There's a dilemma facing Americans regarding the 2024 presidential election in November. It's not hard to decide that fascism, in the person of Donald Trump, a racist and convicted criminal, is bad not just for this country but for humanity.
No, it's not hard for Americans to understand what we lose if democracy is defeated in November. The election will usher in a dear leader and his loyalists, with plenty to follow-- because too many love power for power's sake. And money. These loyalists will guide the dear leader to his golden throne. From there, he will establish a kingdom. And what will become of the un loyal? What will become of the Indigenous, Black, Latino/a-- the majority of the world, and the soon to be minority majority here in the US?
I believe that most of Trump's MEGA supporters aren't in the dark about the America they want to see . These die-hard MEGA supporters and, even some plain-old-ordinary conservatives, hear what Trump is proposing and already, for them, democracy is dead.
I'm convinced that most MEGA supporters and conservatives know enough about fascism and, already, on their websites and meetings in the woods, practice the salutes while amassing the weaponry to take on the designated enemies. Again ! Even in a country desiring to become a full-fledged democracy, many a generation of Americans have been yearning for the good-old-days to return since 1865!
The hypocrisy has been consistent. But we are confronted today with some Americans readying to end the need for hypocrisy and gaslighting.
The dilemma we face this next presidential election begs us to ask whether or not we really want to live in a democratic society. Do we really want what is the world-- a multicultural society? We have to ask because we are, in fact, paying homage to fascism, even when we profess to be pro-democracy. We pay taxes to support the agency of another dear leader, one who certainly has given us no evidence that he is for democracy.
There was October 7, 2023, and Hamas's slaughter and kidnapping of innocent people; yet, since then, according to The Lancet , the real tally of deaths on the Palestinian side may exceed 186,000!
Were they all terrorists? Newborns in incubators? Children in makeshift tents?
If we are for democracy and not supporters of fascism, why are we allowing our government, a government that is supposed to be by and for the people, to supply a dear leader with weapons to kill innocent people?
The killing of Palestinians must stop-- and immediately!
Israel's dear leader has destroyed homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques. In a democracy, Israel would be held accountable for the deaths of journalists and healthcare workers. And somewhere in this country, pro-democracy fervor would condemn the spread of hate against Palestinians. Maybe then the 6-year-old Palestinian boy killed by his landlord would be alive and well, playing with his friends.
Investigative reporter, Brett Murphy, discovered that while Palestinians are starving, there is enough to feed 1.5 million Palestinians and it's sitting just "30 miles across the border in an Israeli port." Is this cruelty a principle of democracy?
P ublished at ProPublica on September 24, 2024, Murphy's report reveals that the US was made aware of the Israeli government's decision to withhold much needed humanitarian aid from the Gaza population, many of whom are without means of feeding themselves. Many, too, are dying from disease and lack of medical care.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have a goal in mind and that goal isn't about saving Palestinian lives. Nonetheless, according to ProPublica 's report, the Foreign Assistance Act, known as 6201, if implemented, would make it possible to pressure the Israeli government into allowing aid into Gaza. Some democrats on the Congressional side of power in Washington D. C. are calling for President Joe Biden to use 6201.
Two key humanitarian organizations, the U. S. Agency for International Development and USAID, reached out to the U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He, in turn, shared the report with Biden, which prompted the Biden administration, ProPublica writes, to announce "a policy called the National Security Memorandum" or NSM-20.
But here's the catch: Blinken determines whether or not Israel has restricted humanitarian aid. If Blinken opts for freedom and announces Israel's right to defend itself has resulted in the unnecessary killing of thousands of Palestinians, then the US is "required by law to halt military assistance." If Blinken opts for freedom ! If he recognizes the humanity of the Palestinians, and understands his country's own history as not always pro-democracy, then he calls for an end to this genocide. He calls the White House, marches off to the White House, sends an email or text to the White House-- whatever--advising President Biden: NO MORE WEAPONS! CEASEFIRE!
But Blinken seems to be wearing those peculiarly American blinders! Netanyahu can see it comes from miles away, for it's dripping in the blood of Others, yet smells of fear of replacement .
The U. S. Agency for International Development, writes ProPublica , was clear: Israel has "deliberately blocked deliveries of food and medicine into Gaza." USAID also sent Blinken a report citing Israel for "interfering" with "aid efforts," including killing aid workers. Prior to this report, Blinken received "a detailed 17-page memo. In that memo, the Secretary of State was told of not only the killing of aid workers, but also of the "razing [of] agricultural structures," and the "bombing [of] ambulances and hospitals."
However, neither Blinken nor Bidden accepts either reports from the U. S. Agency for International Development or USAID. Blinken's response is an outright denouncement of the journalist's investigation. "We do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U. S. Humanitarian assistance."
Denouncing the evidence of wrongdoing by humanitarian experts isn't what pro-democracy nations do.
In the meantime, USAID declares this action by the Israeli government to be "one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world."
Oxfarm's associate director, Scott Paul, states that the "implication that the humanitarian situation has markedly improved is a farce." And "the emergence of polio" has worsen the catastrophe in Gaza.
So, here we are, pro-democracy, slaughtering, torturing, maiming, and starving homeless people who are without any place safe to shelter. And, falling over their heads are a massive number of bombs. MADE IN THE U. S.! Paid for by MEGA supporters, conservatives, and pro-democracy folks too!
Clinging to the ideology of fascism or whatever form of authoritarianism has pro-democracy citizens in the US confronting a challenging dilemma.
Freedom is a challenge!
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