I'm doing a write up for @nytimes along with colleagues of tonight's #RNC2020. We have 50 words for each section: "Best" and "Worst" Moment. This will be cut/trimmed when it's published, so I'm posting it in full below. This is my submission for the "Best" Moment.
1/
I can't pretend what we witnessed during the 2nd night of the #RNCConvention2020 was in any way normal, routine, or healthy for this nation. I refuse to judge it by a lower standard, rank a "best" moment bc that's what's been asked of me, or choose a "least horrible moment...2/
...from a night of gaslighting, falsehoods and fearmongering. I think this only normalizes vulgarity, dysfunction and harms this country. I can't do it. But, because I'm charitable, at least I didn't laugh out loud this time. 3/3
Correction: I laughed out loud once, during Melania's speech. 4/4
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People are still perplexed why MSNBC would remove Mehdi Hasan, their best interviewer, as a host and cancel his shows. Ratings are one excuse. But context also matters. The Muslim hosts at the network have been under intense pressure and scrutiny for humanizing Palestinians 1/
.@semafor reported this in October: "MSNBC has quietly taken three of its Muslim broadcasters out of the anchor’s chair since Hamas’s attack on Israel last Saturday amid America’s wave of sympathy for Israeli terror victims." 2/
@semafor .@Mediaite founder & @NewsNation host Dan Abrams jumped on the bandwagon a few days later & targeted the hosts, Mehdi in particular, over an old clip that he has repeatedly apologized for. Meanwhile Jessie Watters can still be "done" with Muslims & Arabs. mediaite.com/tv/dan-abrams-…
I try to tweet this every few days so folks can be vigilant of white nationalists and fascists using the latest Israel war in Gaza to further their own agenda and divide and conquer among communities of color. 1/
Tommy Robinson is a white nationalist who hates Muslims & formerly w the EDL & Pediga. But he LOVES Israel. Jews? Not so much. He has spread the "replacement theory" and conspiracies about Zionists. Jews condemn him but he has allies w the far right bc they too hate Muslims 2/
One of his allies is Douglas Murray who has never condemned Robinson's racism. Murray is in Israel right now and promoting the government's talking points and engaging in Nazi revisionism to attack Palestinians. His former colleague said he was a "vile white supremacist." 2/
Netanyahu is a great ally to Biden. I mean, let's remember in 2010 when he humiliated Biden during his visit to Israel by announcing the construction of 1600 homes for Jewish settlers in E. Jerusalem after the Obama Administration asked them to pause.
Netanyahu is such a great ally to Democrats. So much so he snubbed President Obama and rejected a request to meet him at the White House in 2016. An unprecedented move at the time.
Netanyahu is such a great ally to Biden and Democrats that he came to US in 2015, snubbed the Administration, and only addressed Congress after an invite from then-House Speaker Republican John Boehner.
You don't have to agree, but just to understand: many Muslim, Arab & young Dem voters realize Trump is the far worse option. They aren't dumb. Many feel dehumanized & insulted by Biden's recent callous comments about Palestinian civilians & support for Israel's attack on Gaza 1/
It's a feeling of disappointment, betrayal and pain that their lives just don't matter to this Administration, one that claims to care about a diverse, big tent in rhetoric As such, they are conflicted and feel stuck between an open white nationalist (Trump) and this option 2/
This isn't unique or common to our communities. Similar sentiments are espoused by other POC communities and the youth. My concern is it'll lead to a depressed vote, even though majorities will still show up for Biden/Dems in 2024. That's why meaningful outreach is important 3/
Since many thought leaders & pundits in America seem to literally not care at all about Palestinian life, here's another way to look at it: how will Israel's war crimes in Gaza help promote security & safety for Israel and its civilians? It won't. At all. 1/
Suppose Israel does eliminate Hamas (it won't) but persists in the occupation and war crimes against a civilian population, another extremist group will rise up and take its place. The occupation has existed longer than Hamas. 2/
Since we live in a globalized world and in the shadows of 9-11, we know war and violence won't be contained purely to that territory. So, now violent extremist groups have their propaganda to rile up recruits and more hate against all of our communities. 3/
For people who want to satiate their rage and anger with bloodlust and collective punishment try if possible to step back and reflect on the absolute long term horror and failure of the War on Terror after 9-11. It didn't help peace, stability or moderation. Just the opposite.
For those of us who warned & opposed the War on Terror we were called traitors, weak, anti American, Terror sympathizers & that was for the non Muslim protestors against war! Those who were Muslimy got special attention, conspiracy theories & surveillance. It'll end in madness.
Also for those who say "kill them all" or "flatten Gaza" you are literally playing into the hands of violent Muslim extremist movements who tell recruits "See? Israel & its Western allies hate Muslims. Your lives mean nothing to them." This is effective propaganda on both sides.