George's - Writings

  I’m a “Chicagoan – in Exile” – living now in Richmond, California.    It’s a long story I’ll only briefly touch upon.   I lived in Chicago from 1974 until early in 1983, returned in May of 2018 until we left over 3 ½ years ago to near where we met nearly 24 years ago.     A Gorgeous Peaceful Beach Sunrise – quite cold though The love of blues music drew me in the first time.   The impending birth of our granddaughter brought the us the second time. My “deep journey” began in November, 2018.    My major periods of depression have moved further and further away from me.    2019 was better than 2018, 2020 was better than 2019, …. Not that long after I came to Chicago I learned of Organizing White Men for Collective Liberation.    This morning I introduced D to Manny’s Deli, a wonderful part of my past, as well as today. When I first attended a national meeting of OWMCL on zoom, D, a resident of a NW Subur...

  As I write three days after the beginning of the joint Israeli-United States invasion of Iran, I recall so much just over the past days, thinking:   “Will we never learn from history?” .     Sabri Jirysis is a scholar, a historian, who cares deeply about truths which oft times are ugly. Less than two weeks ago I “met” Fida Jiryis, the translator, and daughter of the author on zoom for the first time.    A few minutes later I heard and watched Peter Beinart interview Sabri Jiryis.    He added greatly to my knowledge.   If feels like a lifetime later.     I’m very upset!    Now a massive war or ?? is unfolding, after already genocidal horrific destruction in Gaza, which continues to kill directly, as well as through starvation and more. The Foundations of Zionism has helped me learn much more about (my) history within Judaism; who I am as a Jew.   The conclusion of the book was written proximate to an...

      A woman was killed and dozens more were injured by an Iranian missile that struck a Tel Aviv residential block late Saturday night, in the first deadly barrage to rock Israel during its renewed fighting with Iran. The victim, in her 40s, was found in critical condition after a ballistic missile struck her apartment building in the coastal city, causing heavy damage to the structure and its environs. https://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-killed-dozens-injured-as-iranian-missile-strikes-tel-aviv-residential-block/ I do not gloat, nor feel good at the death of this Israeli woman today, February 28, 2026.    She might have been a relative of mine.    My father’s family has descendants of many great-aunts and great-uncles who are Israeli Jews. 9 Palestinians were killed, 19 were injured by the Israeli occupation forces, which brings the death toll in the Gaza Strip to 72,095 and the injuries to 171,784  by February 28, 2026 https://...

  Steve Witkoff + The Voice of Hind Rajab? Hind Rajab: The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the  82nd Venice International Film Festival  on 3 September 2025, where it won the  Grand Jury Prize  and six other parallel prizes. It was theatrically released in Tunisia on 10 September, and was released in France on 26 November by The Party Film Sales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voice_of_Hind_Rajab#Production Steven Charles Witkoff  (born March 15, 1957) is an American real estate developer, investor, and founder of the Witkoff Group. Since 2025, Witkoff has served as the  United States special envoy to the Middle East [1]  and  special envoy for peace missions . [2]  He has also acted as a  de facto  envoy to Russian president  Vladimir Putin . [3]     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Witkoff# Last evening I was greatly moved watching The Voice of Hind Rajab at The Roxie ...