164 Comments
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Indu Abeysekara's avatar

Caitlin, This is so very powerful. Strikes at the very heart of being human. We have heard /viewed/read and grieved about Palestinian parents picking up pieces of their beloved children from the Israel/US/West made graveyard of Gaza. But never felt it more acutely than in your poem.

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Bernadene Zennie's avatar

Yes. I thank her for the analogy to Strange Fruit. It’s so apt. I can’t believe Ive lived to see know about this horror. I just can’t freaking believe it.🥺😩. My heart is broken anew with every thought, every imagining, every day.

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Susan T's avatar

I have also been feeling incredibly sad and sometimes angry. I can almost feel that man's pain. Not quite though. I have the privilege of being in a safer place for the time being.

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gypsy33's avatar

Susan, I don’t feel as though I even deserve to be in a safer place. 😢

What have I done to do so?

Every day that this slaughter continues I feel like I lose more of my sanity.

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Susan T's avatar

You do deserve the life you have. Everyone deserves to have food, medicine and a place to live. I hope you don't lose your sanity, altho I also sometimes feel that I am slipping. We need people who care.

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Joy in HK fiFP's avatar

There but for fortune... And with this particular fortune, you have the chance to work towards ending this pain and destruction. I believe we need each and every one of us who have come to understand what's going on to do whatever we can to stop it.

Solidarity!

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Jan 30, 2024
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Elisabeth's avatar

I think the 'Arab Princes' are afraid that their billions/trillions would be 'confiscated' and lost (to them) - they can see the 'thoughts' of the 'rules based international order' regarding the Russian 300 billion ...

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Dr.Who's avatar

They love their wealth more than they love their children.

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Brian A. Earley's avatar

What the USA Taxpayer has done to Palestinians citizens enabling the Israeli government and IDF perpetuate visiting horrors on innocents. Stop!

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Janette Shultz's avatar

It’s not taxes. The USA is sovereign. The government spend money into existence and taxes out of existence. This is strictly a legislative decision as well as a Biden administration decision. Taxpayers had nothing to do with the Israeli genocide.

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ChazLB's avatar

Bull shit. Tax's facilitate it...The MIC facilitate it..

Every check we sign is a theft of our labor to funneling into the war machine.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

You are absolutely incorrect. The military industrial complex receives funding through legislation.

It is not on me you the people this is our rogue government.

https://splinternews.com/the-dangerous-myth-of-taxpayer-money-1819658902

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Selina Sweet's avatar

Legislation = enacted via our Representatives, Senators, and President. Who elected them? We did. Who pays for everything the government does? We do. Oue taxpayer money.....Our rogue government are composed of those you and I elected to represent us....their salaries are composed of our monies that have been taxed.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

Again, out votes do NOT count. If the did Bernie sanders would have been president. The DNCs lawsuit proved that to Americans.

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ChazLB's avatar

Sanders is a Wolf in sheeps clothing and would back Israel ...he always pretended to be ignorant about it all..he's useless ..Obama (war criminal) patted him on the back and he folded like a cheap suit anyway...him and warren are gate keepers.

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ChazLB's avatar

A tax revolt even as a threat would stop all this but you are all too cowardly to stick your necks out so it's all just vertue signaling bull shit to distance yourself from any real responsibility to use the one and only power the people have because your votes are no longer useful when they rig the system to prop up their puppets..

No one has the guts for it because you all only worry about your own skin..untill the lovely nuke winter chills your cowardly bone

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Auntidote's avatar

A tax revolt won't work. They'll simply keep printing money and tax you for the privilege .

Adopt Bitcoin and hold it in a Trezor wallet . Do not buy ETF's, NFT's or any other crypto , because Wall St, Banks and governments can manipulate, exploit and/or confiscate. You become your own bank and you walk away from USD. Bitcoin can't be printed, inflated, deflated or debased. Bitcoin Magazine shows the way.

Jamie Dimon ridicules it and yet JPMorgan offer custodial services for Bitcoin. Larry Fink claimed that Bitcoin uses too much energy, doesn't comply with ESG and yet Blackrock launches a Bitcoin ETF. Elizabeth Warren claims Bitcoin supports Terrorism and yet the USD is the main currency used.

So if you're thinking of Fuck You money, Bitcoin beats gold and throws USD into the swamp. The BRICS countries are leading the way.

Bank of International Settlements, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Federal Reserve - all consider Bitcoin its biggest threat.

Bitcoin can be traded, can be stored and can only be lost if you lose the private key.

I know I've made Bitcoin sound simple. It is not. You need committment and a huge paradigm change, but once you understand how fiat works - this will help you understand Bitcoin.

1.Robert Breedlove - How Money Works. 2.Coin Bureau - In depth - Bitcoin, Crypto, Blockchains, Exchanges, Wallets etc.3.Peter MaCormack - What Bitcoin Did - highlights countries like Argentina, Lebanon , Malawi and the role of Bitcoin to improve their lives. 4 Coin gecko - Crypto Market Capitalisation Index.

There's a lot of white belts claiming to be blackbelts in the crypto space, so watch out. Your biggest enemy is you. When you get excited/emotional - walk away. Always look at what you risk, an entry/exit strategy and dollar cost average.

I value decentralization, transparency, security and privacy. Bitcoin offers that.

Here ends my rant. I'm not sorry. Hope it helps.

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ChazLB's avatar

Bitcoin?....HA! what a laugh...the biggest pyramid scam going ...that's why you people keep trying to sell it..it's like how a church makes more money if they get more suckers to join the church. This is nothing but cult mentality for suckers ...

have a look at Snordster Crypto the end of freedom,,,it describes you.

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ChazLB's avatar

That "artical" (typical demodrone propaganda hit piece) was more of that dispiacble neoliberal manipulation bull shit to try and diswade people from using the power of a real tax revolt. That is why it's there so you can consume it like some jim Jones fruit punch.

And don't knee jerk an assumption I'm a neocon like you have been trained. I don't put in with any of that middle American brain washed bull shut.

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Claude Lord's avatar

Yes, theft, and extortion, so please don’t blame the taxpayers

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Selina Sweet's avatar

Had we elected a righteous, truly bunch of representatives for our demands, then the Congress would not be the silence it is. But no, we elected this group, 1/2 of which are millionaires with stock port folios. Of course we are responsible. We elected them. And we've re-elected them. Why? Because we are lazy self-centered inactive citizens not walking our talk. Not seeking out reliable news sources. Caving unthinkingly, robot like to the propaganda foisted as news info tainment engineered by big money and corporate which too many of us suck up. Who benefits from forever war? Guess who is buying our representatives like Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, of WA. The Israel lobby. The Boeing lobby.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

Your problem is thinking your votes count. Dumb

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ChazLB's avatar

There I can agree with you ..but the reason everyone demonized a tax revolt by trying to saddle it up with trump is so none of you ever have to compromise your perfect little 401k lives by upsetting the IRS mafia.

The idea our tax and Labor are not (even indirectly) supporting the military machine is the big lie.. USA uses sanctions to FORCE a behavor out of other countries but you won't withold taxs to bring them to their knees.. Sanction the USA government till they listen to the demands of the people...

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Ben's avatar

You don't get to choose who stands as a candidate to represent you unless you are a member of a party. As a voter, you are given the narrow choice of candidates by the parties, which is often a Hobson's Choice between them and the other parties' candidates. Often the parties are chasing votes and follow populist policies which are not progressive, unlikely to change anything, nor showing any kind of leadership, and certainly not brave.

Too many people think their democratic responsibility stops at casting a vote every few years, when in fact if you actually want true representation, you need to be involved in the process that decides what the policies are and who is going to be the candidate to present them which takes time and effort. Too many people watching Netflix, Fox News, playing narcissist on social media to effect any change.

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Landru's avatar

Sorry , we are to blame. Now we must make Genocide Joe a new home at the Hague.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

Stop the blame game. This is not on the people so stop. This is our government’s doing, and we have NO control until we unite and fight against the neoliberal agenda.

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Selina Sweet's avatar

Sorry Janette. If you own a store and you discover some of your employees are not doing the work as you have required of them. You fire them. You and I have voted our so called Representatives and Senators and USA President into office. You and I pay for their salaries. We re-elect them. That's like a store owner paying his employees for not doing the job he wants them to do. You and I as voters are the bosses, in fact. We can fire these cretins. How come we don't? Absolutely, we are responsible for those composing our government.

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ChazLB's avatar

Unite by passivly wave a banner,,and still sign and date the checks.

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ChazLB's avatar

But you still dutifully sign and date all those tax checks because you fear state violence because they convinced you it's a civic duty.. The big lie..death and taxs

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Landru's avatar

We can agree with the point, WE as a nation are doing this. There is no escaping our guilt. Genocide Joe is doing this in our name and now it's time to make sure he leaves office via the Hague.

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Bernadene Zennie's avatar

if anybody in any US administration ever is going to be frog marched to den Hague, they need to start with any of the ones that are still alive -like both Clintons, both Bushes, All of their top cabinet members, Obombya, And his gang of thugs, Trump and his gang of goons and thugs right up into the gang of thugs and war criminals we have in power now. And that’s just in the US Europe has its own bullshit to deal with.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

I’m an American. I love my country but I am not a part of this genocide and any other atrocities committed by the government.

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

Too bad folks in other parts of the world don't see it that way, Janette. If you are American, you elected Biden into office and you allow him to make these horrific decisions. If Americans were seen pulling Genocide Joe out of his bed and marching him up the steps to a guillotine, the rest of the world would see that Americans were not a part of the atrocities. But we don't. We let Genocide Joe remain in office, and some people will even vote for him in November. So, yes, Americans are guilty by association with their government that they keep in place.

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Kojo's avatar

As often people fall into the trap of personalizing what are actually systemic problems.

“Genocide Joe” is a two bit frontman that is party of grifting family.

The actual government is Zionist neocons with subtle titles like Secretary, Undersecretary, Advisor, Director, Deputy this and deputy that. Some not even in office - they sit at think tanks manipulating the media and the public.

It’s a system. Not Biden. That’s what you are seeing the effect of.

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

He's the symptom of a much larger disease, for certain. I call the disease "capitalism."

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Bernadene Zennie's avatar

not one or the other- it’s both-and.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

Actually no one that I know from other countries are personally blaming Americans. They know damn well who is at fault. They know elections in America are bs and undemocratic. Americans are the most propagandized people though. They believe and fall for neoliberal lies

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

I work with immigrants and other non-Americans. I listen to them. They see us clearly. We are to blame since we haven't dumped our corrupt leaders. We put up with the lies because we love our cell phones, reality TV, the Super Bowl and other inconsequential entertainments. The French get out in the streets at the first time sign of trouble. The Dutch farmers drive their tractors into the cities and block traffic. But Americans just thumb type on their iPhones and stream Netflix while the world burns. We give ourselves away by our inaction.

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russian_bot's avatar

This is true everywhere. The populace is getting dumber and dumber via ubiquitous devices and what is streamed on them.

As to blaming Americans - or any other folks for what happens in their countries - it's tantamount to imposing collective punishment. Those who advocate for it without considering all the circumstances and making distinctions are on the same page with what Israel is currently doing against Gaza.

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Selina Sweet's avatar

Unless you've relinquished your citizenship Janette Shultz, formally you are the government....remember "government of - by - and for - the People. You are one of the People. Your civic inaction/action helps determine the quality of those who are the ultimate "deciders" - Congress and the Executive branch.

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russian_bot's avatar

This "What the USA Taxpayer..." trope is another one of those snappy senseless slogans that people like to bandy. A couple posts back the one re "criticizing vs being ruled over" was thrown in for consumption, with great success.

It sounds good, and who cares about substance.

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ChazLB's avatar

You would not know substance of it bit you in your duplicitous ass

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russian_bot's avatar

Want to take a look?

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ChazLB's avatar

Just because you are a coward with zero convictions to go up against your mindless programming and dutiful signing and dating checks ...not surprising coming from such an intellectual coward as is typical of your type.

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russian_bot's avatar

I don't recall whether it was you with whom I discussed this whole "signing checks" business way back. I was trying to get an answer from the person whether he filed taxes, as he claimed he wasn't paying.

Do you not "sign your check"? If you don't by not owing any taxes, do you still file your return?

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ChazLB's avatar

Do you ever shut your fucking mouth..

Bunch of cowards always side step this issue..

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russian_bot's avatar

OK, so you do file your tax returns. Making you a regular hypocrite.

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Jan 30, 2024
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gypsy33's avatar

And we’re “antisemitic” if we object.

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Jan 30, 2024
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gypsy33's avatar

Oh I agree, Jon, that Arabs are the true Semites, not the European and Amerikkkans who stole the real, actual Semites’ land.

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Papadas's avatar

truth.

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Kojo's avatar

It’s not Joes cabinet. They own the govt and he is the front man serving them. Just as it was under Obama. And Clinton.

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ChazLB's avatar

Americans through their own cowardice won't organize a tax revolt and try and side step any guilt by blaming it all on Biden ..neocons did the same thing all my life with both Iraq wars,, Bush era..they all funnel tax payer funds into the war machine ...but no one here likes hearing about their own cowardly guilt for contributing to it..They want to disconect it and compartmentalize it like intellectual cowards

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Jan 30, 2024
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Feral Finster's avatar

This is entirely intentional.

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Selina Sweet's avatar

AIPAC actively contaminates our electoral process. Were AIPAC the China lobby, they'd be put on a severe leash. Not the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. A lot of Big Big Money patrons.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

It’s unfortunate, but honestly the entire congress are Zionist nationalists. It doesn’t matter their beliefs.

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Jan 30, 2024Edited
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Janette Shultz's avatar

Pull your head out of your ass. They all admitted that the aren’t Orthodox Jew but Zionist. Jesus Christ you’re inciting hatred towards all Jewish communities. Change channels, ffs.

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Jan 30, 2024
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Janette Shultz's avatar

Zionist

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ChazLB's avatar

My wife heard a poam recited by a young Palestinian girl at a picnic demonstration about "moma write my name on my leg so you can identify me"

She broke down in heavy sobs.

We talked about the heaviness in our hearts through all this.

But for me part of the deep hurt and pain comes from knowing I live in a world where western leaders news media and the establishment celebrate ethnic cleansing.

How Zionists have infiltrated their souls and destroyed their humanity while they claim Palestinians are not human.

The level of lies corruption and shear bigoted cruelty demonstrated by Zionist and isralies makes me come to the conclusion that Israel is a profoundly sick society. And the USA is as guilty as they are for facilitated it.

The worst thing to ever happen to the human condition was the creation of the state of Israel. It protected NO ONE! but rich weapons makers ...

Their extinction event will be so well deserved ....

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gypsy33's avatar

It’s not just a poem, Chaz…Palestinians are actually doing that in order that they can be identified in the event of their deaths.

What kind of fucking insanity is this when the only physical support for them is being provided by one of the planet’s poorest countries?

Viva the Hout’hi! And Iran, where are YOU? I don’t care if it starts WWIII, I want IsraHell OFF THE MAP.

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ChazLB's avatar

I know it's a real thing and that's why she cryed ...

The sickness in all this is profound ...

And I agree with you.

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andy tonti's avatar

The U S has only interests, not friends!!

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ChazLB's avatar

Us government is a subsidery of Jewish supremacy

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Jack Lomax's avatar

Zionism is the most evil organisation that the world has ever known. There have been psychopathic groups of humans galore in history but none of had the sheer power that they wield. Through the zionist neocons they exert total control over the US political and military. I fully support the demolition of this evil cult by any means possible (preferably nonviolent) . But when you write of the extinction of the State of Israel we need to remember that there are innocent Jews a plenty who do not support Zionism . Plus there are innocent children

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ChazLB's avatar

Extinction of the state does not mean murdering the way the USA and Zionist do... The disasembling of the state is the extinction of its regime and control.

But maybe if Zionist and the USA keep extinguishing Palestinian lives then the blow back is long over due.

1948 movie creation and catastrophe ..... How Israel was formed in violence ...living by the sword will become dying by the sword if they don't learn the leason.

Where is all the concern for the palistinian children pulled from the rubble ?

Oh right,,they are lesser.

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Jack Lomax's avatar

Well Chazl, I am concerned and hav long financially and verbally supported the Palestinian cause and have along history of being wrongly accused of being Anti Semitic .

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ChazLB's avatar

Then we are in agreement .. Although I have lost all sympathy for Israel at this point and the USA too and all its EU lackies and allied lap dogs .. But i too do not want to see any innocent children and people harmed or paying for the ills of the "grownups" including young Israel children that may grow up to be as rightous as someone like Gilad Atzmon who I had the pleasure of knowing and conversing with on his book the wondering who, as he was also accused of being self hating. But I can't ignore the fact that Israel deserve what's coming to them none the less.

Its all tragic.. But we reap what we sow.

I have been a Palestinian supporter and activist for a very long time and faced down riot cops before.. I helped block the zim shipping boats from isrsel to the usa carrying bullets we paid them to buy as we gifted them the supplies..anouther of the many schemes that they had to steal USA wealth.

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Jan 30, 2024
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gypsy33's avatar

Right Jon, all those “future terrorists “.

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ChazLB's avatar

The real terrorists are the USRAEL

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gypsy33's avatar

Guess I should have indicated sarcasm, my bad.

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ChazLB's avatar

Oh I got it I was agreeing

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Feral Finster's avatar

Which is precisely the justification the Nazis gave for the murder of Jewish children.

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Jan 30, 2024
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Janette Shultz's avatar

Oh I see how you play. You’re purposely spreading Jew hatred and ignorance.

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ChazLB's avatar

Jews spreading Islamist hate and ignorance gets a free pass in your dystopian ideas of the chosen ones rights of defence though .

Double standards are always celebrated by Zionist supporters.

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Janette Shultz's avatar

No it is Zionist and I don’t care how you play. Learn to identify rather than destroy or incite hatred on Jewish communities. Or better yet stfu

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ChazLB's avatar

Zionism is a terrorist ethnic cleansing genocidal maniac nationalistic organisation most of you Jews support...square that with yourself and the USA that fully supports that too.

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peggy bean's avatar

Beautiful and so sad.

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Ahnaf Ibn Qais's avatar

سْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”

–Surah Al ‘Imran (3:173)

[ In the event of fear and anxiety one should seek the help of Allah and frequently recite this ayah of the glorious Qur’an “Hasbunallahu wa Ni’mal Wakeel” “Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” (3:173). ]

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Ahnaf Ibn Qais's avatar

(For those interested)

If you wish to read (& listen!) to more of My commentary, here is my Main Stack:

https://thefallofthewest.substack.com

Thank You Kindly to everyone!

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Neil Procter's avatar

In a sense, we are all complicit. We can simply blame our UK and US governments, but we enabled them, we accepted the sham of democracy. We have allowed this to happen. Never mind October 7th 2023, we have accepted this for 75+ years.

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Landru's avatar

I walk with you.

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Auntidote's avatar

Yes I said nothing and yet I knew it was wrong.

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Real Dialectical's avatar

Blood Meridian vibes. Suitable given the Zionist depravities we are witnessing in Gaza daily.

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Peter Shepherd's avatar

Shit, Caitlin. Just: damn. Agree with Indu.

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Claude Lord's avatar

Sorry but not the taxpayers but their evil, idiotic leaders. The taxpayer really has no choice any more, voting for the two sides of the same coin. One must be naive to believe that voting today will change anything but the colour of our deep state controllers, sadly so.

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Landru's avatar

Jill Stein or better yet Stein/West 24 . There are few candidates of Peace and these two have worked their entire lives for peace.

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gypsy33's avatar

Agree that they need to team up, Landru.

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Deena Stryker's avatar

Indeed: Groceries for some.....

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rena's avatar

💔

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bill wolfe's avatar

I'm just living on nerves and feelings

With a weak and a lazy mind

And coming to people's parties

Fumbling deaf dumb and blind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLoKSS1P2No

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

I don't see an image at the top of the poem, but your imagery certainly created a profound one in my mind. Sad and touching because this is reality for so many in Gaza. Sad and infuriating because our countries allow it to happen because of... big fat checks from AIPAC and Raytheon?

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Landru's avatar

Thank you Caitlin. A world of pain in your words. Fight we must, every day we can not stop making sure voices are heard, A vote for Genocide Joe is not a vote for less Genocide, it's a vote FOR GENOCIDE!

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vj's avatar

This is the "food" of the Death Cult. They thrive on wrenched hearts and children's blood, even their own. It's not in the human realm. It's sad but not forgivable.

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Bernadene Zennie's avatar

unfortunately, tragically, sadly, it is what people DO do in the human realm. The real question is what do we do?when do we do it? How do we do it? and who will do it?

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