toastykitten

It's been a while; things still suck.

A statement from Jewish Americans opposing AIPAC: In contrast to AIPAC, we are American Jews who believe that US support for foreign governments should only be extended to those that respect the full human and civil rights, and right to self-determination, of all people. We oppose all forms of racism and bigotry, including antisemitism—and we support the historic alliance in our country of Jewish Americans with African Americans and other people of color in the cause of civil rights and equal justice.

Reject AIPAC - is a broad coalition of progressive groups working together to take on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated dark money Super PACs across electoral, political, digital and organizing strategies. The coalition calls on candidates for federal office to take the Reject AIPAC Pledge to not take endorsements or contributions from AIPAC and/or aligned PACs.

Has Zionism Lost the Argument? 

There was a recent article in NYT about Guernica editors quitting over an article that was published by an Israeli writer. I didn't find the actual article itself offensive, maybe just kind of misguided or something? But anyway, r/literature has the actual gossip - the real issue is that the article was published without any editorial insight/input and did not reflect the vision of the magazine. 

Speaking of NYT, New York War Crimes is a single-purpose site documenting criticism of NYT's journalistic practices, especially in regards to Palestine. 

Mass death is imminent in Gaza. 

Good interview between Christiane Amanpour and Josh Paul, the US arms dealer who quit his position over the US' actions in the mid-east. Very blunt on his end, which was refreshing. 

Another interview with two peace activists, one Israeli and one Palestinian on the "day after". Their proposal: 2 states, one confederation....not exactly sure how that would work. 

It is also Read Palestine week - there is a treasure trove of free books, both fiction and nonfiction about Palestine here available. I should mention that Haymarket also has a few ebooks about Palestine available for free. 

I have not yet finished watching this, but Dr. Zachary Foster is hosting a teach-in series about Palestine, and they are putting it up on YouTube:

This set of links are about how violence and death are choices for the politicians in charge:

Biden's secrecy on arms transfers unnerves some Democrats

Macron calls for ceasefire

Biden approves arms deal despite his own security order.

Netanyahu rejected ceasefire for hostages deal in Gaza weeks ago

Overwhelming demands for ceasefire catch Dems by surprise - “Members see members who step out of line lose their elections,” the Democratic aide said.
Maryland Democrats threaten funding of immigrant rights group that called for Gaza ceasefire.

Palestinian woman who lost 68 family members in Gaza confronts Elizabeth Warren. 

What is up with Bernie Sanders not calling for a ceasefire? He had no issue two years ago. 

Jacqueline McGowan, cannabis consultant, registered Dem. One of the few candidates who said she will maintain vaccine mandates and masking policies in accordance to CDC guidance. 

Trader Joe's
Darden's restaurant group (includes Olive Garden, Yard House, etc)
REI 

All the big tech companies have said they'll pay hourly employees as usual. 

Meanwhile, Congress debating whether they should go on recess. Apparently my rep re-introduced a bill from 2013 that allows Congress to take votes from home. 

In chapter 14 of Becoming, Michelle Obama describes Barack Obama missing a key vote because Malia, their first infant child at the time, was spiking a fever. This causes him a lot of trouble politically. I don't think he ever did anything to resolve the issue, but pretty much left Michelle Obama to raising the kids and dealing with it. 

When AOC took office, she instituted a generous paid parental leave policy and committed to paying her staffers at least $52k a year. 

 Tom Steyer supports BDS. Andrew Yang doesn't but supports Palestinian's right of return. 

Only two questions about China and zero about Taiwan does not cut it. 

 I wish US politics had half the bluntness of Hong Kong politics. It would cut out so much bullshit.

Witness: Video of Chapman To talking about how China extorts Hong Kong for water. At the end he says "How about you fucking thank us HKers you motherfuckers? Here's another $1k for swearing".

Promise Li: US ‘leftists’: HKers aren’t critiquing nativist violence obviously they are all fascist/CIA  HK leftist reviewing a recent nativist revisionist history book: “this book is like flies inside shit and piss, trash will always be trash even if it’s being republished”

 Because I really fucking do. 

Everyone's foreign policy answers suuucks. Every. One. No imagination.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Hong Kong protests is how quickly they are able to disseminate information, come to a consensus, and also, one of the most overlooked aspects, is how fucking good their art is. This is an article on the zines they've created, one of the cheapest ways to distribute information, especially offline. (I don't know why they don't explain that the term "salty wet', one of the names of the zines, is Cantonese slang for "perverted/perversion".