THE FURTHER CORRESPONDENCES OF MARC SUSSELMAN PART 33
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13 May 2025
MS said:
Those who regard themselves as students of history are aware of the numerous events of utter savagery, brutality, and indescribable barbarism which characterize the efforts of homo sapiens, throughout the centuries, to live among each other. That history is marked by tribalism, conquest, oppression and dominance, but mostly by violent death. A lot of death. There were the conquests of the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Muslims, the Mongols, the Ottomans, and on and on. The savagery of the Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Scythians, Parthians, Huns, Magyars, Mamluks, and on and on, is hair-raising. Vengeance and acts of retribution are repeated over and over again. In 455, Gaiseric, leader of the Vandals (the fitting source of the word “vandalism”) sacked Rome, plundering, killing and raping everything in sight. This was repeated in 1527, during the Reformation, when the Lutheran Landsknechte sacked Rome with such savagery, it “would have moved a stone to compassion.” As reported by Barbara Tuchman in “The March of Folly”: “The soldiers looted house by house, killing anyone who offered resistance. Women were violated regardless of age. Screams and groans filled every quarter; the Tiber floated with dead bodies. … Priests, monks and other clergy were victimized with extra brutality; nuns dragged to brothels or sold to soldiers in the streets. Palaces plundered and left in flames; churches and monasteries sacked for their treasures, relics trampled after being stripped of jeweled covers, tombs broken open in the search for more treasure, the Vatican used as a stable.” Again and again, throughout history, the veneer of humanity has been stripped off, revealing homo sapiens as the descendants of apes.
Amidst all this barbarism, a culture emerged which distinguished itself from its neighbors for its emphasis on a code of ethics, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments – the Jews, referred to as “The Chosen People,” chosen not to reign over their neighbors, but to disseminate their ethical code and their belief in a monotheistic deity, devoted to justice among the peoples of the Earth. They controlled a sliver of land for a mere 900 years, from approximately 800 B.C. to 100 A.D. During that time period, they did not engage in extraterritorial conquest, but were themselves conquered and forcibly dispersed across the world. They were succeeded by another religious culture, the Christian culture, which diverged from its Jewish genesis in many doctrinal ways, primary among them being the doctrine of “turning the other cheek,” a doctrine supposed to embody the rejection of vindictiveness, a doctrine which Judaism in turn rejected as in effect facilitating immoral conduct, by succumbing to bullying, rather than ethically resisting it.
This all changed in 1948, the year I was born, with the memory of the Holocaust still fresh in the Jewish psyche, and, after having been dispersed for 1,848 years, the establishment of a new Jewish nation, a nation devoted to the culture of justice, and self-defense, at its religious core. Growing up, I remember my fellow Jews criticizing the German people for having been complicit with the Nazis, by succumbing to, rather than resisting, its anti-Semitic program. A message embodied in Rabbi Heschel’s famous pronouncement, “Few are guilty, but all are responsible.” This pronouncement, by a rabbi, is presumed to represent a core teaching of Judaism itself – although I am not aware whether Rabbi Heschel attributed any particular passage in the Torah or Talmud as its source.
Recent events in Israel and Gaza are concerning, concerning regarding whether Israel, which, whether we like it or not, is seen by the world as the embodiment of Judaism and of Jewish culture, is living up to its religious and historical commitment to justice, even in the context of self-defense. After the Hamas attack of October 7, an attack reminiscent of the sackings of Rome in its brutality and savagery, I steadfastly supported Israel’s right to self-defense, and to its military invasion of Gaza with its primary objective of releasing the hostages, and dismantling Hamas. I was vehemently critical of those in the Jewish community who were critical of Israel’s military tactics as being disproportionate. I castigated them for forgetting that Jews do not believe in turning the other cheek, that retaliation can be ethically justified as necessary in order to prevent future death and destruction at the hands of modern-day Vandals.
Events in Gaza, and the policies of the current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, have begun to give me pause, and to give me reason for reflection regarding what Judaism stands for, and its commitment to “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” Particularly difficult to deal with, and to justify, are the images of Palestinian children in Gaza, starving to death. For several months now, Israel has limited the amount of food being allowed to enter Gaza. Humanitarian organizations are warning that they are running out of food, and of an impending devastating famine. Prime Minister Netanyahu has defended Israel’s policies regarding the delivery of food, claiming that it is being stolen by Hamas. The reports I have read regarding the accuracy of this claim are mixed. However, let us assume the claim is true, that a large amount of the food is being stolen by Hamas, does this justify the policy of limiting the amount of food being allowed to enter Gaza? Rather, does it not instead demand that the amount of food be increased, to compensate for the theft and to insure that enough food gets to the Palestinians in order to survive, to prevent the starvation of innocent Palestinian children? How would allowing more food into Gaza constitute turning the other cheek, rather than a reaffirmation of everything Judaism stands for?
When I see Prime Minister Netanyahu speak about the justification of Israel’s policies, I see no sign of humility, no sense of empathy in his smile, no compassion in his demeanor. I see, unfortunately, a bully, the eternal enemy of the Jewish people. I see a man, an imposter, bent on doing everything he can to stay in power, to prevent an adjudication of the claims of fraud and corruption which have been levelled against him. I see the repudiation of everything which Judaism is supposed to stand for. And it sickens me, as I assume, it sickens many of you.
Since October 7, though feeling somewhat estranged from the religion I was raised in, I have attended several Shabbat services at different denominational venues. I have yet to hear any sermon by any rabbi confronting, directly and head-on, what Israel is doing, asking whether Israel’s policies, at the direction of Prime Minister Netanyahu, are in keeping with the tenets of Judaism recited every week from the Torah. I have immersed myself in the reports in the Forward, Tablet magazine, the Jerusalem Post, and Haaretz. While Haaretz has been critical of Netanyahu and Israel’s policies from a political standpoint, I have yet to see any article analyzing, in any of these publications, whether those policies are in keeping with our Jewish religious values. Why? How long can Israeli and American Jews continue to avoid this question, central to the very reason for the existence of the State of Israel, as a light unto the nations? How long can we allow Prime Minister Netenyahu’s use of starvation as a tool of war to continue without recrimination and denunciation? How long can we allow him to reduce the Jewish people to the likes of the Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Scythians, Parthians, Huns, Magyars, Mamluks and a descent into barbarism? How long until we live up to Rabbi Heschel’s exhortation that, while we may not all be guilty, we are all responsible? How long?
Marc Susselman
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15 May 2025
MS said:
Today, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on the question of the status of the birthright provision of the 14th Amendment.
The arguments, and the Justices’ questions, will be historic, and will indicate in what direction the Justices are leaning regarding Trump’s antics.
The oral arguments start at 10:00 A.M., and you can hear them at the link below, just click on the Live icon
"Oral Arguments..."
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MS said:
"CNN Video..."
I used to dislike this guy, but the enemy of my enemy, i.e., Trump, can be my friend.
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16 May 2025
MS said:
Former White House ethics lawyer reacts to Trump’s plans to accept plane gift from Qatar
"CNN Video..."
Trump’s acceptance of a $50 million gift from Qatar is clearly unconstitutional and violates the emoluments clause. Only Congress can approve such a gift. If Trump does not seek Congressional approval of the gift, can it be prevented in court?
The answer? Essentially nothing can be done to prevent the gift in court. No individual American citizen, or group of American citizens, would have standing to sue Trump in court. The only entity which could sue Trump in court for violating the Constitution would be Congress, and only Congress. And the lawsuit would have to be brought by a majority of the members of Congress – any group of Congressmen/women less than a majority would not have standing to sue. This was decided in 2019 when Senator Blumenthal and Congressman Nader sued Trump regarding his receiving various gifts of hotel reservations without Congressional approval. The D.C. District Court denied Trump’s motion to dismiss. The D.C. Circuit Court reversed, holding that Blumenthal and Nader, as individual members of Congress, did not have standing to sue the President, citing Raines v. Byrd, 521 U.S. 811 (1997), and Va. House of Delegates v. Bethune-Hill, 139 S. Ct. 1945 (2019). This Republican controlled Congress is not going to sue Trump. Nor will it impeach him.
This leaves the question – what is Qatar getting in return? We have a President who is willing to sell American interests to the highest bidder, and there is nothing we can do about it at the present time. The only solution is to change the composition of Congress in the midterm elections.
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MS said:
The Boss tells it like it is!
"CNN Springsteen Video..."
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MS said:
Donald Trump Calls Bruce Springsteen ‘Dumb As a Rock’ After Musician Slams ‘Treasonous’ Administration
The politician also wrote that The Boss is "not a talented guy" as well as a "pushy, obnoxious JERK."
What’s that saying about the pot calling the kettle black?
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20 May 2025
MS said:
Noem Incorrectly Defines Habeas Corpus as the President’s Right to Deport People
Another id### in the Trump administration.
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22 May 2025
MS said:
The Supreme Court just issued its ruling regarding the constitutionality of religious charter schools supported by taxpayer money. The ruling is a 4-4 split, which means the decision of the Oklahoma Supreme Court that the legislation authorizing religious charter schools was unconstitutional stands. Since the decision is what is called a “per curiam” decision, there are no written opinions and we do not know how each of the Justices voted. My bet would be that Justice Roberts voted with the 3 liberal Justices – but we will never know. I frankly find it astounding and incomprehensible that 4 Justices did not conclude that the state law violated the Establishment Clause.
But this may be a short-lived victory. It is highly likely that another of the Red states will pass similar legislation, which will not require Justice Barrett to recuse herself, unless the same professors from Notre Dame, where she taught law, participate in that case.
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24 May 2025
MS said:
I received the article below in my email feed this morning.
In 325 BC, Alexander the Great led his army into the desert between India and the Persian Gulf. The famous Macedonian leader hoped to easily reach the central regions of the Empire, but the march turned out to be more difficult than expected.
The lack of food and water began to weigh on the soldiers, who also suffered from the heat and the boiling sand, so much so that some began to perish under the scorching desert sun. The historian Arrian recounts: "Alexander himself, gripped by thirst, led the troops with great pain and difficulty and yet on foot; so too the other soldiers, as usually happens in similar circumstances, tolerated the fatigue better given the same suffering. In the meantime, some lightly armed men, who had moved away from the army in search of water, found it collected in a shallow cavity, a modest and unknown spring. Having taken it without difficulty, they ran to Alexander, as if they were carrying something precious. Then they poured the water into a helmet and gave it to the king. He took it and thanked those who had brought it, but then spilled it in front of everyone. After this, the entire army regained courage to the point of making it seem as if the water poured by Alexander had been drunk by everyone".
Thus Alexander the Great, thanks also to his leadership spirit, finally managed to lead his men out of the desert.
I don’t know, but this does not sound like great leadership to me. I would have marched my men to where the spring was.
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Michael said:
I believe the story goes that before leaving the desert Alexander marched his Macedonian Army to the shoreline, dug some deep pits on the beach & got water that way. Sand acts as a fresh water filter for sea water if it's deep enough.
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MS said:
"CNN Video..."
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26 May 2025
MS said:
I sent the message below to all 53 Republican Senators, as well as several Democratic Senators, and the two Independents.
This Memorial Day weekend is a farce. This country under Trump’s leadership is not what past patriots died defending and protecting.
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28 May 2025
MS said:
Last night I attended the annual meeting of the Ann Arbor Jewish Federation. After the meeting, I sent the below email to its President and Board members.
Marc M. Susselman, JD, MPH
43834 Brandywyne Rd.
Canton, Michigan 48187
marcsusselman@gmail.com
May 28, 2025
Re: The annual meeting of the Jewish Federation and Israel
President Eileen Freed
Rabbi Asher Lopatin
Board Members Larry Adler; Jeremy Bloom; Debra Chapp; Susan Fisher; Jack Fuchsman; Julie Grand; Bruce Kutinsky; Murry Rebner; Maria Linderman Richelew; Jennifer Rosenberg; Marty Shichtman; Alicia Simon; Annie Wolock
I attended the Federation’s annual meeting tonight. I left in utter disgust. Not a word was said regarding Israel’s immoral use of food and starvation as a weapon of war, a desecration of the Torah and Talmud.
Although I have vehemently supported Israel’s right to exist, and its right to retaliate against the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7 by invading Gaza with the intention of destroying Hamas, Israel, in its nationalist zeal, has gone too far. Starving thousands of Palestinian civilians, including thousands of innocent children, is not to be condoned, EVER. It calls for vigorous condemnation by Jewish organizations which claim to uphold the Ethics of Our Fathers. Silence is nothing more than complicity – just as the Germans who remained silent became complicit in the Nazi atrocities. Yet not a word of condemnation was spoken at tonight’s meeting, while you all kibbitzed and patted each other on the back.
Why? Has the anthem Israel right or wrong replaced Deutschland, right or wrong? How can Judaism survive when its soul is being eviscerated by Jewish authoritarianism and nationalism in Israel? Why did no one at tonight’s meeting speak up and condemn it? Why? Are you fearful that disunity among the Jewish people in the name of morality will threaten our survival? What are we saving if we destroy the Jewish values which preserved us during the Diaspora?
In utter disgust and disappointment,
Marc Susselman, JD, MPH
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30 May 2025
MS said:
President Eileen Freed
Rabbi Asher Lopatin
Board Members Larry Adler; Jeremy Bloom; Debra Chapp; Susan Fisher; Jack Fuchsman; Julie Grand; Bruce Kutinsky; Murry Rebner; Maria Linderman Richelew; Jennifer Rosenberg; Marty Shichtman; Alicia Simon; Annie Wolock
For new parents, the aid crisis in Gaza is hitting hard
"TheForwardAssociation"
“There’s no comparing my life to the profound suffering that people in Gaza have endured for more than 600 days. My son and I are safe with plenty to eat. And yet I am not the only new parent of an infant — the postpartum period still so acute in so many ways — who is struggling with the number of dead or starving babies they scroll past all day, every day, online.”
While we continue to remain silent regarding the Netanyahu regime’s use of starvation as a tool of war.
Make sure to celebrate the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai Sunday night. After all, we would not want to lose sight of our ethical roots.
Shabbat Shalom.
Marc Susselman
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31 May 2025
MS said:
All sorts of crazy ideas are coming out of the woodwork.
"AntiDemocracyBlogger..."
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1 June 2025
MS said:
Rick Derringer playing Rock N’ Roll Hoochie Koo!
He passed away this week.
"MrDerringer..."
Ah, memories.
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MS said:
I posted a sign in my front yard today with the message below.
I encourage everyone to do the same (even if you are Canadian or Chilean) – it only cost $7.00 at Office Max.
WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR DEMOCRACY BY A LAWLESS AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START SPEAKING OUT – BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
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4 June 2025
MS said:
Friday is the 81st anniversary of the landing at Normandy.
Is this the country they died to preserve?
"YouTube..."
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6 June 2025
MS said:
"Politics1"
"Politics2"
I love it! Mutually assured destruction, indeed.
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8 June 2025
MS said:
"CNN..."
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Michael said:
Both men may be reconciled with one another if there is a mutual threat that appears on the horizon. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' is not a proverb that has to be static. It can mutate and become dynamic. Of course, if they do get back together, Republicans would most likely be worried about another future rift in the relationship.
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11 June 2025
MS said:
The current immigration raid crisis in Los Angeles provides an example of how the misuse of language can lead to confusion and erroneous conclusions. In the interview at the link below between Jake Tapper and Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil explains how he had access to the internal operation of the raids being conducted by ICE and several other federal agencies. Regarding concerns that Trump has shifted the focus of the raids from deporting immigrants who are criminals and dangerous, to undocumented immigrants generally, he explains that the raids have been conducted pursuant to warrants issued by courts, and have been focused on arresting immigrants who have been identified as previously convicted of a crime, and in the process they have arrested other immigrants who are undocumented, whom he describes as “illegal immigrants,” whom he claims the law requires that ICE arrest.
"LAProtests..."
The use of the term “illegal immigrants” to refer to “undocumented immigrants” is an erroneous conflation of the terminology. Undocumented immigrants are not guilty of any crime, and therefore are not properly subject to arrest. Being an undocumented immigrant is a civil, not a criminal, offense. Moreover, the status of an alleged undocumented immigrant cannot be determined until the individual has been afforded a hearing before an immigration judge. Referring to undocumented immigrants as “illegal” immigrants implies that they have already been tried and convicted of a crime, and therefore are automatically subject to expulsion. They are not. For an explanation of the distinction, see:
"Illegal..."
Trump is deliberately confusing the terminology in order to dispel the fact that he is not living up to his campaign promise to restrict the expulsion of immigrants to “illegal” immigrants who have already committed a crime, and to justify his federalization of the National Guard and the deployment of the Marines to Los Angeles. It is a prime example of 1984 double-speak, the warping of language for political ends. What he is doing in Los Angeles is a precursor for what he plans to do in Houston, Chicago, Miami and NYC, in order to provoke protests, which he can then use to invoke the Insurrectionist Act and take over the country.
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12 June 2025
MS said:
Judge Blocks Trump From Deploying National Guard in Los Angeles
The restraining order delivered a sharp rebuke to President Trump’s effort to deploy thousands of National Guard troops on the streets of an American city, a move that has contributed to nearly a week of political rancor and protests across the country.
The battle has been joined.
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16 June 2025
MS said:
A JUSTICE APART
New York Times, June 16
Justice Barrett is turning out to be this Court’s Justice Souter.
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19 June 2025
MS said:
In a previous comment, I included a link to reflections by Christopher Hitchens on anti-Semitism.
During his discourse, he mentioned that Gore Vidal, whom he referred to as a former friend, was anti-Semitic, and had written an anti-Semitic screed to Thomas Keneally, the author of Schindler’s List. I was surprised to learn this, so I did some research regarding Vidal (whom I have regarded as a great historical novelist). Among some of the items that popped up, was the below – a letter written to the New Republic criticizing the magazine for accusing Vidal of being anti-Semitic. The letter is authentic – I kid you not.
Letter sent to the New Republic
UNFUNNY FARM To the editors: I came across your article in which you accuse Gore Vidal of "anti-Semitism" and proceed to insult him viciously ("Patriotic Gore," April 28). The final sentence reads: "This man is ready for the funny farm." I resent the fact that you equate "anti-Semitism" with insanity In the first place, Gure Vidal is anti-Zionist, not anti-Jewish, and in the second place, being opposed to Zionism (which is both racist and militaristic) is not a sign of mental illness. If anything, it is patriotic. The term "funny farm" is not funny. It is derogatory, and using such phrase* makes you, not Gore Vidal, sound twisted The easiest way to defame someone and his opinions is to label him as "loony" and "ready for the funny farm." It happens to me all the time. The opinions of Gore Vidal and myself are just as valid as yours, and just because we disagree with you does not mean we are crazy.
JOHN HINCKLEY JR. St. Elizabeths Hospital Washington, D.C.
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20 June 2025
MS said:
A critical question regarding justification for Israel’s attack on Iran is the following:
What is the maximum level of uranium enrichment required in order to have a nuclear electric generation program?
I found the answer here:
"IranNuclearProgram..."
“Pran Nath, Northeastern University’s Matthews Distinguished University Professor of physics, says it’s first useful to understand the uranium-enrichment process.
One of the biggest differences between a nuclear facility being used for energy production compared to one building nuclear weapons is the percentage of enriched uranium needed to perform the tasks. You only need uranium to be enriched to about 3% to 5% for power plants, while you need above 90% for nuclear weapons, Nath says.”
Therefore, if Israel is correct that Iran is enriching its uranium considerably above 5%, it is either foolishly spending its money, or its actual intent is to build a nuclear weapon. Given Iran’s threats of Death to Israel and Death to America, it is unlikely that its intention for such a weapon would be purely defensive – justifying Israel’s attack.
Post-script:
Who is ultimately responsible for this debacle?
Our Supreme Leader, Donald Trump, for withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which was negotiated with Iran by the Obama administration.
Under the terms of the JCPOA, Iran agreed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% and not to build heavy-water facilities. For 10 years, uranium enrichment would be limited to a single facility using first-generation centrifuges. Other facilities would be converted to avoid proliferation risks.
IAEA inspections indicated that Iran was complying with the treaty’s terms.
Then, in 2018, Trump announced that the U.S. was withdrawing from the treaty, acting with his typical bravura and ignorance, removing any incentive for Iran to continue to comply.
Then, when re-elected, Trump sought desperately to get Iran back to the negotiating table, in an effort to get the genie back into the bottle, which he had released. Why would they? This forced Israel’s hand to react, as Iran’s level of uranium enrichment increased.
Place the blame on Trump.
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22 June 2025
MS said:
I’m sorry, but I find celebrating the U.S. attack on Iran as short-sighted. Trump violated the Constitution, by commencing a war against Iran without having first obtained Congress’s approval, as required under Article I of the Constitution. Jews should not be congratulating themselves when our President violates the Constitution, especially when it is done at the urging of a Jewish national leader of another country. Israel had already degraded Iran’s nuclear program by several months, if not years. There was no emergency. Our Constitution should not be made the sacrificial lamb of Israel.
"SenatorBernie..."
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27 June 2025
MS said:
Post-script:
If being born in the United Starts does not automatically make one a citizen, what is Trump?
Article II of the Constitution states: “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption if this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Offic of President[.]”
If Trump is not a citizen, he does not qualify to be President.
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29 June 2025
MS said:
A University of Florida law student won an academic honor after he argued in a paper that the Constitution applies only to white people.
"NewYorkTimes..."
The law school’s interim dean “defended the decision earlier this year, citing Mr. Damsky’s free speech rights and arguing that professors must not engage in ’viewpoint discrimination.’”
What a stupid idea. The concept of intellectual merit is based on viewpoint discrimination – some viewpoints have absolutely no intellectual or academic merit, and therefore should be discriminated against.
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30 June 2025
MS said:
This morning, I found myself thinking of the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. In our grief, we sought comfort in the belief, and hope, that in their death, the policies and values for which they advocated would live on and protect us. And here we are, with Donald Trump.
This reminded me of the deaths of the Brothers Gracchus, reformers of Roman policies during the second century, B.C. Tiberius Gracchus championed agrarian reform, and was bludgeoned to death. His younger brother, Gaius Gracchus, championed urban and administrative reforms. He was either killed or forced to commit suicide. And then came the death of the Republic and the ascension of Augustus Caesar.
Is history repeating itself?
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1 July 2025
MS said:
Paramount to Pay Trump $16 Million to Settle ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit
What utter cowards! Disgusting!
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2 July 2025
MS said:
I just emailed the below message to CBS.
CBS, and its parent company, Paramount, are a bunch of cowards. Trump’s lawsuit was totally frivolous, and you caved, just to protect Paramount’s proposed merger. In so doing, you have aided and abetted a fascist tyrant, who is destroying our democracy. What is particularly irksome is that I am Jewish, and to see a Jewish executive make a deal with the devil in order to make more money reinforces the anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews will do anything to make money, Shame on her, and shame on all of you!
I will NEVER watch CBS News or any CBS program again, including one of my formerly favorite programs, 60 Minutes. You have brought disgrace and dishonor on your network.
You can all go to ####### hell!
Marc Susselman, JD, MPH
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The End.