Elena — who asked that only her first name be used — is part of a Palestinian-American family. They have been Westport homeowners for over 30 years.
She is a retired New York City school principal, with many years’ experience as a teacher and staff developer. She has an Ed.E. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
She writes:
Until the horrific events of the past 3 weeks, we always felt very fortunate to live in such a beautiful town, with progressive, fair-minded leaders and considerate, friendly neighbors.
In the past 3 weeks though, we have felt increasingly isolated, anxious and vulnerable.
Today I, as a tax-paying resident, decided that my voice, speaking for my family, needs to be heard.
While Westport is still beautiful in all seasons, and we still have wonderful neighbors, the message throughout town this fall is loud, clear and one-sided: “Support Israel! Place Israeli flags on town property!”
I too support Israel, as it seeks to flush out Hamas and obtain justice.
That is its right.
However, I do not support what Israel is actually doing, and has done in the past, albeit on a smaller scale: exacting revenge on all Palestinians in Gaza.
Everyone knows that more than 8,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli bombs during the past several days.
More Palestinians are bombed each passing day, as they await death in their homes, hospitals and on the open road.
How can one comprehend these horrific facts and not feel outrage?
This is mass, wanton killing, not the targeting of terrorist killers.
Let’s call it by its name: genocide.
And once again, all Palestinians are effectively de-humanized and perceived to be “terrorists“ in many parts of this country, while being ignored by most elected officials at all levels of government.
I do not think that this will change in my lifetime.
My husband and I, members of a large and proud Palestinian family, are worried sick about our relatives in Israel and Palestine.
We also feel like strangers in our own town, once a refuge. We can only imagine what would happen were we to display the Palestinian flag on our lawn.
Maybe you should have been as vocal condemning what the Palestinian elected government is, what they stand for and what they do when they murder and torture innocent Israelis…
Bruce, I think she was :
“I too support Israel, as it seeks to flush out Hamas and obtain justice.
That is its right.”
I believe we would all agree on condemning innocent civilian deaths anywhere. It’s not too hard. I have the privilege of having jewish and muslim friends, who have let me know the vitriol they are exposed to. Not in our town, not in my presence.
Peace.
You may want to display both flags, it may convey the point of your article. Just a thought. Thank you for sharing your feelings.
It is heartbreaking what is happening on both sides. And praying there will be peace and a solution in your lifetime. I always be there is light at the end and there is hope that there will be peace and a change in leadership eventually. Americans have a voice and they should use it to make change. Also vote in elections to get leaders into power that will stand up for you. That is what freedom is all about. Praying for you and for all the Palestinians and the Israelis – the innocent lives being murdered and tortured must stop!
I agree the Town of Westport has shown a one sided support of this conflict. Having Jewish flags on town property is wrong. I can imagine if this family displayed a Palestinian flag there would be open retaliation. This conflict is horrific! But don’t bring these injustices to Westport by supporting one side.. support Peace and humanity on both sides
Westport chose a side! That is ridiculous! The only side Westport chose was civility and democracy and standing against terrorists, Westport would support any country brutally and barbarically having its citizens slaughtered, raped, burned, and rest taken hostage underground. Get out of the bubble. Relatively amazing how many brainwashed bubble-living antisemitic humans stood up for terrorism on oct 8.
Sir, that would be an Israeli flag, not simply “a Jewish flag”. As you may (or may not) know, this flag represents ALL Israeli citizens, 20% of whom are indeed Muslim, as well as Christian. Again, as you may (or may not) know, the victims of this massacre do include non-Jewish people. Incidentally, the many Ukrainian flags displayed throughout town also represent the citizens of Ukraine, which makes me wonder if you think it’s as “wrong” displaying them as it is the “Jewish” flags. How about an American flag? I may be naive, but I firmly believe that there would not be open retaliation if a Palestinian flag were to be displayed on someone’s lawn. If that were the case, then the author of this opinion piece would not feel safe openly writing this letter.
Palestine must support the eradication of Hamas terrorists. The barbaric acts on 1400 innocent peace concertgoers are unspeakable. There is only one response – eliminate them. If you notice, Israel is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas still has hostages. Women and children raped, burned and tortured. Westport has people from all over the world and there is no hate here. How did people of Russian descent feel with Ukraine flags everywhere? Westport supports peace. Westport supports getting back hostages. Westport supports eliminating terrorists. If you agree with those things, you should feel at home in Westport
Adam – you do not speak for Westport. And your brand of hate is intolerable. Israel has a right to defend itself and seek revenge against Hamas. But if the continues collateral damage of thousands (and growing) of dead innocent Palestinian women and children is something you approve of, that makes you the very hate you claim does not exist in Westport.
Alex, my brand of hate? You clearly have a reading problem. Maybe you should enlist in the IDF, go over there and teach them how to free the hostages and destroy the terrorists with no casualties. Any loss of innocent life is terrible and tragic. Amazing how you create hate out of that.
A sadness and concern for me is that innocent Palestinians are also the victims of Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organizations whose charter calls for the elimination of Jews To achieve this before the barbarism of October 7 they built tunnels to store arms and create a safety net for their plan rather than build institutions that would be for the betterment of civilians of Gaza. The aid has been there and that built the tunnels..
Israel needs to make clear government changes to ensure a two state solution so Palestinians and Israelis can share the beauty and history of the Holy land. It cannot come as the result of barbarism perpetrated on a legitimate state. A two state solution is an answer but needs a willing partner not a terrorist organization. No Arab country seems to want Hamas infiltrating their country by opening borders and that is the dilemma presented by Israel’s need to declare war.
Unfortunately, with Hamas fully entrenched under schools, hospitals, housing complexes (not sure how these get called refugee camps when they are multi level buildings with full services?) and mosques the only way to get to them and get them out is to create the focused destruction of everything around them. Sad but true. They started this and the message needs to be loud and clear in terms they can understand that their end is coming when they crossed the line. You can’t reason with unreasonable people and this is the only way to bring the point across.
What? Westport chose a side?!? Well, the entire country chose Ukraine when Russian forces invaded, killed, tortured, raped and cut off fuel, water and other humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian civilians. When Hamas, representing the Palestinian people as the ruling government decided to invade a civilian concert and paraglide, send rockets in and kill, rape torture and capture civilians in a surprise attack, we as humans shouldn’t want to eradicate all of these Hamas terrorists?!?
Palestine and Palestinians must support the eradication of Hamas terrorists. The barbaric acts on 1400 innocent peace concertgoers are unspeakable. There is only one response – eliminate them. If you notice, Israel is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas still has hostages. They have only allowed a very few to be released, to try to show politically that they are decent. They are NOT decent because if they were they either wouldn’t have taken them hostage in the first place or they would have released all of the hostages right away when they released the first two women, a mother and daughter or the second two elderly Israeli women (maybe with their husbands). Women and children have been beheaded, raped, burned and tortured. Westport has people from all over the world and there is no hate here.
How did people of Russian descent feel with Ukraine flags everywhere? How have Jews in Westport and elsewhere felt all these years with the clear antisemitism coming out every few years, Jewish temples, community centers always feeling the need to hire additional security when there are large groups of Jews gathering, such as our High Holidays, the most holy days for Jews EVERY year?!? Westport supports peace. Westport supports getting back hostages. Westport supports eliminating terrorists. If you agree with those things, you should feel at home in Westport. Jews are NOT evil, just by being born a Jew. Palestinians are not all terrorists, not all Palestinians hate all Jews or vice versa. However, it seems that many Palestinians are taught to hate all Jews and many westerners. Jews are usually taught to want peace and do good for others. All Israelis in Israel, both women and men are required to be trained and serve in the armed forces so they can be called up at times of war. They are taught to conduct themselves professionally. Are there some “bad eggs”? Probably, there are people doing bad things or illegal things everywhere from all backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities and religions. I believe the majority of people want to be good and want peace and don’t want to do anything illegal or “bad” to others. Unfortunately, Israel is ALWAYS at risk of being attacked therefore, even when the majority of Israelis and Palestinians live side by side and have friendships especially from what I saw personally in Haifa, the people are always worried that something may happen to try to break that kind of relationship apart!
We who live in the USA and in Westport are lucky and blessed the majority of time that we and our immediate families are safe from being killed, tortured, captured and held hostage, etc. We as neighbors need to embrace each other, whether you’re Palestinian, Jewish, Christian, Muslim or purple with pink polka dots. If you believe in hate, terror and violence, then I don’t want to embrace you, but if you believe in peace and love, then I welcome you into my home and my life! Please try to understand Israel MUST remain to exist and Palestinians who are peace loving should be allowed to live in peace in Palestine, as well.
Watched the former head of Mossad on PBS last night. He was very concerned that the Israeli government has no plan for the future of Gaza and the Palestinian issue. Essentially, he feels what they are doing just motivates the next generation of terrorism. Our own experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has shown that overwhelming military response is not the answer. What we destroy is just replaced by something worse.
Westport supporters ZERO TOLERANCE for terrorism just like every person in the world should. The end!!!
Thank you for your courage in speaking out. I am heartbroken by the atrocities of terrorism … and the unbearably painful consequence of war. I pray for all innocents hurt; I pray for peace.
I am so sorry for your pain and fear. I, too, have lived here for 30+ years, and for the first time, I am afraid. I am Jewish, and I’m furious and sick over the anti-semitism here in town, but at least I am part of a large group in Westport. I would love to talk with you as I try to understand this horrific mess we all see playing out in front of us.
No one wants to kill innocent civilians. And I disagree with the writer. Israel is not killing Palestinian civilians as revenge. Israel must destroy Hamas bc if they don’t, Hamas will do the same thing again. And Palestinian civilians are being killed bc Hamas has deliberately placed their military operations, arms, supplies, food and fuel taken from civilians, under schools, hospitals, mosques and homes. Doing this to hide among its civilians, knowing that once they attack Israel, Israel must fight them and in that case civilians will get killed and Israel will look terrible in front of the world. It’s Hamas who has created this devious situation. And I’m sorry that any Palestinian is suffering or is even scared here. But no jew in Westport or anywhere in the world is celebrating Palestinian civilian deaths. I cannot say the same about some Muslims who are celebrating the deaths of Jews. And that is very scary. All Israel wants is to live in peace.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. This war and its long history is so complicated. I view the many flags that I’ve seen as support for the Israeli people , not the government or the tactics that are or are not used for retaliation. To me its the same as the flag for Ukraine or any other nations flag where the people are attacked. I would feel the same if I saw the Palestinian flag and I would hope that most in town would as well. You would be supporting the Palestinian people who are without a doubt also victims of Hamas. Both things can be true – we can support the Israeli and the Palestinian people.
How can we all live by: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”?
Thank you, Dan, for letting this voice be heard. I have lived in Westport for sixteen years. Our town is very quick to organize and gather for any group that is unheard and attacked. Driving around Westport right now one would could easily think many residents do not believe that all innocent lives matter. Palestinian civilians are not Hamas. Sadly, at the moment, when I see an Israeli flag in front of a home or on a corner all I can think about is airstrikes on innocent civilians. Israel is not a terrorist group. It has been an UN member since 1949, politically aligned with the west and should be held to the modern rules of warfare including distinction, proportionality and unnecessary suffering. Right now much of the world agrees.
Very well said.
September Stevens if Mexico’s govt was taken over by gang warlords and stated they hated the US and made tunnels and built up weapons for years and years hiding under their civilians and continually threatened to exterminate us and was supported by other extremist countries and sent suicide bombers over the last 20 years and then came in and killed thousands of people in Texas and raped them and burned children and did to us what Hamas did to Israel we would obliterate them and no one in the world would bat an eye. It’s only Israel people have different expectations for.
War is horrific. Hamas has impoverished their own people by directing money towards building their tunnels and arsenals of arms, munitions & bombs for the annihilation of Israel. Hamas has dehumanized their own people by using them as “human shields” with their tunnels under critical infrastructure. Israel has the right to fight for their existence & to retaliate against such horrific acts of murder, torture & rape of its people. Unfortunately, innocent people pay the price, as well. It is not the MO of Israel to kill innocent Palestinians, but Hamas has created the scenario that exists. The Hamas is a terrorist organization, plain and simple. All countries, and all people desiring peace, must agree that they be dismantled.
@Peter marks, there is no such thing as a “Jewish Flag.” That is an Israeli flag. Jewish is not a nationality. It’s a religion. Please educate yourself on the history of Israel and the Jewish people as it will give you a better understanding of the facts, including the ISRAELI flag.
israel has a right to defend it self as we did in 9/11 and ww2 innocent people always die in war. israel will be stronger when this ends. they must do what they have to do to survive.
I believe that Israel is trying to be as careful as can be expected in its highly targeted bombings of Gaza. To date, the number of claimed deaths represents less than 0.5% of the population. Curiously the reported deaths are heavily skewed toward women, children and the elderly. Where are the men? If genocide was intended, the percentage would be more than 100 times as great. Have we not forgotten that the US and its Allies conducted a number of firebombings in Germany in WWII in which many thousands of civilians, estimated at over 25,000 in Dresden alone, were killed. War is horrible. Hamas prepared for years for its horrific attacks and its infrastructure must be destroyed.
Elena, The Jewish people of Westport are not siding against the Palestinian people because we are showing our pride and solidarity with our homeland by putting up Israeli flags. You state ”the message is loud, clear and one-sided: Support Israel! Place Israeli flags on town property!”
I am genuinely curious what makes you feel “isolated, anxious and vulnerable”. What is the actual threat you are fearing by your neighbors supporting Israel? What is the offense to you or anyone else? And, can you please check yourself for antisemitism, if you can’t come up with any clear answers?
The flags represent that the State of Israel and the Jewish people are fighting for our survival and right to exist, when millions are against that.
The flags represent a legacy of over 2000 years of persecution.
The flags represent that we are a proud nation of people because all those who want us extinguished have not succeeded.
The flags represent that we have survived against all odds.
We are really peaceful, as demonstrated by the way we protest, actually rally – through songs, prayer, education, speakers, vigils, etc.
So, Elena, excuse us if our pride is showing in a “loud and clear way”. We have earned the right to it. AM YISRAEL CHAI
I can also add that the flags represent our hostages safe return now; our grief for those lost in the massacres and their families and friends; and our deep love for the Israelites and Israel.
I support innocent civilians living in Israel and innocent civilians living in Gaza. I don’t support Hamas or its terrorist attacks.
I also don’t support the hard-right Israeli government, which is intentionally perpetrating war crimes according to Amnesty International and the United Nations (a group Westport claims to venerate), among other respected international organizations. Displaying the flag of the country of Israel as a means of showing support to its innocent civils risks aligning yourself with a government committing crimes against humanity. Individual citizens are welcome to do that if that is how you feel, or if they are okay with their good intent being misconstrued. But the Town of Westport is not. In fact, I find the first selectwoman and even police chief’s unrelenting need to insert themselves into international affairs absolutely bizarre, whether that’s Ukraine or this crisis. That is different than dealing with anti-Semitism or Islamaphobic crimes or actions here in town, which is properly within their ambit.
For those invoking 9/11, ask yourself whether the two-decade-plus military response to that crisis and the millions of innocent deaths it caused was a shining moment for this country or something to celebrate.
Do you know why hamas does not hide in the tunnels of telaviv?
Because we would never allow it. Free all of the hostages now.
#freethemnow
To all of us opposed to hate, bias, discrimination, extremism and rhetoric, please remember to vote on Tuesday to keep extremism out of the BoE.
Camilio Riano is editor of this horrible website which published this “article “on Monday
https://connecticutcentinal.com/westport-virtue-signals-for-israel-but-hamas-supporting-blm-plaque-still-hangs-in-town-hall/
with this quote, Yet, Westport still celebrates Hamas, a murderous, terrorist organization that brags about killing innocents, by supporting their BLM enablers.
This is not who we are Westport.
Vote for incumbents Goldstein and Phillips AND fill in the ballot for Jill Dillon !!
This is not ONLY about our children and great schools but also about our town and its property values !
The article you linked to suggests that George Floyd died of a fentanyl overdose. That, is a BIG, FAT, LIE and Camilo Riano knows it. But now that I’ve glanced at “the Connecticut Centinel” itself, I’m not surprised.
BLM isn’t a movement or an actual organization like Hamas. It was a phrase that summarized public sentiment following the police execution of George Floyd. If you think Hamas is being directed by BLM, I think you don’t understand the scope and intent of Hamas. The display of these words on a plaque does not constitute Westport “celebrating Hamas”.
Wake up Lauren, what you’re seeing, reading, hearing is exactly what westport is. The issue is you don’t like what you see in Tyr mirror.
Save your pompoms. Times are changing.
I am a Jew and proudly display an Israeli flag on my lawn. It’s in solidarity with 1400 civilians brutally murdered. It’s with solidarity with over 200 hostages. That makes someone uncomfortable?!
Your fear of putting up a Palestinian flag is exactly how many Jews feel all over the world because of the anti-semitism fueled by the “narrative”. Welcome! Fortunately, Westport is a very tolerant town.
Your wrath should be against Hamas. If they weren’t terrorists we would not be having this exchange. Israel is doing everything possible to spare civilian life, but there is no “balanced response” in this situation. Neither is there some magic alternative to exterminate Hamas without a war.
Dan, I am happy to send you photos of dozens of death threats and anti-Semitic messages that I’ve gotten over the past 3 weeks on social media. You can write an article about being afraid to be Jewish in Westport as well… just for a “balanced view”.
“War is hell,” said American general William Tecumseh Sherman. But don’t call what is happening “genocide,” which is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.
Yep! Hamas is committing genocide not Israel and that is the crux of the conflict and the trump card for all decisions. This is a war about obliteration, not theological opines. Give Israel whatever it takes. The Palenstinians will be much better off with hamas dead. 🇮🇱🇺🇸👍🏼
Elena
I am sorry that the current war in Israel and Palestine is creating so much angst and fears for Westporter residents who are of Palestinian or Jewish decent. I hope you, your family and others here in Westport will remember and feel that you are as safe and as accepted by the majority of your neighbors and the people of Westport. When I say majority it is because that is the TRUTH! We are all Americans and as Americans there is no society or country in the World that is based more on the words written into our foundation of beliefs that we are all Americans who believe and have supported the FACT that an individual, person, family and nationality are people who are given the God given Right to Life, Liberty, Safety and Protections and the Pursuit of Happiness and Freedoms .
I hope as good neighbors and fellow Westport residents we can realize we cannot always affect or change world events in ways that please all beliefs. We should and must keep our commitment to the freedoms and support for our Democracy that is the basis for our country.
The war and killing on going in Israel and Palestine is a horrible state for those people living in and trying to survive and prosper there. These states of war were brought on by the inhumane treatment of both Palestinians and Israelis that has been ongoing there for almost one hundred years in the modern era.
I believe as an American that when we display a flag on our property the only flag we should display should be an American flag. In times of world conflicts like this to display another countries flag only seeks to divide us as Americans. I know most use this gesture as one of support for a a particular belief or statement of their personal feelings but in reality these actions only tend divide us as a people and to take sides on the states of countries and further inflame personal actions.
I for one only fly and display one flag on my property and that is American flag. Do I have feelings and beliefs about what is happening in this horrible war in Israel and Palestine. Yes I do but they are my personal feelings that there are NO GOOD WARS!
I do not want my personal beliefs and feelings to make anyone let alone my neighbors and friends feel threatened or endangered because of a flag that I post on my property or in public.
War only divides and destroys us.
Only respect, love, caring and civility can make us safe and better as Americans in Westport!
She is absolutely right…so much for diversity, equity and inclusion. I haven’t seen one Palestinian flag in town although apparently there is one on the bridge. They sure love their flags in Westport -rainbow ones, Ukrainian ones, now Israeli ones – – – Palestinian ones not so much. We should all be standing side by side against crimes against humanity – committed by both sides.
When I opened up the blog and read what our neighbor wrote on Thursday morning, I had a lot of feelings. I sat with the feelings all morning and then I felt compelled to speak up. Mostly I am sad.
It is horrifying to watch the news or even open up a social media app these days. Everyday since October 7th seems to somehow get worse and not better. On October 7th innocent civilians were brutally attacked in Israel by a terrorist organization, Hamas. Babies were beheaded and burned alive. Women and children were raped until their pelvises were literally broken. Families watched as their loved ones were tortured until ultimately murdered. It was a 9/11 for Israel. It was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Today, Hamas still holds hundreds of hostages in Gaza while they use them along with their own people as human shields. Hamas is known for this. This is not new. They store weapons and headquarter themselves in hospitals, residential buildings, schools. They know the Israelis do not want to cause harm to innocent civilians so they do this to protect themselves. They are cowards literally hiding behind the innocent children in their land. It is unimaginable.
On 10/7 innocent children and mothers were killed in their beds, today that’s happening in Gaza. Both are horrific. Both are unacceptable. And both are at the hands of Hamas.
I want to make something very clear, I will not play this game of whose pain is worse or whose life holds more value. I am a mother of young children. No mother anywhere in this world should go to bed wondering if tonight’s bedtime story and kiss would be their last. No child deserves this trauma in their formative years.
I think I speak for a lot of us Jewish people here in Westport, we haven’t changed since 10/7. We are the same people with the same values. You don’t have to worry about putting up your flag. We are not anti Palestine. We believe the Palestinian people deserve better too. We are anti Hamas. You are safe here.
We cannot fall for a terror organization’s propaganda. This is what they want. Neighbors turning against each other, having hate in their hearts for each other. We are better than that. The Jewish religion preaches peace and loving your neighbors. I will not hate you.
With love and peace,
Your neighbor Nicole
Let’s get some things straight here. It was Hamas that planned, practiced and carried out an unprovoked murderous and deliberately barbaric attack on civilians who were the intended target. Israel is responding as any nation would after such an attack. Such a response is NOT, as it has been suggested, done for “revenge” or to carry out an act of “genocide” against the Palestinian people. Those throwing around the word genocide might want to look it up. It is most distinctly Hamas that fully intends to complete its stated mission of destroying Israel and its people. Now, there’s your genocide.
Now, let’s get back to what’s really important in Westport, flags and lawn signs.
At some points over last few weeks, 1 side (I know which side but it doesn’t matter which side) was considering getting some ‘expanding’ materials into the tunnels to seal them off, a last resort that would kill and stop the disgusting Terrorist Hamas Palestinians but also of course end the lives of the Israel hostages; and, I thought what that moment for them in the tunnels – Palestinians and Israelis – will be like, when it’s literally both Palestinians’ and Israelis’ last minutes and they know it and they’re alone together. I imagine them holding hands and ‘falling together’ like victims of WTC did on 9/11, i.e, for those last minutes of their lives not caring/thinking 1 bit about what ‘bible’ they read fr, who’s govt claims the land.
Also, USA needs to spread it’s influence, it’s melting pot goals and resist ltg the tribalism that fuels these conflicts fr seeding and spreading here.
First, I am sad that the writer feels isolated and anxious as a Palestinian American in Westport. This is exactly how many Jews feel across American college campuses and even many large American cities like NY, LA, etc., where the number of people protesting in support of Palestine far outstrips those in support of Israel.
Second, I think this fact bears emphasizing: Hamas’ goal is the complete eradication of any Jewish state in the current location of Israel, of any size, of any kind. They will not cease their violence until this goal is achieved. Israel could cease its miliary operations today, end the blockade of Gaza and work towards a two-state solution, and Hamas would still employ its violent and barbaric tactics against Israeli citizens because ANY kind of homeland for the Jewish people in the current region is unacceptable to them.
Thus, Israel is faced with a terrible choice: Attempt to eradicate Hamas, and in doing so drive up civilian casualties because of how Hamas has decided to embed itself amongst Gaza’s citizenry, or continue to expose its citizens to danger that no other sovereign entity would allow its citizens to encounter. It is choosing the former, and while the civilian loss of life is terrible, it’s frankly the choice most countries would make, including ours.
Finally, re: the comments about Israel and “war crimes”: It seems that Hamas is not held to the same standard. Maybe because they’re known as a terrorist group and that’s just “what they do”?
Seems to me we’re giving this barbaric terrorist group a pass by not similarly pointing the finger at them around war crimes.
Oh and one last thing…I’m thinking of a country that has committed similar “war crimes” over the years. Dropped an atomic bomb on Japan, killed many civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. Can you guess which one I’m thinking of? Maybe we should petition the First Selectwoman to take down that country’s flag too.
I would like to know how Elena is feeling about all of the above comments.
She is welcome into my home anytime to engage in an open dialogue. Peace can not come without two way communication and understanding.
Israel created Hamas by not negotiating with the PLO and PFLP. Netanyahu and the rest of this fascistic government wants another Nabka. They have declared this in the Knesset and the world is watching this genocide and doing nothing. #freepalestine
Just as you could argue the current right-wing Israeli government was created by years of Arab and Palestinian aggression and intransigence. There are consequences to years of refusing to even consider a Jewish state in the region (see 1938-1947) and losing wars where THEY were the aggressors (see 1948, 1973). #SaveIsrael
Ever heard of “the rape of Nanking”? Now THAT was a war crime. Hiroshima/Nagasaki was merciful. It broke the back of a world class “evil empire” and saved the lives of countless more Japanese than it cost. Had we been forced to invade Japan the estimates of dead on both sides are in the tens of millions. War is hell. Hamas started this one. But to equate Hamas with Hiroshima/Nagasaki betrays your bias and your ignorance.
Wow, you completely missed the point on that one. Talk about ignorance.
Projection Matthew. Look it up. Reflect upon it. Change for the better (for a change).
Turn around Burt, the ball just went right over your head and landed on the grass.
War is a racket gentlemen.
She asked to remain anonymous & only use her first name – because she said she *did not feel safe* – so the response from Dan (my brother’s grade 6 – 12 town classmate) was to *post her full name in the tag cloud*. And of course not a word from anyone about how gaslighting & abusive that is.
So far (250 more each day) there have been 24,000 innocent Gazan civilians murdered (not including the 1000s uncounted under the rubble) – half of those children – in what South Africa & multiple human rights orgs & governments throughout the planet have correctly judged to be a genocide (including bombing & destroying schools / hospitals / ancient churches & mosques / refugee camps / universities / historic archives / cemeteries & 2 million people displaced & thousands injured & burned & limbless & 100+ UN workers killed… 100+ journalists… I lost count of how many physicians & medical workers have been killed… ) – yet predictably none of Dan’s posts reflect what Palestinian & Lebanese Westporters (like the letter writer & me) are experiencing (Lebanon is being bombed as well – with 20,000 civilians displaced & bombing / killing of civilians & journalists).
I am looking at headless & limbless & faceless Gazan infants all day long on Instagram – while Israelis shockingly troll & mock those same posts. And Israeli soldiers making pizza & riding kids bicycles in the homes of civilians they murdered. Or Gazan civilian men stripped & blindfolded & humiliated by the hundreds. Maybe the older people in this thread should go on Instagram. There is a reason younger Jewish Americans are protesting this. They’re seeing a genocide posted online in real time on Instagram etc. CNN just admitted they have to have everything approved by the Israeli govt. These are war crimes. And they’re not shown in full on the network news.
And someone in the thread excused the bombing by saying the US did it to German civilians. Do any of the commenters on Dan’s blog *read* & educate themselves before commenting. Human rights laws were created *after that WW2 bombing of civilians* to prevent it happening again. Human rights laws were created to prevent mass targeting of civilians. Yet the Israeli state is using phosphorous bombs – which burn down to the bone & reignite – when they were first used experimentally against civilians in Dresden. Yet nobody pushed back against the commenter here saying that. They are being used by the Israeli state as I type both in Gaza & Lebanon.
Nor is there any mention of the Warsaw ghetto like circumstances Gazans have been living in for the 17 years land & sea blockade prior to 7 Oct. With the airport bombed 20 years ago & everything (& everyone) going in & out monitored & often forbidden. (Marmalade… paper… cardamom… ginger… soccer balls… crayons… the list is longer & just as *absurd* as what’s listed here). No potable water. Severe malnutrition even before 7 Oct. Reliance on the UN to survive. Or the 200+ Palestinians in the West Bank murdered by the Israeli state between Jan 1 & Oct 7. Who were also *not hamas*. Nor to the horrific apartheid conditions in the West Bank Palestinians live under. Described by both Desmond Tutu & the grandson of Nelson Mandela as *worse* than in South Africa. Nor about the Nakba & 75 years of occupation & human rights abuses & murder. 500 villages & cities didn’t depopulate & raze themselves. People didn’t willingly go on death marches to refugee camps in Jordan & Syria & Lebanon. There are no other refugee camps in the world 75 years old. Watch the documentary ‘Tantura’.
The Israeli state just bombed a refugee camp in the West Bank. More *not Hamas* people murdered by the Israeli state. Did none of Dan’s commenters see the Melkite (Byzantine Catholic) funeral of *American* Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh attacked after she was murdered by the Israeli state. Or read about the American Palestinian octogenarian murdered. Or the bombing of Lebanese civilians in 1982 & 1996 & 2006. The Cana massacre: The bombing of the Fijian UN buildings in 1996 in southern Lebanon where people had sheltered. The Marwahin massacre in southern Lebanon in 2006. The bombing of Gaza in 2008… 2014… 2021… 2022…
And the lying propaganda in this thread is sickening – most of it since disproven even in the Israeli press (read Haaretz to start) – repeated in this thread is truly evil since it is used to excuse this *ongoing genocide*. Everyone repeating this proven propaganda which is being used to excuse this genocide has blood on their hands.
As Dan is aware aside from on one post about my dad (in which rather than contacting me for photos Dan used a racist photo of my father from the early 60s where the newspaper bizarrely whited out his face to un-Blackify him) I stopped viewing / commenting on this blog after experiencing anti-Arab bullying here from two of Dan’s favorite commenters when rather than defending me or at least staying silent Dan joined in attacking me. (Blaming the racist bullying I was experiencing from his friends on the ‘length’ of my replies. So logical & just & empathetic). But I stumbled upon this post today after I typed the zip code of my home town + the word ‘Palestine’ into my browser while searching for something having zero to do with this blog & then was interested in what this Palestinian cousin had to say – so I read on.
As a long time Arab American advocate with the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee & other Arab American orgs I had my friend at the Arab American National Museum archive that blog post. (Which they did under “Islamophobia” – though I’m not Muslim – due to all the anti-Syrian refugee comments in that thread). You can find it by typing into your browser: ‘Arab American National Museum’ & ‘06880’. (The post was about local attorney Theo Koskoff’s son protesting in NYC to allow Syrian refugees into the country. It went off the rails after racist Islamophobes chimed in). My friend at the museum archived it on a “crawl”. Meaning it was catching new comments then as they were posted. Because *as I was talking to my friend about archiving the blog post* I was still being bullied. The abusive comments (such as the anti-Arab trope “Do you hate America?” – even after I’d explained my family was here since the 19th c) only stopped when I posted a comment saying all their comments were now being *permanently archived* on a crawl at the Arab American National Museum. I just looked at the archived post again & saw that Dan must have removed my last comment to him & them explaining that. So maybe he’ll remove this comment describing that also. I’d also stated it was not simply my opinion. They are academics & scholars at a national museum. They don’t archive things on a *whim*. I did not see those comments now either. So though Dan must have removed only those comments (about his blog post archived at the museum) in time then to save face – the rest of the post is still there archived on the Wayback Machine (Internet Archive).
Lastly I will not be reading responses here. My feelings are in line with the letter writer about the alienation & bullying in this community. The racism. We are *traumatized*. Ironically my father moved to Westport from NY because he was 1) a Semite 2) taken for a Black man – because in 1960 Westport was the only town (vs city) in Fairfield County that had broken the color line & “gentleman’s agreement” discriminating against both. Still the Westport that Dan likes to portray is not the town that I experienced as a local born here & growing up here – not allowed to swim in the pool at Singing Oaks Day Camp (though my parents had obviously paid for me to be treated like the other 5 year olds) & being kicked out of another pool (both in the racist pre civil rights laws early 60s) / frisked in shops by Dan’s adored Westport police as a young child for zero reason (*assuming* I was shoplifting) / mocked by Westport police for my (dark & Asiatic) looks as a child / called a “sp*c” & “Indian” & “greasy Arab” / literally physically & emotionally abused by female gym teachers (who Dan waxed ecstatic over in posts when they passed on several years ago) for being disabled (by one of them when I was in a full body cast). It’s ridiculous. Like an alternate universe for brown skinned Eurasian looking physically disabled half Lebanese females vs Dan’s universe. Even a few years ago when I attempted to volunteer at Saugatuck Congregational Church – the present pastor told me ‘no’ because she didn’t think I would ‘fit in’. (I kept her bizarre racist email should anyone doubt this). She knew zero about me. I’d only said I wanted to volunteer for something & she asked if I was a member of the congregation. Due to my Lebanese Christian background she said no since she / they are Protestant. My mother was baptized / raised Lutheran btw. But this is how crazy people are. Like I stepped out of a black goat hair tent with silver coins in my hair to ask her to volunteer. I reminded her that she allows Jewish people to volunteer who are not Protestant. (Probably half of those my former friends & classmates from Staples). That I have lived here longer than probably most people in her congregation… that my brother (in Dan’s class at Staples) ran the coffee house in the church basement… that my other brother played concerts there… that my mother walked in the anti Vietnam war protest with Ted Hoskins… that my friends & I went on a retreat with Ted Hoskins (I even knew kids / classmates that Ted let sleep in the church rectory & the boys at Christ & Holy Trinity before there was a homeless shelter) – none of that mattered to her. I was barred from volunteering due to her perceiving my coming from a Lebanese Christian family as ‘otherness’. So crazy – when my ancestors were followers of Jesus before there was a church. To *volunteer*. That is insanely racist. Just like the sociopaths in this thread attacking the Palestinian letter writer *after she described feeling attacked & isolated*. Then making sure to describe themselves as not racist. This thread proves *why* she feels that way. Wow. PEP people. ‘progressive except for Palestine’. Even the Westport First Selectwoman showed sympathy for the 7 Oct Hamas attack *but not for the genocide occurring*. So othering – especially (but not limited to) when locals have friends & family in Gaza.
And where is TEAM (the supposed inclusivity org for Westport) when it comes to Arab American locals. Or the social justice ecumenical org the aforementioned pastor belongs to with Westport’s reform rabbi & other churches & the Norwalk Islamic center. (That must be working out swimmingly now. “We don’t hate *you*. We just want the Israeli state to keep bombing Gazan civilians. 25 thousand is not enough yet”… “Those 10 thousand children should not have voted for Hamas before they were born”… “It’s Hamas’ fault those thousands of children no longer have arms & legs.”… And so on… ).
So I will not be reading the responses. Neither by returning to the blog or opening emails. Like the letter writer I have been traumatized by this town & *this blog*. Wow. (Also because of a post where Dan was celebrating one of his Staples soccer team students going off to join the military & bomb Arabs. The student soldier was quoted talking about how “you fight for what’s behind you not what’s in front of you” – quoting an early 20th c British “Christian” & children’s book author. So the Arabs in front of him he was literally describing looking forward to killing were non-entities. When I politely pushed back on that statement from a human rights perspective – and as the daughter of a WW2 carpet bombing survivor – I was mob bullied by two people. Despite my explaining I was an Arab American peace activist).
A respected museum like the Arab American National Museum does not archive post threads for *zero* reason. And there’s a reason me & all my friends left town & moved to NYC after high school. It’s a shame because as a longtime local I know a lot about town history that is being forgotten. In future I’ll direct that to the Connecticut state library & Bridgeport History Center etc.
Re my above comment about CNN admitting everything they report has to be approved by the Israeli State & that the network news is not showing the *full* live-streamed genocide: While that is still true CNN & the networks are beginning to report on the horrors which can no longer be hidden – especially after the ICJ / South Africa hearing. Just as I finished typing this I went on Instagram & saw CNN reported on the *graves in Gaza bulldozed & opened with some corpses exposed & some bodies removed*. The Israeli state told CNN they “removed the bodies to look for Israeli hostages”. This is a macabre genocidal NIGHTMARE. The people bullying Elena the Palestinian letter writer in this thread for feeling isolated & traumatized should be ashamed of themselves – but I doubt they are capable of that. This thread is more proof of how Palestinians are dehumanized. I first saw the video & report – about the graves unearthed & bodies exposed & stolen – reported by Gazans on Instagram & I & others sent the images to news agencies including CNN. That is *why* CNN cannot ignore reporting it. Because it is already out there for the world to see.
It is also abusive for people in this thread to be dismissive of Elena’s statement about putting a flag in her yard. When a young six year old Palestinian American boy was stabbed to death by his landlord & three Palestinian American university students were shot in New England just north of us. All because of the incessant demonizing & dehumanizing of Palestinians.
I just watched a woman in Gaza describe how her husband & other men in the house were beaten in front of her & her children & shot to death execution style in front of them. The video showed the bullet holes in the wall in a row with blood on the wall. The shrapnel hit her three year old daughter in the eye & neck killing her. The woman thought they were all going to be killed.
Yet the reform temple in Westport (where btw my close friends went in the 70s till they were 13) raises money for the IDF. I wonder if the Norwalk Islamic Center that was or is in an ecumenical group with them knows that. Or the Syrian refugee family that the temple invited to speak there. Pretending to be nice to people while raising money to literally SLAUGHTER their friends & family & people is insane.
Though I have been involved in human rights for Palestinians for about 32 years – due to social media the rest of the world has woken up to the truth now also. The hasbara lies & bizarre excuses in this thread (e.g. a commenter mocking a refugee camp for having “three story houses” & not tents – as if people are supposed to live in tents FOR 75 YEARS when they were forced there in 1948 after they were ethnically cleansed from their villages / towns & it’s thus alright to bomb them 🤦🏽♀️) are SICKENING. Stop TRAUMATIZING your Palestinian & Lebanese & Arab American neighbors. ENOUGH. WOW 🤦🏽♀️
*Correction: “local attorney Koskoff’s son Theo”.
*Correction: I wrote “my brother’s grade 6 – 12 town classmate”. I think he & Dan went to Coleytown elementary together too from First grade. Not really the supreme matter of importance here.