Conqueror? Or Colonizer?
Merely a Colonist? Why are there NEW rules to War and Peace?
WHAT is off-limits when defending one’s own life?
What are the Rules of War? Are spoils rightfully claimed by Victors? Were acts of Vengeance historically permitted? Can Revenge be silently allowed? Will Mercy be required from the Vanquisher? Should the Exiled reclaim lost homeland? Is Peace allowable?
I asked myself those questions to set the stage for this post. In this piece, I am presenting a bunch of sides. Not as justification or excuse. I’m presenting this information for the sake of knowledge. In a vein of critical thinking, not a pulse
What is a Jew? I think about the time I lived in prison and shared a cell with a dude that had tattooed a swastika onto his forehead, right in-between his eyebrows. He was Snickers, the Shot Caller on the block. I asked him about Jews.
He hated Jews. I asked him if he ever knew a Jew? He laughed because it rhymed and said no. He said he would never talk to a Jew. He said he would rather kill them than talk to them. I asked him why. Because they’re Jews, he replied.
The weirdest thing about hating Jews in prison, it’s only the white guys that hate them. The Blacks, Mexicans, Asians, and others can’t mix with Jews, not because of belief, just because of skin color. Not because they’re Jews, but because they’re White.
I actually wrote the passage below (for my book), prompted notes from my conversations with Snickers, Youngster, and Skinhead Bobby, all Jew-Haters I shared prison cells with over the time I was incarcerated. (Prison Cell = 6’x9’)
Added to that were the talks with the Jewish dude that lived in my cell for two weeks and went out sideways on a stretcher. He, the Jewish guy, picked his poison and jumped a smaller white dude. Didn’t turn out well for him, The Jew.
What is it with The Jews?
A few words about Jewish people, and the issue of race vs. culture and/or religion, according to Who is Jewish
Are Jews a Cluster Group?
Indeed, scientists continue to argue whether the term race has any useful meaning when classifying human beings. Racism as a sociopolitical ideology and was laid to rest by the civil rights movement for all thinking people. It should be obvious to all who have learned the history of the last century that humanity can no longer afford to discriminate by race or genetic makeup if we are to survive on this planet.
That is the crux of the argument, and the core of this extended essay you are reading. Race is an obsolete and inconsequential measurement of human beings. I highlight the racial identity question of Jews and Hispanics as a jumping off point to explore why we have this need to separate by skin color. I contend it is because skin color is an easier decision to make than trying to decide if you want to share a culture with “outsiders.” It is an ignorant and lazy world-view.
As Compass Star Wordsmith moves into its fourth year of existence, the calendar provides the perfect opportunity to say THANK YOU! to all or you, the Compass Star Community.
We are gaining new subscribers daily and increasing our paid support monthly. When I started this endeavor on December 30, 2020 I had zero idea of what I was doing. I have about a 10% idea now, lol!
After posting 200+ articles, my learning hasn’t stopped, it’s accelerated. With your financial support, we’ve been able to subscribe to a rotating list of creators here on Substack. Compass Star has hired it’s first consultant and kept on retainer.
Compass Star collaborated with, been recommended by, is followed by, and has felt the support of some amazing creators. The last few posts this year will be a look back. Not to rehash regrets, but to renew, recharge, and release.
I’ll be highlighting my favorite Substack creators, reaching out for new collaborators, and reliving some posts from the past. I may even drop a podcast! Aghast!
For now, let’s be serious and learn what we can about a conflict some say is as old as time.
What Are You Watching?
Being sick in bed leads to binge watching dedicated research on your behalf. It wasn’t easy, I’ll be honest. There are some depraved acts of war in these documentaries. And even more depraved acts of retribution. From 1914 and before.
I strongly suggest that you watch these. Extremely discomforting and emotionally disturbing. It speaks to the depth of darkness the human soul can descend. One scene depicted, shot on 8mm film, was the lineup and shooting of a group of victims. Once fallen, an armored truck runs over their dead bodies laying on the side of the road. To the cheers of the townspeople.
Without favor or prejudice, to understand the collision with any depth or reason, and to reach a conclusion that is logically supportable, one must see the wreck from every street corner.
Propaganda - situational reality or outright deception - is as old as Cain’s retort to God “Am I my brother’s keeper?” I guess our answer now, as it always has been, is that it depends on who my brother is.
What does the Anti-Defamation League think of the above documentary? As you can imagine, it criticized it as being propaganda. Checking out both points of view is a good place to start.
Occupation 101: Delegitimizing Israel Through Film
The Nat Turner Rebellion is often cited as an inspiration to enslaved peoples. The revolt struck fear into the hearts of the slave-owners, and it seemed, they became aware, perhaps subconsciously, that their evil empire was doomed, as were their souls.
It’s important to know history, but it’s even more important to understand history.
Nat Turner's Rebellion, historically known as the Southampton Insurrection, was a rebellion of enslaved Virginians that took place in Southampton County, Virginia, in August 1831.[1] Led by Nat Turner, the rebels killed between 55 and 65 White people, making it the deadliest slave revolt in U.S. history.[2][3] The rebellion was effectively suppressed within a few days, at Belmont Plantation on the morning of August 23, but Turner survived in hiding for more than 30 days afterward.[4]
There was widespread fear amongst the White population in the aftermath of the rebellion. Militia and mobs killed as many as 120 enslaved people and free African Americans in retaliation.[5][6] After trials, the Commonwealth of Virginia executed 56 enslaved people accused of participating in the rebellion, including Turner himself; many Black people who had not participated were also persecuted in the frenzy. Because Turner was educated and was a preacher, Southern state legislatures subsequently passed new laws prohibiting the education of enslaved people and free Black people, restricting rights of assembly and other civil liberties for free Black people, and requiring White ministers to be present at all worship services.[7]
Lonnie Bunch, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, said, "The Nat Turner rebellion is probably the most significant uprising in American history."[8]
One point Mr. West makes is violence begets violence. Understood. And more violence begets yet more violence. We got the cycle argument, please continue. So therefore, much as Nat Turner committed a justified act of rebellion, so too has Hamas.
The killing is reprehensible but justifiable. Atrocious but righteous. Never Forget it Happened Again. The shackles of subjugation are beyond the imagination. That’s why it’s hard to hold back retribution.
And then we have the Party Protestors. How shameful, to so proudly display your college-educated ignorance.
Finally, this. What the hell is The Batman doing here? Fair question. We are talking about human emotion versus dispassionate justice. Shame vs Guilt. Good vs Evil. Sometimes, learning about humanity through fiction is needed. Sometimes, humans need to see immorality to find their own moral compass again.
You hit it out of the park