The new podcast, Inconceivable Truth, follows WNYC reporter Matt Katz as he discovers that the man he called his father was not his father. After years of infertility, Katz’s parents sought out the medical industry to have a child. Neither he nor his mother knew that the doctor’s actions would change the course of their lives.
So far, I have listened to five of the eight episodes and I am thoroughly addicted. Using every journalistic tool in the toolbox, Katz went on a wild ride of a journey to discover the paternal history that had alluded him for decades.
Trying to find out the familial secrets of the past is hard enough. But to find out that the people you call family have no biological or genetic connection to you, that is a mind trip times ten.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
New episodes of Inconceivable Truth are released every Thursday.
Progress, as I see it, is when a legal, governmental, cultural, or religious institution acknowledges the error of the past and tries to correct itself.
Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter.
“It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception.”
“A child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract,” the document says. “Every human life, beginning with that of the unborn child in its mother’s womb, cannot be suppressed, nor become an object of commodity.”
Obviously, I am not Catholic. But understanding and respecting another’s humanity applies to everyone, regardless of religion (or lack thereof). I take the statement about transgender folks personally because I have beloved family members who identify as such.
The thing about surrogacy is that it allows people to become parents who otherwise would be childless. While some might wish to bring the next generation into the world the old-fashioned way, it is not always possible. So why not take advantage of the scientific breakthroughs that make dreams come true?
Sometimes, the only way to end a conflict is for an intermediary to step in. But that does not mean that this outside person will be recognized or appreciated.
Last week, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that he was tempted to call Benjamin Netanyahu and advise him to step down from office. On Thursday, he addressed Congress. His speech started with the following passage:
I speak for myself, but I also speak for so many mainstream Jewish Americans, a silent majority whose nuanced views on the matter have never been well represented in this country’s discussions about the war in Gaza.
He called out both the Israeli and Palestinian leadership for their inability to come to the table. He also stated that it was time for new elections in Israel. Now granted, one democracy cannot suggest that another democracy should hold a new round of elections. But he is right about Netanyahu.
While I admire Schumer for speaking out and trying to balance both sides, now is not the time. Once the arms have been put down, then change can really happen.
I will forever remember when I heard about the school shooting at Columbine High School. It is a day that is burnt into my memory and a heartache that will never fade. With the current rate of mass/school shootings, what would have happened had someone stepped in before it was too late?
Jennifer and James Crumbley are the parents of the boy who is accused of killing four classmates and injuring several others at Oxford High School. If found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, they could face a total of up to 30 years in prison.
During an episode of the WNYC/NPR’s 1A last week, the question was asked if the parents of a minor shooter should be criminally responsible. My answer is yes. In the case of the Crumbleys, I would firmly argue that they should be held liable. Not only did they buy their son a firearm, but are also accused of doing nothing about their son’s deteriorating mental health.
If let’s say, a young person only has a learner’s permit and gets behind the wheel without an experienced driver. As a result, an innocent person is killed. The adults who are raising this child are as liable as the driver.
At this point, we cannot know what the verdict will be. But I hope that this will send a message that these events can be prevented if the older generation does their part.
They say that it takes two to tango. It also takes at least two parties (depending on the situation) to make peace.
The latest conflict between Israel and Hamas has been going on for nearly four months. In the wake of October 7th, thousands of people on both sides have been killed. Many have been uprooted and have lost everything except the clothes on their backs and whatever they can carry.
When I was in Saudi Arabia, meeting with MBS last week, a week and a half ago, I revisited the same issue. He, of course, said he was very open to this. He thought this was a very good solution. It was a way to create a path to peace on day two, after the war was over, to rebuild a Palestinian state, and that he committed in the meeting that I was with, that he would do anti-terrorism missions, that he would create stability for the Palestinians because that is not something Israel can do alone, and shouldn’t have to ever do again.
It should be the responsibility of the Arab states to provide security, to fight against Hamas, to fight against Hezbollah, to fight against Iran, with the United States and Israel helping. MBS was very much open to that. With the Jordanians, the Jordanians were working overtime to get a new Palestinian leadership, because the current Palestinian leadership has been unable to create a Palestinian state for decades, and unwilling to even hold elections. The Jordanians were working overtime to secure a path to a new Palestinian leadership.
When we presented this idea, when I presented this idea in my five minutes with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he would not answer the question of the second state. I don’t know if it’s his unwillingness because of his current government or his change of view, or he’s never ever going to consider it again, but he’s wrong not to consider it, because this is the path to peace. This is what President Biden has in his vision for Middle East peace. This is what our allies have in their vision for Middle East peace.
This was the vision of the Israeli government before October 7th. I think October 7th was so brutal and so deeply destructive to the psyche of the Israeli government and the Israeli people, that they are not thinking straight. I’m hopeful that we can get Israel back on board, because this is the path to peace, and this is what should happen as soon as we can end the conflicts. I’m hoping this can happen in weeks and months, because this is something that has to happen now, before too many innocent lives are lost in both the Palestinians and in Israel.
On the other side of the coin, Hamas leadership has once more rejected a hostage deal because a permanent cease-fire was not included in the package.
So I ask you, how does one make peace with all involved refusing the come to the table?
P.S. South Africa‘s claim that Israel is committing genocide was rejected by the ICJ. If nothing else, there is a glimmer of hope that there are still good people in this world.
The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Israel, reaffirming its right to self defense and dismissing calls for a ceasefire. But the fact that Israel is subject to such accusations is outrageous. This is the disproportionate obsession we’ve been talking about. Social… pic.twitter.com/y4TLMfBnkQ
Part of the game of politics is putting up with bullshit. The question is, how much bullshit can the American public before we can’t take it anymore?
The concept of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) has been floating around for the last few years. In short, it is aiming for a world in which everyone is allowed to succeed, regardless of identity or labels. Even with its shortcomings, it represents an ideal that we should all be working toward.
Last week, an episode of Fresh Air detailed how some on the right are using the resignation of Dr. Claudine Gay as an excuse to remove DEI from academia and corporate America. Whatever mistakes and missteps Dr. Gay made, this justification is paper-thin and reveals their true motives.
In Oklahoma, the proposed law OK HB 3133 could label Hispanic gang members as terrorists. Its purpose is to stop the smuggling of fentanyl and prevent overdoses. Beyond the obvious racist implications, I fail to see how targeting one group will make this problem go away. Resolving any addiction requires a multi-pronged approach that does not include pointing the finger as these politicians have.
Meanwhile, in Texas, an immigrant mother and her two children drowned while crossing from Mexico into the US. If I thought previously that Greg Abbott’s heart was cold before, I am now convinced that he has no heart. This woman wanted to make a better life for herself and her children, as have generations of immigrants before her. Their deaths were completely preventable.
And finally, several Republican Governors turned down federal assistance to feed children for breakfast and lunch when schools are closed. Their reason is that they believe that it makes kids obese. I’m not a scientist or a doctor. But I know enough to know that the chance of becoming obese is based on several factors. It does not include having inadequate meals during the summer and school breaks. So much for caring about the next generation.
We have a choice in November. We can choose to support our democracy or hire politicians who say one thing and do another.
Back in the summer, I had a conversation with a friend who had a baby earlier this year. We were talking about daycare. She mentioned that Jewish parents in her neighborhood sent their children to a daycare center run by a Palestinian-American woman.
I remember thinking then that this woman ran a service that was needed and well-regarded by the residents of that neighborhood. The fact that those who used that service and the person who ran it were of two different backgrounds was meaningless.
This week, two WNYC shows, The Brian Lehrer Show and The New Yorker Radio Hour ran segments about what is happening on the ground in Gaza. While my heart breaks for the innocent civilians whose lives have been taken and overturned by this war, I cannot help but get angry. When the most respected media outlets share a one-sided perspective that casts one people as David and the other as Goliath, I can’t help but wonder if I should turn off the news completely.
Earlier this week, Jerry Seinfeld was performing in Syracuse. Outside of the show, there were protests due to his stance on Israel. The last time I checked, Seinfeld was neither in the IDF nor a member of the Israeli government. This is nothing more than pure antisemitism.
Another news report this week stated that four more hostages were murdered. Tanzanian national Joshua Mollel was kidnapped and murdered simply because he wanted to learn about farming.
Joshua Mollel, 21, was executed by Hamas in Gaza.
Joshua was an agricultural intern from Tanzania, living at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. He had arrived in Israel in mid-September, his first time traveling out of Tanzania.
This bloodshed and destruction could all end tomorrow. But there are too many on both sides who want to keep it going.
P.S. The Harry Potter sketch featuring American actor Michael Rapaport put the issue with the University Presidents last week into nothing short of perfect.
Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. Tonight we remember our ancestors who fought against assimilation and destruction.
Today is also the 2-month anniversary of October 7th.
On Monday, one of the segments on The Brian Lehrer Show was about the divides in the Democratic party. One of the topics was the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. Among the callers was a Palestinian woman who detailed what her family had been through. My heart broke for her.
While Israel has every right to defend herself, that does not include harassing Arab/Palestinian residents because they can. That only adds fuel to the fire and gives the other side additional bodies and manpower.
Two related stories have come up this week. The first is that the powers that be in Gaza are not spreading the wealth when it comes to resources coming from outside nations.
שתפו את הסרטון שבכל העולם ישמעו את האמת על חמאס, וזה לא מגיע מאיתנו הישראלים- זה מגיע מתושבי עזה בתקשורת הערבית! pic.twitter.com/0J4fS9nwAR
The second is that several presidents of major American universities were unable to answer basic yes or no questions when it came to protecting Jewish students and staff. My regular readers know that I veer to the left when it comes to politics. But, in this case, I thank the members of the GOP for doing what is right.
I am all for freedom of speech, but targeting a specific group for murder does not require context. It’s as if they are waiting for someone to be injured or killed before real action is taken.
Happy Chanukah.
P.S. Today is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. I can’t think of a better reminder of what we need to fight for as Americans.
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
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.
For those of us above a certain age, September 11th, 2001 is a day that is forever frozen in amber.
Today is 22 years since the Twin Towers fell, the Pentagon was attacked, and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. 22 years since nearly 3000 innocent lives were taken. Since then, thousands have gotten sick and/or died due to related illnesses. They either lived, worked, went to school in the areas affected, or put their own needs on hold to get people out or look for survivors in the rubble. Their deaths only quadruple the heartache of those who were directly taken from us.
Back in July, I saw Yellowcard perform at Pier 17 for the 2oth anniversary of Ocean Avenue (BTW, it was one the best concerts I have been to in a long time). The pier is a short walk from the 9/11 Memorial. As I stared up at the sky, I couldn’t help but think what was and will never be again.
Believe was on the set list (as I hoped it would be). Hearing it live made the remembrance of that day even more potent.
May the memories of all who have died from September 11th forever be a blessing. Z”l.
Writergurlny 
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