Is this what they really want?

What should happen to the anti-Israel rioters

When 9/11 happened, I had just finished an organizing meeting and I was with several of my colleagues, including my Jewish organizing director who was about fifty at the time. He’s now 71 to put it in context.

I said, “I wonder how many innocent Palestinians will die because of this.”

He said, “April, these are not the people you want running your world.”

Recently, just a few days ago, we had a conversation in which he said he has decided that while he is an anti-anti-Zionist, meaning that he strongly believes Israel should exist (thanks - Israel does exist and isn’t moving to Brooklyn!), he has a more nuanced view than I do. See my previous post for thoughts on that. We will discuss. I am always happy to read, discuss, and respectfully disagree or change my mind based on new information. For instance, Fancy Feast really is just as good as the organic expensive stuff. Ask anyone. Anyone feline.

My neighborhood is a hotbed of pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, antisemitic craziness. Carved into the sidewalk is “Free Palestine” and “Hamas.” Yes, they literally carved “Hamas” into the sidewalk. I haven’t posted the picture because it’s upsetting for many of us.

I fear for my safety here as you know. I do what I can to stay safe. I wear my Star of David all the time in the neighborhood and am only occasionally bothered for it. I see about 8 keffiyeh wearing white people, usually with pink hair and revealing clothing, on a daily basis.

They say they hate America. They say “Globalize the Intifada.” Let’s believe them.

How would they fare under a radical Islamic state?

People talk about deporting foreign nationals who engage in violent protests and break the law. I agree. If you break the laws, you should be deported. This is a country of laws.

But what about all the white radical anarchist “progressive” keffiyeh wearing idiots?

If they simply engage in free peaceful expression of course they should be left alone to do their thing. I’d even discuss it with them over a cup of coffee.

But when they break the laws, when they stab Yale students in the eye with a Palestinian flag, when they restrict people’s freedom of movement and deface synagogues, they should be punished.

I suggest that they spend some time living under Sharia law. Women, cover up! No more midriff baring tops and shorts! Full hijab. How about Afghanistan’s new version: no speaking loudly in public or singing. Your voice? Silenced. So much for chanting your antisemitic chants. Only men can do that.

No more sex outside of marriage, and then you’d better obey your husband or he has the right to beat you. And those of you who are all sorts of LGBTQ+++++ - I’m pretty sure you get thrown off buildings.

Now of course not all Muslims practice these practices, and many want to live in peace with Jews, Christians, and anyone else. But the radical wing of Islam that these rioters (I don’t dignify their actions with “protest”) support are the very ones who impose the most oppressive practices against women, gay people, etc.

So take it to it’s logical conclusion. The entire neighborhood of West Philadelphia would be the scene of honor killings cause all of these women have had sex outside of marriage, I assure you. Find me one virgin over 20 and I’ll buy you a case of Diet Coke.

Do I sound angry? I am. I am tired of the Democrats making excuses for these people. Joe, they do not “have a point.” Or if they do, it is exactly what they say: “Death to America.”

They don’t want peace in Gaza. They want the destruction of our civilization. Much has been written about why these people identify with people who have radically different values, whose world they would not want to live in (but let’s let them give it a try!), and I may add a few thoughts to the conversation. I am tired of the laws of this country, the rules of universities including the one from which I graduated, not being applied to them. They are not peaceful. They are hellbent on destruction.

Civilized people on the right, left and center must stop them. If we normalize violence in political discourse, it won’t be long before rape becomes resistance in this country and murder is considered justified. Am I an alarmist? I just listen to what I hear on the street.

To my American Jewish friends who live comfortably in suburbs and feel relatively safe, can I come and stay with you for awhile? It’s just me and a cat and we’re very clean and quiet. I’ll even cook.

Or you could come here for awhile and see what I live with. I can’t afford to move yet. I can’t bring my mother here because it was already too dangerous with gun violence and crime and now it’s worse.

If I put my “I stand with Israel” poster in my window, I’m certain I’d get a brick thrown through it.

Am I angry? Yes. I’m angry for the men of middle America who have been told that they are to blame for everything that is wrong with this country. I’m angry for the white working class who have been ignored and can’t pay for food. I’m angry for the people of color who’ve been tokenized and used to promote a bizarre woke agenda that still baffles me, while nothing is done about the violence and poverty they live in. Using what we used to call politically correct language does not remove the trash from the streets of this poor neighborhood or end the gunshots we hear at all hours of the day and night.

Here’s the difference between me and many liberals. I have been poor. I’ve been on Medicaid and EBT (that’s food stamps y’all.) I’ve spent much of my life working with and talking with the extremely poor. I don’t idealize them - they can be awful - but you would be too if you had to step over used needles and trash to get to school, couldn’t sleep because the neighbors play music so loud it rocks your house, and don’t get enough healthy food to eat because there isn’t a real grocery store anywhere nearby and your parents can’t afford a car.

These kids would get a way better education in Israel.

“This pain, this anger, this is who you are,” says the Sith to Osha in The Acolyte. That resonated with me. People are always telling me to repress my anger, to get over it, to be nice. That hasn’t worked for me. I’ve taken it out on myself in unproductive ways. No more.

I stand with Israel. I stand with the working class of this country. I stand with my Jewish brothers and sisters even when they see more “nuance” than I do.

I’m still a Protestant… “Here I stand. I can not do otherwise. So help me God.”

Have a pretty plant picture. Cause while I may be angry, I’m still nice.