Category: Israel

Open Letter to the Democratic National Committee

Since the beginning of 2026 I have responded to every letter, email, ad in my newsfeed, etc; from the DNC (or affiliates) with a version of the following letter. This includes surveys (which are really fund raising methods … actually everything I receive from the Democratic Party is a fund raising attempt).
I have a little problem. Although I am a lifelong Democrat, as were my parents and my grandparents (I am 72 now), and although I agree100% with the Party’s platform concerning women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, senior rights, and a host of other issues, I cannot in good conscious support the Party monetarily so long as they tolerate antisemitism (usually hiding under the word anti-Zionism), especially at the leadership level. Mostly here, I am referring to the anti-Israel comments by Senator Bernie Sanders (whom I voted for when he ran for POTUS) and those ladies popularly referred to as “The Squad.” Bernie and “the squad” are right most of the time, I would even say I agree with them 95% of the time, but they repeat lie, after lie, after lie about Israel. It’s like I am hearing Donald Trump (the liar in chief) and the MAGAs, the lies are so incredibly nauseating.
  • Israel is not practicing apartheid.
  • Israel was not founded by European Colonialists.
  • Israel is not now, not has it ever committed genocide.

These are all lies: propaganda authored by people who hate Jews, and these lies make Bernie, “The Squad,” and the Democratic Party look like blatant hypocrites.

Progressives (and I would characterize myself as a Progressive) are supposed to stand against misogyny, racism, oligarchical rule, yet, by attacking Israel, they are seen as supporting regimes that suppress women, openly murder LGBTQ individuals and Arab oligarchs (such as the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, etc.).

Concerning the hypocrisy of Progressives

When I posted the above meme on Facebook, boy did I get some backlash. Progressives don’t like it when someone points out how hypocritical they are.

Example 1: They claim to be pro-woman and anti-misogyny, yet they support a country that subjugates women in some of the worst ways.  In Gaza and in parts of the “west Bank,” women are forced to wear the hijab, not allowed to leave the house without a male escort, not allowed to work in healthcare (or many other professions). Their husbands have permission from their prophet to beat them, or divorce them without notice. In even stricter Islamic regimes such as Iran, they are not allowed an education, are forced to wear the burka (where all you can see is their eyes), and not allowed to drive a car. In some of these countries teenage girls are subjected to FGM  I think the only thing stopping that from happening in Gaza or the “west bank” is those countries proximity to Israel.

Example 2: Progressives claim to support LGBTQ rights. In Gaza and parts of the “west bank” it is routine for LGBTQ citizens to be thrown from the tops of buildings, or drug from behind pickup trucks.

Example 3: Progressives want to see the right to vote enshrined for everyone. The last time the citizens of Gaza were allowed the opportunity to vote was in January 2006. That was twenty years ago.

Example 4:  Progressives, for the most part, claim to be pacifists. On October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorists invaded  Israel from Gaza, Thousands of militants breached the Gaza-Israel security fence at over 30 points using explosives, bulldozers, and paragliders and targeted more than 20 Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and the Nova Music Festival, where over 300 people were killed. Approximately 1,200 people were killed, including civilians, women, children, and the elderly. It was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. Around 251 people were abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip as hostages. The terrorists committed heinous atrocities, including gang raping women and teenagers (some women were found with their pelvises broken in multiple spots); torturing and murdering parents in front of their children, and children in front of their parents. Infants were executed in microwave ovens.  Am I exaggerating?  Not at all. These monsters were so proud of themselves that they video recorded it.

How did Progressives respond? Many of them applauded the terrorists, saying that Israel had it coming, and justifying it with a litany of lies (Israel practices “apartheid,” “Israel “illegally” occupies the west bank, Israel “enslaves” the “palestinian” people, etc., etc., ad-infinitum, ad-nauseum).  Funny thing about the lies: Progressives are fond of pointing out Donald Trumps pathological lies, but when it comes to Israel and the Jews, they are guilty of much worse.

Don’t get me wrong. Donald is by far the worst POTUS our country has ever endured. He undoubtedly wants to be a dictator (a “King”). 

A lot of Jews (a minority, thankfully) support Trump. They point out that he moved the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, this recognizing Jerusalem as the legitimate and historical capital of Israel . They point out that he recognized Israel’s legal control over the Golan Heights. They point out that he expedited military aid to Israel.  All this indicates is that like a broken clock, Trump is right about something twice a day.  What they don’t see (or don’t want to see) is a man who has been a lifelong antisemitic, who will throw Israel and Jews under the bus as soon as we no longer serve a purpose for him.

For Progressives, these decisions further turn them away from Israel simply because Trump made them. No other reason. Trump did it so it must be wrong. Trump supports Israel, therefore Progressives must not, even though it implies that Progressives are supporting regimes with heinous records regarding the civil rights of women, LGBTQ an ordinary citizens. “Oh but that’s not true,” they will say, “it’s really about freedom of religion. People have the right to believe and practice any religious dogma they prefer.”  People have such a right, but Jews are not “people.” So it depends upon whether your religion is acceptable or not for you to have the right to practice.  It doesn’t matter that in many cases people have been forced to convert to Islam (and the Quron states in numerous places that people must convert to Islam or be executed). Another hypocrisy: Progressives believe in freedom of religion yet they support a religion that denies that very freedom.

Most Progressives are atheists or agnostics. This illuminates yet another hypocrisy. They will say that they support Moslems because we have “freedom of religion,” but in reality they would outlaw all religion if they could.  When they wish they are all into exposing conservatives for being pedophiles, or gay, or adulterers, but they could easily apply some of that to Islam, which promotes pedophilia (Mohammad’s first wife was six years old when they married. He waited until she was nine to consummate) misogyny (including FGM), and the wholesale murder of LGBTQ individuals. They disallow the freedom of the press (except for Iran’s propaganda outlets such as Al Jazeera), freedom of speech, and most of the other items listed on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.  They won’t because after all “Islam is the religion of Peace,” (tell that to the victims of Oct 7 2023) and besides it’s very fashionable to support Moslem rights above everyone else’s right (such as Israel’s right to exist).

 

Progressive Zionist groups on Facebook

Here is listed all of the groups currently on Facebook (as of 03/29/2026) identifying as Zionist and Progressive/Liberal. These groups are showing a total of 37,084 members. Granted, some people probably belong to more than one group or even all of these groups.

What does “Progressive Zionist” even mean? By “Progressive,” we mean basically that we more or less support those domestic issues promoted by Bernie Sanders and members of the Congressional “Squad.” By “Zionist” we mean that we unequivocally and unabashedly support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and the Jewish peoples right to sovereignty in the land formerly governed by the British Mandate for Palestine(1920-1948), including Samaria / Judea (aka, “the West Bank”).

“Palestine”?

 

Palestine? More like, Fakestine. That’s right, folks, it’s time to bust the myth that Palestine is a real place with a real history. I know, I know, some people may have their conspiracy theories and emotional attachments to this “land,” but let’s face it, it’s all just a trendy fashion statement.

First things first, let’s clear up some common misconceptions. You may have heard about the so-called “occupation,” “apartheid,” and “genocide” happening within the borders of Israel. But here’s the thing, these are just buzzwords thrown around by people who clearly have no idea what they’re talking about. In fact, there is no evidence of any of these things happening within the post-1967 boundaries of Israel. So, let’s put that rumor to rest, shall we?

Now, let’s get to the root of the issue, Palestine itself. The truth is, Palestine as a distinct state or nation has never existed. That’s right, I said it. It’s all a figment of someone’s imagination. Many people claim that Palestine has a rich history and culture, but the reality is, there is no solid evidence to back this up.

But didn’t Palestine have a place on the map? Well, sort of. You see, back in ancient times, the area referred to as Palestine was a region that encompassed parts of modern-day Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.  Following the Bar Kochba revolt (135 BCE), Rome renamed  Judea “Syria Palestina” in order to punish the Jews and displace them from their land (Judea being named after it’s inhabitants, the Jews) It was never a designated nation with a distinct identity. It wasn’t until the 20th century, when the League of Nations assigned the United Kingdom the Mandate for Palestine (1928-1948) that this name was used to refer specifically to the land of Israel. And even then, it was mainly used as a geographical term, not a political one.

So, where did this whole “Palestinian” identity come from? The truth is, it’s a relatively new concept that only gained popularity in the late 1960s. It was around this time that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed, and suddenly, everyone wanted to be a “Palestinian.” It became a symbol of resistance and rebellion, and being a “Palestinian” was seen as cool and edgy. It’s like the hipster trend, but with a political twist.

But let’s not forget, Israel has had a continuous presence in the land for thousands of years. It has a well-documented history and ties to the land, unlike this so-called “Palestinian” identity. The Jewish people have been living in the land of Israel for centuries, and there is no denying their connection to it.

So, what’s the big deal, you may ask? Well, the problem is that this fabricated identity of “Palestinian” has been used as a tool to delegitimize and demonize Israel. It’s a way for certain groups to push their agenda and paint Israel as the “oppressor.” But the fact is, the land belongs to Israel, and it always has.

In conclusion, calling Palestine a “real” place with a “real” history is just plain wrong. It’s time to stop buying into this fashionable, made-up identity and start acknowledging the facts. Israel is a real country with a real history, and it’s time to give credit where credit is due. Let’s put an end to this charade and embrace the truth. It’s time to say goodbye to Fakestine and hello to the real deal.

 

IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY!!!

Linda Grindel

I’ve written about progressive psychic mediums before. My wife is particularly fond of them, and I find them to be consistently entertaining and insightful. I’ll include a few links to the ones I find that are accurate. However, like most progressives, they tend to embrace an antisemitic worldview, especially in regard to Israel.

The worst one, as far as being blatantly antisemitic, is Linda Grindel.   In practically every podcast she produces (except when she’s a guest with others), she disparages Israel in some way.

In her latest podcast, she found the straw that broke the camel’s back. She stated on the air that her “spirit guides” informed her that Israel participated in the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Linda’s pod cast 2/26/2026

I believe in a lot of things. I believe that we have spiritual advisors that dwell between the worlds that give us insights or advice about things going on in our lives. Other than “spirit guides,” I’m not sure what else you can call them. Some people call them Angels. Celtic-oriented people might refer to them as “faery.” I believe that some people are gifted with the ability to access these entities at will. Psychics, Mediums, Gurus, Shamans, and maybe even some Rabbis are gifted in this way.

I can state here that Linda Grindel’s “guides” did not tell her that Israel, the Mosshav, the IDF, or any other Israelis had anything to do with the assassination of JFK.

Guides do not lie. They are incapable of it. People lie. Politicians lie. Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler, Tucker Carlson, and many others are pathological liars. (Do you know how to tell when one of them is lying? Their lips move.) 

Progressive Psychic Mediums, such as Linda, claim that they get their information from these spirit guides (or they may call them Angels, ETs, famous people from history, etc,)

But in this case Linda Grindel is either lying, or she is listening to entities that are not benevolent or who do not hold human beings (or Homo sapiens) in high regard or have any respect for them. A third possibility is that Linda is just bat-crap “cray cray.”

Israel has always held the United States and certain of our POTUSs in very high regard. JFK was admired so much that in the hills outside of Bethany there is a perpetual memorial flame that burns in honor of JFK.

 

President Kennedy was very supportive of Israel. Here is a link to some of his remarks at the August 26, 1960 convention of the Zionist Organization of America in New York City.

 

I’m more Jewish now than I ever have been

The transition began with October 7th 2023. That was the day that the terrorist group Hamas savagely attacked communities in Southern Israel and a music festival from their base in Gaza, murdering, raping, disemboweling, innocent Israeli men, women, children, infants and the elderly.  News reports say that over 1400 were gunned down, gang raped and dismembered by savage inhuman adherents to the “religion of Peace.”

I won’t got into any more details. You can read about those elsewhere, but the effect it had on me, over time, caused me to embrace the Jewish side of my persona more so than at any other time in my life, even more so than my visit to Israel in 1974.

So, if you are wondering why my writings and missives on this blog are emphasising Judaism more than in the past, this is the reason.  This year I have visited a Rabbi, afixed a Mezuzah to both my front and back doors, actively lit the candles and recited the prayers for Channukah, began observing Shabbat on Friday evenings by wearing a Kippot  and been attending the Zoom broadcast of Shabbat services from Central Synagogue in New York City.  I also attended the public lighting of the Menorah on the eighth night of Channukah in Olde Towne Eureka.

I haven’t found a spiritual home here as yet. There are two Synagogues here: Temple Beth El in Eureka, and the Chabad Jewish Center in Arcata. Rabbi Cowen of the Chabad house in Arcata was the Rabbi I met with this past summer, and the one I have had the most interaction with (through the Facebook Humboldt Jewish Community group). I would probably be more inclined to attend Temple Beth El (a Reform congregation more like the one I occasionally attended in Chicago) if it weren’t for the fact that Rabbi Naomi believes all the falsehoods spoken about Israel by both the Right and the Left (“Apartheid,” “Occupation,” “Genocide,” “Illegal Settlements,” etc.).  On the other hand Chabad is very, very orthodox and extreme in it’s practices, even though I am very impressed with Rabbi Cowen (his joy is infectious). I find the ultra orthodox Chabad a bit too extreme for my comfort level. Still, if I am going to become a member of a Jewish community, Chabad attracts me for it’s unabashed allegiance to the Jewish state of Israel, rather than the mealy mouthed, denial of Judaisms intrinsic attachment to Zionism, that some so called “Progressive” Jews embrace.  I cannot fathom the embrace of a form of anti-semitism (anti-Zionism) that some of these folks espouse.

I am a Progressive myself. I always have been. The doctrines of Islam are some of the most anti-Progressive I have ever witnessed (misogyny, anti-LGBTQ, pro-slavery, anti- Human rights, anti-democracy) and nearly every Islamic dominated nation on this planet exhibits the same inhumane traits.  Yet many so-called Progressives would rather support such regimes (which a “Palestinian” state would inevitably become) rather than support Israel, which is by far one of the most Progressive states on the planet, perhaps even more so than the United States.