The Nomad is a series of stories, fascinations, encounters, observations, experiences, joy of the moments by me, Ulrike Reinhard – all around my travels. Stay tuned!
Where do I even start with Martine Rothblatt? She’s one of those rare minds that seem to live a few decades ahead of the rest of us. She moves effortlessly from one industry to another—all connected by her passion for space and aviation – and builds multi-billion-dollar businesses where others don’t even see possibilities. She founded SiriusXM, pioneering a commercial, subscription-based satellite digital audio radio service. Then she pivoted to biotech with United Therapeutics, tackling unmet medical needs – primarily to save her daughter’s life. And in doing so, Martine extended her innovation strategy into ‘adjacent’ fields. One example: developing e-helicopters to enable rapid delivery of urgently needed transplant organs. Martine is a business genius, a fierce advocate for a greener future, a space enthusiast, and – above all – deeply rooted in her love for family. In 2017, Forbes named her one of the 100 Greatest Living Business Minds of the past century.
Very often when she is tackling a problem, she is writing a book or a blog in which she lays out her solution. For me, two books stand out. One is Apartheid of Sex (1995) – a manifesto on the freedom of gender, and the other one is – and I focus on this one here – Two Stars for Peace (2003): a solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Martine suggests something radical: Israel and Palestine should become the 51st and 52nd states of the U.S. Two new stars on the American flag, two nations secured under the then world’s most powerful democracy. Her signature style methodically dismantles every objection, backing her argument with history, logic, and hard data. She sees the traditional two-state solution as a dead end, while her ‘two-star’ vision offers a way forward that satisfies both Zionist ideals and Palestinian aspirations. It’s an out-of-the-box approach. It’s so Martine.
I’ve read the book not just once, but multiple times. At first, her idea might seem outlandish to mainstream politics and society – but the more I let it sink in, the more sense it makes. I’m drawn to it because I want lasting peace. And I believe peace between Israel and Palestine is essential for global stability. The Middle East is a strategic hub, and its instability ripples across the world, affecting oil markets, security, and diplomacy. This conflict fuels radicalization, terrorism, and military interventions, pulling in major powers like the U.S., Russia, and Iran.
While Martine has presented the idea to President Bill Clinton and to General Colin Powell (who later became the Secretary of State), my approach is to bring it directly to the people in the region. I want to hear from the people themselves. So I say to Martine, “Let’s get it out there – ask the people what they think. No filters, no gatekeepers and let’s capture it all – audio, video, photos. If this idea has any merit, the streets will tell us.” It’s my – maybe naive – belief in the collective power of people, inspired by the early momentum and ongoing impact of the Arab Spring.
In May 2011, I’m back on the ground in the Middle East – curious and excited. Ten days. That’s all there is. No time to waste. My network is activated. The journey begins in Amman, speaking with Jordanians and Palestinian refugees. Stories come from those who’ve lost everything. In Ramallah and Jenin, Palestinians share their views. In Jerusalem – I remember chasing a Rabbi through its winding streets, determined to get his take – Tel Aviv, and Beer Sheva, Israelis offer theirs. Gaza? Off-limits. Entry is denied. And once again I stand on Tahrir Square, this time holding Martine’s book. Workshops are set up in community centers and universities. Connections are made with NGOs.
Some people dodge my questions, others dive right in. By the end, I have 150 voices – spanning generations, borders, and beliefs. A snapshot of the Middle East, speaking for itself.
Wherever I go, the reaction is the same. First – astonishment. What kind of crazy idea is this? I have to explain it again and again, breaking it down step by step. People blink, frown, and eventually lean in. They’re surprised that a legal framework actually exists to make this possible. “Really?” they ask.
Some follow the logic; a few even find it interesting. But then comes the inevitable question: “Would we have to move to America?” “No,” I say. “You stay right where you are. The nation just becomes a state – like New York or Texas.” Some nod, considering it. Others shake their heads in disbelief. It’s too far out. A few scoff, laugh in my face, and walk away. No one – absolutely no one – can picture this working. “Why?” I press. “Forget your governments for a second. Would you, personally, choose this solution?”
And that’s when I hit the raw nerve. Mistrust. Hate. Not just toward each other but toward America itself. A refusal to forgive, to imagine a shared future. No common ground. No rationale. Just ‘us versus them’, a deep, festering rift. Decades of conditioning erupt. Radicalization. Each side is armed with its own history, its own pain, drilled into them from birth. A tremendous, all-encompassing international propaganda machine that has infiltrated families, schools, communities, synagogues, mosques, media, governments. Every institution succeeds in reinforcing the hate despite the fact that on a personal level people of the ‘different sides’ experience friendship and respect for each other. But the moment institutions and politics enter the equation, the walls slam down. Mistrust hardens into hatred — a force even more potent than money. Ironically, this becomes the most compelling argument for the Two Stars solution: it would neutralize exactly that.
The story of the ‘Two Stars’ just can’t seem to take off. It doesn’t resonate with people, and there’s no momentum behind it. Maybe people are too caught up in the unfolding events of the Arab Spring.
Perhaps now, in today’s climate, could be a better time to revisit the idea – maybe President Trump would embrace these two stars and let Canada get off the hook instead. Just kidding …