The Politics of Peace--My letter to Congresswoman Rashida Talib

Dear Congresswoman Talib: I want to address the right wing violence and ugly verbiage levied against you in particular and Muslims in general.  I am a Jewish woman and heretofore an ardent supporter of the State of Israel. Since, however, the election of the aggressive and in my view closed minded Netanyau with the help of the corrupt, inhumane, mendacious and cruel Trump I have changed. I want to tell you why I have changed which includes both the etiology of my historical position and the one to which I subscribe today. My political bent has formed since 1958 when I as a child viewed the first film on the Holocaust. The devastating Holocaust history of the Jewish people became the footing on which my politics stood. My politics is still left of center BUT the historical rationals in our era have changed. I joined J Street, a progressive Jewish organization, which seeks peace not against Palestinians but WITH Palestinians. I believe in fundamental fairness, justice, and I believe human beings can work together to find that commonality which can work against violence, against war, against hate but for understanding and peace. I seek not to move away from what you say but urge you to soften what you say so that it falls on more receptive ears. I ask you to try to use my experience as your own guide to speak to Palestinian hardship as well as the Jewish Holocaust experience to talk to people with an understanding of both sides and a standing against hate both Netanyahu and Trump perpetuate but do not ameliorate.

I was against placing the US embassy in Jerusalem, so cavalierly talking about expanding settlements and the appropriation of the West Bank. This cruel and inhuman treatment of Palestinians cannot stand and should not stand. Recognizing the Holocaust taught us to speak out against injustice and is its most profound instruction. Those of us who desire humanitarian and just politics must not let cruelty stand because I believe it will mean more violence and death for both Palestinians and Israelis if not to the world at large. Your points are listened to by me. References to old antiSemitic memes provoke anger in all Jews but understanding of both positions will speak for truth, justice and peace! That is what must be emphasized by you and should speak to the politics not of war and hate but of understanding and peace.