Not gonna lie, kids…it’s been a tough two weeks.
The Israeli-Hamas issue has worn on my heart like sandpaper. It has consumed my thoughts and that’s saying something. So, rather than carry it all around with me, I am doing what I do when the thoughts have to go somewhere. Read this or don’t…it’s good with me either way.
But write it, I must.
To start, I realize that it’s rather precious of me to share my angst, because I do not live in the Middle East, nor am I Jewish. I am sitting in my home office right now, feet on carpet, a hot cup of coffee in my mug, and wearing a bathrobe I just took out of the dryer. It smells all fresh with a hint of lavender. I am not suffering here. None of my family are hostage, my children weren’t slaughtered by terrorists and my friends waiting at a bus stop were not gunned down.
But yet, there is a crazy amount of anger and sadness mixed together, each vying for top billing in my heart. And I’m grappling with it because I rarely get mad or overly sad. It’s a waste of emotion to my mind. I can usually approach with logic and humor a situation until it makes sense. Or at least laugh at it if it doesn’t.
It’s the Erma Bombeck approach.
But kids, I can’t do this here. And it’s been bothering me big time that I can’t. I mean, Israel has fought for its very existence longer than I’ve been alive. This conflict is not new to them or to me. And yet, this is different. VERY different.
I realized what the difference is while emptying the dishwasher last night. And when the realization hit me square in the chest, I had to lean against the counter and cry. And it wasn’t pretty. It was an ugly cry. Really ugly. It was an all out sob-fest.
See, in my limited time on this planet, I have been aware of antisemitism. It is evil and it exists and I know this. But with limited exceptions, I have only witnessed pinpricks of antisemitism in this land I love.
Until now.
NOW there is an antisemitic boldness sweeping the country. It is blatant, unabashed, unapologetic antisemitism. Yeah, it’s sweeping other countries, too, but I don’t live in other countries. I live here, in the United States. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would witness massive rallies of individuals calling for the extermination of ANYONE, much less Jews. The kind of rallies that belong in 1933 Germany.
I never thought I would witness the justification of terrorism against the Israeli people, but here are.
So for those of you who haven’t been watching, or who have looked away (I get it. It’s hard to watch) allow me to sprinkle some of what has been making anger and sorrow duke it out in my brain.
From Santa Barbara:
From London:
From Miami:
From Boston:
And it’s not just no-name antisemites on the street, mind you. Hate is found everywhere. Take for instance the Beverly Hills physician who had zero problem putting his hatred for Jews on full display.
Click here to read the whole story.
Or what about Sarah Chowdhury? Sarah Chowdhury is an Illinois lawyer.
Sarah has served as the president of the South Asian Bar Assoc. of ChicagoSarah has been honored by the ACLU of Illinois for her “unwavering passion for justice” and advocacy. Sarah worked for the state of Illinois, one of four in the Comptroller’s office.
Sarah was dismissed from her position, because it turns out, ol’ Sarah’s unwavering passion for justice doesn’t extend to Jews. What does Sarah think of them?
Well, in Sarah’s words, and I quote….No, actually, I won’t quote her. Because I won’t allow my hands to type those words.
Instead allow me to show you the messages she sent to an Instagram Meme account run by a Jewish man:
And let’s not forget the Atlanta oncologist who got in on the action.
We aren’t talking about random dudes from the basements of their parents’ house going on Twitter rants while eating Ramen and playing Call of Duty. These aren’t whackadoodles with a keyboard. These are professional individuals (and I use “professional” in the loosest of terms) supporting Hamas.
But it doesn’t stop there. In-your-face antisemitism is being taught and bred in American classrooms and on American campuses. Especially the <cough cough> elite among us.
Russell Rickford, a Cornell history professor, spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally, calling the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel, wait for it, “exhilarating” and “energizing.” Think about this. This Cornell professor was exhilarated and energized by Jewish deaths.
And this man is teaching students to feel the same way.
(Note: This dude has since apologized, saying what he energetically spoke into a microphone to a large crowd at a rally did not reflect his values. Please. Come on, Russ. You’re not sorry about what you said. You’re just sorry you got caught.
And speaking of schools, let’s not forget the 31 Harvard Student Organizations who signed a letter blaming Israel for the Hamas attack.
It’s not just institutions of higher learning, though. I guess it’s now trendy for the youth to hate on Jews, as we see high schoolers parading through their hallways and campuses with their “from the river to the sea” chants. Anti-Jew now holds value on the ol’ social media. It’s like the new TikTok challenge.
Never mind that most of these kids have no knowledge of history and couldn’t even find Israel on a flipping map.
These, and literally HUNDREDS of other examples of the same is why I leaned against the counter in my kitchen and ugly cried last night. The boldness…the hate…the stupidity…and from members of our very own US Congress who share the sentiment.
People like Rashida Tlaib who is “ashamed” of her colleagues who support Israel.
Who when asked on the heels of the Hamas slaughter if she condemns the group, refused to answer. (Note: I’m not a Fox News fan, but hey, they got the video, so I’m sharing it.)
Tlaib, who eagerly Tweeted out the inaccurate report (from Hamas) that the IDF bombed a hospital. And who left the Tweet up for days, even after US Intelligence and video footage showed that not only was a hospital not bombed (it was a parking lot) the destruction came from a Hamas rocket. Fun to think a US Representative in the House of Congress considers Hamas a reliable news source.
Of course, this antisemite was not alone. The NYT ran with the story as well, revising their headline ever so slightly as the truth was revealed. Because waiting to get the story correct isn’t important when you’ve picked sides. Hey, Israel might have the Iron Dome, but Gaza’s got the media. It’s their own Iron Dome.
And lest we forget Rep. Ilhan Omar, who doesn’t feel Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism. She and Rashida will cry over the casualties in Gaza as a result of Israel’s defense, but these gals aren’t shedding a tear over the massacres that took place by Hamas in Israel. The targeting of young people at a music festivals. The slaughtering of entire communities. The murdering of grandmas at bus stops. The butchering of babies in their cribs. Going into houses to kill or take hostages.
Hostages? What hostages? We don’t talk about those.
I wonder if they’re friends with Colorado State Representative Tim Hernandez. Hernandez was asked if he would condemn the attacks in Israel by Hamas-the rape and butchering of women and slaughtering of almost 1000 men women and children.
This caring and loving warrior for justice responded with "What about it?"
America, kids.
How are these people in government? How are we allowing this? How have they not yet been removed?
And where’s all the anger at Egypt? Egypt is part of the 22 member Arab Nation. he Palestinians are also part of the Arab nation, as identified by themselves in the Palestinian National Covenant, very first article. Egypt shares a border with Gaza. But Egypt refuses to open its border to Gaza for security reasons due to Hamas.
So, where's the outcry over Egypt, RASHIDA?
Because it seems to me that all this talk that flows from the mouths of the far left, the progressives among us, is bunk. All their talk of “hate speech” and “accountability” and “systemic oppression” was all just made up babble for votes. They are showing now that THEY don’t even believe it. They would rather align with terrorists than support the ONE democracy in the Middle East.
These people are marching with those who support a culture of hate.
They are on the side of slaughter; on the side of repression; on the side of bigotry.
On the side of the extermination of an entire people.
On the side of people who want to turn this country in the country they left. I don’t get any of this. The only explanation is that for many, hate is stronger than freedom.
Okay, I’m getting worked up. I kind of knew I would. Going over all of this has made me want to lean on the kitchen counter and let it all out again. But I won't. I’m cried out and I’m really freaking out the dog.
So let me end with what I know to be true:
Not all values nor belief systems are equal.
Societies that condemn antisemitism with action are better than those who use it to fuel their communities.
Societies with free and fair elections are better than those without.
Societies that foster free speech are better than those who kill you for dissent.
Societies who treat women as equals are better than those who don’t.
Societies who don’t offer children as brides are better than those who do.
Societies who wish to just live in peace are better than those who rape, butcher and take hostage civilians. And those who rape, butcher, and take civilians hostage aren’t “militants,” they are Terrorists. (Shame on you, BBC.)
Israel has every right to defend itself. And I support and stand with them.
Standing and applauding!