“Snitches Get Rewards”

For the first time in my life, I have directly experienced anti-Semitism.

I am American born, grew up in safe, secure neighborhoods of Brooklyn, NY, went to public schools, college, graduate schools.

I have worked as an attorney and journalist, fully participating in the American dialogue.

And, now, because of my political opinions (Republican, pro-Trump) I have been marginalized and demonized.

I was recently accused of having views “colored by the Holocaust”.

Say what?

I was told that because I am a descendant of Jewish Holocaust survivors, I had biases and those biases prevented me from accepting my accuser’s point of view, i.e., that Trump was a racist Nazi.

(I am still trying to figure out what he meant.)

The truth is, it’s not the logic or the words that are at issue (either his or mine). It’s the fact that I support President Trump. In his mind, that entitles him to insult, demean and degrade me. He seems to believe that he can achieve his goal of changing my mind “by any means necessary” and, if his criticism chills my freedom of expression, so be it. (It won’t.)

Who’s your fascist now?

It’s almost mid-2020.

Nearly four years of efforts by his political opponents  (Kavanaugh, Russia, Ukraine, impeachment) have failed to oust Trump.

As a result, they have ramped up their efforts and expanded their scope.

When an Oscar winning actor delivered an obscenity-laden anti-Trump rant at the Tony awards, it was seen as an oddity.

It is no longer uncommon.

Broadcasters attend Trump’s new conferences and insult and mock him to his face.

The Speaker of the House rips up his State of the Union speech as the cameras record her gesture.

Journalists and celebrities have now added personal threats against Trump supporters.

If you are pro-Trump, according to them, you are deserving of the worst invectives. and if you are a Jew, a member of one of the nation’s smallest minorities why then, there are additional grounds for attack.  Ever since Trump’s election, Jews have been the object of his opponents’ particular wrath. Representative Illan Omar’s (D-Minn) “dual loyalty” calumny went unsanctioned by House Speaker Pelosi.  Bernie Sanders (D-VT), presidential candidate embraced BDS promotor, Linda Sansour. Representative. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) wrapped herself in the Palestinian flag.

The “trickle down” tactic of attacking individuals who support Trump in writings, social media and public settings must be must be opposed.

Somnambulant, peaceful, Trump supporters must wake up and realize that they are the focus of an incessant efforts to dismantle our civil liberties, (“Snitches get rewards,” Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles), destabilize our economy and allow totalitarian takeover.

How do I know this?

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

And yes, my views are colored by the Holocaust.

I value human life and protection of minority rights.

There is no negotiating with tyrants.

That is my parents’ legacy.