DETROIT NEWS’ EDITOR…
UNIFORMED ON GAZA

I read Detroit News editor, Nolan Finley’s, personal bio in the 8/10/2025 Sunday paper, “Co-author of the Civility Book, a Guide to Building Bridges Across the Political Divide.” That’s the same Nolan Finley who is an on again, off again supporter of Donald Trump. But, always a supporter of the version of Trumpism that consistently turns its back on human compassion, empathy and human rights.

Case in point #1. In his Sunday 8/10/2025 editorial, Save the Ultimatums for Hamas, Nolan throws his Civility and Building Bridges Across the Political Divide book and his common sense into the abyss (marked Keeping the Killing of the Innocents in Gaza Going Full Speed Ahead) as he accuses our allies, England, France and Canada, of going “wobbly in the face of antisemitism.” In doing so, Nolan misuses his editorial pulpit by turning world attention away from the daily deaths and wounding of innocent Palestinians seeking food aid and away from the starvation of the innocent Palestinian children as Nolan becomes an aider and abettor of Netanyahu and his right wing, Israeli Coalition.

Case in point #2. Nolan’s misplaced and un-nuanced statement that “Hamas started this war and bears total responsibility for the devastation it has wrought.” I have no love lost for Hamas. With their murderous attack on an “asleep at the wheel” Israel, Hamas forfeited any defense to the charges of murder, rape, kidnapping and mayhem. But, for Nolan to claim that Hamas has “total responsibility” shows a complete lack of nuance, subtlety and proportionality that is the calling card of an enlightened country (or an enlightened editorial board). Both the Judeo-Christian ethic and the English-American common law tell us that, when criminal aggression is repelled, it is unlawful, morally and legally, for the initial victim (Israel in this case) to use continuing force to kill or maim or starve-out the innocents. Enough is enough. Hey, you confused, right wing Christians and you right wing, coalition supporters of Netanyahu, you are not justified in your “Thou shalt continue to kill” and kill and kill and kill and starve the innocent Palestinians and their children on their forced march toward extinction.

Since Nolan is the Editorial Page Editor, I suspect any chance of publication of my Letter to the Editor is doomed. Prove me wrong Nolan.

Fred Lauck
Copyright 2025