Crematorium III building at Auschwitz
Re: Holocaust analogies
It has perhaps dawned on you by now that it wasn’t such a great idea to say that President Obama, in making that nuclear deal with the Iranians, “will take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven.” But perhaps you don’t quite understand why:
* The ADL called the remark “completely out of line and unacceptable.”
* The American Jewish Congress went with “shockingly insensitive and unacceptable.”
* And Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer (a.k.a. “Bibi’s Brain”) declared, “These are not words that I would use or that I think are appropriate.”
OK, maybe you’re consoling yourself with the reflection that at least Sheldon Adelson and his mini-me, Zionist Organization of America president Morton Klein (who gave you the “Adelson Defender of Israel Award” two years ago), came to your defense. Billionaireless this election cycle, you’ve been tilting for Adelson’s support for some time now. Under the circumstances, why not double down on the remark? After all, Netanyahu has for the past two years been warning that Iran is preparing for a second Holocaust.
But here’s the thing, Mike. Using Holocaust analogies in public is like using the N-word. Just as white people are not really allowed to do the latter (cf. Chris Rock), so Gentile people are not really allowed to do the former. Particularly when they do it in such a way as to suggest that Israelis are victims.
You’ve made a lot of trips to Israel. How is it that you haven’t managed to pick up on the national ideology? As in the ingrained idea that the country is all about turning passive Diaspora Jews into defenders of a homeland who won’t be marched anywhere.
I do understand where you’re coming from. I’ve lived in the South. I’ve seen how white males of a certain age can’t quite rid themselves of the paternalism that makes them feel like they’re responsible for the freedom of lesser folk.
Black Southerners don’t appreciate that feeling. And you know what? Jewish Americans don’t either.
