Human Rights Watch (HRW) . . . a name that evokes thoughts of an organization that claims to defend and protect the rights of people around the globe. Continue reading
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Author Archives: Dave Alpert
When Jews became ‘white’
The history of the Jews is long, but not necessarily unique. Like many other ethnic groups, in the past and in the present as well, the people who were identified as Jews were outcasts. This was especially true in Europe where Jews were forced to live in ghettos and were refused the opportunities and protections accorded other citizens. Continue reading
The new faces of ‘socialism,’ Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders
The word socialism has great impact in the U.S. It provokes fear and condemnation and is often used as a political weapon, a means to put your opponent or member of the “other” party on the defensive. The socialist is usually seen as a threat to the security of the U.S. as well as our way of life. Continue reading
‘This is not who we are’
“MUSLIM FREE ZONE, WHITE’S ONLY, NO JEWS WELCOME, IRISH NEED NOT APPLY” . . . symbols of our “free” and “democratic” society, past and present. The U.S. has a long history of ethnic, religious, and racial prejudice and hatred, identifying groups and assigning them outsider status. Continue reading
My State of the Union—2015
As I’ve written several times previously, I was born in the Bronx and grew up in a lower middle class, Jewish family. I, like all of my friends, was bombarded with images, both verbal and graphic, of strong white men heroically saving the world from evil both here and abroad. We good guys rode the white horses and wore the white hats. WHITE WAS GOOD!! Continue reading
Police brutality
Late last month, there was a report of two police officers in Britain subduing and apprehending a man wielding an 8-inch knife. What made this story interesting is that the two cops were not carrying guns and successfully handled a potentially tragic event with no one being seriously injured. Continue reading
Israel’s exceptionalism
We can all breathe a little easier, Iran and the U.S. have agreed to a framework regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, hopefully, will avoid military confrontation. However, Israel is not breathing easier but rather creating a movement against this treaty which might grab the imagination of many Republicans in Congress who would like nothing more than to create a rationale for another war in the Middle East. Continue reading
The myth of capitalism and privatization
Growing up in The Bronx, the myth of capitalism and privatization was drummed into me. Publicly managed and controlled business operations were wasteful and, often, corrupt. It was the profit motive that made the private businesses efficient and profitable. If you want the job done right, you privatize. Continue reading
Equal treatment under the law
Once again, I feel obligated to quote the president of the United States, “We are a nation of laws and we live by the rule of law.” Continue reading
Too true to tell
On March 6, I wrote an article in which I referred to the sinking of the USS Liberty. This attack on an American ship, was conducted by the Israeli military in 1967 during the Six Day War. Continue reading
Defending American lives
“Whether it’s through the use of our military, through the use of our law enforcement capacity, if you harm Americans, it is the sworn duty of every person in the executive branch to find you and hold you accountable. It doesn’t matter where you are, we’ll find you, we’ll hunt you down, and we’ll hold you accountable.” Continue reading
Obama strikes back at Netanyahu by declassifying 1987 nuclear weapons report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by House Speaker John Boehner to address Congress on March 3. Rather than running it past the White House, which is the usual protocol, both Boehner and Netanyahu decided to bypass the president. In diplomatic circles, this is considered an insult and/or slap in the face. Continue reading
The imperial president—no limits on executive power
President Obama has reminded us on several occasions that what separates us from the rest of humanity and makes us “exceptional” is that we are a nation of laws and we live by the rule of law. Continue reading
Speaking out on religion, salvation or destruction
I was born a Jew and grew up in The Bronx in New York City. At the age of 13, I was Bar Mitzvad. As I grew older, I became more and more disenchanted with religion as an institution. I became aware of the historical role religion played in the life and destiny of man, a history which demonstrates wars, deaths, and destruction all in the name of God. Continue reading
White man’s terrorism
Three Muslim American students were shot to death last Tuesday at about 5:15pm, at a residential complex of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a suspect has been arrested over the incident, according to local police. Continue reading
Is the US and EU headed for nuclear Armageddon with Russia?
The question we should be asking and continue to ask is why the problems in the Ukraine are crucial to us here in the United States? Continue reading
What is freedom of speech and what is hate speech?
On Thursday, January 22, the Ethical Culture hosted and the group Laughing Liberally sponsored a fundraiser for the families of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Continue reading
Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism
If someone were to ask me to define anti-Semitism, I would offer the following: Anti-Semitism is the targeting, brutalizing and exploiting of people physically, socially, economically, and politically, and endorsed by those in power, for no other reason than they are Jewish (Hebrew), Assyrian, Phoenician, and Arab. Continue reading
An American hero, the American sniper
Who is Chris Kyle? Well, if you’re a movie fan, Chris Kyle is the man whose life and experiences are used for the film, “American Sniper.” He is the man that Clint Eastwood chose to be the hero of his film. Continue reading
Are we really talking about freedom of speech and expression?
When I was growing up in the Bronx, at a very early age, I learned that what makes this country special is that we honor one’s right to free speech. But I also learned that one could not say what you want to, when you want to, and where you want to. Continue reading
It’s time to pay our taxes
Fellow Americans, we have come to that time of the year when we must anti-up and pay the piper. Continue reading
Letting it all hang out
During a charity golf outing hosted by a retired LAPD officer, former investigator Gary Fishell took the microphone and began to sing a parody of the song, “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown,” substituting his own words and directing it at Michael Brown, the unarmed African-American youngster who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri, by police officer Darren Wilson. Continue reading
Thinking out loud
A new movie is opening on Christmas Day titled “The Interview.” Being a comedy, one would assume that it’s an appropriate film for the celebration of the holiday season. Continue reading
‘That’s not who we are’
The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the torture and rendition programs sponsored by the Bush administration has caused an uproar not only in the U.S., but internationally as well. Continue reading
Racists circle their wagons
As the furor escalates around the shooting and killing of unarmed black males around the country, white people have decided to circle their wagons and focus us on the “real” problem. What do you mean, the “real” problem? Continue reading
Is it time for a revolution?
There is hope that the people of this country are finally rebelling against the corruption in our economic and political systems. The murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, ignited a community to action. They demanded nothing more than justice and predictably did not get it. Continue reading
Only in America
What happens in the United States of America when a white police officer shoots and kills an unarmed black male teenager? (It is not limited to teenagers). Continue reading
Voting as an indicator of democracy?
For decades the working stiff has looked to the Democratic Party for salvation and protection from the Republican Party. And, let’s face it, we do need protection from a party that has claimed the rich and famous as its constituents. Continue reading
It’s not what Obama says, but what he does
Four rabbis, three of them American citizens, plus a police officer were killed by two Palestinian “terrorists” on Tuesday, November 18. Continue reading
The white man as weapon of mass destruction—part 4
When does perception become reality? Continue reading
The white man as weapon of mass destruction—part 3
And now, we come to the 21st century where the white man, under the leadership of the United States, continues his journey toward global destruction. Continue reading
A humanitarian crisis
Posted on September 7, 2015 by Dave Alpert
So many people are impressed and thankful that Germany has agreed to provide a sanctuary for 800,000 refugees, primarily Syrians, fleeing the death and destruction that is occurring in the Middle East. Continue reading →