#494 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Friday October 28)
Good morning,
When I was a kid, I watched movies about World War II and learned about the Holocaust through the comfortable distances of geography, language and time. The culture of hate that spread from Germany to engulf much of Europe was completely foreign to an American kid growing up in middle-class suburb. The circumstances seemed so unlike our world—an instructive story of horror, but inconceivable to be replicated. I suspect to many of us, the horrors of the Holocaust were so foreign as to be lumped together with the Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, and other atrocities of distant remove. In retrospect, of course, the antisemitism and industrialized killing of 1930s and 1940s Germany were not that long ago. From the perspective of an eighth grader in 1970, the end of the second world war was but 25 years earlier—as far in the past as 1997 is to us today.
Germany in the interwar period was modern, democratic, and enlightened. It was a center of literature, science, music, and culture. Until it wasn’t… The decade and a half after the Versailles Treaty were a period of cultural vibrancy but economic devastation in Germany. How easy it became for the Nazis to assure average citizens that the tribulations that befell them were caused by some foreign influence—a Jewish cabal at the helm of a sinking economic ship, bent on “destroying” the purity of Germany. The characterization of “the other,” along with the media and governmental institutions as enemies of the people seemed—until recently—part of a dark past or the subject of existential and cautionary works like 1984 and Brave New World.
As impossible as it was to imagine, the Holocaust was not the last genocide of the 20th century. We learned of other genocides—in Rwanda, Cambodia and elsewhere. But these isolated instances of ethnic cleansing also occurred in places and cultures detached from ours. It remained difficult to imagine that hate speech could develop a following in America, much less wreak havoc in an otherwise peaceful and civilized society.
CURRENT EVENTS
Three things happened over the last several weeks that remind us that antisemitism lurks just below the surface of our society. These are by no means the first of the abominations in recent years—but these happened in rapid succession. These particular events took place far from each other and from allegedly disparate motivations, yet are part of similar motivations and beliefs. First, nine student groups at Berkeley Law School passed resolutions and amended bylaws to exclude from their organizations (and from attending or speaking to their organizations) anyone who supports the State of Israel or Zionism. This effectively excludes Jews—an astonishing abridgement of the right to free assembly (and participation) and a blatantly exclusionary—antisemitic—act. Second, Ye (the rapper formerly known as Kanye) posted the latest of his antisemitic comments on social media. Finally, in a reflexive act of common purpose with Ye, the White Nationalist group that calls itself the “Goyim Defense League” has distributed in residential areas antisemitic flyers that tie COVID and its response to the Jews. But they didn’t stop there. They also displayed banners over the 405 Freeway that say “Kanye is right about the Jews” and “Honk if you know.” This all takes place with some of the supporters holding up their arms in the Hitlerian “sieg heil” salute. It would seem ridiculous—almost childish—if it weren’t so chilling.
Now, I’m not suggesting for a minute that one can conflate the allegedly principled position of naïve law students (for whom I will extend the benefit of the doubt—although not once the impact of their actions once that impact is explained to them) with the rantings of a blatant antisemite or a hate group. The relationship of these three events (and countless others now being perpetrated throughout our country) is not that they necessarily purport to further the same “cause” (although I would argue they often do) but, rather, the similarity and normalization of their behaviors, the targeting of Jews and the perpetration of age-old lies about the influence and agenda of some sort of monolithic Jewish community. And, as concerning, is that the responses to these types of activities typically are flaccid or short-lived. In the current instance, the reaction to Ye has been relatively swift and definitive. Too often, except for the occasional acts of bravery or solidarity by some of the “usual suspects,” these events quickly fade out of the news cycle. In the meantime, though, the damage is done. In the case of Ye, he has nearly the same number of followers on Instagram as there Jews in the entire world. Some of these people will internalize his opinions and (silently) nod their heads in understanding.
ANTI-ZIONISM IS A FREE PASS FOR ANTISEMITISM
The Berkeley law student groups are caught up in a movement to delegitimize Israel and demand its policies be suspended without meaningful concessions from the Palestinian leadership.
Israel is not perfect. Though, of course, neither is America or any number of other democracies (to say nothing of repressive regimes like Russia, China, Iran, North Korea). Further, the Palestinian movement is not perfect. The Jewish state and the Palestinian people have existed in states of hot and cold war since the British partition, each with deeply held grievances and aspirations—neither with an exclusive on being right. But this conflict differs from all other conflicts in the world in that it seems to have empowered supporters to ostracize and dehumanize Jewish students and academics on college campuses.
THE YE LIE
As for Ye, he is tapping into two narratives, one legitimate and one vile. In so doing, the vile narrative flies under the protection of the former. The Black American experience, despite notable successes, has suffered from the still-resonant effects of enslavement, Jim Crow, and suppression of rights (most recently, the voter intimidation and suppression being perpetrated by the far-right). The grievances of many Black Americans are legitimate and they compel us to act. This does not mean that opinions held and shared by those who may have been historically oppressed cannot also be hateful and racist. when When Ye suggests that the Jews are somehow responsible for the plight of Black Americans, he ignores the long and rich history of Jewish leaders supporting the civil rights movement from its earliest days through today. But he goes much further in feeding the canard that there is some insidious “Jewish control” of the instrumentalities of government, commerce, and media. Somehow this tiny minority is the target of Ye’s fury. Curiously, a Black rapper, those who claim George Soros and/or the Rothschilds somehow are pulling the strings, and true neo-Nazis share common cause in perpetrating these dangerous lies.
Anti-Jewish sentiment extends to the characterization of the media, the press, and Wall Street as somehow dominated by Jews. And it is furthered by the notion that Jews are somehow a monolithic political bloc, which of course furthers the notion that they are so powerful. Mr. Trump spent a good part of the last several weeks admonishing Jews to behave in a particular way or they are not true to their allegiance to Israel—furthering the false narrative that Jews have dual allegiance (or an allegiance to Israel over America). Mr. Trump cannot imagine a Jew thinking for his or herself, based upon their position as citizens of this country. That Jews monolithically should respond to his actions on behalf of Israel with “gratitude” ignores his more despicable behaviors.
I’m not worried about the crazies that salute Hitler. I’m worried about the normalization of statements about Jews that, when repeated, take on the veneer of truth. What we have learned in these days of social media and retweets is that any lie, repeated enough times, takes on a life of its own.
SOMETIMES ONE CAN OVERREACT
As much as I’m concerned about these examples of antisemitic behaviors, I worry that we sometimes want to rush to judgment with respect to each and every act, regardless of its perpetrator or severity. There is enough going on that one need not go out of one’s way to find antisemitism.
Advocates seeking to call out antisemitism and reduce the anti-Jewish sentiment on college campuses need to pick their battles and maintain some perspective. Let’s remember that, for the nine law school organizations restricting Jews from participation, there are some 100 others who did not take this tact.
A couple of months ago, a window of the Hillel building at USC was broken. No note was left; no claim was made. For all we know, it could have been a high school prank, or some over-served frat boys. While any act of vandalism is bad, people need to be careful about claims of motive when there is no evidence of such. When one categorizes all acts—regardless of severity or of clear motive—as hate-inspired, one diminishes the effect of calling out those acts that are truly heinous.
These events of antisemitism and perceived antisemitism should remind us of the historic vulnerability of the Jews and the importance that we acknowledge the challenges and the hatred directed at other communities. As Hillel pointed out, “if I am only for myself, who am I?”
THE BANALITY OF EVIL
Hannah Arendt coined the term “the banality of evil” decades ago, but its coinage serves as a warning. Hateful thoughts and hateful speech fester. They grow in dark places. And these days, they are conveyed rapidly and repeatedly to those easily susceptible—those looking for scapegoats—through social media and cable “news.”
There is a book I recommend highly called Hitler’s Willing Executioners, by Daniel Goldhagen. The premise of the book is that, contrary to the notion that the Nazi killing machine conducted its nefarious business outside of the watchful eye of society, only committed by the truly depraved, in fact the majority of the German people were well aware of what was happening and, in some cases were complicit. In the words of Paul Courbet, “There are conditions of blindness so voluntary that they become complicity.”
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the Berkeley School of Law, wrote of the dilemma of free speech bumping into the of exclusionary tactics of these student groups. He acknowledged there was little he could do in that instance, since the groups have their own free speech rights. But he did not shy away from stating clearly that the actions of the student groups were wrong. The President of USC, Carol Folt, similarly clearly stated the university’s zero-tolerance for hate speech and antisemitism . While it not be deemed timely enough or forceful enough to some, these sorts of statements and, when they are made, and when companies like Adidas and CAA break their ties with a propagator of vicious lies, those taking action should be commended for their actions.
As for the lunatic fringe with banners on the freeway, they will always be with us. In a strangely pragmatic way, I actually welcome their presence. Every time they creep out from the dark corners they occupy and appear publicly and any time they identify with the hate speech of another, they expose themselves to the light of day. And, in so doing, they tie themselves to the bad acts of others, reminding us that they are all of one piece. They remind us in the stark and ridiculous way in which they openly display their hatred that their positions—and those whom they purport to endorse—are to be both feared and ridiculed for what they are.
We must always be aware and on guard. And, just as Black and Latino Americans have the right to expect that we will respond to acts of hatred against them, so must we all call out antisemitism whenever and however it appears. As Thomas Jefferson reminded us some 250 years ago, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Have a great day,
Glenn
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