The crisis in the Middle East has continued to escalate. Since I last wrote on Saturday, October 7, the contours of the attack on Israel by Hamas have become clearer. More than 900 Israelis have been killed in the fighting, and dozens more have been taken hostage and are now being held in Gaza, with Hamas threatening to execute them if Israelis target civilians without warning. At least 11 U.S. citizens were killed in the attack.
"Because of holds Republican senators have put on the nomination process, the U.S. does not have a Senate-confirmed ambassador to Israel or Egypt, the two countries that border the Gaza Strip."
There is a lot going on, but it might be politically and as a matter of necessity, time for Biden to condemn in the strongest civil language possible the pattern of sabotage that impeding the government from conducting its duties, and harming national welfare and security for the sake of partisan, political stunts. It's already gone too far.
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.
I have strong feelings about much of what has occurred. However, tonight I write to express my thanks to Professor Richardson for her efforts to provide us with unbiased, as accurate as possible, information. The hate mail she deals with is truly unacceptable and actually sad given her focus on accuracy.
I read those “attack” replies in shock and disbelief that people can have amazing knee jerk reactions to plainly stated facts. Nothing HCR wrote condoned terrorism or condemned Israel. This has always been a safe space for stimulating conversations. Let’s not devolve into something ugly. Have patience and do no harm, please.
If the recent reports in Mother Jones are correct, and I believe they are, Jim Jordan should be arrested immediately for insurrection and tossed out of Congress. If instead he is chosen as Speaker, he will do immense damage to our politics as he helps Trump complete his coup.
To a British reader, you always strike balances and give hope that informed journalism might itself inform political consciousness and leadership. Strength to all your elbows, dear Heather Cox Richardson.
Thank you for this hard letter. That the House is leaderless, hamstrung by incompetent members, and unable to appoint key figures to retain vital positions in a time of crisis, underscores this dark chapter in America’s history.
Thanks Heather for your commentary. It helps so much. I’m saddened to hear that you suffered blowback in trying to sort through this difficult information.
I feel physically Ill at this point due to the chaos that is surrounding us all.
Very grateful for your voice of reason and analysis that is predicated upon history, facts, and evidence Heather. I am horrified by the loss of life and suffering by mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who reject violence and extremism, regardless of the latitude and longitude of where they were born. At a time in which the world should be coming together to address climate, authoritarian criminals, and conflict, we are readily divided.
And the chaos the fringe extremists in the GOP continue to inflict weakens America and diminishes our diplomatic and economic standing worldwide.
It’s no coincidence that Hamas struck now, when Israel is in the midst of internal political turmoil. Netanyahu is attempting to demolish Israel’s judicial system and Israel’s reservists have threatened not to report for duty—all prior to Hamas’ attack.
We, here in the US, are similarly operating in a vacuum. The House is leaderless and the Senate is being held hostage by idiots like Tuberville and Cruz who are interested ONLY in advancing their personal agendas and don’t care one bit for the direction of this country.
Basically, the GOP are showing their ass to the world and offering a target to our enemies. There is absolutely no excuse for this behavior. They need to be removed from the Senate for obstruction.
As for what’s happening in the ME, I’ve long believed that the heart of the conflict is between Shi’a and Sunni. Iran is a Shi’a Muslim country; Saudi Arabia’s is largely Sunni. Saudi is making overtures to Israel; Iran fires up its proxy in the region—Hamas—to send Saudi Arabia a message. This will spread to the entire area if it isn’t stopped. It’s so much bigger than Hamas and Israel.
Heather - I am very grateful that you were and are willing to provide "the news". It seems you're taking on the mantle of Walter Cronkite in that regard, someone who presents the facts without an attempt to put one spin on them or another. Something that has become as rare as gold lately. I'm not surprised at the fact you've received hate mail - it's part and parcel of the new America in which you're either "with us or against us". It used to be that being an American was our defining quality and whether Republican or Democrat was merely a shading placed upon that. Just as Vanilla and Chocolate are both simply flavors of the same thing - ice cream.
In the current heated passions, I fear both flavors will merely melt (to stretch a metaphor to its limit).
Although I'd normally think of crafting a cartoon for current political events, this issue is so touchy and raw that I may just sit this one out. It's difficult for a cartoonist to not take one side or another and, like you, I don't feel sufficiently informed to add my voice to the chorus, other than to ask for thoughtful reflection rather than knee-jerk reaction. I actually designed a T-shirt with precisely that sentiment - perhaps this is a good time to wear it.
Again - thank you and as best you can, I hope you can try to ignore the rabble's cries of outrage.
What is the way though the egos of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald J. Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu?
What is the way through the streets of flying bullets?
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, Ruger Lightweight Compact Pistol, Springfield, XD-S, Sig Sauer P938, Glock G19, Colt LE6920, Kel-Tec SUB-2000, Ruger AR-556, DPMS Oracle, Kel-Tec KSG, Heritage Arms Rough Rider, Taurus 85, Smith & Wesson 629, Mossberg 590, SIG Sauer P320, Remington 700.000, SIG Sauer P365, Ruger 10/22, Remington 870..
and modern weaponry: MQ9 Reaper Drone, the Laser Avenger and the MAARS Robot
and faces full of hate?
What is the way through hotter temperatures, diminishing sea ice, more severe storms, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, increased drought, warming oceans, rising water, loss of species, not enough food, more health risks, poverty and displacement?
Thank you, Heather, for your continued clarity on the large issues facing the country, and by extension, the world. Your measured and careful (and informed!) approach is a breath of fresh air in these highly reactive times.
Professor I am grateful for your objective reporting each and every day. As an American Jew I appreciate your clear eyed analysis- relying on facts. Nothing you wrote the other day was offensive. While I have my biases that are being driven by fear of antisemitism- its coded into the Jewish DNA, I believe for good reason, nothing I repeat nothing you wrote was off base or caused me pause. Some comments in response to your article caused me pause because I felt they demonstrated a lack of compassion to victims of horrific act. But it along the way theough back and forth we seemd to achieve a civil albeit opinionated conversation. I am truly sorry you received hate mail. Thank you again for keeping us informed.
Just a simple thank you for your thoughtful, well- researched daily essays. Your voice rises above the chaotic chatter and summons readers to think and learn. Don’t stop.
"Because of holds Republican senators have put on the nomination process, the U.S. does not have a Senate-confirmed ambassador to Israel or Egypt, the two countries that border the Gaza Strip."
There is a lot going on, but it might be politically and as a matter of necessity, time for Biden to condemn in the strongest civil language possible the pattern of sabotage that impeding the government from conducting its duties, and harming national welfare and security for the sake of partisan, political stunts. It's already gone too far.
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.
I have strong feelings about much of what has occurred. However, tonight I write to express my thanks to Professor Richardson for her efforts to provide us with unbiased, as accurate as possible, information. The hate mail she deals with is truly unacceptable and actually sad given her focus on accuracy.
Mahalo nui loa Professor!
I read those “attack” replies in shock and disbelief that people can have amazing knee jerk reactions to plainly stated facts. Nothing HCR wrote condoned terrorism or condemned Israel. This has always been a safe space for stimulating conversations. Let’s not devolve into something ugly. Have patience and do no harm, please.
If the recent reports in Mother Jones are correct, and I believe they are, Jim Jordan should be arrested immediately for insurrection and tossed out of Congress. If instead he is chosen as Speaker, he will do immense damage to our politics as he helps Trump complete his coup.
To a British reader, you always strike balances and give hope that informed journalism might itself inform political consciousness and leadership. Strength to all your elbows, dear Heather Cox Richardson.
Thank you for this hard letter. That the House is leaderless, hamstrung by incompetent members, and unable to appoint key figures to retain vital positions in a time of crisis, underscores this dark chapter in America’s history.
Hard letter, straight words.
Thanks Heather for your commentary. It helps so much. I’m saddened to hear that you suffered blowback in trying to sort through this difficult information.
I feel physically Ill at this point due to the chaos that is surrounding us all.
Very grateful for your voice of reason and analysis that is predicated upon history, facts, and evidence Heather. I am horrified by the loss of life and suffering by mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who reject violence and extremism, regardless of the latitude and longitude of where they were born. At a time in which the world should be coming together to address climate, authoritarian criminals, and conflict, we are readily divided.
And the chaos the fringe extremists in the GOP continue to inflict weakens America and diminishes our diplomatic and economic standing worldwide.
It’s no coincidence that Hamas struck now, when Israel is in the midst of internal political turmoil. Netanyahu is attempting to demolish Israel’s judicial system and Israel’s reservists have threatened not to report for duty—all prior to Hamas’ attack.
We, here in the US, are similarly operating in a vacuum. The House is leaderless and the Senate is being held hostage by idiots like Tuberville and Cruz who are interested ONLY in advancing their personal agendas and don’t care one bit for the direction of this country.
Basically, the GOP are showing their ass to the world and offering a target to our enemies. There is absolutely no excuse for this behavior. They need to be removed from the Senate for obstruction.
As for what’s happening in the ME, I’ve long believed that the heart of the conflict is between Shi’a and Sunni. Iran is a Shi’a Muslim country; Saudi Arabia’s is largely Sunni. Saudi is making overtures to Israel; Iran fires up its proxy in the region—Hamas—to send Saudi Arabia a message. This will spread to the entire area if it isn’t stopped. It’s so much bigger than Hamas and Israel.
Heather - I am very grateful that you were and are willing to provide "the news". It seems you're taking on the mantle of Walter Cronkite in that regard, someone who presents the facts without an attempt to put one spin on them or another. Something that has become as rare as gold lately. I'm not surprised at the fact you've received hate mail - it's part and parcel of the new America in which you're either "with us or against us". It used to be that being an American was our defining quality and whether Republican or Democrat was merely a shading placed upon that. Just as Vanilla and Chocolate are both simply flavors of the same thing - ice cream.
In the current heated passions, I fear both flavors will merely melt (to stretch a metaphor to its limit).
Although I'd normally think of crafting a cartoon for current political events, this issue is so touchy and raw that I may just sit this one out. It's difficult for a cartoonist to not take one side or another and, like you, I don't feel sufficiently informed to add my voice to the chorus, other than to ask for thoughtful reflection rather than knee-jerk reaction. I actually designed a T-shirt with precisely that sentiment - perhaps this is a good time to wear it.
Again - thank you and as best you can, I hope you can try to ignore the rabble's cries of outrage.
One more vote to say that we read your posts regularly for your historical knowledge and thoughtful analysis. Thank you.
What is the way though the egos of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald J. Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu?
What is the way through the streets of flying bullets?
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, Ruger Lightweight Compact Pistol, Springfield, XD-S, Sig Sauer P938, Glock G19, Colt LE6920, Kel-Tec SUB-2000, Ruger AR-556, DPMS Oracle, Kel-Tec KSG, Heritage Arms Rough Rider, Taurus 85, Smith & Wesson 629, Mossberg 590, SIG Sauer P320, Remington 700.000, SIG Sauer P365, Ruger 10/22, Remington 870..
and modern weaponry: MQ9 Reaper Drone, the Laser Avenger and the MAARS Robot
and faces full of hate?
What is the way through hotter temperatures, diminishing sea ice, more severe storms, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, increased drought, warming oceans, rising water, loss of species, not enough food, more health risks, poverty and displacement?
Which way?
Thank you, Heather, for your continued clarity on the large issues facing the country, and by extension, the world. Your measured and careful (and informed!) approach is a breath of fresh air in these highly reactive times.
Professor I am grateful for your objective reporting each and every day. As an American Jew I appreciate your clear eyed analysis- relying on facts. Nothing you wrote the other day was offensive. While I have my biases that are being driven by fear of antisemitism- its coded into the Jewish DNA, I believe for good reason, nothing I repeat nothing you wrote was off base or caused me pause. Some comments in response to your article caused me pause because I felt they demonstrated a lack of compassion to victims of horrific act. But it along the way theough back and forth we seemd to achieve a civil albeit opinionated conversation. I am truly sorry you received hate mail. Thank you again for keeping us informed.
Just a simple thank you for your thoughtful, well- researched daily essays. Your voice rises above the chaotic chatter and summons readers to think and learn. Don’t stop.