Do you know the expression “hiding in plain view”? That’s what the Trump boys are doing. But don’t think of them trying to be inconspicuous, unnoticeable. Rather: They do something happily that everyone would be ashamed of; do something openly that everyone would try to obscure. Then it should be OK, no?
Here we have two very recent examples.
Donald Trump Jr. admits and delivers proof of having been eager to collude with the Russian government to help his father win the Presidency. However, he doesn’t do that meekly as admission. His tone is one of giving an alibi, as The Daily Show argued elegantly and convincingly (4:10-4:30). It could never be seriously wrong if he happily owns up to it, can it?
More seriously than colluding with the prime hostile enemy country of the US is previously lying about it. Perjury, to be precise. The first is “only” unethical; the second is a Federal crime – 5 years in jail. Let’s recycle a Trump election campaign slogan: Lock Him Up.
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In The Translators – Interpreting Donald Trump: The Daily Show is as great as ever. I value the whole brilliant tape. Yet, I want to point out something from quite the beginning that Trevor Noah left out – hey, no one is perfect. Let’s say: he kicked the ball for open goal for me to score.
The present US President is dumb enough (some would call it oppressive enough) to assume that he’s doing a great job when:
- When he sees a black person, he’ll express his concern for the inner cities. Isn’t that where all black people live and their only concern all day long?
- When he meets a beautiful proud women, he’ll compliment her on the merchandise. What else could be more valuable about her than her looks? That’s how you make her happy, no?
He doesn’t even seem to know it’s a problem. He’s just being nice. Supposedly. Because I remember the taped conversation in which he brags that once you’re high up there, you can do anything to women (see 2:13, and: here). So he does know after all.
US President Donald Trump assaulted the French First Lady in front of his wife, her husband and the visual press – for all to see. Now, for those who would claim that he’s really only giving a nice compliment here – just stop all the politically correct fuss already – please watch the reaction of Mrs. Macron (from the back). She doesn’t go: “O, how nice of you to say so, Donald.” Watch 0:32-0:34. She seeks physical support with the US First Lady, seeks to hide behind her. This “praise” did not land as a compliment.
And this defines for Israeli Law sexual harassment. Not how you supposedly meant it but rather how it is received. It’s on the guys to watch their mouth and hands, not the gals to “not be so sensitive.” (I remember how outside of Israel so often anti-Semitism is denied with: Jews are so over-sensitive.) You made her feel attacked, you attacked. You made her feel like trash, you trashed her. In Israel you go to jail for such a remark. Not him, because overseas he has diplomatic immunity, but everyone else would.
When an Israeli president would act like that, most probably he’d go to jail – he wouldn’t be the first. We don’t spare our highest officials the embarrassment – there is one law and everyone is equal opposite of it. Even stronger: We should expect better from people in high positions.
In a world empty of sexism, and male dominance insensitivity and supremacy, Congress would impeach Trump the next day. Just because he’s such an embarrassment for the awesome people of the United States of America, and the greatest democracy’s values. But the representatives of the people will not stand for the women – 51% of the Nation. They all had mothers and grandmothers, and many of them have wives, daughters and granddaughters, but they’ll let him be. He did worse things. Supposedly. They could set a standard for a better world and in one sweep bring on a better world. But they won’t.
I can’t take away all of US sexism, but I can protest. And to all of you who understand the gravity of sexual assault: it will get better. Just hang in there, so that you’ll be there to see the end of it.
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This blog post was written before Shabbat to be ready to be posted immediately after the holy day.
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1