Blaming the Messenger

President Obama on Friday said social media and the nightly news are partly to blame for the sense that “the world is falling apart.” - See more at: http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=54996#sthash.h6GhslBy.dpuf

President Obama on Friday said social media and the nightly news are partly to blame for the sense that “the world is falling apart.” - See more at: http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=54996#sthash.h6GhslBy.dpuf

"President Obama on Friday said social media and the nightly news are partly to blame for the sense that “the world is falling apart.”
'The world’s always been messy … we’re just noticing now in part because of social media,' he said, according to a White House pool report."

No, we've been noticing this for the past 6 years that you've been in office!

Taking His Lumps

Our friend George Galloway is back in the news, and I had to laugh at the way The Jewish Press's Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu reported the story:

"British police have arrested a 39-year-old man, possibly Jewish, for assault anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Member of Parliament George Galloway, who was hospitalized for broken ribs and a head injury.
The attacker was identified as Neil Masterson.
Galloway has been released from the hospital, but it is doubtful that the attacker was able to beat some sense into his head.
The MP, who has built his political career on loving Saddam Hussein and Hamas and hating Jews and Israel, was posing for pictures in west London Friday night when the attacker jumped on him while calling him 'Hitler.'
The assault 'appears to be connected with his comments about Israel because the guy was shouting about the Holocaust,' said Galloway’s spokesman. The name of his one-MP party is Respect, which indicates his ignorance of the English language.
The party’s name is a very contrived acronym for Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environmentalism, Community and Trade Unionism. A more accurate acronym would be 'Racist, Extremist, Satanic, Pisher, Excrement, Crude and Twisted.'
Galloway has been under police investigation since his call earlier this month that the city of Bradford, which he represents, be an 'Israel-free' zone that would bar Israeli tourist and place a total ban on anything related to Israel.
We wish Galloway a speedy recovery and hope that some of the medicine he needs is made in Israel."

Watcher's Council Winners -- and News

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Here's a special announcement: "Starting next week, the Watcher’s Council is adding an exciting new feature! Every Tuesday, the members of the Council will nominate a Weasel of the Week..some public figure who merits special singling out for ignominy, stupidity, cowardice, corruption or just a particularly evil deed. The Council members will provide a short explanation for their choices, and the nominations and explanations on why each choice is worthy of being singled out for special attention will appear Tuesday morning."

I think Obama should be nominated as Weasel of the Year!

Smitten With Smetana

Here's the overture from "The Bartered Bride" to chase the news blues away.

Dereliction of Duty

Judicial Watch: Feds’ Bulletin Describes Threat of Imminent Terrorist Attack on Southern Border.  No kidding. And who encouraged these hordes of immigrants and potential terrorists to flood over that southern border, and who accused everyone of racism if they didn't welcome them in? If we're attacked anytime soon, Obama and Holder must be held responsible.

Say It Ain't So, Joe - You Schmo!

No wonder other countries take advantage of the United States and no longer fear and respect us. As long as you have an appeasement, sympathizer President like Obama, and a press willing to protect him, you have incidents like this laughable one:   Scarborough Defends 'No Strategy' Obama: 'Straight Out of The Art of War.

"Alexander the Great.  Stonewall Jackson. George S. Patton. To this list of some of history's greatest military strategists, a new name must be added: that of Barack Obama.  That is, if you agree with Joe Scarborough's take on President Obama's statement at yesterday's press conference that "we don't have a strategy yet" regarding possible attacks on ISIS in Syria.

According to Scarborough, speaking on today's Morning Joe, President Obama's 'no strategy' statement was 'straight out of The Art of War where when you were weak, you make your enemies think you were strong. When you were strong, you make your enemies think you were weak.' It's what Scarborough would have done, he told viewers, if he were president. When Sam Stein said that he couldn't tell if Joe was joking, Scarborough assured him: 'I'm serious. Dead serious . . . I am dead serious.  I am not joking.'"

That's right, Joe, keep trying to convince yourself.

Attention ISIS! We Don't Have A Strategy Yet!

Thanks, Obama, for broadcasting this news to the terrorists today! Evidently he was never taught that if you nothing good to say, don't say anything. I wonder what strategy he'll have on September 11.

Can you imagine Eisenhower on D-Day saying "We don't have a strategy against the Nazis yet", or Truman on August 6 saying "We don't have a strategy against Japan", or JFK in October 1962 saying he has no strategy regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis, or Reagan declaring he has no strategy for ending the Cold War?

Lots 'o Links

Catch up with this week's news, scandals, gossip and outrages by reading Maggie's Farm, Betsy's Page, and Larwyn's Linx!

Possible Reruns

Well, I hope Obama and company are starting to develop excuses for the terrorist attacks I'm sure will come. They can't use videos are the cause this time, but they could always try blaming Bush, which usually seems to work.

All I know is that ISIS, Al Qaeda, and all the other terrorists (I mean "man-caused disasters" and "workplace violence causers" see how weak, spineless, politically correct and willfully blind our administration is, and they won't hesitate to take full advantage.

On September 11, 2014, we should be mourning the victims of  Islamic murderers, not concocting more farfetched excuses.

Whatever Became of Common Sense?

I saw this story today: "Zara pulls ‘concentration camp’ pajamas off market, saying motif was meant to be Old West."

Does this really look like the Old West to you?

Don't companies usually ask for feedback first before putting things on the market?

It brings to mind these other great concepts.

Political Correctness: Nothing to Sneeze At

Is everyone going crazy? This is the second instance in a week of teachers banning students from saying "bless you" in response to a sneeze. You may as well ban people from saying "please" and "thank you". It's a courtesy, it's a nicety, it's one of the few parts of civilized behavior we have left in this increasingly idiotic society. What next, firing workers who say "bless you"? If so, you'll have to fire us all.

Wanting to build your business and better yourself is also frowned upon these days. A senator wants to boycott Burger King for their deal with Tim Hortons. I would do the opposite and eat more Whoppers to thank BK for their unapologetic capitalism. It's pretty bad when, under Obama, businesses are punished instead of praised.

But here's the most outrageous example of what political correctness has done: "COEXIST: Multiculturalism and political correctness behind sexual abuse of 1,400 girls."  Oh well! Better have children raped and planes flown into buildings than dare call Muslims evil.

Warming Up To Climate Change

This is like something you'd find at The People's Cube. Per Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin,  "In his black-and-white photography series 'Scared Scientists,' Nick Bowers captures a raw element not often associated with scientific knowledge. For the series, Bowers interviewed a selection of scientists in varying fields, capturing the frightened looks on their faces while they contemplated their findings. The photos are minimalist but intense, each wrinkle and crease pointing to a human unease we can all connect with."

There's something wrong when the President is obsessed with nonsense like climate change rather than focus on Islamic terrorism, the economy, unemployment, and the fact that the world's going crazy.

The World According to Obama

Victor Davis Hanson has a good column summarizing the disaster in the White House.  Here's an excerpt:   "America is suddenly angry at the laxity, incompetence, and polarizing politics of the Obama administration, the bad optics of the president putting about in his bright golf clothes while the world burns. Certainly, no recent president has failed on so many fronts — honesty, transparency, truthfulness, the economy, foreign policy, the duties of the commander-in-chief, executive responsibilities, and spiritual leadership.
We are now shocked at the current spate of alphabetic scandals — IRS, AP, NSA, VA. But why are we surprised, given that Obama never told the truth about his relationships with the old terrorist Bill Ayers and former PLO ad hoc spokesman Rashid Khalidi, or about the creepy land deal with the crook Tony Rezko? If the Obama White House demonized the Tea Party as tea-baggers, or compared the Republican House opposition to terrorists and arsonists, why should we be astonished, given how he was elected to the U.S. Senate?
We are terrified of the chaos that is spreading across the world: Egypt, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Putin’s Russia, and the Chinese–Japanese tensions. But was there any evidence in 2008 that rookie senator Obama had any foreign-policy experience or even knowledge of the world beyond Chicago, other than as a boy in Indonesia or a teen on a jaunt with buddies to Pakistan?
Polarization? Partisanship? The National Journal warned us in 2008 that Obama was the most partisan of the 100 U.S. senators. Did we assume that he would revert to something that he never had been?"

If you voted for him twice and still excuse him, overlook everything, and fawn over him, then you'll love this: "Obama Administration Pressures General Dempsey to Retract, Downplay the Islamic State Jihad Threat."  Now, why would a President make a General take back his words about the enemy?

Besides, there's no ISIS threat, just traitors joining ISIS like this extremist with the (mispelled) names of two American military heroes: Douglas McAuthur McCain.

Jews and News

Maybe if more non-Jews were attacked for reasons like this, everyone would take antisemitism seriously:  "Woman aggressed in Brussels because of her Jewish-sounding name."

Read about who's filling the vacuum left by the United States: Egypt and UAE New Anti-Islamist Police in Middle East.

Here are 8 Alternatives to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenges, including this one:  "The Sainsbury’s Gefilte Fish Challenge. In case you haven’t heard, London grocery chain Sainsbury’s stripped its shelves of kosher food over fears that anti-Israel protesters will annoy them with their rhythmic rhyming chanting. Way to stand up for freedom Sainsbury’s – I am sure Sir Winston is shepping naches right now. So here’s our challenge: go to Sainsbury’s, take an entire bottle of gefilte fish, and eat every last morsel in protest until they return the kosher food. OK and if you want, you can dump the jar of gefilte fish jelly on your head."

When Super Heroes Come in Handy

Now that's more like it! Stallone, Schwarzenegger lead Hollywood assault on Hamas.In new ad, 187 signatories regret devastating loss of life in Israel and Gaza, blame Hamas ideology of ‘hatred and genocide’.   Hey, Hollywood! How about Stallone and Schwarzenegger in a new action movie where they kill and defeat Hamas, ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups? A film like that would be #1 at the box office and a morale-booster for the U.S.

Teed Off

Read Maureen Dowd's clever takeoff of the Gettysburg address, which starts out this way: "FORE! Score? And seven trillion rounds ago, our forecaddies brought forth on this continent a new playground, conceived by Robert Trent Jones, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal when it comes to spending as much time on the links as possible — even when it seems totally inappropriate, like moments after making a solemn statement condemning the grisly murder of a 40-year-old American journalist beheaded by ISIL." It ends like this: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us of getting rid of our slice on the public’s dime — that from this honored green we take increased devotion to that cause for which Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy gave their last full measure of devotion — and divots.

We here highly resolve that these golfing greats shall not have competed in vain, especially poor Tiger, and that this nation, under par, shall have a new birth of freedom to play the game that I have become unnaturally obsessed with, and that golf of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

So help me Golf."

Yes -- it's THAT Maureen Dowd, usually one of the biggest Obama apologists among the media, so make sure you read the whole column before the NY Times decides to delete it!

JewishStrong

Is there a future for Jews in Europe? On the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, European Jews face a dramatic rise in anti-Semitic attacks • Jews hide their identity and talk of "worst times since the Nazi era" • Is the rising hatred a temporary spike or a terrifying trend?  Naama Lansky has a recap.  

It's nightmarish that this level of brazen antisemitism is happening in the year 2014.  This time, we have to fight back and not go like lambs to the slaughter. 

Politically Incorrect Food

Oh, come on. Vermont: Restaurant ad for bacon removed after Muslim claimed it offended her.  (A) This woman should have gone elsewhere if she was offended, and (B) the bistro should not have removed the ad. Why this constant fear of offending over non-issues, and how did Americans become such spineless wimps?  This reminds me of the hot cross buns story of a few years ago. Enough already!

Good Friday Links

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Here's Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup - Now We Are All Safe.   You'll love the title of his column Obama Challenges Caliph of ISIS to Golf Game.

The Political Commentator shows the faces of immigration, past and present.

This is another example of how the media protects Obama.

Paris celebrates 70 years since liberation. Surviving veterans remember the day when France wiped off the shame of years of occupation and Vichy collaboration with Nazis.  And now they're collaborating with Muslims and beating up Jews.

September 11 is coming up soon, so here's a reminder for those of you who have forgotten what happened in 2001. This is NOT a "day of service."

Run From The Border

Have you noticed that suddenly, the story about the "humanitarian crisis" on our border has disappeared from the news? Is it because the Obama administration has belatedly realized that ISIS and Al Qaeda have infiltrated our country along with the thousands of illegals? Now you don't hear a word about "the children."

The media will do whatever it takes to protect Obama from himself.

Good News, Bad News

The good news: "In Toronto, Thousands Arrive to Rally Against anti-Semitism; Over 4,000 showed up at a community march to demonstrate that 'we will not be silent' in the wake of rising global anti-Semitism."

The bad news: "Switzerland: Muslim Protesters Attempt to Storm Synagogue.  The protest took place on Saturday, during the Jewish Sabbath, in front of the Beth Yaakov, or Grande, Synagogue in Geneva, according to JTA.The group told police they were simply exercising their right to protest and promised to return the following Saturday." What despicable animals. Let's try storming a mosque and see how far we get.

Lots 'o Links

For some good reading, visit Betsy's Page, Maggie's Farm, and Larwyn's Linx, along with Argus Hamilton's News in Zingers. 

And here's some bonus satiric humor from Aish called "Blame It On The Jews", which includes the sinking of the Titanic and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

No Time For Muslims

I liked this short column by William Kristol, aptly titled "Appalling": "The president is appalled. Indeed he said this afternoon that 'the entire world is appalled by the brutal murder of Jim Foley by the terrorist group, ISIL.' The act of violence that killed Jim Foley, the president continued, shocks the conscience of the entire world.'

What happens in the age of Obama to a group that does something that appalls and shocks the conscience of the entire world?

Nothing.

President Obama said that 'no just God would stand for what they did yesterday, and for what they do every single day.' I am no theologian. I pray that the president is right. But I know that we cannot sit back and wait for a just God to bring evildoers to judgment here below. I also know how facile it is for President Obama to say that 'people like this ultimately fail.  They fail, because the future is won by those who build and not destroy.' The Nazis ultimately did fail. But first they killed 6 million Jews, and caused the deaths of tens of millions of others. And they failed because we and our allies defeated them.

It's nice that 'one thing we can all agree on is that a group like ISIL has no place in the 21st century.' But the 21st century has a lot of years left. It would be nice if the president of the United States were acting to see to it that ISIL has no place in the world now.

The president closed by appealing to 'the timeless values that we stand for.' The only timeless value he seems willing to stand for is golf."

Speaking Up Against Political Correctness

Mike Ditka says Redskins name debate is ‘so stupid it’s appalling’.

Evil, Sadistic, Hate-Filled Muslims

Please explain to me how the barbaric execution by beheading of American journalist James Wright Foley (which brings to mind Daniel Pearl) has received less attention than the suicide of actor Robin Williams. I don't recall any special reports interrupting the TV shows to angrily denounce this savagery, do you?

The Muslims attack Israel with rockets every day, and the response is vile anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred. So how can you expect the beheading of Americans to get a normal reaction in these people?

Those of you still defending Muslims, just shut up. It's nearly time once again for the anniversary of September 11, and you should have learned your lesson by now. Like the Nazis and the Japanese in the 30s and 40s, these are vicious, loathsome killers.

There ought to be a propaganda campaign against them, like there used to be before political correctness ruined normal reactions. Bring back posters like these!

The Effect of WWI on Music

This article, titled The musicians silenced in the carnage of the Great War, is similar to the earlier one titled Five Notable Classical Musicians Who Served in World War I. They held a Prom concert in England this week to commemorate these musicians.

Living The Hy Life

I love these stories about people still on the job after 50 or 60 years.  Meet Hy Goldman, who's been working at Capitol Lighting in New Jersey for 73 years! Make sure to read the proud comments as well.

Telling It Straight

If you want to read some good reporting on antisemitism in Great Britain, just look at the UK Spectator. They obviously don't care one bit about political correctness -- thank goodness!

In Britain’s anti-Semitic whiff of Weimar, Douglas Murray describes the utterly spineless removal of kosher foods from supermarkets.

Rod Liddle muses, Who's responsible for these anti-Semitic attacks? Give me one guess...Just pretend for a moment that of, say, 200 anti-Semitic attacks in the UK, a study discovered that 198 of them had been committed by Methodists…"

Shooting and Looting

The disgraceful looting and uncivilized behavior in Ferguson has as much to do with the death of Michael Brown as the antisemitic protests and attacks across Europe have to do with what's been happening in Israel. These are just opportunists showing their true colors.

What Obama should have said yesterday was an unequivocal "Stop looting! Stop rioting! Period!"  The fact that they didn't stop shows how much respect they have for him.  Also, the TV networks should stop carrying the Ferguson looting live, as it just glorifies thuggish, disgraceful behavior.  I doubt prospective employers are going to hire any of those criminals any time soon.

Jewish News Roundups

Here's the latest issue of The Schmooze News, covering Jewish stories.

It's Haveil Havalim time! Read Haveil Havalim - Between Tisha b'Av and Tu b'Av at Esser Agaroth, and Haveil Havalim - "And it shall come to pass..." at Shiloh Musings.

Catchy and Colorful

It's Taylor Swift and her new hit, "Shake It Off".  One of the reasons I've always enjoyed following her career is that she's intelligent and classy, unlike so many young performers who become famous for being tasteless and obnoxious.

The Latest Ridiculous 'Blame The Jews' Story

We should start compiling all these insane "Blame the Jews" stories. Here's the latest:  "The JTA reports that a Dutch government employee, Yasmina Haifi, has been suspended until further notice after posting the following statement on Twitter where she calls ISIS a Zionist conspiracy: 'ISIS has nothing to do with Islam. It’s part of a plan by Zionists who are deliberately trying to blacken Islam’s name.'  Rightttt............" Do these people not realize how demented they sound?

Ebola or Not Ebola? That is The Question.

I saw this headline the other day: "Ebola Epidemic Most Likely Much Larger Than Reported, W.H.O. Says." They've sure changed their tune! Wasn't it just recently that the media downplayed reactions to Ebola news as mere hysterical "panic"?

Proud To Be Jewish

I like this column by actress Mayim Bialik titled "Why I Wear My Jewish Star." She says "In the middle of the conflicts in Israel and Gaza this month, and in the middle of the virulent attacks I was coming under on social media, I put on my Magen David – my Star of David necklace – and it strangely felt like putting on armor," she says. "It felt like a statement. Gold armor around my neck: The way I show that I am Jewish and that I am not afraid to be so." I did the same thing, as I'm sure many Jews have.

Barack Lindbergh

"Obama's Ambush of Israel" is the title of a good column by Izzy Lemberg.

He writes, "Despite harsh criticism of Israel, this summer’s war between Hamas and Israel, should make clear to the world that the war against terrorism is one worth fighting. Anti-Semitic protests and attacks in Europe and the horrifying acts of ISIS only underscore this point.

Right now, there are many on the march: Iran, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, Russia/Putin and North Korea. Any of these players can inflame the region into a war. The relationship between Israel and the US is at an all time low.

It took the attack on Pearl Harbor before the US was willing to take on the Axis in WWII. What will it take for a community organizer and bafflingly unqualified Nobel Peace Prize winner with an ideological disconnect from history to react? It is Obama who should worry about being on the wrong side of history.

And you should worry too."

Good Friday Links

Here's Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup - The Long Way Around.

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Don't forget Harold Ticktin's Yiddish Vinkl! And speaking of Yiddish, you can now use words like "schmutz" next time you play Scrabble.

Home Grown Antisemitism

I read these two stories yesterday that, despite all the anti-Jewish sentiment lately, I found hard to believe until I read some verifications today.

First, there was the story about mail to Israel turned away by the U.S. Postal Service. (This makes me want to bombard the post office with letters to Israel.)

Then there's the news that Obama blocked a shipment of missiles -- to Israel! (Maybe we can bombard the post office with anti-Obama mail to Israel.)

So every day you have these insidious examples of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish bias, and when even your post office and your own president participate, you know it's become acceptable for all.

Secretary of Weather

From Investors Business Daily: "As the world melts into chaos and threats to the U.S. homeland multiply, America's top foreign policy official seems bizarrely, even dangerously, fixated on ... global warming."

"In remarks at the East-West Center in Honolulu on Wednesday, [John] Kerry repeated his claim that climate change is 'the biggest challenge ... we face right now.'"

"To which we respond: Can he be serious?"

It's almost as if this destructive administration is testing us to see if we're paying attention -- and too many Americans aren't. How can we afford two more years of this?

Lots 'o Links

Here's the latest from Maggie's Farm, Betsy's Page, and Larwyn's Linx.  Bonus: read this column about Lauren Bacall and the Passing Magic of Hollywood. Teresa Mull writes, "Let’s compare. In 1942, Casablanca was in theatres, an enduring, sentimental masterpiece that captures the conflict 'between love and virtue,' set in a captivating time and place with Hollywood’s most legendary actors delivering some of cinema’s most memorable lines.  Out in theatres today we have a film called Sex Tape."

Let's Have a Goycott!

What kind of people are these? "According to Sky News, over 400,000 people downloaded Buycott, which makes it easier for shoppers to shun Israeli goods."  This almost sounds like a gag product from Saturday Night Live, like "New Shimmer". 

Can you imagine if there were an app to boycott Muslim goods? There'd be protest marches in the street and diatribes from the usual liberal celebrities. 

Meanwhile, Israel comes up with useful technology, which you can read about here.

A Simple Question

Why aren't the Arab countries rushing aid to the Yazidi people? It's easier logistically for them to help than for us to do so. After all, it's not as if the Yazidis are Americans.

Suicide Isn't Painless

It's not politically correct to do so, but I have to agree with Shepard Smith and Todd Bridges that Robin Williams' suicide (and that of L'Wren Scott, and all other celebrities) WAS selfish and cowardly. If you don't have any friends or family, that's one thing, but how can you do that to people who love you? I see Smith and Bridges are apologizing for the pain they caused. How can they possibly cause more pain than the suicide itself?

What We Talk About When We Talk About Antisemitism

Because people are stupid and don't know or care about their history, we can't talk enough about anti-semitism. Aharon Lapidot writes about the anti-semitic genie out of the bottle and the reasons it has nothing to do with Gaza: 

"First, the Islamization of Europe. In European capitals, the number of Muslims has reached a critical mass. In Brussels, it is expected there will be a Muslim majority within a decade. Muslim community leaders do not hide their intentions to conquer Europe via demography -- and impose Shariah‎ law. Radical imams (including, for example, an imam in Berlin who recently said, 'Destroy the Zionist Jews. ... Count them and kill them to the very last one') are stirring things up and their followers are making sure everyone falls in line. It is no wonder then that most of the marchers are Muslims and the list of organizers of the demonstrations consists almost exclusively of Muslim organizations.

The second issue is even more serious. Operation Protective Edge has released the ancient European anti-Semitic genie from the bottle, after it was stuffed deep inside following the Holocaust. Blatantly racist remarks that no one would have dared utter a decade or two ago have all of a sudden become legitimate. In Europe, it has become fashionable again to call for sending the Jews to the ovens. There is no problem saying, shouting, writing or typing this sentiment. Perhaps the latest wave of anti-Semitism is being led by Muslims, but Europe is showing very little resistance to being dragged into an ugly, terrifying and barbaric reality. We know. We have been there before."

ObamaVirus

I had to laugh at this Bob Gorrell cartoon.

A Death At The Races

I don't follow NASCAR or any car races, but I seem to be in the minority of people who find headlines like this misleading: "NASCAR’s Tony Stewart Hits, Kills Driver at Race in New York." Shouldn't it actually say something like "Driver who Deliberately Walked into the Path of Speeding Cars During Race is Hit & Killed by Tony Stewart"?

I'm sorry Kevin Ward Jr. died, but really, this over-sensationalizing of needless tragedy is a bit much.

Encouraging Pro-Israel News

This rally in support of Israel will put a smile on your face.

There have been some good ads in the paper lately in support of Israel, and that should continue.

History Repeating Itself

Germany, 1933. "Protect yourselves - don't buy from Jews".

Italy, 2014: "Don't buy from Jews".

A Few Good Links

Read Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup - Open Minds, Closed Hearts.

Here's a report on Thursday's pro-Israel rally in Brighton Beach.

What the name "Hamas" means: "Hides Amongst Mosques and Schools."

Watcher's Council

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners! The Council winner is Bookworm Room with J’accuse! The Western media has the blood of Gazan children on its hands. The non-Council winner is Roger L. Simon's Welcome To The 1930′s.

Haveil Havalim Time

Here's the August 3 edition of Haveil Havalim, hosted by Adventures in AliyahLand. Haveil Havalim, founded by Soccer Dad, is a carnival of Jewish blogs which has always been a great source of information.

We Loved Lucy!

In celebration of Lucille Ball's 103rd birthday,  here's some of the best scenes from "I Love Lucy".   I would add the episodes about John Wayne's footprints; the meat freezer; the country club dance; the schedule; Ricky thinks he's going bald; and many more. Those 50 year old shows are still funnier than anything on TV today.

The Betrayal of Anne Frank

From mental_floss: what Anne Frank's arrest looked like, in photos.  It seemed odd seeing the word "arrest", which is usually so benign compared to the Holocaust. I've never thought of it as an arrest; I always thought of it as a capture or a betrayal.

Lots 'o Links

Catch up on this week's news and culture thanks to Betsy's Page, Maggie's Farm, and Larwyn's Linx.

In PC news, here's an article I thought was a parody at first:"Is Ole Miss—Sorry, O** M***—NSFW?  Olé, Olé, Olé! University of Mississippi discourages use of its nickname after finding that hardly anybody thinks it offensive."  What's truly offensive is that people are wasting their time talking about nicknames and team names when the world is on fire.

Ben Stein writes about "The World Thoroughly Off Kilter."  I'll say!  He says, "But in a world where you are born criminal by being born a Jew and especially an Israeli, logic has no place. Facts have no place. The only place is given to Jew hatred. It is in the soil in Europe and the Middle East, its ugly smell blows all over the world. What’s new is that Mr. Obama, the first openly anti-Israel President since the pitiful Jimmy Carter, is signing up America onto this blood libel bandwagon."

He's Back!

The other day I wondered where Jimmy Carter was.  He must have heard me, because he's back in all his ugliness.   "Jimmy Carter calls on US, EU to recognize Hamas.  In op-ed written for Foreign Policy, former US president accuses Israel of 'deliberate attacks on civilians' saying there was 'no humane or legal justification for the way the IDF are conducting this war.'" Anyone at all surprised by this?

Fighting Back and Standing Up For Israel

I'll be interested to read the coverage of this pro-Israel rally tomorrow: "A major pro-Israel rally will take place on Wednesday, August 6 at Asser Levy Park in Brooklyn, NY from 6:00pm – 8:00pm to show solidarity with the State of Israel as it battles Islamist terrorism in the Gaza Strip.
Entitled 'Brooklyn Unites for Israel', the event has been organized by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) Brooklyn Region Chapter, in conjunction with several other prominent Jewish and Zionist groups including Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), The Jewish Press, and COJO of Bensonhurst and is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz."

Downplaying Disease

I've been feeling the same way as John Nolte when he writes this column titled "5 Reasons Not to Trust the 'What Me Worry' Media About Ebola".  Is it because of political correctness that the media has been downplaying it and saying the panic is worse than the virus? Any communicable disease is bad, and we already have things like chicken pox, TB, the flu, and measles to worry about. Just tell us the truth, and don't treat us like we're the bad guys.

Argus Hamilton Quips

Time for another witty column, which includes items such as this one: "Chicago Police Chief Garry McCarthy was on the hot seat Friday over three-hundred-fifty shootings and forty-seven murders in Chicago so far this year. And it just never ends. Chicago is the city where U.S. Secretaries of State train to arrange all their cease-fires in the Middle East."

The Hamas-Israeli Conflict in a Nutshell

As seen here. 

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

The above Dry Bones cartoon could have been written yesterday -- but it's from 2006. Some things never change.

From a Child of Holocaust Survivors

Lynne Rabinoff writes about her impressions of the Israel-Hamas war: "I am a daughter of Holocaust survivors, and I’m sad to say, I’m glad both my parents are no longer living. What they would see, to their horror, is déjà vu back to 1933 with an explosion of anti-Semitism, especially in Europe, the UK and even in the U.S. and Canada...The use of words like 'Holocaust' and 'massacre' to describe Israeli actions underscores the anti-Semitism at play. Such word usage doesn’t seem to apply to the deaths of thousands of Muslims at the hands of allied forces and other Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, etc. Where was the world when the rocket attacks on Israel started? Why is it only Israel that elicits this type of condemnation when it defends itself? Had outrage been voiced and the real situation on the ground noted, this may have already ended without the casualties on either side. Ceasefire after ceasefire has been broken by Hamas – yet who gets blamed? This is the purest form of anti-Semitism and nothing else." Read it all.

A War For Survival

Boaz Bismuth writes, "So now's the time to say that the world can wait. Israel is at war, and it's no less important than 1948. It is a war over the right to live, the right defend oneself. The world can wait. If I were less polite, I'd say the world can go jump in a lake." That's the spirit! Destroy Hamas now once and for all, so this doesn't have to happen again.

Watcher's Council

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Talking Obama

Does the thought of Obama leaving office in 2 years frighten you? Does the thought of not hearing his melodious words every day fill you with dread? Don't worry -- you can buy your own President Barack Obama Talking Commemorative Doll! Just push the button to hear his inspirational words (which unfortunately do not include "We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America”; "The talk about me like a dog"; "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it"; or "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, period".) Order yours today!

Good Friday Links

Here's Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup, titled Hamasbara, and Bookworm Room's Wednesday Mid-Day Roundup.

The Jewish Press has an Anti-Semitism Roundup for July 31, a list that keeps growing. Read about the disgraceful Belgian "doctor". He's the type that, if he got hurt in Israel and needed a blood transfusion, would probably refuse it.

I came across the above cartoon at both the Dry Bones website and at Shiloh Musings just now. Very appropriate, don't you agree?

Who The Jew-Haters Are

The following is an excerpt from a spot-on column by Naomi Ragen. Click here for the entire thing, and pass it on. (Unfortunately, the people described below won't read it.)

"Dear Human Rights Activist, Leftist Liberal, Crying-for-the-poor-children, Israel-hating, Hamas-forgiving, marcher, celebrity, news anchor, journalist, writer, media star, politician, head of state. We have seen you marching along the streets of Europe, America, and the Middle East with your signs and kafias and Palestinian flags. We have heard you screaming to whoever will listen that Jews and Israelis are murderers, war criminals, and baby killers.
You think you are telling us who we are. But actually, you are telling us who you are.

• You are telling us that you are ignorant. 
• You are telling us you don’t really care about Palestinians or their children. 
• You are telling us that you are in favor of genocide.You are telling us that you hate Jews, not just Israelis.You are telling us you are ill-informed, uneducated and/or too stupid or too lazy to read history books.  
• But most of all, you are showing God who you are and the evil that is in your heart.

You are not the first ignorant, bigoted, racist, hateful people to stand against the Jews. But you just might be the last. By joining your voice and your body with those who hate justice, who love violence, and who follow in the footsteps of the Jew-haters throughout history, you are singling yourself out for the punishment that befalls all such people in history sooner or later. Check your history books on that one. Every people who hated Jews eventually became extinct. The Jews survived. Looking forward to your next march, your next petition, and your next newscast to see who you are. We already know what you are."

This Is Not A Joke

"UN Condemns Israel's Latest War Crime: Not Sharing Iron Dome with Hamas." The United Nations is out of its mind.

That reminds me: where's Jimmy Carter? I'm surprise he hasn't condemned Israel lately (something he's good at doing), or at least gone over to mediate.