The Politics Thread

[janea4old]

re: prior two posts about Trump's new opulent plane contrasted with utter starvation in Gaza...
Trump and Netanyahu are giving "Let them eat cake".  And it's horrific.


In 2013, Pope Francis removed a bishop from running the Limburg Germany diocese because he was constructing an opulent 31-million-euro building.

This is from Reuters obit of Francis:
https://www.reuters.com/world/obituary-pope-francis-shook-up-church-with-simplicity-raising-conservative-ire-2025-04-21/
From the start, Francis sent clear signals to priests and bishops about the type of Church he wanted.
He said there was no room for "careerists or social climbers" among the clergy, told cardinals they should not live "like princes," and said the Church should not "dissect theology" in lush salons while there were poor people around the corner.
"If investments in banks fall, it is a tragedy and people say 'what are we going to do?' but if people die of hunger, have nothing to eat or suffer from poor health, that's nothing. This is our crisis today. A Church that is poor and for the poor has to fight this mentality," he said early in his papacy.
--

Pope Francis stood up for the poor, the unhoused, the migrants of all faiths.  He lived simply and ordered that when he died, that he wished to be interred in a simple wooden coffin.

I sincerely hope that the new pope Leo will follow Francis' example.

Edited May 11 by janea4old

[janea4old]

Today May 11, 2025, Pope Leo briefly addressed the crowd in the square.  He sang the prayer to Mary and then said:
 

Dear brothers and sisters,

The immense tragedy of the Second World War ended eighty years ago, on 8 May, after having claimed sixty million victims. In today’s dramatic scenario of a piecemeal third world war, as Pope Francis stated many times, I too address the world’s leaders, repeating the ever-timely appeal: “Never again war!”.

I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. May everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace, as soon as possible. Let all the prisoners be freed and the children return to their own families.

I am deeply saddened by what is happening in the Gaza Strip: may there be an immediate ceasefire! Let humanitarian aid be provided to the stricken civil population, and let all the hostages be freed.

On the other hand, I have welcomed with satisfaction the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and I hope that through the upcoming negotiations, a lasting accord may be reached soon.

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2025/documents/20250511-regina-caeli.html

[sivad40]

Very sad news.

[janea4old]

They said that this has metastasized to his bones, but the type of "aggressive" prostate cancer he has is actually very common and is treatable, or at least manageable. So the headline is misleading.   Apparently this type of cancer is hormonal which makes it somewhat treatable?

But still, of course, sad.  Thinking of him and his loved ones.

Edited 20 hours ago by janea4old

[Maxim]

My heart aches for him. This is sooo sad. I wish him nothing but recovery! When I saw the news I got a lump in my throat. 

[Khan]

I am as well.  

[janea4old]

I hope this shuts down all the book publicity [clickbait gossip] regarding Biden's mental acuity.

Edited 6 hours ago by janea4old

[Khan]

Sadly, it won't.  If anything, it'll convince the donors and others even further that they were right to push Biden out of the election (never mind that Kamala would've been on standby had he been unable to fulfill his duties as president).

Edited 6 hours ago by Khan

[marceline]

This. These people will never admit they were wrong.

[I Am A Swede]

Yet another Trump wannabee is defeated in an election.

Liberal mayor Dan beats nationalist in tense race for Romanian presidency

[janea4old]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/19/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-take-control-gaza-uk-france-canada-threaten-action 
 

Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will “take control” of all Gaza, as three key allies attacked his “egregious” escalation of the military campaign and blockade on humanitarian aid.

Britain, France and Canada attacked Israel’s expansion of its war as disproportionate, described conditions in Gaza as “intolerable” and threatened a “concrete” response if Israel’s campaign continues.

finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel’s army would “wipe out” what remains of Palestinian Gaza.  “Now we conquer, cleanse and stay"

----------------------------

My thoughts:

This is genocide, ethnic cleansing.  It's just evil and there's no excuse for it.  I'm glad Canada, France, and UK are making a statement, and I hope they back it up.

There are some Israeli citizens who don't support what Netanyahu is doing, and I hope they are able to enact some positive change from within.

Edited 25 minutes ago by janea4old