Israel at war after surprise attack

[bronxgirl]

Oct 16, 2023 1:56:14 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Did anyone catch the intro to John Oliver? I think it was well done. Compassionate and balanced

. Yes, I agree.

[fryjack2]

Bad Dingo ❤️❤️

[bronxgirl]

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To the parents of any Jewish teens reading this, BBYO is doing a Zoom presentation for parents re: talking to teens about the situation. I could be wrong, but I don’t think you have to be a member. PM me if you want the registration link.

[lilac05]

I just came across this quote and it really resonated with me. On this board, we have a lot of “academic exercise” conversations. And there’s a time and place for that, but when people are sharing how this directly impacts their lives, that’s not it. I haven’t contributed to these discussions on this board because I haven’t figured out how to adequately & concisely express in writing (not my strength) without potentially being hurtful to someone else. So I’ve said nothing…which is also hurtful. And I don’t know the solution, other than what I’ve been doing in real life, which is talking directly with people and showing them I care. I have no place in a debate, but there’s always a place for care and for quietly listening.

"When you debate a person about something that affects them more than it affects you, remember that it will take a much greater emotional toll on them than on you. For you it may feel like an academic exercise. For them, it feels like revealing their pain only to have you dismiss their experience and sometimes their humanity. The fact that you might remain more calm under these circumstances is a consequence of your privilege, not increased objectivity on your part. Stay humble."
-Sarah Maddox

[AJL]

The more I think about what's going on the more I feel like there can really be no separation of Jews from Israel. In all our discussions about Israel's actions against the Palestinians, so many Jews that I know (and the ones on this board) recognize the horrible policies and actions that the Israeli government has taken against Palestinians. But out here in the diaspora, we might as well be Israelis. We might as well be supporters of Likud. We might as well be lobbing the bombs on Gaza ourselves.

It feels terrible to be called a "Zionist JAP" (I got that one the other day on my university campus. It's a classic.) It feels lonely to be seen as a colonizer especially when you're a descendent of the colonized (I'm more than half Purepecha from Michoacan, Mex.) I hate having to iterate that I'm not a right wing supporter of Israel, that I'm not that kind of Jew. 

But the truth is I am. I'm a Jew and there is really not that much difference between me and that kind. It's such a huge part of who I am and no amount of verbal caveats around my support for Palestinian and Israeli civilians, my condemnation of Netanyahu or Israel's continued bombardment of Gaza and upholding of an apartheid state are going to change the view that for a lot of angry people have right now . For them, Jew = Israel = bad and irredeemable and, at the very extreme, no better than Nazis**

I amplify my Mexicaness sometimes to avoid scrutiny of my Jewishness (which is already something I contend with on a good day). I'm so tired of defending myself and my family for being Jewish. I hate that the Israeli government has put all Jews in the diaspora in more danger of antisemitic violence. I hate the U.S.'s Machiavellian support for oppressors. 

I'm just so tired. 









**NONE of these sentiments have been expressed on this board. Please don't think that's what I'm implying. In the greater world, however, they have been said, to me specifically and about us in general. I'm trying to process and I have no where else to do it. 

[goldengirlz]

AJL, thank you, and I’m sorry you’re hurting today.

I walk around all day, everyday, with a knot in my chest that’s somewhere between grief and rage. I’ve always run in ultra-liberal circles and I’ve never faced antisemitism like this before (both blatant and dog-whistle.) It hurts so much more coming from people I’ve admired and respected, and I think I need a social media break. I feel like people expect me to have all answers (like I’m either expected to denounce Israel’s existence — and my Jewishness by extension — or I must be a genocidal monster) — and I don’t.

I also have a complicated relationship with Judaism (raised religious but left the fold, mostly because I couldn’t deal with the sexism) and yet I find myself seeking comfort from Jewish spaces and people. (Even though my anxiety ramps up whenever I see all the security around them.)

This article spoke to me today:

www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/politics/progressive-jews-united-states.html

I do have to say that I appreciate the level of respectfulness in the discourse on this board, particularly from the regulars. We don’t have to agree, but hopefully hearing different perspectives helps us all have a deeper level of understanding about one of the most complex and difficult geopolitical situations in the world.

[pixy0stix]

Let's make a separate thread for other news, please.