You have confirmed what I already knew but couldn’t articulate anywhere near as eloquently as this. That arguing is pointless. That there’s no reasoning with abusers. That they’ve already made up their minds. That they have an answer for everything. That it is fruitless. Knowing how not to approach it is at least a starting point. Or maybe not even a starting point, but at least not going backwards? Loved meeting you at J & Z’s wedding and happy to find you on here.
Thanks so much - this is such a kind message. And while it may feel defeatist, it’s actually rather liberating… like the abusive husband who holds his wife in contempt, and who picks at her, taunts her, and misrepresents her into being a perennial of all things rotten — information and appeals to reason are not relevant. We must empower each other to denounce abuse as abuse, not insist that ‘some abuse crosses into antisemitism’… antizionism is just straight up abuse.
So lovely to meet you too Alicia, looking forward to checking out your work!
This post and discussion are so timely, since we’ve just had someone we thought was a close friend ghost us. We haven’t even had a single political discussion with her, so it’s completely irrational and obviously antisemitic, considering the vile nature of what she’s been posting online. When you get ghosted by anyone, there’s a strong urge to gain closure by hashing it out. But in this instance I’ve come to a place where I do feel liberated. I refuse to explain myself to someone who is clearly operating within a framework of bigotry and that decision, the not explaining, makes me feel empowered.
Thank you so much for writing this. It made me cry. I think because I am not Jewish (yet- though I am converting) the shock of the last two and half years has impacted me greatly, perhaps moreso than my Jewish husband. I have spoken to other non jewish advocates and we do seem to have taken it much harder than Jews.
(thats my experience anyway).
So, when I read your substacks, along with others, I come from a perspective of having experienced all of this with you by proxy.
My experience confirms this. No amount of rational ‘debate’ works.
In fact,,there is an abundance of evidence on the public record, including the live streaming by Gazans committing the most horrific acts of sexual depravity on women at the music festival and a UN report, as well as first hand testimony of returned female hostages.
Perhaps someone should get her to watch ‘screams before silence’, or the collection of live streamed videos the perpetrators made.
However, she is within a self supporting bubble of haters that reinforce her warped views.
I would argue, though, that she has been taken in by the propaganda perpetuated by Albanese at the UN, Amnesty International and terrorist groups themselves. I would call her misguided and clearly a Jew hater even though she cannot recognise or understand the harm she’s perpetuating.
This is why virulent Jew hate is now. It only takes a loud minority to turn Australia into a Jew hating country. This is why it can happen again.
Your article made everything clear, all parts fell into their places, and all that with such stunning language, that it gave me an esthetic experience on top of my intellectual clarity.
🎯
You have confirmed what I already knew but couldn’t articulate anywhere near as eloquently as this. That arguing is pointless. That there’s no reasoning with abusers. That they’ve already made up their minds. That they have an answer for everything. That it is fruitless. Knowing how not to approach it is at least a starting point. Or maybe not even a starting point, but at least not going backwards? Loved meeting you at J & Z’s wedding and happy to find you on here.
Thanks so much - this is such a kind message. And while it may feel defeatist, it’s actually rather liberating… like the abusive husband who holds his wife in contempt, and who picks at her, taunts her, and misrepresents her into being a perennial of all things rotten — information and appeals to reason are not relevant. We must empower each other to denounce abuse as abuse, not insist that ‘some abuse crosses into antisemitism’… antizionism is just straight up abuse.
So lovely to meet you too Alicia, looking forward to checking out your work!
This post and discussion are so timely, since we’ve just had someone we thought was a close friend ghost us. We haven’t even had a single political discussion with her, so it’s completely irrational and obviously antisemitic, considering the vile nature of what she’s been posting online. When you get ghosted by anyone, there’s a strong urge to gain closure by hashing it out. But in this instance I’ve come to a place where I do feel liberated. I refuse to explain myself to someone who is clearly operating within a framework of bigotry and that decision, the not explaining, makes me feel empowered.
Real leadership for dark times.
Thank you so much for writing this. It made me cry. I think because I am not Jewish (yet- though I am converting) the shock of the last two and half years has impacted me greatly, perhaps moreso than my Jewish husband. I have spoken to other non jewish advocates and we do seem to have taken it much harder than Jews.
(thats my experience anyway).
So, when I read your substacks, along with others, I come from a perspective of having experienced all of this with you by proxy.
Thank you for your articles. xx
My experience confirms this. No amount of rational ‘debate’ works.
In fact,,there is an abundance of evidence on the public record, including the live streaming by Gazans committing the most horrific acts of sexual depravity on women at the music festival and a UN report, as well as first hand testimony of returned female hostages.
Perhaps someone should get her to watch ‘screams before silence’, or the collection of live streamed videos the perpetrators made.
However, she is within a self supporting bubble of haters that reinforce her warped views.
I would argue, though, that she has been taken in by the propaganda perpetuated by Albanese at the UN, Amnesty International and terrorist groups themselves. I would call her misguided and clearly a Jew hater even though she cannot recognise or understand the harm she’s perpetuating.
This is why virulent Jew hate is now. It only takes a loud minority to turn Australia into a Jew hating country. This is why it can happen again.
Your article made everything clear, all parts fell into their places, and all that with such stunning language, that it gave me an esthetic experience on top of my intellectual clarity.