May 2024 Edition

“And That’s The Way It Isn’t”
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
Those of us old enough to remember the
news broadcasts of CBS
Correspondent Walter Cronkite
can recite his nighty sign off –
“And that’s the way it is.”
Viewers had no doubt that what was reported
was what was happening without any editorial
or bias. Not to say that Cronkite didn’t have any
opinions, or that he didn’t broadcast his point of
views on occasion.
That being said, he always (without exception)
captioned those broadcasts as COMMENTARY
which was displayed on the screen. As the Vietnam War progressed in
late 1969, Cronkite went on the air to express his opinion that “We need
to get out now before we lose too many more in battle!”
Then President Lyndon B. Johnson concluded that “Cronkite is the
conscience of America, and as he goes, so goes the nation!”
Cronkite was, to the vast majority of Americans, the most trusted
newsman in the country. Sadly today the nightly national news
broadcasts are riddled with commentary, opinion and biasness so
extreme that the facts take a back seat to “journalistic propaganda!”
Regardless of your political point of view, every
single national television broadcast expresses a
particular political point of view when reporting the
“news.”
One example - the issue of Immigration. For
the left wing press, they are immigrants looking to
better their lifestyle and we should embrace them
with open arms.
To the right, they are illegal immigrants flouting
our legal system and displacing American from
their homes because there is no other place to house
them. The rule of law has become more a point of view held by each of
us based on our political positions.
Respect for factual news is pure fantasy. Is there hope things will
change for the better? Nope. Not in my lifetime. I hope I’m wrong!
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
By: Liz Breier / This & That
What is equivalent to having your child burned
to death in their crib? What is equivalent to
having your spouse taken hostage and after six
months not knowing if they are dead or alive?
There is no moral equivalence between the unprovoked
brutal attack on October 7 on Israel by Hamas and the
unfortunate loss of civilian Palestinian lives in Gaza.
More than 70% of the inhabitants of Gaza support
Hamas. Hamas uses women and children, the elderly
and the sick as their shields by hiding underneath
schools and hospitals… and then the world condemns
Israel.
Their own brothers have turned their back on the
Arabs in Gaza. Jordan and Egypt both share borders but
have stanchly refused to allow Palestinians entry from
Gaza. Jordan’s King Abdullah II said, “No refugees in
Jordan, no refugees in Egypt.”
Regardless of the poor response of neighboring Arab states, Israel is
condemned for not doing more for the civilians: allowing more aid, more
food, most of which is absconded by the militants anyway. “Withdraw”,
“pullback”, “cease-fire” are the cries of many nations unfortunately,
including many in the United States and in positions of power.
I must ask, why Israel, the victim of the Hamas attacks, is left with the
burden of caring for those that mostly wanted Hamas in power, those that
cheered on October 7? Maybe I should not be so surprised.
After all, Israel is the Jewish state and is not equivalent in many eyes
to any other nation. Any nation that has ever fought back, defended itself
40
Moral Equivalence
May 2024
and in so doing destroyed hundreds of thousands of civilian lives has
never received the same condemnation as is heaped on Israel.
October 7 was not a military attack. It was the brutal murder of unarmed
civilians, teens, babies, women, brutal rapes, immolation that were the
actions of the day. Somehow the world seems to feel that Israel should not
do whatever is necessary to free the remaining hostages
(if any are still alive) or retrieve their remains for the
many that may be deceased.
Israel must eradicate Hamas for its own survival.
Hamas is declaring victory because of the drawdown
and failure to proceed into Ramallah. Perhaps they have
succeeded.
The US, once Israel’s best friend, is clearly not the
staunch supporter of Israel that it was on October 8 and
that is becoming clearer each day with the US abstention
in March of UN Security Council resolution demanding
an immediate ceasefire – but failing to call for the
release of even one hostage.
The recent attack from Iran inspired our government into lending a
hand in defending Israel, but then immediately advised that there would
be no participation in a counterattack – so “take it on the chin Israel”
seems to be the message.
Israel has no choice because there is no moral equivalence between
being attacked and defending yourself. Israel will do what needs to be
done.
Liz Breier is an ex-New Yorker who retired to Florida for 24 years
before deciding that Nevada means home to her. You can contact
Liz at: bluesky090372@gmail.com.