You have come to the very conclusion most people come to when venturing out of their own comfort zones, spending a little time in the Middle East, and divorce themselves of the idea that the CIA invented Jihad together with the bad Zios to make more money (that’s what educated people in Canada believe, I can prove it). I will read your Gaza take now, though may disagree with you on that one.
Hamas destroyed Gaza, not the IDF. None of the current destruction would have happened without what Hamas and the Palestinians did on 10/7. Their situation is entirely their own fault.
Also, while it’s not for everyone, learning to responsibly handle a firearm does not make one MAGA or right-wing. I took 25 or so hours of training back in 2017 when white nationalists felt empowered during the first Trump admin. I was always very anti-gun, until I took some classes (including about laws & regs, not just skills). I’m going back to re-up my training now that the far left has joined the Nazi right. One can still maintain principled stances against certain gun policies while learning about firearms as a tool of self-defense, even jf (hopefully) you’ll never need to use it.
Unfortunately it took 10/7 for many people to wake up. My first image of Israel when I arrived on a kibbutz in 1974, right after the war, was a father with his gun in one arm and his baby in the other. That should be the symbol of Israel.
My daughter had the same turn around as you. The lesson in all this is not to listen to the paid CIA mouthpieces and their newspapers.
The shadow of Vietnam looms large in America, even in 2025. That is definitely true. My personal opinion is that the impressions of Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan are not really based on facts, more on collective trauma from Vietnam. But that’s my opinion.
I was in middle school during the Gulf War in the early 90’s and there was a strong feeling in the air that this would be another Vietnam. There wasn’t much to compare the two but people’s anxiety. But that was enough. It still is.
HI Rivka, I like your stance, but as a Vietnam Vet, and retired Army, let me tell you that it is a horror that is suffered not by just Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, but also civilians caught in the middle of it.
How similar are the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to Vietnam?
Because I feel like the casualty costs are just totally dissimilar. Any casualty is a tragedy. But these wars in 20 years cost as many soldiers as people were killed on one day on 9/11. As far as civilians, that is awful. But pulling out with dishonor gets civilians killed also and then they are left under a brutal regime like Afghanistan. I am not advocating regime change, but America had a tiny skeletal force in Afghanistan with little to no soldier deaths that was keeping some aspect of a fragile peace. Now the Afghanis who translated for Americans are dead.
Vietnam had a draft. We have a volunteer army. Huge difference. Israel has a draft but Israelis are very much behind the war effort and see it as their survival, very different from Vietnam. But I am an armchair commentator. Your opinion is worth more.
Yay Jill!!! So good to hear from you again and that your trip proved educational on many levels. I’m very glad you’re home safe. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
I am very glad that you ventured out of your comfort zone to see what Hamas tried to do which was to render the State of Israel Judenrein You deserve much credit for rethinking your views on such issues
Before the Iranians commenced their missile attacks I thought that everyone should go on their own personal mission to Israel and tour the country but especially the Gaza Envelope and see what Hamas attempted to do
What so many in the west forget is that mandatory service isn’t that far in the past of numerous other countries. We’re lucky that we’ve experienced so much peace in general in Europe and the US - the US for far longer obviously. But Israel doesn’t have that privilege and the military is the only reason Israel is here today.
Here it is afternoon, and I have finally been able to sit down and read and respond to your piece. It is raining outside, so no garden, weeding, or outside work today. I read, in another piece, that you got to visit Israel, either as a volunteer or in a group. I am happy that you did. I do feel for you, that you had to experience war as a non-combatant, but actually, you were. You are a Jew in Israel. But also, you were able to see firsthand what goes on during all of this. I still have /friends and old neighbors who still live in Tyveria (Tiberias), Israel, and sent me many a message during the air raids at 2 am. So now, from what you wrote, I am able to see that you know a bit about what is going on. But, a question, did you witness the resilience of the Israeli people? All we want is to be left alone. is that too much to ask?
Good story and thanks for writing it, I would, with your permission like to share it with some folks.
This right here is IT! 🙌🙌 “There is no peace in the Middle East without a heavily armed Israel, at least not right now. It’s not a reality that gives me any joy. But peace doesn’t come from negotiating with terrorists and their sympathizers, or from appeasing kaffiyeh-clad useful idiots with no real understanding of the “cause” they believe they’ve taken on. It comes from having the capacity to fight back, to confront our enemies, to survive. If it comes down to us vs. them, I choose us.”
It takes leaving here, even for a short while, to realize, that while peace is in our hearts, we are alive only thanks to our weapons.
You have come to the very conclusion most people come to when venturing out of their own comfort zones, spending a little time in the Middle East, and divorce themselves of the idea that the CIA invented Jihad together with the bad Zios to make more money (that’s what educated people in Canada believe, I can prove it). I will read your Gaza take now, though may disagree with you on that one.
Hamas destroyed Gaza, not the IDF. None of the current destruction would have happened without what Hamas and the Palestinians did on 10/7. Their situation is entirely their own fault.
Also, while it’s not for everyone, learning to responsibly handle a firearm does not make one MAGA or right-wing. I took 25 or so hours of training back in 2017 when white nationalists felt empowered during the first Trump admin. I was always very anti-gun, until I took some classes (including about laws & regs, not just skills). I’m going back to re-up my training now that the far left has joined the Nazi right. One can still maintain principled stances against certain gun policies while learning about firearms as a tool of self-defense, even jf (hopefully) you’ll never need to use it.
Yes, they did
Unfortunately it took 10/7 for many people to wake up. My first image of Israel when I arrived on a kibbutz in 1974, right after the war, was a father with his gun in one arm and his baby in the other. That should be the symbol of Israel.
My daughter had the same turn around as you. The lesson in all this is not to listen to the paid CIA mouthpieces and their newspapers.
So glad that you're okay and thanks for sharing this first-hand experience.
The shadow of Vietnam looms large in America, even in 2025. That is definitely true. My personal opinion is that the impressions of Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan are not really based on facts, more on collective trauma from Vietnam. But that’s my opinion.
I was in middle school during the Gulf War in the early 90’s and there was a strong feeling in the air that this would be another Vietnam. There wasn’t much to compare the two but people’s anxiety. But that was enough. It still is.
HI Rivka, I like your stance, but as a Vietnam Vet, and retired Army, let me tell you that it is a horror that is suffered not by just Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, but also civilians caught in the middle of it.
How similar are the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to Vietnam?
Because I feel like the casualty costs are just totally dissimilar. Any casualty is a tragedy. But these wars in 20 years cost as many soldiers as people were killed on one day on 9/11. As far as civilians, that is awful. But pulling out with dishonor gets civilians killed also and then they are left under a brutal regime like Afghanistan. I am not advocating regime change, but America had a tiny skeletal force in Afghanistan with little to no soldier deaths that was keeping some aspect of a fragile peace. Now the Afghanis who translated for Americans are dead.
Vietnam had a draft. We have a volunteer army. Huge difference. Israel has a draft but Israelis are very much behind the war effort and see it as their survival, very different from Vietnam. But I am an armchair commentator. Your opinion is worth more.
Welcome to the world of those who have woken up and smelled the coffee!
Yay Jill!!! So good to hear from you again and that your trip proved educational on many levels. I’m very glad you’re home safe. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
I am very glad that you ventured out of your comfort zone to see what Hamas tried to do which was to render the State of Israel Judenrein You deserve much credit for rethinking your views on such issues
Before the Iranians commenced their missile attacks I thought that everyone should go on their own personal mission to Israel and tour the country but especially the Gaza Envelope and see what Hamas attempted to do
Temperate and well said.
What so many in the west forget is that mandatory service isn’t that far in the past of numerous other countries. We’re lucky that we’ve experienced so much peace in general in Europe and the US - the US for far longer obviously. But Israel doesn’t have that privilege and the military is the only reason Israel is here today.
Thank you, Jill. Well written and I couldn't agree more. Am Yisrael Chai. Stay safe and my heart is with you all.
Yes agree. Thank you
Afternoon, Jill.
Here it is afternoon, and I have finally been able to sit down and read and respond to your piece. It is raining outside, so no garden, weeding, or outside work today. I read, in another piece, that you got to visit Israel, either as a volunteer or in a group. I am happy that you did. I do feel for you, that you had to experience war as a non-combatant, but actually, you were. You are a Jew in Israel. But also, you were able to see firsthand what goes on during all of this. I still have /friends and old neighbors who still live in Tyveria (Tiberias), Israel, and sent me many a message during the air raids at 2 am. So now, from what you wrote, I am able to see that you know a bit about what is going on. But, a question, did you witness the resilience of the Israeli people? All we want is to be left alone. is that too much to ask?
Good story and thanks for writing it, I would, with your permission like to share it with some folks.
Thanks for sharing your journeys -- plural.
This right here is IT! 🙌🙌 “There is no peace in the Middle East without a heavily armed Israel, at least not right now. It’s not a reality that gives me any joy. But peace doesn’t come from negotiating with terrorists and their sympathizers, or from appeasing kaffiyeh-clad useful idiots with no real understanding of the “cause” they believe they’ve taken on. It comes from having the capacity to fight back, to confront our enemies, to survive. If it comes down to us vs. them, I choose us.”