A thread on on anti-semitism and @ShaunKing
Firstly, I think it is totally plausible that the blockings happened by accident, and I commend Shaun King for undoing them. He experiences an enormous amount of hatred and vitriol and trolling and spam with his large following, so I'll take him at his word this was an accident.
While I am glad he unblocked activists he still seems to be belittle our legitimate concerns. American Jews are not hurt because a friend of a friend said something unkind and prejudiced at brunch.
We are hurt and angry because there are many progressive activists who keep allowing Minister Farrakhan and his organization in their midst. We are angry that one of America's biggest peddlers of anti-semitic propaganda is being slowly welcomed into mainstream American politics.
Now Shaun King is not a Member of the Nation of Islam. But he did say it was unacceptable for us to be angry and hurt that his friend stood and applauded a speech where Jews were called evil. That's painful. That hurts us.
I don't have friends in hate groups. I don't tweet or retweet members of hate groups. I don't have friends of friends who go to the events of hate groups and stand and applaud when minority communities are called evil. I don't allow that type of language in my life.
I can respect loyalty. I can respect wanting to engage someone you love privately instead of publicly. Or saying, I love and respect my friend and I think on this one she made a mistake. That's very different than calling us liars and saying you "won't allow" our opinion.
Now, I've never had a friend be associated with a hate group, but I could imagine it is painful. I could imagine it's hard. I can stretch my empathy to believe that people want to defend those they care about. I am not asking him to denounce a friend.
People in anti-oppression and social justice work call out hatred, and call in people. We do it in public and in private, we do it everyday, Shaun King should do it with the Nation of Islam in strong language. Ask them to leave their hate behind and focus on charitable work.
If he does that in a strong and meaningful way, it could be revolutionary. It could be healing. It could change lives.
All of this is about trust. When we talk about Israel, it is a HARD and PAINFUL topic for Jews. We struggle to talk about it. In order to engage with us on the issue, trust building is essential.
The problem, Shaun, is that you spend time with people who applaud speeches where Jews are called Satanic, evil, dirty, termites, ect. Then you want to talk to us about our most sensitive, private, painful topic. The trust is gone.
I am not an expert on BDS and it's problems, so we can set that aside for a moment. Although I am sure many, many people have thoughts they could share and as a person who ISN'T in the line of fire you should listen.
The problem for many of us is, how can we talk to you at all about this issue now? Our friends and family are in bomb shelters. We are fighting with each other and others day and night. Lives are on the line, and you hang out with people who don't respect us and our lives.
We can't trust the conversation with you - because you are willing to entertain people who depict us as subhuman and evil in your life and in your activism. That hurts and it erodes trusts and breaks movements.
I want peace too Shaun. I want it so bad my soul hurts, but I've spent time with victims of Palestinian terror. I've spent time with Palestinians who were harassed at the border. And I think that first and foremost people have to look at each other as humans who feel pain.
Beyond any specific policy point, I want you and other progressives to understand that we feel pain. We don't know how to talk to you right now because of what you allow around you.
So Shaun, I know your a busy person. Me too. I have a full time, job, a family ect. I don't believe in engaging people without an ask. That's just bad activism.
I am asking you to pen an open letter to NOI and Minister Farrakhan Asking them to go to Auschwitz. Asking them to meet us and see we are not evil. Ask them to evolve past the anti-semitism of the past. Religious movements have done this before!
I am asking you to call in and educate anti-semitism everywhere, especially when its your friends. I am asking you to consider how hard all of this is on those of us who sit at the intersection of it all.
I am asking you to take a moment and talk to us. It doesn't have to be me! It's not about me. But hear our voices, and hear our pain, and stand with us in solidarity and not just when it's easy. When it HURTS. When it's hard. I'd do it for you.
I am all about Call- ins. I am all about dialogue. I am all about movement building. I'll talk anytime. Sometimes, that's all that's left to do. Try to talk, try to understand each other. Try to grow.
