Of the many outrageous and heartbreaking issues facing us today, thank you for including the catastrophic humanitarian blockade in Gaza in your top concerns.
We are well into the eleventh week of the total Humanitarian Blockade of Gaza—no food, no clean water, no medical supplies, no fuel. 2.1 million people are facing starvation, and when they are injured in airstrikes, children are having limbs amputated without anesthesia. There’s no blood for transfusions in makeshift medical tents. People are left to suffer and die.
Babies are being born looking like skeletons. The water supply is contaminated with military debris—something that can’t be removed even with reverse osmosis filtration. Hamas is reportedly seizing what little food remains, even raiding individual tents. Meanwhile, Israel, the U.S., and the international community are watching as this humanitarian atrocity—this clear violation of international law—continues to unfold.
Now, we hear Israel plans to allow in "some" aid—certainly not enough—while simultaneously announcing plans to finish leveling all of Gaza.
Last week, a letter was sent to Israeli Ambassador Leiter, sounding the alarm over the blockade. It was signed by 96 Members of Congress, including nearly half of the Democratic Caucus and many of our local representatives—Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, and Ro Khanna among them.
As a Jew whose family lost loved ones in the Holocaust, and whose cousin was Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first president, I say this with a heavy heart: I care deeply about Israel, and I am horrified by this cruelty.
“Never Again” must mean never again for any people.
Just last Saturday, we read Leviticus 19:18 in Torah: Ve’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha — Love your neighbor as yourself.
We are capable of so much better. And we must do better—now.
I don’t know how to add to this list without hitting 100, so I will just say I am wildly concerned about attacks on the arts — including the political takeover of the Kennedy center, the dismantling of The Smithsonian’s African-American history Museum exhibits, and his defunding of NPR, PBS, the entire NEA, and our library system.
I also remain incredibly troubled by the USAID programs that have yet to be restored. They are not only morally correct, they help avert wars and the spread of disease, and keep us all more safe.
i have a big place in my heart for USAID work because my father was all up in that back in the day as a public health official who led the effort to bring the smallpox vaccine to 20 west African countries.
and the dismantlement of the arts and information systems (public media; libraries) is curtailing and reshaping what we understand as meaningful, worthwhile, accurate, and even "truth."
i just can't believe how quickly and methodically it's happening. I guess that's Project 2025 for you. it shows us that government is really just a few people whom if unchecked can undo the very structures so many take for granted until they are simply gone. i worry about where all the Data is going. and will social security and medicare be there for me when I will want to count on them in 8 years? and will my passport, which says i was born in Nigeria, lead someone to take me for an 'immigrant' (though born to US national) whom they believe doesn't even belong here?
Hi. I am also very upset by the complete corruption of the government by the Trump administration. And also the corrupted and immoral and unethical actions by Trump himself and his family. The plane from Qatar is really pretty small potatoes compared to what they’re doing with cryptocurrency. He is able to get away with this because they are dismantling the justice system. In addition, I’m very concerned with the pullback of so many of the important regulations that we have to protect our workers and our environment and our children’s education, etc. That becomes even more critical when Government workers with expertise and knowledge and years of experience are being fired. Another one of my big concerns is the treatment of the transgender community and the demeaning and dehumanizing language that’s used when Trump and the Maga supporters talk about trans men and women and young adults and youth.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. And I would add our country’s polarization as very concerning.
Agree 💯
Julie,
Of the many outrageous and heartbreaking issues facing us today, thank you for including the catastrophic humanitarian blockade in Gaza in your top concerns.
We are well into the eleventh week of the total Humanitarian Blockade of Gaza—no food, no clean water, no medical supplies, no fuel. 2.1 million people are facing starvation, and when they are injured in airstrikes, children are having limbs amputated without anesthesia. There’s no blood for transfusions in makeshift medical tents. People are left to suffer and die.
Babies are being born looking like skeletons. The water supply is contaminated with military debris—something that can’t be removed even with reverse osmosis filtration. Hamas is reportedly seizing what little food remains, even raiding individual tents. Meanwhile, Israel, the U.S., and the international community are watching as this humanitarian atrocity—this clear violation of international law—continues to unfold.
Now, we hear Israel plans to allow in "some" aid—certainly not enough—while simultaneously announcing plans to finish leveling all of Gaza.
Last week, a letter was sent to Israeli Ambassador Leiter, sounding the alarm over the blockade. It was signed by 96 Members of Congress, including nearly half of the Democratic Caucus and many of our local representatives—Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, and Ro Khanna among them.
As a Jew whose family lost loved ones in the Holocaust, and whose cousin was Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first president, I say this with a heavy heart: I care deeply about Israel, and I am horrified by this cruelty.
“Never Again” must mean never again for any people.
Just last Saturday, we read Leviticus 19:18 in Torah: Ve’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha — Love your neighbor as yourself.
We are capable of so much better. And we must do better—now.
I so admire Jewish people who say what you just said: “Never Again” must mean never again for any people. Thank you.
I don’t know how to add to this list without hitting 100, so I will just say I am wildly concerned about attacks on the arts — including the political takeover of the Kennedy center, the dismantling of The Smithsonian’s African-American history Museum exhibits, and his defunding of NPR, PBS, the entire NEA, and our library system.
I also remain incredibly troubled by the USAID programs that have yet to be restored. They are not only morally correct, they help avert wars and the spread of disease, and keep us all more safe.
thank you Liz. absolutely all on my list, too.
i have a big place in my heart for USAID work because my father was all up in that back in the day as a public health official who led the effort to bring the smallpox vaccine to 20 west African countries.
and the dismantlement of the arts and information systems (public media; libraries) is curtailing and reshaping what we understand as meaningful, worthwhile, accurate, and even "truth."
i just can't believe how quickly and methodically it's happening. I guess that's Project 2025 for you. it shows us that government is really just a few people whom if unchecked can undo the very structures so many take for granted until they are simply gone. i worry about where all the Data is going. and will social security and medicare be there for me when I will want to count on them in 8 years? and will my passport, which says i was born in Nigeria, lead someone to take me for an 'immigrant' (though born to US national) whom they believe doesn't even belong here?
“we are the checks and balances we have been looking for”
Hi. I am also very upset by the complete corruption of the government by the Trump administration. And also the corrupted and immoral and unethical actions by Trump himself and his family. The plane from Qatar is really pretty small potatoes compared to what they’re doing with cryptocurrency. He is able to get away with this because they are dismantling the justice system. In addition, I’m very concerned with the pullback of so many of the important regulations that we have to protect our workers and our environment and our children’s education, etc. That becomes even more critical when Government workers with expertise and knowledge and years of experience are being fired. Another one of my big concerns is the treatment of the transgender community and the demeaning and dehumanizing language that’s used when Trump and the Maga supporters talk about trans men and women and young adults and youth.
Thank you for sharing this Joy. I feel all of the things you are speaking to.