Israel & Palestine: A Partial Perspective Will Not Lead to Peace

When it comes to disagreements, the only way to solve them is if both/all parties are able to come to the table and at least try to understand the other’s perspective. Without that willingness, any agreements are meaningless.

In regards to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, there are fingers being pointed on both sides. With all of this noise, destruction, and bloodshed, peace is as far away as it ever was.

The loss of life on both sides is a pain that all of us should feel. Part of the problem is the narrative coming from the media. Two WNYC shows have hosted guests talking about the Palestinian point of view: The Brian Lehrer Show and Notes from America.

While today’s episode of The Brian Lehrer Show was obviously one-sided, Notes from America was sadly deceiving. The Jewish speaker is a member of Jewish Voices for Peace. As far as I am concerned, this organization is excusing the hatred and murder that Hamas has incited. That is not to say that one side is all good and another is all bad. There are too many shades of grey that are either ignored or forgotten.

If the producers of Notes from America had invited Noa Tishby or Rudy Rochman, that would have been one thing. But the “debate” (if you want to call it that), was nothing more than the standard Israeli hate fest.

You can’t mourn for dead Jews while defending those who are trying to kill more. My monologue on the gaslighting of Israelis and the Jewish community by the international community in response to the #HamasMassacre for @iltvnews: pic.twitter.com/YIs2Ex3sX4

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) October 15, 2023

May the memories of all those killed be a blessing.

P.S. Cindy Flash was one of the many American Jews who were killed by the invaders. She was, in an ironic twist that I think says everything, a supporter of Palestinian rights. The terrorists who murdered her and more than 1,000 others did not care.

Throwback Thursday: Rio (2011)

The only way to expand our world is to step out of what we feel is comfortable. That being said, not everyone does this willingly. Some have to be pushed.

The Disney/Pixar film, Rio was released in 2011. Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a male macaw that was taken from his native Brazil as a young bird. Found in Minnesota by Linda (Leslie Mann), he is raised as a happily domesticated animal. Fifteen years later, Linda is the owner of a bookstore when Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) enters their lives.

He is an ornithologist who wants Linda and Blu to come to Rio de Janeiro with him. Blu is the last male of his species. Tulio has a female, Jewel (Anne Hathaway) whom he wants Blu to reproduce with. Independent Jewel is not exactly thrilled with Blu.

After they are kidnapped by smugglers and held hostage by Nigel (Jermaine Clement), the smuggler’s cockatoo, Blu and Jewel are chained together. After their new friends help them remove the chain, they must find a way to escape their captors for good and return to their humans. The challenge is doing all of this with the chaos and magic of Carnival.

I liked this film. The dynamic between Jewel and Blu is nice. I very much appreciate that Jewel is more concerned with being free than settling down. The last thing she wants or needs is to be saddled with the non-flying Blu.

I also liked the subtle message about respecting the Earth and her non-human creations.

My only issue is that Linda is tiny and ends up with Tulio. The romance between the birds is organic, and the actors have natural chemistry. I just question the necessity of the B storyline.

Do I recommend it? I am leaning toward yes.