It has been horrifying, the crisis in Gaza, but also worrisome for our country that because of the Rethuglican antics, we are hampered in our response due to not having military leaders in their rightful places, no diplomats, and a government unable to come to any sort of consensus to take action going forward.
It has been horrifying, the crisis in Gaza, but also worrisome for our country that because of the Rethuglican antics, we are hampered in our response due to not having military leaders in their rightful places, no diplomats, and a government unable to come to any sort of consensus to take action going forward.
I have learned more about the history of the region in the past 24 hours than I have ever known before. It is also incredible and outrageous that you have been sent hate mail for simply presenting the facts as you know them, without appearing to take either side, and it just goes to show how individual biases with misinformation and outright lies thrown in causes people to believe what they want to believe. I thought you were factual in your essay and clearly laid out the disclaimers that you were not taking sides. I am so sorry and I hope you are staying safe.
The hatemail thing is far too widespread and becoming far too "normalized". It is a serious problem that is erosive of freedom worthy of the name, and of a civil society in general. It is a species of violence. A letter of protest is part and parcel of democratic debate, but increasingly holders of indefensible positions resort to ad hominem attacks and threats. There is always a lot to do, but this is more toxic to a just democratic society than I think we generally bother to acknowledge, and part of what is needed overall is finding ways to make it stop.
I read the posts by our R congressional rep put on their fb pages full of disinformation & fomentation. When I repost any of Heather's bits & pieces with credit to her, the response I get back is full of the bs that the rabid reds consume. I don't know how she personally handles the hate mail & keeps her soul intact. I support a 2 party system but these R have to be voted out!
I assume that you, like many of the LFAA readers, are familiar with the EXCELLENT YouTube clips of "Beau of the Fifth Column". He has people from all over the political spectrum watch his daily clips, so he gets hate mail which he will read and address. (I bet they never email again because he effectively skewers them with FACTS.) And he chuckles while he does it.
I am amazed that he doesn't have over a million subscribers! (If anyone watches and does not subscribe, please hit that button. It's free, and lets get his information out.)
He does generally 3-4 clips of about 5 minutes each, daily. He also has a second channel "The Roads with Beau" that are a longer format, about 30 plus minutes each.
Like Heather, I don't know when he sleeps! You might have to search him, but he does put up clips daily. If you've never watched his long format, it's quite good as well.
I would love for an organization like Bellingcat to unravel the link between Putin and the MAGA Republicans that do not want to fund Ukraine, like Jim Jordan, and who want to vitiate our diplomatic and military response capabilities like Tuberville, and the dark money that is supporting them.
I believe Tuberville has a greater plan to holdup these higher level military appointments until the 2024 election. With a Trump victory and perhaps MAGA Congressional take over, military leaders loyal to Trump will be appointed and confirmed. The scenarios spinning out from that situation are unthinkable, both domestic and internationally.
OK, here's my take - it isn't their support of Putin that drives the MAGA Republicans. Trump supports Putin because, in part, Putin is blackmailing him. The MAGA support Trump because he is their racist at the top.
But what got to me most this morning was the hate mail our national treasure Heather received about her balanced reporting on the invasion of Israel by Hamas.
Bellingcat (love the name!) looks to be a critical defense in today’s turbo charged climate of misinformation techniques aimed at controlling narratives. The Bellingcat operation is new to me. Seems thrilling, dangerous and critically needed. Wonder if there are overlap research ops here in the US?
Bryan, I would guess that the majority of the hate mail is coming from her Facebook audience—and FB appears to be too busy designing new algorithms to foment hate and body dysmorphia to police their platform for hate speech.
Thank you Mary I am not clear on Cross Platform digital structures. But, Substack Inc, through counsel, did hint about claims against "other Platforms".
See my more detailed update on Platform liability elsewhere Today. Like Google, & like META, Substack Inc believes it is immune relying on Section 230 of Federal law. Substack will not protect HCR.
Fern, your quotes show all sides of this awful war. The quote that leapt out at me from newscasts yesterday was attributed to an Israeli woman who stated the she was no longer in favor of a two-state solution. The peaceful portion of the Palestinians reminds me of the people who reside in cities governed by drug cartels. How much war (started by the antisemític minority Hamas) will they endure before they also reject the two-state solution?
It has been horrifying, the crisis in Gaza, but also worrisome for our country that because of the Rethuglican antics, we are hampered in our response due to not having military leaders in their rightful places, no diplomats, and a government unable to come to any sort of consensus to take action going forward.
I have learned more about the history of the region in the past 24 hours than I have ever known before. It is also incredible and outrageous that you have been sent hate mail for simply presenting the facts as you know them, without appearing to take either side, and it just goes to show how individual biases with misinformation and outright lies thrown in causes people to believe what they want to believe. I thought you were factual in your essay and clearly laid out the disclaimers that you were not taking sides. I am so sorry and I hope you are staying safe.
The hatemail thing is far too widespread and becoming far too "normalized". It is a serious problem that is erosive of freedom worthy of the name, and of a civil society in general. It is a species of violence. A letter of protest is part and parcel of democratic debate, but increasingly holders of indefensible positions resort to ad hominem attacks and threats. There is always a lot to do, but this is more toxic to a just democratic society than I think we generally bother to acknowledge, and part of what is needed overall is finding ways to make it stop.
I think it's time to recognize that the costs of anonymity outweigh the benefits of anonymity
I read the posts by our R congressional rep put on their fb pages full of disinformation & fomentation. When I repost any of Heather's bits & pieces with credit to her, the response I get back is full of the bs that the rabid reds consume. I don't know how she personally handles the hate mail & keeps her soul intact. I support a 2 party system but these R have to be voted out!
I assume that you, like many of the LFAA readers, are familiar with the EXCELLENT YouTube clips of "Beau of the Fifth Column". He has people from all over the political spectrum watch his daily clips, so he gets hate mail which he will read and address. (I bet they never email again because he effectively skewers them with FACTS.) And he chuckles while he does it.
I am amazed that he doesn't have over a million subscribers! (If anyone watches and does not subscribe, please hit that button. It's free, and lets get his information out.)
He does generally 3-4 clips of about 5 minutes each, daily. He also has a second channel "The Roads with Beau" that are a longer format, about 30 plus minutes each.
Thanks for the info. I will watch!!
I thought I was following him but haven't seen anything for a long time. I'll check it out....
Like Heather, I don't know when he sleeps! You might have to search him, but he does put up clips daily. If you've never watched his long format, it's quite good as well.
I have the same experience, Carole.
I post to provide information to counter disinformation. Maybe 1 or 2 people will change their vote & their support of MAGA
So this is what they instructed Tuberville to do? Someone is busy behind the scenes.
I would love for an organization like Bellingcat to unravel the link between Putin and the MAGA Republicans that do not want to fund Ukraine, like Jim Jordan, and who want to vitiate our diplomatic and military response capabilities like Tuberville, and the dark money that is supporting them.
I believe Tuberville has a greater plan to holdup these higher level military appointments until the 2024 election. With a Trump victory and perhaps MAGA Congressional take over, military leaders loyal to Trump will be appointed and confirmed. The scenarios spinning out from that situation are unthinkable, both domestic and internationally.
OK, here's my take - it isn't their support of Putin that drives the MAGA Republicans. Trump supports Putin because, in part, Putin is blackmailing him. The MAGA support Trump because he is their racist at the top.
This makes sense because Putin is a sophisticated warrior trained in the arts of kompromat and sabotage. He IS an intelligence service.
Trump has babbled so incessantly for decades that he probably fed Putin enough info to make him a virtual idiot/slave of the Cold War veteran.
That and the photos that Putin has of a naked Trump in Moscow hotel rooms.
I saw a clip recently of one of his speechs with him saying he has "a better body than Biden."
**shudder**
Keep it under wraps!!
A lot of it goes thru Bannon, I am afraid.
He is forever busy destroying and stirring chaos
And little t wants to be king.
(D’accord about Putin blackmail!)
I say off with his head.
But what got to me most this morning was the hate mail our national treasure Heather received about her balanced reporting on the invasion of Israel by Hamas.
Little t with bone spurs is their kind of hero.
Exactly.
Bellingcat (love the name!) looks to be a critical defense in today’s turbo charged climate of misinformation techniques aimed at controlling narratives. The Bellingcat operation is new to me. Seems thrilling, dangerous and critically needed. Wonder if there are overlap research ops here in the US?
There will be no protection from the Platform, Substack Inc, even in the face of torts like defamation or hate mail.
Bryan, I would guess that the majority of the hate mail is coming from her Facebook audience—and FB appears to be too busy designing new algorithms to foment hate and body dysmorphia to police their platform for hate speech.
Thank you Mary I am not clear on Cross Platform digital structures. But, Substack Inc, through counsel, did hint about claims against "other Platforms".
Counsellor, this is both sad and scary news.
See my more detailed update on Platform liability elsewhere Today. Like Google, & like META, Substack Inc believes it is immune relying on Section 230 of Federal law. Substack will not protect HCR.
I did; thank you.
"We don't have safety or security. What's this life? This is not a life" - Gaza resident Salah Hanouneh, 73.
"We will reach them (Hamas) everywhere" - Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
"The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster" - Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Release my son ... I'm speechless. It's completely dark" - mother of Thai migrant worker Natthaporn Onkaew held hostage.
"Fom paradise to hell, in one second." - Elad Hakim, survivor of musical festival hit by Hamas.
(quotes from Reuters)
Thanks for these quotes, Fern.
Fern, your quotes show all sides of this awful war. The quote that leapt out at me from newscasts yesterday was attributed to an Israeli woman who stated the she was no longer in favor of a two-state solution. The peaceful portion of the Palestinians reminds me of the people who reside in cities governed by drug cartels. How much war (started by the antisemític minority Hamas) will they endure before they also reject the two-state solution?