The Lead

When Things Look Ugly, Apply Beauty

by David Shavin (EIRNS) — Oct. 16, 2024

One year ago, the Netanyahu gang initiated what can only be called a population war upon the civilians of Gaza. The civilians went from an average of 500 trucks/day of food, water and medicine, for the 2.3 million residents, to zero. That was the centerpiece of the naked policy of driving all Palestinians out of Gaza, an explicit policy of the “Eretz Yisrael” ("Greater Israel") gang. Weeks went by before international pressure resulted in a handful of trucks being allowed in, and that over the strenuous objections of Netanyahu’s front men, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

No later than the beginning of this October, northern Gaza was cut off from all humanitarian aid, including food and water, as Israel refused to permit any aid trucks to enter. The peak of Israel’s compliance with their obligations never rose above about 30% of the daily requirements, and for several months it has been about half of that. The UN World Food Program sent out the word several days ago about the drop to zero, once again.

After Algeria, France and Britain called for an urgent meeting at the UN Security Council, Netanyahu’s gang decided to allow a token 50 aid trucks in, enough for the Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, to offer the defense that she was starting to see some trucks were starting to get through—and she assured one and all that the U.S. was on the case, “watching to see that Israel’s actions on the ground” did not constitute a policy of starvation.

But if Netanyahu’s gang are serial abusers of international law, the conduct of warfare and humanitarian standards, what of Washington, D.C.? Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, made it clear to Israel that they have 30 more days to figure out how to allow aid trucks into northern Gaza, or else. What is “or else”? The U.S. might certify that Israel is not meeting humanitarian standards, which might interfere with some future arms shipments. Have the serial abusers in West Jerusalem heard this pathetic threat before? They know that Blinken lied to Congress on behalf of Netanyahu last spring, affirming that Israel’s written declaration that they were following humanitarian standards was credible. Netanyahu’s gang know they are dealing with serial facilitators of genocide, as surely as Hitler knew that Neville Chamberlain and London, with a wink and a nod, would not lift a finger to stop the genocide.

On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the much-anticipated BRICS summit begins in Kazan, Russia, with country after country trying to work out trade and economic collaboration, outside of destructive sanctions and of systemic, abusive practices of what is supposed to be a “reserve” currency, the dollar. The demise of the post-industrial, speculative addiction of London and Washington are as naked as the proverbial emperor of Hans Christian Andersen.

The hidden strength of Western civilization, even amongst the horrifying spectacle of its present state of so-called leaders—from the Italian Renaissance, the transcendent beauty of Germany’s Beethoven and Schiller and the “temple of liberty and beacon of hope,” the republic of such as Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln—is that we really are born for that which is better. The path may look dark, but it is not as obscure as one might think. When things look really ugly, better apply the power of the beautiful.

Just prepare yourself to fight off the fears and doubts as you organize for the necessary cultural breakthrough in ten days, “Build a Peace Chorus Against the Ghouls of War,” put together by candidate for Senate from New York Diane Sare, and candidate for the House of Representatives Jose Vega from the Bronx (CD15).

Day 1: Distribute to anyone you have any respect for today’s cogent and honest 40-minute overview from Helga Zepp-LaRouche, along with an invitation to participate on

Day 2 in Friday’s International Peace Coalition meeting. You’ll surprise yourself at how far along the way you’ll get in just the first two days. Stay tuned for days three to ten.

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, or to get incinerated in a thermonuclear chicken game.