For Jews like myself who have lived anti-Semitism and carry the intimate details of our families’ trauma—pogroms, the Holocaust, the Pale of Settlement, the Doctors’ Plot—the fear that this peace is just a temporary blip is always right under the skin. nytimes.com/2021/05/26/us/…
What frustrates me about the discourse on the left is the assumption that because Jews have assimilated into whiteness in the last three generations in America, that Jews have always been white and powerful, as if discrimination by skin tone weren’t a uniquely American creation.
Ignoring the history of Jews as the underclass of Christian Europe, for a good 2000 years, constantly slaughtered and discriminated against, as second-class dimi in the Muslim world (where they were also subjected to religious violence) is in and of itself anti-Semitic.
America is not the world and the last 100 years here are not the entirety of the world’s history. It’s on you to learn it. Start with this. amazon.com/Anti-Judaism-W…
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While you weren't looking, the Kremlin has turbocharged its campaign to kill what's left of independent Russian media. Journalists, including college students running a college publication, are facing jail times. cnn.com/2021/04/15/eur…
Other publications, like @meduzaproject, which publishes an excellent English-language newsletter, has been labeled a "foreign agent," which is likely to drive away all its advertisers.
Alexey @navalny has declared an end to his 24-day hunger strike. On April 20–the day before yesterday’s protests—he was transferred to a civilian hospital and examined by doctors. He tells his supporters: “This is entirely your doing.” instagram.com/p/COAeBxIFNpL/…
He didn’t seem to have gotten everything he wanted but he cites the open letter of his doctors, published yesterday, asking him to stop the hunger strike, “or soon, there won’t be anyone left to treat.” It seems the letter gave him cover to stop striking and avoid impending death
The symmetry is fascinating: yesterday, Putin announced a drawdown of the (inexplicable) massing of troops on the Ukrainian border after his big state of the nation address. Today, Navalny announces an end to his hunger strike after thousands protest on his behalf across Russia.
I heard this story, about a woman dying of #COVID19 listening to Nora Jones in the hospital, and broke down remembering how, 3 months ago, I FaceTimed my grandmother in the hospital where she was dying of covid and played her a song from her youth. npr.org/2021/03/15/977…
She could just hear it over the loud whirring of the oxygen machine and her face lit up, a huge grin on her face. We swayed together and sang together until a nurse came in to give her more medicine. It was one of our last interactions.
My YouTube history tells me it was, in fact, this song: "You Are My Only One"
People ask me if I'm scared for my safety when I report from Russia, but they never ask this question about the U.S. The truth is: when a prominent conservative unleashes on you, you get harassment, rape and credible death threats. I have had to call the police numerous times.
I say "credible" because, in America, anyone can find my home address—as evidenced by the threatening physical mail I've gotten—go buy a gun, and show up at your door. I've spoken to numerous security consultants about this because I live alone and this stuff is legit scary.
I asked one if I should install video cameras in my home. "You could, but it wouldn't prevent anything. We would just have video of whoever killed you." Another told me to get a dog. Yet another "to make less Twitter." The sense of exposure and defenselessness adds to the stress.
What I still can’t get over is that none of you cancel culture warriors came to the defense of @kathygriffin or @rezaaslan or me when we were canceled by the right. It’s almost like you’re okay with the cancelation when it offends *you,* like if you’re pro-Trump or pro-Bibi.
It’s almost like you think one *should* get canceled for being a professor who criticizes the Israeli government on campus or makes a lewd joke about Trump. But that no one should get canceled for being racist or sexist bc what’s the big deal it’s just a joke.
(Setting aside the term “cancellation,” which is deeply problematic.) One the biggest warriors against cancel culture told me I had ended my career with a tweet about Trump—and that this was a fitting punishment. So, you know, what, exactly, are you fighting for—or against?