Monday, July 14, 2014

Israel vs. Hamas

In any conflict there are at least two sides but the most important element is the truth.  Getting to the truth can only be achieved when one knows the facts.  In the present state of unrest between Israel and Hamas, the facts do not seem to be important.

Last month three Israeli teenagers were abducted and executed.  Without any evidence to support their claim, Israel accused Hamas.  Hamas has denied involvement but that fell on deaf ears.  When the bodies of the victims were found, Israeli citizens retaliated by kidnapping a Palestinian teenager and setting him on fire.  They burned him to death.  The perpetrators of this crime were apprehended but it is extremely doubtful that they will receive proper punishment for their crime, given that their victim was a Palestinian.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) though now known only as the Islamic State has apparently claimed responsibility for the initial abduction of the Israeli's.  ISIL is a jihadist militant group that grew out of Al-Qaeda.  They are not Hamas, they are not connected to Hamas and Hamas does not exert any control over them.  Yet, Benjamin Netanyahu continues to blame Hamas, even though he apparently knows that Hamas was not involved.

When Israel killed an innocent Palestinian youth, the Palestinians had a right to defend themselves.  They did so with rocket strikes against Israel.  Israel has retaliated with airstrikes against Palestine.  This must be put in perspective.  Palestine has launched over 800 rockets and killed no one.  Israel has struck over 1,300 times and killed nearly 200.  The vast majority of the casualties are civilians.  Israel knows this.  Israel does not care.

All Americans should be aware of what is going on in Israel.  United States Foreign Aid to Israel makes up more than half of the foreign aid to the entire world.  We give more money to Israel than to any other country but we get nothing in return.  Israel is not an oil-producing nation, so they do not supply us with oil.  In two wars that the United States started (Iran and Afghanistan), Israel has not supplied any military assistance.  We get nothing for the money we spend.

The Arms Export Control Act states that the United States may stop aid to countries which use U.S. military assistance for purposes other than “legitimate self-defense.”  Palestine has a right to retaliate when Israel burns one of their children alive.  Israel cannot correctly call their current actions against Palestine "self-defense."  As such, the United States should immediately withdraw all military assistance from Israel until such time as Israel agrees to enter into peaceful negotiations with Palestine.  Such negotiations must include an immediate cease-fire, releasing Palestinians held as prisoners without the benefit of due process and returning land illegally seized from Palestine since the agreement of the borders in 1967.

Israel is killing innocent Palestinians and the United States is supporting that effort.  When will the people of this great nation stand up for those who are being oppressed by our allies?

Friday, July 4, 2014

It's Up to Men to End Abortion

For decades now we have heard that abortion must be legal because it is a woman's right to choose.  I agree.  We have also heard that abortion is murder.  I understand that sentiment but I cannot say that I fully agree.  Murder is too strong, as that entails a crime against a person and abortion is an exercise of the woman's right to her body.  

The loudest voices in this argument have been the voices of men, particularly among the elected officials and women have often felt that this was unfair.  Women claim that if men got pregnant abortion would have been legal centuries ago.  Perhaps this is true but we will never know for certain.

One thing I do know, however, is that men can end this once and for all.  I am suggesting that we do just that, beginning on January 1, 2015.  That gives us nearly six months to prepare.  Once we implement the program, we should expect to carry it through to its full term of five years for completion.

Many states have passed legislation to curtail abortions and many of those laws have been overturned by the courts.  Even if the states win, they still lose because they must pay to defend the lawsuits brought against them.  This is not a step forward.

Several states have recently passed legislation that would close the majority of the abortion clinics within their borders, which does nothing to stop the abortions; it merely moves them across the state line.  That does not solve the problem, but enacting this program will cause these clinics to close simply because they won't have the necessary patients to keep them open.

This program is simple because it does not require legislation, it does not cost any money to implement and it does not involve women.  It is the men taking the initiative and handling this problem once and for all.

Beginning on January 1, 2015, all across America, men must abstain from sex with women.  Now, I know this might be difficult but there are alternatives.  For example, you can take matters into your own hands, so to speak.  This is not the ideal situation but it has its benefits.  Not needing a partner means not caring if you're showered and shaved.  Small talk is avoided and no promises need to be made; or broken.

Sex with a woman is allowed so long as it is either oral or anal.  The difficulty with this is that, while the man is often more than willing to make this sacrifice the woman is usually not on board with the idea.  Suggesting that her sister might be willing to help out just might get her to re-think her position.

Lastly, having sex with another man is fine.  Actually, it is encouraged.  Since most states are either allowing gay marriage or at least considering it, the taboo on man-to-man sex is no longer what it once was and in reality, a lot of men have been looking for an excuse to try anyway, so why not just give in?

Implementing this program is simple, and once done, pregnancies in this country will drop to zero.  When no women get pregnant no women have abortions.  As time goes on, the abortion clinics will close, due to the fact that they will be under-used to the point that they cannot afford to stay open.  Legislators can get back to working on actual problems that need their attention, not on regulating women's bodies, and this whole argument of whether or not abortion should be legal can finally be put to rest.

The program will conclude on December 31, 2019.  Men, the ball is in your court.  Can you rise to the occasion?  Are you willing to stand firm and show exactly what you're made of?  Join me and together we will end abortion in this country.