Tag Archives: anti-Semites

Open Letter to Lauryn Hill

lauryn-hill

Dear Ms. Hill,

I’ve written many letters over the past few years to various celebrities regarding their stance on Israel and in many cases I have very little trouble putting my sentiment into words.  However, if I am to take your statement on face value I find myself in a more difficult position today, because on one side there is the indication of genuineness on your part, while on the other side, even if your intentions started off pure, you now have a greater responsibility as a result of your actions.  That responsibility is to the truth.

I am of course referring to your recent decision to cancel your performances in Israel.  While you did not make any indication that you were challenging the position or behavior of the Israeli government, many on social media have taken your decision and used it as an opportunity to express their vile and unwarranted hatred for Israel and the Jewish people.  You made the following statement:

It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans.

My entire motivation for this letter to you can be taken back to that statement included in your letter in which you stated your decision to cancel the trip to Israel.  For all the times I have confronted blatant anti-Semites, unapologetic haters of Israel, and celebrities biased against fairness towards the Jewish people, I personally will choose to give you the benefit of the doubt and take your words as being honest and well-meant. However Ms. Hill, the catch to all of this is that for your words to carry meaning you need to back them up with some action.

I have often said that as a human-being I have no problem with people caring about the well-being of innocent Palestinian civilians as long as they do so with acceptance of the facts as to the true factors causing their plight and most importantly, that their concern is not at the expense of the citizens of the State of Israel.  If it is truly very important to you that your message not be misconstrued, now is the time to make certain it is not.  Follow up your statement with a comment stating your cancellation was based on logistical problems not on protest against Israeli policy. Based on your own words you have a responsibility to do just that, for your message is not only being misconstrued, it is being misrepresented, manipulated and exploited by those who look for every opportunity to attack Israel and the Jewish people.  To be quite frank with you Ms. Hill, this will also tell the world whether or not you truly did run into logistical issues or you were merely succumbing to pressure from the haters of the Jewish state.

So yes Ms. Hill, I am challenging you.  I do so because you have an unprecedented opportunity. You can show an equal concern for both Palestinians and Israelis in a manner not often seen in today’s world.  However to do so honestly you now have to stand up and defend Jewish people.  Please don’t let us down.  Please be true to your word.  How you respond to these concerns will determine whether or not you are just another hater without the courage of your convictions, or a genuine woman trying her best to use her art to make everyone’s life better.  I certainly hope it turns out to be the latter.

Sincerely,

David Groen

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In Defense of Nicki Minaj

"The Other Woman" - Los Angeles Premiere - ArrivalsAs everyone knows, I have no problem going after anti-Semites.  I am also not an apologist.  Bryan Adams sang my favorite song of all time and I went after him. George Clooney has been an actor whose work I’ve enjoyed and I’ve gone after him twice for showing no signs he disagrees with his anti-Zionist/Anti-Semitic wife.  I used to think Penelope Cruz was beautiful and now I can’t even look at her.  If I am convinced someone is against the Jewish people, I want no part of them and I am not shy about saying so.  That is why it may come of some surprise to those reading this that I am choosing to defend Nicki Minaj.

There are two reasons I’m defending her.  First of all, personally, I just didn’t see it when I watched the video, which I did from start to finish.  I am the son of Holocaust survivors.  I wrote a book about what my parents went through during the Nazi occupation of Holland.  I am proudly sensitive to anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment.  I personally did not see the connection to Nazi symbolism in the video other than to the extent I was looking for it due to the reactions it garnered.  That doesn’t mean I think it’s a good video nor do I think the feelings of those it offended should be ignored, especially since many of those it offended are people just like me, proud Jews.  All it means is that in the name of honesty I can’t sit here and pretend to be offended by something that personally did not offend me. Incidentally, this is why I remained silent on the subject yesterday.  That and one other very important reason.  I wanted to see how Nicki Minaj would react to the criticism.  Which brings me to the second reason I am defending her.

Yesterday I wrote an Open Letter to Peter Gabriel.  In this letter I made the following point in regard to what motivates me to write these Open Letters.

“My philosophy, when it comes to writing one of these letters, and you can look it up and verify it if you wish, is that I write them primarily based on the words one utters.  In some instances I will address someone’s silence, but that is only when that silence indeed speaks volumes.  When someone expresses an opinion to me that someone is on what I consider to be the wrong side of the fence, I look for evidence to back it up.  Nothing provides better evidence than the words one speaks.”

Minaj made the following comments on Twitter regarding the controversy caused by the video.

“I didn’t come up w/the concept, but I’m very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone.  Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish.  I’d never condone Nazism in my art.”

Although after watching the video I might disagree with Nicki Minaj on what is called art, she makes it very clear in her words that offending Jews and glorifying Nazism was not the desired effect of the video.  I for one believe her.

Many months ago in one of my posts I made the statement that there are enough outspoken and proud anti-Semites that we really don’t need to be spending our time going after someone who openly says they are not anti-Semitic.  In my opinion this is a prime example of what I was eluding to when I made that point.

One last thing.  I never have and never will be one of those people who believe it is a problem if you offend everyone else except for the Jewish people.  With that in mind, despite my defense of Minaj and the fact that I personally was not offended, if she does want to show that “full responsibility” she was referring to and achieve what I think should be seen as a slam dunk in the Jewish community, pull the video.  Show the respect evident in your words, acknowledge the sensibilities of the Jewish community and make a statement of great significance, for it offended enough people to be a problem.  Pull the video and leave little doubt as to your true intentions.

 

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Misplaced Passions

exc George Clooney and Amal Alamudin step out for dinner in ComoSo you don’t like attacks on celebrities?  You think I should be more civil in my attacks on the likes of George Clooney, Russell Brand, Penelope Cruz and others.  OK.  Well first of all, as will be evident for those who do read this piece, I am not writing this to defend myself.  I don’t need to.  Everyone, myself included has some selfish motivation for the things that they do, but the driving force behind what I do is fighting for what is right and the well-being and safety of Israel, the Jewish people, and people of all faiths who believe in decency and a genuine peace for all parties involved.

Now on to the reason I am writing this piece.  It is to address the incredulous logic of those who passionately defend those that attack their very own people.  A few days ago an old friend of mine sent me a message.  The message was a question as to how I felt about the vitriolic comments sometimes posted on social media.  My friend’s concern was that we were sinking to a level beneath us when we attacked certain people in an overly crude and demeaning manner.  That same friend however, liked and approved of my follow-up letter to George Clooney a few days later.  I mention this because it is a prime example of someone who, even with a more moderate approach than others, has their priorities in the correct place.  My friend said quite a few things I agreed with, and in the meantime understood that just because we may wish to live by a higher standard, that doesn’t mean we defend the despicable.  In case you are wondering, to me, anti-Zionist/anti-Semites are the despicable.

For those who read what I write, you may notice that I more often than not type anti-Zionist and anti-Semite side by side.  It’s for a very simple reason.  If you are an anti-Zionist, you are also an anti-Semite.  I won’t belabor this point because it’s been made often enough, and those who don’t want to accept it as fact after what we’ve seen the past 3 months never will anyway.  What I do wish to say and question is the following.  Why is it unacceptable to some that people attack anti-Semites for their attacks on Israel, but it is not acceptable when people who are pro-Israel attack them?  Because they say it in a nicer more deceptive way?  Because they’re better looking?  Because you like their movies or music?  I’ve heard people criticize myself and others for what they called disgusting remarks against some of these celebrities.  If I would call your favorite actor a Jew-hating piece of garbage you might get mad for my nasty display of hate.  After all, the only thing he or she said wrong was, Israel needs to stop killing Palestinian babies, right?

Let me break that down a little further for those who just don’t get it.  No one in Israel is happy that children die in war.  However, the attacks on Gaza were attacks by the Jewish nation in self-defense.  These attacks were a response to a constant barrage of missiles into Israeli population centers.  Hamas hid behind their children, using them as human shields.  Hamas is committed not only to the destruction of Israel, but to the murder of Jews worldwide.  So when someone, actor, musician or politician says Israel needs to stop killing babies, he or she is throwing their support behind Hamas, whether they want to admit it or not.

All of this leaves me to this one important question.  How is the comment “Israel needs to stop killing Palestinian babies” not more vile to you than someone like myself calling that person a “Jew-hating piece of garbage”?  How is it not more vile and offensive to you when an ex-President accuses Israel of war crimes? How is it not more vile to you when a famous singer claims it was never proved that Hamas killed the 3 boys?  How is it not more vile to you when an idiotic actor says Israel was wrong for fighting back because they’re stronger? And lastly, how is it not vile to you when a famous actor marries into a family that hates Israel and never says a word indicating he feels differently than they do?

You want to continue to attack those who attack them because it’s easier or makes you feel like you’re a better person then go right ahead.  Just know this and know it well.  If these people you defend so passionately get their way, they’ll come after you with the same vigor they’ll come after me.   And realize the irony is that while you are defending them, people and people like me are actually trying to defend you.  Whether you appreciate it or not.

 

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Why I no longer argue with Stuart

Israeli-FlagI have a friend named Stuart. I’ve known Stuart for close to 40 years.  Some of you reading this even know him. I recently came to the realization that there is no friend on Facebook, excluding family members or friends of the family that I know longer than I know him. He and I used to argue so passionately on Facebook that we went through an “unfriended” period, the details of which are unclear, specifically in regard to who initiated the “unfriending”.  Frankly at this point it is unimportant.  We no longer argue.  Why? Because we share a common understanding.  The understanding that most of the issues we used to argue about will mean nothing if we don’t preserve the freedom and safety of the civilized world. Maybe even more importantly, we share an unapologetic love for Israel and the Jewish people.

Those of you who know him may know that 2 of his favorite words are obfuscate and metanoia.  Stop pretending you all know what those two words mean and click on each one for the definition.  Stuart and I have certainly gotten into it over the past few years.  He has what can only be defined as conservative views while I hold some very liberal positions, particularly on social issues.  He believes that what has happened to me is metanoia.  I agree on some levels, but I’ve always loved my people, been pro-Israel, and hated bigots of any kind, especially anti-Semites.  That doesn’t mean he’s entirely wrong.  The events of the last few months certainly did change me, as I wrote in my piece  “My Summer of Gaza”.

But here is what I believe has become the common ground in our discussion. If we allow Muslim extremism to run rampant all over the world the other issues won’t matter.  The issues we argued about we’re allowed to argue about. We live in a free country.  If we don’t wake up, and wake up soon, those basic freedoms may vanish before our very eyes.

I urge those of you reading this who are really tempted to address my views on specific subjects to leave it for another time.  Why?  Not because I don’t want to have the discussion but because it goes against the exact point I am trying to make.

All these other issues are secondary to the greatest issue of our lifetime. Freedom from an evil spreading over the planet like an out of control cancer. It’s why my next vote for president will be for whoever has the strongest stance on foreign policy and whoever is most pro-Israel.  Even if on the issues they think just like Stuart does.  In fact, I might just nominate Stuart for president.

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The Truth Matters Only if You Value it

liesClearly I am not objective.  I love Israel and hate Hamas.  I believe Hamas is to blame for the deaths of not only Israelis but Palestinians as well.  I believe Benjamin Netanyahu is a great man and Khaleed Meshaal is an evil man.  I agree with Netanyahu when he says, “If the Arabs put down their weapons there would be no more war.  If Israel put down her weapons, there would be no more Israel.”  Clearly I am not objective.

I make no claims to be objective.  However, despite my lack of objectivity I do seek the truth.  So much so that I acknowledge that Israel has made mistakes and done some things they should not have done over the past 66 years.  But there is no truth that justifies the attacks Israel has had to endure, be they violent attacks from terrorists or verbal attacks from anti-Semites.  If presented with factual evidence of a certain truth, even one that opposes my views, I would address it honestly and make every attempt to be fair in my assessment.  The question is, why won’t my enemies do the same?

It’s because the truth has no meaning to them.  Most anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment is not based in truth.  It’s either based in ideology or communal involvement.  People like to be part of something.  Even something motivated by hate.  The ideology however is what drives everything.  It drives terrorism, stirs up the masses, allows the leaders to make statements they know are not true, but justify with their beliefs.  A friend once said to me, “people buy with emotion and justify it with logic.”  Once the masses buy the bill of goods sold to them by the mini-dictators popping up all over the world, they search for the logic to back it up.  For example, the number one lie being told is that Israel is committing genocide.  Once that message is sold to the Muslim masses by the Imans, all they need now is a complicit al-Jazeera or CNN to show a man holding an injured or dead child in his hand in Gaza and the people have their “logic” to back up the sale.

Here’s the problem with that.  When you use that method the truth is irrelevant.  The only thing that matters is pushing your agenda.  Even visual evidence won’t matter anymore.  You passionately sell an ideal, even one of hate, show one image, maybe only make one ridiculous claim that can be used to back it up, and its sold.  Russell Brand goes on a hateful diatribe against Israel on his online channel he calls the Trews, claiming it is True News, and people who like the movie star buy into it, even though he sits there and blatantly obstructs the truth from his listeners.  Hamas sells the idea that Israel is indiscriminately bombing Gaza, targeting women and children, and those who have already bought into anti-Zionism and Jew hatred see a blown up building and they’ve seen enough.  We could have a 10 page document and 100 pictures proving that Hamas put those innocents in harms way by using them as human shields and it would make no difference.  They’ve already decided what they want to believe.  The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

Do we combat this with lies of our own?  I say no.  But I do think we need to be a little less concerned about whether or not we are unfair to those allowing those lies to be spoken and should be spending less time defending those who only express an (anti-Semitic) opinion.  Tolerance is a very charitable trait, particularly in war time, and as we all know charity starts at home.

As I responded in social media when someone criticized my letter to George Clooney, “Never Again” does not mean Never Again unless we insult George Clooney.  Never Again means recognizing the signs and doing all we can to prevent it.  I believe the truth is always the right way, but being tolerant at our own expense is not.

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Blood on his hands

“Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, read history.  They elected Hitler”-Rudy Giuliani responding to the statement that the people of Gaza elected Hamas.

ap_jimmy_carter_110425_wg-e1335377335955You can be a humanitarian or a bigot if you so choose, but you can’t be both.  When you’ve fooled people into believing you are a humanitarian you better understand that is a term that applies to all human beings, not just the ones you like.  If you’re an ex-President of the United States of America you better understand that your words hold some weight and therefore can impact future events.

We may be able to argue that Jimmy Carter is and always was inept, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he is also dangerous.  It is people like him, anti-Semites who enable terrorists, that have till now and still do, lay the groundwork for the deaths of countless innocent civilians.  I have heard Democrats blame George W. Bush for the 9/11 attacks and Republicans blame Bill Clinton, but I always maintained the only one to blame is Osama bin-Laden. However, if you really want to give some of the fault to an American president you can blame Jimmy Carter.  It goes much deeper than the debacle of leadership he showed during the Iranian revolution.  Jimmy Carter’s support and friendship with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat was the most high-profile acceptance of a terrorist by any American president in the nation’s history.  In doing this Jimmy Carter strengthened the PLO, legitimized terrorism, and set the groundwork for the growth of future terrorist organizations.

So Mr. Carter, you are not a humanitarian at all.  What you are is a hypocrite. You have used the guise of humanitarianism to push your agenda, an agenda that has always been anti-Israel and anti-Semitic.  Your relationship with Hamas is an easy one to understand.  They hide behind children to attack Israel, you hide behind humanitarianism.  You speak words that fraudulently portray you as a decent man, when in reality there is a lot of blood on your hands.  In opening your mouth again you clearly are hoping for more, and I have no doubt the blood you prefer is Jewish blood.

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I’m a Hater

111I hate war. I hate violence. I hate cowards that hide behind women and children. I hate seeing women and children dying because these cowards make them targets.  I hate terrorists.  I hate what these terrorists make young soldiers do.  I hate being hated for being Jewish. I hate Roger Waters.  I hate that I’m not welcome in Teheran or Beirut or Istanbul.   I hate that Jews in Paris can’t walk the streets safely.  I hate the leaders of the wealthy countries that sponsor terrorists.  I hate the people attempting to destroy civilization.  I hate that Israel has never lived in peace.  I hate that so many in the world don’t realize that all Israel wants is to live in peace.  I hate the United Nations. I hate Iran’s leadership.  I hate terror tunnels.  I hate anti-Semites.  I hate double standards.  I hate the lies being told.  I hate the instigators of violence. I hate missiles being fired at my people.  I hate those who don’t think my people have a right to make those missiles stop.  I hate those who desecrate the name of God by preaching murder.  I hate those who make me hate others. And I hate that I could keep going and going, but I will stop.  Because most of all, I hate hating.

I’m a hater


How the term “Disproportionate Response” is becoming the latest anti-Semitic keyword

gasstationThe latest argument, one that has no semblance of logic or decency, is that Israel’s response is disproportionate.  Not because they are not being attacked, but because the majority of the recent attacks have not been successful. Jews have sat back and waited before.  So now when a Jewish government refuses to sit back and wait for more Jews to die,  many in the world throw out the term “disproportionate response.”   For those who are unclear as to why the term “disproportionate response” is simply the latest catchphrase for the vehement anti-Semite, I offer you the following analogy.

Imagine you live with your family in a rough neighborhood.  You know it is dangerous but since it is the house where your parents and grandparents grew up, and it is a beautiful house and one you call home,  you have no desire to leave.  Now imagine you are a law enforcement officer with a license to use a gun (this should take the politics of gun control out of this discussion) and that you have the ability and strength to defend your family by any means necessary.  The neighbor right across the street takes shots at your family with whatever object they can find, rocks, stones, crude Molotov Cocktails, etc.,  and throws it at them at random times just because they want you to leave the neighborhood.  Somehow you show restraint because you just want to live quietly and peacefully.  But one day when being dropped off by the school bus your son gets attacked by the neighbor and gets critically injured.  Mind you, this is not the first time actual damage has been done to your family, just the most recent time. Now, even though you have finally had enough, you don’t just rain bullets on the neighbor’s house, you take your guns and fire a shot at the neighbor’s house with a warning, a warning that leaves no margin for misunderstanding.  You very simply say, “leave my family alone or I will destroy your home and anyone helping you.”  What does the neighbor do?   The neighbor gets more of whatever crude weaponry it can find and increases its attacks on your home and family.  This time making it so bad that it limits your movement.  You bring out the heavier artillery, know where they are attacking from and fire on that part of the neighbor’s house.  What is the neighbor’s next move?  A sick one.   They put their kids in the room where they keep the weapons and then run to the police, incidentally police with no real jurisdiction in your neighborhood, just police they have a connection with,  claiming they are being brutalized, you are targeting their children,  and that they are being unjustifiably attacked by you.  Here is where it gets totally bizarre.  The police ask you to stop saying that it is unfair for you to attack them with such force because all they are doing is throwing stones and Molotov Cocktails that usually miss your home.  They ask you to have a meeting with the neighbor, fully knowing you’ve made every attempt to speak with them already.  The press comes out to report the ongoing situation, showing burning Molotov Cocktails on your front lawn and bullet holes in the neighbors bedrooms.  They don’t tell the story, they just show what looks like one side having a burning lawn, and another side having a bullet ridden bedroom.  Naturally they cause the public to feel sympathy for your neighbor since they very irresponsibly don’t state the facts leading up to what is seen on the screen.   Sounds crazy doesn’t it? What makes it even crazier is that you are the best hope to keep the neighborhood safe, while your angry neighbor and his friends really just want to take it over, destroy it and then do the same to other neighborhoods.

You ask yourself one question.  How does any sane individual not see this and want to help you?  The undeniable and tragic answer is, they just don’t like you.

 

 


A Liberal with Zero Tolerance

img65649I am a self-proclaimed Liberal.  I believe in being tolerant.  However, like everything else in life, tolerance has a breaking point as well.  Today mine was broken.  With the murder of Eyal Yifrach, 19, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Naftali Frenkel, 16, I no longer believe a peaceful solution is possible with our Palestinian enemies.  Yes, I said enemies.  I did not say partners, I did not say neighbors, I did not say counterparts.  Just as the Germany that existed between 1933 and 1945 were enemies of not only the Jewish people but the entire civilized world, so too the Arabs in and around Israel have developed into the same opponents of decency not seen since Nazi Germany.

I am by nature, a pacifist.  I am no “tough guy”, nor do I ever proclaim to be. However, tolerance and liberalism needs to be saved for human beings who you have differences with, not with animals set on the destruction of anything decent.  With that said I wholeheartedly support the harshest of actions.  I also will no longer, and urge every human being who believes in what is right to do the same, support any government’s policies that stand in the way of Israel doing what needs to be done.

And now I will make a statement totally removing myself from my Liberal positions.  All of you out there, be you anti-Semites who like seeing Jews suffer, residents of civilized nations who thinks it is only the problem of Israel and the Jewish people, or Liberal Americans, Jew and non-Jew alike, listen very carefully.  They’re coming for you as well.  Like the Nazi sympathizers who thought they were exempt, anyone who supports this cause or does not fight against it will only be useful for as long as they are needed to push their agenda.  Once they do, if they can reach you, me, all of us, they will kill us as well.

To President Obama I say this.  At best you are exhibiting a similarity to Neville Chamberlain, at worst you’ve picked the wrong side.  Either way  you’ve got it wrong.  You want a legacy Mr. President?  Try using your powers as leader of the Free World to keep it free.  If nothing else please stay out of Israel’s way.

Sadly I now feel that the slogan “Bring back out Boys” needs to be changed to “Avenge our Boys”.


A Kidnapper only a Mother could love

suspectsThe old saying, “it’s a world gone mad” has taken on a new meaning.  We now live in a world where mothers can be proud of their sons for kidnapping without the world showing outrage.  Let’s look at this objectively.  If an Israeli missile kills civilians being used as a human shield by terrorists, the world now calls it genocide.  But when 3 young students, yes students, not soldiers, not terrorists, not “freedom fighters”,  students, get abducted for merely being Jewish, the mother of one of the suspects can speak of her son glowingly for his crime.  When asked about her sons suspected involvement in the kidnapping, the mother of Amer Abu Aysha said that “if her son did take part in the kidnapping, she was proud of him and hoped he would continue to evade capture, both by Israeli and Palestinian Authority security forces.”
Read more: Israel names suspects in kidnapping of three teens | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-names-suspects-in-kidnapping-of-three-teens/#ixzz35mHZ1BIU
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Are people so scared that they dare not speak, or has the world plummeted that far into a moral abyss?  Once again I ask the hypocritical anti-Semites masquerading as human rights activists, where is your loud voice now?  Or will this be one more example of how you only care about the lives you give value to?  Jewish lives are clearly not included.

Bring Back our Boys!