Today I read a story about how a 90-year-old Jewish woman in
Belgium was denied medical treatment due to her religion. The doctor refused to see her and instructed
her to ‘Go to Gaza to be treated.’ In Belgium… That’s a fucking long way to
travel, Doctor Douche. This highly educated imbecile later acknowledged his outburst
and blamed it on an ‘emotional reaction’ he was having to the current
Israel/Palestine conflict. Correct me if I’m wrong, but as the doctor actually
instructed the woman to travel to Gaza he must have known that geographically
she had not a damned thing to do with the current climate in the Middle East. Nothing
to do with firing bullets or launching rockets…this man knew this logically,
but he couldn’t understand it emotionally. This is a problem.
Earlier last week I wrote about how I was offended that the
majority of news sources who were supporting Israel’s right to defend itself
(as I do) were falling back on the lame argument that because the same people
who are protesting against Israel may or may not have protested against other
humanitarian atrocities like Darfur and Syria they were
Anti-Semites. I call bullshit. There are better arguments than that, more
accurate than that, and a journalist accusing those demonstrating against the
humanitarian crisis in Israel of being Anti-Semitic is ludicrous. But people demonstrating against
Jews is a different story.
Fact. I am a Jew. Fact. I am not an Israeli, nor do I live
in Israel. Not all Israelis are Jews, not all Jews are Israelis. This is a truth
that cannot be denied. I am linked to Israel by religion, but so are
Christians, Catholics and Muslims. Fact. I do not support the Israeli occupation
of Palestine. 2005 blah, blah, blah anywhere else in the world we would see
this as colonialism and occupation. It doesn’t make it right just because they
keep trying to kill each other. It doesn’t make it right just because it’s in a
part of the world that few have visited and even fewer understand. I don’t get
it either. Not a clue.
I can be Jewish and I can be pro a two state solution. I can
be a Jew and want you to stop killing people. These two things are not mutually
exclusive. So if you refuse to treat me at your hospital because you watched
the news last night and were unhappy with a terrible situation in a whole other
country which is neither sanctioned nor approved by me, then yes, you Dr.
Douchebag have become an Anti-Semite. If you put a sign on the door of your
cafe that says ‘Dogs allowed, Jews are not’, you, bastardo are an Anti-Semite.
The Israel/Palestine conflict did not create this poison. For the people doing these things so close to home, that poison that has always been there; fermenting, rotting and now it’s starting
to seep out. And now I can smell it.
When a B&B in the UK refused to let a gay couple stay
the night at their establishment, like any good Brit I wrote a strongly worded letter. I got pissed off and I
wondered who the hell raised those people? Those hateful, miserable assholes? I
stood in solidarity with my friends and agreed that that is not how you treat
people. I signed a petition to boycott their establishment and I posted my disgust
on Facebook. As per usual, I never left anyone doubting exactly how I felt
about that situation. When Russia was/is hunting gays in the streets I
protested, I fumed, I posted articles and raised awareness. I boycotted
products from China for three years until South Sudan became independent and
China stopped sending weapons to fund the genocide there. And no one is looking
for a pat on the back...However, today I saw the post about the Belgian
doctor on Facebook three times. All posted by Jewish friends all with comments
made by their Jewish friends. It’s starting to feel a bit lonely out here,
guys.
You can hate violence and policy and war without hating me. Do
I think that anyone who opposes the war is Anti-Semitic? No I certainly do not.
Do I think that anyone who does not speak up and oppose Anti-Semitism is an
Anti-Semite? No. But it does hurt. Many of you whose voices boom for peace and
cry out for a stop to the war are very quiet when in your own backyard I
possibly wouldn’t be seen by a doctor or would have my place of worship burned
to the ground, not for fighting and killing children, but just for existing.
Just for having Jewish parents and having had a Bat-Mitzvah. I would stand with
you. I have stood with you.
I am not this conflict. Neither are you. We are so much more
than that and if we lose sight of this then I’m afraid we’re all doomed.
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