A while it’s been since last I wrote a poelitic poem
It’s zero, not because there’s nothing worth to write
Both Don and Elon issuing bad orders out of sight
And I preoccupied have been with issues of my own
Things not normally newsworthy taking on new life
A tariff war with former trading partners escalating
Key firings and massive layoffs, government mis-functioning
Plus real-time, secret military actions publicized
All levels of the courts have busy been like bumblebees
Striking down Trump’s orders; Constitutional they’re not
And on and on, day after day the news runs cold and hot
I really feel for cablers who choose from what they see
An underlying pattern in the news though details differ
Trump tests his base to ferret out dissent wherever ‘tis
He takes the action; raising outrage, Dems. against what is
Courts then reject it, causing chaos. Trump then tries it stiffer
And so, dear reader, thank you for your patience and support
It’s my intention to continue once my issues are resolved
Then I’ll concentrate on details, how I would the problem solve
Until that time I wish you well. It’s been my pleasure, been my sport
3/29/2025
Thank you. Look forward to the rest after your treatments meet the test
correction
References
American Law Institute. (1985). Model Penal Code and Commentaries (Official Draft and Revised Comments). American Law Institute.
Dershowitz, A. (2011). The Case for Israel. John Wiley & Sons.
Hamas. (1988). The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement. Avalon Project, Yale Law School. Website: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp
Hand in Hand. (n.d.). About Hand in Hand: Our Story. Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel. Website: http://www.handinhandk12.org/about/
Levitt, M. (2006). Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad. Yale University Press.
United Nations. (1948). Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. Website: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.1_Convention%20on%20the%20Prevention%20and%20Punishment%20of%20the%20Crime%20of%20Genocide.pdf
Response to “It’s Been a While” by Sabba Rabba
Thank you for your poem—it reflects the political turbulence we’re living through with honesty and poetic thoughtfulness. Like you, I’ve been hurt by decisions made by figures like Trump and Elon Musk. Their actions have often caused personal and societal harm. However, I believe in holding space for nuance. Even flawed leaders can act decisively where others fall short.
One area where this complexity emerges is the alarming rise of antisemitism on university campuses. While I don’t align myself with Trump broadly, it’s worth recognizing that he has taken a stronger stance on antisemitism in higher education institutions than the Biden administration, which has often appeared too lenient (Dershowitz, 2011).
The case of Mahmoud Khalil exemplifies this. His arrest has raised public concern, with many fearing it was a political move against free speech. But legally, the situation is more clear-cut. Khalil reportedly supported and promoted chants like “From the river to the sea,” a phrase which, in context, has been widely interpreted as a call for the eradication of the State of Israel and, by implication, the Jewish population within it (Levitt, 2006). Such rhetoric is tied directly to the Hamas charter, which explicitly denies the legitimacy of any peaceful resolution or two-state solution and calls for Israel’s destruction (Hamas, 1988). Advocating violence, even through slogans or symbolic speech, crosses into incitement—which is not protected under the First Amendment (American Law Institute, 1985; United Nations, 1948).
Rather than endorsing—intentionally or inadvertently—this Hamas-driven propaganda, often echoed in protest movements and even some parts of Hollywood, we should champion genuine models of peaceful coexistence. Hand in Hand in Israel offers one such example. Their integrated schools bring Jewish and Arab children together in shared classrooms, where they learn each other’s languages, traditions, and values (Hand in Hand, n.d.). This kind of mutual understanding is the real path to peace, not rhetoric that fuels hatred and division.
In a chaotic political moment, your poem is a reminder of the power of words. But in moments like these, moral clarity is also essential. We must challenge injustice while also rejecting hate, no matter its source.
— Joshua L Cohen
References
American Law Institute. (1985). Model Penal Code and Commentaries (Official Draft and Revised Comments). American Law Institute.
Dershowitz, A. (2011). The Case for Israel. John Wiley & Sons.
Hamas. (1988). The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement. Avalon Project, Yale Law School. Website: http://www.avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp
Hand in Hand. (n.d.). About Hand in Hand: Our Story. Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel. Website: http://www.handinhandk12.org/about/
Levitt, M. (2006). Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad. Yale University Press.
United Nations. (1948). Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. Website: http://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide-convention.shtml