Bill Kassel's Blog

Occasional reflections on things that come into my mind — plus links to episodes of my radio show / podcast, “Free Expression”

Ideology & Politics

Israel Standing Alone

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DRUNK ON ANTI-SEMITISM
THE WORLD MUST SOBER UP

I’ve only ever posted the work of guest writers on a couple of occasions, when I thought what they had to say was better expressed than anything I would have contributed at the moment. This is such an occasion.

I’ve interviewed Jonathan Feldstein on my radio show, “Free Expression.”  He’s president of the Genesis 123 Foundation, an international ministry that works to promote relations between Christians and Jews.

Jonathan has been living through Israel’s war against the Hamas terrorist organization that had controlled Gaza, turning it into a base for murderous assault on the world’s only Jewish state. He has two members of the Israel Defense Force in his immediate family, so he’s directly touched by the action, as well as by the global reaction to this struggle for survival of what Christians call the Holy Land.

His thoughts, distributed to Genesis 123 supporters around the world, are worth contemplating at this pivotal moment…

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Somebody Really Hates You

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THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
REVEALS LEFTIST ANIMOSITY

An article on Axios puts forth the proposition that a lot of the divisiveness we see in America today is concocted (or at least magnified) by the media, and doesn’t necessarily reflect actual conditions on the ground. Citing a recent poll, the piece asserts that there’s…

“compelling evidence we’ve been trapped in a reality distortion bubble — social media, cable TV and tribal political wars — long enough to warp our view of the reality around us.

“Yes, deep divisions exist on some topics. But on almost every topic of monthly outrage, it’s a fringe view … amplified by the loudest voices….”

I suppose I should take comfort in that. After all, I don’t want to see the country torn apart by fellow citizens seething with rage.

Still, I keep coming across all these memes on Facebook and other social networks.

Most of the graphics are probably created by paid web designers beavering away with their artificial intelligence software in politically subsidized art shops.

But the images get shared and re-linked by real live people, some of whom are my online “friends.”

It’s obvious that decisionmakers on the Left have committed themselves to divisiveness as a strategy — specifically to churning out an endless stream of insults toward Trump supporters.

Well, that’s to be expected, I guess. Leftists have no coherent theory of governance to offer, and so rarely rise above the petty (or even the stupid).

Trouble is, ordinary folks are eagerly taking the bait.

I’ve observed the most demeaning claims over the past few elections (such as the meme above, which appeared during the 2020 race). And in this current campaign, the anti-Trump cabal appears to be doubling down.

Whether or not current divisiveness is truly national, somebody really hates you. And their sentiments are infectious.

Here are a few examples…

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Faith & The Donald

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TRUMP’S SUPPORT IS BASED
ON GUTS AND PRACTICALITY

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Christian Nationalism is the big media bugaboo just now. Secular news people (the word, “secular,” covers most people in the journalistic trades) are convinced that, should Donald Trump return to the White House, compulsory church attendance and a new Inquisition will surely follow.

How could it be otherwise, when he appears to have a lock on the hearts — and votes — of most people with serious faith commitment, especially Evangelicals?

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Kamala 2.0

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THE REAL ELECTION PLAN
IS FINALLY LEAKING OUT

The alley behind Chick-fil-A was dark and deserted at this time of night. Kind of chilly as well. But my secret informant had called to set up a meeting.

I wasn’t sure where he got his information, and not all of it was good. Still, he’d occasionally provided a few promising leads.

Anyway, here he stood again, wearing the knitted scarf he always kept wrapped around his face during our nocturnal sessions.

“I’m glad you could come,” he whispered in his usual furtive manner. “I’ve got a scoop for you, and it’s a bombshell.”

“Everything gets called a ‘bombshell’ these days,” I said. “Have you seen the Internet lately?”

“Forget that. This is the real deal.”

I was skeptical, but what the hell — I was already here. “Okay. What’s the story?” I asked.

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What Is a Jew?

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REACTIONS TO MY LAST POST
REFLECT TODAY’S ATMOSPHERE

Throughout my years of writing this blog I’ve been struck by the surprising ways in which readers respond to my posts.

Frequently they’ll focus on some secondary point I’ve made. Or they’ll offer an elaborate comment on a line I had considered a mere throwaway. Often they’ll bring an entirely unexpected view to the topic under discussion.

There’s very little predictability to how people react.

Response to my recent post about anti-Semitism has revealed that some folks have serious questions about what I would have considered a basic and obvious human reality. They aren’t sure that there’s any such thing as Jews, especially in Israel, and if there are Jews, what makes them such.

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Jews

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YOU CAN’T BE A CHRISTIAN AND
HATE OUR LORD’S OWN PEOPLE

Right at the start I’ll confess to having a great affinity for Jews.

I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia with a large Jewish population. Many of my friends were Jewish. When I got married, my best man was a Jew.

Now I live in the Midwest, a region which the late comic genius, Robin Williams, described as “mondo goyim” (gentile world). I miss the Jewish spirit I knew so well on the East Coast: that self-deprecating Jewish wit, that certain cadence of speech, that strong sense of Jewish community.

Ah yes, Jewish community.

There’s the heart of the matter.

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On the Ground in Israel

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HOW THE TERRORIST ATTACKS
TOUCHED AN ISRAELI FAMILY

In a special edition of “Free Expression” I interview Jonathan Feldstein, whose Genesis 123 Foundation works to strengthen relations between Jews and Christians.

Jonathan and his family live south of Jerusalem near the border with Gaza. Both his son and his son-in-law serve in the Israel Defense Force.

Three days after the terrorist attacks, Jonathan shared with me how Hamas’ atrocities have shaken the lives of ordinary Israeli citizens.

Take a few minutes and listen to this moving reflection from a man who has dedicated his life to interfaith understanding and cooperation.

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Da Doo Run Run

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THE LEFT HAS DEFINITELY
LOST ITS CREATIVE EDGE

Back in the 1960s and ’70s it was often said that the Left had all the talent. This was especially so when it came to political satire in mainstream entertainment.

Consider George Carlin, the Smothers Brothers, or the first couple of seasons on “Saturday Night Live.” Even “That Was the Week that Was,” a largely forgotten but highly influential weekly comedic review of the news. (Premiered in England and recreated on American TV, it introduced David Frost to the U.S. audience.)

Things are different now. You have only to compare the ideological drivel perpetrated by current late-night hosts with the monologues and sketches of Johnny Carson, who reigned as King of Late Night for 30 years.

Carson’s barbs were gentle, and not every one hit its mark. But what he delivered was topical humor with a liberal slant. And it worked.

These days, TV personalities like Stephen Colbert and his legion of wannabe imitators have pretty much given up on comedy in favor of leftist sermonizing. The funniest liberal on TV these days is Bill Maher, who’s visibly in the process of becoming conservative.

I thought about all this recently when I came across a Facebook post attempting to satirize Florida Governor and would-be presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. It linked to a video that was apparently from the Disney organization.

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