Hatred is Real!

Hi Friends,

This week I am sad. This week I am heartbroken. I watched videos I will never be able to wipe from my memory.

Many people refuse to watch and I can’t blame them, I usually don’t. But, this time feels different. We need to watch so we can see clearly what evil looks like. We think we know but, we have very little idea. Horror writers would be appalled at some of the atrocities filmed over from the attacks in Israel.

I watched a video of a dead young woman being paraded around by terrorists while the public cheered and celebrated. I watched a video of a young Jewish boy being poked by a group of young Palestinian children. Mocking him to call his ima (mother). His mother is most likely dead. As a parent, I couldn’t stop the tears falling down my cheeks. Useless tears like a drizzle of rain in the desert. I tried to imagine the pure terror and confusion that boy must be going through. Should he survive, which is unlikely, he will be scarred for the rest of his life. And, what did he do to deserve this? Absolutely nothing!He had no choice in where he was born and what religion he was born into.

As a humanist who is pro-life, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Useless tears.The knowledge and understanding that so many more thousands of innocent civilians are going to die still. Who knows if in those numbers would be a future scientist who would solve nuclear energy for the planet? Who knows if, in those numbers, there isn’t the next female leader of Palestine who can finally pull them out of the dark ages? We don’t know and we never will.

I can’t stop the tears from falling this week. Thinking about the hatred and violence I’ve watched prevents my voice from making it over the mountain in my throat.

Thousands of innocent Palestinians, and yes, most will be innocent, will be killed and scarred for life from what’s to come. That too is tragedy upon tragedy and the unfortunate byproduct of war. I hold two competing thoughts in my head. I am all for the Jewish state that is Israel. I believe Israel has a right, like any country under attack, to defend its citizens. There should be no need for apology or hesitation in this regard. And, then I also hold the thought of the poor children of Gaza, born into this unending, unfixable mess.

As a Jew, I’ve been aware of anti-Semitism since primary school. I’ve known for decades that being Jewish meant being hated by so many for so long. I, personally have also experienced anti-Semitism numerous times throughout my life.Last week I wrote a post on religion. For those who didn’t read it, the summary is; like many Jews today, I am an atheist. I feel a strong connection to my culture, my community and its history but little for the God parts.

Now the reason I bring up religion is simple. Although, we’ll hear many people say it isn’t about religion. We’ll see almost all mainstream media sprouting words like “humanitarian”, “oppression and freedom” and even “apartheid”. Let me be very clear about something, the attacks that started this chain of events boil down to one thing and one thing only. The hatred and intended annihilation of Jews. Not only in Israel but all around the world.

In my city, this week, before Israel even had time to retaliate, before all the bodies were even counted, I watched protestors chanting “gas the Jews, gas the Jews”. Those words are pretty clear. You only have to watch for many other so-called “peaceful” pro-Palestine marches around the world to hear chants of “fuck the Jews”. There are endless videos of religious and terrorist leaders, on camera, saying they will not rest until every Jew on earth is dead. Maybe I am simple but please explain to me how those actions are about freedom and not about religious persecution and genocide.

There is and should be a difference between hating Israel as a country and its government and hating every Jew because Israel is the land of the Jews. The voice and decisions of Israel’s current right-wing government are not the voice of every Israeli. You only have to look at the past 6 months of protests in Israel to understand this.

Again, there are no words for these events other than racism and terrorism. Any protests or marches in support of Hamas killing and raping children is a march in support of terrorism. Simple.

My brain cannot begin to understand people who celebrate the brutal and barbaric murder and maiming of women. Because all these protests that happened the day after the initial attack were celebrating only that. There was nothing else to celebrate! Nothing was “won”. Nothing was “taken back”. No “freedom” gained. The land that the terrorists invaded was not even “disputed” territory of the West Bank.Only 1000+ innocent people slaughtered in broad daylight.

What hit me this week? And, thinking back I’ve noticed time after time is Jews and Israelis don’t celebrate death. When Israel bombs a terrorist base and civilians are part of the casualties there are no celebrations. In fact, even when the IDF destroy terrorist-only bases you don’t see protests or marches with Jews burning other country flags and chanting “fuck the Muslims.”

Israelis and Jews celebrate life. Hamas and terrorists celebrate death.

I had another newsletter post planned for this week. I didn’t want to write this one. But, how could I not? I am Jewish, I am part of a people who have been persecuted for millennia. And, I am against anyone who believes they have the right to remove someone from this earth because of their beliefs. Pure savagery.

I’ve read books on some of the most prolific killers and savages in human history. The Mongols, the Huns, and the Vikings are some of the worst on record. There are scenes I am watching now on YouTube that give me the exact visuals those historians and authors tried so hard to describe. The crazy thing is Genghis Khan ruled in the 1200’s. These images are now, in 2023! So in 800 years, there are humans on this planet that have not evolved. The atrocities of these attacks should be unthinkable today. And, then to have people celebrate them and the media not report the truth about them is sickening.

I am angry!

My older brother lives in Israel. He has 3 beautiful, smart boys who have their whole lives ahead of them. My eldest nephew is in his first year in the IDF. So this hits very close to home for me. I lie awake every night and think about them. I also think about the mothers who have lost children and the children who have lost parents.

I lie awake and I can’t stop the tears from flowing.

Life is too short and too precious for all this.

Peace and love,

Jarren