As we enter the season where so many in their own ways celebrate Peace on Earth and Good Will to All, our nation under the leadership of Joe Biden has single-handedly vetoed a UN emergency resolution for ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel under Netanyahu has killed at least 18,000 people, and wounded more than 46,000 others, most of them children and women. Amnesty International has condemned the US for its veto.

There had been a ceasefire, and then wrongly-held captives on both sides were exchanged. Released Israeli hostages have told Netanyahu to his face that while in captivity they feared his bombs far more than they feared their Hamas captors.

But here’s the point. Peace on Earth does not happen if we average people just sit back and do nothing except maybe wring our hands and lie to ourselves that there is nothing we can do.

There’s plenty all of us can easily do. Most notably, get in touch with local political party committees and tell them that you will not vote for any candidate who is OK with Israel (or any other country) committing genocide and other crimes against humanity, and who does not support ceasefire in Gaza. And then, keep your word. Do write-ins if there is no anti-genocide pro human rights candidate on the ballot lines in 2024. Cornel West is running for president on an excellent platform. Support ranked choice voting (check out FairVoteNY) to release us voters from the lesser-evil bugaboo that promotes evil. The Democrat leaders tend to oppose ranked choice voting— gee, I wonder why.

Also, repeatedly email or call the White House, Congressman Pat Ryan and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand who are all against ceasefire, and tell them to stop supporting human atrocities done by Netanyahu.

Check out websites of Jewish Voice for Peace, Hudson Valley Jewish Voice for Peace, CodePink, Amnesty International, EyeWitness Palestine, and get more info and ideas for feasible actions, so that regardless of your religion, you can really celebrate the meaning of Christmas, with Peace on Earth and Good Will to All.