Recently I have had several meetings and exchange of vantage points with Christians, Jews, folks in Israel, folks in rural America, folks in Europe, and folks in North American Cities. Antisemitism has clearly been a problem for millennia and I have been reporting on alarming trends for nearly 10 years. And yet the recent months of COVID and civil unrest surrounding race relations issues has presented an even greater uptick in antisemitism—so much so that it is normalized, accepted, and even celebrated!
Ben Shapiro recently noted that antisemitism is the last allowed form of hate. However, I will add the hate for Christians is also completely acceptable among the woke and social justice crowds.
We have seen BLM and other affiliated so-called social justice groups, or rioters in their names, desecrate and destroy both Jewish and Christian properties included houses of worship, cemeteries, community centers and more. As well, a Christian priest in D.C. was beat up for merely being white and a Christian. Jews are continually beat up and violently attacked in streets in NY, Paris, L.A. and more. In the CHAZ zone in Seattle, a man was beat up for preaching Jesus.
Amazingly, Muslims members of these protests freely take time out to pray and no Islamic properties have been vandalized (that I have seen reported). I have seen video of rioters take a break so that prayer time can be observed.
And no great outpour or even basic news coverage of outrage when innocents are injured or killed or property is vandalized by those who riot and destroy in the name of peace and justice.
We have seen celebrities such as Chelsea Handler, American comedian, praise avowed antisemitic and Nation of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan that she had “a lot to learn from him.” In her basic apology for being a white person, she excused Farrakhan’s antisemitism as perhaps the construct of his own struggle and experience growing up as a black man. Moreover, some even excuse the antisemitism saying it “doesn’t count if they are black because they are the true Hebrews.”
That excuse doesn’t even make sense. Anyone who spent even one high school social studies unit on Martin Luther King, Jr. would know that Jews and the African American community had a special solidarity and bonding during the Civil Rights movement as Jews had a deadly hand of oppression on them but 20 year prior, let alone taking into account their history of enslavement, struggle and persecution pre-dating by centuries the US slave trade and those horrible.
Nick Cannon, another US celebrity—musician and tv show host—has also recently been praising Farrakhan. Philadelphia Eagles football player DeSean Jackson is another who posted about hating a group of people and praise for ones who champion lies and deceit.
And, Cannon and others deny or dismiss their antisemitism as merely the outcome of their own struggles and experiences in their backgrounds or the fact that they cannot be antisemitic because they are the true Semitic peoples—the true Hebrews.
A July 13 Jerusalem Post article reported Nick Cannon propagated antisemitic conspiracy theories in his recent pod cast. His excuse that it is not hate speech is because he is himself Semitic—as a black person—he is the a Hebrew. Nick Cannon hosted former rap group member of Public Enemy (kicked out in 1989 for his antisemitic remarks made to The Washington Times) Richard Griffin who said that “The majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe is the fault of the Jews.”
In this pod cast, originally recorded in 2019 and just recently reposted, Cannon and Griffin go on to discuss that the black people and their languages are the only true Semitic ones and “have nothing to do with any white people.” The antisemitic label for them is “just a tool to silence the criticism.”
I am not sure where these two went to high school or college or if they took any basic anthropology or history courses, but these claims, with their praise of Farrakhan and his theories, is nothing but hate for the Jews, who happen to come in every skin color. Additionally, these statements are open discrimination against white people (Jew or otherwise).
DeSean Jackson of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles posted to social media two days in a row quotes attributed to Hitler and praise of Louis Farrakhan. The posts had a lukewarm reaction from the NFL and was eventually followed by an apology. Zach Banner of the Pittsburg Steelers took to his own devices to speak out against the fellow player to express the amount of angst and turmoil DeSean’s posted caused him personally. Remember, Pittsburg was the location of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting not even two years ago. Zach took the Steelers logo and included the star of David in the top gold emblem position and tagged it “stronger than hate.” Banner is both of African American descent and of Jewish heritage with family members who are practicing Jews.
DeSean did apologize, something he may have been pressured into considering both the owner of and general manager of his team, the Philadelphia Eagles, are Jewish. After two consecutive antisemitic posts, DeSean apologized for “unintentionally” hurting the Jewish community. And admitted he was “ill-informed” about the sensitivities people have about the Holocaust. I am not sure whom to blame this on. The school systems? The community at large normalizing all these antisemitic rhetoric including from sitting US congress members? They fain ignorance when they are called out for intolerant and hateful and discriminatory speech. How can they be that ignorant?
Keep in mind while some celebrities and business people are being “cancelled” by the loud and vocal left and social media influencers for the slightest of infraction such as thanking the US President or waving an American flag, vocal and outspoken antisemitic rhetoric is accepted and excused, or celebrated.
But I say we will not crouch to that sentiment—to cancel people, to destroy careers, employers, families because we disagree. My greatest joy would be for these haters to be educated and enlightened and change their hearts. Oh, what a testimony that would be! People like Walid Shoebat for example, and Dr. Jason Hill is another example. I’d rather see vocal opponents of Israel and haters of Jews repent and see the light and recant their prior ideas and share with the world when they find truth. For me, this is an amazingly effective way to continue to educate and enlighten those who are being swayed by false narratives, celebrity bling, and band-wagon social justice.
As far as schools go, the malpractice of education is reaching far into higher education.
Yale, among other Ivy Leagues, now have 5 US congress members calling for investigations for Title IX violations for when these universities or their faculty members so vehemently support BDS activities.
Ben Schapiro, among others including me, have said time and time again, Antisemitism is the ONLY acceptable form of hate and intolerance left… However, I would add the bashing of Christians is right behind them. But to point out that historically, the longest enduring culture on the planet who has preserved its language, history, religion, and even its geographical parameters– its longevity and its cohesiveness–Jews wins the prize. Jews endure generation after generation despite the constant persecution and genocidal attempts.
That should clue us in on God’s hand and Will for the Jews and Israel.
Keep Israel and the Jewish people in your prayers and God’s will for all us in our steps and actions.
Shavua Tov and have a great week.