I have stopped posting anything on my Facebook or engaging with others who post pro-Pal lies because I have so many Jewish Facebook friends, many of them former colleagues or former children that I taught in school. I can no longer bear to let them see the vitriol that some of my non-Jewish friends feel it’s appropriate to write. The worst offenders don’t actually know any Jewish people.
I deactivated my Facebook account recently because I couldn’t take it anymore — people I know, the ones with whom I’ve had aligned views now look like brainwashed morons to me when I see what they post.
The same people who have said not a word about egregious and persistent Jewish civil rights violations or the hostages, will die on the hill of Mahmoud Khalil. I have left the activist circles where they can’t see the grotesqueness in using Holocaust references on signs that say “First they came from Mahmoud Khalil.” Not saying that our Dear Leader has handled that situation in accordance with the law, but I hardly think that’s the guy the left should be making the face of the pro-democracy movement. But they have.
It is clear as day that the feelings of their Jewish compatriots are of no concern. So yeah, it sure feels like my friends care more about a Hamas lackey than they do about their fellow citizens and friends who are Jews.
“Never believe that antisemites are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The antisemites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.”
Time to call it what it is: Israel Derangement Syndrome--& it is unceasing in the not-for-profit & health care worlds.
A person sends out a test signal by repeating a blood libel, someone else picks up & they go on an endless hate-fest together. If you ignore the signal, they'll just send you another signal & another & another. You want to pivot the conversation but you can't--because they are obsessed. Then when you get upset, they show you ABSOLUTELY NO EMPATHY & try to add YOU as a target of derangement.
At that point, do not argue about facts--focus entirely on their tone/behaviour. Describe to every observer how the person has broken professional and social norms that matter in your profession, social circle etc. This often stops the behaviour & helps the environment.
You just described perfectly the scenario that ended a 40-year friendship with someone I have been close to since high school. I said, "What possible positive outcome do you think is going to come from picking at this scab?" and he went on and on, provking and provoking. This is not about politics. It is something deeply irrational and troubled. In fact, this friend has never expressed an opinion to me in 40 years on this subject. All of a sudden he was an expert and I was genocide supporter. It is IDS. I will write about that term soon. Thank you.
Your observation that it is a game to them is so true and important. "Let us see the Jew scramble to defend themselves" is today's verbal metamorphosis of the gladiatorial games. One of the moves in that game is to say to the Jew, "I understand your feelings, but. . . [and now comes the "objective" truth]." The Nazis had a similar move when they claimed that they had nothing personal against Jews, but science has objectively proven that Jewish blood is dangerous. At the end, this is about power, control and the pleasure of the delusion of superiority.
White idiots like Mr. Hairbun in this picture would wear Klingon vestments if the Jews were fighting back against Klingon incursions into Haifa. They don’t really give a monkey’s about the Arabs, it’s just an anti-Jewish default reflex.
Why would you not engage on medium? You wrote something about resources, does it take a lot of effort to post simultaneously in both places? There are people on medium who will not access your substack here.
Hi there. It's not about posting. It's about scores of comments and private messages. I can't keep up. Why do you think it is more challenging for people to access my Substack than my posts on Medium?
I don't think it's necessarily a question of challenging but of people doing what they are accustomed to doing. If someone reads on Medium they will probably stay there absent a good reason to move.
Yes. I appreciate that. But I have to earn a living and this could be a f/t job. Don't misunderstand, I do this because it is necessary. But I have to make choices.
I have stopped posting anything on my Facebook or engaging with others who post pro-Pal lies because I have so many Jewish Facebook friends, many of them former colleagues or former children that I taught in school. I can no longer bear to let them see the vitriol that some of my non-Jewish friends feel it’s appropriate to write. The worst offenders don’t actually know any Jewish people.
And some of the worst offenders are progressive Jews themselves. (see Hannah Einbinder, Peter Beinart, Bernie Sanders, etc.)
Who are held up as fine examples by the haters
I deactivated my Facebook account recently because I couldn’t take it anymore — people I know, the ones with whom I’ve had aligned views now look like brainwashed morons to me when I see what they post.
The same people who have said not a word about egregious and persistent Jewish civil rights violations or the hostages, will die on the hill of Mahmoud Khalil. I have left the activist circles where they can’t see the grotesqueness in using Holocaust references on signs that say “First they came from Mahmoud Khalil.” Not saying that our Dear Leader has handled that situation in accordance with the law, but I hardly think that’s the guy the left should be making the face of the pro-democracy movement. But they have.
It is clear as day that the feelings of their Jewish compatriots are of no concern. So yeah, it sure feels like my friends care more about a Hamas lackey than they do about their fellow citizens and friends who are Jews.
Yes. Because * he * is the victim here.
Obviously!
If I had a dollar for every false accusation of genocide made against Israel I’d soon be rich as Elon.,
It is indeed a gleeful Jew baiting game that has honestly made me wonder if they were ever friends to begin with or even saw me as a full human being.
Jean-Paul Sartre:
“Never believe that antisemites are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The antisemites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.”
This is one of my favourite quotes. Brilliant and prescient.
Time to call it what it is: Israel Derangement Syndrome--& it is unceasing in the not-for-profit & health care worlds.
A person sends out a test signal by repeating a blood libel, someone else picks up & they go on an endless hate-fest together. If you ignore the signal, they'll just send you another signal & another & another. You want to pivot the conversation but you can't--because they are obsessed. Then when you get upset, they show you ABSOLUTELY NO EMPATHY & try to add YOU as a target of derangement.
At that point, do not argue about facts--focus entirely on their tone/behaviour. Describe to every observer how the person has broken professional and social norms that matter in your profession, social circle etc. This often stops the behaviour & helps the environment.
You just described perfectly the scenario that ended a 40-year friendship with someone I have been close to since high school. I said, "What possible positive outcome do you think is going to come from picking at this scab?" and he went on and on, provking and provoking. This is not about politics. It is something deeply irrational and troubled. In fact, this friend has never expressed an opinion to me in 40 years on this subject. All of a sudden he was an expert and I was genocide supporter. It is IDS. I will write about that term soon. Thank you.
Your best essay yet that I’ve read. I am truly grateful for your voice.
Perfectly stated. Thank you for this.
Thank you, Pat, for your deep and compassionate understanding.
Your observation that it is a game to them is so true and important. "Let us see the Jew scramble to defend themselves" is today's verbal metamorphosis of the gladiatorial games. One of the moves in that game is to say to the Jew, "I understand your feelings, but. . . [and now comes the "objective" truth]." The Nazis had a similar move when they claimed that they had nothing personal against Jews, but science has objectively proven that Jewish blood is dangerous. At the end, this is about power, control and the pleasure of the delusion of superiority.
White idiots like Mr. Hairbun in this picture would wear Klingon vestments if the Jews were fighting back against Klingon incursions into Haifa. They don’t really give a monkey’s about the Arabs, it’s just an anti-Jewish default reflex.
This is bang on, and yet in the maelstorm i didn't even contmplate this. Thank you, Pat. This post is therapeutic.
Why would you not engage on medium? You wrote something about resources, does it take a lot of effort to post simultaneously in both places? There are people on medium who will not access your substack here.
Hi there. It's not about posting. It's about scores of comments and private messages. I can't keep up. Why do you think it is more challenging for people to access my Substack than my posts on Medium?
I don't think it's necessarily a question of challenging but of people doing what they are accustomed to doing. If someone reads on Medium they will probably stay there absent a good reason to move.
Yes. I appreciate that. But I have to earn a living and this could be a f/t job. Don't misunderstand, I do this because it is necessary. But I have to make choices.