Actions sometimes speak louder than words. On Saturday Jan. 17, President Elect Obama kicked off his Lincoln-esk “Whistle Stop” tour in Philadelphia. Don’t know if anybody watched the speech, but it was somewhat telling with respect to Michelle Obama. An animated woman, whose name I did not get, introduced president Elect Obama. At the conclusion of her introduction, with the president elect and his wife standing on each side of the podium, the woman turned to the president elect, stepped forward and hugged him. She then turned to Michelle Obama and hugged her. Immediately after disengaging from the embrace Michelle Obama reached across her body and brushed off her shoulder where this woman’s face had touched her. It was a quick movement and if you weren’t paying attention you could miss it. It might have been an innocent and unconscious act, but it came across as if Michelle Obama felt contaminated in some way by this woman’s touch.
The local media covered the Muslim protest on the Plaza (1-1-09) protesting the current conflict/war between Israelis and Hamas occurring along the Gaza-Strip. The protesters (approximately 150) were (according to the report) organized by the Muslim American Society to bring attention to the conflict/war and the alleged disproportionate death toll to Palestinian civilians. Protesters chanted: “Stop the killing, stop the crime, long live Palestine.” From media interviews of a couple of protesters it appears they want the US to intercede and force Israel to stop the aerial bombing. I found this interesting seeing as how similar groups have protested in the past outraged by US involvement in Palestinian affairs when the US has supported Israel. It seems they only want Israel to stop the bombing while Hamas continues its rocket attacks on Israeli civilians.
From a political blog titled: Rosco Was Right…Sort Of, by Nemokc, I understand the conflict and how it has been going on for decades and how the Palestinians feel. But Hamas is an internationally recognized terrorist organization that positions itself among the Palestinian civilian population, using them basically as shields to dissuade retaliatory attacks for the rockets it lobs into Israel daily. I really don’t know how these Muslims can expect US support for Hamas. As I recall it has been radical Muslims who have attacked US targets here and around the world killing Americans. I don’t ever recall hearing of an Israeli suicide bomber or of Israelis flying planes into US buildings.
This protest on the Plaza, and elsewhere, serves no purpose other than to try to draw the US people into the conflict, and an attempt to stir up emotions in the US and foster hatred toward Israel and Jews in general as if we didn’t have enough hatred already. If these people want to protest, then let them go back to their own country where their voices have a much better chance of being heard and of bring about a cease fire, if that is truly their intent.
I find it personally offensive that this Muslim group would have the blatant audacity to ask support from the US for Hamas and other Muslim terrorist groups who have openedly called for the death of Americans, and when Hamas receives military training, weapons and financial support from Iran who has sent weapons and insurgents into Iraq to kill American soldiers. Both Hamas and Iran’s leadership have called for Israel to be wiped off the map. How is anyone expected to rationally negotiate with such irrational people?
VP elect Biden said that President elect Obama would be tested by a crisis in the first 6-months of his presidency. What Biden didn’t say was that the crisis would be generated by his own party. It will be interesting to see how the democrats handle the appointment of Ronald Burris by Gov. Ron Blagojevich to Obama’s vacant senate seat. Especially since the democrats told Blagojevich (facing impeachment & federal charges) that they would not recognize anyone he appointed. In his acceptance speech Burris couldn't help but play the race card.
If this is a sneak preview of the how the democrats are going to run the country, the Bush administration may come off looking good by comparison.
