According to Substack site Lehigh Valley Left View, Gaza supporters plan to march on Bethlehem City Hall tonight to demand their City Council adopt a cease fire resolution of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. "At Bethlehem city council’s last meeting (on 2/20), dozens of speakers pleaded with the city council to pass a ceasefire resolution. Councilperson Bryan Callahan pushed for an immediate vote on a simple, one-sentence resolution, but council decided to take two weeks to articulate a longer, formal document, promising such a resolution would manifest on the agenda for this week’s March 5th meeting. With the deadline for altering that agenda having passed at the end of last week, we now know the city council has broken their promise. This makes the event Tuesday all the more important."
In another story, this group contends that democracy is nonexistent in the Lehigh Valley because the democratically elected representatives of the people in Allentown and Easton refused (1) a proposal to send social workers instead of police in response to 9-1-1 calls; and (2) a ceasefire resolution in Gaza.
"As bitter a pill as it may be, the reality is that we do not engage in politics on a terrain where the majority wins, where social benefit is the goal, or even a terrain where debate is encouraged. Instead, the wealthy (more precisely, the capitalists) consolidate power, organize society for their narrow benefit, and discourage discussion."
If they want to see democracy denied, they should try living in any Middle Eastern country outside of Israel.
"If they want to see democracy denied, they should try living in any Middle Eastern country outside of Israel."
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with your statement.
On another note it's funny how Mayor Willie always wants to blow hot air on topics the Democrats are 100% behind but in this case he's totally silent as there is as split on this topic within the democratic party and he's worried he might lose a vote depending on what he says. Guess he'll stick with trying to screw Lehigh University behind the scenes since they outbid him on the church property he wanted the City to purchase to promote himself.
The only way to broker a "cease fire" is for this group to travel to Gaza and convince Hamas to release remaining hostages, atone for atrocities committed towards hostages, and convince Hamas to stop committing acts of terror against Israel. Marching in Bethlehem and calling for "majority rule" is plain lazy and ultimately a simple world view. Bless their hearts. They must have been demonstrating or organizing instead of attending any US Government courses (social studies?) in high school. I do believe that Hamas would welcome this group with open arms as their most useful idiocy would be as human shields which Hamas needs to continue hiding amongst the civilian population.
ReplyDelete"On another note it's funny how Mayor Willie always wants to blow hot air on topics the Democrats are 100% behind but in this case he's totally silent as there is as split on this topic within the democratic party and he's worried he might lose a vote depending on what he says."
ReplyDeleteThis is false. Reynolds clearly stated he'd support a resolution that calls for peace, which is precisely what Easton did.
I just rejected a comment suggesting this group be stopped from assembling at city hall. They have a constitutionally protected right to do so. The First Amendment exists for the express purpose of allowing people to express opinions that many of us may find offensive.
ReplyDeleteThey absolutely have a right to assemble, as long as they don’t infringe on other people’s right to enter the building or drive down the street.
DeleteNot that I don't want peace in the middle east, they have been fighting for 2000 years over there. But the passing of an ordinance is not going to do crap. Do you really think the leaders of Israel and Palestine are going to pick up the paper tomorrow and see Bethlehem PA passed an ordinance we need to stop? There is got to be something else the city can spend its time and money on then this.
ReplyDeleteWorld peace..YES! A ceasefire resolution? Get real and go protest something your city has an impact on by their votes! This is a pure publicity stunt and it will have no impact on conditions..over there! Protest at your elected congressional persons offices and the presidential offices but this is just idiotic.
ReplyDeleteAbove..they want a..Resolution..not an ordinance. Big difference.
ReplyDeleteIf they really wanted to end this, all they would need is to accept resolution as stated….it is merely an opinion agreed upon by votes that, in reality, will have little if any bearing on the ceasefire….so roll the dice, appease these groups, pass the harmless statement and move on with relevant city business,
ReplyDeleteRelevant city business which has become the raising of fees fees and more fees. Mr Colon is a rubber stamp
DeleteThey should do what the City of Easton did last week. Bethlehem and Allentown should follow Easton and move on. That Lady in Easton would be the only no vote in all 3 cities.
ReplyDeleteI'm all in favor of a cease fire at City Hall.
ReplyDeleteJust not in Gaza.
imbeciles
"a proposal to send social workers instead of police in response to 9-1-1 calls"
ReplyDeleteYou'd have an easier time finding a practicing homosexual in Gaza, than a social worker who wants to go out on police calls
Remember when we all cracked wise on the dumbest of all answers among Miss America pageant contestants: "I support world peace." Yet, here we are.
ReplyDeleteI motion for a resolution calling for sunshine and moonbeams. Can I get a second?
From the associated Press --- Three days of negotiations with Hamas over a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages failed to achieve a breakthrough on Tuesday, Egyptian officials said, less than a week before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the informal deadline for a deal.
ReplyDeleteThe nearly five months of fighting left much of Gaza in ruins and created a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with many, especially in the devastated northern region, scrambling for food to survive.
“We must get more aid into Gaza,” U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday. “There’s no excuse. None.”
Aid groups have said it has become nearly impossible to deliver supplies within most of Gaza because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker an agreement in which Hamas would release up to 40 hostages in return for a six-week cease-fire, the release of some Palestinian prisoners and a major influx of aid to the isolated territory.
Israel is willing to have a cease fire for Ramadan ...But Hamas we are told has not accepted to agree to a cease-fir or is so much weakened that it can't guarantee that its members and supporters would honor a cease fire. Putting Israel behind the eight ball if it doesn't hold to a cease-fire unilaterally....
Again another sign that the world has become so smart or wisdom less that it causes all of us to be confused and dumb to the ways to achieve peace...
Maybe that nutjob on city council Kwiatek the Lunatic will march with these losers.
ReplyDeleteHow about protesting the 1000+ apartments planned for Bethlehem. You can't get around safely now, wait for that new traffic. Our city officials are killing the city.
ReplyDeleteDon’t these people have anything better to do? Protest this and protest that. Liberals are an angry bunch.
ReplyDeleteAre there any resolutions seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine? Asking for a friend.
ReplyDeleteNut jobs- every last one of them. 🤪
ReplyDeleteYeah, I’ll make sure to relay the message to Hamas about freeing white Jewish hostages while I step around innocent brown Palestinian children that were blown in half with “Made in USA” missles.
ReplyDeleteI’ll see what they say…
This is NOT a war. This is genocide.
If you have a problem with the made in the USA missiles being used, here’s a solution for you….. move out of the USA
Delete"This is NOT a war. This is genocide."
ReplyDeleteSaid a person with a fat view of history.
Innocents die in every war. It's unavoidable. What is avoidable is STARTING the damn thing.
Hamas=FAFO. Very simple.