My husband and I disagree about the world right now. Maybe it is because I am a worrier. We both support Israel. I, however, see a bigger problem arising, namely the open, rampant anti-semitism throughout the world. He thinks that the anti-Israel faction is a loud, albeit small group, just making noise. I disagree.
This small, albeit loud group has influenced colleges to boycott Israel, to influence unionized workers to not unload a shipment from Asia because it was owned by an israeli country, to influence the general media to blame Israel for all of the suffering of the Palestinians, and to influence white, college educated adults to WRONGLY stand against Israel and support a terrorist regime.
Can this small, albeit loud group be stopped? Should it? As I have said before, the first amendment is at stake in the US and I believe they are allowed to protest. That doesn't mean that we just sit back and let them influence others. For example, the KKK has demonstrated for years, however, few if any have been influenced by it. So how to stop the influence (brainwashing?)?
A few ideas come to mind, maybe not good ones, but a start. I am not connected, influential enough to carry these out, but maybe famous jewish people are willing to step up to the plate (mark zuckerman, Steven Spielberg, etc.).
The first is a pivotal (and my favorite scene) from the movie The American President with Michael Douglas. It is where the President, Michael Douglas, has a press conference to address the American people to finally defend against the name calling to himself and his girlfriend. When his girlfriend is criticized for being a member of the ACLU, the President says, ".. But the more important question is why aren't you, Bob? ". Now, I am not advocating or not the ACLU, and this situation is indirectly about it. What I want is for someone to address the American public, specifically, those who feel that they are helping the Palestinian people by supporting Hamas. Ask them the question, Why are you supporting terrorists who stand for everything you are against?? Israel seems to be doing everything it can to help the people of Gaza, while still defending its own people. What are you, the American public doing to help the people of Gaza? Israel is fighting an uphill battle for sure, since it is hard to draw the line between fighting Hamas and helping the people of Gaza when Hamas uses human shields, keeps it's soldiers dressed as civilians and seems to do everything in its power to keep its people as victims so that the world hates Israel. By saying free-Gaza, these protestors are implying that they need to free Gaza from israeli influence, but right now, the only other influence out there is Hamas. Is that freeing Gaza? What has Hamas done for its people? Someone needs to ask and all of you people out there that sympathize with the people of Gaza need to ask yourself, why aren't you? Because I have seen NO evidence that Hamas helps the people of Gaza and many examples where the Israelis are (even though it is in the midst of war with Hamas - unprecedented!)
I know it is huge stretch to have mr. Obama point this out via a speech to the American people, but maybe all of those famous actors out there might use their influence!
The second idea is not as concrete, but similar because we need to open up people eyes that what they are fighting against is not the problem. Sometime in my childhood I saw an afterschool special called the Wave. The IMB website describes it as " An experiment in an American High School where students learn how easy it is to be seduced by the same social forces which led to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Based on a true story." If I remember correctly, the students couldn't understand how the holocaust could take place, so the teacher conducted a social experiment where the kids became part of this exclusionary club and in essence were brainwashed. At the end of the movie, the students were brought into an auditorium and it was revealed that that they were like the Nazis. The students wee shocked and realized how easy it is to be influenced.
So, one of the criticisms of Israel is that it is acting like the nazis trying to get rid of all Arabs. While this is not true based on numerous examples and actions, those that believe it need to be re-informed what the real Nazis were like and did. Maybe being forced to watch this movie would help. How to
make the protestors watch? I have no idea. Maybe the American (and British, Australian, etc) governments and universities that claim to be against anti-semitism and realize the real threat of radical Islam to the western world, should make this movie, or one like it, a requirement to watch prior to granting the democratic privilege to demonstrate!!
Maybe these governments and universities and white college educated protesters should think about what they really want, because I am pretty sure that radical Islam is not it! There are better, more effective ways to help these victims of Hamas. Blaming the Israelis is wrong and unproductive!
I actually like the outpouring of Anti-Semitism. It's always there anyway, mostly bubbling just beneath the surface. I have felt for a long time that American Jews have been complacent, and felt fully assimilated into the culture. Truth is, we are hated, have always been hated, and will always be hated by most of the rest of the world and we must remain aware, vigilant, and mindful of that. We have enjoyed the support of the world's most powerful nation in the 66 years of our homeland's existence, but this administration - for whom I twice voted - has shown itself to be weak and stupid. Whether you like Israel or not, it remains the only democratic stronghold and American ally in the hottest region in the world and thus has immense strategic value. I have never been a single-issue voter, but next election cycle that is likely to change.
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