At Coachella, Victoria Monet passionately called for a ceasefire, saying " “Stop the wars, stop the hate, stop the genocides, stop motherf–ing hating,” Monét said from the stage according to fan video of the moment. “Live with love. Stop thinking so small. You need to be thinking big, b–ch. Think big, b–ch.”. With fervent conviction, she emphasized the need to halt the cycle of animosity and instead live with love. Her message reverberated through the crowd, resonating with listeners who were moved by her powerful plea for peace. In a world plagued by conflict and division, Monet's call to action serves as a poignant reminder of the collective responsibility to foster compassion and understanding. What is happening in the Middle East? Headlines like “Isreali-Hamas War Day XXX…” plague many a news outlet but what does it all mean? How did it all start? This is where I learned that there is no simple answer. Currently, Israel is experiencing heightened tensions with the Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This has resulted in violent clashes and an increase in rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel, prompting Israeli military responses. To clarify, these rocket attacks did not begin this conflict. This is a war that has gone on for generations. However, for many October 7th, 2023 was the first introduction to the conflict. This was the deadliest day in their 75-year history, where Hamas fighters killed an estimated 1,400 Israelis, many civilians. Hamas is deemed a terrorist group that emerged in 1987 by the United States, the European Union, Canada, and Israel. They are committed to armed resistance against Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state. Israel has since used their power to neutralize and kill anyone they deem a threat, including hospitals, schools, and areas that are largely civilian-inhabited in a manner that resembles genocide. Additionally, there is political instability following the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip and ongoing discussions about the potential formation of a new government in Israel. These events have significant implications for the region and have been put on display for the international community, who stand by idly. The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict trace back to the early 20th century, when both Jewish and Arab national movements surfaced, seeking self-determination within Palestine. Amidst conflicting promises made by the British Empire, who controlled Palestine at the time, tensions escalated and ultimately culminated in the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. Consequently, Arab nations launched military interventions to oppose the establishment of a Jewish state, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs, concurrently creating a refugee crisis that reverberates to this day. The territorial dispute remains a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians assert their rights to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, areas they consider crucial for a future sovereign state. Meanwhile, Israel views these territories as essential for its security, religious heritage, and strategic interests. Where does the U.S. stand? This U.S. position on Gaza has typically emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in the region while also supporting Israel's right to defend itself against security threats. The United States has provided significant humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including funding for UN agencies and other organizations that provide essential services to Palestinians in need. On Saturday, April 20th, 2024, the House passed a series of three bills including financial aid with over 60 billion for Ukraine, 26 billion to Israel, and 8 billion to Taiwan. All three foreign aid bills passed with bipartisan support. However, the U.S. has also expressed concerns about Hamas's control over Gaza and its use of violence against Israel, including rocket attacks and other acts of terrorism. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and has supported Israel's efforts to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Candid Conversations On December 2nd, I listened to the thoughts of 20-something-year-olds in the Washington, DC chapter of a book club about the mass genocide occurring on the other side of the world. The intersection of literature and social consciousness came to life through the lens of Chicago rapper, No Name's book club, as members grappled with the weighty themes of Angela Davis's "Freedom Is Constant Struggle" and Rashid Khalidi's "The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017." From the vantage point of the DC chapter, a diverse array of voices united in shared concern over the ongoing atrocities in the Middle East. As the discourse unfolded, the stark reality of celebrating holidays amidst widespread genocide pierced through the room. Amongst the impassioned voices, a young Jewish man stood firm in advocating against the conflation of asking questions with antisemitism, underscoring the urgency of addressing injustice. Davis's message of hope, despite the uncertainty of immediate success, resonated deeply, offering a beacon of light amidst the darkness of systemic oppression. Together, the book club members acknowledged the daunting challenge of effecting change in their lifetimes, yet found solace in the collective pursuit of justice and the enduring power of hope. Interview with Yasmeen Al-Adam For some living in America, turning a blind eye to this daily war on children and civilians is as easy as turning off the news. For Yasmeen Al-Adam, a 23-year-old woman living in Massachusetts whose father, stepmother, and six siblings reside in the West Bank of Gaza, it is not. Working as a waitress and a preschool teacher, Yasmeen is no different than the next person. But with the majority of her family in the Westbank, she bears an unimaginable burden. “It just feels like at this point… I'm waiting for them to just die like I'm expecting one day for them to just tell me…’No, your family's not there anymore.’ And it's just like an anticipation.” Caitlin Leggett: You mentioned a conversation with one of your family members in a recent social media post…can you tell me a little bit about that? Yasmeen Al-Adam: “Israel was sending down fliers to towns on the west bank. Saying, like, if you're located in this region, you're going to be moving to somewhere in Jordan like this is your warning to get out…And my step-mom, I was like, Are you guys going like what's happening? And she's like, no like, what? Why am I gonna leave? She's like I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die in my home like with my family in my land. …They've experienced this occupation for so long, my dad's been beaten by Israeli soldiers. My uncle has been arrested just missing for days… Don't know if they're gonna come back. Don't know if they're dead or not. Then all of a sudden they pop up again…. It's just it's been happening for so long and now it's progressively getting worse. My dad was somebody who always wanted us to think best-case scenarios, like ‘Everything's fine all day roses and daisies…even if we knew it wasn't, he would never say it.’ This time he was just like. ‘Yasmeen, I don't want to lie to you.’ He's like, ‘I don't think this is gonna get any better. He's like once, he said, the same thing as me once they're done with Gaza, well, the West Bank is next. They're already starting. They're taking homes. Little by little we have Israeli Israeli settlers coming into the places, into people's homes and kicking them out, or just shooting them if they're walking on the street or like on the.’” Caitlin Leggett: How would you describe what is happening right now in Israel? Yasmeen Al-Adam: “It's a genocide and an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people to me. I find it very obvious, and I think more people are starting to see it. But it's mind-boggling that people don't understand that Israel is not going to stop until Gaza is completely annihilated. North Gaza is already done …but it's completely like like a dead zone like there's nobody there. The buildings are all collapsed like it looks something straight out of a movie like you wouldn't believe it. Israel is using Hamas as a you know, scapegoat. They're using it to excuse their actions, and they're like because Americans love their terrorists. You know. They'll do anything to catch a terrorist. I think people feed into that… Yasmeen Al-Adam: “What is the what is the phrase that they're using? ‘Proportionate response, the worst atrocity since the holocaust for Jewish people.’ We can agree that any type of killing is wrong. War shouldn't happen. Murder shouldn't happen like that it's fucked right? Well, what do you do when you're being bombed every day? You're seeing your brothers killed, your mother killed, your neighbors killed, and no one's doing anything. No one has done anything for how long. You know the world doesn't turn a fucking eye, or like, or ear a lending hand, or anything of the sort.” Caitlin Leggett: What is it like being Palestinian in America? Yasmeen Al-Adam: “America's supposed to be like this melting pot of cultures. And it's so great to be here. But then how come shit is still like this? Why are we still allowing stuff like this to happen? Why are Black men being murdered by police? Why are Palestinian boys are being killed for wearing the Kafiya, and Muslim women are being attacked like it? Some shit doesn't change… And I think it's just like really heartbreaking.” What can people do? “I want to do something, and I can't like there's like, literally like I can only do. I can protest, and I can talk about it. And I can teach people, and I can donate, and I can pray, and I can do all that stuff, but it never feels like enough.” “Donate. Protest. Educate.”
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How is Donald F. Trump… a now four times indicted President still allowed to run for president? With a criminal record longer than many of the average law-abiding citizens, the 45th President of America has been brought up on his 4th set of charges since 2022. CNN reports that he stands to face a total of 91 charges in four criminal cases, in four different jurisdictions — two federal and two state cases.
On his fourth indictment and possibly facing jail time, the constitution is what allows the 45th President of America to spearhead a campaign from behind bars. The irony comes in that this would mirror how many of the rappers that Trump criticizes, like YSL leader Young Thug, drop music from jail—only his is a candidacy for the highest office. The most recent set of 41 indictments comes at the hands of Fulton County DA Fani Willis. The grand jury includes 13 charges against Trump regarding the use of “fake electors” in Georgia. DA Willis is also the center of a RICO case involving rapper Young Thug and 13 other defendants alleging the group “YSL” is a criminal gang. Constitutionally, there is nothing in the books that says you cannot run for president if you are a convicted felon. To be clear, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 states that “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” There are rules and regulations for voting practices and electors (which Trump violated) however, as far as who can run-- that is it. Felons, in 23 states lose their rights to vote while incarcerated and receive a full restoration upon release. Felons, in 14 states lose their rights to vote while incarcerated, and for a period of time after, while on parole and/or probation. The law in 11 states revokes the right for felons to vote indefinitely for some crimes, yet there is nothing in the books about stopping a presidential candidacy. |
AuthorKeeping up with current events with Caitlin Leggett. Interviews, thoughts and perspectives on the weight of the world. ArchivesCategories |