Helena, Montana
Americans are waking up. Helena Service for Peace and Justice helped put up two billboards in the Montana capital, with help from the Coalition to Stop 30 Billion to Israel.
At the same time, Will Boland wrote this superb piece in the Independent Record speaking of Obama’s “fealty” to Israel and the dangers of conflating our interests and Israel’s: “Israel’s enemies are now our own. Is this in our best interest?” Boland:
The new Secretary of State John Kerry has already been rushing to Israel’s defense, and new Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel muted his concerns in order to be confirmed in that post. President Obama made his first visit to Israel last month pledging eternal fealty. What this means is that Israel’s existence as a viable state has the entire and unqualified support of the U.S. government and cannot by any measure be described as threatened.
Israel’s constant expansionism, on the other hand, threatens the stability of the volatile Middle Eastern region. Since the U.S. is quite possibly Israel’s only friend on the international scene, this has important ramifications for us. Israel’s enemies are now our own. Is this in our best interest?
The expenditures of lives and money and reputation in maintaining this alliance are enormous and I believe, counter-productive. Israel’s greatest danger lies in the consequences of its own actions…
A fourth and critical step would be to confront the idea that our fate is somehow inextricably linked with Israel. International human rights cannot be held hostage to such superstitions. We are separate and sovereign states.
You will see that a couple of commenters attack Boland, but several more are on his side:
MtnMadeMan asks:
Why are we getting so many letters published in the IR from anti-Israel haters?
From Miriam12
Though I was raised in a zionist jewish family seeing the reality for myself was both shocking and liberating. There are so many layers of forgotten or lost history that Americans truly do not have a clue as to what is real. Just a few issues to share with you…the 2 am home invasions by extremist settlers who ‘take over Palestinian homes’ claiming ownership despite the fact that the family elders have lived in their home for 50 or more years.
Mtorres55
After decades of the public’s fear of criticizing Israel and its cruel and inhuman military occupation of Palestine, the wheels are coming off the bus. Finally, truth can be told and myths busted.
The Helena peace and justice organization is very active. A description of the billboard campaign on its Facebook page:
Helena SERPAJ’s billboards have gone up in Helena (first one went up May 20, corner of Euclid and Hiawatha, and a second went up on May 27, on North Montana Avenue near the Montana West Bank).
We are working with the Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel, an organization which has placed these billboards all over the country. These billboards cost approximately $760 each and the Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel is willing to pay half the cost. Please check their website…
The organization has lately shown the film 5 Broken Cameras, by Emad Burnat, and hosted Alison Weir of If Americans Knew. In July it is arranging workshops across Montana by Johnny Barber of the Voices for Creative Nonviolence. Dates will be posted here. He will show photographs on the conditions in Gaza, Palestine. I’ve heard Barber speak and he is enormously compelling, down to earth, natural. Here is Barber’s latest article from Gaza.
There are more little outbreaks of this occurring…a state legislator here and there, now and then questioning some push to have his state do some resolution for Israel, A news editor or reporter at the state level here and there.
People are starting the ask the right questions about US political servitude to a foreign country that is welfare client state…and nothing but a drain and trouble maker for the US.
Isn’t a public servant in the USA professing fealty (for example, AIPAC convention, address to leaders/parliament/citizens of another nation) to anyone or any other country but their own treason? Sure, they don’t use the word fealty, but we all know what they are doing and what their weasel words mean… and so do those listening to their profession of undying love, admiration and… fealty.
I know that I’m not the only one who sees the obsequiousness and pandering as repellant and disgusting, and as a betrayal of trust (treason def. # 1), a violation of their oath as a public servant of their own native country. I’m not advocating any violence or anything ridiculous like that – just it seems a huge betrayal to the 300+million Americans.
On the other hand, there are 300+ million Americans. With the closure of American schools, Medicare almost insolvent, unrepayable debt to China, etc., I hope more take up the mantle to actually advocate for America, which is not (yet) the recipient of any foreign aid (that I know of, anyway)… and we don’t want to get to that position because they (our public servants) have given our monies (borrowed at interest) to foreign lands… especially to ones who are vicious oppressors.
Kudos to Helena Service for Peace & Justice and the Coalition! It is really heartening, similar to the situation with the billboards denouncing AIPAC’s warmongering and claiming to be the mouthpiece for all Jews. I think we see the beginning of something very hopeful and it is heartening to behold.
Good news from Helena.
Meanwhile, on June 10th, in Boulder, CO there’s an important City Council vote which will decide whether or not Boulder will become the 4th American city to establish a sister city relationship with a Palestinian city in the West Bank. The Nablus-Boulder sister city vote will be preceded by a hearing where proponents and their critics will make their cases to council reps. The Daily Camera is reporting that City officials expect a standing room only packed house and a “possibly contentious meeting on the proposal”. Extra secutity will be on hand for the hearing and Boulder Mayor, Matt Appelbaum, is encouraging participants not to forget the virtues of civility. I’ll be there. Can’t wait.
Some local context, as of 2009, there were more dead jews in Helena than live ones:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/05/us/05religion.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=hebrew&st=cse&
Israel’s enemies are our enemies? But doesn’t this assume Israel is our friend? Despite its 1967 attack on the USS Liberty that killed 34 Americans, despite it and its Israel-firster friends having dragged us into the Iraq War, despite it being the reason that the Arab/Islamic world hates us, and despite it being so desperate now to get us into another war, this time against Iran? Yes, that’s right, with friends like that who needs enemies?