How easily noble sounding terms can be hijacked for causes that actually represent the opposite of those terms. For example, " progressives". In their reductionist doctrinarian mantras of "oppressed" and " oppressors" they allied themselves with the worst of the kind: Islam.
In their newly founded totalitarian massive cancelling of those who disagree with them or who they simply don't like, they regressed to Middle-Ages and/or Orwellian mind control, the imposing of stocks-like shaming and attempts to dominate others.
They also reveal their cruelty, even as they pose as bleeding hearts for their cherry-picked victims.
For all those reasons and more, they should be rebranded. They are not " progressives" but " regressives".
Defense Minister Katz has finally gotten it right. Hamas will release all the hostages and totally disarm or face annihilation. No more partial releases. No more exchanges. Surrender or we will utterly destroy you. That’s how strength negotiates.
“Israel’s gonna do what Israel’s gotta do” - is the mantra I’ve been telling myself for many years. People in the west have no clue how unlike the west the Middle East is and project (among other things) their own limited experiences onto it. I also like to say, “Israel isn’t surrounded by Canadas.” 🤷🏻♀️
What has always had me wondering is WHO is paying the freight for the Israeli minority to protest about just ending the war immediately and living in peace (!?!) with their neighbors when the existential threats are visible for ALL to see? I've noticed, as have many, the professionally made signs and banners here in the US as well as Israel which those companies are not doing for free.
“Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of ‘emergency’. It was the tactic of Lenin, Hitler, and Mussolini. In the collectivist sweep over a dozen minor countries of Europe, it was the cry of men striving to get on horseback. And ‘emergency’ became the justification of the subsequent steps. This technique of creating emergency is the greatest achievement that demagoguery attains.”
President Herbert Hoover
Remember all those ‘judicial reform’ mass demos in Israel, prior to 7/10/23? Surely that show of weakness signalled to Hamxs that the time to attack was ripening?
The same pattern of mass action signalling is being deployed by all these grubby, icon-occupying redgreenblackwhite demos in western cities- all of them, ‘legitimised’ by breathtaking judicial lawlessness.
Western Domestic populations- many of whom have lived in luxury for decades and had the worldviews to match- have no idea of the peril they are in. Perhaps some of them are awakening now, as they witness their cultures, economies, peace & safety being destroyed by ‘anti war’ thugs & complicit brigand ‘authorities’ who have no authority but seek to impose it on anyone who isn’t buying the lying.
We are literally living in the time of the ‘spirit of lawlessness’ as perfectly explained by 2THESSALONIANS2: recommend reading this specific scripture, asap.
Written with such clarity and intelligence. Compulsory reading for every pampered pacifist. America can thank Donald Trump who shares these beliefs and also encourages Israel to do what it needs for its own survival and that of Western civilization.
“When the Palestinians and the broader Arab world are willing to live in peace, there will be peace. They are the only ones who can make peace because they are the only ones who are making war.”
the anti war demonstrations in Israel give cover and a argument for an all ready specious argument made by one Tommy Friedman in the NY Times op ed. The communist b. sanders is in another lip lock with mamdani here in NYC. And Nicky Kiristoff in NY Times op ed says that as people argue if there is a genocide in Gaza a much worse crisis is in Sudan....off the pages....not in the cable network news cycle. Israel is in the fight for its life. The anti war Israelis....this is horrific for us as a people...allow hamas to claim victory ....remain in power....brutalize its own people as EU pours in billions more to them ......Europeans should really be ashamed .....in a post Holocaust world...ONLY 80 years ago......that they are so feckless and cowardly....and rushing to reward hamas and cast opprobrium at Israel....or as Tommy puts it....the "pariah." And plan for Oct. 7th II. the sequel.
Two undeniable truths..........1. Hamas will neither release nor kill all of the remaining hostages. They need them to continue their "stake in the game." Some might still be killed. But they won't let ALL of them go (neither figuratively nor literally). 2. Hamas will NEVER neither surrender nor be "destroyed." At best, they will "lay low" for a while, regroup, recruit, rebuild and emerge "bigger and stronger" in the future -- maybe under a different name. But the game will remain the same.
How easily noble sounding terms can be hijacked for causes that actually represent the opposite of those terms. For example, " progressives". In their reductionist doctrinarian mantras of "oppressed" and " oppressors" they allied themselves with the worst of the kind: Islam.
In their newly founded totalitarian massive cancelling of those who disagree with them or who they simply don't like, they regressed to Middle-Ages and/or Orwellian mind control, the imposing of stocks-like shaming and attempts to dominate others.
They also reveal their cruelty, even as they pose as bleeding hearts for their cherry-picked victims.
For all those reasons and more, they should be rebranded. They are not " progressives" but " regressives".
Defense Minister Katz has finally gotten it right. Hamas will release all the hostages and totally disarm or face annihilation. No more partial releases. No more exchanges. Surrender or we will utterly destroy you. That’s how strength negotiates.
“Israel’s gonna do what Israel’s gotta do” - is the mantra I’ve been telling myself for many years. People in the west have no clue how unlike the west the Middle East is and project (among other things) their own limited experiences onto it. I also like to say, “Israel isn’t surrounded by Canadas.” 🤷🏻♀️
What has always had me wondering is WHO is paying the freight for the Israeli minority to protest about just ending the war immediately and living in peace (!?!) with their neighbors when the existential threats are visible for ALL to see? I've noticed, as have many, the professionally made signs and banners here in the US as well as Israel which those companies are not doing for free.
I smell a Soros connection somewhere here.
“Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of ‘emergency’. It was the tactic of Lenin, Hitler, and Mussolini. In the collectivist sweep over a dozen minor countries of Europe, it was the cry of men striving to get on horseback. And ‘emergency’ became the justification of the subsequent steps. This technique of creating emergency is the greatest achievement that demagoguery attains.”
President Herbert Hoover
Remember all those ‘judicial reform’ mass demos in Israel, prior to 7/10/23? Surely that show of weakness signalled to Hamxs that the time to attack was ripening?
The same pattern of mass action signalling is being deployed by all these grubby, icon-occupying redgreenblackwhite demos in western cities- all of them, ‘legitimised’ by breathtaking judicial lawlessness.
Western Domestic populations- many of whom have lived in luxury for decades and had the worldviews to match- have no idea of the peril they are in. Perhaps some of them are awakening now, as they witness their cultures, economies, peace & safety being destroyed by ‘anti war’ thugs & complicit brigand ‘authorities’ who have no authority but seek to impose it on anyone who isn’t buying the lying.
We are literally living in the time of the ‘spirit of lawlessness’ as perfectly explained by 2THESSALONIANS2: recommend reading this specific scripture, asap.
Josh Hoffman, please come and talk to our synagogue kehila in Tel Aviv! You are exceptional. Another perfect essay! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Israel is fighting for her life. All our lives. What else do we need to know but that we have no choice except to win. Period.
What wise words! History teaches us that pacifism never works. You will succeed!
Written with such clarity and intelligence. Compulsory reading for every pampered pacifist. America can thank Donald Trump who shares these beliefs and also encourages Israel to do what it needs for its own survival and that of Western civilization.
the dr who saved sinwars life had his nephew killed on Oct 7
Someone told me Netanyahu recently revived an old joke
Two people running from grizzly bear
One says to the other why are you running you can’t outrun a grizzly bear
He replies
I only have to outrun you!
Welcome to the world circa 2025
I only respect pacifists who contribute in other ways. Otherwise they are menacing free riders.
Thank you Joshua. My thoughts put into words. Am Yisrael Chai
Pat Johnson, substack:
“When the Palestinians and the broader Arab world are willing to live in peace, there will be peace. They are the only ones who can make peace because they are the only ones who are making war.”
"Good intentions do not stop rockets, tanks, or nuclear programs." No, they pave hell.
Great essay.
the anti war demonstrations in Israel give cover and a argument for an all ready specious argument made by one Tommy Friedman in the NY Times op ed. The communist b. sanders is in another lip lock with mamdani here in NYC. And Nicky Kiristoff in NY Times op ed says that as people argue if there is a genocide in Gaza a much worse crisis is in Sudan....off the pages....not in the cable network news cycle. Israel is in the fight for its life. The anti war Israelis....this is horrific for us as a people...allow hamas to claim victory ....remain in power....brutalize its own people as EU pours in billions more to them ......Europeans should really be ashamed .....in a post Holocaust world...ONLY 80 years ago......that they are so feckless and cowardly....and rushing to reward hamas and cast opprobrium at Israel....or as Tommy puts it....the "pariah." And plan for Oct. 7th II. the sequel.
Start the peace by freeing the hostages.
Two undeniable truths..........1. Hamas will neither release nor kill all of the remaining hostages. They need them to continue their "stake in the game." Some might still be killed. But they won't let ALL of them go (neither figuratively nor literally). 2. Hamas will NEVER neither surrender nor be "destroyed." At best, they will "lay low" for a while, regroup, recruit, rebuild and emerge "bigger and stronger" in the future -- maybe under a different name. But the game will remain the same.
I make a very similar point here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-162133942
Glad to see I'm not alone
Beautifully crafted essay.