I Stand With You
To my Jewish friends, to their families, and their friends: You are not alone.
Source: Unsplash in collaboration with Wesley Tingey
Just Think is not a blog about politics, religion, or social issues. But there are things on which one cannot be silent.
Condemnation for the horrific Hamas attack on Israel has been quickly followed by caveats and efforts to “provide context,” by demonstrations in favor of Hamas across Western European countries, and by a rising number of antisemitic threats and incidents.
On social media, where countless people lost no time adding to their profiles rainbow flags, black lives matter flags, Ukrainian flags, few have dared adding an Israeli flag. Universities and corporate CEOs have issued shamefully weak and equivocating statements. We have been conditioned to fear expressing support for Israel, for Jewish people.
What we have witnessed with the terrorist attacks against Israel a week ago is horrific beyond measure, beyond belief. What we have seen should make us feel ashamed to be human.
But equally horrific is the deep-rooted antisemitism that has unashamedly come to light.
We are witnessing — again — the determination of some to wipe out a people because of their race — and the readiness of many to stand by and do nothing, say nothing. That this could be happening again after the Holocaust defies belief. We all claim to be against racism; it’s become a routine rallying cry. Well, there is no worse racism than this.
There is no gray area here. There is absolute moral clarity.
I have many Jewish friends. We studied together, worked together, played together. We share meals, conversations and the occasional heated argument. We share laughter, joy and grief. I am not Jewish, but they are my brothers and sisters.
I have learnt I can never truly understand some of what they feel. I have seen in their eyes something I know I cannot fully comprehend. But that makes me feel closer to them. They are now mourning or worrying for friends and relatives, targeted simply because they are Jews. We cannot tolerate this.
To my Jewish friends, to their families, and their friends. To the people of Israel and Jewish people around the world. You are not alone. I stand with you. I know what lies ahead and I do not say this lightly. I stand with you.
Thank you, my friend. This means a lot.
So that means they can bomb hospitals as a human rights?