Sunday’s Oregonian found inserted in the pages, the DVD "Obsession," sponsored by the non-profit Clarion Fund of New York.
I had a chance to see this film at our Temple in Portland, but missed it as it involved a long drive. I was very sorry I hadn’t had a chance to see it. I knew it was exposing radical Islam and its practices. I had already seen a program at Portland State University along the same lines which also involved a question and answer period. The large room was packed. I have a blog article about it.
Having lived in Israel from 1980 to 1985, I had had many experiences with radical Islam, far more than my friends in Oregon. In my book, ‘Letters From Israel," I wrote on November 23, 1983 the following from page 310 to my mother. "First, I know about the television program about the Syrians eating snake’s blood, puppies, etc. It’s terrible. It was shown on Israeli television news and I missed it that night, but read about it here. It really made the papers. You might call here and ask about it. I’m glad it finally came out in your newspaper. It shows what the Syrians are like. I didn’t send you the article because I didn’t want you to be upset."
After writing that, I did catch the incident on the news that came from Jordan. It was done by the soldiers standing at attention in a field, showing how brave and scary they were. They took turns doing these vile acts. It was meant to bolster their courage and also to scare us, and it did. To my Portland shaped mind, these people needed to be locked up in an institution. It was unreal!
These people were getting ready for fanaticism.
As San Francisco inhabitants differ from New York City inhabitants, so must New York’s Ranya Idliby of "The Faith Club" differ from radical Islamists.. I loved Ranya and her religious outlook and hope she hasn’t changed, but has only added to her knowledge. I’m finding that most Portlanders are in complete denial of what’s happening to our world.
It is my opinion that we are now in a bloody clash of cultures between the Muslims and the rest of the world. In order to educate the public, the Clarion Fund produced the DVD called Obsession with Sir Martin Gilbert, Professors Robert Wistrich, Dr. Khaleel Mohammed, Daniel Pipes, Alan Dershowitz, a former PLO terrorist and a former Hitler Youth Commander along with others.
It was an excellent presentation, and how could it not be with such prominent names behind it?
However, the people who subscribed to the Oregonian and had it delivered to their door did not find joy in receiving it. They reacted with alarm. Many threw it away quickly. Even many Jews reacted this way. They took it as some kind of propaganda against the "nice" Arabs. I’d say they hadn’t reached a readiness level to want such an education. It was the wrong way to expose the public to such findings. Now these people have gone the other way, more protecting of radical Islam. The Letters to the Editor page was filled with their hostile reactions. After distributing the paper on Sunday, there were television ads from the newspaper saying they were just offering freedom of speech, and they were innocent. Today saw an article about it in the paper. Evidently there were protesters outside the Oregonian building complaining about the distribution of this hour long DVD. They said, probably without viewing, that it was Muslim-bashing propaganda promoting fear, hate and division. At least 500 people called the paper complaining. A few even dropped their subscription to the paper.
The world contains about 6.6 billion people. Christians and Muslims are almost equal in number.
Out of those, about 2.1 billion, or 33% of the population are Christian.
The 2nd largest world religion are Muslims with 1,902,095,000, or 1 billion, 902 million, 95 thousand.or about 20% of the world population.
Jews are 13,296,100 or about 13 million plus in the world. This is about 0.3% of the world. Sadly, some of these Muslims have become radical and are bent on doing harm to others. We saw the beginnings of it on 9/11.
No, in this rainy much to the left city, people are not mentally prepared for what could lie ahead. Then again, how could such terrorists dare to harm anyone in our rose gardened Portland?
Reference: Oregonian newspaper Tuesday, Sept 30, 2008 page C2 Protesters denounce DVD in newspaper
DVD Obsession from Clarion Fund, New York
Letters From Israel by Nadene Goldfoot
This blog: jewishfactsfromportland: November 15, 2007 Muslim Palestinians Expectations with Itamar Marcus
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Candidates Views on Israel-Palestinian Question
Our Sunday Oregonian newspaper has come out with the following views of our two candidates.
McCain
1. Supports two-state solution.
2.Encourages talks between Israel and Palestinian leaders.
3. Would provide military aid and aid to build schools, hospitals, road and power generation for moderates in Lebanon to counter Hezbollah.
4. Cut off weapons and equipment to Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon to isolate Hamas.
5. Press Saudi Arabia and other Arabs to help Palestinian Authority.
Record:
1. Backed US military aid to Israel
2. Israel's right to defend itself against attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 affirmed.
3. With 3/4 of US Senate signing June letter to Bush criticizing Saudi Arabia for small $62 million in 2007 for Palestinians. (This is part of UN plan to support Palestinians-I have an article about it already. Arabs pay less or nothing compared to USA.)
Obama:
1. Supports two-state solution: that results in secure Israel and Palestinians are a sovereign, democratic, economically viable state recognizing Israel's right to exist and in agreement not to strike with military and terrorism against Israel. (I like this very much. We might see it happen at the time of the Messiah. It's not going to be overnight. I agree with him in that there's no way it should happen until they can give and carry out these guarantees.)
2. White House would encourage peace talks with effort.
3. Would isolate Hamas until it agrees to recognize Israel's right to exist and renounces violence against Israel. (I think this is happening right now. They have said they refuse to do this.) I imagine that Obama means he would continue this goal, which is the same as Israel's.
4. Would press Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel. (That will be the day. So far, we just aren't fighting with Jordan and Egypt. We have tourists go to Egypt. We're not allowed in other Arab nations. Iran is preaching just the opposite. They want us all butchered.)
5. He would increase economic and humanitarian aid to Palestinians Authority which would be under Abbas.
Record:
1. Backed military aid to Israel.
2. Israel's defending self against attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon in 2006 affirmed. (Same as McCain.)
3. Co-sponsored legislation now before Senate for USA states and cities wishing to divest themselves of interests in energy companies doing business with Iran. (This is very wishy-washy in my opinion. It's not coming down hard on Iran in a diplomatic way at all. To me it's a "fearful I'll put my big toe in the water to test it" way. He spoke earlier of having divestment against Iran. This is lukewarm, and no one will do it.)
4. Among 1/4 of Senators who did not sign the letter to Bush about the paltry sum given by Saudi Arabia to the Palestinians that others did. He wrote a letter of his own.
I like Obama's first goal very much. I'm happy to see that he realizes that until the Palestinians are willing neighbors, it shouldn't happen that they be rewarded with a state. He needs to get tougher about showing Iran that we think their goals to wipe out Israel are detestible. He's not even thinking of slapping their hands. It's more like a tch tch.
McCain is so specific in what he's plannning. Until Lebanon realizes that they could easily be peaceful neighbors with Israel, bribing them with material things may not do the trick. They'll take them with a wink, and then fire away. Palestinians in Gaza depend on Israel's power plant. They shoot the plant, then cry that they have no power. It's an upside down world. I'd hate to see us throw away money. McCain might be right. I'd feel better if he took a crash course in the mindset of the Middle-East.
As for giving more money to the Palestinians, yes, Saudi Arabia, the richest country, is doing the least. They may have a reason. The Palestinian Authority would possibly just turn around and buy weapons to use against Israel with the money. We see this happening a lot with what they have. I have an article about this in my blog, also. When are the Palestinians going to learn to take care of themselves? Are they developing other skills besides killing us or each other? When we left Gaza, we left greenhouses where we had business going. They destroyed them. Did they not want a business? A job? Nothing has replaced them. They're on the dole and that seems to suit them.
How about this? For everytime a rocket lands in Israel, money is deleted from the Palestinian check that the USA donates to them. Let's make it a goodly amount. Every time they do something positive, showing friendship, they'll receive a monetary reward, like stop using schoolbooks that are hateful towards Jews. You could get any elementary teacher from the states to keep tabs on this behavior. It works in schools.
Resource: Sunday Oregonian Newspaper, September 28, 2008 A10.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Obama Speaks Out Against Ahmadinejad's Anti-Semitic Statements
Nadene Goldfoot
Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke to the U.N. today, condemning Israel with the "Protocals of the Elders of Zion" type accusations heard in the early 1900's spread in Germany. He called Israel the "Zionist murderers" and said he would defend Iran's right to nuclear power.
Not too long agao he said Israel should be wiped off the map. Today he continued with the remark that "The Zionist regime is on the definite slope to collapse, and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters." Then he commented at length about Zionist control over international "financial and monetary centers," which is right out of the Protocals that were fraudulent and described a Jewish and Masonic plot to take over the world.
He doubted Israel's possibility of military action against Iran and said that Iran was big and strong, and has different ways of defending its interests and it is so powerful, that it will be able to stop any activities before guns are pointed at us.
The comments were swiftly denounced as anti-Semitic by Barack Obama, the Anti-Defamation League, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and others. Good for Obama for being quick and doing so. I would imagine that our Jewish organization would speak out, and am pleased to hear that Obama also joined them in protest.
Obama also urged McCain to join him in calling for the states and private companies to divest from doing business with Iran. I certainly hope he can get the ball rolling and do so quickly. Others waste no time in having divestments against Israel without any cause.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080924/wl_nm/us_un_assembly_iran_ahmadinejad_intern...
http://thepage.time.com/obama-statement-on-ahmadinejads-un-remarks/
Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke to the U.N. today, condemning Israel with the "Protocals of the Elders of Zion" type accusations heard in the early 1900's spread in Germany. He called Israel the "Zionist murderers" and said he would defend Iran's right to nuclear power.
Not too long agao he said Israel should be wiped off the map. Today he continued with the remark that "The Zionist regime is on the definite slope to collapse, and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters." Then he commented at length about Zionist control over international "financial and monetary centers," which is right out of the Protocals that were fraudulent and described a Jewish and Masonic plot to take over the world.
He doubted Israel's possibility of military action against Iran and said that Iran was big and strong, and has different ways of defending its interests and it is so powerful, that it will be able to stop any activities before guns are pointed at us.
The comments were swiftly denounced as anti-Semitic by Barack Obama, the Anti-Defamation League, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and others. Good for Obama for being quick and doing so. I would imagine that our Jewish organization would speak out, and am pleased to hear that Obama also joined them in protest.
Obama also urged McCain to join him in calling for the states and private companies to divest from doing business with Iran. I certainly hope he can get the ball rolling and do so quickly. Others waste no time in having divestments against Israel without any cause.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080924/wl_nm/us_un_assembly_iran_ahmadinejad_intern...
http://thepage.time.com/obama-statement-on-ahmadinejads-un-remarks/
Monday, September 22, 2008
Our Missed Opportunity: Ahmadinejad at UN
Nadene Goldfoot
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in the states to speak at the U.N., and our Jewish leaders were in the process of creating a protest rally, and everyone lost their focus on the importance of such a rally. The man has threatened the extinction of Israel, for Pete's sake.
Instead, our rally leaders invited Hillary Clinton to speak. Because she was a Democrat candidate for the presidency, a Republican must have asked Sarah Palin to speak. That did it. The issues focused on politics and Hillary pulled out, feeling the Palin invitation was a partisan move. Everyone forgot about a protest against Ahmadinejad!
Brave Ahmadinejad in the heart of "The Great Satan," gleefully will be speaking about the demise of Israel. Here's a man who denies that the Holocaust ever took place, and our ladies are only concerned about who's appearing at the rally. The Iranian government wants nuclear weapons. They'll help run their electricity plants, probably. Iran is responsible for attacks on Israel and other Jews, even in Argentina. Their ideology is anti-semitism and holocaust denial and murder is part of its official policy. We lost the moment to show a democratic way of not accepting their policy.
Sarah had a terrific speech to give. Someone who knew something must have written it. I'm sure that Hillary would have given an equally if not better speech, also. It's too bad that no one will ever hear their protests. After all, our politics are far more important than Israel's life.
Reference: http:www.haaretzx.com/hasen/spages/1023408.html The speech Palin never gave: Ahmadinejad dreams of Final Solution
http://wcbstv.com/campaign08/united.nations.general.2.823131.html
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in the states to speak at the U.N., and our Jewish leaders were in the process of creating a protest rally, and everyone lost their focus on the importance of such a rally. The man has threatened the extinction of Israel, for Pete's sake.
Instead, our rally leaders invited Hillary Clinton to speak. Because she was a Democrat candidate for the presidency, a Republican must have asked Sarah Palin to speak. That did it. The issues focused on politics and Hillary pulled out, feeling the Palin invitation was a partisan move. Everyone forgot about a protest against Ahmadinejad!
Brave Ahmadinejad in the heart of "The Great Satan," gleefully will be speaking about the demise of Israel. Here's a man who denies that the Holocaust ever took place, and our ladies are only concerned about who's appearing at the rally. The Iranian government wants nuclear weapons. They'll help run their electricity plants, probably. Iran is responsible for attacks on Israel and other Jews, even in Argentina. Their ideology is anti-semitism and holocaust denial and murder is part of its official policy. We lost the moment to show a democratic way of not accepting their policy.
Sarah had a terrific speech to give. Someone who knew something must have written it. I'm sure that Hillary would have given an equally if not better speech, also. It's too bad that no one will ever hear their protests. After all, our politics are far more important than Israel's life.
Reference: http:www.haaretzx.com/hasen/spages/1023408.html The speech Palin never gave: Ahmadinejad dreams of Final Solution
http://wcbstv.com/campaign08/united.nations.general.2.823131.html
Jeff Goldberg's Obama Interview Asking the Kishke Question
Nadene Goldfoot
Today's Oregonian had an article about Philip Roth by Jeff Baker, and in it mentioned an interview by Goldberg where they talked about Israel. Barak mentioned that when a child in the 6th grade, his ideas about Zionism were shaped by a Jewish camp counselor who had spent some time in Israel. Their conversations about Israel made a big impression on Obama.
Obama admitted that his intellectual formation was through Jewish scholars and writers, though he wasn't aware of it at the time. Philip Roth and Leon Uris were mentioned. He said that when he thinks of the Middle East he has this enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel, mindful of its history and hardship, pain and suffering that the Jewish people have undergone.
He mentioned the loss of the natual affinity between the African-American community and the Jewish community in the early civil-rights movement which has been estranged since then.
Obama thinks that the idea of a secure Jewish state is a just and necessary idea. However, he doesn't agree with every action of the state of Israel because he's a politician himself and understands the world of politicians. He's not alone. I haven't agreed with Olmert's decisions at all, though I'm sure I'm way to the right of Obama's thinking about Israel.
Jeff Goldberg asked the main question that I've been wondering so much about. He called it the Kishke question. Jews really don't know you. We don't know if you"love" us. You have Jim Baker, Zbigniew Brzezinski as advisors so we suspect you. I haven't been alone in this, then. There is a sense in some places that you don't feel Jewish worry the way a senator from New York would feel it.
Obama seemed surprised at this deduction, as he went on to say that Israel was important to him personally because of his own history of being uprooted. He said that he loved the way people were arguing about these issues and that we're asking ourselves moral questions. He went on to say that his deliberations over moral matters stems from Jewish thought, that your actions have consequences and that we have moral imperatives. He did mention that he had "ardent defenders" in his Jewish Chicago friends. When he started his community organizing, he had a few Jewish friends who also were organizers, and he was attacked for associating with them. I know that Reverend Wright felt like he was being taken away from his church group.
Finally, the big question came after much discussion. He was asked is he would denounce settlements publicly if president. Goldberg was referring to the "West Bank", what I call Judea and Samaria. Obama said "What I will say is what I've said previously. Settlements at this juncture are not helpful. Look, my interest is in solving this problem not only for Israel but for the United States."
Reference: Oregonian page o10 Sept 21, 2008 Philip Roth gets straight to the point, still by Jeff Baker
http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/obama_on_zionism_and_hamas.php
See blog: http://www.israel-nadene.blogspot.com/ article 3/17/07 West Bank: It's importance to Religious Jews.
Other West Bank articles in my blog:
What International Law says about Israeli settlement, No Peace in West Bank, Israel Builds West Bank Housing, and Israel's rights to build Settlements 4/28/08.
Today's Oregonian had an article about Philip Roth by Jeff Baker, and in it mentioned an interview by Goldberg where they talked about Israel. Barak mentioned that when a child in the 6th grade, his ideas about Zionism were shaped by a Jewish camp counselor who had spent some time in Israel. Their conversations about Israel made a big impression on Obama.
Obama admitted that his intellectual formation was through Jewish scholars and writers, though he wasn't aware of it at the time. Philip Roth and Leon Uris were mentioned. He said that when he thinks of the Middle East he has this enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel, mindful of its history and hardship, pain and suffering that the Jewish people have undergone.
He mentioned the loss of the natual affinity between the African-American community and the Jewish community in the early civil-rights movement which has been estranged since then.
Obama thinks that the idea of a secure Jewish state is a just and necessary idea. However, he doesn't agree with every action of the state of Israel because he's a politician himself and understands the world of politicians. He's not alone. I haven't agreed with Olmert's decisions at all, though I'm sure I'm way to the right of Obama's thinking about Israel.
Jeff Goldberg asked the main question that I've been wondering so much about. He called it the Kishke question. Jews really don't know you. We don't know if you"love" us. You have Jim Baker, Zbigniew Brzezinski as advisors so we suspect you. I haven't been alone in this, then. There is a sense in some places that you don't feel Jewish worry the way a senator from New York would feel it.
Obama seemed surprised at this deduction, as he went on to say that Israel was important to him personally because of his own history of being uprooted. He said that he loved the way people were arguing about these issues and that we're asking ourselves moral questions. He went on to say that his deliberations over moral matters stems from Jewish thought, that your actions have consequences and that we have moral imperatives. He did mention that he had "ardent defenders" in his Jewish Chicago friends. When he started his community organizing, he had a few Jewish friends who also were organizers, and he was attacked for associating with them. I know that Reverend Wright felt like he was being taken away from his church group.
Finally, the big question came after much discussion. He was asked is he would denounce settlements publicly if president. Goldberg was referring to the "West Bank", what I call Judea and Samaria. Obama said "What I will say is what I've said previously. Settlements at this juncture are not helpful. Look, my interest is in solving this problem not only for Israel but for the United States."
Reference: Oregonian page o10 Sept 21, 2008 Philip Roth gets straight to the point, still by Jeff Baker
http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/obama_on_zionism_and_hamas.php
See blog: http://www.israel-nadene.blogspot.com/ article 3/17/07 West Bank: It's importance to Religious Jews.
Other West Bank articles in my blog:
What International Law says about Israeli settlement, No Peace in West Bank, Israel Builds West Bank Housing, and Israel's rights to build Settlements 4/28/08.
Sarah Palin and the Book Scandal
Nadene Goldfoot
Sarah Palin has been said to have wanted to ban books in her library. Today's Oregonian's article by Leonard Pitts Jr. talks about it. He says that in the past Sarah tried to pull books off the library shelves. His information came from the New York Times. At the time she was a member of the City Council of Wasilla, Alaska. She was concerned about a book there called "Daddy's Roommate." It was to be read by children of lesbian and gay parents, or read by people interested in children of these parents. Sarah's campaign manager for mayor said the book was harmless and told Sarah to read it.
Sarah didn't want to read it. Possibly she had read the promotional material about it and was concerned.
When Sarah became mayor, it is reported that she asked the town librarian to remove controversial books from the shelves. She asked three times. The librarian refused, and then was fired from her job. Public presssure caused Sarah to give the librarian back her job.
I haven't been concerned about Sarah because she has said nothing harmful about Israel. As a teacher, I'm really disappointed in anyone that would want to ban books. That's so reminiscent of Germany in the 30's. I tried to find a Palin website to see where she stands about Israel, but unlike Obama and Clinton, could find nothing. However, she doesn't sound open minded at all if she would do something like ban a book.
Sarah should know better She graduated from the U. of Idaho with a B.A. in journalism. I don't know how long she worked at this job, but she should have more respect for a person's right to write and know that banning books is simply un-American.
Oregonian Newspaper page B5, "Books and minds: both should be open"by Leonard Pitts Jr.
http://gawker.com/5044569/factsheet-sarah-palin
email about The educational background of your two options:
Sarah Palin has been said to have wanted to ban books in her library. Today's Oregonian's article by Leonard Pitts Jr. talks about it. He says that in the past Sarah tried to pull books off the library shelves. His information came from the New York Times. At the time she was a member of the City Council of Wasilla, Alaska. She was concerned about a book there called "Daddy's Roommate." It was to be read by children of lesbian and gay parents, or read by people interested in children of these parents. Sarah's campaign manager for mayor said the book was harmless and told Sarah to read it.
Sarah didn't want to read it. Possibly she had read the promotional material about it and was concerned.
When Sarah became mayor, it is reported that she asked the town librarian to remove controversial books from the shelves. She asked three times. The librarian refused, and then was fired from her job. Public presssure caused Sarah to give the librarian back her job.
I haven't been concerned about Sarah because she has said nothing harmful about Israel. As a teacher, I'm really disappointed in anyone that would want to ban books. That's so reminiscent of Germany in the 30's. I tried to find a Palin website to see where she stands about Israel, but unlike Obama and Clinton, could find nothing. However, she doesn't sound open minded at all if she would do something like ban a book.
Sarah should know better She graduated from the U. of Idaho with a B.A. in journalism. I don't know how long she worked at this job, but she should have more respect for a person's right to write and know that banning books is simply un-American.
Oregonian Newspaper page B5, "Books and minds: both should be open"by Leonard Pitts Jr.
http://gawker.com/5044569/factsheet-sarah-palin
email about The educational background of your two options:
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Saul Alinsky: Teacher of Community Organizers
Barack Obama’s Teacher, Saul David Alinsky
by Nadene Goldfoot
In either 1889 or 1895, Benjamin Alinsky immigrated from Vilna, Lithuania, now Russia, for the United States . He was a tailor. He was Jewish, 29 years old and headed for the Jewish community in Chicago, Illinois. He had met and married Hannah in 1896, a Jewish girl who was born in New York.
On June 8, 1900, I find Benjamin and Hannah Alinsky in Chicago in the 7th Ward. He was 30 years old and Hannah was 28. They had had two boys; Harry age 2, born July 1897 and Max 8 months was born in Sept 1899 or 15 Oct 1898. Benjamin was naturalized in 1910 and was then a citizen. Reading the records makes me realize how difficult it was for the immigrants to understand questions in English, as I keep getting some off-beat answers.
Later, I see that on Jan 7, 1920, Ben is still in Chicago, now 49 years old, and has his own tailor shop. However, Hannah must have died as he is now married to Sarah Rice who is twenty years younger than he is. She was also born in Russia. They have one son living with them; Saul D. Alinsky, born January 30, 1909. They were living on 12th Street or Roosevelt Road in the 13th ward. It makes me wonder if Hannah and her two boys hadn’t died in some accident or disease. This means that something had happened to them before 1908. Saul has spoken about how he was influenced by his mother, Sarah Rice, a great deal, so I imagine she was his birth mother. "She taught him that...individuals [must] be responsible for other individuals and that you can't just walk away when you see something that's not right."
"Then I found Max at age 19 registering for the WWI Draft on September 19, 1918. He was tall and slender, working as a timekeeper for the railroad.
Later, I find that Benjamin died on April 26, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA.
Education is vitally important to Jewish families, so Sol went to the University of Chicago in the field of criminology. He studied and was around the Capone gang. He developed his ideology and concepts of mass organization and work in organizing the poor which are internationally recognized, and felt that crime was born from being so poor. If anyone has read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, you know about the horrific working conditions in the Union Stock Yards of Chicago of that era. When I read the book, I was horrified by the condition of our meat supply from the Chicago Stockyards, as my father was also born in 1908 and was a meat packer.
In the 1930's, Alinsky organized the Back of the Yards neighborhood and went on to found the Industrial Area Foundation while organizing the Woodlawn neighborhood, which trained organizers and helped in the founding of community organization around the country.
In 1971 he published his final work, Rules for Radicals. Then he died the next year. In that book he addressed the 60's generation of radicals, relating his views on organizing for mass power. He wrote," What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be." It is said that Alinsky championed new ways to organize the poor and powerless that created a backyard revolution in cities across America.
Cesar Chavez and Barack Obama were students of his labor organizing. Alinsky was the subject of Hillary Rodham’s senior honors thesis at Wellesley College. She commented on Alinsky’s charm, but said that one of the problems of his model is that the removal of Alinsky dramatically alters its composition. She agreed with some of his ideas, mainly the value of empowering people to help themselves. She disagreed with his saying that you could change the system only from the outside. Diane Alden in 2003 called Alinsky a Marxist grassroots organizer. Others said, "He was a compassionate social reformer of magnitude and wisdom and brought together community groups to work with the socially aware churches."
He published "Reveille for Radicals 1946, 1969 and Rules for Radicals, a Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals.1971. He was explaining how to be an agitator.
"The agitator's job, according to Alinsky, is first to bring folks to the "realization" that they are indeed miserable, that their misery is the fault of unresponsive governments or greedy corporations, then help them to bond together to demand what they deserve, and to make such an almighty stink that the dastardly governments and corporations will see imminent "self-interest" in granting whatever it is that will cause the harassment to cease."
"It is a fact that activist-cum senator Barack Hussein Obama started off his career as an activist with a position as a community organizer for the Developing Communities Project (DCP) of the Calumet Community Religious conference (CCRC) in Chicago. Both the CCRC and the DCP were built on the Alinsky model of community agitation, wherein paid organizers learned, in Alinsky’s own words, how to "rub raw the sores of discontent" stated David Alinsky, his son.
Therefore, Barack Obama has learned some of his very persuasive skills as a community organizer from the son of a Jewish tailor. He was only 25 years old when he started this position. Though Alinsky called his book or materials "radical," Obama simply read them. That doesn't make him radical or untrustworthy.
When he has talked about being a "Community Organizer," I had a completely different idea about what he was doing. I thought he was more like a counselor, helping people to get jobs or skills. I had no idea that it involved such ideas. Obama might become president of the USA, and Cesar Chavez supporters have been pushing for a major street in Portland to be named for him.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/01/obamas_alinsky_jujitsu.html
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/4784
Wikipedia
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/01/obamas_alinsky_jujitsu.html
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/4784
Wikipedia
http://www.ancestry.com/, 1900, 1920 census.
edited 9/21/08 8:42pm.
http://www.progress.org/2003/alinsky4.htm read on 7/28/09 from Steve
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ashkelon's Desalination Plant
One of Portland's sister cities is Ashkelon, Israel. It happens to be the home of the world's largest desalination plant. In March of 2006 it was voted "Desalination Plant of the Year" in the Global Water Awards.
In October of 2006, which was a little more than a year after it started its first productions, it delivered its first 100 million m3 of water. It produces arund 13% of Israel's domestic consumer demand. It does this at a very low price for desalinated water.
Most all countries in the Middle East have chronic problems of having water resources. The Desalination Master Plan set out in 2000 to address these problems. By 2020, they hope to raise production to 750 million m3. Here, water is more precious than oil.
Resource: http://www.water-technology.net/projects/israel/
In October of 2006, which was a little more than a year after it started its first productions, it delivered its first 100 million m3 of water. It produces arund 13% of Israel's domestic consumer demand. It does this at a very low price for desalinated water.
Most all countries in the Middle East have chronic problems of having water resources. The Desalination Master Plan set out in 2000 to address these problems. By 2020, they hope to raise production to 750 million m3. Here, water is more precious than oil.
Resource: http://www.water-technology.net/projects/israel/
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Terrorists' "Legitimate Claims" Says Obama
Nadene Goldfoot
Senator Barack Obama stated in May in the New York Times with columnist David Brooks that Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations have "legitimate claims." He went on to say that their violence is weakening their claims.
Brooks was talking to Obama about Lebanese militias at the time, and felt Obama was naive to think that Hezbollah can be "mollified with a less corrupt patronage system and some electoral reform." Obama agreed that Hezbollah was not a political party and was not a legitimate group.
Hamas' official charter calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of the Jewish state. It calls for Muslims to "pursue the cause of the Hamas Movement all over the globe." These terrorists have used suicide bombings, shootings and rocket attacks against Israel.
Hezbollah says it is fighting to liberate its "lands," referring to the Shebaa Farms, a small piece of territory it says is Lebanese but is being held by Israel. These terrorists have also carried out many attacks targeting Israel and the West, including the USA. they have now taken over the government of Lebanon, giving Israel threats from the north.
These are legitimate claims? How can Obama say such a thing!
Eight days after 9/11, Obama said the attacks were carried out because of a lack of "empathy" for others' suffering on the part of al-Qaida, who are also terrorists. He said this grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair. He said the 9/11 attacks were part of a result of US policy. He urged action opposing discrimination against neighbors and friends of Middle-Eastern descent. I don't think he meant the Israelis, but their enemies who are the terrorists. He hoped that the USA would learn from the tragedy. He said Americans must imagine or connect with the humanity or suffering of others. I don't think he meant Israel's suffering from being constantly attacked by terrorists, but that he meant the terrorists themselves. He went on to end with a hope that we must work on raising hopes and prospects of children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and our own American children.
I say that the terrorists of Hamas have no legitimate claims and have no excuses for becoming terrorists against Israel. Their problems are created through their own folly of believing their wild leaders and following them into terrorism against a state who has more empathy for others than any state they will ever find in the Middle East or elsewhere. They are fighting against a group of people who have suffered and survived for over 2,000 years of being treated like an unwanted people, 2nd class citizens in Arab countries, sometimes worse in others. They know what suffering is like. They don't wish it on anyone. However, they are determined to survive despite the terrorism they now suffer from.
Obama has been reading material colored by the terrorists' philosophy, I'm afraid. I wish he would talk to someone on the Israeli side for a change. If he is so gun-ho towards change, he should not be listening to Condoleeza Rice with her pressure on Israel to give up parts of Jerusalem, the Judea and Samaria. Obama has so many people on his team who are haters of Israel, and if they don't hate, they fault it rather than praise it. It's easy lazy thinking to find fault with Israel nowdays. Where are the people who actually do some research to find out where problems do come from?
Obama, you may have found that problems in the projects of Chicago came from poverty, ignorance, helplessness and despair, but this is not the case with terrorists who are fighting against Israel. They came to the area in the first place to find jobs with the Jews who were building the country, and when attacked by the 7 Arab countries when Israel was pronounced a state, sided with the attackers. Those who stayed and embraced the new Jewish state are doing well. Just look at Haifa. Those who listened and fled are probably today's terrorists. They were greedier than most and lost. There's the problem. Now it's just their desire to wipe out the successsful state. I have no empathy for that. Isn't not coveting your neighbor's property one of the ten commandments?
http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/news/article.php?id=3118 Aaron Kleins' Obama: Terror groups have "legitimate claims".
Senator Barack Obama stated in May in the New York Times with columnist David Brooks that Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations have "legitimate claims." He went on to say that their violence is weakening their claims.
Brooks was talking to Obama about Lebanese militias at the time, and felt Obama was naive to think that Hezbollah can be "mollified with a less corrupt patronage system and some electoral reform." Obama agreed that Hezbollah was not a political party and was not a legitimate group.
Hamas' official charter calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of the Jewish state. It calls for Muslims to "pursue the cause of the Hamas Movement all over the globe." These terrorists have used suicide bombings, shootings and rocket attacks against Israel.
Hezbollah says it is fighting to liberate its "lands," referring to the Shebaa Farms, a small piece of territory it says is Lebanese but is being held by Israel. These terrorists have also carried out many attacks targeting Israel and the West, including the USA. they have now taken over the government of Lebanon, giving Israel threats from the north.
These are legitimate claims? How can Obama say such a thing!
Eight days after 9/11, Obama said the attacks were carried out because of a lack of "empathy" for others' suffering on the part of al-Qaida, who are also terrorists. He said this grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair. He said the 9/11 attacks were part of a result of US policy. He urged action opposing discrimination against neighbors and friends of Middle-Eastern descent. I don't think he meant the Israelis, but their enemies who are the terrorists. He hoped that the USA would learn from the tragedy. He said Americans must imagine or connect with the humanity or suffering of others. I don't think he meant Israel's suffering from being constantly attacked by terrorists, but that he meant the terrorists themselves. He went on to end with a hope that we must work on raising hopes and prospects of children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and our own American children.
I say that the terrorists of Hamas have no legitimate claims and have no excuses for becoming terrorists against Israel. Their problems are created through their own folly of believing their wild leaders and following them into terrorism against a state who has more empathy for others than any state they will ever find in the Middle East or elsewhere. They are fighting against a group of people who have suffered and survived for over 2,000 years of being treated like an unwanted people, 2nd class citizens in Arab countries, sometimes worse in others. They know what suffering is like. They don't wish it on anyone. However, they are determined to survive despite the terrorism they now suffer from.
Obama has been reading material colored by the terrorists' philosophy, I'm afraid. I wish he would talk to someone on the Israeli side for a change. If he is so gun-ho towards change, he should not be listening to Condoleeza Rice with her pressure on Israel to give up parts of Jerusalem, the Judea and Samaria. Obama has so many people on his team who are haters of Israel, and if they don't hate, they fault it rather than praise it. It's easy lazy thinking to find fault with Israel nowdays. Where are the people who actually do some research to find out where problems do come from?
Obama, you may have found that problems in the projects of Chicago came from poverty, ignorance, helplessness and despair, but this is not the case with terrorists who are fighting against Israel. They came to the area in the first place to find jobs with the Jews who were building the country, and when attacked by the 7 Arab countries when Israel was pronounced a state, sided with the attackers. Those who stayed and embraced the new Jewish state are doing well. Just look at Haifa. Those who listened and fled are probably today's terrorists. They were greedier than most and lost. There's the problem. Now it's just their desire to wipe out the successsful state. I have no empathy for that. Isn't not coveting your neighbor's property one of the ten commandments?
http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/news/article.php?id=3118 Aaron Kleins' Obama: Terror groups have "legitimate claims".
Friday, September 5, 2008
Palestinian Authority Wants All of Jerusalem
Nadene Goldfoot
Many people have thought that the Palestinians were only demanding to have East Jerusalem as their future capital. They want all of it. They are calling it "al-Quds A Sharia"-holy Jerusalem, meaning all of Jerusalem. They plan on declaring that "the capital of Arab culture" is Jerusalem, and are coming up with this pretext that Jerusalem was the center of their culture for many years.
UNESCO works with these Palestinians to organize celebrations that are against Israeli occupation of "Holy Jerusalem". They won't receive my donations, that's for sure.
So far, there are many "capitals of Arab culture." since 1996. Damascus, Syria is one, Algiers, Algeria is another. Cairo, Egypt, Tunis, Algeria, Amman, Jordan, Beirut, Lebanon, and Khartoum, Sudan are others. It's more like declaring beachheads of Islam, to me. Choosing Jerusalem now is a symbol of the battle against Israel's control of Jerusalem.
Actually, Islam's connection with any area in Israel is very questionable. Their one connection to Jerusalem is that Mohammed rose on a horse and went to heaven from there. That's it. A few Muslim Arabs lived there as well as Jews before 1948. More entered when Jews returned in the 1800's and were seeking jobs with Jews in rebuilding cities. It was just a hot desolate area then. All of a sudden now, it is being declared "their capital".
As I've said before, their aim in life is not to live side by side in peace with Israel. It is more obvious now that they mean to swallow Israel up, now aiming for Jerusalem. I had actually thought at one time that a 2 state solution was the only answer for peace. I don't think that anymore.
http://www.thebulletin.us/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2737&dept_id=576361&newsid=20
David Bedein, who was a friend of ours in Safed, Israel when we were putting on Yiddish Theater in English, and Laughing Through Klita and performing in hotels in different cities, and was a community organizer, is now head of news departments.
Many people have thought that the Palestinians were only demanding to have East Jerusalem as their future capital. They want all of it. They are calling it "al-Quds A Sharia"-holy Jerusalem, meaning all of Jerusalem. They plan on declaring that "the capital of Arab culture" is Jerusalem, and are coming up with this pretext that Jerusalem was the center of their culture for many years.
UNESCO works with these Palestinians to organize celebrations that are against Israeli occupation of "Holy Jerusalem". They won't receive my donations, that's for sure.
So far, there are many "capitals of Arab culture." since 1996. Damascus, Syria is one, Algiers, Algeria is another. Cairo, Egypt, Tunis, Algeria, Amman, Jordan, Beirut, Lebanon, and Khartoum, Sudan are others. It's more like declaring beachheads of Islam, to me. Choosing Jerusalem now is a symbol of the battle against Israel's control of Jerusalem.
Actually, Islam's connection with any area in Israel is very questionable. Their one connection to Jerusalem is that Mohammed rose on a horse and went to heaven from there. That's it. A few Muslim Arabs lived there as well as Jews before 1948. More entered when Jews returned in the 1800's and were seeking jobs with Jews in rebuilding cities. It was just a hot desolate area then. All of a sudden now, it is being declared "their capital".
As I've said before, their aim in life is not to live side by side in peace with Israel. It is more obvious now that they mean to swallow Israel up, now aiming for Jerusalem. I had actually thought at one time that a 2 state solution was the only answer for peace. I don't think that anymore.
http://www.thebulletin.us/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2737&dept_id=576361&newsid=20
David Bedein, who was a friend of ours in Safed, Israel when we were putting on Yiddish Theater in English, and Laughing Through Klita and performing in hotels in different cities, and was a community organizer, is now head of news departments.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Joe Biden and Israel
Biden has done some questionable things lately as I mentioned in previous blogs. To my surprise I find that he has called himself a Zionist and supports Israel and said on October 5, 2006, that "as a Democrat, their support comes from their guts, moves through their hearts, and ends up in their heads. It's almost genetic."
Biden has held the important chair of Foreign Relations Committee. He has supported Israel in his own way according to his own interests, not necessarily in accordance to Israel's best interests.
Way back during the Lebanon War of 1982 during a committee hearing, Biden attacked Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and threatened that if Israel did not immediately cease this activity, the US would be forced to cut economic aid to Israel. He then raised his voice and banged two times on the table with his fist.
Begin said, "This desk is designed for writing, not for fists. Don't threaten us with cutting aid. Just because you lend us money doesn't give you the entitlement of telling us what we must do. We are grateful for your assistance but we will not be threatened. We have 3,000 years of culture behind us, and you can't frighten me. We don't want one soldier of yours to die for us."
Biden is now denying that he said that he secretly told Israeli officials several years ago that they would have to accept the idea that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons. Israeli Army Radio reported that he continued with "Israel will have to reconcile itself with the nuclearization of Iran." Biden does not feel that isolating Iran is the best way to combat their nuclear ambitions. He has been urging sensitivity to their needs. To many, he has said that a nuclear Iran is "unacceptable." It's questionable what he really thinks about dealing with Iran.
His record is that he has worked with Israeli leaders from Prime Minister Golda Meier to Prime Minister Olmert. He has always worked for protecting the relationship between the two countries and has consistently stated that a nuclear Iran wuld pose a grave threat to Israel and the United States and that we must prevent a nuclear Iran. In fact, it may be felt that Obama selected Biden to shore up the support with the Jews in the USA. So far, Obama is only interested in direct negotiations with Iran. There is no suggestion of military action against them, either by the USA or Israel.
On January 2006 Biden said, "Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with a party that calls for its destruction, engages in terrorism and maintains an armed militia. Hamas must choose bullets or ballots." It looks to me like they have chosen bullets, being they will not join Fatah and some continue to shoot rockets into southern Israel during a cease fire.
However, Israel does feel that by 2010 Iran will have developed nuclear capability, though they say they only need it for electricity. At that time, Israel with be in great danger, if not today. They're not going to sit around just waiting to be wiped off the map. Iran has made too many ugly threats.
Biden must remember that Israel is not the 51st state of the USA. It is its own "man", and also has self interests, just like the USA. We've had a relationship of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Let's hope that the next president will want to continue our deep relationship for the benefit of all, and not be suckered into a relationship of deception that might just turn against Israel for the sake of obtaining oil, or other favors.
Reference: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=755798 9/3/2008
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1014477.html 9/3/2008
http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/news/article.php?id=3091 8/28/2008
Article: When Jewish Leaders Could Stand Up to the US from Moshe Zak March 1992
Time Magazine 7/5/1982
Biden Threatened to Cut off Aid to Israel 27 Aug 2008
http://www.newsmax.com/printTemplate.html 9/3/2008 by Jim Meyers
Biden has held the important chair of Foreign Relations Committee. He has supported Israel in his own way according to his own interests, not necessarily in accordance to Israel's best interests.
Way back during the Lebanon War of 1982 during a committee hearing, Biden attacked Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and threatened that if Israel did not immediately cease this activity, the US would be forced to cut economic aid to Israel. He then raised his voice and banged two times on the table with his fist.
Begin said, "This desk is designed for writing, not for fists. Don't threaten us with cutting aid. Just because you lend us money doesn't give you the entitlement of telling us what we must do. We are grateful for your assistance but we will not be threatened. We have 3,000 years of culture behind us, and you can't frighten me. We don't want one soldier of yours to die for us."
Biden is now denying that he said that he secretly told Israeli officials several years ago that they would have to accept the idea that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons. Israeli Army Radio reported that he continued with "Israel will have to reconcile itself with the nuclearization of Iran." Biden does not feel that isolating Iran is the best way to combat their nuclear ambitions. He has been urging sensitivity to their needs. To many, he has said that a nuclear Iran is "unacceptable." It's questionable what he really thinks about dealing with Iran.
His record is that he has worked with Israeli leaders from Prime Minister Golda Meier to Prime Minister Olmert. He has always worked for protecting the relationship between the two countries and has consistently stated that a nuclear Iran wuld pose a grave threat to Israel and the United States and that we must prevent a nuclear Iran. In fact, it may be felt that Obama selected Biden to shore up the support with the Jews in the USA. So far, Obama is only interested in direct negotiations with Iran. There is no suggestion of military action against them, either by the USA or Israel.
On January 2006 Biden said, "Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with a party that calls for its destruction, engages in terrorism and maintains an armed militia. Hamas must choose bullets or ballots." It looks to me like they have chosen bullets, being they will not join Fatah and some continue to shoot rockets into southern Israel during a cease fire.
However, Israel does feel that by 2010 Iran will have developed nuclear capability, though they say they only need it for electricity. At that time, Israel with be in great danger, if not today. They're not going to sit around just waiting to be wiped off the map. Iran has made too many ugly threats.
Biden must remember that Israel is not the 51st state of the USA. It is its own "man", and also has self interests, just like the USA. We've had a relationship of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Let's hope that the next president will want to continue our deep relationship for the benefit of all, and not be suckered into a relationship of deception that might just turn against Israel for the sake of obtaining oil, or other favors.
Reference: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=755798 9/3/2008
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1014477.html 9/3/2008
http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/news/article.php?id=3091 8/28/2008
Article: When Jewish Leaders Could Stand Up to the US from Moshe Zak March 1992
Time Magazine 7/5/1982
Biden Threatened to Cut off Aid to Israel 27 Aug 2008
http://www.newsmax.com/printTemplate.html 9/3/2008 by Jim Meyers
Sarah Palin and Israel
In 1996, I find that Sarah Palin was supporting of all people, Pat Buchanan, the most horrid anti-Israel person that I have found in American politics so far. She was actually at a fund-raiser for him when she was a mayor.
from factcheck.org:Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.
Since being selected by McCain to run for Vice President with him, she has immediately gone to an AIPAC meeting and has spoken to the members. She told our pro-Israel lobby that she would "work to expand and deepen the strategic partnership between U.S. and Israel." This was related by AIPAC's spokesman to the Wall Street Journal today.
Strangely, I believe that McCain feels that Palin will bring in Evangelicals who do back Israel whole-heartedly. McCain had had a break with this group, and then has become friendly with them again. I can only hope that Sarah doesn't agree with Buchanan's philosophy which is so detrimental towards Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017828.html
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/buchanan_own_words/buchanan_intro.asp
from factcheck.org:Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.
Since being selected by McCain to run for Vice President with him, she has immediately gone to an AIPAC meeting and has spoken to the members. She told our pro-Israel lobby that she would "work to expand and deepen the strategic partnership between U.S. and Israel." This was related by AIPAC's spokesman to the Wall Street Journal today.
Strangely, I believe that McCain feels that Palin will bring in Evangelicals who do back Israel whole-heartedly. McCain had had a break with this group, and then has become friendly with them again. I can only hope that Sarah doesn't agree with Buchanan's philosophy which is so detrimental towards Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017828.html
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/buchanan_own_words/buchanan_intro.asp
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Truman's Backing Israel Pays Dividends
Joe Biden told Israel two years ago to get over Iran's having nuclear power, which shows no understanding at all of the danger this puts Israel in, since its president has sworn to wipe Israel off the map. In 1982 Biden threatened Prime Minister Begin to cut off aid to Israel because of Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria that were being built. Begin told him that America cannot impose what we must or must not do. Truman backed the need for Israel in 1948 and this seems like a miracle now, with the sullen attitudes of Americans who are not familiar with the benefits of having Israel in their midst.
Israel alone in the Middle East has its main ties with the US. This is shown by voting in the UN with the USA. It has helped the US security. Without Israel, Washington would have to have aircraft carriers and tens of thousands of American servicemen in the eastern side of the Mediterranean to protect the USA. This would cost tens of billions of dollars each year.
By it's commerical enterprises, Israel has a high tech industry that has developed the most advanced microprocessors, chips, window operating systems, voice mail, instant messaging and cellular technologies, coding and decoding devices, medical implements and pharmaceuticals. Most of these have been melded into the US industry, helping us to live more comfortably, and giving us a competitive edge by helping to increase our working Americans with jobs.
US Military systems have been upgraded by help from Israel's war-proven experience. F-16 includes more than 600 Israeli modifications. This saved US mega-billion dollars and many years of research and development. Our USA military systems are due to Israel's developments which in turn is why many countries choose to buy American products.
Israel has had more experience than any country in fighting terrorism, car bombs, explosive devices like IED's, and homocide bombings and has shared their findings with US troops on their way to Iraq and Afghanistan and also with US homeland security agencies. In this way Israel has helped to reduce our losses and keep terrorism on US soil from happening.
Israel is a net producer, not a net consumer of national security. It's been a two-way street. Israel has not only paid back loans, but is now in a position of aiding America in so many of these ways. Don't ever think that backing Israel has been a mistake. It's to America's credit that they performed a good deed by helping a deserving country to be born again, whose only desire is to perform good deeds themselves, and naturally, to live in freedom and peace.
Reference: Yoram Ettinger, former Israeli Ambassador to the USA found in Portland Hadassah bulletin Vol 6 (Elul 5768/Tishrei 5769)
Time Magazine July 5, 1982.
Jerusalem Post March 13, 1992
Israel alone in the Middle East has its main ties with the US. This is shown by voting in the UN with the USA. It has helped the US security. Without Israel, Washington would have to have aircraft carriers and tens of thousands of American servicemen in the eastern side of the Mediterranean to protect the USA. This would cost tens of billions of dollars each year.
By it's commerical enterprises, Israel has a high tech industry that has developed the most advanced microprocessors, chips, window operating systems, voice mail, instant messaging and cellular technologies, coding and decoding devices, medical implements and pharmaceuticals. Most of these have been melded into the US industry, helping us to live more comfortably, and giving us a competitive edge by helping to increase our working Americans with jobs.
US Military systems have been upgraded by help from Israel's war-proven experience. F-16 includes more than 600 Israeli modifications. This saved US mega-billion dollars and many years of research and development. Our USA military systems are due to Israel's developments which in turn is why many countries choose to buy American products.
Israel has had more experience than any country in fighting terrorism, car bombs, explosive devices like IED's, and homocide bombings and has shared their findings with US troops on their way to Iraq and Afghanistan and also with US homeland security agencies. In this way Israel has helped to reduce our losses and keep terrorism on US soil from happening.
Israel is a net producer, not a net consumer of national security. It's been a two-way street. Israel has not only paid back loans, but is now in a position of aiding America in so many of these ways. Don't ever think that backing Israel has been a mistake. It's to America's credit that they performed a good deed by helping a deserving country to be born again, whose only desire is to perform good deeds themselves, and naturally, to live in freedom and peace.
Reference: Yoram Ettinger, former Israeli Ambassador to the USA found in Portland Hadassah bulletin Vol 6 (Elul 5768/Tishrei 5769)
Time Magazine July 5, 1982.
Jerusalem Post March 13, 1992