Vu Le’s Post

As US citizens, we have the power to change the stance of our government through direct and consistent actions. Please don’t stop advocating justice for Palestine, and for all oppressed people everywhere. Read the article by Abel Semere. https://lnkd.in/ePKAmJpE

Last week, on May 15, we marked Nakba Day – 76 years since the forceful and violent displacement of Palestinians. However, the dispossession of Palestinian land started much earlier, with systematic attacks on villages and several massacres preceding Israel's founding. By May 15, 1948, half of the Palestinian refugees had already been forcibly expelled from their homes. Between 1947 and 1949, 531 towns were destroyed by Israeli militias, 15,000 people were killed, and more than 78 percent of historic Palestine was ethnically cleansed. The Palestinians witnessed rapes, the imprisonment of men and boys, and the destruction of major cultural sites. There were attacks on water sources and instances of biological warfare, with water being poisoned to force populations out. Out of the more than 1.5 million Palestinians living at that time, 800,000 were displaced. To this day, refugees have not been allowed to return and Palestinians continue to face oppression, suppression, and displacement. How have we accepted this? Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State, clued us in when she stated: “We need a common enemy to unite us.” We invent narratives; we create monsters. We do this through the dehumanization of others, labeling them as terrorists, or worse, convincing ourselves that their oppression is deserved. We do this in the name of progress, unity, and security. We exploit generational trauma to convince people that their only path to safety and security is to hurt others before they can hurt you. Our politicians divide us, plant seeds of hate, and then assure us that our comfort and security lie within their leadership. How much of our humanity have we given up? How much power have we given to those who exploit our fears and use it to feed their greed and inhumanity? We must fight against ideas that point to other groups of people as the enemy. When will we learn this lesson? Let's stop repeating the same mistakes. We cannot let the world continue manipulating our fears to hurt others. I reject the notion that for us to thrive, others must suffer. This goes against humanity. But if we are to have a common enemy, let it be injustice, oppression, colonialism, lies, corruption, and war. Let it unite us in our fight for peace, justice, and freedom for all. Say no to injustice, occupation, displacement, and ethnic cleansing; Say no to genocide.

This coming Sunday is the National Day of Action for Palestine. My heart goes out to all Palestinians in these devastating times - while I wish you all support and strength, I acknowledge that the rest of the world needs to do better. It's absolutely heartbreaking, but we can't just freeze (or just grieve) in the face of this gross injustice. Firstly, for those who feel like they're not quite across what's going on (see my blog post for all the sources/links - https://lnkd.in/g4a9Ggf7 ): • What's happening right now is genocide. This description has been accepted by both Palestinians and Jews, and indeed called out clearly by an Israeli scholar of both genocide and the Holocaust. • What's been happening well beyond the past few months is apartheid. This description has been backed by Amnesty, by HRW, by South Africa, and by Palestinians. • More than 20,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed. Almost 10,000 of those are children. Just today there are reports today of Palestinian men and boys being stripped, beaten, some killed, and the rest taken away - again these are civilians. • Health workers, journalists, aid workers have all been killed by Israeli forces. Hospitals, schools, refugee camps have all been bombed. Entire family lines have been wiped out. This cannot be described as self-defence. We must call it what it is. Genocide. And yet, many Western governments still aren't calling for a permanent ceasefire. So, with this Day of Action in mind - what action can we take? • Acknowledge that you can support Palestine and Palestinians without supporting Hamas, just like we can (and do!) support Jewish folks without supporting the Israeli government. Criticising Israel is not anti-semitic. (And spare a thought for Jewish folks who must be absolutely devastated seeing this continued violence carried out in their name). • Do not reduce the situation down to a religious war. Many Jewish folks speaking out against the actions of Israel, and standing in support of Palestine. • Do not retreat into a "both sides are at fault" dismissal of the situation. One side is committing genocide. One side is imposing apartheid. One side is building illegal settlements and dispossessing others from their homes. • Don't use the label 'conflict' - this sidesteps the historical context, the long-standing abuses of international law, the genocide. • Ask your politicians (again!) to speak strongly in support of a ceasefire - both in the media, and at the UN. • If you're able to, go to the rallies (a physical showing of support matters - and yes, Jewish folks are there too!) • Donate to organisations & support groups. • Keep listening and learning. And if you're feeling exhausted by this: I get it. I am too. But also, we can't give into the despair - I'm taking solace and strength from seeing so many communities and organisations stepping up their efforts to demand a ceasefire, and calling for a liberated Palestine. ❤️

Palestinians need to hold their government accountable I support the mission statement of the nonprofit ROPES, The Regional Organization For Peace, Economics & Security, which states in part: We are united by our vision of a post-conflict Middle East in which the State of Israel and a well-governed, territorially viable State of Palestine are fully integrated into the region. However, a well-governed, territorially viable State of Palestine can only exist if Palestinians act consistently to hold their government accountable, which they have not done. * * * The Palestinians, at least in the United States, are very talented and educated people, with a high percentage in professional, technical and managerial positions. Yet they have refused to accept responsibility for the Palestinian government in Gaza that they (or their friends and relatives) have put into power or to hold them accountable in any significant way. No Palestinian government can be successful without these actions by its constituents. It’s time for Palestinians to be politically responsible and pressure their Palestinian government to act reasonably. More at https://lnkd.in/e5_hgu74

Catch our webinar today at 3:30pm ET hosted by General Board of Church and Society, General Board of Global Ministries, and United Methodist Kairos Response! The conversation will feature a panel of Palestinian Christians and Christian advocates (including yours truly) discussing the root causes of the current violence in Israel/Palestine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and how we can be advocates for a just peace. https://lnkd.in/exA9yV2y

The root cause of this horrible conflict is that Israeli Zionists actually believe they own every Palestinian home, farm, & inch of land, & have the right to kill indigenous Palestinian families that refuse to leave, for the crime of not being Jewish. That is why Zionism is to Judaism what the KKK & white nationalism are to Christianity, & what ISIS is to Islam. Please listen to renowned Jewish-American Professor Noam Chomsky explain how ridiculous the Zionist ownership claim is: lnkd.in/gtHPPHUz Palestinians have been there for thousands of years, never left, & their genetics proves it. At some point, their Canaanite & Jewish ancestors simply converted to Christianity &/or Islam. So why would that mean Jewish immigrants from Europe & the U.S., who have never even been there, own all of their homes & property? What would you do if someone stole or demolished your house & livelihood, killed some of your family, & left the rest of you with nothing to live in the squalor of a refugee camp? That’s what Israel did to over 750K Palestinians in 1948, over 300K in 1967, over 250K since 1967, & MORE EVERY YEAR. Most of the families in Gaza once owned homes & farms where Israeli cities & towns now stand, which Israel literally stole from them. Most even still have their front door keys. And now Israel is doing it to them FOR THE 2ND TIME. Jewish-Israeli sources: 1) Prof. Ilan Pappé, Historian: lnkd.in/gFBK6sPB 2) Miko Peled, ex-IDF soldier & son of Israeli general: lnkd.in/geiy3_5s I also cried for the 38 Israeli children killed on 10/7, but this horrible conflict did NOT start on that day. The proof is the nearly 2300 Palestinian children killed by Israeli soldiers & settlers between 2000 & Oct 2023, including 43 children during the 9 months just before 10/7 (details on BTselem.org). And Even the ex-head of Israel’s Mossad (their CIA) said “There is an apartheid state here. In a territory where two people are judged under two legal systems, that is an apartheid state.” lnkd.in/gF_2dqvM. Jill Stein for President! 🕊️❤️

The #KhojalyGenocide, #donotforget! occurring on February 25-26, 1992, during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, remains one of the most tragic episodes of violence in the region, marked by appalling atrocities against Azerbaijani civilians. Here are some facts and numbers regarding this devastating event: Casualty Figures: The exact number of casualties in the Khojaly Genocide remains contested, but it's widely accepted that hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians were killed. Estimates range from around 500 to over 600, with some sources citing even higher numbers. Among the victims were women, children, and elderly individuals. Massacre Details: Armenian forces, supported by the Armenian Defense Ministry, launched a military operation on the town of Khojaly, which was inhabited predominantly by ethnic Azerbaijanis. As they overran the town, civilians faced indiscriminate shelling, sniper attacks, and deliberate targeting by the advancing troops. Many were killed in cold blood, while others were subjected to horrific acts of violence, including mutilation and torture. Forced Displacement: The assault on Khojaly resulted in the forced displacement of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians. Fleeing for their lives, many embarked on a perilous journey through the harsh winter landscape, attempting to reach safety in neighboring areas. However, the journey was fraught with danger, and many succumbed to the brutal conditions or fell victim to further attacks along the way. International Response: The Khojaly Genocide drew widespread condemnation from the international community. Human rights organizations, governments, and international bodies denounced the massacre as a grave violation of humanitarian law and called for accountability for those responsible. Memorialization and Remembrance: In the years since the Khojaly Genocide, efforts have been made to commemorate the victims and honor their memory. Memorials, museums, and events serve as reminders of the tragedy and the need to confront the past to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Additionally, the annual observance of Khojaly Genocide Remembrance Day on February 26th ensures that the victims are never forgotten. The Khojaly Genocide stands as a somber reminder of the human cost of conflict and the imperative of seeking justice and reconciliation in its aftermath. It underscores the importance of upholding human rights and international law to prevent such tragedies from recurring and to ensure that the victims are afforded the dignity and recognition they deserve.

YOU VOTED FOR IT!!! NOW DEMAND THAT IT BE IMPLEMENTED!!!! #Question With 96% APPROVAL, is it time to IMPLEMENT our Peace Model? Let's SUMMARIZE! 96% of ISRAELI PEOPLE voted for PEACE!!!! NOT Just Palestinian and NOT Just the rest of the world!!!! This historic vote was undeniable PROOF that a handful of "Asylum Inmates" are now fighting a war that 96% of the ENTIRE WORLD including BOTH the Common People of Israel AND Palestine JUST VOTED AGAINST by the HIGHEST MARGIN in recorded history AND they have EVEN CHOSEN the alternative offered by Jazz for Peace™ that they would like to be implemented in place of the current Military Industrial Complex that they have just nearly UNANIMOUSLY rejected! Click here https://lnkd.in/eeHv5nXc if you have even a SLIVER of doubt!! Jazz for Peace™ ~ The Final Solution, IS LOVE. SEE Jazz Artist, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist Rick DellaRatta actually PREDICT what we NOW see happening all around the WORLD to innocent civilians at this concert in Nigeria back in 2022! https://lnkd.in/eaqDPk-9 "It remains our position that Israeli's and Palestinians need to at least START to see the MASSIVE advantages in admitting that they would BOTH be better off with a cease-fire with funds currently being WASTED by Military action being redirected BACK to the communities through outstanding causes that can address their issues and serve their needs exactly as this proposal calls for!" See PROOF of how LOVE has CRUSHED hatred and war HERE in the NEW Jazz for Peace™ CONVERSATIONS and #SeeWithYourVeryOwnEyes Jazz for Peace ACTUALLY PROVING in REAL CONVERSATIONS that "THE FINAL SOLUTION" is LOVE!!! A. Captured & Cucked “PEACE” Organization argues so poorly IN FAVOR of WAR that they REMOVE entire conversation. https://lnkd.in/eYBrnBt2 B. Dumbo the Elephant War Monger gets crushed by love: https://lnkd.in/eB39RHP5 YOU Voted For it!!!! DEMAND that it be IMPLEMENTED!!!! #Question With 96% APPROVAL, is it time to IMPLEMENT our Peace Model? This NEW interview that just came out today PERFECTLY describes how the Jazz for Peace Benefit Concert Series works and EXACTLY why it has been so successful all over the world! New!!! Rick performs an Elvis Costello/ Chet Baker Classic and FREE J.A. on Small Business Origins w/ host John Kelley https://lnkd.in/e7z9cTC2

We have reached a true low point of public discourse, facts & the pursuit of accuracy do not matter. Facts are now solely viewed through the lens of our own echo chamber, we dismiss them out of hand if they fail to feed our narrative or embrace them if they support it. This issue has been compounded by traditional media choosing to compete with the immediacy of social media, failing to do their necessary due diligence before reporting. But behind this sits something more insidious & that is the bias that exists at many of our major broadcasters, their willingness to allow personal animus to inform from who and on what they report as fact. The real life implications of these “mistakes” are too easily dismissed. When factual inaccuracy acts as a call to arms against Jews, when racism against Jews is on the rise & when these “mistakes” are used as the fuel for the demonisation, abuse and attacks on Jews, we must demand our broadcasters do better. The term genocide has been used in the context of the Gaza conflict since Oct 8th, but remarkably not in relation to the actual attempted genocide of Oct 7th perpetrated by Hamas. Instead it has been used in reference to Israel’s response! Hamas’s stated intention on that fateful day was the extermination of a single race, the very definition of genocide, they state it in their charter, they live streamed their attempt & then they publicly promised to repeat that genocide over & over again. This week the UN confirmed that the tragic fatality figures in Gaza they & the media have been quoting, have in fact been overstated by double! The fatalities of women & children have been reduced from 24,000 to 12,000. A still shockingly high figure, but put into context, an enemy combatant ratio of less than 2:1, unheard of in modern urban warfare & definitive proof of the extent Israel continues to go to in order to minimise civilian casualties. Israel’s response in Gaza has led to the devastating loss of life of far too many innocent Palestinians, every single one of those killed in this conflict is a tragedy we must mourn. But to be clear, it is not genocide. The inaccurate reporting & acceptance of grossly falsified figures supplied by the very genocidal murderers who initiated & now extend this conflict, is a direct cause of the rise of anti-Jewish hatred we have suffered since the Hamas attack. It is a distortion of the truth, it is a word specifically used to invoke & promote hate, it is driven by antisemitism & it should be called out as such. Continue to criticise Israel for its mistakes & actions, but do not simply dismiss the facts because they do not fit your narrative, do not continue to use this distortion of truth as an excuse to fuel your own racist hatred, do not allow yourself to be manipulated & to become that which you claim to most despise. Simply put, don’t be an antisemite! https://lnkd.in/g8c7yAYr