NO WALLS

The weather was bitter and blustery in Washington DC early evening this past Wednesday.  It was much like the atmosphere inside the White House where Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel was spending quality time with our new POTUS.  There was chain link fencing around the big residence....bleacher frames still standing from the inaugural.  Another wall...this one cold and silver protecting the racist activities going on inside.
There was only about 100 of us bracing the cold. ALL the key players were there though.

Linda Sasour, well known Palestinian activitist was whisked in and out under death threats to her and her family.  She is probably most recently known for being one of the co-organizers of the Women's March on DC.  

Rabbi Weiss and a group from NKUSA (Neturei Karta Organization of Jews United Against Zionism)  Again, a group that stands firm in their interpretation of the Torah, and are ostracized for their beliefs.

 Rabbi Joseph Berman, leader of Jewish Voices for Peace.  Christian, Jewish and Muslim speakers alike were there to inspire and address the following main issues:
  -  NO to David Freidman being appointed Israeli Ambassador.  He is a settler...owns real estate in settlements
  -  NO to the continuouse building of SETTLEMENTS.
  -  NO to moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem giving the Palestinians no free movement to the embassy and again dismissing the part they play in the land.
  -  NO to the Muslim ban and registry in the U.S.

Friend Kathy Drinkard & key speaker for SABEEL

  -  NO to Netanyahu and his Zionist government's aparthaid treatment of Palestinians.

  I have put a collection of videos of the speakers, photos and links to news articles at the end of the blog.  My daughter Allie shared in the experience with me.  She has such a wealth of knowledge, education and understanding of all the cultures, issues and workings of the groups and people participating in the events that we attend.  I love that she can so easily explain to me what is actually going on.  She is the "brains & understanding".  I am the "bull in the china shop":)
 We will continue to raise our voices. She and I dearly love many faces and families in Palestine.  It is not a political issue for us....it is personal!
 I quote someone I read on the internet the other day.  To me it just makes sense:
"The facts are so unbelievably simple:  Muslims are not terrorists, terrorists are terrorists.  Catholics are not pedophiles, pedophiles are pedophiles.  Christians are not far right homophobes, far right homophobes are far right homophobes.  We have NO right to judge or treat anyone differently, be it by race, religion or sexuality.  We are all genetically human so can we just start acting with some humanity?  Holy moley!"  

Click on any of the underlined links below for stories and news articles. I hope the links give you insight to the movement to free Palestine from the occupation.  It is true....there are lives at stake. "From Palestine to Mexico, all the walls have got to go!"

This is an article from the online news agency begun by two Jewish brothers,  MONDOWEISS. They interviewed Allie and I and there is also a picture.  

http://mondoweiss.net/2017/02/palestinians-advocates-netanyahu/

A worldwide organization of Christians leading the charge against racism and the treatment of Palestinians.
http://sabeel.org/

News article about the rallies
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/16/510764/Americans-protest-policies-of-Israel-Netanyahu-visits-DC

Web address of NKUSA - explaining the position of the Orthodox Jews present at rallies around the world
http://www.nkusa.org/AboutUs/index.cfm

I wish I was more computer literate, but I can't figure out how to get videos on here.  If you want to hear Linda Sasour and others, you can click on Alexina Portyrata's facebook page.  You can also try clicking on my FB page and under comments on this posting at #BuildMovementsNotWalls and then clicking on VIDEOS.  Sorry for my inability to geek:)

REFUGEES COMPARED TO WHAT???

 I read where someone was was comparing the fleeing refugees to people in the water after the sinking of the Titanic.  I don't even know how to understand that thinking! Today we have people who are planning to go to another country and "help" the refugees.  They know no Arabic or Greek.  They are going armed with their Bibles to "witness" to them.  They have had no classes in the history of what has happened to the suffering and their backgrounds  They do not know the names of any world leaders.

 Hundreds of well meaning Christians are arriving on foreign shores to evangelize where refugees have taken haven. This will be the next attrocity that these desperate families are set to face.  No, the Titanic was a pristine oceanliner filled with the globe's richest and most prestigious people wearing their diamonds and finery.  They were fleeing nothing.  They had been through no strife or killings.  They were not suffering from PTSD.  They had not seen much of their family killed in front of them.  They had not just buried their dead babies.

 Do not tell me that you are heading to a foreign shore if you voted for a president that has banned these hopeless people from our shores. If you have not educated yourself in their history and plight, DON'T GO!  If you have not demanded that they be allowed to come to our country for safe haven, DON'T GO!   If you do go, close your lips.  Say nothing.  Cry with them. Take them food, blankets, medicine, clothing, diapers and welcoming arms.  If you cannot do this without forcing them to hear your well meaning prayers, DON'T GO!  If you cannot resist the temptation to push your religious beliefs on an already religious people, then DON'T GO!

 I have purposely edited the pictures shown....they are far tame compared to the actual photos friends are sending me.  So, let this sink in.

It seems that my blog has taken a bit of a turn.  Because of the times, I am not sure that I can write about my pet Louie or my good life  On occasion I will use this as a forum to share what I have learned to be true....yes, researched or been given first hand information on what is going on.

Reality has hit....to quote Sinclair Lewis in 1935, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."