Ashamed

Ashamed
Kevin Bryant

“Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it” – There are many versions of this quote attributed to many different people. Though we may never know the true version first spoken or who said it, one thing will always remain true and that is the truth of the statement itself.

To borrow and adapt a line from Michelle Obama, I can honestly say after this past week, for the first time in my life, I AM TRULY ASHAMED OF MY PRESIDENT AND MY GOVERNMENT.

First I would like to say this: How dare the President of the United States think he can speak for me alone much less two thirds of the American people when he stated; “While the core issues of the conflict must be negotiated, the basis of those negotiations is clear: a viable Palestine, a secure Israel. The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine. We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their full potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state”.

Every time Israel has given successions to a non-existent Palestinian state, it has been repaid with violence and betrayal by the Palestinian people, many times resulting in death of innocent Israeli citizens. To now demand Israel revert back to the 1967 borders is an invitation to the total destruction of Israel and its people. Since the days of the Trumann Administration, American Presidents have publicly backed and supported Israel. Our current President wants to kick Israel to the curb and place blame on the Israeli government for everything wrong in the Middle East. Obama received 70% of the Jewish vote and millions of dollars in support in 2008. For some reason I don’t think he will be getting the same support this time around.

Roughly two thirds of Americans were appalled by the president’s speech, me included. Is President Obama America’s equivalent of Arthur Neville Chamberlain, British Prime Minister May, 1937 to May, 1940 and arguably the world’s most spineless head of state. Does he desire peace though concessions? Does he actually believe Palestine will support Israel of they give up territory that never did belong to imaginary Palestinian state to begin with? History says Israel obtains the land in a war with Jordan. Why not demand Jordan to concede land for a Palestinian state? That would make more sense. Why must Israel pay?

Where are our elected leaders of congress on this? We know 90% of the democrats in congress only care about three things and in this order 1) their political survival, 2) amassing more power and 3) inflating their own bank accounts. I have never been a big fan of John Boehner and Eric Cantor, and from what I have seen over the past year, their spines combined do not equal that of Nancy Pelosi or Steny Hoyer and combined they do not equal half the amount of spine and guts of that of Dennis Kucinich. At least he will stand up on the house floor and speak and vote against the majority of democrats when he disagrees with them. Why are none of the members of either house of congress speaking out and saying the president may believe these things but the congress and the American people are standing with and support the rights of Israel to be a free and secure Middle East state and the President does not speak for us.

Yes, I AM ASHAMED of those in government who are supposed to be leaders, who were elected to be leaders and who are supposed represent me, you and America.