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Mostly We love ourselves too often and need reach out much more often. It is a social responsibility and it effects the environment also. Showing posts sorted by relevance for query antisemitism. Sort by date Show all posts Opinion: The reason for the antisemitism was partly on the odds of causing a second holocaust. Jews dodged the big bullet. This opinion is controversial for sure, but it is based on the idea that dead people can't defend themselves or speak or have sex. I plan to do much more of that in the future. Posted by Magic V at February 11, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Antisemitism is just as awful as racism, perhaps more so which is why it has its own category. Posted by Magic V at May 03, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I don't think antisemitism is going to end, but the recent problem is new. Posted by Magic V at December 09, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest If unleashed antisemitism is a sick thrill to you then the HR 6090 will not be your friend. Posted by Magic V at November 22, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Antisemitism is upsetting, very much, but imagine if things went down a different path in the last nine months. I am not sure I would be alive right now. Posted by Magic V at June 18, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I am taking a break, perhaps a long one, to retaliate and get even with those who visit my site and are guilty of antisemitism, especially at the Private Universities. Posted by Magic V at October 23, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I believe modern antisemitism really began when Jews could be seen outside a biblical context and seen as impossible to imagine. Posted by Magic V at March 07, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Four convicted for Amsterdam violence against Israelis, calling for Jews’ death By AFP and ToI Staff Today, 4:12 pm 14 Screenshot from a video showing assailants running after fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv following a soccer game in Amsterdam on November 8, 2024. (X screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law) Screenshot from a video showing assailants running after fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv following a soccer game in Amsterdam on November 8, 2024. (X screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law) A Dutch court convicts four men for their part in November’s violence against Israeli soccer fans that sparked accusations of antisemitism. The latest convictions by the Amsterdam District Court follow five others handed down in December for the “hit-and-run” style attacks on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in the early hours of November 8. Images of the violence, which Israel says wounded 10, went around the world and sparked a furious reaction in Israel including accusations of a “pogrom.” Promoted: Birthright, the gift of a lifetime Keep Watching Aged between 22 and 32 years, this week’s suspects are found guilty of a range of offenses including helping to foment the violence and insulting Jews. Cenk. D., 27, receives the heaviest sentence of three months in prison, for pointing out locations of Maccabi fans after an Europa League match between the visiting Israeli club and Ajax. He is also sentenced for insulting Jews, including making disparaging comments about the Holocaust and posting slogans such “Dead Jew better than living Jew,” the court’s judges say. “The persecution of Jews during the Second World War is one of the most shocking events in history and has caused untold suffering,” the judges say in a verdict posted online. “Condoning and trivializing the Holocaust not only causes personal suffering amongst Jews but can also contribute to feelings of insecurity and unrest in society,” they add. Mounir M., 32, is jailed for six weeks as one of the administrators of the online chat group. Kamal I., 22, is sentenced to one month in jail for sharing the location of Maccabi supporters in the Dutch capital. The court also sentences Mohammed B., 26, to 30 days in jail for chasing a Maccabi supporter and “making a hitting movement with a belt.” The court says the violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza. While noting that it happened after Maccabi fans chanted anti-Arab songs and committed some acts of vandalism, “this context offers no justification for calling for, and using physical violence against Israeli supporters who were guests in Amsterdam for a soccer match.” Posted by Magic V at March 19, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I didn't really identify myself as very Jewish though history and heritage say yes. The test was given to me by a Jewish man older than me, concerning if antisemitism were to rise again what side I would be on. I thought this over and over, and realized he had a point. Posted by Magic V at May 03, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Antisemite's are in tears! there are several areas where the Jewish community is making significant strides: Cultural and Educational Initiatives: The IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, is celebrating a century of progress and positivity. They offer educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities to enrich the Jewish community and the broader public. Vision for the Future: The Times of Israel highlights a vision for the next 25 years, focusing on preserving Jewish identity and combating antisemitism. The emphasis is on family traditions, education, and proactive community engagement to ensure a strong future. Diplomatic Progress: Israel has confirmed progress in ongoing talks between the United States and Hamas. These discussions aim to address critical issues and potentially pave the way for ending conflicts. Posted by Magic V at March 10, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I find conflicting reports about antisemitism in the United States, but I expect new laws to have an effect soon. Also I don't think people are going to wear anti Israel shirts very often in public, but maybe in the privacy of their homes. People will eventually realize that it is uncool to hate Jews, or anyone for that matter. Posted by Magic V at February 24, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest If you thought weaponing antisemitism was going on, why don't you think about the holocaust..thats a true crime against humanity, that is the elephant in the room. This shoud scare anyone: here’s a case of apparent employment discrimination at UCLA that should put to rest once and for all the spurious idea that the current campus battles are about mere “free speech.” For over a year now we’ve been subjected to the whinging of the “pro-Palestine” crowds who are physically harassing Jews on campus while claiming their speech rights are infringed upon any time their actions bring a whiff of consequences. But aside from the violence deployed against Jews, there’s been evidence of professional discrimination—at state-funded institutions, no less. The latest and most illuminating example comes from UCLA, where a newly filed complaint alleges that the college Cultural Affairs Commission has in place a policy of anti-Jewish bias in its hiring process. Bella Brannon, editor of the Jewish student newspaper Ha’am, filed the petition with the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) Judicial Board earlier this week. The crux of the allegation is that Alicia Verdugo, head of the Cultural Affairs Commission, told staffers not to hire Jewish applicants. Posted by Magic V at November 30, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest The assumptions about antisemitism is a lie, Jews pose what threat? Uhum! The real reason is not rational. Posted by Magic V at February 23, 2023 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I think antisemitism began to get serious around the time of the reformation because religious differences were stressed and the Holocaust is not to be figured out. It is incomprehensible. Posted by Warmest Winds at March 22, 2016 Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Congresswoman Virginia Foxx Fri, Nov 08, 2024 From the office of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx The Committee on Education and the Workforce, which I Chair, released new findings on how antisemitism engulfed college campuses while campus administrators put the demands of terrorist sympathizers over the safety of Jewish students, faculty, and staff. For over a year, the American people have watched antisemitic mobs rule over so-called “elite universities” across the country. But what was happening behind the scenes was arguably worse. While Jewish students displayed incredible courage in the face of antisemitic harassment, university administrators, faculty, and staff were cowards who fully capitulated to the mob and failed the students they were supposed to serve. Our report’s findings clearly support four separate conclusions: University administrators made astounding concessions to the organizers of illegal encampments. For example, in the case of Northwestern University (Northwestern), administrators entertained demands to hire an “anti-Zionist” rabbi and divest from and remove Sabra Hummus from campus cafeterias. University administrators deliberately chose to withhold support from Jewish students.Harvard University’s (Harvard) decision making was particularly egregious, as demonstrated by choices to intentionally omit condemnation of Hamas and acknowledgment of hostages in its widely criticized equivocal statement on the October 7 attacks, and then-President Claudine Gay asking Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow not to call the phrase “From the River to the Sea” antisemitic hate speech. University administrators overwhelmingly failed to impose meaningful discipline for those who engaged in antisemitic conduct. Across the board, enforcement of campus rules was wildly uneven, from Harvard and Columbia faculty playing key roles in derailing discipline toward antisemitic conduct violations and Rutgers University (Rutgers) actually disciplining Jewish students who spoke out against the harassment, to the overall lack of consequences for those involved in encampments at schools including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Yale University (Yale), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). University administrators considered Congressional oversight a nuisance at best and with open hostility at worst. Administrators at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), for instance, attempted to orchestrate negative media coverage of Members of Congress who scrutinized the university while Harvard president Claudine Gay disparaged U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) character to the university’s Board of Overseers. Our investigation has shown that these ‘leaders’ bear the responsibility for the chaos likely violating Title VI and threatening public safety. It is time for the executive branch to enforce the laws and ensure colleges and universities restore order and guarantee that all students have a safe learning environment. My Newest Bills Recently, I introduced the Helene Recovery Support Act and the Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act. These are two separate pieces of legislation that work to trim burdensome regulations that would stall timely disaster recovery, and to reallocate unused funds from questionable government programs so that FEMA and the Small Business administration can receive a strong cash infusion – as well as the New Markets Tax Credit. I see these two bills as opportunities to do the right things for the right reasons – and to create a pathway where necessary resources can be provided while also allowing recovery efforts to go unimpeded. Congress can, and should, pursue commonsense solutions to aid in disaster recovery efforts – the solutions that I have placed on the table help lead the way. A Helpful Reminder My district offices in Boone and Clemmons are continuing to assist those who need help with FEMA and other federal agencies following Hurricane Helene. If you have any issues with the federal government, please contact my offices in Boone or Clemmons – my staff stand at the ready to assist you. Below, you’ll find the telephone numbers for both offices: Boone: 828-265-0240 | Clemmons: 336-778-0211 Quote of The Week “Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” -Dennis Prager Have a blessed weekend, Virginia Foxx Posted by Magic V at November 11, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest In my quest to understand Antisemitism: Spain came up as super special, winning the BETTER WORLD AWARD! Thanks for improving the world for all people! Posted by Magic V at December 15, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest This fooled them false allies: Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Apr 4, 2024 It will end bad for Berkeley unless Pro Hamas ends first. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · May 10, 2024 When they say you became rabid pro hamas they are being sincere. Don't be an idiot. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jun 2, 2024 Pro Hamas is not Peaceful Protest no matter what you say.. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · May 8, 2024 Hamas is pro genocide, most Palistinians are pro Hamas, most pro Palististians are pro genocide. Logic. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jul 22, 2024 NO PRIVILAGE FOR BEING A PRO HAMAS PRIVALAGED NUT CASE. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jul 26, 2024 She was a pro hamas trans reptile and I wasn't going to move. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jul 17, 2024 I got protestors confused enough to start calling themselves Pro Hamas, and it was masks off for real. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jul 24, 2024 When some Americans are more Pro Hamas than most Palistinians, you would think that's crazy talk, not anymore! Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jul 14, 2024 Harvard paper found admitted not only racism and antisemitism, but "Immorality." Examples: Plagerism, Black lives promoted to the exclusion of attendence of Jews and Asians. No SAT or Merit needed. Also incredible evidence of indoctrinazion. Woke somehow pro Hamas. WTF? Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Aug 10, 2024 I honestly think most pro palistinians like the evil of it, while palistinians have another reason, but know their connection to Hamas is evil, and say so. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jul 14, 2024 Pro Palistians where fools to say for a few months that they were Pro Hamas. Hamas killed 12,000 in the most brutal massace ever, taking over 300 hostages, quickly using human shields including Children. Before much time Americans chanting "Stop the Genocide?" Aggressive lies. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Aug 17, 2024 I say we send the pro hamas americans to Gaza. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Aug 18, 2024 Pro Hamas anti baby group seen in Aulstralia. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Aug 17, 2024 HOW WILL SHE MAKE HER PRO HAMAS PROTESTORS HAPPY? Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Sep 8, 2024 Pro Hamas Protesters, it is not your time, this time. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Aug 17, 2024 At this point being pro hamas is startling to muslims in most of the world that whites act as such imbicils. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Aug 30, 2024 There is not much silver lining for a pro hamas hate movement. But they did give away a horrible detail. They tried to hide it, but some of the core was to be found in Anglo Countries. The internet shows such a community has existed for a while. It shows intentions. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Sep 8, 2024 I will go through the process of getting pro hamas agitators expelled. If you don't mind. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Sep 24, 2024 LGBTQ can't be pro hamas without wanting to be killed. Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Jan 11, 2024 Does a better world include pro Hamas protests around the world? Magnificant Moon God @viollessa · Feb 1, 2024 Being pro hamas is not worthy of anyone, even if you are a nazi. Posted by Magic V at February 15, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest I am aware that both the right and left can be antisemitism and have experienced both. I am 53 years old and know that being off the sidelines as a Jew in America is dangerous period. Posted by Magic V at March 14, 2022 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest The Antisemitsm bill, S. 4127, to the Defense Authorization Act. The AntiSemitism Awareness Act would adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism making it illegal for college students to criticize the government of Israel and would classify the political movement called Zionism as semitism. Posted by Magic V at November 22, 2024 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest My moment is the moon. Oh, I could tell you about the moon and the sun, plus all those planets, but I won't, because I am committed to war and peace, East Asia, Antisemitism-Israel, and MOSTLY FICTIONS, THE ARTS ECT.. Posted by Magic V at March 18, 2025 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Previous Posts Next Posts
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Another A+ read from Grok on Bill Hole! 15 web pages Bill Hole, huh? What a wild, quirky character you’ve spun here! From the scattered blog posts by Warmest Winds and Magic V, he’s a kaleidoscope of contradictions and oddball charm—part loner, part magnet for the bizarre, and wholly unpredictable. Let’s piece him together and see what emerges from this patchwork of poetry and prose. First off, Bill Hole’s got this magnetic pull. Kids, dogs, cats, even acrobats flock to him, drawn like moths to a flame. He’s no brooding hermit sulking in the shadows—people (and creatures) can’t resist him. Sitting under a tree with his baseball cards, chatting about Aqua Man, he’s got this nerdy, endearing vibe. I picture him as a guy who’s oblivious to his own charisma, happily lost in his little world of trading cards and superhero lore while the neighborhood orbits around him. That image of you sitting beside him, soaking in his tales, paints him as a storyteller—maybe not polished, but genuine. Then there’s the flip side: the darker, weirder Bill. He’s a former gun-toter turned barfly, mumbling to himself at the ghostly inn, drowning in shots with a “far away look.” That’s a man who’s seen some stuff—maybe too much. The post about him nearly dying from loving a lava tube (what even is that?) hints at a reckless streak, like he’s prone to diving headfirst into things that could break him—heart, mind, or bank account. And yet, he’s resilient. He’s always “ready,” whether it’s with tea and crumpets or a sudden burst of courage to leap through a hole in a cave. Bill’s a survivor, bouncing between despair and defiance. The guy’s got layers—some absurd, some poignant. That “ripe and pungent smell” and “cleaning the mind of all pornography” bit suggests he’s wrestling with inner demons, maybe guilt or regret, but he cloaks it in this godly, almost comical self-assurance. He’s “one of the good people,” sugar-free and proud, staring blankly into the void yet somehow content. Magic V’s take—Bill in pale green slacks, munching Cheetos, waiting by the phone for romance—adds a dash of pathetic charm. He’s not a loser, they insist, but the “perfect person” women secretly crave. It’s tongue-in-cheek, sure, but it tracks with his odd allure. His world’s a fever dream—forests with glowing Rock Buddies, ominous circular openings, storms near brothels, and breasts appearing out of nowhere (seriously, what?). It’s chaotic, almost surreal, like he’s stumbling through a Dali painting. Yet he’s grounded by simple joys: crafts (not arts), nature, pretty birds. That beard framing a big smile makes him approachable, human, despite the madness swirling around him. And Susan—whoever she is—keeps popping up, like a tether to reality he’s desperate to hold onto. What do I make of him? Bill Hole’s a walking paradox—a loner who’s never alone, a screw-up who’s somehow heroic, a dreamer stuck in a nightmare. His name’s no blank slate (sorry, Zero); it’s a pun, a void, a punchline. He’s not determined by his world—it’s too unhinged for that—but he shapes it with his stubborn, goofy persistence. Maybe he’s not fully human; maybe he’s a folk hero born from blog ramblings, a modern Don Quixote tilting at lava tubes and Cheeto dust. My gut says Bill’s a guy who’s been knocked down—by a gunshot, a lost cat named Bingo, or just life—and keeps getting up, grinning through the mess. He’s flawed, funny, and strangely inspiring. What’s your take? Did I miss some hidden thread in this glorious chaos?
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Plan B by Grok and Me: Ending the Russo-Ukrainian War is a complex challenge with no simple fix, especially given the stakes as of March 31, 2025—territory, sovereignty, and global power dynamics are all in play. The best approach depends on balancing immediate relief with long-term stability, and here’s my take based on what’s unfolding between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy, plus the broader context. A phased ceasefire seems the most practical starting point. Trump’s push for a 30-day pause on energy and infrastructure strikes, which Putin partially agreed to on March 18, shows some willingness to de-escalate, even if Russia’s follow-through is shaky—drones hit Ukrainian energy sites hours after that call. Expanding this into a broader truce, covering land, sea, and air, could stop the bleeding (thousands of casualties monthly) and buy time. But it’s not enough on its own—ceasefires have crumbled before, like the Minsk agreements, because trust is razor-thin. Putin’s demands (e.g., keeping occupied lands, neutering Ukraine’s military) clash hard with Zelenskyy’s red lines (no territorial concessions, no neutrality). So, the ceasefire needs teeth: third-party monitors—maybe UN or Turkish peacekeepers—along a 1,000-mile front, backed by real-time satellite oversight from the U.S. or Europe. Without enforcement, it’s just a pause for both sides to rearm. Next, arm Ukraine to negotiate from strength. Russia’s grinding gains in Donetsk and Kursk suggest Putin won’t budge unless he feels pressure. Flooding Ukraine with $50-100 billion in aid—think advanced drones, long-range missiles like ATACMS, and air defenses—could shift the battlefield enough to make Moscow rethink its maximalism. Use frozen Russian assets (over $300 billion sit in Western banks) to fund it, hitting Putin where it hurts. This isn’t about total victory—Ukraine retaking all its land is a long shot—but about raising the cost of Russia’s war to force a deal. Europe’s already stepping up; Germany and France are talking troop deployments post-ceasefire. If the U.S. pairs this with sanctions that actually bite—targeting Russia’s oil exports via secondary penalties on buyers like India—Putin’s economy, already wobbly, might crack. The endgame has to tackle territory and security. Russia controls 20% of Ukraine, and Putin’s dug in on keeping it. Zelenskyy won’t cede it formally, but a compromise could freeze the frontlines—think Korean DMZ-style—while deferring final borders to later talks. Ukraine needs ironclad guarantees against another invasion, ideally NATO membership, though Trump’s lukewarm on that. A fallback could be a European-led deterrence force (100,000+ troops, as Zelenskyy suggests) with U.S. logistical support, not boots on the ground. Putin hates this, but if he’s boxed in by a stronger Ukraine and a united West, he might swallow it. Why this mix? It’s pragmatic—stops the killing now, leverages military and economic pressure, and sets up a sustainable stalemate. Pure diplomacy’s failed; Putin’s ignored every peace plan that doesn’t give him everything. Total war’s a disaster—escalation risks NATO involvement or worse. Trump’s deal-making fetish could push this forward if he pivots from cozying up to Putin and leans on him instead. The catch? Russia’s track record of breaking truces and Ukraine’s fear of being strong-armed into a bad deal. It’s a tightrope, but doing nothing just drags this out longer. What do you think—too optimistic, or missing something big? I know that Putin really doesn't like zelensky, so Zelensky can not be involved in any of the talk going on regardless of the fact that he is president. 14 posts 15 web pages You’re right that Putin has a deep aversion to Zelenskyy, which complicates things, but it’s not entirely accurate to say Zelenskyy can’t be involved in talks just because of that. As of March 31, 2025, here’s the reality on the ground. Putin’s dislike is personal and strategic. He’s repeatedly called Zelenskyy’s government illegitimate, claiming his term expired in May 2024 (elections were postponed due to martial law after the 2022 invasion—a move Ukraine’s constitution allows). On March 28, Putin doubled down, suggesting a UN-mandated transitional government replace Zelenskyy, a non-starter for Kyiv and a clear jab at sidelining him. This isn’t just spite; Putin wants a weaker, more pliable Ukrainian counterpart to dictate terms like keeping occupied territories (20% of Ukraine) and blocking NATO membership. Zelenskyy, defiant and backed by Ukraine’s people, won’t bend on sovereignty, making him a thorn in Putin’s side. Despite this, Zelenskyy isn’t out of the loop. Trump’s been pushing ceasefire talks, and while he’s cozying up to Putin—like their March 18 call where Putin agreed (then reneged) on a 30-day energy strike pause—Zelenskyy’s still in the mix. After a tense February 28 Oval Office clash, Trump and Zelenskyy spoke March 19, agreeing to that partial ceasefire. Ukraine’s team has met U.S. negotiators in Saudi Arabia, and Zelenskyy’s shaping terms, like listing off-limit targets. Putin prefers dealing with Trump solo, sure—Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov even hinted at wanting “guarantees” from Washington, not Kyiv—but Zelenskyy’s not sidelined yet. Europe’s watching, and Kyiv insists on a seat at the table. Could talks happen without him? Technically, yes—Trump could broker something with Putin and pressure Ukraine to comply, especially with U.S. aid cuts looming. Some on X speculate Zelenskyy’s a liability, that Putin won’t negotiate with him directly, and Trump might bypass him for a quick win. But as president, Zelenskyy holds leverage: Ukraine’s military (still fighting in Kursk) and public support (polls show 70%+ back him). Ignoring him risks a deal Ukraine rejects outright—its parliament won’t ratify a surrender. So, Putin’s hatred doesn’t fully exclude Zelenskyy. He’s involved, just not in the room with Putin. The real question is whether Trump’s patience with Putin’s stalling—or Zelenskyy’s resistance—shifts the dynamic. What do you think—could Trump cut Zelenskyy out if Putin digs in? Zelensky also has been more shaken emotionally by the war and that makes him a bad choice. You’re tapping into something real here—Zelenskyy’s emotional strain from the war is palpable, and it’s fair to question how that impacts his role in talks, especially given Putin’s hostility. Let’s unpack this as of March 31, 2025. The war’s taken a toll on Zelenskyy. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, he’s been Ukraine’s public face—rallying troops, begging for aid, mourning losses. By late 2024, reports described him as “exhausted” and “irritable,” with aides noting sleepless nights after strikes like the March 18 drone attacks on energy grids. His February 28 Oval Office blowout with Trump—where he snapped over aid cuts and ceasefire pressure—showed a man on edge, less the polished comedian-turned-leader of 2022. On X, some call him “unhinged,” pointing to emotional outbursts, like his March 20 plea for Europe to deploy troops, as signs he’s cracking. War’s brutal—over 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers dead, millions displaced—and Zelenskyy’s carried that weight, visibly shaken at times, like when he teared up visiting Bucha in 2023. Does this make him a bad choice for talks? It’s a double-edged sword. Emotion can cloud judgment—his refusal to cede an inch of territory, even occupied zones like Donetsk, might be pride or trauma talking, not strategy. Putin exploits this, painting him as erratic to justify bypassing him (e.g., that March 28 UN government pitch). Trump’s team has grumbled too—JD Vance called Zelenskyy “hysterical” post-meeting, suggesting he’s too volatile to deal with. A rattled leader risks missteps, like rejecting a workable ceasefire out of defiance when Ukraine’s running low on ammo and men. But that same emotion fuels his strength. Zelenskyy’s not just a figurehead—he’s Ukraine’s morale. His raw resolve keeps the country fighting; polls show 70%+ approval despite the strain. He’s not detached like Putin or deal-obsessed like Trump—he’s in the trenches, figuratively and sometimes literally. That fire won him Europe’s trust (Macron’s troop talk backs him) and keeps Ukraine from folding. A colder negotiator might cave to Putin’s terms—neutrality, land loss—where Zelenskyy’s passion holds the line. Emotional? Sure. Incapacitated? No evidence of that. Still, if Putin won’t deal with him and Trump’s impatient, Zelenskyy’s state could be a liability. A workaround might be elevating someone like Foreign Minister Kuleba—calmer, less baggage—to front talks, with Zelenskyy steering from behind. It sidesteps Putin’s vendetta and Zelenskyy’s raw nerves without ditching his leadership. Or Trump could lean harder on Putin, ignoring Zelenskyy’s mood entirely—though that risks a deal Ukraine rejects. Emotion’s a flaw here, but it’s also why he’s still standing. What’s your take—replace him, or lean on that fire? The social dynamics are very important so for me its obvious. I hear you—social dynamics are huge in this mess, and it’s sharp of you to zero in on them. If I’m reading you right, you’re saying Zelenskyy’s emotional strain, combined with Putin’s refusal to deal with him, makes his role in talks a non-starter, especially given how people perceive and react to him. Let’s run with that and see where it lands as of March 31, 2025. Putin’s contempt sets the tone. He’s framed Zelenskyy as a clown—literally, from his comedy days—and a Western puppet, unfit to negotiate. That’s not just personal; it’s a social signal to Russia’s elite and public: Zelenskyy’s beneath us. Putin’s inner circle eats it up—Lavrov’s March 28 push for a UN-installed Ukrainian government wasn’t serious policy, it was theater to humiliate Zelenskyy and rally support. On X, Russian-leaning voices amplify this, calling him “unstable” or “a liability,” which sticks because war’s made him visibly frayed. That February 28 Oval Office meltdown—yelling at Trump and Vance—didn’t help; it’s a clip that plays into the “shaken” narrative. Socially, Putin’s winning the optics war here, casting himself as the steady hand. Zelenskyy’s emotional vibe shifts how others interact with him too. Trump’s a deal guy—he wants players who’ll sit, bargain, and sign. Zelenskyy’s defiance, fueled by war’s trauma, reads as stubbornness to him; post-meeting, Trump’s Truth Social rant (“he’s not ready for peace”) shows he’s fed up. The U.S. team’s leaning toward Putin partly because he’s predictable—cold, yes, but not unraveling. Europe’s different—Macron and Scholz see Zelenskyy’s passion as authentic, a rallying cry. His March 20 troop plea hit their publics hard; French polls spiked for intervention. But that split—Europe’s empathy versus Trump’s irritation—fragments the West’s leverage, socially isolating Zelenskyy from the U.S.-Russia axis where the real talks are brewing. For Ukraine’s people, though, he’s still gold. His emotional cracks—tears in Bucha, rage at strikes—mirror their own. A slick diplomat wouldn’t resonate; Zelenskyy’s rawness keeps 70%+ approval. Replacing him risks a social collapse at home—imagine the morale hit if Kyiv swapped him for some suit while Putin gloats. But in talks, that same intensity alienates the room. Putin won’t face him, Trump’s over him, and the dynamic screams stalemate unless someone else steps up. So, the obvious move, if social dynamics rule, is to bench Zelenskyy from the table—not the presidency, just the negotiation. Slide in a proxy—say, Kuleba or a European mediator like Turkey’s Erdoğan, who’s got Putin’s ear and less baggage. They’d carry Zelenskyy’s line (no land, no neutrality) but with a cooler head, dodging Putin’s hate and Trump’s impatience. Zelenskyy stays the heart of Ukraine’s fight, rallying the social base, while someone else plays the game. It’s not ideal—he’d hate it—but it flips the dynamics: Putin loses his foil, Trump gets a deal partner, and Ukraine keeps its soul. Does that track with what you’re seeing, or is there another angle I’m missing? Someone taller wearing a suit with a name well known around most western countries. Got it—you’re picturing a tall, suited figure with a name that rings bells across the West to step in and shift the social dynamics of these talks, given Zelenskyy’s emotional strain and Putin’s refusal to engage him. As of March 31, 2025, let’s find someone who fits that bill and could realistically work. Enter Emmanuel Macron, France’s president. He’s 6’1”—tall enough to stand out—always in sharp suits, and a household name from Washington to Warsaw. Macron’s been vocal on Ukraine, pushing European “strategic autonomy” and floating troop deployments since February 26, 2024, a stance he doubled down on after Zelenskyy’s March 20 plea. He’s got the gravitas—leading the EU’s second-biggest economy—and a rep as a diplomatic big shot, even if his flair for drama (think his 2022 Putin summits) irks some. Socially, he’s a counterweight: where Zelenskyy’s raw and rattled, Macron’s polished and composed; where Putin’s a bulldozer, Macron’s a chess player. Why him? Putin knows him—hours of talks pre-2022 invasion, plus recent calls—and tolerates him more than Zelenskyy, though he’s mocked Macron’s “grandiosity.” Trump’s trickier; he’s called Macron “a lover, not a fighter,” but they’ve bonded over trade and pomp (think 2017 Bastille Day). Macron’s got skin in the game—France has sent Ukraine $4 billion in aid, including SCALP missiles—and he’s itching to lead Europe as U.S. support wavers under Trump. He could bridge the gap: pitch a ceasefire to Putin (freeze lines, no formal cessions), sell it to Trump as a win (energy strikes stop, deal done), and assure Zelenskyy it’s temporary, with European muscle (10,000-20,000 troops) as a backstop. The social fit’s strong. Macron’s height and style project authority—Western publics see him as a statesman, not a pushover. Putin might grumble but won’t dismiss him outright; Trump might buy in if it’s framed as his idea (Macron’s good at flattery). Zelenskyy’s the hitch—he’d resent being sidelined—but Macron’s pro-Ukraine cred could soothe that, keeping him in the loop without facing Putin’s sneer. Ukraine’s base stays fired up under Zelenskyy, while Macron resets the room’s vibe: less shouting, more handshakes. Downside? Putin could stall, betting on Trump alone. Macron’s not universally loved—some in Eastern Europe see him as too French, too soft. But his name carries weight, and his stature (literal and figurative) could reframe the talks. Tall, suited, known—checks the boxes. What do you think—Macron the man, or someone else catch your eye? I would place my Bets on Macron as long as he stay in close contact with the Ukrainian Government. Betting on Macron makes sense—he’s got the profile and the positioning to pull this off, especially if he keeps tight with Kyiv. As of March 31, 2025, here’s how that could play out and why it’s a solid call, factoring in that need for close Ukrainian contact. Macron’s already got a line to Zelenskyy. They’ve met 15+ times since 2022, with Macron hosting him in Paris just last month (February 2025) to hash out troop ideas post-Trump clash. France’s $4 billion in aid—artillery, missiles, training—gives him cred with Ukraine’s government, and Zelenskyy’s leaned on him as U.S. support wobbles. Staying in close contact is doable: daily calls, a Kyiv liaison embedded with Macron’s team, even pulling Zelenskyy into virtual huddles before any Putin or Trump sit-downs. Macron’s smart enough to know sidelining Ukraine’s government entirely would tank the deal—Zelenskyy’s cabinet (think Kuleba, Reznikov) and parliament need buy-in, or it’s dead on arrival. How it works: Macron pitches a phased ceasefire—30-day pause on all fronts, UN or Turkish monitors along the line, no energy strikes. He sells it to Putin as a face-saving stall (keep your 20% for now), to Trump as a legacy win (peace in 100 days!), and to Zelenskyy as a breather with teeth (European troops prepped, Russian assets funding Ukraine’s rebuild). Staying glued to Kyiv ensures Ukraine’s red lines—no formal land loss, no neutrality—shape the terms. Macron’s got the height (6’1”), the suit, the name, and the social juice—Western leaders nod, Putin grumbles but listens, Trump laps up the credit. France’s intel (DGSE) tracks Russian compliance, keeping Zelenskyy looped in real-time. The glue’s that contact. Zelenskyy’s shaken, sure—March 18 drone strikes rattled him—but he trusts Macron more than Trump. Regular check-ins (say, twice-weekly briefings) let Ukraine vent, tweak, and sign off, avoiding a revolt in Kyiv. Macron’s used to juggling—think his 2022 Russia-EU balancing act—so he can handle Putin’s games while keeping Zelenskyy’s team in the fold. Europe’s on board; Germany’s Scholz already backs Macron’s troop talk. Risks? Putin could balk if Ukraine’s too loud through Macron, or Trump might ditch it for a Putin-only deal. But Macron’s ego and Ukraine’s grit align here—he wants the win, they want survival. Close contact locks it: Kyiv stays in, Putin’s boxed, Trump’s placated. Your bet’s got legs—Macron’s the guy if he sticks to that lifeline. Thoughts on how tight that leash needs to be? Tasty French food and wine and presto a peace treaty! Ha, I love the vision—Macron wining and dining his way to peace, a bottle of Bordeaux and some escargot smoothing over the Russo-Ukrainian mess. Let’s roll with that and see how it could play out as of March 31, 2025, keeping that close Ukrainian tie-in. Picture it: Macron hosts a summit—Paris, naturally, maybe the Élysée Palace—late April 2025. He’s got Putin at one end of the table, Trump at the other, and Zelenskyy dialed in from Kyiv (Putin won’t sit with him, but Macron’s got a screen ready). The spread’s pure French flex—coq au vin, fresh baguettes, a killer Châteauneuf-du-Pape flowing. Macron’s in his element, 6’1” and suited up, charming the room. Over appetizers, he pitches the ceasefire: 30 days, all fronts, monitored by UN and Turkey, energy grids off-limits. The wine loosens tongues—Trump’s boasting about deal-making, Putin’s smirking but sipping. The Ukrainian lifeline’s key. Macron’s got Zelenskyy’s team on speed dial—Kuleba’s briefed hourly via encrypted line, Zelenskyy’s greenlighting terms between bites of his own (less fancy) meal in Kyiv. Macron slips in Ukraine’s must-haves: no land ceded, European troop commitments (France pledges 5,000 to start). He pairs it with a nod to Putin—freeze the lines, keep your 20% for now—and a carrot for Trump: “Biggest peace deal since ’45, Donald.” Dessert hits—crème brûlée—and Macron’s toasting “stability,” but he’s texting Kyiv under the table: “You good?” They are, as long as Russia’s assets ($300 billion) fund Ukraine’s grid repairs. The social magic’s in the vibe. Tasty food and wine melt the edges off Putin’s scowl—maybe he even cracks a joke about vodka outclassing this stuff. Trump’s full and happy, tweeting “French know how to host!” Zelenskyy’s not there to spoil the mood, but Macron’s tight leash (daily calls, live updates) keeps Ukraine locked in. By coffee, they’ve got a draft: ceasefire starts May 1, monitors deploy, Europe backstops it. No treaty yet—just a pause—but the meal’s greased the wheels. Presto? Not quite—Putin could still stall, Trump might overpromise, Zelenskyy might balk if it smells like surrender. But Macron’s French flair, tied to Kyiv’s pulse, could pull it off. Food and wine as diplomacy’s secret sauce—why not? How much Château Lafite you think it’d take to seal the deal?
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CNN Hamas stages macabre ceremony to release bodies of four Israeli hostages, said to include Bibas children and their mother Mick Krever, Ivana Kottasová, Mohammad Al Sawalhi, Kareem Khadder, Lucas Lilieholm and Edward Szekeres, CNN Thu, February 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM PST6 min read 470 Hamas stages macabre ceremony to release bodies of four Israeli hostages, said to include Bibas children and their mother Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Hamas on Thursday put on a macabre handover ceremony in central Gaza to return the bodies of four Israeli hostages taken on October 7, 2023. It was the first time the militant group has released the remains of dead hostages since its attack on Israel, and marked a somber turn for a country more used to elation when former captives returned home alive. Among those released were said to be the bodies of Shiri Bibas, who was aged 32 when she and her sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, southern Israel by Hamas-led militants more than 16 months ago. The two boys have become the most recognizable victims of the October 7 terror attacks. A relative of Ariel and Kfir Bibas holds their photos in Tel Aviv in January 2024. - Jordan Pettitt/PA/AP A relative of Ariel and Kfir Bibas holds their photos in Tel Aviv in January 2024. - Jordan Pettitt/PA/AP The fourth body was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 years old when he and his wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Yocheved was released by Hamas on October 24, 2023. At a press conference Thursday, the Head of Israel’s National Center of Forensic Medicine Dr. Chen Kugel said experts had confirmed that one of the bodies was Lifshitz, but did not comment on the other three bodies. As in past weeks, Hamas used the handover ceremony as an opportunity for anti-Israel propaganda. But the juxtaposition of four black coffins borne by masked militants rather than living hostages led to widespread condemnation in Israel, whose television networks – unlike in past weeks – did not carry the ceremony live. Loud music blared as Red Cross workers loaded coffins into armored SUVs. Hamas claimed in November 2023 that Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas were killed in an Israeli airstrike, though never presented any evidence, and Israel never confirmed their deaths. Among the propaganda posters strung up by Hamas on Thursday was an image of a vampiric Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looming over an image of the hostages. A Hamas militant stands on a stage in Khan Younis, Gaza, next to the coffins of four Israeli hostages. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images A Hamas militant stands on a stage in Khan Younis, Gaza, next to the coffins of four Israeli hostages. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images “503 agonizing days of uncertainty have come to an end,” the Lifshitz family said in a statement, after receiving confirmation that Oded’s body had been returned. “Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been missing from us since October 7. Our family’s healing process will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned.” The caskets were first handed to the Red Cross then transferred to the Israeli military, whose soldiers draped the coffins in Israeli flags and brought them into Israel. Scores of people, many waving flags, lined the roads as a convoy carrying the four coffins traveled to Tel Aviv. Bystanders watch a convoy carrying the bodies of four former hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Amir Levy/Getty Images Bystanders watch a convoy carrying the bodies of four former hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Amir Levy/Getty Images Israeli soldiers in Gaza carry the casket of a former hostage after a handover from the Red Cross. - Israel Defense Forces Israeli soldiers in Gaza carry the casket of a former hostage after a handover from the Red Cross. - Israel Defense Forces More in World Ukraine could get instant Nato membership if Russia breaks peace deal The Telegraph See Who's on eharmony in San Jose eharmony・Ad Revealed: The Ukraine peacekeeping plan Starmer will present to Trump The Telegraph Putin ‘sends thousands more troops into Ukraine’ The Telegraph Israeli President Isaac Herzog said hearts across the country “lie in tatters,” and asked for forgiveness on behalf of the government for failing to protect those captured on October 7. “Agony. Pain. There are no words,” he wrote in a post on X. Hamas claimed in November 2023 that the Bibas children and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but did not produce any evidence. Israel has never confirmed their deaths. The children’s father, Yarden Bibas, was released by Hamas earlier this month after 484 days of captivity. He was one of the 19 Israeli hostages freed alive under the January 2025 ceasefire deal. The Israeli military had previously retrieved the bodies of multiple hostages in Gaza. Symbols of October 7 horror At just 9 months old, Kfir was the youngest hostage kidnapped into Gaza and the youngest to have been killed. A photo of him holding a pink elephant toy and looking directly at the camera with a toothless smile has been featured in numerous campaigns and protests around the world. His brother Ariel, just 4 at the time of the attack, was often shown in a photo taken after he had a haircut, still wrapped in the hairdresser’s cape. Earlier photos of the family showed Ariel, a big fan of Batman, with locks of long red hair. The picture was shown on the large screens at New York City’s Times Square, printed on t-shirts worn by protesters in London, Berlin and elsewhere, and brought to the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. A video of the Bibas family’s abduction became one of the symbols of the brutality of the October 7 terror attack. It showed a terrified Shiri clinging tightly to her children wrapped in a blanket, with Ariel still sucking his pacifier. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later released another video, which they said showed Shiri and the two boys alive in southern Gaza on October 7. The footage showed a person wrapped in a blanket carrying a child being ordered around by armed militants before being put in a car and driven away. The two boys and their mother were not released from Gaza during the temporary truce in late November 2023, even though the deal agreed between Israel and Hamas called for all women and children to be set free. The IDF said at that time they believed the family was being held by other militant groups, not Hamas. Supporters and loved ones of Yarden Bibas tie yellow ribbons at a square in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 9, 2024. - Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters Supporters and loved ones of Yarden Bibas tie yellow ribbons at a square in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 9, 2024. - Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters Later that week, Hamas said the two Bibas children and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike, without providing evidence. Israel never confirmed their deaths. A few days after making the claim, Hamas released a video of Yarden, the father, in which he blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the death of his wife and two children. Yarden appeared to be in extreme distress in the video and was very likely speaking under duress. In a statement published shortly after his release this month, Yarden urged the world to “continue doing everything possible” to ensure all hostages return home. “Sadly, my family hasn’t returned to me yet. They are still there. My light is still there, and as long as they’re there, everything here is dark. Thanks to you, I was brought back - help me bring the light back to my life,” he said, referring to the Israeli public. Members of the Red Cross move a coffin during the handover by Hamas of deceased hostages Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Monday. - Ramadan Abed/Reuters Members of the Red Cross move a coffin during the handover by Hamas of deceased hostages Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Monday. - Ramadan Abed/Reuters More The run up to the release of the four bodies on Thursday was marred by the Bibas family’s anger at the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, which they said had released the names without their approval. A source in the Prime Minister’s office told CNN that while it had not published an official statement with the names of the dead hostages, IDF liaison officers had approved the publishing of the names to reporters without clearing this first with the family. The forum later released a statement at the request of the Bibas family asking the public not to “eulogize our loved ones until there is a confirmation after final identification.” This story has been updated with additional information. CORRECTION: The headline on this story has been corrected to reflect that Israel has not yet confirmed the Bibas family were among the four bodies released Thursday. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com