The Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 began another war between Israel and representatives of the Islamic world. This conflict goes all the way back to the 7th century when Muhammed began to attract followers in Mecca and Medina in what is today western Saudi Arabia. What makes this conflict a little different is the reaction of certain groups within the U.S.
One would certainly expect the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to side with Hamas. And one might expect the United Nations to be cautious about appearing to be pro-Israel, even though the United Nations was actively involved in the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948. And one was surely not surprised when college students from throughout the Middle East began anti-Israel protests soon after the Israeli response to the October 7 attacks began. But one might not have expected, as I certainly didn’t, the level of anti-Israel sentiment coming from the progressive left. Especially from Whites and African Americans who don’t have religious links to Islam or geographic links to the Middle East.
Laura Mullens, a white Cal-Berkley graduate who was teaching in the English Department at Wake Forest posted, “So it’s kind of a Duh but if you turn me out of my house plow my olive grove and confine what’s left of my family to the small impoverished state you run as an open air prison I could be tempted to shoot up your dance party yeah even knowing you will scorch the earth.” Susan Sarandon was also quick to speak out on behalf of the Palestinian resistance. Faculty members on university campuses across the country have been joined by progressive students of all stripes condemning the Israeli “occupation” and praising the Hamas strikes. While some protests have been peaceful, many have been quite aggressive, including the recent blockading of the DNC building while an event was taking place.
For over a century, the primary domestic threat to Jews came from the far right. The Ku Klux Klan along with various neo-Nazi organizations that emerged during the civil rights movement were blatantly anti-semitic and their literature blamed Jews for all sorts of maladies and threats. Even otherwise liberal WASPs didn’t allow Jews in their country clubs. Jews were among the first and most loyal white participants in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s and historically have overwhelmingly voted for Democrat candidates, as have African Americans. Prior to Diane Feinstein’s death in September, there were five US Senators and 10 members of the U.S. House who were Jewish – all Democrats.
But things have changed. Fox News and other conservative news outlets have been unwavering in their support of Israel while CNN, MSNBC and other liberal outlets have been much more guarded in their wording so as not to offend certain Muslim or progressive groups. The marches on university campuses have not been in outrage over the October 7 attack, but in outrage over the Israeli response. Hillary Clinton, certainly no neo-nazi, recently had her class at Columbia University disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters who accused her of supporting genocide. Why are progressives aligning with Hamas?
Progressives in the U.S. who have gone all-in on intersectionality, Black Lives Matter, the 1619 Project, and the Occupy movements are focused primarily on the colonial period and the rise of capitalism as being at the root of all evil. These groups often accept presuppositions that lack scientific or historical accuracy and they’ve done it again. They’ve accepted the narrative that Jews have “occupied” Palestine since 1948, not really understanding the 19th and 20th century history of the region. Since they strongly believe that the U.S. and much of Europe are “the problem,” then it’s easy for them to side with Hamas in this struggle. Any enemy of my enemy is my friend. That’s one reason why Palestinian liberation protests so closely resemble BLM protests.
It is certainly concerning that Jews on college campuses in the U.S. don’t feel safe, that Jewish businesses are being targeted as are Jewish houses of worship. I am also concerned about a “snap-back” effect where Jews’ new allies, the religious right and MAGA groups, act out similarly toward people of middle eastern descent, especially those that are Muslim. America has thus far avoided these endless cycles of violence and revenge so prevalent throughout world history.
There is no question that Christianity in Europe went through a period between the 12th and 16th centuries where it behaved much like radical Islam does today. The governments of Spain and France at that time were similar to modern Iran. The famous Inquisitions during those centuries resulted in countless deaths and imprisonments for individuals deemed to be heretics. Thank goodness as those civilizations evolved, they denounced the practice in the late 17th and early 18th century, going as far as codifying the illegality of Inquisition.
Unfortunately, Islam is, in many ways, stuck in the 14th century. There are not enough Islamic voices saying that we can be faithful to our religion without having to murder people who choose not to follow our religion. The world desperately needs Islam to modernize the way Christianity has (for the most part). However, when certain Americans paint all muslims with the same brush, damage mosques or muslim-owned businesses, we are slowing that progress.
Israel is right to attempt to wipe out Hamas as Hamas is clearly a threat. But the world’s response should be limited to those Islamic groups like Hamas, Al-Quada, etc. who continue to espouse violence and the desire to exterminate Jews. We can’t forget that there are many Americans of Arabic, Persian and African descent who practice Islam but don’t support Hamas et al. We must make it easier for their voices to be heard, not drive them back to a 14th century version of themselves.