8/23/24

Friday, August 23, 2024

In bed at 10:30 after Harris' Acceptance Speech, awake at 4:30, and up at about 5.  I let Lilly out at 5:45.  

Prednisone, day 103, 10. mg., day 10/28.  10 mg. at 5:10 + diclofenac on my knee, All Bran, berries, and banana. Morning meds plus 850 mg. Tylenol at 7:30.  Trulicity 3.0 + 0.75 + 0.75 mg. around 11 a.m.

Comments by David von Drehle on highlights of DNC: "I was impressed that Biden bravely delivered a speech so bad that he took off the table any possible thought that pushing him out was a mistake." and "That moment about Gaza was when I realized how much better she has gotten since her debut on the presidential campaign stage five years ago. And, indeed, one theme of this convention for me is that people can learn to be better speakers. . . A few people are born with that confidence, but several speakers this week have shown that it can be acquired through hard work and practice."  One thing that I have never understood about Joe Biden is how he could spend more than half a century on the public stage and never ever improve his public speaking ability.  Indeed, perhaps he got worse with age, culminating with his convention valedictory that Michelle Goldman called a "shouted speech."  Admission: I didn't watch it and perhaps I should but it's always painful for me to listen to Biden speak.

Will I come to appreciate Biden more as time moves on, as I have with LBJ?  I'm embarrassed now about how much I despised LBJ when I succeeded JFK as president in 1963.  Was it because I was bedazzled by Kennedy and Camelot and stunned by his assassination?  Was it because of a latent antipathy to LBJ as a Texan and a Southerner?  How could I have been so naive, so unwise, so addled that I voted for Goldwater in 1964?  Eventually, I came to loathe him (too strong a term?) because of Vietnam but slowly I came to appreciate all that he did in terms of domestic legislation, from the Civil Rights Acts to Medicare and Medicaid, the Head Start Program, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the War on Poverty, etc.  Biden has had some terrific accomplishments during his one term of office also, not the least of which is his Infrastructure Act.  Will my assessment of him improve with time?   How much time do I have left?

Lilly.  Geri picked up some meds for Lilly at the vet's this morning and brought home a printout of the charges for euthanizing and cremating her.  I have my normal defense mechanism reaction: emotional numbing.  Geri says she doesn't want to have to deal with an emergency with Lilly's health or her hind legs collapsing under her. I know she is not eager by any means to put her down, but she is more proactive and responsible than I am in dealing with this sad situation.  I need to think about this despite wanting to do anything but.  She is about 6 weeks away from her 15th birthday, very old and failing.  She has outlived her sister Olive by more than a year and I wonder about her other litter mates.  She's been such a presence in our home and in our lives for all these years it is hard to imagine life without her.  She is principally bonded with Geri which is no surprise since Geri has always been so caring with her, but she also has her special relationship with me, including wanting to climb on my lap when she gets frightened, wanting only me to open the door to let her out, and coming to me for her shoulder massages and her neck, ears, and head rubs.

The Stern Gang -> Likud -> Netanyahu, Smotrich, Gen-Gvir.  I watched an informative documentary on Avraham Stern and the Stern Gang on YouTube today.  Actually, I watched it twice.  The Stern Gang, a/k/a Lehi, was a fascist terrorist organization that tried, unsuccessfully, to establish an alliance with Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, to defeat the English, drive them out of the Palestine Mandate, and drive diaspora Jews to settle in Palestine.  It seems noteworthy to me that in 1977 Menahem Begin, past leader of Irgun, another terrorist group, was elected prime minister of Israel and that twice in the 1980s Yitzhak Shamir, a past leader of Lehi, was elected prime minister, both men becoming leaders of Likud, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu.

On December 4, 1948, the New York Times published this letter from Albert Einstein, Hannah Arendt, and several other prominent Jews:

Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.

The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin's political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.

Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin's behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement.

The public avowals of Begin's party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.

Attack on Arab Village

A shocking example was their behavior in the Arab village of Deir Yassin. This village, off the main roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the war, and had even fought off Arab bands who wanted to use the village as their base. On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES), terrorist bands attacked this peaceful village, which was not a military objective in the fighting, killed most of its inhabitants (240 men, women, and children) and kept a few of them alive to parade as captives through the streets of Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency sent a telegram of apology to King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan. But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre, publicized it widely, and invited all the foreign correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses and the general havoc at Deir Yassin.

The Deir Yassin incident exemplifies the character and actions of the Freedom Party.

Within the Jewish community they have preached an admixture of ultranationalism, religious mysticism, and racial superiority. Like other Fascist parties they have been used to break strikes, and have themselves pressed for the destruction of free trade unions. In their stead they have proposed corporate unions on the Italian Fascist model.

During the last years of sporadic anti-British violence, the IZL and Stern groups [Lehi] inaugurated a reign of terror in the Palestine Jewish community. Teachers were beaten up for speaking against them, adults were shot for not letting their children join them. By gangster methods, beatings, window-smashing, and wide-spread robberies, the terrorists intimidated the population and exacted a heavy tribute.

The people of the Freedom Party have had no part in the constructive achievements in Palestine. They have reclaimed no land, built no settlements, and only detracted from the Jewish defense activity. Their much-publicized immigration endeavors were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing in Fascist compatriots.

Discrepancies Seen

The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party. This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a "Leader State" is the goal.

In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Begin's efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin.

The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.

/s/

Nonetheless, less than 30 years later Begin would be elected prime minister of Israel.  Shamir would be so elected twice.  The State of Israel has a long history of supporting terrorism and oppression against those it views as enemies, both Jews and non-Jews.  Netanyahu, Smotrich, and Ben-Gvir are heirs to that history.  Yet Netanyahu has been invited to address joint sessions of the U. S. Congress 4 times.

Geri's left knee.  She saw Dr. Graf this afternoon: another tear in the meniscus, another surgery necessary, additional weeks of physical therapy, icing, etc.  The entire summer and autumn shot in terms of gardening, biking, walking Lilly, virtually all outdoor and indoor activity that requires bending the knee.  Very bad news.  All three of us with bad knees.