Just finished posting my latest article, "Reverend Al's Side Show", on my website. I'm quite proud of this one, since much of what it talks about happened during the times I lived in New York.

Here's a little sample:

I really had no intention of watching the Democratic love fest. I have, for many years, been eager to hear what the candidates from both sides have to say about their vision for the future. I used to really enjoy the roll call of the states. It was truly a grand celebration of America and democracy.

But, this year, I wanted none of it. It's not that I am so "Republican" that I can't stand the sight of a Democrat. Far from it. I actually listened to Illinois State-Senator Barack Obama. I realize he could be my Senator in November and I wondered if he would "toe the line" of the party platform, or if he would be his own man and say what he believes. I was quite pleased to see that, although he supports John Kerry, he does cautiously. He is not a "Kennedy" liberal (as in Ted - not JFK, who was more like today's Republican than a Democrat).

I could spend all night talking about the hypocrisy of the grand Reverend, but it just isn't worth it. He was a joke candidate who never should have been considered for speaking at the convention, much less a prime-time appearance.

It speaks volumes about the lack of ethics that permeate the Democratic Party.

As promised, here is a link to a very funny short film (about 2 minutes long) from Hoover Studios. Regardless of party affiliation, you will enjoy it (it makes fun of both candidates equally). Again, thanks Ethan!

http://jibjab.hoverstudios.com/mirror.htm

I saw that Steve Beurlein, of the Denver Broncos, retired. Actually, he signed with Carolina recently so he could go out as a Panther. For those of you who are Cowboy fans, it's a trip down memory lane. Beurlein, of course, was part of the puzzle, as a backup quarterback for Troy Aikman, at the beginning of their run of championships, in the early '90s.

In fact, when Aikman got injured during the Redskin game (when the 'Boys snapped the 'Skins 11 game win streak), Beurlein took over and led them to the playoffs for the fist time in 6 years. He was a big reason the team improved so dramatically in so short a time.

Many times in the last 3-4 years, I would loved to have Beurlein back, in place of all the other garbage the Cowboys threw out there.

Tomorrow, in honor of the Democratic Convention (aka "Futilities of the Futile"), I will post a little humor, sent to me by my friend, Ethan Miner (thanks, Dr. E). It's a pretty funny movie file that's about a minute or two long. Stay tuned.

On a far more somber note, I just came back from seeing a presentation of "Relentless: The struggle for peace in the Middle East". It is an extremely powerful film, created by Honest Reporting.   If you are interested, you can check out the preview. I strongly recommend the film.

Today is the anniversary of the destruction of both Jewish Temples, in Jerusalem. Ironically, on this date in history, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella exiled the Jews from Spain (in 1492). This, of course, led to further persecution through the Spanish Inquisition. Furthermore, on this date (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av - also known as Tisha B'Av), in 1914, Germany declared war on Russia, thus beginning World War I. As we all know, that event set the stage for the upcoming Holocaust.

Clearly, this is a day of mourning and reflection throughout the Jewish world.

So, instead, I am posting a link to a vital article, from the Jewish World Review and written by Dennis Prager:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0704/prager_israel_arab_stats.php3

For those of you who are familiar with the Israel-Arab issues, this will sound a little familiar. However, I believe, especially on this day, that hearing it again can only fortify the truth. Please read it.

Perfect
Alanis Morissette

Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face

Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder

How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet

Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud

I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him, compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem...why are you crying

Be a good boy
Push a little harder now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect

Just finished my latest article, "Arafat's Old Clothes." It was motivated by an article I read on James Taranto's "Best of the Web," from the Wall Street Journal. Here's a little sample:

Yasir Arafat is at it again. Not content to just wither away, the former Nobel Prize winner has come up with a new criticism of the State of Israel.

Increased cancer rates.

That’s right. It’s not enough that Zionists have stolen their land, killed their babies (for their blood) and humiliated a billion Moslems, by having the audacity to be alive, now Israeli’s are subjected to the ridiculous charge that their soldiers are dumping depleted-uranium bullets in to the water supplies in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

According to the Washington Times, Arafat complained, "They have caused cancer that is like Hiroshima and Nagasaki. America could not find uranium in Iraq, but we have found it here in Palestine — and the Israelis are using it to kill our people."

The whole article can be read a on my home page.

I am no longer even lightly amused by the ignorance portrayed by the world, in regards to Israel and Arafat. The man is responsible for the deaths of more Jews than anyone, except Hitler, in the last 100 years, yet he is still considered a "World leader." It's enough to make you sick.

Rabbi Tzali Freedman, from Oak Park, MI, sent me the following article. It is a wonderful lesson, written by the great Victor Davis Hanson, on how history really does repeat itself, and will continue to do so, if we do not learn from it. Here's a brief sample:

About this time 60 years ago, six weeks after the Normandy beach landings, Americans were dying in droves in France. We think of the 76-day Normandy campaign of summer and autumn 1944 as an astounding American success — and indeed it was, as Anglo-American forces cleared much of France of its Nazi occupiers in less than three months. But the outcome was not at all preordained, and more often was the stuff of great tragedy. Blunders were daily occurrences — resulting in 2,500 Allied casualties a day. In any average three-day period, more were killed, wounded, or missing than there have been in over a year in Iraq.

Pre-invasion intelligence — despite ULTRA and a variety of brilliant analysts who had done so well to facilitate our amphibious landings — had no idea of what war in the hedgerows would be like. How can you spend months spying out everything from beach sand to tidal currents and not invest a second into investigating the nature of the tank terrain a few miles from the beach? The horrific result was that the Allies were utterly unprepared for the disaster to come — and died by the thousands in the boscage of June and July.

You can read the entire article -- HERE.

I wish everyone who has an opinion of our conflict in Iraq, and the rest of the world, could read this. Thanks, Tzali!

***********************************************************************************

Spoke to the doctor yesterday (saw him Thursday). He gave me a clean bill of health - relatively speaking - and the OK to have surgery on my stomach (hernia - which makes me look 8 months pregnant).
 
Also, my kidney's seem to be stable, but I am still anemic, although this has improved a bit as well.
 
The doctor also talked to me about the cause of my organ rejection in September. Apparently, it was much worse than I thought. He said that if I had not gone in to see him, when I did (well, actually, I went to the ER), the damage to my heart would have been irreversible. As it was, the kidney malfunction was caused by the rejection. According to Dr. Anderson, the rejection was caused by my medical team in New York. They decided I only needed one type of anti-rejection medication (Gengraf), after 6 months. However, many doctors, including Dr. Anderson, disagree. The NY team took me off CellCept, in June 2003.
 
However, upon discovering the rejection, Dr. Anderson immediately put me back on it.

I saw this last evening and decided to post it. Normally, I take what I read from Newsmax.com with a grain of salt. After all, they're more right-wing than I am. However, when it comes to Israel, any news I read, good or bad, causes me to take notice.  

Israel Ready to Strike Iran's Nuclear Facilities  

Too many Washington sources are telling us this, so it may be imminent. Israel is set to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, fearing that the Islamic regime will use atomic weapons on the Jewish state. Israel has long assumed the right of pre-emption -- that is, the right to attack and even make war with Arab states that are developing nuclear weapons. "They are ready to go," a top former American diplomat with close ties to Israel tells a source close to NewsMax.

 
There have been mutterings that time is short and Israel will do to Iran what it did to Iraq in 1981. During that year, Israeli bombers struck Iraq's Osirak nuclear power plant -- and in seconds destroyed Iraq's ability make nuclear bombs. Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin came under fierce criticism worldwide, but at home he became a hero to his people. Israel's current prime minister, Ariel Sharon, no doubt shares Begin's determination that "never again" will a Holocaust be perpetrated against the Jewish people.
 
Stopping Iran's nuclear program has always been at the top of Israel's "to-do" list. Before Sept. 11, 2001 there were scattered reports that Israel was preparing to strike Iranian targets. Clearly, Iran today is much more advanced in its weapons program.
 
One source told NewsMax that Israel is not sure it can destroy Iran's nuclear facilities with aerial bombing alone and may need to use special ops forces on the ground. Others suggest that Israel will deploy one of its submarines to the Persian Gulf and fire cruise missiles at key targets. The U.S. believes that Iran has pursued a nuclear weapon for the past 18 years. In recent years, the Iranians have given only lip service to the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  
 
Israel does not believe that oil-rich Iran is interested in building a peaceful atomic program solely for domestic energy needs. And Israel has become frustrated with the U.N.'s inability to get Iran to comply. Last week, Israeli officials were miffed after the head of the IAEA, Mohammed Elbaradei visited Israel and demanded that Israel give up its nuclear arsenal.
 
An attack by Israel is fraught with worries. How would Iran retaliate? Could the attack spark a regional war -- or worse? And could the U.S., an ally of Israel, become a target as well? An Israeli attack before November may present other problems -- and impact President Bush's re-election effort.
 
One Washington security expert suggested the Iranians might simply blockade the Straits of Hormuz and cut the world off from Middle Eastern oil for a short period. A more likely scenario would be Iran using biological and chemical weapons against Israel.

It makes you wonder. Does Israel make the first move, or wait it out. If history is any indication (and it often is - although too many people are fooled otherwise), Israel will not concern itself with the U.S. elections and will do whatever it needs to do in order to protect herself.  
 
However, I'm not certain that Iran is ready to take on Israel, given their strong support in the Bush Administration. A Kerry presidency worries me greatly, in regards to the Middle East. Regardless of his recent comments (as opposed to his earlier comments), I do not believe the situation will improve under Kerry. For the first time in almost 20 years, the United States is feared. We may not be liked, but we aren't messed with so easily.  
 
I would rather be strong and hated than weak and well-liked. In the history of the Jewish people, weakness is equated with death. I truly hope that when an Israeli Prime Minister, be it Sharon or someone else, says "Never Again", he understands its importance.

Nether Lands
by Dan Fogelberg
 
High on this mountain
The clouds down below
I'm feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I'll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky
I want a lover
I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the
Things that I never have done.
 
Sunny bright mornings
And pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone
Now, I'm learning to fly
And this freedom is like
Nothing that I've ever known
I've seen the bottom
And I've been on top
But mostly I've lived in between
And where do you go
When you get to the end ofyour dream?
 
Off in the nether lands
I heard a sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings
And deep in my brain
I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings
Anthems to glory and
Anthems to love and
Hymns filled with early delight
Like the songs that the darkness
Composes to worship the light.
 
Once in a vision
I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road
My choices were clear
Yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go
One road was simple
Acceptance of life
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release.

 
This was posted by someone on the America Fans site (thanks Red Oak).
 
John Kerry Fan
 
A teacher in a small Vermont town asks her class how many of them are John Kerry fans. Not really knowing what a John Kerry fan is, but wanting to be liked by the teacher, all the kids raise their hands except one boy.
 
The teacher asks Timmy why he has decided to be different.
 
Timmy says, "I'm not a John Kerry fan."
 
The teacher says, "Why aren't you a John Kerry fan?" Timmy says, "I'm a George Bush fan."
 
The teacher asks why he's a George Bush fan.
 
The boy says, "Well my Mom's a George Bush fan and Dad's a George Bush fan, so I'm a George Bush fan." The teacher is kind of angry, because this is Vermont, so she asks, "What if your Mom was a moron and your Dad was an idiot, what would that make you?"
 
Timmy says, "That would make me a John Kerry fan."

Saw most of the All-Star game last night. Nice to see that the Rangers did not embarrass themselves. For the second year in a row, they played a significant role in the outcome. Wow, it's only taken 32 years!

********

Y'know, I'm a big fan of Billy Bob Thornton. I really am. But Bad Santa was really bad. I just got it through Netflix. What a waste of time.

********

So, Whoopie Goldberg lost her gig with Weight Watchers for her profanity-laced tirade against President Bush. I have no doubt she will politicize this as just another tactic by the current administration, as an affront to free speech.

When will the loony left realize that "freedom of speech" has two sides to it. Yes, she has the right to say whatever she wants. However, Weight Watchers has the right to not want her as a spokesperson. Freedom to speak as one wants does not the trump the freedom to not want to hear it.

********

Some guy in Minneapolis finally got fed up with airport screeners. You know these people. They're the ones whose jobs are to stop anyone who looks suspicious - no wait - they can't do that. That would be racially profiling. I always wondered what an airport screener would do when confronted by someone from a terrorist-sponsoring country. I mean, it's got to be on his/her mind that the passenger "fits the mold", so to speak. But if he/she singles the passenger out, he would be accused of profiling.

Political correctness should only go so far. If we are worried about violating the rights of certain people, then we should be singling out everyone. If it meant I would have to be at the airport 5-10 minutes earlier, so be it.

Anyway, this one guy, as the screener moved his wand over his waist, decided that if the screener wanted to see something, he would show it to him. His bail for the indecent exposure violation was set at $300.

********

In Florida, a 52-year-old man took his own life after he was charged with having sex with a 12-year-old boy. He blamed the local newspapers for his suicide, saying in his suicide note, "it is disturbing when an irresponsible press causes the families of the accused to suffer so much hurt and humiliation -- all in the name of selling newspapers and advertisement."

While I have a very difficult time feeling sorry for this man, the truth is that the press often convicts a person prior to any lawful conviction. In this case, this man appears to be guilty (although I admit to having no idea), but in many, many other cases, there have been a trail of broken spirits, marriages and lives, due to the over-zealous press.

Innocent people do not need to go through this. At least not without compensation, in dollars and print.

I just finished posting my latest article, "Scapegoats for Peace", on my website. Here's a preview:

Tell me again, why does Israel want to give up the Gaza?

I have a hard time believing it will do anything except encourage more terror attacks and show the Arabs that Israel is weak.

Is there anyone who believes that the Arabs will not use this land for anything but a closer base to reach Israeli cities?

According to Sky News, children, as young as ten years old, are being trained in killing Jews.

It's shorter than most of my past articles, but meaningful. Give it a look, and tell me what you think.

By the way, thanks for all the guestbook comments. If you haven't yet, drop me a line in the guestbook and tell me who you are.

The Dance
by Garth Brooks

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance

Yesterday was a milestone day. Because I was running low on Trazadone (the meds I take for sleeping - after I woke from my coma), I decided to ration it. I took only 50mg Tuesday and Wednesday night. Last night, I just didn't take it at all. It took a little while to fall asleep, but I eventually did. Since I started decreasing the dosage, I've only been sleeping an average of 4-5 hours a night. But I am refreshed and I'd prefer to not have to take it. I think I'm still improving neurologically, and that's why I've been able to wean off of it.

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The true definition of a liberal - The ability to create something from nothing, and then blame comeone else for the mess it created.

I suppose that's why term "being liberal with the truth comes from."

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Is it me? Or does it seem that the more John Kerry is in the news, the more his poll numbers drop. He announces John Edwards as his running mate, and the next day, he falls in the polls.

New Kerry slogan, "Hiding For a Better tomorrow."

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Saw in the papers that the Sharon Government was closing a number of Yeshiva's (Jewish schools) in the Gaza. I know all about the arguments for and against withdrawal, but I can't help be saddened by the notion that in these Yeshiva's, love, honesty and the value of life are taught, with a deep respect for all of G-d's creations. In place will, no doubt, be Arab institutions where the curriculum is hate, death and jihad.

Makes you wonder who's side Sharon is on. His people's? Or his legacy? Sounds almost Clintonian.

Well, I finally finished part 5 of my transplant story. It took a lot longer than I expected, as it kept getting longer and longer. It is by far the most personal and difficult chapter I have written, but it was necessary for me to write it. It looks as though there will be at least 2-3 chapters still to write. My goal is to finish them and then move on to another project, writing short stories. But more on that later.

I want to thank all the people who are spoken of in this chapter. I don't think I left anyone out, but I blame my stroke if I did, and I am sorry. The timeline for this chapter was from October 17, 2002 - November 14, 2002, the time from my transplant until my discharge.

I appreciate all the guestbook entries very much and would love to hear from ALL of you. Email me or sign the book.

Well, I'm spent for now. Thanks for reading.

There is nothing better than hearing from a friend who I haven't spoken to in over 15 years. Just hearing her voice again made it feel as if it were just yesterday. There are so many people I remember (mostly fondly), who I have wanted to reconnect with. As I've stated before, you just don't fully appreciate how little time we have on this planet, and it's a crime to forget about those who played a part in your life.

Since my heart attack/coma/stroke/transplant, I have renewed relationships with a number of people, both here and overseas, and truly believe this was one of the best things to have come out of my ordeal. I hope it doesn't end there. Hearing from this particular friend meant a lot to me. While it will be pretty much once-a-year greeting kind of relationship from here on out, it's better than once-in-15-years. For that, I thank her.

I am almost done with Part 5 of my transplant story. This one is by far, the longest so far. The time frame is from my transplant until my discharge from Montefiore Hospital. It was only four weeks, but there was a lifetime of circumstances around it. I have spent the better part of the holiday weekend writing it. Hopefully, it will be posted tonight or tomorrow on my website.

We went to a fireworks show in Skokie, Sunday night. It was beautiful. Lots of room and parking. I'll have to remember to bring some chairs and picnic dinner with us next year (oops).

We say Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban again, as well as Miracle, on pay-per-view. For those who haven't seen it, Miracle is about the stunning hockey victory by the United States against the Soviet Union, in the 1980 Winter Olympics. I recommend it.

There is nothing better than hearing from a friend who I haven't spoken to in over 15 years. Just hearing her voice again made it feel as if it were just yesterday. There are so many people I remember (mostly fondly), who I have wanted to reconnect with. As I've stated before, you just don't fully appreciate how little time we have on this planet, and it's a crime to forget about those who played a part in your life.

Since my heart attack/coma/stroke/transplant, I have renewed relationships with a number of people, both here and overseas, and truly believe this was one of the best things to have come out of my ordeal. I hope it doesn't end there. Hearing from this particular friend meant a lot to me. While it will be pretty much once-a-year greeting kind of relationship from here on out, it's better than once-in-15-years. For that, I thank her.

I am almost done with Part 5 of my transplant story. This one is by far, the longest so far. The time frame is from my transplant until my discharge from Montefiore Hospital. It was only four weeks, but there was a lifetime of circumstances around it. I have spent the better part of the holiday weekend writing it. Hopefully, it will be posted tonight or tomorrow on my website.

We went to a fireworks show in Skokie, Sunday night. It was beautiful. Lots of room and parking. I'll have to remember to bring some chairs and picnic dinner with us next year (oops).

We say Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban again, as well as Miracle, on pay-per-view. For those who haven't seen it, Miracle is about the stunning hockey victory by the United States against the Soviet Union, in the 1980 Winter Olympics. I recommend it.

Downbound Train
by Bruce Springsteen

I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going mister in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does is rain
Don't you feel like you're a rider on a downbound train

She just said "Joe I gotta go
We had it once we ain't got it any more"
She packed her bags left me behind
She bought a ticket on the Central Line
Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining
I feel her kiss in the misty rain
And I feel like I'm a rider on a downbound train

Last night I heard your voice
You were crying, crying, you were so alone
You said your love had never died
You were waiting for me at home
Put on my jacket, I ran through the woods
I ran till I thought my chest would explode
There in the clearing, beyond the highway
In the moonlight, our wedding house shone
I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door
My head pounding hard, up the stairs I climbed
The room was dark, our bed was empty
Then I heard that long whistle whine
And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried

Now I swing a sledge hammer on a railroad gang
Knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain
Now don't it feel like you're a rider on a downbound train

I received the following in an email, from my friend, Ethan (thanks, Dr. E.)


The following letter was written to the President of Rutgers
State University by an Israeli citizen after reading her
published comments on the on the Israeli/Palestinian situation !!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ms. Kates,

I think you are a remarkable woman.

You are neither an Arab nor a Jew, you do not study the Middle East,
or any associated subject, and correct me if I am wrong, you have
never visited this region. Therefore I am somewhat astounded at your
expertise and to your comments on Israel being an "Apartheid" state.

I have lived in Israel for many years and I would be delighted to take
you on a little virtual tour of our country. Let me first give you a
couple of minor points. Israel occupies 0.1% of the land mass of the
Middle East and it is the only Jewish state, not only in this region,
surrounded as we are by 22 Arab states, but in the world.

Let us begin your virtual tour!!
You have already been through immigration at Tel Aviv Airport with your
boyfriend, whom we shall call Ken. You will have filled out a visitors
form. This form will not ask you, as it will in many of the countries
that surround us, what is your religion, and it will certainly not ask
you, as they do in Saudi Arabia, for a "certificate of religion".

The day is Sunday! You will want to attend a church service. No problem
in the Apartheid State of Israel. We tolerate and freely allow worship
for all religions. This is more than can be said for nearly all of the
surrounding 22 Arab nations. In fact many of them would not even have
a single church, let alone a synagogue.

After a lovely service you and Ken would head for a leisurely lunch,
maybe at one of the lovely beach front restaurants in Tel Aviv. You
would most likely have returned to your hotel and put on a very casual
outfit, as fitting the very hot Israeli summers. This could be a pair
of shorts and a tight fitting skimpy t shirt. No problem in the
Apartheid state of Israel. In Israel we allow freedom of dress,
especially for women, who are not made to wear bulky long robes, a
veil to cover their face, and, wouldn't it be a pity if you had to
cover that lovely coiffed hairdo, as you would probably have to in
most of the surrounding 22 Arab states.

During lunch Ken could gaze lovingly into your heavily painted eyes,
complete with a good application of black mascara. He would be free to
lean across and kiss your lips, finely painted with lip iner, 2 shades
of burgundy lipstick and gloss. People would probably think you were
in love, especially as Ken has proudly displayed a good wine on the
table. Public displays of affection and consuming alcohol in the
Apartheid state of Israel is nothing unusual and its not even scorned
upon. That's more than can be said for most of the surrounding 22 Arab
states, where your glossy lips would be considered whorish and alcohol
is forbidden. But, Ken being a little flirtatious pinched one of the
young waitresses while you went to reapply your lipstick. It was
harmless and luckily for the young girl in the Apartheid State of
Israel, her father and 6 brothers will not take her to the family pool
in the evening and drown her, as they would in some of the surrounding
22 Arab states.

After lunch you and Ken drive around. You are even allowed to drive.
It is not forbidden in Israel. You stumble across a kindergarten. The
children are running around and enjoying themselves. They are not made
to sit for hours reciting by rote, pages of meaningless text from
religious books. Their games are in the sand pit or on the swings.
They are not infested with hate or told the only honor to their lives
will be in death. In the apartheid state of Israel we rejoice in life
and living. We do not promote murder and violence by brainwashing our
children with hatred, as they do in many of the surrounding 22 Arab
states. By the end of the day you and Ken come across a political
rally. Many thousands have turned up. In the apartheid State of Israel,
all the citizens, men, women, Jew, Arab and Christian are free to vote.
We are allowed to openly criticize the government and our media,
including the T.V. and newspapers, offer, without prejudice, a choice
of opinions. Every person has the right to openly agree or condemn the
government. This can certainly not be said for most of the surrounding
22 Arab states, ruled as they are by oppressive dictators, where any
dissent is met with dire consequences. Of course most of the 22
surrounding Arab countries can't offer you a good old fashioned
homicide bombing as a tourist attraction. This can only happen in the
apartheid state of Israel, surrounded as we are, by so many hostile
countries, determined, as you are to wipe us of the face of the earth.
Where else can you get on a crowded bus, often packed with children and
come face to face with some poor, plighted Palestinian ghoul who thinks
life isn't very jolly, having been fed and brainwashed by evil
organizations like Hamas, to believe that the only way forward is to
murder innocent people. This dehumanized creature will have been fed
on a 24/7 diet of lies and hate incitement, he will have been coaxed
with the reward of 72 vestal virgins waiting for him in Paradise. His
demonic mother will be dancing in the street waving her $10,000 check.
While Israelis are scraping their dead children off the sidewalks,
the Palestinians will be lighting fireworks and dancing in the street,
to honor this mass murderer as a hero, often to their children who
are being systematically nurtured to be the next generation of
mass murderers.

The apartheid state of Israel. Forgive me Ms. Kates but you seem
somewhat confused as to the meaning of the word. It usually refers to
segregation. Its funny isn't it that a large section of the Jews who
live in this apartheid state had to flee for their lives from nearly
all of the surrounding 22 Arab states. These countries not only have
no tolerance for Jews, they refer to anyone who is not a Moslem as an
Infidel and an enemy. I find it somewhat curious that you find nothing
"apartheid" about these countries. Maybe you should do a project on
how many churches there are in Saudi Arabia. Let me help you - there
are none. It would not be tolerated.

I am proud to live in this apartheid state. In 55 years we have become
one of the most technologically advanced nations on this planet, with
many innovations that have made Israel a true leader in many fields.
It is tragic that we have to live in a region that feels threatened
by our achievements. Israel is not an apartheid state and it is
appalling that a so-called intelligent and thinking person like you
can go around finding feeble excuses for mass murder. Ms. Kates there
is no justification, in any society, for getting on a crowded bus,
often packed with children, detonating an explosive belt, often packed
with nails and shrapnel and destroying innocent lives. This is not a
freedom fighter, or a person seeking justice, but a chronically and
irreversibly evil human being.

I can only assume that one day in the near future Ms. Kates, you will
chip off that heavy layer of make up and discover your conscience.

-- David