PLATFORM OF BLACK LIVES MATTER

Hi Humans,

I believe that Black lives matter (as I believe that all life matters). A few days ago a group that calls itself Black Lives Matter wrote a platform, and in that platform they accused the State of Israel of “genocide” against the Palestinian people. As a Jewish dog (I live in a Jewish home), I must take issue with that part of their platform.

First of all, it is blatantly untrue. Genocide as committed by Germany against the Jews of Europe killed 6 million Jewish humans and was intended to eradicate all the Jews in Europe and ultimately in the World. The Ottoman Empire committed genocide in rounding up and killing 1.5 million Armenians in an organized manner. No such organized massive killing has occurred in Israel/Palestine. There have been repeated conflicts, usually started by the Palestinians and finished by Israel, in which there have been civilian deaths on both sides but not on a scale which could be called genocide. There have been more deaths on the Palestinian side. However it is not a game which has to be evenly counted. There is guilt on both sides.

Second of all, what does Israel/Palestine have to do with Black Lives Matter? There are Black Jews on the Israel side and Black Moslems on the Palestine side. Neither side has a racial monopoly. The Whites who make up the majorities on both sides are probably more closely related to each other racially than to any other humans in the world. All the Israelis and Palestinians, Black or White, probably are related historically. So the Israel/Palestine dispute is not racial. Also, why do you want to alienate Jewish Americans, most of whom are on your side?

Third, why do you only single out the faults of Israel? I will concede that faults exist. I am no fan of the settler movement on the West Bank. But I did not see in the platform any mention of the murder and mayhem committed by ISIS against anyone who does not toe the line, or of the government of Syria that has killed thousands of its citizens, or of Russia that has propped up that Syrian government and helped in the killing. The list of evils in the world goes on and on but left out of your platform. The occupation of the West Bank is not a good thing, but at the moment it is a place of tranquility in comparison to many of the nearby Arab countries.

Fourth, maybe I missed it, but I did not read anything about gun control in the platform. Any proposed solution that leaves out gun control is not a solution but just venting. Strict gun laws would go a long way in saving Black lives (also any other life). A policeman in a high crime area would have a less itchy trigger finger if he did not have to worry that the citizen being detained might be about to shoot him. Also fewer Black citizens would find themselves in the cross fire of gang warfare. And don’t give me that Second Amendment crap. That’s just code for gun anarchy so the gun lobby can make a quick buck.

So Humans (Black or White), you probably don’t want to take advice from a little Jewish dog like me, but that’s what I think.

Chloe