FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

     Chanukah, which began Sunday night, is also called the Festival of Lights. As such, the light of the candles are symbolic in how they remind us of the victory of right over wrong, of freedom over tyranny, and the lights remind the rest of the world that this fight, this struggle, is always with us, no matter the form it takes or the  venue. It reminds us that the light shines down on all, also a reminder, one that tells us that if we all join together we can vanquish the darkness that is also in this world. When the lights of the total holiday season are joined together, when the streets are strung with both the Jewish star and the five pointed star, we see the beauty of the combining of lights.
     Would that it were so easy to do in other areas of life. We ask why there must be those who wish only harm to others, who seek power, control and wealth for themselves. We wonder why today  "American universities were once a safe space not only for maturation but also for a certain regressive, or even transgressive, experience; increasingly, it seems, they have become places of censure and prohibition." Just like us.

 We wonder why today the light of true learning and education has left us bereft as it continues to dim.  We wonder why “The constant drumbeat of anti-Israel demonization in Europe is widely reflected in anti-Semitism and even terror attacks targeting against Jews. False allegations such as ‘war crimes’ and ‘apartheid’ become fodder for hate, not only against Israelis, but also against Jews in Europe. “    We wonder why the hatreds of the past are still so strong today and why demonization of one country over all others is seen as proper and even preferable.
     And then we understand that this same nastiness, this same hatred of others, this same desire, this insane desire, to rule over others and to ignore the basic elements of human rights, is contagious, and people who should know better, indeed, who DO know better, are caught up in this mad whirling wave of darkness and hate.
     That is essentially what we have here. We have an ostensible leader who basically is obsessed with retention of power, of control over 8 million dollars of a budget - and growing - of browbeating a Treasurer who then conveniently speaks in obfuscatory language and somehow always comes up with nice round whole numbers for our spending and somehow it always comes to that at the end of the year. IMPOSSIBLE! Just look to your own budget and see real life accounting.
     We have a coterie of people who are the usual parasites who hang on to the perceived strongman, just as there are parasitical fish who hang on to the shark or the hyenas and jackals who depend on the leavings of the lion for food for themselves. This is what we now have here in CV. WPRF and UCO are in cahoots, and are now beginning to feel some stirrings of panic. Could their reign be over? With the passing of the amendment by law, the delegates woke up to the fact that David Israel's plan was to totally strip them of any and all authority, of say so in this Village. Now it must continue. Sign the ballots for a vote on term limits. Sign a ballot for the resident owner vote wherein we will be  a true democracy, rather than a  false one where so few control so much.
     Slippery slopes? Oh, yes. We are on them right now, but the tow rope is coming to rescue us, the tow rope that consists of our being strong and united, of using our ability to see through the fog of lies and tricks, and see that truly, the Emperor is naked, totally bare. He has no new clothes- only those that we allow him so let us allow him none.
     See past his troll grin and recognize the nastiness of his mouth and words. See the grasping of his hands. See the uselessness of Bob Marshall, the vindictiveness and control of Ed Black, the grasping hands of the little fief holders who think they owe all loyalty to their lord. Well, this is not medieval Europe and there is no manor system any longer. Democracy of our country extends down into the little towns and villages, even unto us - as long as we are vigilant and work to regain the lights of the season and hold them for all year, regain our rights and our pride and lose our nastiness and vitriolic hate that comes top down. It is up to us and we can do it - if only we care enough, work enough, unite enough.
     Vote for those who would bring back the Village of the light, the Village of friendship and cohesiveness, of inclusion, of the sharing of ideas, of control over our own destiny. And then let us work together quickly, as post Millennium agreement time is nigh upon us and we must prepare to vanquish the regiments of lawyers that will be sent upon us by WPRF and the Levys and their Benenson business. It can be done - if we wish to make it so. Light one candle....

Total in Israel for October, November, December:  24 dead, 220 wounded, 83 in shock. From the elderly to the young, Jew and even some Arabs  being killed in these attacks, stabbed, hacked, axed, shot, rammed by cars. And the attacks continue and we wait to hear of the life and death situation of the latest victim.