Thank you for calling out the rampant, clear racism. We need to turn up the heat on the establishment Dems and the mainstream media. Keep up the good work!
The inherent difficulty that Democrats have is that they do not own their own narrative. As far as mainstream America is concerned, the Democrats are what Fox News and the GOP say they are (socialists, soft on Israel etc) and inevitably that narrative is somewhere between exaggerated, false and entirely intended to scare the bejesus out of most Americans. So, when someone like Mamdani comes along who is both decidedly left leaning and not a fan of Israel, the mainstream Dems get nervous at the thought that they could be accused of being exactly what the GOP says they are - and not having any alternative narrative, they cannot counteract that narrative except by attacking him. What both the GOP and the Dems are missing is that most of America is turning left (not necessarily liberal, and yes, there is a difference). Mamdani got elected because he hasn't missed it.
The attacks on Zohran will continue no matter what he says. He has said on several occasions that anti-Semitism is a big concern of his and that's why he proposes to increase funding for hate crime prevention but that does not seem to be enough for some. For this reason I don't think that the attacks on him are about what he said regarding the intifada. It is all about control. They are unhappy that a pro Palestine candidate might become mayor so they want to drive home the message that every thing he does or says as mayor would be scrutinized to make sure he does not veer from the pro Israel tradition of NY mayors.
Thank you, Peter, for saying with such articulate passion what needs to be said. Personally I was offended and embarrassed by the hesitant and negative responses by Jewish leaders and the press to Mamdani's historic campaign and election.
Peter has expressed eloquently and passionately my deep frustration and anger with Democrats and the media, who are now complicit in the slaughter of innocents. Just this morning I had a Substack exchange with a Palestinian woman, I have befriended, who with her husband have been displaced countless times. The other day they fled from their house that had already been mostly damaged when they heard the clanking of approaching tanks. Out the backdoor, they went. We talk about books and baseball, which she loves. Yeah, baseball, yesterday I attended our local community’s summer collegiate team’s game. I said I wished she could have been there talking baseball with me and my son. She has a friend who I also communicate with and try to support through respective GoFundMe projects. The friend shares Arabic words with her subscribers as a way to earn our monetary support. My calls to my Senators, both Democrats, have not been worth a response. They supported the latest arms deal with Israel. It sickens me. I feel so powerless but both of my correspondents only thank me and tell me it is meaningful to them that I care and offer support. They pick me up!
Not having an alternative narrative... Yes, and woefully inept at the intellectual thinking that is requisite to governing. Who are they when they are not second guessing change, or teetering with angst, or sadly reiterating GOP constructs of their party ?
I usually support your position,. However, definitely feel that your comment about Intifadah is so far off course. I don't think you were active when the First Intifada broke out. I visited Palestine with human rights groups then. It's not up to you or other Jewish or non-Palestinian people or allies to take a position on their word, intifada. This is extremely important to them and their movement and has a lot of history in the Arabic language...it means to them "throwing off injustice" and has a context of empowerment of those that are oppressed and struggling back. I will always follow the oppressed and speak proudly of the Palestinian Intifadah and global intifada. I wish you would shift your position which plays into the other side trying to dehumanize Palestinians and not allow them their own just struggle and their own terms.
This is exactly why so many voters (especially voters of color) left the DNC during the last election. Who on earth wants to hang out in a genocidal party in which we can all vote to affirm that only white lives are worthy of human rights?
We can - for what it's worth?? - write to Schumer and other Dems to urge them to support Mamdani at this time that he's being attacked... What are they waiting for?? Etc.
the u.s. government and both parties are a criminal operation. nation states are falling away. an unprecedented level of global solidarity and cooperation are needed to protect what we can of complex life. the nation state/u.s. empire is about hubris, "me first" self interest, and aggressive ways block that.
Thank you for calling out the rampant, clear racism. We need to turn up the heat on the establishment Dems and the mainstream media. Keep up the good work!
The inherent difficulty that Democrats have is that they do not own their own narrative. As far as mainstream America is concerned, the Democrats are what Fox News and the GOP say they are (socialists, soft on Israel etc) and inevitably that narrative is somewhere between exaggerated, false and entirely intended to scare the bejesus out of most Americans. So, when someone like Mamdani comes along who is both decidedly left leaning and not a fan of Israel, the mainstream Dems get nervous at the thought that they could be accused of being exactly what the GOP says they are - and not having any alternative narrative, they cannot counteract that narrative except by attacking him. What both the GOP and the Dems are missing is that most of America is turning left (not necessarily liberal, and yes, there is a difference). Mamdani got elected because he hasn't missed it.
The attacks on Zohran will continue no matter what he says. He has said on several occasions that anti-Semitism is a big concern of his and that's why he proposes to increase funding for hate crime prevention but that does not seem to be enough for some. For this reason I don't think that the attacks on him are about what he said regarding the intifada. It is all about control. They are unhappy that a pro Palestine candidate might become mayor so they want to drive home the message that every thing he does or says as mayor would be scrutinized to make sure he does not veer from the pro Israel tradition of NY mayors.
Thank you, Peter, for saying with such articulate passion what needs to be said. Personally I was offended and embarrassed by the hesitant and negative responses by Jewish leaders and the press to Mamdani's historic campaign and election.
Peter has expressed eloquently and passionately my deep frustration and anger with Democrats and the media, who are now complicit in the slaughter of innocents. Just this morning I had a Substack exchange with a Palestinian woman, I have befriended, who with her husband have been displaced countless times. The other day they fled from their house that had already been mostly damaged when they heard the clanking of approaching tanks. Out the backdoor, they went. We talk about books and baseball, which she loves. Yeah, baseball, yesterday I attended our local community’s summer collegiate team’s game. I said I wished she could have been there talking baseball with me and my son. She has a friend who I also communicate with and try to support through respective GoFundMe projects. The friend shares Arabic words with her subscribers as a way to earn our monetary support. My calls to my Senators, both Democrats, have not been worth a response. They supported the latest arms deal with Israel. It sickens me. I feel so powerless but both of my correspondents only thank me and tell me it is meaningful to them that I care and offer support. They pick me up!
Not having an alternative narrative... Yes, and woefully inept at the intellectual thinking that is requisite to governing. Who are they when they are not second guessing change, or teetering with angst, or sadly reiterating GOP constructs of their party ?
Follow the money. AIPAC owns way too many of them
Thank you.
Absolutely! Thank you.
I usually support your position,. However, definitely feel that your comment about Intifadah is so far off course. I don't think you were active when the First Intifada broke out. I visited Palestine with human rights groups then. It's not up to you or other Jewish or non-Palestinian people or allies to take a position on their word, intifada. This is extremely important to them and their movement and has a lot of history in the Arabic language...it means to them "throwing off injustice" and has a context of empowerment of those that are oppressed and struggling back. I will always follow the oppressed and speak proudly of the Palestinian Intifadah and global intifada. I wish you would shift your position which plays into the other side trying to dehumanize Palestinians and not allow them their own just struggle and their own terms.
This is exactly why so many voters (especially voters of color) left the DNC during the last election. Who on earth wants to hang out in a genocidal party in which we can all vote to affirm that only white lives are worthy of human rights?
Thanks, Peter, I just finished your latest book. A required reading in these times.
I am not at all surprised by Democrats' behavior. They own the genocide.
No wonder Democrats lost the last election, because people like me, just would not vote for them, even knowing the alternative.
We can - for what it's worth?? - write to Schumer and other Dems to urge them to support Mamdani at this time that he's being attacked... What are they waiting for?? Etc.
I think Schumer is full on board with Netanyahu.
Altho... he did make that long anti-Netanyahu speech, whenever that was... but since then?? not much I think?
yuck
the u.s. government and both parties are a criminal operation. nation states are falling away. an unprecedented level of global solidarity and cooperation are needed to protect what we can of complex life. the nation state/u.s. empire is about hubris, "me first" self interest, and aggressive ways block that.
Truth to power, again!
❤️🔥