I am a Jew. I am a Zionist. I am an American. I voted for you twice. I find myself not only disillusioned by your responses to the murder of the 3 Israeli teenagers, but angry as well. This is not a time for packaged responses and clichés. This is a time to utilize the power of your office, a power that extends around the globe if utilized correctly, to make a strong and significant statement impacting not only the well-being of Israel today but the future of the entire planet.
I begin with two questions we are all entitled to have answered.
Question number 1. You coined the phrase “senseless act of terror”. Does that imply that some acts of terror are not senseless? Is that a redundancy overlooked by your speechwriters or is that part of the thinking that allows you to be willing to accept Hamas as part of a Palestinian government? Please keep in mind that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank is also a terrorist organization transformed into a political organization and the so-called “unreasonable” Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to deal with them, despite the fact that so many of their leaders formerly took part in “senseless” acts of terror.
Question number 2. In what is clearly the administrations careful wording, since it was uttered in both your initial comments and those of your Secretary of State John Kerry, why do you feel it necessary to caution Israel to not “destabilize the situation”, be it further or at all? I am fairly certain that the mothers of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel are not looking at this situation as anything resembling stable. Neither am I for that matter. And I know that most people who share the same concerns that I do would feel the same way.
I am aware that you inherited a bad economy, high unemployment and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Much to the dismay of many who will read this, I have been a defender of you and your presidency and have not blamed you for everything wrong in the country, as so many Republicans do. I have however, as have many others, been concerned over your approach towards Israel as well as your responses to acts of terror and terrorist organizations and regimes. My deepest fear going into your presidency was that you would make the same tragic mistake that British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made when he declared there would be “peace in our time”. He convinced himself he was dealing with a willing peace partner in Adolf Hitler. We all know how that turned out. It concerns me now that in comparing you to Neville Chamberlain I may have been giving you the benefit of the doubt. It is a terrifying and potentially tragic road it leads us all down, and we all can only hope you either wake up to the realities or change your tune, whichever one is necessary to set this in the right direction.
I do not question whether or not you understand the responsibility you have at this moment, but as an American citizen and as a Jew I hope you are aware that your words and actions can make the difference between life and death for so many good people who want nothing more than to live in peace. I can only hope that matters enough for you to change your approach.
I 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”.
Of the over 17,500 hits I received from posting this picture, together with the article titled “A Beautiful Irony”, I have also received approximately 10 comments stating that this picture is indeed a fake one, with some claiming Lionel Messi is not pro-Israel or pro-Jewish at all. Let me address that. It is very clear to anyone who understands the timeline of the kidnappings and the current soccer schedule of Lionel Messi that this picture is a result of photo-shop. But the statements made in my article are accurate. Lionel Messi has indeed exhibited a pro-Israel and pro-Jewish sentiment and I will use his stance on the politics of the issue to make an important point. Not all people who show sympathy towards the Palestinians are anti-Israel. In fact, to show support for the development of the residents of the West Bank and Gaza while showing solidarity towards Israel makes the statement that the disadvantages that these people have are not the result of a mistreatment from the Israeli people and their government. If anything it makes the statement that it is not Israel’s fault at all, rather the result of corrupt leaders, terrorist regimes, and lack of concern and even worse, manipulation by their fellow Arabs in the region.
Most importantly, as a result of that last post, more people have seen the picture showing the 3 kidnapped Yeshiva students, with the slogan that we must make everyone hear or see till they are freed, “Bring Back Our Boys”. Not that I can speak for him, but from what I can tell, Lionel Messi has never shown anything other than behavior that would indicate that he would want the same. One of the reasons I loved seeing him score 2 more goals today against Nigeria.
I really could not care any less about the decision by an inconsequential church denomination to divest from Israel, and I am utterly disgusted by the verbal groveling by some of my fellow Jews to try to get this group to reverse that decision. To these tribespeople I say: Have you no pride? Have you no FAITH? Our success does not come from the piddling dollars and cents of lunatic splinter groups! Our success in solely in the hands of the One Above, and if one group divests, three more will invest. And the divestors, who in their self-importance threw their lot in with liars, thieves and murderers, will be left to wither and die.
Who Jah bless, no one curse.
Holland’s Heroes would like to thank Hesh Meister for joining as a contributor. He will provide his own fresh and clear perspective within the mission of the site, which is to combat attacks against the Jewish people and Israel and to discredit those who try to claim the Holocaust never happened.
Supporter of the Jewish people and Israel are like the salesperson who produces. If you don’t recognize the achievement it might not happen as often. Thank you Robert De Niro and to this random bunch of Iranian soccer fans at FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brasil. What’s your favorite pro-Israel and or pro-Jewish display?
Let’s hope these guys don’t get hurt for being decent human beings.
Look who broke the heart of one the nations that wants to wipe Israel from the planet. (READ IMPORTANT POST SCRIPT)…………Just one of those random things that helps me believe in God. In the first minute of added time at the end of the game Lionel Messi of Argentina (seen in this picture) breaks a 0-0 tie against Iran to destroy their hopes of getting an unexpected point against one of soccer’s giants. With the animosity constantly shown towards Israel from Iran, I can’t help but admit the pleasure I received watching the beautiful late goal being scored by a man who showed solidarity towards Israel in the past and now regarding the return of the 3 kidnapped Yeshiva students. Way to go Messi! This just makes it even more enjoyable for me to call you the best player in the world. DOES THE WORLD CUP UNITE US? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
Let me start by saying that I believe in the value of all human life. I do not sit down with the intent of portraying Jewish life as being more valuable than other life, rather to defame those who do not, never have nor ever will see Jewish life as being equal in value.
I am blessed to have visiting in my home the daughter and son-in-law of Bertus and Geeske te-Kiefte, the couple that saved my mother’s life in Holland during Nazi occupation. During the time we have spent together we have had conversations revealing our similarity in values and our respect for all that is decent and good in the world. We recognize the value of all human life and speak with tremendous honor and respect for those who put their lives in danger to protect others. We share a common value for human life. As a Jew in today’s world it has become strikingly apparent that many people out there do not share the same value for Jewish life and even more worrisome is that it has become clear to me how the world allowed the Nazis to do what they did to the Jewish people. It just didn’t care. Or even worse, it approved.
I do not have a persecution complex by any means. In fact I make the argument that there is no reason to go after those who do things that appear to be anti-Semitic if they make claim to not be anti-Semitic. First case in point is Macklemore, who dressed up in a costume during one of his performances that was seen as being a stereotypical caricature of a Jewish man with a big nose. Whether that was his intent or not, his strong claim that he did not mean it to be a portrayal of someone Jewish and that he was not at all anti-Semitic is enough for me to not see him as the problem. Second case in point is the Nike commercial with evil clones taking over international soccer with images on their uniform that could be construed as Stars of David. Nike issued a statement that the image was not intended to resemble a Star of David at all and that they were not trying to draw any connection to Israel or the Jewish people. The Nike statement was also enough for me to not see them as the problem.
Is it possible that in both situations we are being lied to and that these are two instances where high-profile celebrities or corporations are subtly trying to demonize Israel and the Jewish people? Sure. But sadly in a world where there are so many blatant, callous, disgraceful and violent attacks on Jews, the subtle attacks are not our problem. The rise in anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, most notably in France, is our problem. The BDS movement’s attempt to cripple the Israeli economy by spewing lies about Israel’s human rights record is our problem. And the kidnapping of three young boys just because they are Jewish and living in Israel is our problem.
The kidnappings are telling in so many ways. First of all it identifies the insincerity of the pigs committing the act. They are not freedom fighters battling for the well-being of their people who are attacking enemy combatants. They are cowards filled with hate and evil-looking to harm any Jewish person they come in contact with. The second telling fact is how once again this exposes the fraud that is the United Nations. When a statement comes from the UN stating that it has no evidence that these boys were kidnapped, they sound no different from the standard anti-Semite denying the Holocaust ever happened. And the third and possibly the most telling fact, is the media campaign throughout the Arab world glorifying the kidnapping. The three finger salute gaining traction and popularity, even being performed by Palestinian children, incidentally children looking happy not persecuted, might as well be accompanied by a resounding Heil Hitler, because it shows as little respect for Jewish life as the Nazis did when they terrorized Europe.
I am very careful and reluctant to compare anything to Nazi Germany, but when Jewish life is turned into something of no value, the comparison is dangerously justified. For me to have this forum, a forum established to promote a book telling the story of my parents, survivors of that horror of the Nazis, and to not speak up and speak my mind at this scary time in Jewish history would make me remiss in my responsibility as a Jew and a human being.
Never Again means Never Again will we remain silent when we see anyone in the world act as though Jewish blood is cheap. Too many people suffered and died in the past and we can’t allow the same to happen in the future. This is no longer the time to be silent. This is the time to raise our voices and proclaim to the world in the name of all that is decent, Never Again!
Israel, the Apartheid State. The government that is persecuting Palestinians. The regime committing genocide against the people of Palestine. Really? Does this sound like a country that would be taking care of the wife of the leader of the Palestinian authority? Well that is exactly what happened this past weekend as the wife of Mahmoud Abbas had leg surgery in a hospital near Tel-Aviv. But did the fair-minded speak out about this? Did they ever stop to consider what would have happened if three Palestinian students had been kidnapped and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife would need surgery in most Arab nations? Or even closer to home in the West Bank or Gaza? As three Yeshiva students remain missing, likely kidnapped by Hamas or another similar terrorist organization, the Israeli government welcomed in and allowed the wife of Abbas to be cared for. Does this strike you as the behavior of a state motivated to wipe the Palestinians off the planet. Does it look like a government lacking in ethical human rights behavior?
We all know the answer. Roger Waters knows the answer. Emma Thompson knows the answer. Alice Walker knows the answer. But these phonies, Anti-Semites masquerading as humanitarians would never utter the words of truth that are so evident from the events taking place. The worldwide movements to discredit Zionists, a smokescreen for decreasingly less subtle attacks on Jews, would never declare the truth about Israel, that it is a true democracy with true freedom and the highest level of human rights. To do that would result in elevating the status of Jews worldwide, which in reality is why it is not done. If you doubt this to be true just look at what it is happening in France on a regular basis to people because they are Jews, not because they are Zionists. And look at the recent murders in Brussels and wake up to the truth. And that truth is that there are people who want to wipe the Jewish people from the planet, regardless of where they live.
We all say Never Again to something that on some very frightening levels has begun to happen again. Did we ever know what we would do to stop it if it did? Maybe not. But it starts by seeing the reality of the situation and not closing our eyes, pretending it is not there and hoping it will go away. That never worked and never will.
Unfortunately the current situation in Nigeria and the public outcry regarding the kidnapped school girls brings to the forefront the misplaced priorities running rampant in today’s world. Make no mistake, the kidnappings are horrific. However, it sadly is another example of people finding a cause without knowing what has really been going on for quite some time.
Boko Haram is one of the most vicious, heartless groups of evil murderers roaming the planet. For years they have been killing people in Nigeria in the most callous and terrifying ways imaginable. Primarily targeting Christians and law enforcement officials, these terrorists have crucified people and burnt them alive. Their behavior is reminiscent of the Nazis in the way they show absolutely no remorse or mercy in how they kill. As awful as the kidnappings are, this action of terrorism is by no means their first act of terror and begs the following question. Where has everyone been till now?
I won’t criticize Michelle Obama or anyone else for tweeting to release the prisoners nor will I criticize anyone for being an activist in the release of these poor girls, because regardless of the motivation the behavior is good behavior and not where the problem lies. Even though I agree with George Will when he makes the statement that the exercise is one in futility and an exercise in self esteem, I also believe in the concept of a good action for the wrong reasons still being a good action. And to be quite frank, that’s not the part that disturbs me. What disturbs me is that we live in a world when no one cares enough when people get murdered and burned alive to take action. Our leadership and the leadership of other nations around the world keep silent until it becomes a popular cause. And the so-called activists who call Israel an apartheid state will never, and I say that confidently, NEVER find any Israeli behaving in the vicious and callous way that the member of Boko Haram have behaved. Yet they have all remained silent. Why? Simply put it is because there is no financial gain or benefit towards their popularity. That and the fact that some people hate Jews more than they value human life.
I hope and pray these girls get returned safely, but I hope and pray even more that somehow the world starts turning into a place where innocent human life is valued. Sadly I am not confident at this time that it will happen any time soon, but in the meantime I’ll keep hoping and praying.
Those of you who know my political views know that I am someone who has no problem declaring my liberal leanings. I find myself being tolerant when it comes to issues that the more conservative of you find unacceptable. Be that as it may I am here to say that as a Jew and a Liberal, the one area where there is no room for tolerance is regarding the matter of anti-Semitism.
For starters I find it odd that any Jew who would argue the importance of fair and equitable treatment towards another would keep silent at bigotry directed at his or her own people. I pride myself in not having any unjust or bigoted prejudices towards anyone. However, I worded that last sentence carefully because the reality that exists is that there are some groups that are either predominately hateful or have their own prejudices that exist towards other groups, such as Israel and the Jewish people.
Muslim extremists hold opinions that are somewhere between predominately or entirely anti-Israel and anti-Jewish and have conducted such an excellent worldwide public relations campaign that this sentiment has spread to people in all walks of life . Most clearheaded and honest people know that today’s anti-Semitism and anti-Israel feelings are usually one in the same, as I discussed in a previous post in which I addressed former President Jimmy Carter’s blatant anti-Semitism titled “A Dishonor to the Jewish People”. To be very honest, I don’t care if one claims there is a difference, because to be anti-Israel is as much an affront to my sensitivities as being anti-Jewish. This is where the issue of being a Liberal, or at least using liberalism as a crutch comes into play.
Anti-Israel sentiment has reached a new level of worldwide popularity. There are many people, fools masquerading as Liberals, who look everywhere for their next “cause”. Some of these causes are real and justified. Others are not. The need to grandstand is one that exists with many people. Unfortunately, some Liberals will jump on the nearest bandwagon and show how much they care about a certain group. When these same people jump on the anti-Israel bandwagon, my question to them is very simply, “Why were you quiet when entire Jewish families, sometimes husbands, wives, and babies, were being murdered in vicious bomb blasts in a Jerusalem pizzeria? Why were you quiet then?” The answer is, because it wasn’t a popular cause. But as a Jew I am sadly aware that defending the Jewish people has never been a popular cause.
A few years back it was all Darfur. A justifiable cause. How many of these people even know what is happening today in Darfur? How many care? They will of course say that they do, but in reality, caring is more than just saying, “I care”. It requires at least some action or effort.
I am a Liberal. I am proud to call myself one. But I am just as proud to disassociate myself with anyone using the image of Liberalism as a misguided means of attacking the wrong people, particularly the Jewish people. And as a Jew, this is something for which I personally have no tolerance.
Dear President Obama,
Holland's Heroes 