I started reading your letter because I am in the music business. I own a guitar manufacturing business. I keep reading your letter because you make me think. I live in Squirrel Hill a few blocks from Tree of Life Synagogue, I used to be a member there. I knew three of the people that got killed. Rabbi Meyers, the rabbi at the Tree officiated my mother’s funeral in early April.

I agree with you a lot. However this time, you may be underestimating the power and the size of the community of Jews that were affected this weekend. Anti-semitism still exists , yes, but I might argue for different reasons, though today. In large part, it’s driven by hate laced with self loathing and self failure. Resentment is a natural instinct controlled only by awareness. You mentioned "Jew doctor or Jew lawyer" , people think that because we do excel. No conceit. Not necessarily better than professionals that are not Jewish, just mostly solid as a group. We are steady. We have been conditioned to persevere from a long history of being discriminated against. Only now in 2018 we succeed in life, a lot. Envy breeds hatred. That’s obvious.

The Jews will not roll over, we don’t do that. This shooting is no more severe than Parkland or Vegas or any other pointless shooting we’ve had to endure. For me and those that live here, it is. But not to come across as worse off, it’s the same pain just in my neighborhood. Only difference this time (with the public outrage as you refer to it) is they messed with the wrong people. We will do what we need to do to effectuate change. We have brains, lots of resources and above all tenacity. And a long history of standing up and banding around our own. You should see the public outpouring going on here. We are not going to let anyone forget about this. Trust me.

Thanks for reading. One last thing, I’m proud to sign my name and say I’m Jewish.

Best regards,

Howard Swimmer



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Good evening from Pittsburgh, Bob. As dark as it has been here these past few days, it's hard not to be uplifted by the many rays of light we have seen - the charity, the solidarity.

Coming from a white, Anglo-Saxon, upper-middle-class male, I have zero credibility on any matters of racism, anti-semitism, sexism, or any ism. But I can tell you that what I have seen since Saturday has left me net optimistic. The people who hate, who discriminate, are but a small percentage of the American Community. The vast majority hurt like we are hurting.

The problem is that we've allowed 29% of the U.S. adult population to decide our President and for their opinions to be amplified through his hijacking of the news cycle. It isn't real. It's a mathematical anomaly. And as the demographics of the country hurtle unstoppably toward race and gender parity, we will see a lengthy age of liberalism, all but guaranteed by the inevitable backlash today's socio-cultural-political shit-show will cause. Old, white, Anglo-Saxon men like my future self will have no advantage over anyone else - as it should be.

That time is nearer on the horizon than most people realize.

John Dick

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From Pittsburgh, and someone who worked with the sister of the two brothers killed.....and a member of the board of Friends of Flight 93....and we do know of course the New York Jews working at the Twin Towers all took off that day, right? And someone who has been involved with music on the promoter/venue side for four decades.

It's about jealousy. Jews are only 2% of the population but they are disproportionately smarter and have more instinct and talent in the areas of entertainment and sports management....and I guess business overall. Don't know why but it's case and it drives the hate.

A great part of my career has been working for Jewish entrepreneurs who were also great people but it was clear they were smarter than us gois.

The kids at Allderdice (High-Squirrel Hill) generally got their asses kicked by Westinghouse (our black friends) and Perry (my alma mater---mostly white) in sports and snow bird now to FLA for the winter whilst many of us still crank it out. Do we resent it? Only when they come back in May with their tans.

Tom Rooney

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What happened at Tree of Life is awful and our community is reeling

I hate to admit you’re right about it getting any better but I tend to agree. But where can we go? It’s almost time.

Harold Love
Pittsburgh, PA

______________________________________

My grandmother lived and died in Squirrel Hill, the entirety of my father’s extended family are from Squirrel Hill. I visited a number of times in my childhood. This one’s personal and I’m sad, scared and enraged.

We must defend ourselves and stop this whining by the rabbis and others that “we need to stop the hate.” No we don’t, THEY, the haters need to stop the hate.

WE need to stop hiding, laying low until it passes, (Germany prior to WWII) and openly defend ourselves. The only saving grace at all in this massacre in Pittsburgh, is that apparently Jared Kushner wrote Trump’s one and only conciliatory response. I won’t stake my life or safety on that tenuous string. I don’t do victim, I hope there are other Jews who feel as this one does.

In Solidarity,

Barbara Blake

______________________________________

What rage, Bob. I see a lot of resignation and decrying violence on both sides. It’s as if breaking windows on a storefront or interrupting Ted Cruz’s meal is the same as killing 11 people in a house of worship. There is no real opposition to this in the media.

- Austin Calvo

______________________________________

Bob, up here in Canada we’d welcome you with open arms. Write your stuff and hang with Jake Gold. I know you’re in Toronto sometimes but you would really dig Montreal too. Read some Richler and chew on a bagel at Beauty’s on Mount Royal.

Fuck the USA, that experiment is over. I mean it’s barely 50 years since you morphed from apartheid to a more insidious format.

Best regards,
James Roberts

______________________________________

I enjoy your take on the music biz.. I spent a number of years working for Premiere Talent in bookings and tours.
Do us all a huge favor and ditch the political commentary. Your head is in an inappropriate place where u can't see day lite .
Except for you and your friends on the coasts, nobody appreciates your immature prattle about stuff you're so ignorant about.
I have read numerous blogs where you are bright and articulate. Stay away from political commentary where your far left bias is so insulting to the general population that you and people of your ilk so distain.
When you talk about music and entertainment I like your opinion..(except when you have to polish your own image, (like the Elton John ass kissing). We, the unwashed masses don't actually care that he called you "Bobby"..
So, in closing. You have every right to spew your hatred for the majority of Americans that you constantly belittle and we have the right to criticize your livin in your little celebrity bubble out there in Commie California. You certainly are in your glory out there.

Most Americans really do cling to their Guns and bibles, as hard as that is for you to believe.

Chris Linck

______________________________________

Well said friend! It’s acceptable to hate on Jews because we are white. We weren’t white 70 years ago when the Nazi’s were lighting our business on fire, and throwing our families into the ovens. We weren’t white when we were living in the free United States of America and we weren’t allowed into the country clubs. So we aren’t white today either. Why should we bear the wrongdoings of white racists of the past? Why should we be grouped with them now that the world demands reparations?

I am a Jew, I am a lawyer, and I am an artist manager. None of these things have anything in common with one another, except that I was always pushed by my mother, her memory is a blessing, to strive to be better. I NEEDED an education. It wasn’t really an option in her eyes. It wasn’t because the Torah says we must become Doctors and Lawyers. We simply value education. Maybe it’s cultural, but it isn’t religious. Ironically they don’t hate us for our culture, they love Seinfeld, and KISS and Dustin Hoffman (at least the did). They hate us for our religion, the one thing we have that isn’t responsible for our drive and need to succeed.

Change is achievable, if we as Jews, agree to be poor, uneducated and mistreated. Otherwise, their problem is our fault.

Amir Epstein LLB

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I believe you are right. Nothing will change (except synagogue membership which will go up for extra security) It hasn't in thousands of years. I remember my first anti Semitic incident, at 7yrs old, when a slightly older kid, wearing a Kiss tshirt, asked if I had a yarmulke he could burn, not because he hated me but because he hates my people. When I asked my mom for an extra yarmulke to give him (what the hell did I know) she handled it.

Today I never leave home without a super cool yarmulke on my head. I understand it can be a risk but I also see it brings people together and opens a door. I'd like to think, as an entertainer, I bring smiles and laughter and maybe even some perspective to people. I still have to do the right thing and refuse to live in a bubble. I love people. I love humanity. I love music and I love the great things we can achieve. Nothing will change that. Keep sharing and enlightening brother! All love! G

Etan G

______________________________________

Thank you for this.
Asif

Asif A. Ghazanfar, PhD
Professor of Neuroscience
Princeton University

______________________________________

This is exactly why many of the WW2 concentration camps were left standing. The inscriptions at the entry go something like, "Let this remain so that this history can never repeat itself". I visited the Dachau camp memorial when I was in Germany in the 80's, and it was a place of unimaginable sorrow and horror. This current presidency and so many of his followers remind me of the run-up to Hitler's rise to power and what followed. To gain power in that way though, there has to be someone to blame for your shitty life, and in the late 30's the jews serviced this need. Mr Trump however, doesn't discriminate in his racism--we're all suspect unless we're aligned behind his rather substantial ass.
Makes me so sad...

Young Hutchison

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Re Jews being money lenders - the Catholic Church banned usury (the charging of interest on loans). Thus the Jewish diaspora, unencumbered by such rulings, filled the gap, because Kings needed to borrow money to fight wars etc.

When the bills stacked up, and the King had trouble repaying the debts, simple answer, turn the populace against the Jews. He could then expel them, thus solving the financial crisis.

As I write this, I ponder the difference between then and now. Now, the money lenders (Banks) tell the "King" what to do - they are in charge.

Cheers

John Durr

______________________________________

Amen, Brother.

Randi Swindel

______________________________________

Amen

Sheldon Lazarus

______________________________________

Did you hear Stern this morning? Incredible. Thanks for your insight. Crazy world. Anyway, I just wanted to reach out. I appreciate everything you do.
I hope the hate stops. Soon. I’ve got a 7 year old daughter and have no idea how to explain any of this to her.

Todd Campbell

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We’re in a Cold Civil War.

And we have been since Lincoln got shot.

After the Civil War people thought that a new nation was born. And it was. But it was twins and one died on delivery.
(Richard White)

We’re doomed.

But America was just an idea with flawed execution.
It happens all the time.

Peter Buffett

______________________________________

Bravo man. Jews are the least of America’s (and the world’s) problems. Thinly veiled racism is really what all those anti-Semitics and anti-immigrant folks are spewing.

Baris Ozyetis

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Heartbreaking writing Bob.

I am very sorry this hatred still exists.

Sean Mullikin

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The Jews are already fleeing France. But go ahead, keep running with the Israel bashers. They'll protect you when push comes to shove.

Lawrence Shore

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agreed. about all it will do is perhaps limit the number of nazi flags at Trump rallies. you're welcome to join us in Costa Rica. it's has its challenges but the hate level is way low. Pura Vida!
David Bohn

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Stay strong, Bob. Jews are the strongest, smartest people I know. The goy version of your notes would so boring.

The Jew-immigrant analogy you made is spot on. Easiest people to scapegoat. The Other. This is history repeating itself, egged on by darkness in the White House.

Can’t wait for it all to end with a change of leadership.

Appreciate all your wise words.

Edward

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When the craziness finally gets to you. Come North to Canada, you’ll be welcome with open arms and we will all be better off for it.

Regards

Levino

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We have a mass shooting of Jews, we have a dozen+ bombs mailed to political targets, and the President says the media are the true enemy of the people. And forty what percent of Americans support the guy.

Michael Alex

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I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now. This was easily, to me, the most succinct, cogent, powerful and well-written piece you’ve ever had. Thank you so much. Thank you so very, very much.

Bruce Lerner

______________________________________

I just read your letter and when I finished I said to myself- "To where?"

Michael Rosenblatt

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This has to be encouraging!

Agree with your newsletter about Pittsburgh, unfortunately.

www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/muslim-americans-raise-more-120-000-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-survivors-n925796

Brad Durham

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Bob, why can’t you see that the Democrat Party is the biggest threat to Jews in America?

The Christianity being taught in America today is so Pro-Israel that I can guarantee at least 40,000,000 Americans who would fight for your rights, religious or otherwise. The far-right idiots are policed by rank-and-file conservatives. They have no hope of winning an election if they ever utter an anti—Semitic Trobe.

But no so on the Left. Your hero tutored under Jeremiah Wright for 22 YEARS. You have Maxine, Ellison, and others clamoring for photos with Farakhan. NOT ONE DEMOCRAT CONGRESSPERSON was in Israel to celebrate the Embassy move…though all were invited. I could go on and on…but there is a disconnect whenever a mirror is held up to a leftist.

A jew voting Democrat is like a turkey voting for Thanksgiving.

Ted Pearce

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Time to listen again to Dylan's neighborhood bully. Nobody ever said it better.

David Ray

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You know, fuck that Bob. I was born here (my parents were not). You and I deserve to be here. And if it comes down to having to fight to stay, so be it. I'm college-educated which means I actually know how to read an instruction manual. Figuring out how to aim and fire a gun ain't that hard.

Roy Y. Liu

______________________________________

If you read their stories [in the Washington Post link via apple news below], I don't think any of these people had enough time to steal jobs or money grub. They were just too busy being good, honest, helpful, and loving folks. I wish after more such tragedies we learned about the humans behind the massacre[s]- it's very, very telling and so sad. Is anyone's world a better place with these poor people gone? NO!
apple.news/AeI0CqVp3QeOobMgW1-jCCQ
Thanks and keep telling the truth.
Best-
Jonathan Pines - Director of Strategic Operations
Rupert Neve Designs / Fingerprint Audio

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Fuck, Bob. This pisses me off and breaks my heart.

Tell it to us real like you always do: what do you and the Jewish people need from us (the non-Jewish folks living in America) as allies?

What can we do that you’d feel would be impactful to the cause?

-Evan Sanchez (a longtime reader and fan)

______________________________________

bravo

Bob Pfeifer

______________________________________

"College students are anti-Israel."
Being pro-Palestine doesn't automatically equal anti-Israel.
Being in favour of a solution that both sides can live with doesn't equal anti-Israel either.
It's this sort of "you're either with us or against us" mentality that's at the root of many of the world's problems,
and in particular those of the U.S. Many of you folks like to look at problems in a simple white/black fashion,
just that most major problems are too complex to solve them with that kind of mentality.
Just as the "choice" of voting for either one of only 2 parties (Reps/Dems) doesn't suffice anymore in the world
of today.
Just sayin'
Greets
Frank Baach

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I’m sorry, Bob, and there’s no excuse. Freedom of religion my ass.
America is supposed to be better than this, but clearly it’s not.

Gavin Ivester

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Thank you Bob.
What really astounded me was
That a 97 year old Holocaust
Surviver made out of Europe before he was put in an oven
Gets murdered at his Shul In
Good old USA. Growing up in The Bronx in the 50s had me believing the world was Jewish.
When I enlisted in The USAF
in basic training a southern
Boy told me I was the first Jew he’d ever met and that I wasn’t so bad. Later when I wound up in an Illinois farm town I was told with glee that there was another Jew in town. I sarcastically said
"I bet he owns the clothing store". They asked me how I knew that. I cannot believe what’s happing here.

Sad
Neil Lasher

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"So if it makes you feel good about being distraught about Pittsburgh while you're loving each other, good for you, but know it won't make any difference."

I want this to be wrong, but it's not.

DeAnn Forbes

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Right on

Gary Krantz

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Is this what 1935 felt like?

~Bobbo

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You almost made me cry.

I share your pessimism, but I have to wonder if we’ll have the wherewithal to get out of dodge when things get really bad.

And how will we be able to tell when it’s really time to go? Will social media help or hinder?

How do we (Jews and others) sharpen our radars so we can make it out in the nick of time.

"The coffin or the suitcase" is a stark choice, but I ask myself every day, "where could we go?"

In the meantime, I think I’ll read Howard Jacobson’s "J" and sulk some more.

And I’ll go out and vote on November 6 and feel good for the few seconds it takes to pull the lever.

Alex de Soto
Philadelphia, PA

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Well said Bob.
I was raised catholic until my mom finally realized the scam for what it was; my dad knew way long and before.
It what was what it damn well was I guess.
Near on sixty this world confuses me as much as it did when I was starry eyed and 16.
In the immortal words of Steven Tyler??? ‘if you can judge a man by the colour of his skin then mister you are a better man than I’
Tho I suspect he pinched that from someone previous,,,,
As always, cheers, peace love.
Andrew Parr

______________________________________

Seemingly an incurable problem, isn't it? Certainly an intractable one, if history is any lesson.

If the world was devoid of religion, would it make a real and lasting difference? I suspect it might be a step in the right direction. Hatred and loathing is fueled by the notion that "my religion is better than yours". I don't see that perspective changing anytime soon.

Take care, Bob.

Pete Meehan
______________________________________

Word!!

Sad but true!

Oh, and not having guns at the convenience of the ones that need to channel their anger would help. But that won’t change either.

Thanks, Bob

Best,
Tobias Friedrich
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Seemingly an incurable problem, isn't it Woah. That last line was a doozy.

Gloria Gay Bartholomew
______________________________________

Right on, Bob.

Adam Fell
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I don't view Israel as representing Jews, and I'm not alone in this. Just saying. The government is not the people/religion.

Suzanne Bianqui
______________________________________

Thanks for this, Bob.
Obviously, the polarized political climate makes this worse. All I see on FB is Jews in a bitter debate as to whether Trump is to blame (many even stating he may as well have pulled the trigger), rather than uniting against Anti Semitism in some way, which - whatever you think of Trump - has been around for millennia. Even if one argues his presence has made it worse, eliminating him won't solve this problem.
It's not looking good out there.
What do condos go for in Tel Aviv right now, I wonder? ;-) js

Jason Steidman
______________________________________

Always found it astounding when certain states would not observe MLK day because it may require eliminating some other holiday. If you were to ask the average American what a particular holiday represents, I bet the majority would reply that it means you don't have to go to school or to work and have no idea what the person being was being honored for. MLK professed non-violent protest to achieve change and I remember in kindergarten being taught that the USA was a peace-loving country where citizens could lawfully protest. Well, for most of my life the country has been "at war" [whether officially declared or not] and many people are offended by NFL players protesting by taking a knee. I guess a better name for civics class is propogands class - we were even served Kool-Aid...

Bob Paris
______________________________________

The only thing you need to remember that, unlike the last time, if the the six million had each fought back, they would have taken six million with them.

Net result, no fascists. No war.

Instead of running from them, make them go away.

When you threaten the bullies, many of them "cave".

Steve Corwin
______________________________________

Mac Miller's advice is appropriate for many reasons right now. It's sad how right he was about Donald Trump.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm8ISls_TBA

Now is the time to unite against Trump. This is our reminder that as Jews we cannot support Trump even if he is "good on Israel". In Donald Trump's America we are targets just as much as other minorities.

Ariel Marcus
______________________________________

I am not a Jew, can’t credibly relate and won’t try to equivocate. Whereas you may feel, in your current (and understandable) state of mind, that love is not the answer, love is greater than hate.

Hang in, Bob.

George Wood
______________________________________

Amen. 3,000 years of this.

Stu Cohen
______________________________________

But to where?

Lizzz Kritzer
______________________________________

Hopeless and helpless. What’s a Jew to do? Silence is the worst. So even though you might very well be right, it’s something that many of us have to speak out about.

I wore my Star of David today. Hope it doesn’t get me killed downtown LA.

Now to figure out what country should try to move to if it comes to that...

Amy Madnick
______________________________________

Brilliant, honest piece, Bob. Bravo, as usual.

Scott McIntyre
______________________________________

Time to wake up and smell the coffee, Bob...with that shooting in Pittsburgh, the Canary officially died in the mine......

BTW
______________________________________

What people fail to realize (or just overlook) is that America is the most diverse country for its size in the world. I don’t need stats to prove that. China and India are ahead of the US and are fairly homogenous nations except for ex pats. We have 300 + million people living here. Despite our utopian fantasies, we’ll never fully get along and racism, classism and bigotry will exist and rear it’s ugly head as long as we’re all different. It’s just one of the natural byproducts of our diversity. And behind the anti-Semitic tragedy is yet another issue we’ve been dealing with in this country: GUNS.

PS Apple took out the emoji for guns! Now it’s a flexed arm lol.

Danny Jay
______________________________________

I don't think Trump is a Nazi or a Klansman, but I do know that there are Nazis and Klansmen who are delighted that he's president and feel more empowered than ever. It's not even just Trump - far right populism has also festered in Canada, Western Europe, and as we saw last night, Brazil.

Brazil elected a fascist because many establishment politicians were implicated in the Operation Car Wash scandal, and they have suffered economic devastation on top of a spiraling increase in violence. They demanded answers, and Bolsonaro was the only one who addressed their concerns. Sound familiar?

I think part of what allowed it to happen as well is the fact that people have cried wolf in making unwarranted comparisons to Hitler when people like George Bush, Bob Dole, or John McCain came into the picture, and when people compared actual fascist elements to those of Hitler, everyone scoffed and went about their business, leaving such warnings to fall on deaf ears.

It's a truly scary time. I'm really hoping this wave of white supremacy stops before it spirals and causes irreparable damage.

Garrett Gravely
______________________________________

From one tribe member to another this is your best newsletter yet and yes looking at history 11 looks a lot smaller than 6 million. We're lucky to be here and we're lucky to have you

Richart Ruddie
______________________________________

Wow. So powerful, and unfortunately so terribly true.
Your writing is always so right on.
What you are saying really needs to be said.

Andrew Butcher
______________________________________

Bravo Bob. Just shared on FB.

Kenny Lee Lewis
______________________________________

Bob, thank you. It’s insanity how people hold onto their "not me"s and their "you’re the problem"s. Fuck, I mean, I just read an expose in the New Yorker, today, on Ruth Bader Ginsburg and how she’s had one African American clerk her whole career. And, she’s supposed to be our hero. Everybody is in their lie-to-myself bubble. I still think she’s amazing and crucial and she had a plan to bring women up to equal status in the world and she is a law-geek to the utmost. She had it all worked out to get Equal Rights for Women... and then Roe v. Wade happened. Apparently she thought it was a mistake, but not because she was anti-abortion, but because she was playing the long game. I had never heard her perspective. It was fascinating and educational.

Anyway, my point is, thank you. There is always a scapegoat. I want to say "this killing has got to STOP!" But, you are right, "outrage" isn’t going to bring back those 11 people’s lives. And, it most certainly isn’t going to get Trump impeached, or the millions and millions of guns turned in.

We need calm, cool, and collected. We need methodical, measured, precise action to dismantle the centuries old system. But, also, we need love. LOVE.

It’s not “all we need”, but we can’t go devoid of it. It’s s essential. It’s a necessary ingredient. And, right now, it’s missing...

We need thoughtful self-reflection and self-honesty, too,

and also, we need Love ...

and gerrymandering needs to be banned and that ban must be enforced.

And ... we need LOVE

Love love love love love love love love love love.

Love is what changes people’s minds. Love.

L O V E.

Love you, my favorite truth teller!

Sarah Fridrich
______________________________________

Hell I’ve been heeding their advice too... just haven’t landed on where to go. If you figure it out let me know.

Ashley
______________________________________

My mom is Jewish, my Dad is Black. Lived in LA my entire life. Up until recently (circa 2010ish- early in Obama administration when mixed folks became widely recognizable/mainstream), I had been asked by strangers almost daily, "What are you? Are you mixed? Where are you from? Where are you from originally? Where are your parents from? You're not Mexican? You're not Spanish? Brazilian? You're so exotic. You're Jewish? Really? How? Who's Jewish? Who's Black? You're not REALLY Black. You're not a REAL Jew." Other times, I'd just get stares. Long, hard stares. There is NOTHING exotic about me. If you think a half Black half white person in this country is "exotic", you should open a US history book. We're more American than apple pie. My entire life justifying my existence for strangers before they even knew my first name. But this has been my reality for almost all 40 of my years. It's exhausting.

I've been to Israel twice (Birthright in 2006 and Alternative Spring Break in 2009), and neither time did ANYONE ask me if I was "really Jewish" or if I was mixed... no one ever seemed fazed by my obviously mixed race appearance. My Jewish family came here late 1800s and settled in Philly; my grandfather fought the Nazi's in WWII only to have a Holocaust survivor die in a Pennsylvania synagogue. I can trace my Black ancestry back to the plantation my great grandmother's grandparents slaved on; and traced their owners info back to the 1700s when they got here. My family built this country, and I'll be damned if I have to go anywhere. Not as a Jew, not as a Black person, not as a woman, not as anything. I'd rather die at home a martyr than to be run out of this country by a bunch of nut jobs that need to get old and die. They can kiss my Black tuchus.

Jennifer Johnson
______________________________________

The Pittsburgh shootings are disgusting. I deal with sick and elderly people as a speech pathologist. As men age there is a pattern of many men wanting to be isolated and not socialize. If any of these solitary men are mentally ill, their paranoia and often, dislike for doctors and medicines, or parting with money for treatment feeds there heightened loathing and dark fear of social contact. The shooter was a perfect example. Healthy social interactions can counter the onset and growth of dementia and unhealthy delusional thinking. Paul Simon’s Still Crazy After All These Years got it right.

Now I’m not the kind of guy who tends to socialize
I seem to lean on old familiar ways ....
And I ain’t no fool for love songs that whisper in my ears Still Crazy....

Now I sit by my window and I watch the cars
I fear I’ll do some damage one fine day.
But I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers Still Crazy after all these years.

Get help. Don’t help ruin the world.

Edward Arguijo
______________________________________

Record commentators are like sports commentators.

Just tell us that "the team that scores the most points" or " plays the better defense" or "sells the most records" will win/be #1.

We don't care about your politics, because you're uninformed.

Or, show your chops and broadcast the next time/place you're enjoying dinner with friends -- and I'll be sure to call a few friends and show some Leftist tactics of resistance.

Otherwise, quit wasting our time. Asshole.

Signed,

A Former Fan
______________________________________

I am bereft of hope and belief in the bettering of our world all too often, right now. I fear for so many of my friends who are anything but white, male, and “christian”. 30+ years ago, this coutnry drew me in for what I believed it was…naive, probably - but I believed. Not now. Not for now, anyway.

(Actually - given what you’ve written about your health…yeah - my skin probably is better than yours!)

Best wishes from this goy (not proud) boy, who yells at the radio whenever they (NPR, already) pronounce it, anti-semEtic.

HugoB
______________________________________

I’m originally from Calgary (in the Great White North, just above Montana), so luckily I can go home if need be.

But "brrrrrr."

And besides that, I love L.A.

I think that we should get the three left-coast states to join Canada. We can enjoy their medical plan and their good manners, and they can enjoy our fine weather.

(Also love you, Bob! Sorry about all the assholes in this world.)

~ Beverly Mason

PS: We could be the “panhandle” of Canada.

LOL
______________________________________

I’m with you.

For 8 Obama years I said it was just "The Weimar Republic"

And that was correct.

Michael Fremer
______________________________________

I’ve recently been feeling like our own US Kristallnacht is just around the corner. Except, I was thinking of it in terms for Muslims…but I guess nothing trumps (intended) old fashioned anti-semeticism. It’s astounding how little effect Ivanka has on 'ol race baiter. I guess he just wants to bang her after all, like the incestuous misogynist bigot that he is.

Gary Helsinger
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You forgot the "boycott Israel" movement. It's completely anti-jewish... and don't let people tell you otherwise.

Call out the artists who support it!

xploream
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Yer a citizen of Israel - just say the word Bob. And what a great country it is.

David Elkins
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If you print this please don't use my name, I don't want this to be seen as inciting any violence, merely as an encouragement that we should ALL learn to defend ourselves.

As Cypress Hill said so eloquently "I ain't goin' out like that"

I highly doubt Smith and Wesson were Jews but they are honorary M's O. T. for me!
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My heart hurts just reading your post. Thank you for your frank words and your honesty. It seems to be what is missing the most in regard to race discussions. Everyone is so afraid of making a misstep, staying within the boundaries of PC culture. But sharing our experience is so powerful and who can argue? Reading your statement, hearing a Jewish person address all the Jew stereotypes, feeling your emotion and witnessing your profound gift for explaining your position without blame or hatred is realizing that this sort of compassionate confrontation/communication is the antidote for hatred and reactionary behaviors. Your anger is justified and your words are constructive.

As a person of northern European white heritage, I feel fortunate to have grown up with people of many nationalities in big cities but even I, with decades-long poc friendships, have had to realize that my privilege and racism is very real and stands between me and some of my most cherished friendships. What a wake up call! It's so painful, embarrassing and frightening but I owe it to the people I love and to the world to wake myself out of this American Dream and do the work of recognizing my part in this horrendous cycle of abuse we have inherited and some of us are perpetuating. I can't avoid it, I can't deny my lack of truly understanding what others go through day to day in this culture. I can say I didn't realize it but I cannot say that my denial was not a choice.

Please allow me to stand as one example of what is wrong with America and allow me to correct myself, so I can truly walk my talk and stand for all people who desire peace, freedom and survival beyond this wretched system of domination. Seeing the error of my ways -- or beginning to -- has given me new purpose and meaning. I invite other white people to accept the painful realization that they don't have a handle on their behavior and to become open to observing their own assumptions.

As a female rock musician, I am not a stranger to bias...to suffer the sting of a thousand tiny cuts, the subtle, trivial dismissals that add up, the excessive critical judgments about my looks, my guitar playing, the internal battle that ensues, the loneliness and the pain of questioning myself -- but now I have to say I am grateful for having those experiences because now I can better understand the pain and unconsciousness I have perpetrated on others -- including people I genuinely love. Wake up, my friends. We have a choice and we don't have to do this anymore.

I am grateful to diverse peoples in the U.S. for being strong and surviving this long while still being willing to share themselves. I hope we can enable one another to figure it out just as I can allow men-in-power to reconsider their behaviors towards my gender without malevolence, only the resolute compassion to refuse being their victim and the will to reach my higher ground as quickly as I possibly can.
There is very little time to do so, let it be today, let it be now.

In gratitude,

Mia

Mia Katherine Boyle
MKB ULTRA
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Thank you for writing this. Hell, most of my genealogy is European - and I’ve been thinking about leaving! I even have family books that trace my mother’s side to 2 Dutch brothers who came over to New Amsterdam in 1652. But I have liberal and centrist views, far from most of the Trumpian Republican views. I’m a product of my generation - was 20 in 1968. Pivotal times! I spent the early part of my 20s tuning in and dropping out.

Then I married and had my first daughter. And then the roof and the floor all caved in: my daughter needed many surgeries as an infant, almost died a few times. Good news: she lived - and is thriving today, now in her mid-30s. Bad news: At 13 days old, she was given tainted blood at one of LA’s biggest hospitals - and it wasn’t until she was 4 that we were given the news that she had that new blood-born virus, now called HIV.

Very sobering. Besides being a mom of a daughter who had almost died in infancy, I had to raise a child who was given a fatal virus - and one which everyone was afraid of!!

From this October 2018 vantage point, I can look back and see how hard and brutal that all was, and yet, it was a huge challenge that I accepted - and she’s a thriving and beautiful young woman who lives a well-balanced life. It was all worth it.

But what ails our country, this racism (that I too thought was gone, or at least, better) is NOT better! I believe I have a Jewish father (a genetic test could confirm that), but my kids are mixed as their father and my first husband is black.

My great-great-great-great-great grandparents stayed in this new land and fought the British to gain freedom. Most days I’m of a mind to stand our ground and stay and help bring our country back on course, not unlike my distant grandparents, as really, if this country goes, where DOES a family go, to find a place where they can live and love and raise a family and create art and music, live in peace - where in the world would we really be able to go?

I think if this country falls, so will most of the world. So, I’m staying - and digging my roots deeper into this American soil. I’m born a rebel - and remain one at 70 years of age. Got a lot of life left in me yet! And a lot of fight!

I pray that at a future vantage point, I can look back on this beautiful land of ours, reflect on how hard and brutal these times were, how it was a huge challenge that I and so many others accepted - and how our America is thriving, its Constitution sound and strong - - and yes, that it was all worth it.

Thank you for continuing to speak up and write and make others (and me) think.

Bettie Blumer
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I stand in solidarity with you in my distraught and anger and delusions about Pittsburgh. My Ancestry DNA states I’m 12% Eastern Jew (Low Confidence). I fully embrace this possibility proudly.

I have recently been struck by a horrible case of Shingles and post herpetic pain. Thankfully, the worst is over. Last week, despite many challenges including my credit cards being compromised on line, I remained surprisingly calm and optimistic.

Then came the breaking news in Pittsburgh. I was immediately struck down. Sunday I was bedridden. I was in some form of Shiva all day.

Disillusioned, Disgusted and Heartbroken,

Kirk Bonin
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Bob,
My mom's dad was a Hungarian Jew. Her mom was a 1920s red headed flapper. I can't be a jew because the lineage is matriarchal. Still, I studied all the occult aspects of the Hasidim in relation to my pagan beliefs. When my mom was dying, I brought in an Hasidim Rabbi. She momentarily came out of her coma as he was singing the Song of David. Very magical moment. Caused gasps all around the room! But I'm not a Jew. The rules won't allow me. So, I'm a Rosicrucian (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosicrucianism). A member of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Everything taught in the Magic Tradition came from Egypt via the Jews, eventually to Germany; to England, then ultimately to The Founding Fathers of the USA. Ever seen the occult layout of Washington DC? There's a reason the Washington Monument is an obelisk. The Masons predated the Knights Templar. The Founding Fathers were Masons. They were pagans who hid their occult affiliations in public (America is most definitely NOT a "Christian" nation!). But the fact remains that their Masonic ceremonies are all naturally Jewish at heart. (Unlike the initial degrees conferred in a regular Masonic Lodge, which (in all Regular Masonic jurisdictions) only require a belief in a Supreme Being regardless of religious affiliation, the Knights Templar is one of several additional Masonic Orders in which membership is open only to Freemasons who profess a belief in Christianity.) A Rosicrucian is a sort of Mason that is devoted to alchemy: Converting the lead of the lower self into the gold of the enlightened self via the magical tradition brought from Egypt. It's a combination of transcendental meditation, Jungian psychology, and ceremonies with which to boost the imagination so that the mind/spirit can escape the leaden box the uninitiated/unenlightened choose to live their lives in. Is it fairy tales and poppycock? No more so than any other faith-based belief system. The Hasidim are the keepers of the Sefer Yetzira, the Kabbalah, the true alchemy of magic. I am proud to have studied these teachings and traditions. I love my Jewish heritage I am not allowed to claim (I am also part Cherokee, and can not claim that either - so, I know how E. Warren feels). So, I am many things that I can not claim. Some I am not supposed to in public (Rosicrucians have the same rules about secrecy as do the Masons). I am telling you all of this because I want you to feel better, and not alone! For fun, read volumes 13 & 14 of the Collected Works of CG Jung. He was also an alchemist. I'd swear the movie "The Matrix" was based on these two volumes. Pretty magical movie defamed/buried by its sequels. Anyway, as always, this is for your eyes only. Also, FUCK THE FUCKING NAZIS AND NATIONALISTS AND ARYAN WHITE SUPREMACIST COCKSUCKERS!!! We shall survive and we shall transcend. The human race will become extinct (most likely due to anti-vaxers and science deniers) and the animals will get the planet back. May they live in Peace forever!!! Love ya! -K
Kieron K. McKindle
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Thank you! This was the best ever. I am a non religious but yes Jewish woman , grew up in a part of Florida where there was one synagogue and one temple …after high school moved to Los Angeles and was there until about 8 years ago , moved back to be close to family. When I moved back, sadly I lived in an area ( not now) where the neighbor down the street had a swastika flag in his garage, and Dixie flags hung at least 2 other houses and on several trucks Disgusting. I have moved to a more mixed area but I still do NOT tell anyone I am Jewish. My sister lives in a gated community in Tampa and a few years ago, in this so called haven of safety someone painted swastikas on someones garage door. The hate displayed against blacks who can not hide, and Jews who sometimes can, breaks my heart so much…. I believe growing up with this awareness made me , and MANY Jews, aware and against the horrible racism as well as anti Semitism, and hatred towards Muslims.

I am dismayed to my soul about the Jews who support Trump. I do not understand their closed off minds and hearts. Simple selfish greed, it must be.
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Religion has been the biggest burden put on the back of mankind ~ Just think about what the world would be like without religion ~ People pray but it’s no different than pissing into the wind ~ It does no good ~ Thats right it’s a waste of your time ~ Whats needed now is a call to action and it’s not going to happen as long as #45 is in the White House corrupting our everyday lives ~

We live in a world of 7.53 billion people and to think that there is a God who listens to each and every prayer is just crazy ~ Dear God my Aunt Dorthy has a hang nail and she is in pain can you help her ~ If there is a god why would he let children with cancer suffer ~ Don’t believe me go over to the Children’s Hospital on Sunset Blvd. in LA and see for yourself what pain is all about ~

We humans are going the way of the dinosaurs ~ You can see it as the polar ice melts ~ All that beach front properties that the rich have bought up in Malibu will one day be swallowed by water ~ Bad investment ~ Hey they’ll just write it off and put more stress on the backs of the middle class and the poor ~ Who else will pay for it ~

Let’s face it #45 has just brought to the surface something that was always there ~ White people are losing their grip on society’s power and #45 is just throwing every bit of hatred up against the wall to see what will stick and as we can see by the latest news reports some of it is ~ A 97 year old woman died in the name of hate ~ Hitler tried but it was a White American that did it ~

America now reminds me of that Cecil B Demille movie from the 50’s “The Ten Commandments" that scene where Edward G. Robinson is being Schleps around in that Golden Gurney with all that gold ~ The thing is all that gold can’t buy you health or even your mental health as well and it seems we are losing the battle for both ~

All I want now is that all the people in America especially all the people in their right minds is to get out the Vote and make a small dent in whats going on now because the scales are tipped in the wrong direction ~ If Man/Woman are to survive the call for action is now ~

Sincerely

Rock Singer
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Hi Bob, it is good to vent and I agree anti-semitism is ingrained in American culture. Hell, I have an old surfing buddy, who's grandmother was a Jew, and he still uses the hateful expression "maybe we can jew them down on the price". Of course I yell at him when it slips out, but he defends himself by saying he is part Jewish and it's ok if he says it. It's not!

The mainstream media feeds the anti-semitism with their pro Palestinian slant and bias reporting on Israel defending itself. I write countless letters to the LA Times complaining about this anti-Israel bias in their reporting and especially on their op ed pages. The editor of the op ed pages is a Jew, and he still runs op ed articles supporting the BDS boycott, pro Palestinian groups on UC campuses, and articles slamming Israel for inappropriate force defending itself against Hamas terrorism and violent attacks. Even that old schmuck Bernie Sanders said on the campaign trail Israel uses inappropriate force on the Palestinians. Added to this it seems a majority of left leaning professors on college campuses are brainwashed and supportive of anti-Israel pro Palestinian/Hamas/Abbas propaganda and lies.

And it is not just the LA Times, but the NY Times and Washington Post as well, who are parrots of pro-Palestinian, anti Israel propaganda. With seldom a mention of Hamas wanting the extinction of Israel in their desire for a one state solution. This is really disturbing and dangerous journalism. It seems chic or cool on the far left to be anti-Israel. Despite Israel being America's one true ally in the world.

I write this as a life long liberal/progressive, and the only thing I give the moron Trump credit for is his strong support of Israel. It is a bit shoicking to me that he gets it, when so many of my peers on the left don't......Israel is good, Hamas is bad. it's that simple. Maybe it's because Ivanka converted?

It's good to vent thanks,. " Never again" bro. alan segal san diego
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I am only prejudice against people who are lazy, people who disturb the peace and cannot resolve their differences through peaceful demonstrations.

There are about 330 million people in the United States, all different kinds of strips and colors. All of these people have different upbringings and experiences and come from different backgrounds and countries of origin. Everyone will not think the same.

I am a 53 year old male moderate Catholic Christian who attends church most of the year, but not staunch. I have no problems with Jewish people, African Americans, Asians, northerners, southerners or anyone. I do not like lazy people who do not pursue life to become a better person, to be able to live in peace and some resemblance of harmony. By the way, I am a conservative, a Trump guy. I help the poor, I help widows, I was once poor, I was an orphan with only a mom. I have several liberal friends, we do not fight.

I have compassion, but not for the lazy, not for people who cry about their lot in life. I have helped illegal immigrants but I do believe they should use our front door like my grandparents who came here from Europe in the early 1900's. The USA has plenty of opportunity to work your way up for financial success no matter who you are.

Why people pick on Jews or others who are living here peacefully is beyond me. These recent tragedies are terrible. And by the way, I am against the Trump guy in Florida who sent the pipe bombs, he should go to jail for life. I could go on and on, but it is your blog not mine.

Peace,

Paul Zorich in Nashville, TN
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This one is really heartbreaking. Your pain is palpable... not just for those slaughtered in Pittsburgh... but for what the culture of human beings has done to you as an individual.

Please know that many non-Jews feel your pain, feel shame for what our Christian culture has wrought, and guilt that we collectively seem incapable of not inflicting pain on one another. I'm a Goy, but most of my friends are Jewish... it's always been that way... my mother's best friend was Jewish. We were part of each other's families... Auntie Ruthie and Uncle Nate. Their son Hal was my earliest friend. He's Ivy tenured faculty and we're still close.

So, it was really hard for me to understand when the priest of my childhood said at Sunday mass that "the Jews killed Jesus." I couldn't reconcile that with my experience of the Jewish families we were friends with. My mother tried to explain it away, saying "it was a long time ago." I believe this is one of the primary underpinnings of anti-Semitism: the demonization of Jews as Christ killers... taught as doctrine in the Christian church until quite recently. This, while they were molesting huge numbers of their own children. But, that's another story for another day.

For me personally, it took a good liberal arts education to see that "man has created God in his own image and likeness" and that "more people have been killed in the name of religion than for any other cause." I have no religion now, and I don't want one. I respect everyone else's choice in the matter, as long as they in turn respect the choices of those around them.

But, what the hell is it going to take to end the madness? Perhaps the destruction of the Antarctic continent, massive storm destruction, lack of water and other effects of (fake) climate change will wake us up to the fact that we are all the same, and if we don't make it together, we will surely perish as individuals.

Jack Casey
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The attack on Saturday tore me apart. I can’t sleep for the profound sense of melancholy I feel now.

It’s not as though I didn’t realize that anti-semitism has been on the rise around the world - and here too since our political system shifted so dramatically to the extreme wings of each party.

In fact, there was one Thursday afternoon when both Trump and Michele Obama spoke from separate rallies and everything changed. It was October 14th, 2016. This was one week to the day after the “pussy” tape when she appealed to women to stand up and reject this open insult to their humanity. He let her go first as I recall, and then he gave the most frightening speech of his campaign, and the one where I believe the tide turned for us. It shook me to my core.

He read this whole speech from the Teleprompter. He said that Hillary Clinton met in secret with “International Bankers to plot the destruction of US sovereignty in order to enrich these global financial powers”. He talked about how the corrupt political establishment was the greatest power behind radical globalization and the disenfranchisement of working people (these are nearly direct quotes from Adolph Hitler). And then he said “THEIR” financial resources are virtually unlimited, THEIR political resources are unlimited and THEIR media resources are unmatched.

Who was the “THEY” in all this? You and me and our families. The Jews, once again. And from that speech forward, the White Right came hoodless out of the shadows in larger and more visible numbers than before, started gathering in the open as they did in Charlottesville and even started their own social network where they could trade stories about the Jewish plot to destroy America and take over the world. They call themselves “nationalists” and we are evil globalists. Who else uses that term? Our President.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, please watch this story from Vice On Charlottesville. It’s chilling.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIrcB1sAN8I&vl=en

So why am I writing this to you? Because you have reach and maybe through someone in your network it might be possible to get through to Jared Kushner - and maybe even Ivanka. If they had any question about the potential effects of these rallies and all the extreme rhetoric, they have seen them this weekend in bloody color.

I don’t believe Trump intended for these things to happen. He is so consumed with playing to the crowd, and is such a narcissist that he doesn’t think before he throws out these inflammatory words that fire up his base. He doesn’t read much - so he has little or no idea of their origin or symbolism. Nor does he accept responsibility for anything he says or does.

But the base is getting the underlying message, intended or not, and some of the crazy ones are now acting on it. And I, my children and grandchildren are now potential targets. All of us are - and the Kushner kids too.

God knows, we have seen this scenario before, as you say. And we want to believe that it can’t happen here, but it’s already begun.

Maybe, just maybe Jarvanka could influence Trump to temper his rhetoric. Because words matter. Presidential words matter more. And inflammatory words inflame. That’s just a fact.

But like you, I don’t have much hope right now.

Bob Ezrin

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