Opinion

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As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu geared up for what was intended as a triumphant visit to Washington, commencing on Monday, July 7, 2025, Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades in Beit Hanoun were meticulously preparing their own stark counter-narrative. On the very inaugural day of the Israeli leader’s high-stakes diplomatic trip, the battalion launched a devastating strike, inflicting significant casualties on Israeli soldiers. The Israeli army, notorious for obfuscating its military losses, begrudgingly acknowledged five soldiers killed and 14 wounded, some critically.

If one thinks that arming Ukraine against Russia or having Israeli soldiers and also American contractors slaughter Gazan civilians are not supportive of any United States actual interests, last week could easily be written off as yet another descent into Hell on the part of the United States. Americans and others should have the right to criticize how the Israelis wage war without being denounced and criminalized by governments that have been corrupted from the inside, most often by money, but that is exactly what is going on in the US and in select countries in Europe. Watching children being targeted for killing and complaining about it does not make one an anti-Semite even though the Israeli government exploits that issue precisely as a tool to avoid any consequences for its horrific behavior. Here in America, it’s past time for the White House and Congress to rid themselves of their obscene and unseemly obsession with judging overseas developments using the optics of Israel loyalty tests.

I always looked at Sen. Bernie Sanders as the voice of reason and held him in high regards when it comes to the plight of the Palestinians. However, I was shocked and saddened that he had recently referred to Hamas as a terrorist organization. In March 2024 Sen. Sanders said that Hamas and Israel Crime Minister Netanyahu must go. (CBS News interview)

To Hamas or Jihad fighters, the people of Gaza are their parents, wives, sons, brothers and sisters. Those are freedom fighters and not a bunch of mercenaries like those serving in the Israeli Death Forces (IDF). If they were not present in Gaza, the IDF would have committed far worse crimes and killed more Palestinians than they already did.

Those courageous Palestinians fighters will not bow their heads or bend their knees except for Almighty God. Their logo is: “It’s jihad until either victory or martyrdom."

Wu Tang Clan played their last Columbus concert as a complete group Wednesday night, July 9. Wu’s Nationwide show was part of the Shaolin rappers tour with Run The Jewels. Wu promoted the show as the last tour Wu would tour together..

Wu/RTJ tour’s announcement induced a moment of perspective. Both Wu Tang, and Run The Jewels careers started from the 90’s New York City college radio show, Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito.

Part of the Wu’s legend was Stretch and Bobbie played Wu-Tang’s Protect Yr Neck in December 1992. Protect Yr Neck’s rode the same wave as Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Counterculture unleashed a raw uncompromising sound which was embraced by people who wanted something real. Wu Tang’s buzz negotiated a platinum classic group album Enter The 36 Chambers from Loud which launched solo projects for every Wu member released from major labels Warner, Geffen, Def Jam and Loud.

Wu Tang didn’t play the major label’s game. Wu Tang had leverage where the majors allowed Wu complete creative control.

Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way for his third visit to Washington during the first six months of the second term of President Donald Trump. Bibi requested the visit because he clearly wants something and he never likes to hear anyone tell him “No!” The American Jewish community and the state of Israel working together are already mustering their substantial resources to give the Prime Minister anything he wants, whatever that might be. If necessary, the so-called Israel Lobby, which controls many aspects of what is referred to colloquially as the United States Government, has a unique ability to lay down a serious guilt trip on anyone who tries to interfere with their prerogatives. Their ability to persuade is frequently based on repeated invocations of a semi-mythical event called the “holocaust,” which has been and will continue to be a burden on all the rest of humanity forever.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestine, stands as a testament to the notion of speaking truth to power. This "power" is not solely embodied by Israel or even the United States, but by an international community whose collective relevance has tragically failed to stem the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

 Her latest report, ‘From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,’ submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on July 3, marks a seismic intervention. It unflinchingly names and implicates companies that have not only allowed Israel to sustain its war and genocide against Palestinians, but also confronts those who have remained silent in the face of this unfolding horror.

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