News @lemmy.world roastedDeflator @kbin.social 5 mo. ago

Chicago becomes latest US city to call for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war

apnews.com Chicago becomes latest US city to call for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war

Chicago’s City Council narrowly approved a resolution Wednesday calling for a permanent cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, with Mayor Brandon Johnson casting the tiebreaking vote.

Chicago is latest U.S. city to approve such a non-binding resolution, following Atlanta, Detroit and San Francisco in recent months.

31 comments

Why are city governments doing this?

Cities have very little role in international diplomacy. If a city wants to support something like Black Lives Matter, at least that's something related to what they do. They employ police who might not treat black people fairly, for example. But, it seems wrong to get involved in international diplomacy.

For a different reason, schools also shouldn't have a stance. Schools are supposed to be a "marketplace of ideas". If a student council wants to take a stand, sure. If a Palestinian rights org on campus wants to hold a rally, that's great. The school itself should stay out of it and simply provide a physically safe place for other people to express their ideas.
- Why shouldn't they? The city government represents the citizens of that city, who are calling for a ceasefire. They're saying "we hear you and agree there should be a ceasefire"
  
  Why shouldn't they? They have no power to do anything, and it isn't their business. Any time they spend on posturing about things they can't have any impact on is time they can't spend doing their actual jobs.
- What if your city manufactures weapons for Israel?
  
  What if your school invests in Israel?
  
  Cities don't manufacture weapons.
  
  Schools shouldn't be investing.
So, are we the world police or not? I'm getting mixed signals here.

Do you want us involved in middle eastern conflicts or do you want us to stfu and stay out of it?

There's no world where our demands are accepted at their word.
- Are you not aware that we have been heavily involved with this conflict for a very long time?
  
  There’s no world where our demands are accepted at their word.
- As if there are no options between ground invasion and sitting silently.
  
  Really? Name some.
  
  If you reply 'economic sanctions' as if that has ever functioned at all in the way anyone actually intended for their use, you vastly require educating in this topic.
Amazing how easy it is to ask people to stop fighting when you're no the one who is having your family and friends slaughtered en masse.
- Like Jewish Voice for Peace do? Ask for a ceasefire I mean. Or as they say:
  
  URGENT: Demand a ceasefire now.
  Millions of lives depend on it.
  
  Also, hope you don't mind when they say:
  
  WE HAVE A PLAN TO END U.S. SUPPORT
  FOR ISRAEL’S OPPRESSION OF PALESTINIANS
  
  Jewish Voice for Peace is the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world.
  
  We’re organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with Palestinian freedom struggle.
  
  If you’ve been looking for a political home for Jews on the left in this perilous moment; if you’ve been wanting a Jewish community with justice at the center; if you’ve been looking to turn your rage and grief into meaningful, strategic action:
  Join us. You belong here.
  
  No, I mean like the city of Chicago. You know, the people this article is about?
What exactly are they going to do to bring about this cease-fire? Hold their collective breath until it happens?
I hear a lot of complaining and have heard nothing about solutions that will get hostages released and security guarantees for Israel.
- Could we get some guarantees for the Palestinians too? That the Israelis won't use as toilet paper in a week?

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