Our battle for justice has turned into a battle for impressions, for viewers, for likes, for validation. We will not win the war if we lose these battles for decency, for civility, for kindness.
I still have concerns about Mamdani for NYC. I also have concerns about the judgment of the many Dems who endorsed Cuomo. Since I’m a not a New Yorker, it doesn’t matter much what I think, but I chose to comment specifically on Mamdani because his actual words mark him as dangerous to Jews. I think it’s a bad idea to demonstrate that antisemitism isn’t a bar to holding office in NYC.
I’m in the process of giving up hope that what I thought of as the far left of the Democratic Party won’t sabotage the chances of any candidate who won’t say “genocide”. I believe they are as radicalized as maga.
Obviously, me name-calling won’t help either, but sharing common cause with Holocaust deniers is about 200 bridges too far for me.
I haven’t been in a Target store since late spring. Your post cleared up some misconceptions that I had to the point where I feel ready to go back. Corporate “policy” aside, my local Target is staffed by a diverse group of humans where an old white lady like me has always felt welcome. I enjoy talking with everyone!
And I hope it’s clear I am not being a blanket defender of Target. Any more than I would be a blanket advocate for Costco. There are likely some Targets where the store manager has harmful hiring practices. *Those* are the stores that should be boycotted.
Where management is fair and treats employees well, those stores should supported.
I think I’m leaning more and more into the “personal responsibility” notion. Hold people accountable for their misdeeds, praise them when they do what is right.
I understand completely. The same reservations about Ilhan Omar. At the same time, I know that Muslim-Americans worry about Jewish representation and the power of AIPAC. My rebbe in Philadelphia works with a Muslim-Jewish organization, as well as Rabbis for Human Rights.
We have to somehow or another get to the point that the Jewish community can trust Muslim-Americans to represent us, and the Muslim community can trust the Jewish community to represent them.
I was very, very, very pleased to see that Mamdani sat down with a large group of Jewish politicians (New Yorkers) in July. That is important. His tone and messaging changed almost immediately. No matter one's religion or ethnicitiy, once elected, they represent everyone in the community, not just their own "people." Slotkin in Michigan has been good about this.
In 1998 I heard the then-president of the Jewish Council in Germany (Ignatz Bubis) speak in a debate about stolen Jewish art. Young Germans were advocating for harsh penalties for owners of that art. Older Germans were arguing what's done is done. Bubis said, "No collective guilt, no collective innocence."
He worked hard to represent ALL "Others" in Germany, not just the Jewish community. He supported Muslim Germans and Black Germans, whoever. Justice for all. Not just for his narrow constituency. When he died in 1999, all those communities mourned his passing.
THAT is who we need to be. Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Black, Hispanic, Asian, white. Looking out for one another.
I’m glad he sat with Jewish politicians, but I’d like to see him talk to Holocaust scholars, legitimate Middle East scholars, and maybe a Cold War expert or two.
I agree. And also the “tolerance dilemma” that conservatives have adopted also applies.
Tolerance of the Quran means tolerating intolerance of Jews, violence against women & girls, etc. It’s been my general position, as well as the secular Jewish position to tolerate teachings which are simultaneously pushing intolerance & violence against us, and which are in total opposition to American values.
I’m not pushing Muslim bans or marginalization or any other fear-based lunacy based on those thoughts, but I am reconsidering that general position.
I think it’s critical to remember no collective guilt, no collective innocence. Bring those to justice who kill in the name of Allah, yes. (Same as bring those to justice who kill in the name of Adonai or Jesus.)
Thank you, Kevin! Appreciate the compliment. -- Next Blue Storm Action meeting, please introduce yourself! You're a neighbor - I think maybe 1.25 miles up the road...
I still have concerns about Mamdani for NYC. I also have concerns about the judgment of the many Dems who endorsed Cuomo. Since I’m a not a New Yorker, it doesn’t matter much what I think, but I chose to comment specifically on Mamdani because his actual words mark him as dangerous to Jews. I think it’s a bad idea to demonstrate that antisemitism isn’t a bar to holding office in NYC.
I’m in the process of giving up hope that what I thought of as the far left of the Democratic Party won’t sabotage the chances of any candidate who won’t say “genocide”. I believe they are as radicalized as maga.
Obviously, me name-calling won’t help either, but sharing common cause with Holocaust deniers is about 200 bridges too far for me.
I haven’t been in a Target store since late spring. Your post cleared up some misconceptions that I had to the point where I feel ready to go back. Corporate “policy” aside, my local Target is staffed by a diverse group of humans where an old white lady like me has always felt welcome. I enjoy talking with everyone!
And I hope it’s clear I am not being a blanket defender of Target. Any more than I would be a blanket advocate for Costco. There are likely some Targets where the store manager has harmful hiring practices. *Those* are the stores that should be boycotted.
Where management is fair and treats employees well, those stores should supported.
I think I’m leaning more and more into the “personal responsibility” notion. Hold people accountable for their misdeeds, praise them when they do what is right.
I understand completely. The same reservations about Ilhan Omar. At the same time, I know that Muslim-Americans worry about Jewish representation and the power of AIPAC. My rebbe in Philadelphia works with a Muslim-Jewish organization, as well as Rabbis for Human Rights.
We have to somehow or another get to the point that the Jewish community can trust Muslim-Americans to represent us, and the Muslim community can trust the Jewish community to represent them.
I was very, very, very pleased to see that Mamdani sat down with a large group of Jewish politicians (New Yorkers) in July. That is important. His tone and messaging changed almost immediately. No matter one's religion or ethnicitiy, once elected, they represent everyone in the community, not just their own "people." Slotkin in Michigan has been good about this.
In 1998 I heard the then-president of the Jewish Council in Germany (Ignatz Bubis) speak in a debate about stolen Jewish art. Young Germans were advocating for harsh penalties for owners of that art. Older Germans were arguing what's done is done. Bubis said, "No collective guilt, no collective innocence."
He worked hard to represent ALL "Others" in Germany, not just the Jewish community. He supported Muslim Germans and Black Germans, whoever. Justice for all. Not just for his narrow constituency. When he died in 1999, all those communities mourned his passing.
THAT is who we need to be. Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Black, Hispanic, Asian, white. Looking out for one another.
I’m glad he sat with Jewish politicians, but I’d like to see him talk to Holocaust scholars, legitimate Middle East scholars, and maybe a Cold War expert or two.
I agree. And also the “tolerance dilemma” that conservatives have adopted also applies.
Tolerance of the Quran means tolerating intolerance of Jews, violence against women & girls, etc. It’s been my general position, as well as the secular Jewish position to tolerate teachings which are simultaneously pushing intolerance & violence against us, and which are in total opposition to American values.
I’m not pushing Muslim bans or marginalization or any other fear-based lunacy based on those thoughts, but I am reconsidering that general position.
I think it’s critical to remember no collective guilt, no collective innocence. Bring those to justice who kill in the name of Allah, yes. (Same as bring those to justice who kill in the name of Adonai or Jesus.)
A weel-thought-out and very on-Target (pun intended) post...issues can be complex, and simple, knee-jerk solutions and tags do not help.
Thank you, Kevin! Appreciate the compliment. -- Next Blue Storm Action meeting, please introduce yourself! You're a neighbor - I think maybe 1.25 miles up the road...