It must be said.
I will initiate the debate because I am Jewish. I suppose I feel somewhat immune from having heinous motives ascribed to me for what I think needs to be openly debated.
I certainly don't relish opening a discussion such as this. People often feel reluctant to wade into what usually becomes a bitter and furious brawl about Israel and Palestine. Feelings are hurt, egos trampled. I am coming at this from the perspective of an American Jew. I am trying to describe how secular Jews react when some of their own rise to prominence under less than enviable circumstances.
The long anticipated implosion of the Bush regime will mark a new chapter in American history. I fear this new era we are rapidly appraching may not be good for the Jews.
As an American Jew, I am a visitor in this great country. America is a diaspora, historically kind and welcoming to a multitude of ethnic groups. Jews have a more terrible historic narrative than most. History has not been kind to us. Perhaps we fear being targeted, so we are more vigilent than others about what may seem unthreatening or remote.
Please recognize dear friends, that when some of us behave badly, it worried all of us. This is what is happening now in America.
Discussing what is for Jews the ever present reality of latent and actual anti-semitism, and lancing the boil before it gets too big, is important. If you're so inclined, please stay with me.
As a Jew myself, I am concerned about Jack Abramoff. Mr. Abramoff is an Orthodox Jew. Observant. Pious. A good and prosperous American citizen. Then he got caught. When the cloak of anonymity got stripped away, we saw not a man of God, not the religious ideal, but a man wearing religion on his sleeve for very suspect ends.
Mr. Abramoff likely will develop into a maligned Jewish sterotype. He will surely become fodder for the anti-semites just waiting for the opportunity to make an ugly comback.
Mr. Abramoff and all that he represents is, I fear lethal for American Jews.
Scooter Libby. What master does he serve? Will we hear in the coming weeks that he is on the "payroll" of Israel? Not exactly, but things will be said, connections drawn. Also very bad for the Jews.
Judith Miller. Who does she serve? Chalabi? Rove? Sharon? Are we Americans? Do we sacrifice America for Israel? It always comes back to this.
The New York Times. The Sulzberger family. Notice the number one diary today on Kos is one about why there is no mention of WHIG--ever in the Times? We may find out, or we may not, but people will wonder who is the Times serving.
Initially all this will be quiet--sotto voce, whispered.
But as Iraq implodes, as Bush implodes, as the New York Times implodes, as the dots get connected and blame gets assessed, you will, I fear hear about the Jews.
I hope what's about to happen doesn't get out of hand, but mind our history dear Kossacks. Mind our ugly history.