I'm Jewish, and I Find the Hypocrisy of Republican Islamophobes Hounding Ilhan Omar Breathtaking

[jcmaine72]

An excellent article I found online and enjoyed that I thought I'd share with you guys.

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I'm Jewish, and I Find the Hypocrisy of Republican Islamophobes Hounding Ilhan Omar Breathtaking

It is no surprise that the first elected officials defending Palestinian human rights are facing such fierce opposition from defenders of the status quo

by
Rebecca Vilkomerson

Representative Ilhan Omar is facing censure in the House, brought in part by her own party leaders. She is also facing shockingly Islamophobic attacks calling her a terrorist, simply because she is a Muslim. And all the while, other congressional leaders are tweeting out unabashedly anti-Semitic messages with abandon.

The hypocrisy is breathtaking enough at its own right, but it is also an indicator of the fight between an emerging progressive coalition that seems different than Congressional generations of old, and which increasingly integrates Palestinian rights into its agenda, based on universal rights and the need for equality and freedom for all people.

Representative Ilhan Omar is also part of a class of newly elected Congresspeople who don’t look much like Congresspeople of generations past: dynamic women of color from communities (Black and Muslim in Ilhan Omar’s case,) who face some of the fiercest racism and xenophobia in this country.

Full Article: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/03/06/im-jewish-and-i-find-hypocrisy-republican-islamophobes-hounding-ilhan-omar

[zaj]

1. I respectfully tried to get someone to show me how she did anything...

... but criticize foreign lobbying.

I completely value and respect the pain of the Jewish people who feel targeted with slurs.

I keep asking, how can we have a conversation about global right wing authoritarian influence or AIPAC/BiBi without our Jewish American citizens being subjected to anti-Semitism. Even inadvertantly.

The point she made might have used then wrong words, but what are the better ones?

[kcr]

3. What are the better ones?

Are you seriously saying there's no way to make the point without bigotry?

You aren't helping.

[zaj]

6. No, I'm saying...

... what Jeremy Bin-Ami of J Street said on Chris Hayes last night. Watch his clip starting around the 2 min mark.

https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/embedded-video/mmvo1452739139609

This is a must-watch segment.

And here's Jeremy's Wikipedia page if you are unfamiliar with him or his group.

For the record, my big issue is that I keep seeing her blamed for something she clearly never said. Repeatedly, even here on DU a sincere, passionate poster who took her use of the word "allegiance to a foreign country" and changed it to "accusations of disloyalty".

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11886179

From my observations, she was extremely careful with what she said, and I think the issue itself if important to discuss and hard to do without triggering an understanding pushback.

Here's her full quote:

"I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. I want to ask, 'Why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, or fossil fuel industries or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobbying group that is influencing policy?"

As I said in the other thread, her quote, in full context, isn't an attack on American Jews for "disloyalty", but as a defense of herself as being a loyal American even while disagreeing with the world of AIPAC.


So I am still asking, sincerely, how can a Muslim woman congresswoman (or me or anyone) better word the discussion, so that the issue of AIPAC lobbying (foreign lobbying) is not pushed aside, but also done in a way that doesn't advance any anti-semetic issues?

She seemed to be doing a decent but not perfect job threading a hard needle.

[kcr]

7. But she said it

She could have just said influencing policy if that's what she meant. But she didn't because she's an anti-semite with a history of blatant anti-semitism. This isn't the first time. She used the words allegiance to another country because that's what she meant. People aren't changing any words. They're saying what she means.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

9. Correct. She used an age old anti-Semitic trope, And it's not the first time.

The excuse making is appalling.

[zaj]

10. I'm unpacking the discussion, not making excuses.

I am attempting to engage in a careful discussion to advance our understanding of the issue. And explaining my thinking, in sincere ways. And asking for productive guidance for how to improve upon her words.

I'm also putting a good deal of effort into robustly worded posts and thoughtful tone, so as to ensure trust and clarification, and so there is limited confusion.

It's not fair to call that "excuse making".

By the way, did you watch the linked video? Where J Street (the more progressive version of AIPAC) challenging all of these arguments.

I find his arguments compelling, and worthy of broader consideration. I'd love others thoughts on it.

This is a sensitive subject, that deserves more effort to work out. It's being used as a political wedge issue, and I'd rather it not be divisive here on DU, even if we might interpret things differently to begin with.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

12. I trust your sincerity. "Excuse making" was not directed at you, rather more generally.

Here is a long article from the Forward, a Jewish magazine that's been around for more than one hundred years, that I think makes the points I feel are important and quite well:

https://forward.com/opinion/420269/for-jews-ilhan-omars-attack-against-allegiance-to-israel-is-all-too/

I'm not seeking to be divisive either. Omar's repeated use of anti-Semitic tropes is unacceptable to me. There is no way I can keep quiet in good conscience.

[zaj]

13. Never keep quiet, just an open mind.

I'll read the article and ask questions, can you do theb same with the video I linked?

[CrossingTheRubicon]

17. I'll ask you to trust me when I tell you I have a very open mind.

I have tremendous goodwill for both Palestinians and Israelis.

I can read and write and speak at least a basic level of Arabic having studied both colloquial Palestinian Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic. My Arabic has gotten a little rusty due to underuse and for me was always limited to navigating the social niceties that Arab people of the region know and respect. And I could get my coffee how I like it.

I've known and consider as dear friends many Palestinians as well as friends from neighboring countries.

One of my dear friends in college is now a major diplomatic figure in the government of Jordan working on the refugee crisis. A very high-quality human being, I can assure you.

Two of my best friends are photographers and filmmakers who have written and photographed extremely sympathetic books on Palestinians and their culture, who speak Arabic, and who live extensively in the region.

I know the culture. I've read a great deal of the literature. I got to meet an have dinner with the late Edward Said. I know (and love) the music and have recorded a musical group that I consider to be the finest Palestinian ensemble, I even jumped on their short tour of CA and AZ. I've met many Palestinian artists, musicians, poets, and fine artists. People who are famous names in the Palestinian diaspora.

I've cooked real Palestinian food learning from Aunties" visiting college friends from back home who thought it odd (but endearing) that a boy would be so eager to cook with them (I love to cook and I have talents there). I filled notebooks with the procedures. I still have them.

I studied Political Science (International Relations). The Middle East was one area of emphasis for me.

I've studied the history of the region both in classes and as an area of deep interest.

I've studied in pretty intricate depth the faith of Islam and the history of Islam. I understand the nuances of the faith. I know how to do wudo (ritual washings) in both the Sunni and Shi'a styles, and how to physically execute the prayers.

I've read several versions of the Qur'an with commentary in translation. I can read some shorter passages in the original Arabic script competently due to study. I've read good portions of the hadiths (sayings of the prophet) in translation. I have a shelf full of books on the life of Muhammed. Numerous recording of my favorite Qur'anic respirators (yes, I have favorites).

The late singer Um Kalthum's (name transliterated variously) recording of the heartbreaking Al Atlaal is in my top five desert-island recordings. superb!

I love Arabic culture. And the Palestinians I've met are amazing people. I will neither confirm or deny the possibility of multiple romantic involvements. I will leave out any connections with members of their leadership over privacy concerns.

And I grew up with Jews in LA. Live (by choice) in a heavily Jewish neighborhood. I've studied Judaism. I have deep connections in the community. I'm often assumed to be Jewish. I've been named "honorary" by rabbis in three pretty disparate groups (Modern Orthodox, Reform, and Chabad). That's a spectrum!

The big Chabad rabbi here in LA once told me that if he was ever one short of a minyan that I might do. It was a joke, but one I took that as a very high compliment. But if I were a Jew, I'd be Reform. Liberal. Netanyahu is a schmuck. He's corrupt as hell--which is news to no one--and an impediment to peace.

I'll ask you to believe it when I tell you there are few things I'd like to see happen more than Israelis and Palestinians coming to a just peace. They could go absolutely amazing things together. They should be partners.

They are two very capable people and have a great deal in common. There is often more in common across the two culture between similar sub-types than there is within one tribe. They really are mirror images in many ways. Both have populations that range from liberal intellectuals, to workers, to religious fundamentalists (to keep it short).

Unfortunately, both sides have some really maximalist assholes. I understand how these people speak. I know how dangerous it is to feed extremism.

Both Israelis and Palestinians have legitimate grievances. Both have legitimate national aspirations. Both have hurts. Whipping up enmity is easy. Building connections is harder. More fragile.

Hard words do not help anyone.

[ck4829]

14. And at the same time, we also need to look at the side calling her anti-Semitic

Can't keep quiet over that either.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211895263

[CrossingTheRubicon]

15. If some of the people who are condemning her use of anti-Semitic tropes are odious people

in their own right, it in no way makes her words less acceptable.

I don't have the slightest hesitation condemning Elliot Abrams and others on the right for their bigotry. That doesn't take Omar off the hook in the slightest.

"Two wrongs don't make a right" was one of the first lessons we learned as children, suggesting otherwise just looks like a deflection.

[zaj]

11. Can you edit this quote with your changes?

I can't picture how your suggested change would work in the full context of the quote.

Here's her quote:

"I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. I want to ask, 'Why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, or fossil fuel industries or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobbying group that is influencing policy?"

Appreciate your efforts to help me think through this. I know we are all busy.

[OnDoutside]

19. If you were to believe the tirade Scarborough unleashed on her this morning, then the answer is a

resounding no.

[sandensea]

4. +1

Calling someone anti-Semitic for criticizing the Likudniks and their ethnic cleansing, is a lot like calling someone anti-Christian because they criticize Milosevic or Colombian death squads.

All it does is show up whoever pulls that card as an apologist for atrocities.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

16. Except that's not what happened.

[watoos]

2. The people who were murdered,

in the Pittsburgh synagogue were murdered by a man who was inspired by Donald Trump.

[Kablooie]

5. How many Democrats get substantial donations from the Israel lobby?

That could well have something to do with it.

[ck4829]

8. K&R

[leftynyc]

18. Same here

The hypocrisy makes me want to tear my hair out. But what I fear is happening is the message is getting lost in the hypocrisy. Rep Omar has her history of charging dual loyalty of US Jews...she's aware of the problem as she apologized for it. Then she talks about "pledging allegiance" to a foreign country. What about the ties between the oil lobby and foreign countries? Nothing about that AT ALL which has human rights abuses all over the fucking place, especially concerning women. It's obvious she has a problem with Israel AND US Jews because it's the ONLY lobbying she EVER brings up. That there are many Islamophobes in the US doesn't excuse her.