No Way Out?

IMO, four truths about the Middle East:

1.

There is no justification - zero - for Hamas killing innocent human beings in Israel or taking and terrorizing hostages. Every civilized person should be 100% against their tactics and abhor their stated aim of ridding the Middle East of Jews. Israelis must live in peace and security. I have always been a staunch supporter of the State of Israel.

2.

Benjamin Netanyahu's policies in Gaza and toward Gazans have been an absolute failure. He has no interest in achieving a two-state solution. Further, his iron-fisted campaign to eliminate Hamas and protect Israel has not worked. Hamas just slaughtered 1,200 of his citizens.

When people in Gaza live without hope or dignity and see no peaceful way out, many will invariably turn to violent groups like Hamas.

3.

These horrific deaths on both sides of the border will only continue the heartbreaking cycle of distrust, hate, violence and murder. Israelis will live with the pain and loss of their loved ones, seethe at their enemy and seek revenge. And if the IDF could kill every member of Hamas, they would only see another violent group take its place to avenge their dead Palestinian brothers and sisters.

The only way out that I see is a two-state solution where a coalition of Arab nations (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.) control and govern Gaza and insure Israel’s safety and security.

4.

During his final days, especially now, I have been thinking of President Jimmy Carter. Along with Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, he forged a peace between Israel and Egypt THAT STANDS TODAY, 45 years later.

He is a hero.

Shame on Tennessee Republicans

As you may know, I am a proud 1975 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Communications. I also lived in Nashville from 1975 to 1979.

I just left a message for UT President Randy Boyd that unless he, or the University, makes an immediate and forceful statement condemning the Republican House Majority's expulsion of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, I will discontinue my alumni donations to the school.

Tennessee's legislature is overwhelming Republican, white, male, and supportive of Donald Trump. It has gerrymandered its way to a far-right supermajority that worships guns (no red flag laws, open, permit-less carry of firearms), persecutes the LGBTQ community, controls women's bodies, encourages book banning, refuses to expand Medicaid under Obamacare (one of 10 states), and blames drag queens -- not gun violence -- for injuring children.

Tennessee's Republican legislators have a race problem. African Americans are tolerated only if they stay in their place. Yesterday's expulsion of Jones and Pearson was only the most recent and dramatic example.

When I wrote the annual Gridiron Show scripts in 1978 and 1979, I skewered the fact that a bust of KKK Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest was unveiled in the state capitol on November 5, 1978. After continual protests by Tennesseans of good will, It was finally removed on July 23, 2021 -- 43 years later!

Governor Bill Lee is the most anti-gay governor in the country, and repeated, as late as last month, that he is committed to loosening the state's gun laws.

Worse, yesterday's actions by the Republican supermajority follow the MAGA trend toward authoritarianism and fascism. Not a peep of condemnation of Donald Trump's lies, crimes, or undermining of constitutional order, but expulsion for young, black legislators who dare to point out the senseless death of children from weapons of war.

Nashville and Memphis are progressive oases in the state. The rest of Tennessee needs a wakeup call. The assault on women's reproductive rights, mass murder by guns, and fascist moves by the Trump cult MUST be met with greater voter registration and turnout by the next generation and all citizens of conscience.

I have nothing but admiration for the tens of thousands of young Tennesseans organizing to say "no more." If I ever travel to the state again, it will be to join them in protest.