Antisemitism Continues Its Rise, Part II

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of the late Senator/US Attorney General, has long been an anti-vaxxer.  What he believes about vaccines is his business.  At a recent anti-vaccine rally in DC, he said this:  "Even in Hitler's Germany, you could, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland.  You could hide in an attic, like Anne Frank did..it was possible (to escape).  Many died, true, but it was possible."  When I read that, I did not know what to make of it.  Is RFK Jr. really that stupid?  You could hide in an attic?  Anne Frank was murdered by the Nazis, at about age 15.  You could cross the Alps?  It was possible to escape?  How many escaped compared to the 6 million who were murdered in the Holocaust?  

Maybe he is just another antisemite, comparing the loss of one's job if not vaccinated to the murder of 6 million Jews.  I have previously said that I do not want people losing their jobs over the vaccine mandates.  But what kind of comparison is that?  Does he not know that his own father was assassinated by a Palestinian terrorist named Sirhan Sirhan, because his father supported the Jewish people and the State of Israel.  Did RFK Jr. "inherit" his grandfather Joe's antisemitism?  

Kennedy's wife, actress Cheryl Hines, perhaps said it best:  "My husband's reference to Anne Frank at a mandate rally in D.C. was reprehensible and insensitive.  The atrocities that millions endured during the Holocaust should never be compared to anyone or anything.  His opinions are not a reflection of my own."  Reprehensible indeed.  I'll leave it at that.  

Al Franken was a United States Senator.  In expressing his displeasure recently, at the failure of the Senate to pass Biden's voting legislation, Franken said this:  "This is a serious one, and I just think other people are feeling it, it feels like, I don't know, 1933 Germany...And I'm just like, in a tavern, looking over the table and there are guys in black jack boots and Nazi uniforms, and I'm going like, 'Hmm.  This looks bad, wonder how bad it can get.'"  I know, Franken is Jewish.  But it was bad enough when Biden compared those objecting to his voting legislation to George Wallace, Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis.  But a Jew goes even further and compares the objection to the rise of Nazism.  We are in a world gone mad.  

For 18 years there have been weekly protests on Shabbat outside a Jewish synagogue in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The protesters would carry various nasty, antisemitic and anti-Israel signs, such as:  "Jewish Power Corrupts," and "Zionists Picnic While Palestinians Starve," and "No More Wars For Israel."  To borrow a word from Cheryl Hines, these people and their signs are "reprehensible."  It took 18 long years for the Ann Arbor City Council to finally pass a resolution condemning these protests.  "The Ann Arbor City Council condemns all forms of antisemitism, and in particular the weekly antisemitic rally on Washtenaw Avenue."  The Council went on to "declare its support for the" synagogue.  

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) just filed a civil rights complaint with the US Department of Education, against the Fairfax County Public Schools.  The allegations include students being subjected to "Heil Hitler" salutes, being called "fucking Jew ass whore,"  fucking Jew," and "dirty Jew," among other antisemitic epithets.  In addition, swastikas were seen at school grounds.  Various special school related events were held on the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  One school board member is alleged to have made false anti-Israel comments, which would amount to antisemitism.  

Here we are in 2022, at a time when racism is roundly condemned (yes, there are fringe idiots who are racists), but antisemitism seems to be alive and well in respected segments of society.  And I have not even discussed the antisemites in Congress and in universities and the mainstream media.  Author, and TV and radio commentator, Mark Levin, was recently discussing the Wannsee Conference, which was a meeting of German government officials, who were planning to coordinate the carrying out of Hitler's "Final Solution."  My point in bringing this up is not to compare Nazi Germany to the USA.  I have repeatedly said that the USA is the best country in the world for Jews, outside of Israel.

No, my point is to say that those in attendance at the Wannsee Conference were not only government officials in the most advanced country in Europe, and one of the most advanced in the world, but also to point out that 8 of the 15 in attendance held advanced doctorate degrees.  The point is that academia here is not insulated against antisemitism by virtue of having advanced degrees.  Often, those with advanced degrees are the worst.  The same applies to those in the MSM and even some in Congress - regardless of how "educated" they may be.  

Antisemitism Continues Its Rise, Part I

A synagogue in Colleyville, Texas was just the latest example of a Jewish temple being victimized by antisemites.  The terrorist antisemite in question was a Muslim from Britain, and of Pakistani descent.  Because of Covid, the Shabbat (Sabbath) service was being aired on Zoom, with only the Rabbi and 3 others in the synagogue.  Why did this man take Jewish worshippers hostage?  What did this armed antisemite want? It appears he sought the release of a Pakistani known as "Lady Al Qaeda," who is currently serving an 86 year prison sentence for shooting at American soldiers and FBI agents.  The prison is in the Fort Worth, Texas area, not far from Colleyville.  

But why did this man go into a Jewish Temple to attempt to accomplish his goal?  Why did he also call a Rabbi in New York City?  According to one hostage, this terrorist asserted "I know President Biden will do things for the Jews."  The question must be asked - where does anyone get that idea?  Is this man's belief that a local Rabbi has the power to dictate US policy a reflection of what is being taught in much of the Muslim world?  How much of the Muslim world holds such a view?  

Thankfully, an FBI tactical team did their job and was able to kill the terrorist with no injuries to the hostages.  They deserve tremendous credit.  Not so for the FBI special agent in charge, who made this statement:  "He (the terrorist) was singularly focused on one issue, and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community, but we are continuing to work to find motive."  Please excuse my saying this, but WTF!  Did this Muslim terrorist enter a church and ask the priest to help get "Lady Al Qaeda" released?  Did he go into a department store and ask the store manager to help out?  No, he went into a Jewish synagogue.  There's your motive.  He was an antisemite.  He believed Jews controlled the US and probably the world.  

It took five days for FBI Director Christopher Wray to acknowledge the attack on the Colleyville synagogue was an antisemitic attack.  Here was an Op-Ed by Bret Stephens, writing in the New York Times:  "Unlike the Pittsburgh (synagogue) shooter or the "Jews will not replace us" crowd at Charlottesville - white, right-wing, mostly Christian and therefore "privileged" - the Texas assailant was a British Muslim of Pakistani descent.  Not white.  Not privileged.  Not right-wing.  In the binary narrative of the powerful versus the powerless, his naked antisemitism just doesn't compute:  Powerless people are supposed to be victims, not murderous bigots."  

There was an interesting piece in the January 22-23, 2022 weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal, with this title:  "The Growing Risk For Jews Who Show Their Jewishness."  His thesis is that Jews do very well in America's secular society.  But, like the Pittsburgh synagogue attack in 2018, like the Poway, CA synagogue attack in 2019, like the attack at a kosher market in Jersey City, NJ in 2019, we now have Colleyville.  In other words, the author opines that if you show up at Jewish religious or cultural establishments, you are at greater risk.  

I have to admit, I have not been to my synagogue, the local Chabad House, for nearly two years (except for maybe a couple of times) because of Covid, and my impaired immune system.  Otherwise, no antisemitic bastard would keep me away.  And I take heart from a letter to the editor the following weekend in the WSJ, in response to the aforementioned Op-Ed:  "My orthodox synagogue has a security team manned by shul (temple) members who have been trained by a former Army Ranger, a current police department SWAT officer and a former Israeli Shin Bet (the Israeli security forces, somewhat akin to our FBI) agent.  I regularly undergo firearms practice.  At the range, prior to squeezing the trigger, I think of my grandparents who were gassed in Treblinka, and I vow "never again."  You may count me among the Jews who are not terrified."  To which I say, "Amen."          

What About Biden? One Year In.

Things are not going well for President Biden.  And, people do not believe things are going well for the country.  In a Fox poll of 1/16 to 1/19/22, with a +/- 3% MOE, only 36% would want Biden reelected, with 60% saying they would vote for someone else.  In terms of his approval rating, he is upside down on major issues.  For border security, 37% approve, 59% disapprove; on the economy 41% approve, 58% disapprove; on foreign policy 41% approve, 54% disapprove; and on the coronavirus 46% approve and 52% disapprove.  

In an AP-NORC poll taken 1/13 to 1/18/22, only 26% say the country is moving in the right direction.  Nearly three quarters, 74%, say the country is moving in the wrong direction.  And this poll has only 48% of Democrats wanting Biden to run again.  Overall, however, only 28% overall say he should run again.  70% say he should not.

Back in 2018 President Trump called NBC's Chuck Todd a "sleepy son of a bitch."  This was supposed to be just one example of how nasty Trump could get.  Biden, on the other hand, ran as a nice guy, in contrast to Trump.  And Biden told us he would be a unifier.  On Biden's first day in office, he told his staff:  "I am not joking when I say this, if you are ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot.  No ifs, ands or buts."  

Recently, Biden called White House reporter Peter Doocy a "stupid son of a bitch."  I think that's worse than Trump's "sleepy son of a bitch."  He told another reporter, "what a stupid question."  He has demonstrated time and again that he has little tolerance for those who disagree with him.  Just recently, Biden told those who disagreed with his proposed voting rights legislation (actually, a federal takeover of elections) that they were on the side of George Wallace, Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis.  By all means, Mr. President, do not try to persuade people by any means other than demagoguery.  Because we know how "unifying" and persuasive that technique is.   

One year in office, what has Biden accomplished?  Yes, he got the infrastructure bill passed on a bipartisan basis.  But he did not get his Build Back Better bill, filled with left-wing giveaways.  He did not get his voting legislation passed, a left-wing dream piece of legislation that would have the Feds taking over all elections.  He has not ended the coronavirus, as he promised he would do - after blaming Trump for much of it.  Yet Trump's Operation Warp Speed helped provide vaccines to 250 million Americans.  Biden has not secured the border.  Just the opposite, as his Administration is secretly flying single men all over the country at taxpayer expense.  These are men who crossed illegally into the country.  

Foreign policy?  Admittedly, the Ukraine issue is complex.  No doubt that our European allies should be taking the lead.  And some European countries are stepping up.  But the leading power, Germany, has proven to be...well, Germany.  They have little interest in other than continuing to get cheap energy from Russia.  Not to mention their deal making with China and Iran.  Russia essentially controls Belarus already.  If Ukraine falls, are Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia next?  Will it encourage China to take Taiwan, and Iran to expand further in the Middle East, and complete their development of nuclear weapons?  And how much do we/should we care if the free world shrinks and the dictators control an ever expanding part of the planet.   

Biden now has an opportunity to appoint a Justice to the Supreme Court.  He says he will appoint a black woman.  I have no problem with a black woman serving on the Court.  But let's be honest.  Is he really interested in appointing a competent and knowledgeable black female jurist to the High Court?  Or, do we also have to add that she must be a liberal?  The only question is, will Biden seek a far left jurist, or a more classic liberal.  Because, we know what an uproar Trump caused in the media and the Democratic Party by daring to appoint conservatives - even though one was a woman.  What Biden does with this appointment may very well signal whether or not he continues to be follow the dictates of the far left wing of his party.

I'll end with one commentator's assessment of Biden's first year:  "He's (Biden) no longer seen as competent and effective, no longer seen as a good commander-in-chief, or perhaps most damaging, as easy-going and likeable.  In fact, just 5% of adults say Mr. Biden has performed better than expected as president, one of the many lowest firsts and fewest in our poll."  Sean Hannity of Fox News?  No, Chuck Todd of NBC.