Biss misses chance for teachable moment in gubernatorial race

Biss misses chance for teachable moment in gubernatorial race

Today will be a sad day in Illinois as gubernatorial candidate Daniel Biss picks a running mate for the meaningless position of Lieutenant Governor who dares not criticize Israel's seven decade destruction of the Palestinian people. Rookie Chicago alderman and Bernie Sanders delegate Carlos Ramirez-Rosa lost his gig with Biss with these quite measured and valid words on the question of Palestinian dignity and freedom: "The U.S. government has subsidized the oppression of the Palestinian people, and it’s time that stopped. I have not heard much discussion about the relationship of the U.S. with Israel, with divesting from Israel to support the people of Palestine. Not a lot of that was discussed and I think that’s a conversation that needs to be had.”

Much of the civilized world supports BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) as a time honored, non-violent method of encouraging nations to 'do the right thing.' Ending the humanitarian catastrophe Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian quest for dignity, freedom and a homeland is the right thing to do using the right methods. BDS would likely work to free the Palestinian people as it did to free blacks from white Apartheid in South Africa three decades ago. Sadly, the US, which itself exists from resistance to economic and political control of a powerful overseer, stands virtually alone in enabling Israel's continued assault on Palestinian aspirations. While Palestinians endure endless and needless suffering, even a hint of dissent or resistance to Israeli conduct is suppressed in the world's wellspring of democratic debate.

Sen. Biss is a good man and qualified potential governor. Alas, he passed on a chance to use his gubernatorial bid as a teachable moment, for unrestricted debate as well as justice for the Palestinian people.