you know it's bad if the u.s. is complaining about israel

US Complains to Israel on Gaza Blockade

The US has again complained to Israel over the blockade of aid supplies to the Gaza Strip. The State Department agency USAID says Israel has prevented goods including jam, toothpaste and toilet paper. On Thursday, Israel rejected a shipment of tuna, canned meat, diapers, wet wipes, sterile gauze, blankets, candles and flashlights.

perhaps hamas could make rockets out of toothpaste and toilet paper? yes, that would be a deadly combination. of course, none of this has anything to do with security. rather, it is about control. israel exerts a brutal control over the palestinian people. we speak of israel as a "democracy." what is democratic about not allowing people to have diapers and blankets? israel is suppposedly a "civilized" society, but there is surely nothing more barbaric than denying such vital goods to an already impoverished population. palestinians are told that they must recognize israel's right to exist, but why should a society that acts in such an inhumane manner have a right to exist in its current state? it is something that all of us should be thinking about.

and once we have thought about it, we need to take action.