Democracy and Treason

How can we react to events thoughtfully when our leaders perform in a manner that makes government seem like a mental health crisis center? After congress saw to it that health care remained under the domain of private profiteers the orgasmic celebration of our ruling party’s liberal caucus was countered by the hysterical freak out of its conservative bloc. We are supposed to either get our guns to prepare for armed communist assault or joyously exult at finally achieving the long awaited “change we can believe in”. That last is if we also accept that a momentary break in the loving embrace of America and Israel - so each side could take a deep breath before the next passionate smooch? - was a radical change in foreign policy.

A Jewish Israeli called President Obama an anti-Semite, but a Jewish American called half-white Obama our first Jewish president and since another hysteric called all-white Clinton our first black president , confusion about more than political economics is truly perplexing our troubled empire. As things get dizzier than ever we ought to stop listening to anything said by our supposed leaders and break through the iron curtain that only allows commercial propaganda to get into our heads .

Those desperately working for change in Palestine can be excused for grasping at any straws but an obvious point made by some American official - that Israel is out of line, out of hand or out of control - should not be taken as any more significant than Obama saying he only supports smart wars, not stupid wars . The obvious must occasionally be mentioned, but what’s less obvious is that essential policy does not change because of a slight modification in style or miniscule identification of material reality. The sudden discovery that water is wet doesn't mean much when we’re drowning .

Israel's recent settlements policy is a factor for some who’ve forgotten or never knew that the real problem was the original settlement back in 1948 . In fact, today’s expansions that throw more Palestinians out to bring more settlers in to have more Jewish babies is only a continuation of what began long before 1948. The plan to take the land from its original inhabitants and transform it into a Jewish state was hatched by Zionists back in the 19th century, long before most Nazis were even born. If we do not learn that history we’ll surely be condemned to suffer its worst consequences in the future, if the present and recent past haven't been bad enough.

The most important issue for Americans isn't the proposed 1600 new units in the Israeli occupied territory in Palestine but the existing old unit at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC which remains Israeli occupied territory no matter what president resides there. And when whispered comments are heard from inside that taxpayer financed housing concerning the cost and hazard of our policy towards Israel there is an immediate convocation of worshipers of the Israeli lobby and its money to express undying solidarity, at whatever cost to Americans and without any consideration for Palestinians . The same two sides of the ruling party supposedly in deadly conflict come together in rapturous solidarity of concern for Israel. How much longer can this be tolerated by a population seemingly driven to near derangement by the crumbling of the country’s political economic foundation, all of this attributed to everything but the military madness of our foreign policy and the protection of the Jewish state that is the foundation of that policy in the Middle East?

The American Jewish lobby working on behalf of the Israeli Jewish state is a continuing menace to the people of Palestine and the Middle East, but especially to the people of the United States. When retired - or carefully speaking off the record - establishment voices begin to murmur this previously unspeakable truth, that is not a sign of imminent change . It will mean little unless a majority of Americans heed their relatively subdued call for transforming the policy that has cost America thousands of lives and billions of dollars while devastating nations, destroying governments and killing hundreds of thousands of people in the middle east. And all of that while hiding behind alleged humanitarian values of freedom and democracy. You know, the way the sun rises in the west and sets in the east?

The seven year anniversary of our ravaging of Iraq was barely noticed behind a propaganda barrage telling us democracy was at hand and the Iraqis - under foreign occupation and suffering violent deaths every day directly related to that fact - had somehow found a new life of freedom. We continue to believe such nonsense at our own expense which extends far beyond the salaries we pay our political representatives who then accept campaign money to carry out policy against our own interests.

The lobby buys politicians to follow its directives without regard for what they mean to our nation and our future. When considerations for a foreign country are placed ahead of those for our own by elected officials, calling them treasonous is hardly an overstatement. If that nation were Iran, it would be treated as a scandal beyond moral comprehension . But this behavior is even more acceptable than normal when it comes to Israel. That will continue until we stop reacting to announcements that water is wet as though they mean a breakthrough in logic and begin acting as though our democratic future demands a radical change in our policy towards Israel and Palestine.

Throwing politicians into prison on grounds of treason may not be necessary, but throwing them out of office is absolutely required if we are to have a future, let alone call ourselves a democracy.

frank scott
email: frankscott@comcast.net