent State in the comments. That’s what my mind always goes back to in situations where campus protests are involved. Read something awhile ago that Neil Young’s “Ohio” has now resurfaced as an anthem for some…linking the Kent State tragedy to these current protests and the crackdowns that have followed. This Middle East conflict has had far-reaching implications for the US, and the world as well. Thanks for posting the Democracy Now segment. Very interesting.
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Bruce, thank you for sharing your thoughts on what’s happening. It is ironic that college is a place supposed to develop critical thinking skills, but when students choose to think for themselves they are severely punished. I stand with them for the right to peacefully protest, and shame on anyone who tries to crush their freedom of (peaceful) expression. Of course fringe groups will do their best to exploit a situation but students are much smarter than adults give them credit for. What strikes me of Johnson’s stance is that, otoh he takes them as dangerous disruptors and then in his speech admonishes them for being silly and choosing to “waste their parents’ money.” Which one is it, Johnson?
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I cannot get over the police response to the protests, way over the top. Has the world regressed to 1970?
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Paul, I hope you take a look at that Mike Johnson link. The forces of darkness are beginning to converge. Last night I learned that one of Drumpf’s possible running mates (after the one he tried to get hung on 1/6 ran off) is the governor of S. Dakota, who is about to publish a book where she essentially brags about shooting her 14-month-old pup for “disobedience” and a billy goat for “smelling.” I’ll be posting another video from Democracy Now! soon at this post and reposting it.
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Yes, and had heard the puppy one before – most of us here are shaking our heads – WTF – what a dumpster fire!! :(
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I saw on MSNBC that Michigan State and the University of Michigan all have protests. We’ve not heard a peep on our local stations. Johnson is MAGA through and through. It’s terrifying!
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Colleen, the lack of coverage on protests at the two campuses is truly concerning. I hope this wakes the young people up to what they are up against and take that reality check to the polls.
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Agreed. I know they want their voices heard. 💖
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One of the Indian student was thrown out for taking part in the protest.
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Punam, I think a *lot* of students are being thrown out :( Such a crazy overreaction to exercising one’s right to free speech.
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It is truly crazy, Li. 😞
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With Chief Dinglepuffs facing 92 charges and still walking around free as a daisy, of course the innocents will be chastised severely. MAKES ME SICK!
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I agree, Li, it is sickening.
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I am filled with such respect, admiration and compassion for these students and how they are fighting this cause. Just so brave. I really hope it makes a difference in the end, it just has to. The American government need to cut the funding to Israel already. It’s beyond me why that hasn’t yet happened. Thank you for sharing these links.
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Me too on the students, Sunra. What Jon Stewart suggested is that we made an unholy alliance with them in exchange for “their delicious oil.”
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What a great set of vids Li
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Thank you. There have been some new, very unsavory developments. Stay tuned…
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I wonder how it will all end, though none of this can be erased.
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I wonder also. One development in L.A. was “anti-protestors” attacked the peaceful protests for hours, clubbing and otherwise assaulting them, tearing down barricades, and shooting fireworks into their tents. The university security took NO ACTION, and although the police were called, police took NO ACTION. How ironic that on campuses where peaceful protestors are, police in riot gear are coming in and arresting them, but when VIOLENT anti-protestors are attacking them, they refuse to act. Scary Times.
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I’m appalled, now words :(
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