anti-semitism on the left
So the left is very into intersectionality lately. Which generally means recognizing that people have multiple identities and may have different perspectives on things as a result. Except some identities are more equal than others, it appears. Specifically, it's become okay to target, victimize, and kick out Jews from leftist groups, events, etc. This happened at the Chicago Dyke March:
“I wanted to be in public as a gay Jew of Persian and German heritage. Nothing more, nothing less. So I made a shirt that said ‘Proud Jewish Dyke’ and hoisted a big Jewish Pride flag - a rainbow flag with a Star of David in the center, the centuries-old symbol of the Jewish people,” she wrote. “During the picnic in the park, organizers in their official t-shirts began whispering and pointing at me and soon, a delegation came over, announcing they’d been sent by the organizers. They told me my choices were to roll up my Jewish Pride flag or leave. The Star of David makes it look too much like the Israeli flag, they said, and it triggers people and makes them feel unsafe. This was their complaint.”
She tried to explain that the star is the “ubiquitous symbol of Judaism,” and that she simply wanted “to be Jewish in public.” Then, she “tried using their language,” explaining “this is my intersection. I’m supposed to be able to celebrate it here.”
It didn’t work. Ms. Shoshany Anderson left sobbing. “I was thrown out of Dyke March for being Jewish,” she said. Just so."
Salon Article here.
The Chicago Dyke march claimed that the Jewish star, which has been our symbol for literally millenia, is now "triggering" and we are not allowed to show it, because Palestine.
Yes, I'm sure that is why. You might wonder why the Chicago Dyke March is completely unconcerned with the fact that being LGBTQ is literally illegal in Gaza and completely unacceptable in Palestinian society. LGBTQ Palestinians face persecution or even being killed at the hands of their own families. They often flee to yes, you guessed it, Israel. There is no mention of this at Pride.
I guess solidarity with Palestinians is only interesting when it's against Israel.
Somehow, ignoring Israeli actions is "pinkwashing" but ignoring Palestinian violence towards the LGBTQ community is totally fine. Not to mention the violence against LGBTQ communities in every other Arab/Muslim country. (Even Turkey has now cancelled and banned its pride parades - a fact that has been totally ignored by the US LGBTQ community.)
It would make a heck of a lot more sense for LGBTQ people to feel "unsafe" around people and symbols of regimes that actually persecute LGBTQ people. But I somehow doubt they'll be banning the Islamic star & crescent anytime soon. (not that I think they should.)
CDM says that when organizers saw the flags, they came over and interrogated the Jewish lesbians in question, and told them that if they didn't denounce Israel and get rid of their flags, they had to leave. This is just the latest chapter in the saga of Jews being treated differently, ostracized, and told that we must give up our religious identity or leave the community. We are rejected by the left unless we agree to hide our proverbial star of David - denounce our connections (in this case, Israel, not that the lesbians in question were doing anything particularly Israeli) and just not be outwardly Jewish anymore. Hostility towards us is totally acceptable unless we become the Clarence Thomas of the left, denouncing our own people and distancing ourselves from our religion. Kicking us out of "intersectional" events is defended. If this sort of thing happened on the right we'd be invoking the Nazis. But somehow, it's okay on the left?
No, it is not okay. Anti-semitism is fucked up. Period.
Don't worry, there's a funny bit. The Chicago Dyke March organizers are now begging for lots of money, not to help LGBTQ persons in need or anything, but to pay for a "self-care retreat" for themselves. Everyone's just been too mean to them. Their feelings are hurt. They need a nice spa week to recover. It'll cost $5000 (??!) but they're worth it.
“I wanted to be in public as a gay Jew of Persian and German heritage. Nothing more, nothing less. So I made a shirt that said ‘Proud Jewish Dyke’ and hoisted a big Jewish Pride flag - a rainbow flag with a Star of David in the center, the centuries-old symbol of the Jewish people,” she wrote. “During the picnic in the park, organizers in their official t-shirts began whispering and pointing at me and soon, a delegation came over, announcing they’d been sent by the organizers. They told me my choices were to roll up my Jewish Pride flag or leave. The Star of David makes it look too much like the Israeli flag, they said, and it triggers people and makes them feel unsafe. This was their complaint.”
She tried to explain that the star is the “ubiquitous symbol of Judaism,” and that she simply wanted “to be Jewish in public.” Then, she “tried using their language,” explaining “this is my intersection. I’m supposed to be able to celebrate it here.”
It didn’t work. Ms. Shoshany Anderson left sobbing. “I was thrown out of Dyke March for being Jewish,” she said. Just so."
Salon Article here.
The Chicago Dyke march claimed that the Jewish star, which has been our symbol for literally millenia, is now "triggering" and we are not allowed to show it, because Palestine.
Yes, I'm sure that is why. You might wonder why the Chicago Dyke March is completely unconcerned with the fact that being LGBTQ is literally illegal in Gaza and completely unacceptable in Palestinian society. LGBTQ Palestinians face persecution or even being killed at the hands of their own families. They often flee to yes, you guessed it, Israel. There is no mention of this at Pride.
I guess solidarity with Palestinians is only interesting when it's against Israel.
Somehow, ignoring Israeli actions is "pinkwashing" but ignoring Palestinian violence towards the LGBTQ community is totally fine. Not to mention the violence against LGBTQ communities in every other Arab/Muslim country. (Even Turkey has now cancelled and banned its pride parades - a fact that has been totally ignored by the US LGBTQ community.)
It would make a heck of a lot more sense for LGBTQ people to feel "unsafe" around people and symbols of regimes that actually persecute LGBTQ people. But I somehow doubt they'll be banning the Islamic star & crescent anytime soon. (not that I think they should.)
CDM says that when organizers saw the flags, they came over and interrogated the Jewish lesbians in question, and told them that if they didn't denounce Israel and get rid of their flags, they had to leave. This is just the latest chapter in the saga of Jews being treated differently, ostracized, and told that we must give up our religious identity or leave the community. We are rejected by the left unless we agree to hide our proverbial star of David - denounce our connections (in this case, Israel, not that the lesbians in question were doing anything particularly Israeli) and just not be outwardly Jewish anymore. Hostility towards us is totally acceptable unless we become the Clarence Thomas of the left, denouncing our own people and distancing ourselves from our religion. Kicking us out of "intersectional" events is defended. If this sort of thing happened on the right we'd be invoking the Nazis. But somehow, it's okay on the left?
No, it is not okay. Anti-semitism is fucked up. Period.
Don't worry, there's a funny bit. The Chicago Dyke March organizers are now begging for lots of money, not to help LGBTQ persons in need or anything, but to pay for a "self-care retreat" for themselves. Everyone's just been too mean to them. Their feelings are hurt. They need a nice spa week to recover. It'll cost $5000 (??!) but they're worth it.