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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Democratic Party Attacks on Ilhan Omar Are a Travesty
https://www.thenation.com/article/ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-democratic-party-aipac/The Democratic Party Attacks on Ilhan Omar Are a Travesty
Im Jewish and have worked against anti-Semitism for decades. I was sitting a few feet from Omar at Busboys & Poets and I heard nothingnothingthat smacked of anti-Semitism, overt or coded or otherwise.
By Phyllis Bennis
Today 11:36 am
snip//
Im Jewish. Ive worked against anti-Semitism, in the context of working against white supremacy, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and beyond, for decades. And I heard nothingnothingthat smacked of anti-Semitism, overt or coded or otherwise. Ilhan Omar simply didnt say it.
Heres some of what she did say.
I mean, most of us are new, but many members of Congress have been there forever. Some of them have been there before we were born. So I know many of them, many of them, were fighting for people to be free, for people to live in dignity in South Africa. I know many of them fight for people around the world to have dignity, to have self-determination. So I know, I know that they care about these things. But now that you have two Muslims who are saying, here is a group of people that we want to make sure they have the dignity that you want everyone else to have! we get to be called names, we get to be labeled as hateful.
No, we know what hate looks like. We experience it every single day. We have to deal with death threats. I have colleagues who talk about death threats. And sometimes there are cities in my state where the gas stations have written on their bathrooms assassinate Ilhan Omar. I have people driving around my district looking for my home, for my office, causing me harm. I have people every single day on Fox News and everywhere, posting that I am a threat to this country. So I know what fear looks like. The masjid I pray in in Minnesota got bombed by two domestic white terrorists. So I know what it feels to be someone who is of faith that is vilified. I know what it means to be someone whose ethnicity is vilified. I know what it feels to be of a racelike I am an immigrant, so I dont have the historical drama that some of my black sisters and brothers have in this country, but I know what it means for people to just see me as a black person, and to treat me as less than a human. And so, when people say, you are bringing hate, I know what their intention is. Their intention is to make sure that our lights are dimmed. That we walk around with our heads bowed. That we lower our face and our voice.
But we have news for people. what people are afraid of is not that there are two Muslims in Congress. What people are afraid of is that there are two Muslims in Congress that have their eyes wide open, that have their feet to the ground, that know what theyre talking about, that are fearless, and that understand that they have the same election certificate as everyone else in Congress.
For the Democratic Party leadership to launch these false claims of anti-Semitism is a travesty. Ilhan Omars words were powerful, passionate, principled, and based on a deep truth. No lights were dimmed that night. Fearless voices, and hundreds of their supporters, from every community, every race, everyone, were all that we heard. And all we needed to hear.
gateley
(62,683 posts)It's been taboo for so long to speak any criticism of Israel, kind of like it's "not done in polite company". That's changing, we're seeing the flaws along with the positives, but I think this is a political hot potato for the Dems. And of course more incendiary because she's Muslim. I'm sorry to see this happening.
** How are you??? *
babylonsister
(171,048 posts)Hanging in there; I hope all is well with you!!
gateley
(62,683 posts)It's my first time back in YEARS -- I can't even find the smilies and barely could figure out how to respond!
Happy to see you!
babylonsister
(171,048 posts)more, the merrier. If you need any help, I'm here for you.
gateley
(62,683 posts)Any criticism of Israel or AIPAC and your labeled antisemitic, but in reality the real antisemities are those on the right conservatives and Republicans whom actively support and court nazis and are white supremacists.
gateley
(62,683 posts)Power 2 the People
(2,437 posts)50 Shades Of Blue
(9,954 posts)LonePirate
(13,412 posts)Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)Senators and Reps need to contact them and let them know we are pissed that she is being treated this way. I've moved back to Montana but I supported Wyden for years. Will contact his office.
gateley
(62,683 posts)malaise
(268,846 posts)who said Ilhan Omar would bomb the Capital Building.
Racism is palpable - everywhere. Muslims and non-white people are fair game.
gateley
(62,683 posts)The Dems sure point that out when it's not quite so political.
Hope you're well.
malaise
(268,846 posts)and you? Long time no see
gateley
(62,683 posts)Yeah, I'm stumbling around trying to remember how to navigate around DU.
This is going to be some fucking election season. I may become your next door neighbor in 2020 if We The People allow this to happen again.
I'm going to keep an eye out hoping to hear SOME Dems come to her defense. They're as spineless as the Republicans on this matter.
Take care -- see you around!
malaise
(268,846 posts)Jose Garcia
(2,592 posts)babylonsister
(171,048 posts)She sounds like a real peach; she changed her stripes. Amazing what hate will do.
malaise
(268,846 posts)It's worse than I thought - thanks for the correction
shanny
(6,709 posts)Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,309 posts)alwaysinasnit
(5,063 posts)jcmaine72
(1,773 posts)I love AOC & Omar. They are the future of our Party and nation.
Their haters, on the other hand......just more names for the list.
msongs
(67,381 posts)pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Owl
(3,641 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)question everything
(47,460 posts)East African community reeling from weekend violence, demands solutions
http://www.startribune.com/east-african-community-reeling-from-weekend-violence-demands-solutions/506679952/
Does she think that generating news by all means possible helps her constituents by any means?
The local Jewish community was a great supporter of her. If they are smart, they will abstain next year.
pazzyanne
(6,546 posts)Her comments referred to the power that the Israeli lobby groups have in congress.
femmedem
(8,199 posts)Half of my family is Jewish and I don't see anything that would make them or me not support her.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/what-ilhan-omar-25142297
mn9driver
(4,423 posts)The OP is spot on.
Response to mn9driver (Reply #58)
Post removed
zentrum
(9,865 posts)Just joined Omar's twitter account to send her words of support.
Her remarks are not anti-semitic.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)This "analysis" serves only to justify unqualified support for the Israeli Government.
Many Jews protest against many of the actions of the Israeli Government when it comes to Palestine. Are they too anti-Semitic?
maxrandb
(15,311 posts)Does that make me "unAmerican"?
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)shadowmayor
(1,325 posts)I am opposed to all right wing governments. I don't care if it's a religious government, elected government or otherwise. I oppose the right wing ideology. I oppose the right wing of the United States, Britain, Israel, Mexico, Canada, India and all the rest. If the government of our "ally" is right wing, I oppose them. I also speak out when our democratic leadership aligns with right wing ideas and motives. Sometimes, we see our side act like we expect the other side to behave, and it's our job to call them out. A clear case in point - how are the people of Libya faring these days following our devastation of their country? Pacifism is usually the position of the left. Bellicosity is that of the right.
nycbos
(6,034 posts)But the duel loyalty trope has been used to target jews for centuries. During Nazi rule it was used to target jews because they were "secret communists." It was used in the Soviet Union to target jews because they were "secret capitalists."
The left has a BIG problem with antisemitism. I do not care if she is the first muslim women to serve in the house. This is unacceptable. If she has a primary challenger I will support him/her.
Amishman
(5,554 posts)As her statements were unacceptable and are legitimate grounds for criticism.
That being said, the rebuke should probably be a little less public
mopinko
(70,067 posts)the history behind some of the things she said. she is repeating old dog whistles. so she stepped on a landmine.
i support her whole heartedly. i hope some of the folks in the party are having calm conversations about where those landmines are, so she doesnt step on any more of them.
and in the meantime, our party should be slamming hard on the actual anti-semites. starting at 1600 penn ave.
Bettie
(16,083 posts)It also seems like a lot of people in our party are uncomfortable with her being a Muslim and wearing a hijab, so anything she might ever say about Israel will cause strife (unless it is unconditional support for all that government has ever done and ever will do).
ZeroSomeBrains
(638 posts)You have to be really dense to think what she said is anti-semetic. Solidarity with Ilhan Omar.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)Ferrets are Cool
(21,105 posts)"For the Democratic Party leadership to launch these false claims of anti-Semitism is a travesty. Ilhan Omars words were powerful, passionate, principled, and based on a deep truth. No lights were dimmed that night. Fearless voices, and hundreds of their supporters, from every community, every race, everyone, were all that we heard. And all we needed to hear. "
RIGHT ON!!!
Evolve Dammit
(16,719 posts)More like follow the rules of seniority and know your place. Sometimes it's hard to be a Dem, but I have been since Carter. Treatment like this is not OK and cheapens the inclusionary, many voice aspect that differentiates our party.
jcmaine72
(1,773 posts)PeeJ52
(1,588 posts)I thought I was going to be eaten alive on here yesterday being mobbed by the never say anything bad about Israel crowd because I was trying to have a dialog about it. I now realize you can't have a dialog with them about it and that's all I have to say about that. I'll be quiet, and I guess Congresswoman Omar needs to be quiet if she wants to get along.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,168 posts)And he is Jewish, if I have to say.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-called-ilhan-omar-to-offer-his-support-amid-anti-semitism-controversy
Bernie Sanders Called Ilhan Omar to Offer His Support Amid Anti-Semitism Controversy
babylonsister
(171,048 posts)femmedem
(8,199 posts)Once even a few brave Congressmen and Congresswomen support her, more will follow. It's hardest to be the first once the press and colleagues make accusations like this.
SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)I'm sure a lot of folks have called Omar to give her their off the record support, like Bernie did. She needs people to publicly express their support.
Roy Rolling
(6,911 posts)By all means, let us take sides in America and within the "sacred" halls of Congress between Israel and its Arab enemies.
Whatever is thought, it's not the place. She's a representative of the people who sent her there, a voice in the people's house for those in her district.
Everybody else should know their place. A representative exercising her First Amendment rights is not something for anyone to control.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)And to see it come from the Democratic leadership is doubly sickening.
The notion that criticism of the Israeli government or AIPAC equals anti-semitism is toxic and intolerable.
2naSalit
(86,502 posts)RandySF
(58,666 posts)still_one
(92,110 posts)her some type of gravitas.
Here is a little background on Phylis Bennis:
"Bennis has joined leaders of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement leadership in advocating the ultimate creation of a single bi-national state. In her primer, Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer, Bennis champions the one-state solution, arguing that creating a Palestinian state on only part of historic Palestine represents an historic injustice. She further claims that Palestine has the potential to reach as high a technological and scientific level as Israel, largely through the intellectual capital of its young and highly educated population."
That one-state solution is another name for the destruction of Israel. That is very big of her.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Bennis
GeorgeGist
(25,315 posts)to succeed!
ck4829
(35,041 posts)JAD
(187 posts)the USS Liberty.