Pieter it won’t get better. We are not organised enough and in Holland the only person who could have helped and won the election was not ‘allowed’ to form a government. We are all talking and restating the horrors, injustices we are witnessing and experiencing, but at the same time, are paralysed, and cannot fight back effectively. Pro Islamic fascists don’t care for words, they believe in the power of the sword and are naturally anti-democratic. The uk government is made up of spineless individuals who have already given up it seems.
Where I live (very near London -will not mention actual name of area), in the last week, a Jewish deli had ‘a visit’ from pro Islamic fascists and the shop assistants were quizzed about their feelings for IDF. They said they just sell bagels . Poor souls!! Brown shirts welcome to 2024! And the uk police is totally disinterested in assisting the locals against such threatening behaviour.
My only release is reading views of people like you and writing about such events say on a platform like this . But for how long more are we going to be able to do so I wonder! The clouds are gathering and getting darker.
Your last line reminds me of the 1939 film "The Mortal Storm," the last Hollywood movie to be shown in Nazi Germany.
Not Jewish, but old enough to know, I have for some time now been wondering when enough people would become stupid and possibly politically helpless enough to let the vicious once more take over our institutions and our streets.
Just in Canada there is a lot to be concerned about and the intolerance and refusal to dialogue that I thought was quite limited and mostly young and inexperienced people is actually quite widespread. I think I have shared the story of a medical professional I know who works on the DTES who is now afraid for their physical safety and to some extent hides that they are Jewish. This is Canada in 2024. This level on intolerance needs to be addressed directly.
I hope you’re wrong. Having lived in Greece during the 6 day war and multiple other crises there, with the fleet parked I. Greece any longer, Israel is the aircraft carrier we rely upon to keep watch over that region. I don’t believe he’s blind to that reality. Nor are our nation allies. Trade is one thing, but democracy in Israel is and will be defended.
Greek-American myself, I've heard my share of anti-Jewish comments from both Greeks and Greek-Americans. Rather like fashion statements. But perhaps people who live in the real world understand Israel's importance in the region.
I didn’t hear it growing up - never in our house (my mother in fact told us if my sister and I didn’t marry a Greek, then we should find a ‘nice Jewish boy’ because they were good to their wives. (This would give most Jewish mothers a stroke of course)
I spent most of my teenage years in Athens. It was a small but diverse international world there. The practical facts of Middle East tensions impacted so many facets of life and business there. I never heard any antisemitic comments there. None.
I am a Jewish Anglo-Turk, and spend my life between Uk and Greece… grew up in a patchwork community in Istanbul with Greek, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim communities mingling so closely and so happily together.
Erdogan has managed to get rid of the minorities where only handful now remain. And Turkey has become a staunch supporter of Hamas with anecdotal evidence of training camps in Turkey. It is therefore paramount for Biden and the EU (inc Greece) to continue supporting Israel. I know it is not in the media, and I may be totally wrong, but I can only surmise that Hamas fighters are already at European borders with such strong support from Turkey.
Adding to Pieter’s comment, totally agreed, Greece is simply paradise.
What an ideal community to be raised in Lynn. My first 11 years were in a very similar space - in Brooklyn. So many nations were resident on our block and in our school. Refugees, immigrants mixed with old school residents that embraced one another. Also so many fathers who participated in ww2 and despised Nazi philosophy having witnessed its efforts to degrade so many innocents.
Greece suffered during the war - and after, in the civil war, but i saw firsthand how much relief they experienced and how much they embraced the people of countries who joined together to help rescue them.
I'm glad. In my travels in Greece, I heard stuff mostly from older people imbued with old tales about Jews siding with the Turks -- and occasionally from younger ones trying to be sophisticated. You, who lived there, would know better how the bulk of Greeks behaved.
My family, my father in particular, was pro-Israel, and decades before its founding got his nose broken when he tried to save a Jewish kid from being roughed up by Brooklyn street thugs. But I did hear stuff from others including an uncle by marriage who, on the whole, could be pretty nasty in general, so his antisemitism was part of the package.
I had elderly (non-Greek) friends on Naxos and visited there often. An international world indeed! How lucky you were.
Pieter it won’t get better. We are not organised enough and in Holland the only person who could have helped and won the election was not ‘allowed’ to form a government. We are all talking and restating the horrors, injustices we are witnessing and experiencing, but at the same time, are paralysed, and cannot fight back effectively. Pro Islamic fascists don’t care for words, they believe in the power of the sword and are naturally anti-democratic. The uk government is made up of spineless individuals who have already given up it seems.
Where I live (very near London -will not mention actual name of area), in the last week, a Jewish deli had ‘a visit’ from pro Islamic fascists and the shop assistants were quizzed about their feelings for IDF. They said they just sell bagels . Poor souls!! Brown shirts welcome to 2024! And the uk police is totally disinterested in assisting the locals against such threatening behaviour.
My only release is reading views of people like you and writing about such events say on a platform like this . But for how long more are we going to be able to do so I wonder! The clouds are gathering and getting darker.
Your last line reminds me of the 1939 film "The Mortal Storm," the last Hollywood movie to be shown in Nazi Germany.
Not Jewish, but old enough to know, I have for some time now been wondering when enough people would become stupid and possibly politically helpless enough to let the vicious once more take over our institutions and our streets.
😔
Just in Canada there is a lot to be concerned about and the intolerance and refusal to dialogue that I thought was quite limited and mostly young and inexperienced people is actually quite widespread. I think I have shared the story of a medical professional I know who works on the DTES who is now afraid for their physical safety and to some extent hides that they are Jewish. This is Canada in 2024. This level on intolerance needs to be addressed directly.
Antisemitism will NOT stand here.
And no American president will ever abandon Israel. Biden is committed to its existence, as we all are.
Hope so
It’s a sickness in the hearts of the truly stupid.
You wait, Patris. I say this with no satisfaction.
Despite his early enthusiasm after October 7, Biden will do as his handlers say. After him come any number of antisemitic Democratic socialists.
I hope you’re wrong. Having lived in Greece during the 6 day war and multiple other crises there, with the fleet parked I. Greece any longer, Israel is the aircraft carrier we rely upon to keep watch over that region. I don’t believe he’s blind to that reality. Nor are our nation allies. Trade is one thing, but democracy in Israel is and will be defended.
Greek-American myself, I've heard my share of anti-Jewish comments from both Greeks and Greek-Americans. Rather like fashion statements. But perhaps people who live in the real world understand Israel's importance in the region.
Thanks to the Greek contingent here. Love Greece and traveled there many many times. Even learned basic new Greek.
I didn’t hear it growing up - never in our house (my mother in fact told us if my sister and I didn’t marry a Greek, then we should find a ‘nice Jewish boy’ because they were good to their wives. (This would give most Jewish mothers a stroke of course)
I spent most of my teenage years in Athens. It was a small but diverse international world there. The practical facts of Middle East tensions impacted so many facets of life and business there. I never heard any antisemitic comments there. None.
I am a Jewish Anglo-Turk, and spend my life between Uk and Greece… grew up in a patchwork community in Istanbul with Greek, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim communities mingling so closely and so happily together.
Erdogan has managed to get rid of the minorities where only handful now remain. And Turkey has become a staunch supporter of Hamas with anecdotal evidence of training camps in Turkey. It is therefore paramount for Biden and the EU (inc Greece) to continue supporting Israel. I know it is not in the media, and I may be totally wrong, but I can only surmise that Hamas fighters are already at European borders with such strong support from Turkey.
Adding to Pieter’s comment, totally agreed, Greece is simply paradise.
What an ideal community to be raised in Lynn. My first 11 years were in a very similar space - in Brooklyn. So many nations were resident on our block and in our school. Refugees, immigrants mixed with old school residents that embraced one another. Also so many fathers who participated in ww2 and despised Nazi philosophy having witnessed its efforts to degrade so many innocents.
Greece suffered during the war - and after, in the civil war, but i saw firsthand how much relief they experienced and how much they embraced the people of countries who joined together to help rescue them.
I'm glad. In my travels in Greece, I heard stuff mostly from older people imbued with old tales about Jews siding with the Turks -- and occasionally from younger ones trying to be sophisticated. You, who lived there, would know better how the bulk of Greeks behaved.
My family, my father in particular, was pro-Israel, and decades before its founding got his nose broken when he tried to save a Jewish kid from being roughed up by Brooklyn street thugs. But I did hear stuff from others including an uncle by marriage who, on the whole, could be pretty nasty in general, so his antisemitism was part of the package.
I had elderly (non-Greek) friends on Naxos and visited there often. An international world indeed! How lucky you were.
I realize that more and more as the years go by.
You’re a good man.
Island family of strong women with their men at sea - so many sailors, captains and engineers.
Thanks for this Pieter. Agreed there are reasons to hope amid the many readings to worry.