Meanwhile on the International front....

Columbia didn't hold their huge commencement ceremony but have had a bunch of smaller ones up at the sports facilities by our apartment in upper Manhattan. It's been calm from what I've seen, with the main street blocked off during each ceremony. I know folks are like, who cares if you have a ceremony, but yesterday I walked by shortly after one ended and seeing the parents and especially the grandparents of the grads and just seeing the pure happiness and pride on their faces, I was glad they were able to do something for the students.

Last week an insane person tweeted a "is your favorite author a Zionist" spreadsheet and it's somehow even more ludicrous than it sounds. Mitch Albom is filed under, yes, a Zionist, because he "blogs about how Israel has the right to defend itself." A friend is on the list for the most ridiculous of reasons as well. I think the list exists mostly to be dunked on, but occasionally you'll see someone online who actually thinks it's a good list that the world needs and it simply leaves me shaking my head at my fellow humans.

 

Remember the good old days — like, in 2023 — when someone ranting about "Zionists" would be an immediate red flag that they were an unhinged conspiracy theorist you probably want nothing to do with? Now they seem to be, if not celebrated, at least finding an audience willing to subscribe to their newsletter.
Maybe if this keeps up Mel Gibson can make a comeback.

 

The people on those lists aren't even all Jewish. They are just people who have said things supportive of Israel.

 

That is what sucks about this. There is no middle ground. It's "either-or" and the "but-and" gets shouted down.

Either you are pro-Israel or pro-woke (whatever that means) on one side. On the other side you have forces choosing to oppose the pro-woke at the expense of pro-Israel.

Factacta.

 

Thousands protest in Israel amid anger at Netanyahu over hostages held in Gaza

Elsewhere in Tel Aviv, police dispersed anti-government protesters – some waving Israeli flags – with water cannon and arrested several people. The major highway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was blocked for about an hour. Other protests took place across Israel.

 

How ‘Zionist’ became a slur on the US left

 

Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians

 

Checking in …

Has Israel killed enough people to defeat terrorism yet?

 

Isn't the most difficult part of asymmetrical warfare knowing when you've won?

 

One "glib stupidity" has more basis in fact than the other, but you knew that. I believe we've known trying to kill a bunch of terrorists just breeds more terrorists. I mean God forbid you actively work to make people's lives better so they trust you more than the terrorists. Or at the very least, trust you will protect them if you stand up to terrorists.

But something, something, too woke and too DEI something