Vatican Condemns 'Massacre,' Washington Still Funds It
Vatican Cardinal Pietro Parolin's condemnation of Israel's actions as an 'ongoing massacre' is notable, not just for its directness, but for its stark contrast with official US rhetoric. While Al-Monitor highlights this rare ecclesiastical candor (Al-Monitor), our own political class often reverts to talking points about 'self-defense' even as bodies pile up. Remember House Resolution 815, which
passed with overwhelming bipartisan support—485 votes to 13—approving $14 billion in aid to Israel, including advanced weaponry? Many of those 'yes' votes came from members who, according to OpenSecrets.org, received significant contributions from foreign policy PACs like AIPAC. For instance, Rep. Steny Hoyer, a 'yes' vote, received nearly $200,000 from pro-Israel groups in 2022 alone. The
'massacre' is, tragically, a product often purchased with US taxpayer dollars. So, while the Vatican calls a spade a spade, our politicians are left scrambling for euphemisms, lest they offend their donors. How many religious leaders must decry the slaughter before it's okay for American officials to simply stop funding it? Or is 'massacre' simply not in the official US State Department lexicon
when it concerns certain allies? One might wonder how many civilian casualties qualify as 'acceptable collateral damage' before it becomes, you know, a 'massacre'—and why that definition changes depending on who's doing the killing.