Thank you for being the voice of reason and logic on a subject that is so derisive! As a Jew I get called out for not supporting Israel. My comment is I support the people just not their government (nor the terrorist organization that governs the Palestinians), just like I don't support the government here right now. What I am against is genocide, no matter who is doing it. It isn't a zero sum game ... you can support the Israeli people *and* support the Palestinian people.
I’m with you as a fellow Jew Elizabeth. I support the people of my country, Americans, but never will I support the government of it now. I too, am against ALL genocide, no matter who or what is behind it. There are so many people who don’t get that. I know that thousands of Israelites feel the same way. I’ve seen it in living color. We are not wrong because genocide is never, ever right.
Thank you for sharing this distinction. In our Interfaith group one of the convert members of a local congregation does not know the difference and was very vocal about their opinion. I now have the language to have a polite refute the next time they get vocal.
I have never taken to Ed Sheeran's music but I thought he was an ok human being. This has downgraded that opinion as he is refusing to use his power to protect a more vulnerable artist. I have no knowledge or opinion on Macklemore's music or standing, but Sheeran's cowardice in this situation is disappointing. I find myself wondering "What would Taylor Swift do?"
To my knowledge, it was a costume without ill intent. A poor choice, for sure, which he acknowledged, but the story doesn't constitute a "history." And if you listen to what he said on stage, I believe he did his best to deliver a message of peace and unity.
Almost feels like those who don’t understand the distinction don’t WANT to understand the distinction! I am also extremely disappointed in Ed Sheeran, not that he gives a damn.
Thank you! I have long thought og Ed Sheeran as a good (if not great) artist. His decision to let Macklemore take the heat and dump him, proves how gutless he is! I will no longer stream his music and I hope everyone else does the same!
He might think he is not picking sides, put that is 100% what he did. He decided to let the oppressors win and for that I am unsure if he will ever get back up.
This! I'm so tired of hearing that wanting a safe place for Palestinians to live is anti-semitic. A shared state is possible and necessary for peace. I can't even imagine that every Jewish person in America agrees with what Israel is doing either. Criticizing Israel's approach to Palestine does not mean hating Jewish people, or even wanting to take away a safe place for them.
The problem with this article is that it bases some of its arguments on the false assumption that the genocide libel is somehow an acceptable lie to promote.
Anyone who looks at the situation objectively would acknowledge that while there has been a terrible tragedy in Gaza, it is nothing like a true genocide, and the authors of the tragedy are the members of Hamas who knew exactly what would happen and engineered the tragedy in order to turn people against israel and its staunchest supporters, Zionist Jews.
So with respect, as soon as you justify antisemites’ speeches based on this lie, everything you say loses credibility.
Instead of buying in to the greatest Jew hate in the last 80 years, maybe try taking your own advice.
I encourage you to listen to the speech Macklemore gave on that stage at MetLife, which spoke more to peace, dignity, and unity than I gave it credit for. If anything, that's the problem with this article.
The greatest kindness we can show each other is to speak the truth. What's happening in Gaza is a genocide, committed by Israel and the IDF. I understand that label leaves you with no side to argue, but I won't lie to you just to give you a position to defend.
I know what has happened in Gaza is terrible. But calling it a genocide just gives you an excuse to lay all the blame on Israel. The fact is that the war was started by the governing authority in Gaza. Over 1000 innocent people, mostly jews were brutally slaughtered. Many more were maimed. Hundreds were taken hostage. Tens of thousands of rockets were launched at civilian targets, including hospitals and schools inside Israel. This relentless attack went on for 2 years until the tentative cease-fire last year. No one on the progressive left said a word about that.
During that time, Hamas used schools, religious sites, and hospitals to conduct the war. They starved their prisoners and abuse them. They strangled an infant with their bare hands. This is what some of you in the west called legitimate resistance.
It is interesting that the people who are so ready to accuse Israel of genocide completely ignore the fact that the aim of Hamas is to effect a genocide on the Jews of Israel.
One of the primary criteria for genocide is that there has to be an intent to destroy the group or a large part of it. Hamas has repeatedly made this intent known. They live streamed their acts that day.
There is no evidence of genocidal intent in the actions of Israel. It certainly hasn’t been presented to any international body.
Yes, hospitals were damaged. At the same time, those hospitals were being used for military purposes. Under international law, they are no longer protected.
The faux progressive response to that is to simply ignore Hamas’ complicity in turning civilian targets into military targets.
It is fundamentally intellectually dishonest to hide behind civilians, including children, fire, deadly weapons at another civilian population, and then accuse the other side of genocide when it fires back to defend itself.
The same people who vilify Israel for defending itself, say nothing at all about the crimes that Hamas has committed against its own population since the cease-fire.
These are the same people who say they are progressive and have completely ignored the tens of thousands of people murdered by the Iranian regime.
Why? because it doesn’t fit the narrative of evil Jews.
If you go to my Substack page, you will see a number of articles about the antisemitism that has infiltrated North American society. I urge you to read about it, especially the article on why words matter.
As somebody who has curated a social media image of wisdom, common sense, and progressive values, I wish that you could look at what you’re writing and saying and see that what you’re saying about the Hamas Israel conflict is completely in contrast to the type of person you present yourself as.
If you are truly a progressive, I hope you will reflect on the effects of your words and change your behavior.
If I don’t see a change, I will conclude that you are one of the many, many people who now inhabit progressive spaces who are actively pushing Jews from those spaces and contributing to hate, not fighting it.
Hamas is a terrorist group, but terrorism thrives where there is oppression and powerlessness and this is what has been plaguing the people of Gaza and other Palestinian territories in Israel for decades. Even setting aside the brutality of how Palestinians were pushed off their land when Israel was established, which is done and we can't go back now, Gaza has been a prisoner non-state for decades and it's not surprising they wouldn't put up with that forever. A fairly shared state is the only way for a lasting peace, and asking for that should not get someone cancelled.
I recommend you read up on the history of Palestinian and Israeli relations, there's a lot more going on than just what's been in the news. I highly recommend the book "I Shall Not Hate" to get an inside view of Gaza even before the current war.
I think the title of the book speaks for itself. As you suggest, the situation is not black and white. A lot of suffering on both sides and it does not help to argue who has suffered more or less.
The onus on responsible people is to dial down the hate, not add to it. That is why using irresponsible language, like the word genocide, or placing the blame solely on one actor and ignoring the contribution of groups like Hamas, serves to add to the polarization and the hate.
Thank you for being the voice of reason and logic on a subject that is so derisive! As a Jew I get called out for not supporting Israel. My comment is I support the people just not their government (nor the terrorist organization that governs the Palestinians), just like I don't support the government here right now. What I am against is genocide, no matter who is doing it. It isn't a zero sum game ... you can support the Israeli people *and* support the Palestinian people.
I’m with you as a fellow Jew Elizabeth. I support the people of my country, Americans, but never will I support the government of it now. I too, am against ALL genocide, no matter who or what is behind it. There are so many people who don’t get that. I know that thousands of Israelites feel the same way. I’ve seen it in living color. We are not wrong because genocide is never, ever right.
Thank you for sharing this distinction. In our Interfaith group one of the convert members of a local congregation does not know the difference and was very vocal about their opinion. I now have the language to have a polite refute the next time they get vocal.
I have never taken to Ed Sheeran's music but I thought he was an ok human being. This has downgraded that opinion as he is refusing to use his power to protect a more vulnerable artist. I have no knowledge or opinion on Macklemore's music or standing, but Sheeran's cowardice in this situation is disappointing. I find myself wondering "What would Taylor Swift do?"
What would Taylor Swift do? Lol, I love it!
“These owners stand on principle when principle costs them nothing. “ 💯 well said
Thank you for pointing out the distinction between antisemitism and anti-Zionism!! It needs to be said OVER & OVER!!
Yes I had never heard it put that way before but that's so helpful!
Like Ye, Macklemore has a history of being more obvious in his antisemitism such as dressing up in Jew-face.
I appreciate when famous people call for a Free Palestine however Macklemore uses the genocide in Gaza as an excuse to legitimize his antisemitism.
To my knowledge, it was a costume without ill intent. A poor choice, for sure, which he acknowledged, but the story doesn't constitute a "history." And if you listen to what he said on stage, I believe he did his best to deliver a message of peace and unity.
Almost feels like those who don’t understand the distinction don’t WANT to understand the distinction! I am also extremely disappointed in Ed Sheeran, not that he gives a damn.
Thank you for this ~
Thank you! I have long thought og Ed Sheeran as a good (if not great) artist. His decision to let Macklemore take the heat and dump him, proves how gutless he is! I will no longer stream his music and I hope everyone else does the same!
He might think he is not picking sides, put that is 100% what he did. He decided to let the oppressors win and for that I am unsure if he will ever get back up.
This! I'm so tired of hearing that wanting a safe place for Palestinians to live is anti-semitic. A shared state is possible and necessary for peace. I can't even imagine that every Jewish person in America agrees with what Israel is doing either. Criticizing Israel's approach to Palestine does not mean hating Jewish people, or even wanting to take away a safe place for them.
The problem with this article is that it bases some of its arguments on the false assumption that the genocide libel is somehow an acceptable lie to promote.
Anyone who looks at the situation objectively would acknowledge that while there has been a terrible tragedy in Gaza, it is nothing like a true genocide, and the authors of the tragedy are the members of Hamas who knew exactly what would happen and engineered the tragedy in order to turn people against israel and its staunchest supporters, Zionist Jews.
So with respect, as soon as you justify antisemites’ speeches based on this lie, everything you say loses credibility.
Instead of buying in to the greatest Jew hate in the last 80 years, maybe try taking your own advice.
Be KIND ( and wash your behind)
I encourage you to listen to the speech Macklemore gave on that stage at MetLife, which spoke more to peace, dignity, and unity than I gave it credit for. If anything, that's the problem with this article.
The greatest kindness we can show each other is to speak the truth. What's happening in Gaza is a genocide, committed by Israel and the IDF. I understand that label leaves you with no side to argue, but I won't lie to you just to give you a position to defend.
Except that calling it a genocide IS the lie.
I know what has happened in Gaza is terrible. But calling it a genocide just gives you an excuse to lay all the blame on Israel. The fact is that the war was started by the governing authority in Gaza. Over 1000 innocent people, mostly jews were brutally slaughtered. Many more were maimed. Hundreds were taken hostage. Tens of thousands of rockets were launched at civilian targets, including hospitals and schools inside Israel. This relentless attack went on for 2 years until the tentative cease-fire last year. No one on the progressive left said a word about that.
During that time, Hamas used schools, religious sites, and hospitals to conduct the war. They starved their prisoners and abuse them. They strangled an infant with their bare hands. This is what some of you in the west called legitimate resistance.
It is interesting that the people who are so ready to accuse Israel of genocide completely ignore the fact that the aim of Hamas is to effect a genocide on the Jews of Israel.
One of the primary criteria for genocide is that there has to be an intent to destroy the group or a large part of it. Hamas has repeatedly made this intent known. They live streamed their acts that day.
There is no evidence of genocidal intent in the actions of Israel. It certainly hasn’t been presented to any international body.
Yes, hospitals were damaged. At the same time, those hospitals were being used for military purposes. Under international law, they are no longer protected.
The faux progressive response to that is to simply ignore Hamas’ complicity in turning civilian targets into military targets.
It is fundamentally intellectually dishonest to hide behind civilians, including children, fire, deadly weapons at another civilian population, and then accuse the other side of genocide when it fires back to defend itself.
The same people who vilify Israel for defending itself, say nothing at all about the crimes that Hamas has committed against its own population since the cease-fire.
These are the same people who say they are progressive and have completely ignored the tens of thousands of people murdered by the Iranian regime.
Why? because it doesn’t fit the narrative of evil Jews.
If you go to my Substack page, you will see a number of articles about the antisemitism that has infiltrated North American society. I urge you to read about it, especially the article on why words matter.
As somebody who has curated a social media image of wisdom, common sense, and progressive values, I wish that you could look at what you’re writing and saying and see that what you’re saying about the Hamas Israel conflict is completely in contrast to the type of person you present yourself as.
If you are truly a progressive, I hope you will reflect on the effects of your words and change your behavior.
If I don’t see a change, I will conclude that you are one of the many, many people who now inhabit progressive spaces who are actively pushing Jews from those spaces and contributing to hate, not fighting it.
I'll go to your page and read it. Thank you.
Hamas is a terrorist group, but terrorism thrives where there is oppression and powerlessness and this is what has been plaguing the people of Gaza and other Palestinian territories in Israel for decades. Even setting aside the brutality of how Palestinians were pushed off their land when Israel was established, which is done and we can't go back now, Gaza has been a prisoner non-state for decades and it's not surprising they wouldn't put up with that forever. A fairly shared state is the only way for a lasting peace, and asking for that should not get someone cancelled.
I recommend you read up on the history of Palestinian and Israeli relations, there's a lot more going on than just what's been in the news. I highly recommend the book "I Shall Not Hate" to get an inside view of Gaza even before the current war.
I think the title of the book speaks for itself. As you suggest, the situation is not black and white. A lot of suffering on both sides and it does not help to argue who has suffered more or less.
The onus on responsible people is to dial down the hate, not add to it. That is why using irresponsible language, like the word genocide, or placing the blame solely on one actor and ignoring the contribution of groups like Hamas, serves to add to the polarization and the hate.