Gaza Hospital Bombing Leads to Rush to Judgement, DeSantis Knowingly Let People Die, Haley Lies About Her China Connection, My Special Book Recommendation, Al Jarreau Sings Beautifully
As an atheist from an early age (I disliked the smell of churches, the costumes and the grotesque celebration of a tortured Christ), I dislike all religions pretty much equally. All have elements which are willing to use violence to promote their views.
That said, my family and I lived for some years in the Middle East, some 50 years ago, and ordinary Muslims were unfailingly kind and generous and family-oriented. At the big open-air bazaar in downtown Kuwait, for instance, our young daughter, age 6 and far more fluent in Arabic than her parents, wandered freely, and hoody-looking teenage boys would ease her aside without thought to protect her from heavy carts or a donkey or camel.
In the years since, Islam has become so politicized that it has reverted in many areas, including Kuwait, to a Wahhabi-like intolerance.
Meanwhile, Israel, armed to the teeth by the U.S., has taken more and more Palestinian property, and it has made Gaza into the equivalent of a concentration camp.
The present violence was predictable, as was the savagery. We are complicit.
Sorting truth from propaganda, whether Israeli propaganda, the jingoistic mush from most of our media and from our federal government and fascistic pols, or from Hamas, is not possible.
All we know is that unarmed civilians are being killed with our bombs. That is enraging.
If Israel is an ally, which has never been satisfactorily demonstrated, it is an ally that preaches humanism while demonstrating the opposite.
Misinformation. What are the solutions: An international fact checking court? (semi-serious); Media are rewarded to making a rush to judgment-what are solutions to that? How does the world, in today's digital environment, correct errors? AG's today sued Meta for causing mental health problems to youth. What about lies on social media--social media rewards, reinforces and elevates lies.
Al Jarreau’s rendition of the Moonlighting theme song took me right back to being a young lawyer in the USAF and feeling as powerful as Cybill Shepherd’s character. Thanks for that .
Can’t wait to read the chapters your co-author friend has kindly made available.
Your nuanced view on the bombing of the Gaza hospital is spot on. With age, ( hopefully) comes wisdom. Let’s hope people like DeSantis and Haley can develop some in their journeys.
It’s mind boggling that you condemn Hamas but not the 75 year of oppression and assault on the Palestinian people. This terrorist attack by Hamas didn’t happen in a vacuum. Your take is devoid of context and your assessment contains immoral linguistic errors. Kareem please wake up from your Zionist addled soporific.
As my friend Rabbi susan says:”there is no symmetry between the oppressed and the oppressors
Kareem. Thank you again for " The Hour Thief." I read all the chapters so far. Waiting impatiently for the next. Talk about a wildly creative story. And in segments too. I even subscribed. If you were given the power, who would you be? Nowhere is safe for long. Max or Archie or whoever he is today.
Kudos Sir Charles - take it to Skeletor - point out the domestic violence "elephant in the room". There's a whole lot more that needs to happen, both in the NBA and in our society. This one sums it up fairly well: "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Isaac Asimov.
It’s early evening on Tues., 10.24. I saved this to read because you, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, give us such a good mix of content. Yet I think I’m at my “breaking point” - whatever that is/means - and maybe it’s because we have PBS NewsHour on and the devastation in Gaza, me hoping the children who, in the video you posted coulda been cute were a bit cruel to start. (Girls in green - sisters? - so different, one comforting.) Now the Israeli hostage describing her treatment. Where is the good?
Cathartic for me maybe?
Oh and I prefer books in print tho I’m intrigued. Thanks.
Finally: you and I are the same age. When I talk about your great thinking put into writing, I refer to you by first name - and everyone knows who is meant. Yet here, it feels less respectful to refer to you without your full name. I am showing MY age aren’t I?! The respect I have for you and a grandmother (z”l) who lives in my head dictates my actions. Thanks. A long work day ends.
I feel the same thing that Mike Lupica was feeling after hearing about a major league pitcher arrested for domestic violence: "Any guy who raises his hand to a woman is a bum."
It’s so disheartening to see the continued, constant incidences of racism, sexism, etc. I, too, had thought our society had progressed from the attitudes of the 1950’s, when minorities and women “knew their places”. Now we even have neo-Nazis marching on the streets in the open.
A few years ago I thought trumpism was a disease, and when eradicated the country would gradually go back to normal. But now I realize trumpism is only a symptom of something going horribly wrong. I knew we hadn’t passed racism, that white supremacy was still out there. But I’d thought it wasn’t anywhere near as, yes, mainstream as it is. I thought we’d passed sexism in the 70’s. Wrong again.
Personally I was taught “you don’t hit girls - ever”. I never have, and I never will. We went off the rails somewhere if there are guys that think that’s even remotely acceptable under ANY circumstances.
Who Bombed the Gaza Hospital and Why Are DeSantis and Haley Still Lying?
Will The Hour Thief come out as a hardcover book after its Substack serial release is complete?
I appreciate your caution on the new Israeli war.
As an atheist from an early age (I disliked the smell of churches, the costumes and the grotesque celebration of a tortured Christ), I dislike all religions pretty much equally. All have elements which are willing to use violence to promote their views.
That said, my family and I lived for some years in the Middle East, some 50 years ago, and ordinary Muslims were unfailingly kind and generous and family-oriented. At the big open-air bazaar in downtown Kuwait, for instance, our young daughter, age 6 and far more fluent in Arabic than her parents, wandered freely, and hoody-looking teenage boys would ease her aside without thought to protect her from heavy carts or a donkey or camel.
In the years since, Islam has become so politicized that it has reverted in many areas, including Kuwait, to a Wahhabi-like intolerance.
Meanwhile, Israel, armed to the teeth by the U.S., has taken more and more Palestinian property, and it has made Gaza into the equivalent of a concentration camp.
The present violence was predictable, as was the savagery. We are complicit.
Sorting truth from propaganda, whether Israeli propaganda, the jingoistic mush from most of our media and from our federal government and fascistic pols, or from Hamas, is not possible.
All we know is that unarmed civilians are being killed with our bombs. That is enraging.
If Israel is an ally, which has never been satisfactorily demonstrated, it is an ally that preaches humanism while demonstrating the opposite.
Thank you.
Misinformation. What are the solutions: An international fact checking court? (semi-serious); Media are rewarded to making a rush to judgment-what are solutions to that? How does the world, in today's digital environment, correct errors? AG's today sued Meta for causing mental health problems to youth. What about lies on social media--social media rewards, reinforces and elevates lies.
Al Jarreau’s rendition of the Moonlighting theme song took me right back to being a young lawyer in the USAF and feeling as powerful as Cybill Shepherd’s character. Thanks for that .
Can’t wait to read the chapters your co-author friend has kindly made available.
Your nuanced view on the bombing of the Gaza hospital is spot on. With age, ( hopefully) comes wisdom. Let’s hope people like DeSantis and Haley can develop some in their journeys.
R.I.P. Richard Roundtree (Shaft)
Kareem alas you have drank the kosher koolaid
It’s mind boggling that you condemn Hamas but not the 75 year of oppression and assault on the Palestinian people. This terrorist attack by Hamas didn’t happen in a vacuum. Your take is devoid of context and your assessment contains immoral linguistic errors. Kareem please wake up from your Zionist addled soporific.
As my friend Rabbi susan says:”there is no symmetry between the oppressed and the oppressors
haley is a con artist on several levels.
Oh yes. And Grandma too
Kareem. Thank you again for " The Hour Thief." I read all the chapters so far. Waiting impatiently for the next. Talk about a wildly creative story. And in segments too. I even subscribed. If you were given the power, who would you be? Nowhere is safe for long. Max or Archie or whoever he is today.
Next time.😁
Kudos Sir Charles - take it to Skeletor - point out the domestic violence "elephant in the room". There's a whole lot more that needs to happen, both in the NBA and in our society. This one sums it up fairly well: "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Isaac Asimov.
It’s early evening on Tues., 10.24. I saved this to read because you, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, give us such a good mix of content. Yet I think I’m at my “breaking point” - whatever that is/means - and maybe it’s because we have PBS NewsHour on and the devastation in Gaza, me hoping the children who, in the video you posted coulda been cute were a bit cruel to start. (Girls in green - sisters? - so different, one comforting.) Now the Israeli hostage describing her treatment. Where is the good?
Cathartic for me maybe?
Oh and I prefer books in print tho I’m intrigued. Thanks.
Finally: you and I are the same age. When I talk about your great thinking put into writing, I refer to you by first name - and everyone knows who is meant. Yet here, it feels less respectful to refer to you without your full name. I am showing MY age aren’t I?! The respect I have for you and a grandmother (z”l) who lives in my head dictates my actions. Thanks. A long work day ends.
I feel the same thing that Mike Lupica was feeling after hearing about a major league pitcher arrested for domestic violence: "Any guy who raises his hand to a woman is a bum."
It’s so disheartening to see the continued, constant incidences of racism, sexism, etc. I, too, had thought our society had progressed from the attitudes of the 1950’s, when minorities and women “knew their places”. Now we even have neo-Nazis marching on the streets in the open.
A few years ago I thought trumpism was a disease, and when eradicated the country would gradually go back to normal. But now I realize trumpism is only a symptom of something going horribly wrong. I knew we hadn’t passed racism, that white supremacy was still out there. But I’d thought it wasn’t anywhere near as, yes, mainstream as it is. I thought we’d passed sexism in the 70’s. Wrong again.
Personally I was taught “you don’t hit girls - ever”. I never have, and I never will. We went off the rails somewhere if there are guys that think that’s even remotely acceptable under ANY circumstances.
"I don’t know for certain. No one does."
US intelligence does. Don't play the both sides card, Kareem, it does you and your column a disservice.
I recommend you read this article from the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/why-israeli-officials-screened-footage-hamas-attack/675735/?utm_campaign=atlantic-daily-newsletter&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20231023&lctg=649e86e1703333bd0706fb52&utm_term=The%20Atlantic%20Daily
Kareem, thought you would find this interesting. It came off my wife’s TikTok feed but if true just incredible hope from the younger generation: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialnaturalx/video/7293273130305391914