On The Warning podcast this week, I spoke with Jonathan Greenblatt, the executive director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), about the alarming rise of extremism, and antisemitism specifically, in the United States.
There is not a single responsible Republican elected official demanding an end to the frenzy of hate and violence that the leader of their party continues to foment and inflame.
Paraphrasing Paul Simon’s ‘where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?’; where have you gone Colin Powell, George W. Bush…? Our nation turns its despairing eyes to you!
Thanks for talking about the frightening rise in antiSemitism. Unfortunately, this is all too familiar and the Republican Party is complicit. Have you no decency?
Excellent podcast episode, which should be repeated in the future with an update on anti-Semitism in America with you guest, Mr. Jonathan Greenblatt.
I am for a two-state solution, which is the most dignified democratic way to recognize two peoples and their religious beliefs living once and for all in peace. Netanyahu, as Trump, went after the judicial system, what autocrats do. But the peaceful manifestations should be a model for organizers of civil protestation, which is basically a civic way of presenting problems in such a way that democratic governments will acknowledge, even if in disagreement. That is a path towards resolution, is it not? To be seen and heard. The data of such a horrible rise in anti-Semitism in America has been so thoroughly documented by the Anti-Defamation League. I do agree with Mr. Greenblatt that anti-Semitism is "the canary in the mine." I urge the President and his advisors to read the recommendations, so specific they are and documented with specific forms of hate towards Jews across the nation. Populism is what bad faith players encourage. When socio-economic failures accelerate. When systems accommodate gently certain sectors of the economy, with bailouts that should not be given because of how such monies are immediately transferred into the personal accounts of those responsible for the failures. Housing is a fundamental necessity for citizens in a thriving democratic economy, not foreclosures and the brutal dumping of belongings and humans unto the curbside. It gets out of control when fear-mongering, hate-mongering, extremist control of fundamental socio-economical issues gives rise to the belief that the Second Amendment is more important than the First as "conflict resolution." I gives way to more fear-mongering and the fiercest forms of self-preservation, given the support the NRA continues to have among incompetent politicians who can not lead. And the radio, social media and the internet, "dark" most especially, become the recruiting places that, in the end, place the most extreme politicians in power to rule over us, never to lead. That an Alex Jones and a Steve Bannon are back doing their hate-filled transmissions of political divisionism in the country should not surprise anyone, just as how Tucker Carlson has found a new platform to recruit more neo-Nazis, an international organization already connected and now even more so on Elon Musk's free platform to spew hate and fear among its followers, Twitter. The ADL has, I repeat, not only identified anti-Semite forms on the rise, but it has offered the solutions that must be read and discussed by all of those who want a nation thriving in peace, where people can move around securely without even having to question it, which is the future all our young Americans should be given. By all of us who care and who know what it means to love.
All frustrated white males caught scapegoating should have their arms and ammunition confiscated and be inducted into the Ukraine army. They are obviously looking for a fight and should be put to good use.
It serves very well to have a ready scapegoat, a repository for all of life's ills, perceived slights and unfairness, a fantastic way to coalesce anger-prone hate nuggets together in one malformed ball of spittled rage...
When in doubt, blame the Jews.
As a Jewish woman, I take umbrage at all of it, and. find the sheer idiocy quite tragic
I read this article in the San Diego paper and was shocked to see a 40% rise in hate crimes in California.that the groups are not centered in one area but all over. There are areas of my county that would not surprise me at all, east of where I live. The ones in the pick up trucks and American flags and bumper stickers galore they sometimes invade the coast but not that often.
I wish that I could say that this is entirely a Republican Party issue, but the one thing that seems to unite the far right and the far left is that they both hate Jews.
May is both Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage month. Hate crimes have risen dramatically against AANHPI communities, exacerbated by the former WH occupant's reference to COVID-19. The hate against Jews I experienced as a child on the playground in the '50s to early '60s, and through my career again has made me fearful. Attending religious services in person became a time of wondering what I'd do were there to be an active shooter. An ally to my AANHPI colleagues, I have worked to stop the thinking about and acts against communities that too often have experienced hate. (The Chinese Exclusion Act; WWII Internment camps; etc.) In this month, too few are speaking against the hate as others and you, Steve, have noted. It is disheartening at the least. It is demoralizing and debilitating more so.
Of course the majority of antisemitism incidents is highest in the enumerated states. 4 of the 5 are the most populated states in the nation. Incidents per population is the better measure for analysis.
Seems to me that these incidents may be rooted in jealousy and envy and once established, take on a life of their own. Look around and see all the accomplished Jewish people that have made significant contributions to society, let's start with Albert Einstein.
True; however, Colin Powell was alive and had a voice the four years trump's presidency. I admired Colin Powell, even have his book My American Journey autographed by him in 2003. He was a respected prominent American statesman trusted by citizens no matter their political affiliation. I continue to respect him and all the amazing accomplishments he achieved throughout his life. My point was, he could have been a warning beacon marking 'troubled waters' when it may have made a difference.
There is not a single responsible Republican elected official demanding an end to the frenzy of hate and violence that the leader of their party continues to foment and inflame.
Paraphrasing Paul Simon’s ‘where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?’; where have you gone Colin Powell, George W. Bush…? Our nation turns its despairing eyes to you!
Colin Powell has been dead for 2 years.
I am so disappointed with Colin and the entire Bush clan not speaking up to the collapse of the now extinct Republican Party.
Thanks for talking about the frightening rise in antiSemitism. Unfortunately, this is all too familiar and the Republican Party is complicit. Have you no decency?
Excellent podcast episode, which should be repeated in the future with an update on anti-Semitism in America with you guest, Mr. Jonathan Greenblatt.
I am for a two-state solution, which is the most dignified democratic way to recognize two peoples and their religious beliefs living once and for all in peace. Netanyahu, as Trump, went after the judicial system, what autocrats do. But the peaceful manifestations should be a model for organizers of civil protestation, which is basically a civic way of presenting problems in such a way that democratic governments will acknowledge, even if in disagreement. That is a path towards resolution, is it not? To be seen and heard. The data of such a horrible rise in anti-Semitism in America has been so thoroughly documented by the Anti-Defamation League. I do agree with Mr. Greenblatt that anti-Semitism is "the canary in the mine." I urge the President and his advisors to read the recommendations, so specific they are and documented with specific forms of hate towards Jews across the nation. Populism is what bad faith players encourage. When socio-economic failures accelerate. When systems accommodate gently certain sectors of the economy, with bailouts that should not be given because of how such monies are immediately transferred into the personal accounts of those responsible for the failures. Housing is a fundamental necessity for citizens in a thriving democratic economy, not foreclosures and the brutal dumping of belongings and humans unto the curbside. It gets out of control when fear-mongering, hate-mongering, extremist control of fundamental socio-economical issues gives rise to the belief that the Second Amendment is more important than the First as "conflict resolution." I gives way to more fear-mongering and the fiercest forms of self-preservation, given the support the NRA continues to have among incompetent politicians who can not lead. And the radio, social media and the internet, "dark" most especially, become the recruiting places that, in the end, place the most extreme politicians in power to rule over us, never to lead. That an Alex Jones and a Steve Bannon are back doing their hate-filled transmissions of political divisionism in the country should not surprise anyone, just as how Tucker Carlson has found a new platform to recruit more neo-Nazis, an international organization already connected and now even more so on Elon Musk's free platform to spew hate and fear among its followers, Twitter. The ADL has, I repeat, not only identified anti-Semite forms on the rise, but it has offered the solutions that must be read and discussed by all of those who want a nation thriving in peace, where people can move around securely without even having to question it, which is the future all our young Americans should be given. By all of us who care and who know what it means to love.
Thank you both for sharing your wealth of information and thoughtful perspectives.
All frustrated white males caught scapegoating should have their arms and ammunition confiscated and be inducted into the Ukraine army. They are obviously looking for a fight and should be put to good use.
It doesn't surprise me that antisemitism is up when you have people like Trump on the airwaves preaching hate and division it is bound to rise
It serves very well to have a ready scapegoat, a repository for all of life's ills, perceived slights and unfairness, a fantastic way to coalesce anger-prone hate nuggets together in one malformed ball of spittled rage...
When in doubt, blame the Jews.
As a Jewish woman, I take umbrage at all of it, and. find the sheer idiocy quite tragic
There was a folk song ,”National
Brotherhood Week”, I often heard in the 60’s and 70’s. These lyrics always gave me chills and a feeling of discomfort in my own country:
Here are but a few lines:
Oh, the black folks hate the white folks
And your folks hate my folks,
But everyone hates the Jews!
It was written by Tom Lehrer and you can listen on YouTube
I read this article in the San Diego paper and was shocked to see a 40% rise in hate crimes in California.that the groups are not centered in one area but all over. There are areas of my county that would not surprise me at all, east of where I live. The ones in the pick up trucks and American flags and bumper stickers galore they sometimes invade the coast but not that often.
I wish that I could say that this is entirely a Republican Party issue, but the one thing that seems to unite the far right and the far left is that they both hate Jews.
Thank you for discussing this.
May is both Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage month. Hate crimes have risen dramatically against AANHPI communities, exacerbated by the former WH occupant's reference to COVID-19. The hate against Jews I experienced as a child on the playground in the '50s to early '60s, and through my career again has made me fearful. Attending religious services in person became a time of wondering what I'd do were there to be an active shooter. An ally to my AANHPI colleagues, I have worked to stop the thinking about and acts against communities that too often have experienced hate. (The Chinese Exclusion Act; WWII Internment camps; etc.) In this month, too few are speaking against the hate as others and you, Steve, have noted. It is disheartening at the least. It is demoralizing and debilitating more so.
Of course the majority of antisemitism incidents is highest in the enumerated states. 4 of the 5 are the most populated states in the nation. Incidents per population is the better measure for analysis.
Seems to me that these incidents may be rooted in jealousy and envy and once established, take on a life of their own. Look around and see all the accomplished Jewish people that have made significant contributions to society, let's start with Albert Einstein.
True; however, Colin Powell was alive and had a voice the four years trump's presidency. I admired Colin Powell, even have his book My American Journey autographed by him in 2003. He was a respected prominent American statesman trusted by citizens no matter their political affiliation. I continue to respect him and all the amazing accomplishments he achieved throughout his life. My point was, he could have been a warning beacon marking 'troubled waters' when it may have made a difference.
Thank you Steve