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KSweder's avatar

as a lifelong Democrat, I’ve come to view the security of Israel and protection of the Jews worldwide as a wedge issue. I am horrified at the massacre, but I am truly sickened by the fact that a large number of so-called progressives have lost their way… Not just lost their way, but chosen to embrace such an ugly ideology. As I drive through my neighborhood I see no show of support for Israel where months or years ago there were Ukrainian flags or black lives matter signs. and while I am disgusted at how normalized anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism have become, I’m glad that this ugliness is showing itself because it’s indefensible, and more people like me will see it for what it is, and reject it. thank you to The Free Press, I am grateful for your coverage--as upsetting as it is to learn about these atrocities, and as angry as it makes me. My heart is with every Israeli and every Jew today.

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Eric Silver's avatar

A month ago I felt this way, but what I see now is that the progressives never lost their way, rather, this was always "their way" and we chose not to see it. I'm gutted.

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Steve Musgrave's avatar

This Genocide made Possible by the generous Support of our Sponsors Iran and the Democratic Party of the United Sates thanks you President Obama and Joe Biden.

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Susan's avatar

But will it change the way you vote?

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BHI's avatar

Great post. I could not agree more. I feel like we are transported back to the early 1930's, when so many people in this country and around the world feel free to reveal a creeping, "genteel", nasty strain of anti-semitism--based wholly on lies. Also, I am in equal parts sickened and saddened by the reactions of some portion of our college-age children. They believe a monstrous lie and have no idea that they are spreading the message of genocide, of child slaughter, of pure evil. They seem to have absolutely no knowledge of history beyond the last TikTok post. Sadly, many of their "teachers" are feeding this hate. God bless the people of Israel. And God bless The Free Press.

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Diamond Boy's avatar

Jews need to act, and in order to act they will need to ignore the liberal prevaricators, the braying idiots of the western imperium. Don’t listen, don’t answer, don’t acknowledge them, act in a fulsome way, it is well past time. Look at what accommodations to their pieties has gotten you. They are idiots, they feign concern but hold you in contempt. Now, if not now, when! It might bet rough, it won’t be pretty but the time has come.

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Kate's avatar

With all due respect, while I agree with and applaud your sentiments, the fact that it came as a shock to you that your fellow progressives are reacting this way shows that you have probably not been paying much attention for the past 5-10 years. To their rhetoric and actions. It comes as absolutely no shock to me. These are their true colors, and they're showing them now. This is what you've gotten into bed with.

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KSweder's avatar

Kate… if I identify as a progressive, and I am reacting with disgust may we assume others like me are as well. I’ve been paying attention, Kate. But congratulations on being smarter and more virtuous than me.

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Kate's avatar

I never said that. It wasn't a personal attack on you. From some of the comments I've seen from so-called progressives out there, I see little indication that many of them are reacting with disgust, just doubling down on their Israel hatred. The point I was making was that nothing they do or don't do, say or don't say, is capable of shocking me anymore. I have come to expect no different from them.

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Steven N.'s avatar

I used to be mostly a Democrat until 2012 when I realized Democrats are no longer a liberal party but a progressive party dealing with grievance politics and nothing else. This ideology is at the root of Democrat thought:

Russia big, Ukraine small. Russia bad. Ukraine good.

Israel powerful. Palestine weak. Israel bad. Palestine good.

Every dichotomy is seen through the same lens with no nuance.

Politically homeless now but very NOT a Democrat.

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P Roth's avatar

KSweder: You write "as a lifelong Democrat..." and "My heart is with every Israeli and every Jew today." Where is your vote going to be now?

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Max Edison's avatar

There is no better time to exit relationships with all these morally bankrupt individuals. It's never easy to watch groups within any party reacting as so many are. This is nothing short of a degrading embarrassment to our society as a whole.

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Shane Gericke's avatar

The Wingnuts that I saw on video last night chanting "Gas the Jews?" Anyone saying that in my physical presence will get a knuckle sandwich, that's how revolting it is. Fortunately, I see none of that where I live.

Jew-hating is becoming the new pickleball, and I detest that too many Americans are picking up the paddles and running to the nets. We did nothing to deserve such hatred, and frankly, this Jew will not stand for it in his personal sphere.

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Catherine's avatar

" I drive through my neighborhood I see no show of support for Israel where months or years ago there were Ukrainian flags or black lives matter signs." I'm noticing this, too. Last year my Facebook feed blew up with sunflowers and Ukrainian flags and memes about standing with Ukrainians. The year before that, it was Black Lives Matter flags and memes and profile picture frames. Now? Crickets. The silence is deafening.

Most of my FB friends and relatives wouldn't call themselves leftists. They think of themselves as Democrats. They aren't celebrating this atrocity, or posting justifications for it, or anything overtly evil like that. The best I can hope for them is that they are, in fact, aghast and horrified -- but too afraid to say so But of course that's not enough. It makes me so sad.

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frank tarascio's avatar

Well said. But will you still vote Dem?

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Comprof2.0's avatar

No matter how thin you cook a pancake it still has two sides.

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Kevin Durant?'s avatar

No matter how much syrup you pour on people who support Palestine, they still reek of sulfur.

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Comprof2.0's avatar

Well, luckily, I don't support either side. Both kill "women, children and elderly." Both trash.

Just know it didn't happen "fOr nO rEaSON aT aLl."

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Kevin Durant?'s avatar

Well yeah it happened because the Global Democrat Left has supported ‘Palestine’ for decades, so you’re still a Nazi collaborator.

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Comprof2.0's avatar

"Democrats are Nazis." Lol!

Bari Weiss/TFP: "Israel is just sitting on their couch, existing and petting kittens. Not doing anything to anyone and getting constantly attacked for no reason at all!!!"

Person: Well, uh...actually -

Bari Weiss/TFP: ANTI-SEMITE NAZI!!!

Blah, blah, blah....and the Global Republican Right supports Israeli snipers shooting children in the head for getting too close to the fence. See how easy that is?

Whatever. Both sides are trash. Deserve each other.

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JD Free's avatar

Progressives have not "lost their way". This is what they always were.

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Pat's avatar

But I have a question, why do so many Jews supported these progressives who now are so anti-semetic. As matter of fact, I can go back for at least 20 years and these anti-semites are prominent fixtures in the American progressives and the left wing of the Democratic Party. So why do Jews tolerated them for so long.

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Orwell’s Rabbit's avatar

“Progressive” Jews believe that they are under a unique obligation to support all those who claim that they are “oppressed” because Jews have suffered hatred and discrimination for the past three millennia. So, in their minds, claims of oppression must be supported (and ideally rectified) because it is the “right thing to do “, and ideally it will set an example that might apply to the next genocide of Jews. The reactions we’ve seen to this terrorism shows that this concept is absolute nonsense. Jews have always been the scapegoat, and no amount of blood seems able to change that (ref. Holocaust).

In the comments of the NYPost this morning, I saw the resurgence of millennia-old blood libel about Jews (that helped further the cause of genocide against them across Europe): some f*ckhead falsely alleged that he saw photos of Israeli “settlers” barbecuing/eating a Palestinian baby, while taunting Palestinians. He didn’t provide a source, though I’m sure AI could create such a photo. But no one seemed capable of refuting his age-old Nazi trope, which was very depressing to me. (I suspect many of the commenters here could demolish him, though...)

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Garfield Logan's avatar

I have always wondered that myself...but I guess Toto has now exposed the Great Oz..right?

I am interested to see how this plays out between Shumer and the Squad.

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Unsaint Finbar's avatar

It may have been as far back as the 90’s when South Park had an episode featuring an anti-Semitic Jew. Its a thing.

Why? I dont know.

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Skinny's avatar

It beggars belief at times think it’s about the bucks and the bank rolling from various foundations and billionaires who have nothing better to do but fuel hatred for their own tribe!

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Bj's avatar

Great question. I hope someone with insights (maybe Bari) weights in.

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Richard Koffler's avatar

They didn't lose their way. They were always very clearly what you see today.

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