As people were commemorating Veterans Day [“Armistice Day”], I noticed in the Recorder a guest column by William Lambers: “Armistice brought ‘the silence heard round the world.’” The writer did not mention the Israel/U.S. ongoing genocide (war) in Gaza. More must be said and written about this.

Our government has been carrying on wars since the Armistice was declared on Nov. 11, 1918, ending World War I. It seems many Americans have not learned much about our U.S. war history. Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has been in our newspapers, on TV, radio, and online with data and images (especially Democracy Now!, Al Jazeera, and Electronic Intifada), revealing the bombings’ horrifying devastation of lives and structures that have gotten worse every day.

Many nonviolent actions against this genocide have been and continue to be inspired and coordinated by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) in many cities across the country. Even in Greenfield, the decades-long “peace vigil” (Saturday on the Common) was expanded in October 2023 by many activists from JVP/WesternMass. They also supported the “cease-fire” encampment at UMass/Amherst, which suffered violent arrests by police requested by UMass/Amherst management.

Many other universities had students and others setting up and maintaining encampments for peace and ending the genocide against the Palestinian people.

It has been over 13 months of genocide, as bombing and shootings wreak targeted and horrific injuries and death upon babies, children and women. There are thousands of children now without parents. Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to deprive the Gazans of food, water and health care, while having already destroyed nearly all housing, churches, mosques, schools, universities and hospitals.

And he has expanded the bombings and horrors to Lebanon, as we are left fearing expansion to Iran and other parts of the Middle East.

Yet this goes on and on, because our government — president and Congress — keeps sending the bombs and funding the devastation. It seems that our “democracy” — of, by and for the people — has disappeared, as the weapons industry and other corporate billionaires strive for ever more profits, leaving the people deprived of food, housing and health care.

Think of the money that has bought the votes … and the billions going into more bomber-airplanes to be stocked with nuclear weapons, being based in NATO countries nearly surrounding Russia. Remember Donald Trump’s presidency, when he lowered taxes of the super-rich? That should wake us up — to organize for peace and the well-being of the 99%.

I’d like to read more “opinion pieces” in the Recorder … from our local folks who care about our community and country.

Suzanne R. Carlson of Greenfield is retired, a peace activist, mother of three, grandmother of six, great-grandmother of three.