Hope
The old story associated with Bethlehem and commemorated by many these days is about hope.
Hope for more light and new beginnings, needed as much today than ever. Hope for walls to come down.

Picture courtesy of the Bethlehem Association
This year witnessed the liberation of Aleppo from the excrescence of imperialism. May the walls around Bethlehem also come down and its people be liberated.
I wish you all some contemplative, hope- and peaceful Christmas.
Posted by b on December 24, 2016 at 8:00 UTC | Permalink
next page »i hadn't seen this post when i wrote what ought to have gone here @202 on the open thread.
happy christmas to all. to b, especially, of course.
Posted by: jfl | Dec 24 2016 12:07 utc | 2
"a contemplative, hope- and peaceful Christmas"
nice thought, thank you b, best wishes to you and everybody here
Posted by: claudio | Dec 24 2016 12:31 utc | 4
I have been thinking how democracy is just another tool of empire. Religion was used for thousands of years, but now the enlighten use capitalistic democracy to control, they are "so" progressive and smug.
Posted by: Shadyl | Dec 24 2016 12:35 utc | 5
Been following the hysteria regarding the "genocide" that never happened in Aleppo on twitter. Now that Al-Qaeda, and those thousands of civilians who felt it better to be under their rule (and embrace the possibility of bombs raining down on their and that of their children's heads once again) than stay and rebuild their lives in peace, have moved out of Aleppo; there's still some reports of malnutrition, neglect and mistreatment of civilians popping online, but more and more are the positives (such as the christmas celebrations) and actual news taking over the gloom and doom of last week's social media frenzy.
That western narrative will be completely overtaken soon enough by real news and those same people will move on to the next big atrocity to lament about (#StandwithIdlib perhaps?), when the time comes.
Most people will probably forget Aleppo just as fast as they forgot benghazi or fallujah, but at least the day is ours this time.
Posted by: never mind | Dec 24 2016 12:51 utc | 6
by the way, this picture is no longer on the "bethlehem association" site... thanks for sharing it, and hope-peacefull christmas with specials thoughts for the Aleppo residents.
Posted by: alain b | Dec 24 2016 12:52 utc | 7
May the hope for peace sustain us. A Happy Christmas to our host, and to all of good will who drop by this place. Here's to a kinder time to come!
Talked with my Israeli friends. They are horrified at the US proposal to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The seat of power in is Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. Getting their permits and visas will now involve travel placing a bullseye on their backs as well as the US embassy. It is like a Pence proposal, precipitating the "end of times", as envisioned by US religious whack jobs calling themselves "evangelists" who are really no different than ISIS.
Posted by: Bardi | Dec 24 2016 15:13 utc | 10
Hope. As a German comedian said: "Hope dies last - but dies."
Posted by: Pnyx | Dec 24 2016 15:25 utc | 11
See how Trump makes Israel great again by calling up Egypt's sissy to pull U.N. Resolution or else, bribery funding to keep Gaza locked up, disappears.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-sissi-trump-agreed-in-call-to-delay-un-vote-on-settlements/
So Netanyahu, the Zionist King, called Trump, puppet showman to sabotage Resolution; then Trump called al-Sisi and Sissy pulls Resolution.
Now Israel is retaliating against those countries that took up the Resolution after Sissy tried to postpone it until Trump takes office.
Then, on behalf of his Zionist masters; Trump twitters a veiled threat to the U.N. Let's see what he tries to pull on China and Iran. So sorry to break it to you all, but there won't be peace with Trump doing the bidding of Zionism.
Trump...Making Zionism Great by putting Israel First.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL.
Posted by: Circe | Dec 24 2016 15:34 utc | 12
@10
Oh gee, oh the horror, poor-poor entitled Zionists already whining about the inconvenience of having to go from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to get visas.
Meanwhile this is what Palestinians endure daily:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBkbZUGORIM
Imagine your life destroyed by an occupation with a network of hundreds of foreign military checkpoints on your land. Imagine waiting two hours at a checkpoint just to go to work. Imagine having to endure this as a child going to school and sometimes getting shot. Imagine being forced to give birth at a checkpoint. Imagine not being able to use a toilet all the while you wait in a cattle cage. Imagine every single day have to endure this nightmare just to go from point A to B on your own land!
I'll reserve my sympathy for those who deserve it. Zionists are the architects of misery; unfortunately less often theirs but most often and especially everyone else's.
Zionism is a crime against humanity, and Zionists, I don't care how effing liberal they pretend to be, deserve zero pity and attention.
Israelis live under a dome of depraved apathy.
Posted by: Circe | Dec 24 2016 16:24 utc | 13
Of course Israeli's don't want the US Embassy moved to Jerusalem. That would be contrary to their historic bait-and-switch. Cuz once its moved -- defacto -- the population in Jerusalem is acknowledged and PROTECTED. It's called PRAGMATIC diplomacy.
Of course Trump is gonna side with Bibi against the UN. It's called OPTICS. Divide and conquer. Weakening enemies. Don't forget. Trump is a Gemini. He will whip-saw EVERYONE -- friends and foes -- to death. Especially those who consider him "a friend". I doubt if Trump has any REAL friends. Most great men don't. Cuz they know actual friends are burdensome and tend to get in the way. Rather he maintains and leverages relationships and situations to his advantage. And aligns with those who are useful to get him where his gut tells him to go.
Trump is a very interesting character. One which will be studied BIGLY over the next century. His only weakness is ego (which is where we all tend to fail) and his obvious devotion to his youngest child. That feels genuine. And while he seems to favor Ivanka. He didn't stand in the way of her marrying an orthodox jew with very unsavory family connections. He likely figured he couldn't stop her (as a lackluster father) and used it to his advantage. His genius -- aka "magick" -- is making lemonade from lemons. But thus far -- all his progeny are jews. So when you look at what he does -- don't forget where his future DNA is housed. And anticipate accordingly.
Posted by: Take Me | Dec 24 2016 16:37 utc | 14
Hope? Well, sure we are all hopeful. That is a good thing. Alas, hope has an implacable enemy ... reality.
Peace? What a concept. It ain't gonna happen, tho there are those who keep preaching peace as though it can, or has, ever existed.
Still, despite reality ... I do hope everyone has both hope and peace for at least a day. That would be a miracle!
Posted by: rg the lg | Dec 24 2016 16:57 utc | 16
I want to thank b and everybody contributing here, which I read frequently, admiring exchange, concern, communication versus cat-fighting. Also re getting perspectives, as with Aleppo. This discussion greatly helps keep in perspective the slant toward corporate neocon news by supposedly "left" oriented sources, now continuously demonizing Russia and avoiding any good news out of East Aleppo. Thank you.
Posted by: boilo | Dec 24 2016 16:59 utc | 17
Thanks, B. Merry Christmas to you and your family
Posted by: Pat Bateman | Dec 24 2016 17:01 utc | 18
here's to a few hours of reprieve from the relentless insanity of the status quo and their enablers - remain grounded b & all - cheers
Posted by: b real | Dec 24 2016 17:09 utc | 19
Take Me has said some very bad words about Geminis. Not nice.
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." - F. Scott Fitzgerald
So true!
Posted by: Gemini | Dec 24 2016 17:09 utc | 20
And Merry Christmas to all on this very impressive blog!
Posted by: Gemini | Dec 24 2016 17:11 utc | 21
@ Shadyl | Dec 24, 2016 7:35:33 AM | 5
Thanks. I share your views. Religions have no boundary, curses of society pry equally on the filthy rich and poor. Peace and hope just another dream. Happy holidays everyone.
To each is own.
Posted by: Jack Smith | Dec 24 2016 17:14 utc | 22
Happy Christmas to all. I have been reading this blog and comments avidly for a year now, and am grateful for the insight and education. Let's hope for peace and truth in 2017. I do think there is hope, tomorrow my Christian family and I will spend the day with 2 Jewish families and a family of Persian Shia muslims. Left to our own devices we humans are quite able to find commonality and friendship among those we are encouraged to distrust.
Posted by: Reload | Dec 24 2016 17:40 utc | 24
Peace on Earth and good will to all men. Bless you all.
Posted by: Bruce Ballai | Dec 24 2016 18:16 utc | 25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzN1-M37RiY
Found this movie to closely match my own experience in Afghanistan, and has kind of a cinema verite thing going, with an uplifting final message, might interest millenials watching TV at Xmas dinner, since they'll be the next ones sent off to, 'fight them over there, so we can immigrate them over here'.
As a Taliban leader joked with me, "I love your Jesus, but hate your Christ!" (then blew up the guest house where we had just left, lol)
Remember, the Wall Street Khazars make money when the market's going up, but They also make money when you're screaming 'Sell!', waiting for a broker to take your order, because 'sell at market' is falling too fast, and you know they won't close you out until the very low of the day, lol.
Found it enlightening that 2016 only heard one reference to Anne Franke this year, and no Schindler's List, whew, instead, the Blood Libelers are running heavy psyop on the Barbary Pirates depredations by Islam of MENA and EU Christians some 700 years ago, while glamorizing their Bolshevik Revolution of 100 years ago, you know, where the Khazars slaughtered the Christian Tzar, then sent the Russian crown jewels and bullion off to NYC to fund the private Fed Bank, (the same bullion trick the Israeli Junta Coup used on Christian Ukraine) before sending 65,000,000 Christians off to Siberia to die for Ba'al and Moloch.
But it's all good. It's just business, get over it!
On to Tehran for the One Party of Mil.Gov.Corp!
Trumphim ahkbar! Mar-a-lago! Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu!
Give a prayer to Venezuela as you tuck into that plum pudding Sunday, and shout out 'Hope and Chains!' that when Modi's done privatizing India for the Khazars in London, all those disenfranchised 100,000,000s of Hindus and Brahmans don't emigrate to US and EU.
Posted by: chipnik | Dec 24 2016 18:20 utc | 26
thanks b and everyone else who posts here.
merry christmas and all the best in the new year to all.
Posted by: james | Dec 24 2016 18:39 utc | 27
Merry Christmas to you, B, and to everyone on MoA. Thanks for all your heartfelt endeavors after the truth.
Posted by: Cresty | Dec 24 2016 19:05 utc | 28
Peace on earth and good will to all.
Your picture reminded me of some words from the Robert Frost poem Mending Wall:
"...
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
....."
Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 24 2016 19:06 utc | 29
This must be a good web site.
I never saw one " Happy Holidays."
Merry Christmas to all.
So many Christmas's I have noticed another barbaric event somewhere, designed the spoil things. So far, so good.
Posted by: Joey | Dec 24 2016 19:24 utc | 30
Best wishes, peace, and happiness to b and everyone who comes by here to learn and share.
Posted by: WorldBLee | Dec 24 2016 19:26 utc | 31
Merry Christmas to all (and God Jul)
The 14 - 0 was a subject for rejoicing.
Posted by: Ejnar Ekström | Dec 24 2016 19:31 utc | 32
I deeply wish a blessed and peaceful Christmas to everyone, safety and solace to the battered regions of the earth who are our brethren all, penitence and redemption to those who blindly continue to crucify our children, and I hope above all for the enlightenment which comes with understanding, for ourselves, our neighbors, our precious and fragile earth. Thank you, b, for all you do.
Posted by: juliania | Dec 24 2016 19:45 utc | 34
Peace and Love to all.
May compassion for those we may never meet fill our thoughts.
Merry Christmas boys and girls.
G
Posted by: AtaBrit | Dec 24 2016 20:17 utc | 35
Yes, raising my glass to hope, the real hope and not the hopium kind.. Cheers to all!
Posted by: Lozion | Dec 24 2016 21:27 utc | 36
Merry Christmas to all the civilized human beings hanging around here. Peace
Posted by: Mina | Dec 24 2016 21:45 utc | 37
Merry Christmas to all and may 2017 be a good year for B and everyone here at MoA, readers, visitors, lurkers all!
Let's wish that the war in Syria has finally been won with the liberation of Aleppo and other cities and towns in Syria, and that the nation can finally rebuild and send out messages of hope and reconciliation, and be an example to the rest of us.
Thanks B for all your efforts in shining a light in the darkness in which we presently live. Thanks also to the various regular contributors for their discussions and support.
Posted by: Jen | Dec 24 2016 21:47 utc | 38
Merry Holidays and Happy Christmas to all...
b., hope you had a delicious Xmas Eve dinner!
Posted by: GoraDiva | Dec 24 2016 22:00 utc | 39
I love this sentence : Hope for walls to come down!
Posted by: طراحی سایت | Dec 24 2016 22:07 utc | 40
Yuletide greetings & happy winter solstice all you people in the North. I'm off to do something crazy - cook a big mob of winter food on a hot summer's day so the family can enjoy a whitefella tradition that hopefully one day will be celebrated on Matariki in June when enjoying hot food on a cold winter's day is somewhat more appropriate.
But seriously that won't stop everyone having a good time today, the younger members of the whanau have been up since sparrow fart ripping into gifts and shrieking at the silliest ones. Just as it should be.
I trust all of you have a happy peaceful day as well.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Dec 24 2016 22:11 utc | 41
What C. Dickens' Tiny Tim said, seems adequate.
Posted by: Formerly T-Bear | Dec 24 2016 22:21 utc | 42
Dearest Gemini,
We Sag's have few illusions. Particularly pertaining to Gemini's. Which is likely the reason Gem's tend to be drawn to Sag's. Kinda like cats to people with feline allergies. Cuz the truly intelligent hate ass-kissers. And know the value of TRUTH-tellers.
Merry Christmas from a Sag who can see thru BOTH sides.
Posted by: Take Me | Dec 24 2016 22:27 utc | 43
b, 27 alain b
I went to the Bethlehem Association site, backed off the now-nonexistent main page, and discovered that the new president lives in Orange County CA, USA. There may have been a coup at the Bethlehem Association?
Posted by: jfl | Dec 24 2016 23:20 utc | 44
Hope?,now you have become a fake site!Tell me what has religion done for humanity?.This 2000 years of propaganda has killed millions but it doesn't bother you drink up your champagne and gorge on Turkey and pray Jesus save your soul, if Christ came back today he will puke how his name has been hijacked.All religions are fake and anybody who dont see this fact are ignorant fools ripe to be harvested by 'we vs them' charlatans,
Posted by: Nur Adlina | Dec 24 2016 23:26 utc | 45
@ nur... does 'hope' always have to be associated with religion in your mind? ever thought that it might be independent of religion and have a life of it's own? try it sometime, LOL!
Posted by: james | Dec 24 2016 23:28 utc | 46
As God demonstrated His stubborn faith in us by trusting us with the gift of Christ, may we all be renewed to hope in the relationships that make our world despite the darkness that threatens to overwhelm us....
Blessings to you b, and all the community of this blog.
Posted by: les7 | Dec 24 2016 23:37 utc | 47
This is probably a good time to remind every one that even though things look bleak in the Middle East and it looks like no two religious groups can get along, that isn't actually the full truth and isn't always the way it has been. As black as Syria has been the last few years any one following this site knows it isn't the full story. Muslims helping Christians put their churches back together, multi-denomination prayers, a Shia choir singing Silent Night are all things we have seen on the other side of the ledger in Syria.
But there are others people may not be aware of.
Jews and Arabs used to get along quite well in Palestine for example.
https://972mag.com/before-zionism-the-shared-life-of-jews-and-palestinians/118408/
Even today they can still get along if they want to.
https://972mag.com/how-thousands-of-palestinian-and-israeli-women-are-waging-peace/122801/
Christians and Muslims working together to save their holy sites.
Any one that follows American news sites know one thing with certainty. Iranians are born to kill Jews which is why they have all been forced to flee Iran. Except that isn't even remotely true either.
http://forward.com/news/318930/a-jewish-journalists-exclusive-look-inside-iran/
http://forward.com/news/319269/irans-jews-win-secure-place-in-mullahs-world-with-strings-attached/
Christians protecting Muslims in Egypt
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1353330/Egypt-protests-Christians-join-hands-protect-Muslims-pray-Cairo-protests.html
It's not a panacea out there. But neither is it all black. Peace.
Posted by: BraveNewWorld | Dec 25 2016 0:01 utc | 48
While Trump wants to appear as the 'defender' of Israel, he may have discreetly encouraged Obama in not vetoing the UN resolution. That puts Netanyahu is a fragile situation and begging for Trump's support.
Israel is now looking at Trump as the friend and Obama as the enemy they are getting rid of. Yet they are on for some disappointments. Trump will require them to pay for everything the USA use to give them for free! The promised USA embassy's move to Jerusalem will have so many conditions attached that Israel will stop asking for it.
It doesn't look that it will a honeymoon with Trump either!
Posted by: virgile | Dec 25 2016 0:17 utc | 49
Anybody putting hope in religions for their utter ignorance of the truth definitely needs 'god's help.Religion is just tools used for slavery of the ignorant.Christianity and Islam, whats their contribution to humanity come on look at the facts its staring in your eyes!..fools...hope yeah hope religious beliefs help us!
Posted by: Nur Adlina | Dec 25 2016 0:21 utc | 50
Thank you b for all your courageous efforts; and, especially for exposing the infestation of cockroaches occupying high places.
Peace. We are fatigued by endless wars.
Wish you all a Wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Posted by: likklemore | Dec 25 2016 1:08 utc | 51
Excerpt from Derrick Jensen’s “Endgame” - Hope (pg. 329)
Derrick Jensen has an interesting perspective on hope.
I’m don’t necessarily subscribe to this take on hope but it has definitely stimulated my thinking about it and I consider it whenever I hear anyone, including myself, invoke hope.
Some excerpts from the above link:
The more I understand hope, the more I realize that instead of hope being a comfort, that all along it deserved to be in the box with the plagues, sorrow, and mischief; that it serves the needs of those in power as surely as a belief in a distant heaven; that hope is really nothing more than a secular version of the same old heaven/nirvana mindfuck. …I hope that the next time I get on a plane, it doesn’t crash. To hope for some result means you have no agency concerning it
…
In my words as I understand Jensen’s view of hope, I do hope for things I have no agency over like the plane I’m flying on does’t crash (unless of course I’m the pilot). I don’t hope I get a paycheck. I go to work and earn one. I don’t hope for “peace on earth”, I live peacefully and try to imbue that attitude on others by my behavior toward them.
My ambivalence with this idea of hope is great. So with great respect for our host, b, I do
Hope for more light and new beginnings, needed as much today than ever. Hope for walls to come down.
Happy holidays to all.
Posted by: juannie | Dec 25 2016 1:20 utc | 53
Merry Christmas to all.
And many thanks to the barkeeper.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Dec 25 2016 1:23 utc | 54
@ Virgile 50
[.]”Israel is now looking at Trump as the friend and Obama as the enemy they are getting rid of. Yet they are on for some disappointments. Trump will require them to pay for everything the USA use to give them for free! The promised USA embassy's move to Jerusalem will have so many conditions attached that Israel will stop asking for it.
I hope you are proven right.
Posted by: likklemore | Dec 25 2016 1:25 utc | 55
A beautiful Christmas card for your appreciative readers, b.
Posted by: Glorious Bach | Dec 25 2016 1:26 utc | 56
What an amazing blog this has been this year! Absolutely superb! Thank you:)
Posted by: relament | Dec 25 2016 1:52 utc | 57
For contemplation: sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.
From The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Posted by: chipnik | Dec 25 2016 2:16 utc | 59
Joyous News From Palestine
It might be argued that Obama’s decision not to veto the Resolution shows his true decent instincts once political machination is no longer a factor. I have been undecided whether he is a decent but timid man prepared to go along with the machinations of hard power without any fights that would make his own life less comfortable, or a total charlatan who was always just a puppet of the powerful. It took eight years for me to tend towards the slightly less appalling option. Certainly Hillary, an uncompromising Zionist who refused to condemn illegal settlements when Bernie Sanders did so, would have vetoed the resolution. In a strange way, Trump’s victory allowed it to pass; if Clinton had won, Obama would have very probably felt bound to defer to her wish to veto it.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/12/joyous-news-palestine/
Posted by: mauisurfer | Dec 25 2016 2:24 utc | 60
51
Religions are just like nations, or cities, or families, they're the pots that we're planted in, the banzai that shapes us, at least those who are privileged by the gods of Dumb Luck not to have to sleep on the dirt in a skin-and-stick hut and cook their meal on dried animal dung. Don't confuse organized religion for the One Mind of the Cosmos. It is real, I can assure you. That's what's truly terrifying. It is real. It supports us, but we don't know what it wants. Is it the Blue Monkey Gods of the Hindus, or the Self-Not Self Realization of the Buddhists? Nobody knows, except maybe the animals, and they're not talking to us.
Here, be glad this isn't your Christmas story: Fishing at the Stone Weir
Posted by: chipnik | Dec 25 2016 2:34 utc | 61
Everybody heaves a great sigh of relief, they elected the 'lesser evil' Trump, but at least he stops ww3 in the nick of time !
If you think Clinton is vile.......
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/12/23/pers-d23.html
Sorry to spoil the festive fun,
but this 'great white HOPE' looks more and more
like the 'great white HOAX'.
HEHEHEHEHHE
Posted by: denk | Dec 25 2016 3:02 utc | 62
Joyous News From Palestine
Really? How long the talks and talks been going for one or two States.... Forty plus years! Meanwhile Palestinians and Palestine slowly disappearing. Soon there will no Palestinians nor Palestine.
Recently Google’s maps eliminate Palestine, show only the States of Israel....
I still remember the 1967 war while in college, my Econ. 101 professor a Jew. He updated daily events before every lecture - Israel armies swept across the Sinai desert. Me like most of my classmates were rotting for the "good" guys - Israel!
Time has change, opposite what I used to be. Hope? My foot!
Posted by: Jack Smith | Dec 25 2016 4:59 utc | 63
Many thanks and good wishes to b and his merry mooners - but I gotta say that hope is not a strategy for peace. Active justice is.
Vielen dank b for your work. Let the truth liberate the mankind. Merry Christmas all !
World War I: The 1914 Christmas Truce
Posted by: ProPeace | Dec 25 2016 5:28 utc | 65
@virgile, I second your thoughts regarding trump and Israel. Bibi might be in for a surprise next year.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. Long live this blog, and all the merry makers here. Wish I had time to read very comment...
Posted by: Shadyl | Dec 25 2016 5:31 utc | 66
The fourth tragedy for Russia this week - and on Christmas Day involving the military orchestra going to play for Russian troops in Syria. Call me paranoid, but …
https://www.rt.com/news/371623-russian-tu-154-disappears-radars/
Further, given the orchestra which played in Palmyra so movingly, one can only wonder, speculate, whether they were also going to make a surprise visit to Aleppo, where some are now sort of celebrating liberation and a frail Christmas. I weep.
Posted by: Felicity | Dec 25 2016 7:28 utc | 67
happy everything, to one and all.. what ever you believe, please try to actually live the belief.
you da' best b, thank you!
Posted by: ben | Dec 25 2016 7:35 utc | 68
@virgile, @shadyl
well, it says hope at the top of the post ... so i, too, hope that 'hope' triumphs over experience in this case along with yourselves.
Posted by: jfl | Dec 25 2016 8:09 utc | 70
Sadly the plane carrying the Russian military choir Alexandrov and others crashed this morning into the Black Sea on its way to Syria. A western cultural institution vanishes. The consequences for family, friends and nation are of course incalculable. Another notable loss.
Posted by: Quentin | Dec 25 2016 12:36 utc | 72
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/cia-chief-admits-the-agencys-role-in-the-syrian-war/
CIA will bring hope of joy and freedom of democracy to the world!Its all evil putin and barrel bomber's fault?,and religions will save us and baby jesus will come back to save us and pigs do fly:-)
Factions in the so called the 'us' are stirring things up for their sake hope they leave no fingerprint in the latest 'falseflag'.?!
Posted by: Nur Adlina | Dec 25 2016 13:21 utc | 73
Merry Christmas to all and especially to B who brings sanity to an otherwise insane media.....
Posted by: georgeg | Dec 25 2016 16:04 utc | 74
Here's to a hope indeed, and a determined vigilance regarding these psychopaths in power who have so comprehensively destroyed any prospect of a balanced and creative world. May 2017 be one where we see the tide turning in favour of at least a level playing field where evil's dynamics are truly seen and understood. Many thanks for your blogging.
Posted by: M.K. Styllinski | Dec 25 2016 16:34 utc | 75
There can be no peace in the Holy Land with Bibi raising hell for not getting his way via the US/UN for any criticism of his actions. At least he can be criticized for this in Israel itself in places like Haaretz. (see how twisted US media is) He's a squeaky wheel that needs to be greased and we have the mechanics and grease guns to do so.
Meanwhile Turkey's loco logic is on display. Now they're going to finally go after those they claim they've been fighting all along?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-24/erdogan-seeks-to-join-forces-with-trump-against-is-in-syria
Let me get this straight. Turkey opens its borders to and supports fighters to overthrow Assad. But somehow they expected the Kurds to help but not seek independence.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas to all. I would far rather get my news from an alt ("fake") news source like this one than the big boys ... who should get coal in their stockings along with pink slips.
Posted by: Curtis | Dec 25 2016 16:40 utc | 76
Turkey opened borders BEING ASKED SO BY THE EU/US, i.e. Qatar, as part of a magical plan to empty EU/UK suburbs of young Islamists. They thought a pay back for participating in the Libya scam would come. According to this book (check for the phrase "Turkish workers Libya") Aaron Stein, Turkey's New Foreign Policy: Davutoglu, the AKP and the Pursuit of Regional Order, they had early 2011 60 billion $ of projected investments in Libya. They must have been told they would get 50/50 of the money made by Qatar exporting Libyan natural gas! In exchange they ended up having to supervise IS oilfields.
Posted by: Mina | Dec 25 2016 17:42 utc | 77
Joining Quentin and Felicity in expression of sympathetic grief at the tragic loss of so many of Russia's finest artists who were travelling to bring the joy of music to hard pressed Syria. Christmas time is always a time of light in the darkness, and while the Russians celebrate Christmas thirteen days from now, the season has already begun. The first words of God in Genesis took on the task of separating light from darkness, which ongoing task John echoes in the opening verses of his Gospel:
"The light shines in the darkness
and the darkness has not overcome it.
I read that the Russians are setting up light towers surrounding the scene of the crash. It was said at RT that the weather was good for flying, so these lights stand watch and are emblematic as the darkness descends.
The light shines in the darkness
And the darkness has not overcome it.
Memory eternal for these beautiful souls.
The light shines in the darkness
And the darkness has not overcome it.
Posted by: juliania | Dec 25 2016 18:48 utc | 78
Such a great person writes this column. Such wonderful people read it and respond with love and empathy for all humanity. Thanks to the Man on the Moon who brings us truth. God bless you and Merry Christmas.
Posted by: charles shamey | Dec 25 2016 19:08 utc | 80
Condolences to the families of all souls aboard TU-154; may they find comfort.
Rest in peace to their departed loved ones.
Posted by: Circe | Dec 25 2016 19:49 utc | 81
@juliania #79:
Joining Quentin and Felicity in expression of sympathetic grief at the tragic loss of so many of Russia's finest artists who were travelling to bring the joy of music to hard pressed Syria. Christmas time is always a time of light in the darkness, and while the Russians celebrate Christmas thirteen days from now, the season has already begun.
I'm Russian, but I'm celebrating Christmast today, because I'm Lutheran.
Here is a nice pagan song to get a feeling of the divine on Christmas:
There is little doubt that the latest loss of a Russian plane was an act of terrorism.
Demian is now known as Adalbrand
Hope is Vladimir Putin. He show great courage and fortitude against a combine force: Amerika (most powerful superpowers on earth), NATO, Terrorists (Daesh, IS, al-Qaida) and MSM. Calm and forceful against an invincible force in Syria and prevails.
Russian Federation suffers immensely. Turkey F-16 shoots down SU-24M and terrorist on the ground take the live of the pilot. Two mishaps on Admiral Kuznetsov. Terrorists bombed a field hospital in Aleppo taking three Russians' medics helping Syrians from Aleppo. Terrorists planted explosive devices on board Airbus A321 taking 224 lives in the Sinai Desert. Shooting Russian Ambassador on the back, lastly mishap Russian’s military plane with ninety-two, on board Red Army Choir and Reporters downed in Black Sea.
The next hope will be Xi of China, facing Amerika, India and wartime arch enemy Japan.
My deepest condolence to the people of Russia for the latest ninety-two lives lost doing what is right.
Posted by: Jack Smith | Dec 25 2016 21:06 utc | 83
Hope is also Eva Bartlett, an independent Canadian journalist, Vanessa Beeley and Patrick Henningsen 21st Centuries Wire. They independently exposed the White Helmets to the world. Without them most of us remain clueless.
If you are agree with me - here a video Jimmy Dore breaks it down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9F-cHc5Qog
Posted by: Jack Smith | Dec 25 2016 21:22 utc | 84
Thank you Berhard for the huge contribution you have made, day by day, to shining the light of truth of what has happened in Syria.
For today, with the death of the majority of the wonderful Alexandrov Ensemble in a plane crash I hope people will listen to their beautiful songs, which yet again reminds us of the richness and depth of Russian culture. A great loss.
Posted by: Lochearn | Dec 25 2016 23:05 utc | 85
If not for the three recent attacks, my first thought would be mechanical failure. However, in context, the loss of the Tu-154 looks like an attack against Russian values - it's magnificent choir on one of its holy days. This is possibly an attempt to stir up Russians against Putin's perceived inaction in defending Russians (i.e. Putin isn't following the US script where he is supposed to lash out when provoked so the US can then totally sanction Russia).
The international reaction is interesting:
Russian liberals and Ukrops are united in the joy at the death of Russians.
The leaders of DNR, Spain, Germany, Syria, Turkey, Italy, Belarus and Israel personally expressed their condolences, some directly to Putin. Germany's foreign minister also expressed condolences.
The leaders of the US and UK didn't consider the event worthy of their attention and left it to the obnoxious US ambassador to Russia (US) and the 'Haircut in Search of a Brain' (UK) respectively.
In memorium, my favorite Red Army Orchestra piece: Damn the bastards who did this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLg83QMmlGs
Posted by: Yonatan | Dec 25 2016 23:22 utc | 86
Sabine @53
"hope died along time ago, if she ever existed."
You might find something of value in Studs Terkel's 'Hope Dies Last'.
I, for one hope, I will see the sun rise tomorrow if nothing else.
Posted by: Yonatan | Dec 25 2016 23:29 utc | 87
Wishing the blog author and all contributors a safe festive season. It is a special place this old-school venue...the thirst for informed truth found here, without fanfare, makes it a triumph of the collective human spirit..about as religious as I get.
Fuck Disney.
Posted by: MadMax2 | Dec 26 2016 0:04 utc | 88
1917 - 2017 Bolshevik Revolution Centennial
Russia seeks serious payback
Russian Jews in Israel are immigrants and descendants of the immigrants of the Russian Jewish communities, who now reside within the state of Israel. They number a core population of around 900,000, and enlarged population of up to 1,200,000, if including Halakhally non-Jewish members of Jewish households. Israel population 8 millions.
Posted by: ALberto | Dec 26 2016 0:18 utc | 89
Bibi, being of Lithuanian stock, should know fine and well that you simply do not piss the Russians off or they will kill you, probably in a cruel and painful fashion; just ask the Germans what Russian vengeance is like. Mossad is certainly not above eliminating a leader and as Jeffrey Silverman, VT’s man in Russia and himself a Jew points out that:
“It might be a ploy within Mossad to get rid of Bibi, as Mossad is too independent minded to take him too seriously, and he is a greater threat to the Jewish State than any enemy, “real or perceived.”
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/12/25/did-israel-down-a-russian-jet-over-unsc-smackdown/
Posted by: ALberto | Dec 26 2016 0:26 utc | 90
Thanks to b for his blog's existence.
Thanks to Putin and the Russian People that fight so courageously on our behalf and at great sacrifice.
My sympathies to the families of the 92 victims of this tragedy. I grieve for the victims.
Considering the lack of empathy from the US, it seems that this is the king of retaliation Nobel Prize winners favor to
get even with those that defend their own rights.
May one day a semblance of justice exist in this world.
Posted by: CarlD | Dec 26 2016 1:00 utc | 91
A hundred years is but a blink of the eye to the White Russians.
Just me opinion
Posted by: ALberto | Dec 26 2016 1:04 utc | 92
@89 yonatan.. thank you for the link.. that was great. i am very sorry to hear of this major loss to the arts community.. my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones.
Posted by: james | Dec 26 2016 1:30 utc | 93
****** Bitdefender 2017 gives a big warning when clicking on the link provided under the photo to Bethlehem Association
just saying
Posted by: Malware Warning | Dec 26 2016 5:13 utc | 94
Season's Greetings to B and patrons of this venerable establishment. This from the Saker:
The Disaster of the Russian Miitary TU-154 A Few Short First Thoughts
http://thesaker.is/the-disaster-of-the-russian-miitary-tu-154-a-few-short-thoughts/
"...For all these reasons and even though it is way too early to speculate, my preferred hypothesis is that it was a terrorist act..."
Me too.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Dec 26 2016 6:38 utc | 95
Merry Christmas to you and yours, b. I share your wishes for hope and peace. A lot of people are using "peace" as a signoff or salutation here now, which hasn't been a widespread thing for decades.
Of course the warmongers constantly worry about it and are always going on about the perils of the American public's tendency toward "isolationism". Most people worry about war. Our warmongers worry about not enough of it.
Posted by: Joanne Leon | Dec 26 2016 11:10 utc | 96
Didn't Obama campaign on Hope?
@53 Hope died with Rachel Corrie
Posted by: aaaa | Dec 26 2016 14:53 utc | 97
aaaa @ 100
I believe he campaigned on DOPE, successfully too as our Streets and Avenues are awash in a sea of cheap Afghan Heroin killing our young men by the thousands. Pair that with 4,000+ dead blacks in his hometown of Chicago. Pretty high body count for a Nobel Prize Winner?
Posted by: ALberto | Dec 26 2016 23:01 utc | 98
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you moonbats, barflies and old-timers.
I'm buying a round for the house, all the best to you!
Posted by: jonku | Dec 26 2016 23:22 utc | 99
Here's another link to b's picture of Bethlehem and The Wall, and one to a billboard in the USA depicting Mary and Joseph approaching The Wall, and last, but not least, a link to those who made The Wall possible.
Posted by: jfl | Dec 26 2016 23:52 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
US abstains on UN resolution about Israel's illegal settlement, so it passes. Israel refuses to comply with resolution (probably a non-binding one anyway).
How about expelling those member states that refuse to go along with the rules? - here's looking at you, Nuttyahooistan.
Happy Christmas one and all, especially those that have had to wait 4 years to celebrate it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYiJF5OCgFQ
Posted by: Yonatan | Dec 24 2016 11:37 utc | 1