WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY?
What is happening to our country? Certainly, just simmering beneath the surface there has always been divisiveness and discrimination, hatred and prejudice, Anti-Semitism, a long history of slavery and racism but a nation also torn asunder going to war to combat it. What is happening to our country?
Any time an American leader draws moral equivalency between neo-Nazis marching and those demonstrating against them, we have to ask what is happening to our country? Where is our moral compass? Has it shifted? Only some 80 years have passed since we entered and fought in World War II to obliterate an ideology of white supremacy which resulted in the loss worldwide of millions upon millions of lives.
Last Friday night, August 11, 2017, here is what Neo-Nazi white supremacists uttered while marching with torches in the warm Virginia night:
You (African Americans) will not replace us.
Jews will not replace us.
Blood and soil, blood and soil, blood and soil.
By Saturday there was only violence, critical injury and death. Violence is not an acceptable form of free speech in our country. Domestic terrorism is just that-- terrorism. Encouraging words of congratulations to the President of the United States by the former Imperial Wizard of the KKK should not make us proud.
We have profoundly disturbing problems in our country and in the world, but in our own backyard white supremacists are now emboldened to remove their robes feeling legitimized and normalized by the President and by the alt right movement and press.
It’s difficult to keep up with the news. It’s difficult to write a timely message taking into account the ever-changing news of the day.
What has not changed, however, is the profound understanding by most Americans that white supremacy, expressions of white nationalism and hatred of African- Americans, Latinos, Jews, Muslims, immigrants and anyone who doesn’t fit their image are abhorrent to our democratic, pluralistic process and are threats to our democratic institutions. Both Democratic and Republican leaders have denounced what is going on. Racism certainly is not a partisan issue; nor is it a matter of mere political expediency to come out and denounce it. Business leaders, some of the most successful and prominent in our nation, have voted with their feet leaving presidential advisory councils as expressions of their moral outrage, now forcing President Trump to disband the councils. There is also global condemnation.
Silence is not an option; we have learned this lesson the hard way. There are never two sides to racism and bigotry; there is only one and that carries with it the profound understanding that they are morally wrong and despicable, now and forever. That is the American way. That is the Jewish way. That is always the moral way forward. Nothing else. Only one side.
We express our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families but our sentiments ring hollow if we do nothing to help heal the country through the many avenues available to each of us. If you do not like what you are hearing and seeing, if you are opposed to racism, if you think our country is going down the wrong path, then reach out to your neighbors and friends, become part of the bridge-building efforts of the many organizations who engage in this vital work including the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. Become involved. Do it now.
Any time an American leader draws moral equivalency between neo-Nazis marching and those demonstrating against them, we have to ask what is happening to our country? Where is our moral compass? Has it shifted? Only some 80 years have passed since we entered and fought in World War II to obliterate an ideology of white supremacy which resulted in the loss worldwide of millions upon millions of lives.
Last Friday night, August 11, 2017, here is what Neo-Nazi white supremacists uttered while marching with torches in the warm Virginia night:
You (African Americans) will not replace us.
Jews will not replace us.
Blood and soil, blood and soil, blood and soil.
By Saturday there was only violence, critical injury and death. Violence is not an acceptable form of free speech in our country. Domestic terrorism is just that-- terrorism. Encouraging words of congratulations to the President of the United States by the former Imperial Wizard of the KKK should not make us proud.
We have profoundly disturbing problems in our country and in the world, but in our own backyard white supremacists are now emboldened to remove their robes feeling legitimized and normalized by the President and by the alt right movement and press.
It’s difficult to keep up with the news. It’s difficult to write a timely message taking into account the ever-changing news of the day.
What has not changed, however, is the profound understanding by most Americans that white supremacy, expressions of white nationalism and hatred of African- Americans, Latinos, Jews, Muslims, immigrants and anyone who doesn’t fit their image are abhorrent to our democratic, pluralistic process and are threats to our democratic institutions. Both Democratic and Republican leaders have denounced what is going on. Racism certainly is not a partisan issue; nor is it a matter of mere political expediency to come out and denounce it. Business leaders, some of the most successful and prominent in our nation, have voted with their feet leaving presidential advisory councils as expressions of their moral outrage, now forcing President Trump to disband the councils. There is also global condemnation.
Silence is not an option; we have learned this lesson the hard way. There are never two sides to racism and bigotry; there is only one and that carries with it the profound understanding that they are morally wrong and despicable, now and forever. That is the American way. That is the Jewish way. That is always the moral way forward. Nothing else. Only one side.
We express our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families but our sentiments ring hollow if we do nothing to help heal the country through the many avenues available to each of us. If you do not like what you are hearing and seeing, if you are opposed to racism, if you think our country is going down the wrong path, then reach out to your neighbors and friends, become part of the bridge-building efforts of the many organizations who engage in this vital work including the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. Become involved. Do it now.
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Amen.
Rabbi Debra Nesselson August 16, 2017 |
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