New Yorkers are finally getting the message that they need to get rid of their Mayor, but they will not. (See 1 below.)
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More comments from a long time friend and fellow memo reader regarding my recent memo on PC'ism. "Bravo Dick! I love my pick up truck. If I see a guy wearing a black mask & carrying a backpack (not very likely in the small mountain town where I live!) it will be very tempting to run over him.......but I won't. We need to take our country back from these people that hate us. The inability of the leftists to even slightly comprehend basic facts is astonishing to me.
Bravo too on climate change comments. None of the lefties understand history, or cycles either. We are surrounded by dunces & cretins. Heaven help us. - B--"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++The Balfour Declaration was a somber pledge that has been ignored because other interests took precedence. (See 2 and 2a below.)
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I have reported on this before but here is a relevant new version: https://www.facebook.com/
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Now for some kid humor on marriage etc. (See 3 below.)
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Dick
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1)
As Terror Strikes Again, New Yorkers No Longer Wonder Why
The attackers want me, and everyone like me, to walk around terrified. Well, they can go to hell.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-terror-strikes-again-new-yorkers-no-longer-wonder-why-1509577923
By Matthew Hennessey
My city got hit again Tuesday, and nearly in the same spot as the hit it took on a Tuesday long ago.
Eight people died when a religious fanatic from Uzbekistan allegedly turned a rented pickup truck into a murder weapon on the Hudson River bike path, not far from the World Trade Center complex in lower Manhattan. The attack reminded all New Yorkers of a fear we try hard to suppress: We are always vulnerable. Every time we cross the street, we are targets. We must always be on guard.
I was 19 in 1993, when a terrorist cell under the direction of Omar Abdel Rahman, the so-called blind sheikh, killed six people with a truck bomb in the trade center’s parking garage. At the time I was in acting school miles away on East 54th Street. As my friends and I watched smoke-smeared people being evacuated on a television in the student lounge, I thought to myself, “Who would do such a thing?”
On 9/11 I was 27 and living in a basement apartment in Queens. Like most New Yorkers, I’d pretty much forgotten about the 1993 attack. Like most Americans, I was ignorant about what we now call radical Islam. A few days earlier I’d read a news story about the assassination of Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud in Afghanistan and thought: I wonder what that’s about?
That clear blue Tuesday I was booked to fly to London for an acting gig. Along with my girlfriend, I watched the towers fall from the departure lounge in John F. Kennedy International Airport. As I did I said out loud: “What is the purpose of this?”
The flight and the acting gig were both canceled. The engagement wasn’t: The girlfriend is now my wife. Sixteen years later, I still haven’t been to London.
In 2001 I was about to embark on a life that would lead to more family happiness and career success than I dreamed possible. Never far from my mind, however, are those who died that horrible Tuesday. My story goes on. Their stories were unfairly cut short.
In the skies, in the Twin Towers, at the Pentagon and in a quiet Pennsylvania field, nearly 3,000 lives were mercilessly snuffed out that morning. In the years since, hundreds more cops, firefighters and other first responders have succumbed to illnesses related to the attacks. Every September that goes by, I do my best to remember their sacrifice.
Eight people in New York went out this Tuesday, never to return to their homes or their loved ones. On my way home to my loved ones that night I was more alert than usual. I noticed a few things.
“Damn, eight dead?” I overheard a middle-aged African-American man say into his phone as we passed each other on a midtown street. It reminded me of riding the elevated subway out of Queensboro Plaza the afternoon of 9/11, when I heard a businessman answer his phone by saying: “What am I doing? I’m thinking of all my dead friends down at Two World Trade.”
I heard some people speaking French on Madison Avenue. “You are visiting a city that just got attacked by a terrorist,” I thought to myself. They appeared unaffected. They were on vacation, probably in deep for a few thousand dollars (or euros). It turned out six of those killed in the attack were tourists, five of them Argentines in New York for a high-school reunion.
Considerably affected myself, I popped into a liquor store for a bottle of Irish whiskey. A wine tasting was under way. Nobody seemed to care that a jihadist had killed eight people a few miles downtown. I wondered: What’s happening to us?
Minutes later I stood beneath the big American flag above the Main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal. Halloween revelers were assembling. Some were headed to watch the Rangers play at Madison Square Garden. Evening commuters often enjoy a drink or two on the way home. More than usual seemed to be drowning their sorrow that night.
The NYPD, National Guard and New York state troopers were out in force. It put me in mind of those post-9/11 days when you’d see soldiers with large rifles patrolling subway platforms, a sight both comforting and disturbing.
I no longer wonder who would do such things or what they’re all about. I know what’s going on. Those who plow trucks into crowds and slaughter innocent people are enemies of freedom. They have no respect for human life. They aren’t sick. They aren’t confused.
They know exactly what they are doing and exactly what they want: They want me, and everyone like me, to walk around terrified that instant death is always a moment away. And they think it’s all for the glory of God.
Well, they can go to hell.
Mr. Hennessey is an associate editorial features editor at the Journal.
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2) When Britain Renewed the Promise to the Jews
‘His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home.’
By Ruth R. Wisse
In the living room of our daughter’s home hangs a 4-by-6-foot Jewish flag designed by her paternal great-grandfather, hastily sewn from blue and white material in his Montreal dry-goods store. In November 1917, on receiving news that the British government had just given its support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, Nathan Black strung the flag across his storefront and closed for the day. “Haynt iz a yontev,” he told his workers: “Today is a holiday.”
One hundred years ago on Nov. 2, Arthur Balfour, the British foreign secretary, sent a letter to Lord Walter Rothschild : “His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930). PHOTO: ANN RONAN PICTURES/PRINT COLLECTOR/GETTY IMAGES
Known as the Balfour Declaration, it represented a diplomatic high point in the history of the Zionist movement founded by Theodor Herzl in 1897. Herzl realized that Zionism would have trouble achieving its political objective of establishing “a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law” without support from one or more of the empires laying claim to the Jewish homeland. His attempt to win that support, cut short by his death in 1904, was taken over by others, such as Chaim Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow. The latter’s role in securing the Balfour Declaration was recently brought to light by historian Martin Kramer. Other countries, including France and the U.S., were involved in the discussions over the disposition of Palestine, but the credit for this document was Britain’s. At least on that score credit is deserved.
The Balfour Declaration was a landmark in the political life of Britain no less than in the self-determination of the Jews. Brutally expelled from England in 1290 and formally readmitted in 1656, Jews remained the barometer of toleration in the country’s political and private life.
English literature served up sinister characters like Shylock and Fagin that testify to powerful anti-Jewish prejudice. Then, in 1876, the British novelist George Eliot created the title character Daniel Deronda, an Englishman and Jew who determines to make the Jews a landed nation again, “giving them a national center, such as the English have, though they too are scattered over the face of the globe.” The threat to the Jews in Eliot’s novel comes not from violent aggressors but from Englishmen who cannot understand why Jews should remain a nation. Anticipating Zionism and the Balfour Declaration, Eliot interprets the ability of the English to accept Jewish national rights as the touchstone of their political maturity.
Yet Britain went back on its word. Attempting to appease Arab rulers, it rewarded Arab violence in Palestine in the 1930s by preventing Jews from entering land promised to them by the Bible and the British. While the British betrayal did not directly abet Hitler’s war against the Jews of Europe, it signaled a readiness to abandon the Jews to their fate. It certainly spurred the Arab war against Israel, which began where Germany’s war against the Jews left off. Churchill reminded Parliament in 1939 that the pledge of a Jewish homeland in Palestine had been made not only to the Jews but to the world and that its repudiation was a confession of British weakness.
The Jews would have returned to Zion with or without the consent of Europe. This is the people that, despite the murder of millions of potential Jewish citizens, and within Herzl’s predicted timeline of 50 years, recovered and defended its national sovereignty in the Land of Israel that had been under foreign domination for almost two millennia. But most of the Arab world rejected the very principle of coexistence and consequently spiraled into ever-escalating intramural conflicts. For Arab nations, too, acceptance of an autonomous Jewish presence, if and when it occurs, will be the gauge of their political maturity.
Meantime, in Britain’s Daily Mail, a “proud Jewish woman and patriotic Briton” wrote last month that “many of this country’s 270,000-strong Jewish community no longer feel we have a home here.” The immediate cause of her anguish is the emboldened anti-Semitism of the Labour Party, which traditionally included many Jews. This coalition of grievance endangers the democratic future of the country.
Our family’s flag celebrated a landmark in the restoration of Zion but also another great nation’s readiness to coexist with the Jews on an equal footing. That in itself will not bring peace to the world—but world peace cannot come without it.
Ms. Wisse, a former professor of Yiddish and comparative literature at Harvard, is the author of “Jews and Power” (Schocken, 2007).
2a)
Netanyahu in London: 100 years since Balfour
The two leaders met at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British prime minister, less than a day after Netanyahu arrived in London to celebrate that seminal event in Zionist history.
2a)
Netanyahu in London: 100 years since Balfour
(VIDEO) LONDON – The Palestinians have yet to take the basic step that Great Britain did 100 years ago when it issued the Balfour Declaration recognizing the right of the Jewish people to a state in their homeland, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his British counterpart on Thursday.
The two leaders met at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British prime minister, less than a day after Netanyahu arrived in London to celebrate that seminal event in Zionist history.
“One hundred years after Balfour, the Palestinians should finally accept a Jewish national home and finally accept a Jewish state. When they do, the road to peace will be closer and, in my opinion, peace will be achievable,” said Netanyahu.
Flanked by Israeli and British flags, the two leaders spoke a few public words to the camera, before heading into a private meeting.
May told Netanyahu that her country was proud of the role it played in establishing the State of Israel. It has related to the Balfour Declaration’s anniversary “with respect and pride,” she said.
But May also paid homage to the political debate in Britain around the anniversary. The Labor party, including its Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, believe that Great Britain should mark the event by unilaterally recognizing the State of Palestine.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday demanded that Great Britain apologize for the document.
“Obviously, we recognize the sensitivities that this [anniversary] raises,” May said.
“Britain remains committed to a two-state solution,” said May. She added that she believes that some of the barriers to the peace “are clearly settlements.”
The two leaders also spoke of the strong ties and shared values between the two countries.
“Our two democracies, Israel and Britain, are strong allies and partners,” Netanyahu said. “We cooperate closely on intelligence and the battle against terrorism. We have saved through this cooperation countless lives, British lives and Israeli lives. We cooperate in cyber security and in technology and business and enterprise. We share the values of freedom and democracy and peace.”
Both he and May will attend a gala dinner on Thursday night to celebrate the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, where the British premier is expected to issue a strong statement against antisemitism.
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3)1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY? (written by kids)
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. Kristen, Age 10
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. Camille, age 10
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10 (Mmmmm??)
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? -When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7
-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - - Howard, age 8
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is........
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.-- Ricky, age 10
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3)1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY? (written by kids)
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. Kristen, Age 10
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. Camille, age 10
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10 (Mmmmm??)
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? -When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7
-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - - Howard, age 8
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is........
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.-- Ricky, age 10
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