It's a really difficult position. I have 2 kids under the age of 4 who need me but also am not about to hide my Jewish identity because to do so would be shameful to my children, parents, especially to my grandparents who faced far worse than some confused young asshole accosting me on the streets. Remaining true to your faith, your identity your values regardless of the price is a position ALL people of faith or conviction, atheists, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists have found themselves in, holding that line is a moral imperative as burning as protecting your children. What to do??
I am not one of those going so far as to say antisemitism is as bad as the 1930's, which I've heard many times these past months. But I am of growing concern at the violence being committed in the name of a terrorist organization, the willingness to look only at certain aspects of this conflict within a major context of history, and the complete and total ignorance of those using words, such as genocide, that have very specific meaning and weight in ways that do not hold to the definition of those words.
It's frightening. I am very sorry you were the victim of this individual's misguided rage. I cannot say how incredibly impressed I am by your stolid response. I would wish for myself the ability to do the same, but doubt that I could.
And to those who continue saying, "There is no rise in antisemitic behavior! It's all mainstream BS!," between the ongoing campus attacks, and more and more incidents like this, there is a trend in a very dangerous direction.
It’s sad that you were assaulted. That’s what it was. And it was over a t-shirt.
It’s unfortunate, but while it might seem like wearing any other military team insignia (like a SEALS t-shirt), to some it might look like wearing a confederate flag (it’s just a culture, right?), or wearing orange into an Irish bar on St. Patrick’s day (which I once did on an adjacent day when there was a St. Patrick’s day celebration. I wasn’t thinking so I ordered a Fuller’s London Pride, which got me a comment. I did change my mind once I realized what was happening).
I admit, I was once impressed by a guy wearing a Red Sox cap in the bleachers of Yankee Stadium. I’m not sure what he was trying to prove, but the ribbing was gentler than I expected.
Unfortunately, most people can’t distinguish between the thugs who were busy beating up old ladies at UCLA in the middle of the night, and someone just wearing a t-shirt. At this time, the that particular t-shirt represents to some people cops beating up students, the complete and utter destruction of a people, and not just self-defense and national self-pride. It may be incorrect or sloppy to conflate them, but that’s the context we are in.
I wish people could be less offended by a T-shirt, and more offended by 2000lb ordinances in dense populations. For now, consider there will be another time when you can wear that shirt, and wear it proudly.
While I know you aren’t like the young IDF soldiers cheering the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, to others, those distinctions aren’t easy to hold. When they see you without knowing you, they put you in a box you don’t deserve to be in.
I don’t wear Rams or Dodgers gear in the Bay Area. I wouldn’t wear Glasgow Rangers gear in a Celtic bar. And I shouldn’t have worn the shirt for the same reason. The people I support don’t need me to do it, and it’s unnecessary and inflammatory.
Increasingly inclining to silence in the face of rage.
Not sure. People have a right to be enraged. I don’t blame people for either being enraged at the killing of dancing Israelis (although the Hannibal Directive creates an odd cast to this), nor the bombing of Gazan civilians. I don’t blame IDF soldiers for being genocidal. We all can be. It just so happens, one army is one of the most powerful army in the world.
As an academic, I hope you will support the rebuilding of Palestinian schools and universities.
Good on you to restrain yourself. No matter which side or whatever your beliefs are, no one should resort to physical attack, and it's very hypocritical to their overall message.
Can I ask why you didn't have him arrested? What he did was assault. Did the 7-11 have camera's? We live in an area where there are not many jews. This is a fear of mine. That said, I will continue to wear my Jewish star necklace outside my clothes.
Please don't put your shirt away. And please call the cops if this happens again. Don't let the bastards wear you down. (I'm old too and would probably burst into tears if this happened to me - so I think you handled it so much better than I ever would.). Please don't let the bullies guide your conduct.
It's a really difficult position. I have 2 kids under the age of 4 who need me but also am not about to hide my Jewish identity because to do so would be shameful to my children, parents, especially to my grandparents who faced far worse than some confused young asshole accosting me on the streets. Remaining true to your faith, your identity your values regardless of the price is a position ALL people of faith or conviction, atheists, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists have found themselves in, holding that line is a moral imperative as burning as protecting your children. What to do??
I am not one of those going so far as to say antisemitism is as bad as the 1930's, which I've heard many times these past months. But I am of growing concern at the violence being committed in the name of a terrorist organization, the willingness to look only at certain aspects of this conflict within a major context of history, and the complete and total ignorance of those using words, such as genocide, that have very specific meaning and weight in ways that do not hold to the definition of those words.
It's frightening. I am very sorry you were the victim of this individual's misguided rage. I cannot say how incredibly impressed I am by your stolid response. I would wish for myself the ability to do the same, but doubt that I could.
And to those who continue saying, "There is no rise in antisemitic behavior! It's all mainstream BS!," between the ongoing campus attacks, and more and more incidents like this, there is a trend in a very dangerous direction.
It’s sad that you were assaulted. That’s what it was. And it was over a t-shirt.
It’s unfortunate, but while it might seem like wearing any other military team insignia (like a SEALS t-shirt), to some it might look like wearing a confederate flag (it’s just a culture, right?), or wearing orange into an Irish bar on St. Patrick’s day (which I once did on an adjacent day when there was a St. Patrick’s day celebration. I wasn’t thinking so I ordered a Fuller’s London Pride, which got me a comment. I did change my mind once I realized what was happening).
I admit, I was once impressed by a guy wearing a Red Sox cap in the bleachers of Yankee Stadium. I’m not sure what he was trying to prove, but the ribbing was gentler than I expected.
Unfortunately, most people can’t distinguish between the thugs who were busy beating up old ladies at UCLA in the middle of the night, and someone just wearing a t-shirt. At this time, the that particular t-shirt represents to some people cops beating up students, the complete and utter destruction of a people, and not just self-defense and national self-pride. It may be incorrect or sloppy to conflate them, but that’s the context we are in.
I wish people could be less offended by a T-shirt, and more offended by 2000lb ordinances in dense populations. For now, consider there will be another time when you can wear that shirt, and wear it proudly.
While I know you aren’t like the young IDF soldiers cheering the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, to others, those distinctions aren’t easy to hold. When they see you without knowing you, they put you in a box you don’t deserve to be in.
I don’t wear Rams or Dodgers gear in the Bay Area. I wouldn’t wear Glasgow Rangers gear in a Celtic bar. And I shouldn’t have worn the shirt for the same reason. The people I support don’t need me to do it, and it’s unnecessary and inflammatory.
Increasingly inclining to silence in the face of rage.
Not sure. People have a right to be enraged. I don’t blame people for either being enraged at the killing of dancing Israelis (although the Hannibal Directive creates an odd cast to this), nor the bombing of Gazan civilians. I don’t blame IDF soldiers for being genocidal. We all can be. It just so happens, one army is one of the most powerful army in the world.
As an academic, I hope you will support the rebuilding of Palestinian schools and universities.
Well you know. The whole mass slaughter and starvation of civilians to induce self-ethnic cleansing thing probably has passions running high.
Um, but small cigars are called fags in the UK…he was buying fags.
Good on you to restrain yourself. No matter which side or whatever your beliefs are, no one should resort to physical attack, and it's very hypocritical to their overall message.
Can I ask why you didn't have him arrested? What he did was assault. Did the 7-11 have camera's? We live in an area where there are not many jews. This is a fear of mine. That said, I will continue to wear my Jewish star necklace outside my clothes.
Please don't put your shirt away. And please call the cops if this happens again. Don't let the bastards wear you down. (I'm old too and would probably burst into tears if this happened to me - so I think you handled it so much better than I ever would.). Please don't let the bullies guide your conduct.