18 Comments

12/19/23

Hi, Banter! Thank you!

Your article about Jew-Hating people, their general anti-semitic campaigns, anti-Steven Spielberg-ism, their propaganda and actions--dangerously well-beyond simple hateful “trolls”--is the most powerful depiction of what the Jewish world has faced since 10/7/23.

Further, while I am heartbroken about the general loss of innocent civilian lives wherever found in Israel and Gaza [or elsewhere in the world at any time], I challenge readers and people anywhere to present concrete unchallenged proof of any kind that indicates strong and pervasive Palestinian civilian and other “Arab” condemnation of HAMAS before and after Israel began its “Hamas eradication campaign”.

Have I simply been distracted or simply missed news-coverage of that Palestinian and “Arab” condemnation? Had there been “on campus” Pro-Israel anti-Hamas pro-Israel Annihilation-victims rallies by Palestinian /“Arab” /supporters before Israel took action in Gaza?

I welcome being shown /directed to such proof. If none or not much, I rest my case of why Jews and our supporters STILL have much to be worried about concerning the thousands of years of Jew Hatred that keeps marching on.

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Dec 19, 2023Liked by The Opinionated Ogre

I acknowledge all of the harm Israel is doing. So what? How does that excuse, let alone justify, Hamas’ obvious war crimes? I’ve said this elsewhere, I think an awful lot of people are committing the fallacy of needing to decide who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. That “analysis” fails miserably in this case. (And please allow me to reiterate: “Hamas“ ≠ “Palestinians“, and Jews“ ≠ “Israeli government”.)🤔😉😊

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I get -why- people feel the need to have a good guy and a bad guy but with this fight, you have to set your morals on fire to find ANY good guys. Sometimes, there just aren't any.

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Dec 20, 2023Liked by The Opinionated Ogre

I remember vividly when we studied the Holocaust in 6th grade. I had never heard of it before. They handed out special booklets and packets with detailed descriptions, pictures, and first hand accounts. Warsaw, Auschwitz, Anne Frank, Kristallnacht. I think it was covered over the course of a week or two. I don’t remember anything else I studied in 6th grade in particular, but I remember those packets vividly. I was horrified and fascinated and just wanted to understand why, and I feel pretty much the same 30 years later. Why would they stop teaching this?

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I know my daughter is learning it right now in 8th grade. I don't remember learning it at all and I graduated HS in the early 90s.

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Thank you for this, Justin. Truly.

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It's my grim pleasure.

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Thanks. Yes. We see the moral rot. We know who these people are. Let them boycott. I don’t give a fuck what they think. They are slime dwellers.

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Dec 20, 2023Liked by The Opinionated Ogre

Thank you for an excellent piece. I found this observation about Holocaust denialism to be clarifying: “As long as the Holocaust was understood far and wide and inextricably linked to antisemitism and fascism, both projects were untenable.” Exactly! That needs to be repeated again and again since so many are eager to forget. I will just add that the baked-in antisemitism of Islam is a problem for the West. Problem is too bland a word. It is a tragedy and a mess.

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Dec 19, 2023Liked by The Opinionated Ogre

Agree with every word. Just FYI: typo in Spielberg's name in the subhead.

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author

Thank you and I will let Ben know. :)

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Justin just couldn't resist his proclivity to throw in "Israel’s methods are barbaric and certainly worthy of plenty of condemnation", just to appear evenhanded and appease some 'moral equivalency' demanders. He also can't resist throwing in his anti Trump biases in an editorial that has nothing to do with Trump. May I remind you that much more Republicans support Israel than the Marxist leaning Democrat Party.....

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Dec 24, 2023Liked by The Opinionated Ogre

The Republican Party, MAGA in particular, actively promotes Great Replacement Theory, rooted in antisemitism. The Republican Party is about the renominate Donald Trump who referred to those in Charlottesville shouting, "Jews will not replace us!", as "very fine people". A large portion of Israel "supporters" are (so-called) evangelicals whose primary concern is Israel's role in their end-of-times story, not necessarily the well-being of Jews or Israel itself. Regardless of the Republican Party of old, today's party is no bastion of love and safety for Jews.

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author

Israel's methods are, in fact, barbaric and worthy of condemnation. They cut off food, water, and power to 2 million civilians and had to be pressured to allow the minimum amount in. We call that a "war crime" in civilized countries. It doesn't matter how evil Hamas is. It doesn't justify killing a few hundred thousand civilians through starvation, dehydration, and disease.

Collateral damage is one thing, this is not that.

As for Trump, I know it's super complicated for MAGA cultists to understand how spreading anti-Semitism causes it to fester and grow but maybe someday you'll grow up and learn to be your own man instead of a boot-licking Trumper. Or not. You do you, kid.

As for the GOP's great love of Israel, get back to me when Republicans have the courage to disavow literal Nazis. Until then, go have a seat and be quiet. You're embarrassing yourself.

"Texas GOP executive committee rejects proposed ban on associating with Nazi sympathizers and Holocaust deniers"

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/02/texas-gop-antisemitism-resolution/

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Unfortunately Justin, you have fallen into one of the most common traps: good Jews = dead Jews. When Jews are victimized, they are deserving. When they seek to take control over their life they are “barbarous” and equal to those who perpetrated their victimization, I.e. no longer deserving. We all know that Hamas co-opted the lives of all Gazans towards its genocidal intentions, and you have failed to recognize its responsibility to their deaths, instead laying it squarely onto Israel’s hands. If any armchair strategist knows how to deal with such a situation without civilian casualties in Gaza AND Israel, please feel free to make it and collect your Nobel peace prize at the door. Since Israelis are mere mortals, they work with the strategies they have.

The price for your “sympathy” is simply too high.

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I think perhaps you did not read the article if you came to that conclusion.

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Mute and block for straw-manning.

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Bye, Felicia.

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