Bari, I think you are an excellent journalist, which is a category I didn't realize still existed. I'm greatly enjoying your site and writings.
I have to say, though, it does seem so far like the passion you have for Israel causes a certain blindspot as far as representing the issue objectively. I have seen how the ascendent CRT/BDS rhetoric has been incendiary and often irrational, but I admit that, as a displaced left-leaning-libertarian/classical liberal person, I find it hard to impossible to understand justifying Israel's on-going actions against Palestinians, or even, admittedly, the concept of ethno-nationalism as understood by the Israeli government. I don't believe this stems from anti-semitism or a failure to acknowledge the reality of the horrific oppression Jews have suffered historically and presently, but from the incompatibility of the concepts of militarized ethno-nationalism and race-based discrimination (whether against Palestinians or any group) with my convictions regarding the virtue of freedom. The analogy of American racial violence to what Palestinians experience from Israeli authority doesn't seem like much of a stretch at all, and I've been surprised to hear American Jewish intellectuals claim otherwise.
In other words, there are clear and common sense reasons for moral objection to Israel that have nothing to do with race let alone racial hatred. Is it not the same game the "social justice" cultural revolution is playing to pretend otherwise, conflating criticism of Israel with racism implicitly and fostering a fear-based unwillingness to risk being labeled racist for simply criticizing immoral actions of the Israeli government?
I will keep exploring the site, as maybe you've already posted more on your views on Israel, but if not, could you speak to this? Surely no freedom-loving person would suggest that Jews should not be able to live in peace in their historic home, but can the 1948 war and the origins of Israel as an ethno-nationalist state really be seen as morally legitimate considering the effect on Palestinians? You referred to "evictions", but isn't this a misnomer for coercive displacement and dispossession? If a two-state solution is the focus, why does the threat to Palestine's existence by Israel not come up? I have tried to listen to both Palestinians and Zionists on the conflict, and the Israelis seem plainly responsible for the bulk of the unjust aggression and violence.
Bari, much of what we see unfolding on the streets of America is because that recount has not yet been held.
I hope that many more 'progressive' Americans are being mugged by the new reality; BLM Incorporated has declared support for the Palestinians, the Washington Post has called for the Iron Dome to be shared with Hamas because UNFAIR, no major news organization mentions the genocidal nature of the Hamas charter, Facebook and Twitter leave up anti Israel screeds, whoever runs OBiden is trying to negate the Abraham accords while preparing more support for the Mullahs - a hard rain is going to fall....
Caroline Glick has an excellent recent comment on the state of current US / Israel affairs.
I've voted Democratic in every election since I turned 18 fifty years ago. Given the ugly reality of left-wing politics today, I can hardly describe my joy at reading the words Rep. Torres. What a brave man! The demonization of Israel is of a piece with the polarization and extremism that is threatening to destroy democracy throughout the world. The idea that two peoples must find a way to coexist in that tiny land should not be an outlier. Neither can be erased! Magical thinking that insists otherwise must be fought at every turn. Ritchie Torres is a true progressive with an outlook that is hopeful and empathetic. And he will not settle for lies and distortions. May he enjoy great success representing the Bronx in the U.S. congress. And may his leadership inspire others to follow his vision of true justice for all.
In a world where progressive were actually progressive you would HAVE to be progressive to support Israel. The right has always been America first. And, as someone right of center, I can appreciate that. There’s something to taking care of your own country first. So, someone explain to me how the hell we’ve arrived at the isolationist party screaming their support for Israel and the party of human rights screaming their support for everyone EXCEPT the country that doesn’t kill gays, doesn’t subjugate women, gives children an actual education and has regular (too regular at this point) elections.
GREAT interview, Bari - asking tough questions. Jill ends her piece thusly:
"I do not want to be on the same side as that human whitehead Marjorie Taylor Greene. But the other option here is worse."
The problem is that both Republicans, quite often, and Democrats, in some ways, have some Truth. I always want to be on the side of Truth - whether MTG has it or Trump or Torres. The truth is that self defense against violence is violent - and one must hurt attackers who are trying to hurt you (or kill you) in order to make them stop.
Black Lives Matter - Blue Lives Matter - All Lives Matter - Israeli Lives Matter - Terrorist Lives Matter - Terrorist Victims Lives Matter - unborn Babies Lives Matter - Black girls about to be stabbed by other Black girls, their lives matter. BECAUSE "Lives Matter", those lives need some protection against crimes. We need a Justice system to punish those aggressors who violate laws; laws enacted to protect lives, lives that matter.
Justice starts with self-Defense. I'm glad Israel defended itself so well, I'm sad it wasn't perfect; I'm very sad so many Muslims want to kill all Jews. I'm very sad so many Americans are so ignorant about the truth - but maybe it's partly because the NYT ran some 3000 stories with the Fake News about Trump's Russia Collusion, rather than more truth about Hamas and the BLM organization.
Eres latino o no eres Latino—punto. Basta con la mierda de “Afro-latino “ etc. Dios nos guarde de ser como las personas obsesionadas con raza. Es una enfermedad.
I'm not a Democrat but I like this guy. I think we have common ground on the Israel issue. I also like to see free thinkers among both Democrats & Republicans. Reps who always vote in lock step with their party BORE me. It puts me to sleep. LOL
Most so-called progressives these days are post-truth progressives. If Linda Sarsour, who has called for jihad against the US government, is considered a leading progressive voice, the word "progressive" has been warped beyond recognition. The warping isn't accidental; it's very much in line with the hard left's broader war on truth.
I don't know yet if it's already too late for the Democratic Party. If there is a way back from the cliff's edge, it will be because a few true progressives like Ritchie Torres were willing to stand up to the many post-truth progressives, and also because principled liberals and principled conservatives were willing to put aside their differences for the good of the country.
I have been a liberal Democrat for the past 40 years and very much believed in the big tent. But now that big tent includes all but Jewish people. Today I become a Republican. I just hope more of show this hand so that we can build power within the Republican hallways. I live in midtown Manhattan and have seen things these past few days that are just so frighteningly Nazi, that I’ve now been thinking of how best to defend my family. And we all have to stand up and scream “never again” and fight back when the Palestinian troublemakers want to attack Jews. Never. Freaking. Again.
@Dbn123 Sorry to hear how you feel and wish I could see that things would get better, but if feels the opposite might be more likely since NYC is yet to go full "progressive", unlike the "beautiful Pacific NW". To get a sense of what future might be like, here are some sketches from one of the Progressivestans on the West Coast.
1. Three years ago during a rally by some part of the local activistocracy in Seattle, one of the speakers (a staunch supporter of our Socialist councilwoman) said addressing a local business owner who is Jewish: "Maybe we should send you (Jews) back to Germany so that they would have another go at you." BTW, the same councilwoman is currently facing recall for things like letting protesters into the building to take over the City Hall, or for leading the mob to attack the Mayor's house (Mayor is a former criminal prosecutor and her address is sealed).
2. We "normalized" the idea of armed, masked, paramilitary style units in black uniforms marching down the streets, selectively attacking business and people, and sometimes taking over parts of the city. In Progressivistan this is a sign of "liberation" or "love" or something that has to do with feelings. However, when a local college professor who is Jewish observed some similarities between these mobs and 1930's Germany, he lost his spot on the local NPR station the next day.
3. Local Jewish cemetery is vandalized so frequently that people with loved ones buried there had to take up and guard it.
As per the GOP... Let's not forget that parts of the country became Progressivestans in part because GOP decided to hedge all of their bets on the Supreme Court, abortion and gun rights and abandoned much of the rest of the country.
Fielding we have two choices. We either make Aliya (and thank G-d we have that option) or we as Jews will need to be more aggressive in protecting our houses of worship and our people. The resources are there and more can be raised. In my dream we:
—Learn who our friends are, stick with them, and vote as a block. And our friends are not the democrats, my party of 40 years. Maybe we align with the Christian Right. They love Israel too. Maybe we have to vote first and foremost for survival rather than spreading our money across a million causes including causes that support the people that hate us. And vote Republican. (I never ever in my life thought I’d say that)
—Launch an organization that is like UJA but the good work they will do will be to protect our houses of worship, our people, our kosher restaurants. I am not saying reform the JDL. We would be legal. But we would use the many, many millions we raise to protect and defend.
I hate it all. But I hate what is happening in the US more.
Really loved this read. Refreshing to see that people are nuanced and not all or none in their mentality. I just DO NOT accept the politics that whatever ideology or party people identify with means that it all has to remain consistent- issue to issue. In fact, I have much more suspicion towards folks who always stay on the same side for every little thing without a strong consideration for that which lives on the opposite side. Keep amplifying this voices!
I’m fairly right of center and I wish him the best of luck. I look forward to the day I can argue with the left about taxes and now about whether Jews have the right to defend themselves.
The more salient question is, why do Jews keep voting for a party that would (or at least a significant and apparently growing number of its constituents would) like to see nothing more than Israel driven into the sea? Modern progressivism is a grotesquerie, liberals and old lefties should feel no allegiance to it.
Bari, I think you are an excellent journalist, which is a category I didn't realize still existed. I'm greatly enjoying your site and writings.
I have to say, though, it does seem so far like the passion you have for Israel causes a certain blindspot as far as representing the issue objectively. I have seen how the ascendent CRT/BDS rhetoric has been incendiary and often irrational, but I admit that, as a displaced left-leaning-libertarian/classical liberal person, I find it hard to impossible to understand justifying Israel's on-going actions against Palestinians, or even, admittedly, the concept of ethno-nationalism as understood by the Israeli government. I don't believe this stems from anti-semitism or a failure to acknowledge the reality of the horrific oppression Jews have suffered historically and presently, but from the incompatibility of the concepts of militarized ethno-nationalism and race-based discrimination (whether against Palestinians or any group) with my convictions regarding the virtue of freedom. The analogy of American racial violence to what Palestinians experience from Israeli authority doesn't seem like much of a stretch at all, and I've been surprised to hear American Jewish intellectuals claim otherwise.
In other words, there are clear and common sense reasons for moral objection to Israel that have nothing to do with race let alone racial hatred. Is it not the same game the "social justice" cultural revolution is playing to pretend otherwise, conflating criticism of Israel with racism implicitly and fostering a fear-based unwillingness to risk being labeled racist for simply criticizing immoral actions of the Israeli government?
I will keep exploring the site, as maybe you've already posted more on your views on Israel, but if not, could you speak to this? Surely no freedom-loving person would suggest that Jews should not be able to live in peace in their historic home, but can the 1948 war and the origins of Israel as an ethno-nationalist state really be seen as morally legitimate considering the effect on Palestinians? You referred to "evictions", but isn't this a misnomer for coercive displacement and dispossession? If a two-state solution is the focus, why does the threat to Palestine's existence by Israel not come up? I have tried to listen to both Palestinians and Zionists on the conflict, and the Israelis seem plainly responsible for the bulk of the unjust aggression and violence.
He’s obviously well-read. They should all be like him.
Bari, much of what we see unfolding on the streets of America is because that recount has not yet been held.
I hope that many more 'progressive' Americans are being mugged by the new reality; BLM Incorporated has declared support for the Palestinians, the Washington Post has called for the Iron Dome to be shared with Hamas because UNFAIR, no major news organization mentions the genocidal nature of the Hamas charter, Facebook and Twitter leave up anti Israel screeds, whoever runs OBiden is trying to negate the Abraham accords while preparing more support for the Mullahs - a hard rain is going to fall....
Caroline Glick has an excellent recent comment on the state of current US / Israel affairs.
Never Again!
Bari did a good job exposing Torres for the phony he is.
I've voted Democratic in every election since I turned 18 fifty years ago. Given the ugly reality of left-wing politics today, I can hardly describe my joy at reading the words Rep. Torres. What a brave man! The demonization of Israel is of a piece with the polarization and extremism that is threatening to destroy democracy throughout the world. The idea that two peoples must find a way to coexist in that tiny land should not be an outlier. Neither can be erased! Magical thinking that insists otherwise must be fought at every turn. Ritchie Torres is a true progressive with an outlook that is hopeful and empathetic. And he will not settle for lies and distortions. May he enjoy great success representing the Bronx in the U.S. congress. And may his leadership inspire others to follow his vision of true justice for all.
In a world where progressive were actually progressive you would HAVE to be progressive to support Israel. The right has always been America first. And, as someone right of center, I can appreciate that. There’s something to taking care of your own country first. So, someone explain to me how the hell we’ve arrived at the isolationist party screaming their support for Israel and the party of human rights screaming their support for everyone EXCEPT the country that doesn’t kill gays, doesn’t subjugate women, gives children an actual education and has regular (too regular at this point) elections.
GREAT interview, Bari - asking tough questions. Jill ends her piece thusly:
"I do not want to be on the same side as that human whitehead Marjorie Taylor Greene. But the other option here is worse."
The problem is that both Republicans, quite often, and Democrats, in some ways, have some Truth. I always want to be on the side of Truth - whether MTG has it or Trump or Torres. The truth is that self defense against violence is violent - and one must hurt attackers who are trying to hurt you (or kill you) in order to make them stop.
Black Lives Matter - Blue Lives Matter - All Lives Matter - Israeli Lives Matter - Terrorist Lives Matter - Terrorist Victims Lives Matter - unborn Babies Lives Matter - Black girls about to be stabbed by other Black girls, their lives matter. BECAUSE "Lives Matter", those lives need some protection against crimes. We need a Justice system to punish those aggressors who violate laws; laws enacted to protect lives, lives that matter.
Justice starts with self-Defense. I'm glad Israel defended itself so well, I'm sad it wasn't perfect; I'm very sad so many Muslims want to kill all Jews. I'm very sad so many Americans are so ignorant about the truth - but maybe it's partly because the NYT ran some 3000 stories with the Fake News about Trump's Russia Collusion, rather than more truth about Hamas and the BLM organization.
Eres latino o no eres Latino—punto. Basta con la mierda de “Afro-latino “ etc. Dios nos guarde de ser como las personas obsesionadas con raza. Es una enfermedad.
I'm not a Democrat but I like this guy. I think we have common ground on the Israel issue. I also like to see free thinkers among both Democrats & Republicans. Reps who always vote in lock step with their party BORE me. It puts me to sleep. LOL
Most so-called progressives these days are post-truth progressives. If Linda Sarsour, who has called for jihad against the US government, is considered a leading progressive voice, the word "progressive" has been warped beyond recognition. The warping isn't accidental; it's very much in line with the hard left's broader war on truth.
I don't know yet if it's already too late for the Democratic Party. If there is a way back from the cliff's edge, it will be because a few true progressives like Ritchie Torres were willing to stand up to the many post-truth progressives, and also because principled liberals and principled conservatives were willing to put aside their differences for the good of the country.
Yes, you can. Supportive of Israel, but not Israel's wrongs, e.g., settlements.
I have been a liberal Democrat for the past 40 years and very much believed in the big tent. But now that big tent includes all but Jewish people. Today I become a Republican. I just hope more of show this hand so that we can build power within the Republican hallways. I live in midtown Manhattan and have seen things these past few days that are just so frighteningly Nazi, that I’ve now been thinking of how best to defend my family. And we all have to stand up and scream “never again” and fight back when the Palestinian troublemakers want to attack Jews. Never. Freaking. Again.
@Dbn123 Sorry to hear how you feel and wish I could see that things would get better, but if feels the opposite might be more likely since NYC is yet to go full "progressive", unlike the "beautiful Pacific NW". To get a sense of what future might be like, here are some sketches from one of the Progressivestans on the West Coast.
1. Three years ago during a rally by some part of the local activistocracy in Seattle, one of the speakers (a staunch supporter of our Socialist councilwoman) said addressing a local business owner who is Jewish: "Maybe we should send you (Jews) back to Germany so that they would have another go at you." BTW, the same councilwoman is currently facing recall for things like letting protesters into the building to take over the City Hall, or for leading the mob to attack the Mayor's house (Mayor is a former criminal prosecutor and her address is sealed).
2. We "normalized" the idea of armed, masked, paramilitary style units in black uniforms marching down the streets, selectively attacking business and people, and sometimes taking over parts of the city. In Progressivistan this is a sign of "liberation" or "love" or something that has to do with feelings. However, when a local college professor who is Jewish observed some similarities between these mobs and 1930's Germany, he lost his spot on the local NPR station the next day.
3. Local Jewish cemetery is vandalized so frequently that people with loved ones buried there had to take up and guard it.
As per the GOP... Let's not forget that parts of the country became Progressivestans in part because GOP decided to hedge all of their bets on the Supreme Court, abortion and gun rights and abandoned much of the rest of the country.
Fielding we have two choices. We either make Aliya (and thank G-d we have that option) or we as Jews will need to be more aggressive in protecting our houses of worship and our people. The resources are there and more can be raised. In my dream we:
—Learn who our friends are, stick with them, and vote as a block. And our friends are not the democrats, my party of 40 years. Maybe we align with the Christian Right. They love Israel too. Maybe we have to vote first and foremost for survival rather than spreading our money across a million causes including causes that support the people that hate us. And vote Republican. (I never ever in my life thought I’d say that)
—Launch an organization that is like UJA but the good work they will do will be to protect our houses of worship, our people, our kosher restaurants. I am not saying reform the JDL. We would be legal. But we would use the many, many millions we raise to protect and defend.
I hate it all. But I hate what is happening in the US more.
I absolutely agree with what he says about Twitter. It amplifies outrage and nullifies nuance
Really loved this read. Refreshing to see that people are nuanced and not all or none in their mentality. I just DO NOT accept the politics that whatever ideology or party people identify with means that it all has to remain consistent- issue to issue. In fact, I have much more suspicion towards folks who always stay on the same side for every little thing without a strong consideration for that which lives on the opposite side. Keep amplifying this voices!
I’m fairly right of center and I wish him the best of luck. I look forward to the day I can argue with the left about taxes and now about whether Jews have the right to defend themselves.
The more salient question is, why do Jews keep voting for a party that would (or at least a significant and apparently growing number of its constituents would) like to see nothing more than Israel driven into the sea? Modern progressivism is a grotesquerie, liberals and old lefties should feel no allegiance to it.