It *is* worth writing, again and again, to your MP. There isn't really any better way (in the UK) to let it be known to the people that run things, how very many of us feel this wsy. Desperate. Angry. And since protest in the UK is increasingly likely to get you kettled, arrested, imprisoned etc, battering down the doors of the MPs remains the loudest safest thing to do...I think? Anyway thank you all for just being here saying the same things.
Art is such a genius, and that Maus strip sums it up perfectly.
Meanwhile, when you re-enter the stream of context (a concept that reminds me somewhat of Chompsky in both language and life), you might find the new episode of South Park deeply satisfying. Just saying.
Thanks, Michael. I think this is a rather gorgeous piece, proclaiming the dignity of ALL people. So very much appreciated. I'm amazed at how tribal we've all (meaning society) has become, and I think we all need to appreciate universal dignity rather than tribal allegiance. As Cicero said (and, no, I'm not just trying to sound smart--taking this from your post above), we need to be Citizens of the Cosmopolis, of the universe itself. On a different note, I'm definitely proud to be an American and proud to be your fellow American. Sorry about the frostiness of the security guy--I get that every time I go through security, but I assume it's my libertarian paranoia. Anyway, a brilliant post. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Brad — you know how much I value your opinion, and I could not agree more about a now-urget need to reach for a non-tribal striving toward some kind of universal dignity and shared understanding, which is one of the things I enjoy so much about our discussions at the Liberty Fund conferences!
Amen, and thank you for this. I've been having a hard time since a (former?) friend confessed his support for "leveling" Gaza. A welcome blast of clarity.
Yeah, difficult is a mild word for it. I held way back, did nothing but ask clarifying questions in sort of a Socratic way ... only to have him blast me long and hard as antisemitic when he saw a post elsewhere where I said I wasn't afraid of a Mamdani mayoralty. Up is truly down.
Good to have you back! It's good you have had some self care and family time, its just a pain in the arse when it conflicts with MY needs...
I recently came off LinkedIn, the only social media platform I was on, as all I seemed to be doing was arguing with Deform members, people who want to level Gaza, and others who think Jews are the cause of the world's ills.
It's pretty fucking simple. Hamas are bad people who have committed atrocities and are happy to let others pay the price. The Israeli response is cruel, callous, self-defeating and pointlessly self perpetuating the hatred and violence that has to come to define region.
The cowardice of the west in its response is embarrassing.
What would be the response if this was taking place in Central Africa or South America. The reaction would be much different from world leaders.
I cannot watch news about America anymore, apart from The Daily Show. Ive also been rebinge-watching Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and it's interesting to see the issues being raised in Trumps first term being prophetically relevant now!
Anyway, after all that, I've set up another business and paid a guy to set up Instagram and Facebook sites or whatever their called for me. He'll be handling the posts and all that shizzle for me so hopefully I won't have to get involved with it🤪
If you ever fancy a look it's Treglinessigns.com but don't worry, im still doing Cornish Hedging🙏
My wife just told me to stop being a self promoting twat...🤷
I couldn't agree more. It all seems so simple when the context is removed. I just don't think those in power to make the necessary changes are capable anymore of removing their contextual lenses.
And like all instances where this is true throughout history, that means the people are the only ones with enough power — in their masses — to make change happen. And that is someplace I'm afraid we are still too far from.
Good thoughts Michael, except when you sound like the beeb! Your focus is very selective, on Gaza and Bibi, both of which are limited. Children are dying cruelly in many places because of men (mostly) in suits and uniforms. Bibi and his right wing orthodox friends go way too far, but so do other fanatical leaders in other places. It all does get a bit too much, making dropping by the wayside a good cleanser.
Absolutely I was focusing on a limited example of bad men doing bad things — as the man-made famine in Gaza feels the most pressing example. But if I was sounding like the Beeb, I would have invited Nigel Farage on to claim that the whole thing was some how the EU's fault, and then let that bollocks go unchallenged ;-)
I was unable to say anything before. Here’s my take—
Here’s some context that frames the issue:
In the past 24 hours alone, 18 people died from hunger. Four children died in the last three days - the youngest was three months old.
Since March 2025, Israel has imposed what officials call a total blockade no food, medicine, or supplies enter Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister stated: No humanitarian aid will enter Gaza.
This is the longest complete blockade Gaza has ever faced. International courts have determined this constitutes using starvation as a weapon of war. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders specifically for this crime. 470,000 people face catastrophic hunger and that's 22% of Gaza's population.
Here’s how people frame things:
From birth, we absorb ways of seeing. Palestinian child, Israeli citizen. Terrorist, freedom fighter. Victim, aggressor. These frames shape how we process information before we even know we're processing it.
The propaganda machine isn't just news media or government messaging. It's deeper - built into the stories we inherit, the maps we memorize, the histories we're taught. Each side believes their version completely. Each side has evidence. Each side has trauma to justify their lens.
We grow up thinking we're forming our own opinions, but we're mostly rearranging the pieces we were handed. Democrat or Republican. Pro-Israel or Pro-Palestine. We pick teams and defend them, mistaking position for principle.
The machine works because it makes us feel informed, righteous, involved. This is the real problem — we argue online about context and complexity while children starve in real time. This is our way to cope with our feelings of guilt.
Strip away the flags, the histories, the justifications, the strategic concerns, the ancient claims, the security arguments, the political calculations.
What remains is simple: A three-month-old baby died because she couldn't get milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHE COULDN’T GET MILK!
A grandmother goes to sleep thinking about what her family will eat tomorrow, knowing there might be nothing.
Mothers watch their children grow thin and can do nothing. Walking corpses on the streets - remember? Rings any bell? The Holocaust. It’s happening again and again and again!
This isn't a Palestinian tragedy or an Israeli tragedy. This is a human tragedy, happening now, while we debate who deserves blame. People love pointing fingers - just look yourself in the mirror to face the real monster! A human being who did nothing! This is who were are!
Gaza isn't unique. Throughout history, people have starved while others argued about who was responsible. Y
The powerful restrict food to break the powerless. The powerless suffer while the world chooses sides. The cycle continues because we keep looking at politics instead of people.
To see clearly means setting aside everything you've been taught to believe about sides and causes and justifications.
It means looking at a starving child and seeing only a starving child.
It means understanding that no political goal, no security concern, no historical grievance makes a three-month-old baby responsible for the actions of adults.
It means recognizing that human suffering transcends the stories we tell ourselves about why it's necessary or justified or unavoidable.
We can keep arguing about context, history, and who started what. We can keep choosing sides and defending positions and explaining why things are complicated.
Or we can see what's actually happening: People need help right now.
The complexity is manufactured. The suffering is real.
The question isn't who's right or wrong. The question is whether we'll let children starve while we debate.
Or we take action! I created a google form for everyone to register so we can create the biggest peaceful protest in human history! You can just ignore it, because you don’t believe it or you don’t have faith. But I believe that it’s up to us, the ordinary people around the world. We have the tools, we have the means and they can’t ignore millions of people standing for what’s right! We are many!
Apologies for that. It's a New York Times interview with Mandy Patinkin and his wife Kathrine Grody. They talk about what it is to be Jewish and against what is happening in Gaza.
As my brother says, if Inigo Montoya is against you, then you are wrong😉
Thank you for this insightful and important piece. Hard to keep people focused on the bottom line: the inhumanity, the suffering. That message gets lost because we tend to either self-censor out of fear of offending a particular group or we speak out or speak out and get blocked. Although I'm a lapsed Catholic, I applaud Pope Leo for being the one powerful voice who continues to remind us of what's at stake and calling for peace and an end to the suffering.
Welcome home! Due to the abhorrent behavior occurring in the world, I'm finding it very difficult to be hopeful at the moment. The ugly, old, rich men in charge seem to want to do their worst before they die. I agree with everything you wrote. In the meantime, I feel fortunate to have good friends like you and Paula. XO
Michael, I'm on my way out the door, so I'll read this later. Thrilled to have a substack post from you! Yours, Brad
Will look forward to hearing what you think!
Thank you. I had just decided it was pointless to write to my MP again about Gaza. You have reminded me that it must be done, over and over again.
It's so hard to know what to do, so I guess we just keep doing whatever we can to raise awareness...
It *is* worth writing, again and again, to your MP. There isn't really any better way (in the UK) to let it be known to the people that run things, how very many of us feel this wsy. Desperate. Angry. And since protest in the UK is increasingly likely to get you kettled, arrested, imprisoned etc, battering down the doors of the MPs remains the loudest safest thing to do...I think? Anyway thank you all for just being here saying the same things.
Register - share it! We don’t need context. The heart speaks the truth, and it has always been the only true intelligence.
https://ultratruth.substack.com/p/we-the-many-the-biggest-peaceful
So hard to read and so brilliant. Sleek and vicious men. Thank you
Thank you...
Art is such a genius, and that Maus strip sums it up perfectly.
Meanwhile, when you re-enter the stream of context (a concept that reminds me somewhat of Chompsky in both language and life), you might find the new episode of South Park deeply satisfying. Just saying.
I gather they haven't held back ;-)
It's the equivalent to the 1812 overture, canons thrusting a million middle fingers at the White House.
Thanks, Michael. I think this is a rather gorgeous piece, proclaiming the dignity of ALL people. So very much appreciated. I'm amazed at how tribal we've all (meaning society) has become, and I think we all need to appreciate universal dignity rather than tribal allegiance. As Cicero said (and, no, I'm not just trying to sound smart--taking this from your post above), we need to be Citizens of the Cosmopolis, of the universe itself. On a different note, I'm definitely proud to be an American and proud to be your fellow American. Sorry about the frostiness of the security guy--I get that every time I go through security, but I assume it's my libertarian paranoia. Anyway, a brilliant post. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Brad — you know how much I value your opinion, and I could not agree more about a now-urget need to reach for a non-tribal striving toward some kind of universal dignity and shared understanding, which is one of the things I enjoy so much about our discussions at the Liberty Fund conferences!
Amen, and thank you for this. I've been having a hard time since a (former?) friend confessed his support for "leveling" Gaza. A welcome blast of clarity.
Good lord. That must have been a difficult conversation to navigate politely...
Yeah, difficult is a mild word for it. I held way back, did nothing but ask clarifying questions in sort of a Socratic way ... only to have him blast me long and hard as antisemitic when he saw a post elsewhere where I said I wasn't afraid of a Mamdani mayoralty. Up is truly down.
It really is right now. People are losing their minds.
This. - All. Of. This.
Good to have you back! It's good you have had some self care and family time, its just a pain in the arse when it conflicts with MY needs...
I recently came off LinkedIn, the only social media platform I was on, as all I seemed to be doing was arguing with Deform members, people who want to level Gaza, and others who think Jews are the cause of the world's ills.
It's pretty fucking simple. Hamas are bad people who have committed atrocities and are happy to let others pay the price. The Israeli response is cruel, callous, self-defeating and pointlessly self perpetuating the hatred and violence that has to come to define region.
The cowardice of the west in its response is embarrassing.
What would be the response if this was taking place in Central Africa or South America. The reaction would be much different from world leaders.
I cannot watch news about America anymore, apart from The Daily Show. Ive also been rebinge-watching Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and it's interesting to see the issues being raised in Trumps first term being prophetically relevant now!
Anyway, after all that, I've set up another business and paid a guy to set up Instagram and Facebook sites or whatever their called for me. He'll be handling the posts and all that shizzle for me so hopefully I won't have to get involved with it🤪
If you ever fancy a look it's Treglinessigns.com but don't worry, im still doing Cornish Hedging🙏
My wife just told me to stop being a self promoting twat...🤷
Love the look of the sign business! I didn't realize you did that kind of thing too...
And you're very right: if Gaza was happening in somewhere comfortably "foreign" and African, the world's response would be quite different.
I couldn't agree more. It all seems so simple when the context is removed. I just don't think those in power to make the necessary changes are capable anymore of removing their contextual lenses.
And like all instances where this is true throughout history, that means the people are the only ones with enough power — in their masses — to make change happen. And that is someplace I'm afraid we are still too far from.
I'm afraid of that too.
Good thoughts Michael, except when you sound like the beeb! Your focus is very selective, on Gaza and Bibi, both of which are limited. Children are dying cruelly in many places because of men (mostly) in suits and uniforms. Bibi and his right wing orthodox friends go way too far, but so do other fanatical leaders in other places. It all does get a bit too much, making dropping by the wayside a good cleanser.
Absolutely I was focusing on a limited example of bad men doing bad things — as the man-made famine in Gaza feels the most pressing example. But if I was sounding like the Beeb, I would have invited Nigel Farage on to claim that the whole thing was some how the EU's fault, and then let that bollocks go unchallenged ;-)
I was unable to say anything before. Here’s my take—
Here’s some context that frames the issue:
In the past 24 hours alone, 18 people died from hunger. Four children died in the last three days - the youngest was three months old.
Since March 2025, Israel has imposed what officials call a total blockade no food, medicine, or supplies enter Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister stated: No humanitarian aid will enter Gaza.
This is the longest complete blockade Gaza has ever faced. International courts have determined this constitutes using starvation as a weapon of war. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders specifically for this crime. 470,000 people face catastrophic hunger and that's 22% of Gaza's population.
Here’s how people frame things:
From birth, we absorb ways of seeing. Palestinian child, Israeli citizen. Terrorist, freedom fighter. Victim, aggressor. These frames shape how we process information before we even know we're processing it.
The propaganda machine isn't just news media or government messaging. It's deeper - built into the stories we inherit, the maps we memorize, the histories we're taught. Each side believes their version completely. Each side has evidence. Each side has trauma to justify their lens.
We grow up thinking we're forming our own opinions, but we're mostly rearranging the pieces we were handed. Democrat or Republican. Pro-Israel or Pro-Palestine. We pick teams and defend them, mistaking position for principle.
The machine works because it makes us feel informed, righteous, involved. This is the real problem — we argue online about context and complexity while children starve in real time. This is our way to cope with our feelings of guilt.
Strip away the flags, the histories, the justifications, the strategic concerns, the ancient claims, the security arguments, the political calculations.
What remains is simple: A three-month-old baby died because she couldn't get milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHE COULDN’T GET MILK!
A grandmother goes to sleep thinking about what her family will eat tomorrow, knowing there might be nothing.
Mothers watch their children grow thin and can do nothing. Walking corpses on the streets - remember? Rings any bell? The Holocaust. It’s happening again and again and again!
This isn't a Palestinian tragedy or an Israeli tragedy. This is a human tragedy, happening now, while we debate who deserves blame. People love pointing fingers - just look yourself in the mirror to face the real monster! A human being who did nothing! This is who were are!
Gaza isn't unique. Throughout history, people have starved while others argued about who was responsible. Y
ou want names?
Yemen, Somalia, Ukraine, Armenia, Ireland, Bengal…
Just locations! The suffering stays the same.
The powerful restrict food to break the powerless. The powerless suffer while the world chooses sides. The cycle continues because we keep looking at politics instead of people.
To see clearly means setting aside everything you've been taught to believe about sides and causes and justifications.
It means looking at a starving child and seeing only a starving child.
It means understanding that no political goal, no security concern, no historical grievance makes a three-month-old baby responsible for the actions of adults.
It means recognizing that human suffering transcends the stories we tell ourselves about why it's necessary or justified or unavoidable.
We can keep arguing about context, history, and who started what. We can keep choosing sides and defending positions and explaining why things are complicated.
Or we can see what's actually happening: People need help right now.
The complexity is manufactured. The suffering is real.
The question isn't who's right or wrong. The question is whether we'll let children starve while we debate.
Or we take action! I created a google form for everyone to register so we can create the biggest peaceful protest in human history! You can just ignore it, because you don’t believe it or you don’t have faith. But I believe that it’s up to us, the ordinary people around the world. We have the tools, we have the means and they can’t ignore millions of people standing for what’s right! We are many!
Here’s the link:
https://ultratruth.substack.com/p/we-the-many-the-biggest-peaceful
Powerfully true.
"The complexity is manufactured. The suffering is real.
The question isn't who's right or wrong. The question is whether we'll let children starve while we debate."
Wow! Powerful stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BChcHw3cv/
My brother shared this with me and thought it might be of interest.
If you ever need info about mass shootings and its relationship with the media then Glynn Greensmith is your guy.
Sounds interesting! It's not letting me view the content, sadly...
Apologies for that. It's a New York Times interview with Mandy Patinkin and his wife Kathrine Grody. They talk about what it is to be Jewish and against what is happening in Gaza.
As my brother says, if Inigo Montoya is against you, then you are wrong😉
Oh, thank you — I'll go seek it out...
Thank you for this insightful and important piece. Hard to keep people focused on the bottom line: the inhumanity, the suffering. That message gets lost because we tend to either self-censor out of fear of offending a particular group or we speak out or speak out and get blocked. Although I'm a lapsed Catholic, I applaud Pope Leo for being the one powerful voice who continues to remind us of what's at stake and calling for peace and an end to the suffering.
Yes - been very glad to see him drawing a line in the sand over this...
Welcome home! Due to the abhorrent behavior occurring in the world, I'm finding it very difficult to be hopeful at the moment. The ugly, old, rich men in charge seem to want to do their worst before they die. I agree with everything you wrote. In the meantime, I feel fortunate to have good friends like you and Paula. XO
Likewise... and we do our best to keep the faith!