Cross-Posted at The Progressive Zionist.
So as the day winds out and it is time for me to prepare for Yom Kippur, I want to use this time prior to my reflection to speak out against what I consider outright bigotry. Even though I am Pro-Israel and I strongly identify as a Zionist... I don't need "friends" like this on my side. I strongly believe that using hate to make your case de-legitimizes the message that you want to send in every case. Just as I call out anti-Semitic commentary and behavior on the part of those I disagree with, I will call out racism and bigotry from my own corner and let them know that they are not welcome "on my half of the court".
Anyway, vile racist and all around crazyperson Pamela Geller decided to pay for a run a series of bigoted ads in New York focused around the Mass Transit system. Here is that ad:
Now credit to the New York Transit Authority... they did try to stop these ads, but lost in court. Anyway these ads have been termed Islamophobic and racist. Geller's defenders have this to say (I won't link to this hateful site):
And just who is it that is defined as "savage"? Jihadis, that's who. You know, the same people who just slaughtered four American diplomats in Libya. Geller is absolutely correct. Jihadis are savages. They are people who are willing to use extreme violence in order to promote the Sharia, the genocide of the Jews, the murder of Gay people, and the oppression of women.
Sounds pretty savage to me.
You know who the ad does not refer to?
Muslims.
It is the people who insist that the advertisement is "Islamophobic" who are conflating savage Jihadis with ordinary Muslims. And that, my friends, truly is racism. When they claim that this advertisement is "Islamophobic" the clear implication is that Muslims, in general, are Jihadis. They aren't.
In this instance it is not Geller who is being racist, but those who object to the advertisement on grounds of racism who are being racist.
So... Gellers defenders are too ashamed of their own racism to admit what they really believe and they feel the need to say that those objecting to her vile racism are really the true racists.
Only thing is they are contradicted by Pamela Geller herself. She is honest in her hatred (which is not a positive btw). Here is how she uses the term "Jihad", From the SPLC
"Hussein [meaning President Obama] is a muhammadan. He's not insane … he wants jihad to win."
— Pam Geller, AtlasShrugs.com, April 11, 2010
and...
"Islam is not a race. This is an ideology. This is an extreme ideology, the most radical and extreme ideology on the face of the earth."
— Pam Geller On Fox Business' "Follow the Money," March 10, 2011
or this:
"I don't think that many westernized Muslims know when they pray five times a day that they're cursing Christians and Jews five times a day. … I believe in the idea of a moderate Muslim. I do not believe in the idea of a moderate Islam."
— Pam Geller, The New York Times, Oct. 8, 2010
Apparently according to Geller followers of Islam (better known as Muslims) are now part of the Jihad including President Obama. So actually though her batshit insane defenders say she is not talking about Muslims... as the quote above shows, she most certainly is talking about Muslims. I mean the woman mentions that the simple act of prayer is an insult to Christians and Jews.
Just to be clear on what we are dealing with here. This "person" claims that Anders Brevik (the man who murdered 77 Norwegians - mostly teens) was:
Geller couldn’t help displaying some sympathy for Breivik’s actions against the young multiculturalists. “Breivik,” she wrote, “was targeting the future leaders of the party responsible for flooding Norway with Muslims.”
and this:
Geller uses her website to publish her most revolting insults of Muslims: She posted (and later removed) a video implying that Muslims practiced bestiality with goats and a cartoon depicting the Muslim prophet Mohammad with a pig's face (observant Muslims do not eat pork). Geller also has denied the genocide of Bosnian Muslims by Serbian forces in Srebrenica – calling it the "Srebrenica Genocide Myth," even though the Serbian government itself issued a state apology for the massacre. She wrote, "Westerners are admitting to their role in something that didn't happen, and digging their own graves."
And the liars that support her think she is merely talking about a small subset of Muslims.
Well, speaking as a Pro-Israel partisan - WE don't need these kinds of friends and their lies and poisonous bigotry. I can make my arguments just fine without this bullshit. For those that support this, you should be ashamed and for those that are Jewish, I hope that you will use the time of reflection that Yom Kippur offers to look deep within yourself and see just how awful this is.
I urge people to make their voices heard regarding this hateful ad and the person behind it. Say "NO" to racism and hatred on all sides. People can disagree, but, when you make alliances with racists you are no better than the trash you associate with no matter what cause you may support.
I just wanted to say something before I begin my personal reflection and prayers for forgiveness. I cannot stand to let this go by without raising my voice of objection.