[pjw] REPORT BACK: echoes of world wars: Friday rally #243 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi again IAG supporters

Last night at the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, 10 of us rallied and 
eight marched. We had a lot of supportive honks, waves and high-fives. A 
strange comment from the security guard at the Rialto room: "You're doing 
it the right way." Maybe he meant we weren't smashing windows (which to my 
knowledge hasn't been happening... yet?). We had nice 60 degree dry 
weather-- in autumn in Portland!

Two of the echoes of World Wars I refer to in today's subject line:
1) a woman came by and quietly handed each of us a white rose.

  https://pjw.info/images/whiterose110724.jpg

(That's the actual rose in a photo taken afterward, I labeled it with the 
wrong date, oh well)

2) that made me comment that maybe it should have been a white carnation 
which is a symbol of peace associated with Armistice Day (now known as 
Veterans Day to militarize it), which is on Monday. You know, the war that 
ended all wars, World War I.

Silly me, it's actually white poppies.

  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/05/poppy-symbolizes-world-war-i/100074450/

Anyway, checking on my vague memories about #1, I realized the White Rose 
was a group that resisted the Nazis in WW II.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose

OK, now, to the main headlines and more echoes:

--With the new election of Donald Trump, the Pentagon is pondering how to 
refuse illegal orders he gives them, like attacking people on US soil or 
deporting immigrants. I guess the good news is their policy is that they 
are required to refuse illegal orders, aka the Nuremberg principle. But 
they're wondering whether to resign and leave their subordinates or to 
stay in the fight.

  https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/08/politics/pentagon-officials-discussing-trump/index.html

--Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu fired the Israeli Defense Minister, 
who went on to tell the families of remaining hostages that there is 
nothing more to be done militarily in Gaza (probably true 13 months ago, 
but ok), and that Netanyahu is staying for political reasons (duh).

  https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-firing-gallant-tells-hostage-families-netanyahu-needlessly-keeping-troops-in-gaza/

---Israel injured six UN peacekeepers in an airstrike in Lebanon. Even if 
there's condemnation afoot, you know their protectors the USA will veto 
any resolution to hold them accountable.

  https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-says-six-un-peacekeepers-injured-in-lebanon-blast

---Back in July, Israel conducted a ground raid in Syria, to snatch a 
Syrian citizen with ties to Iran. It's the only known ground incursion by 
the US-backed IDF into Syria, remarkable in that the news has surfaced. 
But will there be consequences?

  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israel-says-it-conducted-a-ground-raid-in-syria-and-seized-a-syrian-citizen-connected-to-iran

--Meanwhile, the US sent F-15 fighter jets to the Middle East to "protect 
Israel from an attack by Iran." Uh, they have plenty of their own weapons 
paid for by our tax money already, thanks.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/11/07/us-f-15-fighter-jets-arrive-in-middle-east-as-part-of-buildup-aimed-at-iran/

--And in Iraq-related news, the US has warned Iraq not to let Iran attack 
Israel from its territory. And the Iraqis were like, "well we weren't 
planning to do it, but thanks for the pep talk."

  https://www.axios.com/2024/11/05/us-iraq-iran-israel-attack-warning

In local news, Mayor-elect Keith Wilson was on OPB's think out loud, 
seemingly unclear whether he needs a City Council vote to enact his policy 
to shelter houseless people. When pressed he noted "yes they can be 
ticketed or jailed if they refuse once we have enough shelter" (which is 
true under the law but still naive and inhumane). Host Dave Miller asked 
how he would have time for this program with "all his other 
responsibilities such as the police chief." Let's be really clear: The 
Mayor hires and fires the police chief but does not oversee their day to 
day activities, that will be up to the City Administrator. (Who answers to 
the Mayor but not on that granular a level.)

If you want to hear the interview:
  https://www.opb.org/article/2024/11/08/think-out-loud-keith-wilson-portland-mayor-election-2024/

Along the march route I talked about how Israeli settlers set fire to 
Palestinian properties in the West Bank.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/armed-israeli-settlers-torch-palestinian-homes-cars-olive-trees

...yet the Israelis called Dutch soccer fans who attacked Israeli soccer 
fans (after those fans burned a Palestinian flag) to Kristallnacht a 
horrific night where Nazi German citizens torched Jewish businesses. I 
guess it matters to those in power if you agree with the violence whether 
to condemn it?

  https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/07/europe/israel-soccer-fans-attacked-amsterdam-intl-hnk/index.html

Also, I was trying to make a point about money for human needs not war 
when I talked about this article, which shows the defense industry has 
their shorts in a bunch because an "isolationist" Trump will decrease 
military spending. I really don't think that's going to happen without 
lots of people pressure.

  https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/trump-admin-will-bring-uncertainty-opportunities-for-defense-industry-analysts/

I was in too much of a rush to stop in front of the Apple Store on the way 
in, but the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign kept running until 10 feet 
past the "mystery spot." As we came through across the street toward 
the end of the march, it turned off 10 feet _before_ that spot. Maybe 
it moves around in random patterns.

Let's hope that the pseudo-anti-war Trump's election doesn't actually 
bring more conflicts to our war-torn planet. Maybe help us educate the 
public if you have time some Friday night at 5 PM to meet us at SW Yamhill 
and Broadway....

thanks
--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group