South Central Bellevue has never been in more need of spots to get good food. There’s no end in sight to the suburban sprawl down west Capehart, and the Waterpark is practically peaking over the southern horizon. The hungry hordes grow by the day! And today’s crowds aren’t just satisfied with the old standbys. Of course, the new McDonald’s is plenty busy, and Lil’ Burro and Filipino Fusion are tried and tested, but what if you’re looking for something new and different? Enter Gyro Kings.

Eddie Eucker was a kid who lived next door to us when I was a young kid. Eddie was a year older, and his parents weren’t as strict as mine, so he got to do things I couldn’t.

Whenever I wanted to do something that Eddie was doing, my folks would say, “If Eddie jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?”

Of course, I was a smart ass, and I said I would, even though I knew the point my parents were trying to make. And it’s a point that has stuck with me all these years later.

Just because someone else is doing something doesn’t make it right for you to do it.

Although I was raised Catholic and did all those Catholic boy things growing up like being an altar boy and sneaking a taste of the sacramental wine when the priest wasn’t looking, I am not an especially religious person today.

But even though I’m not that religious, I respect people who are, as long as they are not trying to use their religion to hurt other people.

I’m going to have to choose my words very carefully. I know that even if I do there’s a very good chance that someone might accuse me of being something I’m not.

But here goes….

Just because you criticize or condemn the actions of the Israeli government doesn’t mean you are antisemitic. It doesn’t mean you hate the Jewish people.

Now I won’t deny that there are those who are antisemitic who condemn what the government is doing in Gaza, Lebanon, or getting us involved in Iran. But that certainly isn’t everyone. It certainly isn’t me.