Next Draft - Pounding Sand in the Desert
The Middle East conflict is the world's infected, open sore. You can put a bandage on it, but ultimately, the pathogen can't be ignored; and while the impact is most acute in a small, localized region, the impacts of the disease can be felt throughout the global body politic. There is no easy remedy for the latest incarnation of this deadly disease. There is no spoonful of sugar with the medicine. There is no solution to dull the pain. There is no way to attack the disease without damaging the healthy tissue that surrounds it. Any suggestion of a miracle cure is a hallucination; a mirage in a desert once more deserted by hope. Yes, the horrific, ISIS-like terror must be answered with a forceful response. If you imagine some justification for rape, murder, baby killing, and hostage taking, you've lost your way. As Helen Lewis asks in The Atlantic (Gift Article): "Can you condemn the slaughter of civilians, in massacres that now appear to have been calculatedly sadistic and outrageous, without equivocation or whataboutism? Can you lay down, for a moment, your legitimate criticisms of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, West Bank settlements, and the conditions in Gaza, and express horror at the mass murder of civilians?" And yes, the ensuing loss of life among innocent Palestinians in Gaza is heartbreaking. If you can't feel that, you've lost your humanity and there's really not much left to fight for. Even hardened soldiers can be conflicted by the conflict. Here are some thoughts from Nir Avishai Cohen, an IDF reservist, as he headed from Austin, Texas, to the front line. NYT (Gift Article): I’m Going to War for Israel. Palestinians Are Not My Enemy. "I am now going to defend my country against enemies who want to kill my people. Our enemies are the deadly terrorist organizations that are being controlled by Islamic extremists. Palestinians aren’t the enemy. The millions of Palestinians who live right here next to us, between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan, are not our enemy. Just like the majority of Israelis want to live a calm, peaceful and dignified life, so do Palestinians." To that, let's say, Amen. 2Loss LeaderThe House of Reps remains leaderless. "By failing to coalesce behind a candidate, Republicans have plunged the House into uncharted territory and effectively frozen the chamber at a time when major international and domestic crises loom, from Israel’s war against Hamas to a potential government shutdown in mid-November. All eyes are now on Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as he jumps into the speaker’s race after Majority Leader Steve Scalise abruptly withdrew ... GOP Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia announced Friday he intends to run for speaker." (If your response is, Who?, you're not alone.) 3Fridge Benefits"The road to where we are today began in 1986, when Las Vegas oddsmakers started taking bets on whether the Chicago Bears’ defensive tackle William 'The Refrigerator' Perry would score a touchdown in that year’s Super Bowl. This is believed to have been the American gambling industry’s first formal prop bet—a wager that is not directly contingent on the final score of a sporting event." The trend caught on, and not just when it comes to football or even sports in general. You Can Bet on Anything Now. 4Weekend WhatsWhat to Book: Nathan Hill, author of the excellent novel, The Nix, is out with a new novel that tackles love, marriage, and our quest for self-improvement. Check out Wellness. 5Extra, ExtraDoing Gymnastics To Pay Health Bills: There's definitely a broader metaphor in the fact that celebrated American gymnast Mary Lou Retton, who once raised her arms on the cover of the Wheaties Box, was reduced to crowd-funding to pay for her medical bills. Unlike the average American, she was able to beat her goal. NYT (Gift Article): Mary Lou Retton Crowdfunded Her Medical Debt, Like Many Thousands of Others. 6Feel Good Friday"In the world of spooky commerce, there's one name that rises above the rest: Spirit Halloween. The seasonal retailer sells costumes, decorations and just about anything else somebody might need for Halloween." It's spooky how fast Spirit Halloween stores pop up. Here's how the retailer does it. (There's a story about junk that ends up in a landfill here, but it's Friday and we need to focus on the feel good.) Get a copy of my 📕, Please Scream Inside Your Heart, or grab a 👕 in the Store. |
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Bibi-ing There
Monday, October 23, 2023
BiBi's Leadership, SAT's division test, Pop-Tarts Taste Testers
Down at the Crossroads
Monday, October 23, 2023
Middle East Heats Up, Trump Told to Cool Down
Traveling Salesman
Monday, October 23, 2023
Biden Goes to Israel, Hospital Bombed, Jordan's Speaker Quest
All the Rage
Monday, October 23, 2023
Biden in Israel, Jim Jordan Wrestles Fewer Votes
Topic Thunder
Monday, October 23, 2023
Campus Peace Plan, a Kraken the Case Against Trump
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