“They’re still your friends?” asked a friend, upon hearing of the many people I know in NYC who voted for Zohran Mamdani in the recent mayoral election.
Beth, another very thoughtful piece - thank you. Let me say this: I held my nose and voted for Cuomo. I think Mandami is NOT naive. He knows exactly what he’s doing and saying. If he had even one ounce of integrity about condemning other countries that truly oppress their people - many of which are Moslem-ruled countries - he would have made a stronger case for himself as being opposed to oppression rather than singling out the one nation where Jews can feel safe as Jews. But he has fixated on Israel. He has fixated on Jews who support Israel. He has done nothing to quell these fears that Jewish New Yorkers feel about this moment of escalating hatred and violence. If he truly cared, he would have made it clear.
Look - this is my city. It was my city before he was born in Uganda - a place with its own violent history.
He was raised on a pablum of such hatred directed at Israel and Jews. He had many chances to be more circumspect, even if only for political expediency. Something!
Had he not had this hateful obsession, even I may have voted for him.
But I can’t hold my nose that long.
I hope for the best because I love my city. But he needs to do more than attend a Chanukah candle lighting. And I know he won’t.
I agree that some of what he said for NYC had potential for important change if he can balance the budget and find a way to make the city more affordable BUT as you said, he wasn't raised on love of Israel and Jews. And in the world of today, he doesn't see any reason to be circumspect - so much of those who voted him support his "globalize the Intifada" even if they don't know why that's a bad thing.
Lots to say about this. The new mayor of my hometown , though gratefully no longer my place of residence, is a danger to all. He is clueless, evil and his election is downright frightening. He has made a point of appointing the most inexperienced individuals to his team. Their skill set lie with their politically left wing sentiments, ability to curse and outright Jew hatred. Those who voted for him are naive and equally hateful of are just self hating Jews.
I think naiveté is a complex problem facing so many today, along with preferring to believe that their liberal, progressive belief system will save them and the world. It's hard to accept that maybe it's more complicated now - for Jews, for Gazans, for the world. I keep hoping he'll just be a bad mayor and that will be the end of him but I don't think so.
Beth, another very thoughtful piece - thank you. Let me say this: I held my nose and voted for Cuomo. I think Mandami is NOT naive. He knows exactly what he’s doing and saying. If he had even one ounce of integrity about condemning other countries that truly oppress their people - many of which are Moslem-ruled countries - he would have made a stronger case for himself as being opposed to oppression rather than singling out the one nation where Jews can feel safe as Jews. But he has fixated on Israel. He has fixated on Jews who support Israel. He has done nothing to quell these fears that Jewish New Yorkers feel about this moment of escalating hatred and violence. If he truly cared, he would have made it clear.
Look - this is my city. It was my city before he was born in Uganda - a place with its own violent history.
He was raised on a pablum of such hatred directed at Israel and Jews. He had many chances to be more circumspect, even if only for political expediency. Something!
Had he not had this hateful obsession, even I may have voted for him.
But I can’t hold my nose that long.
I hope for the best because I love my city. But he needs to do more than attend a Chanukah candle lighting. And I know he won’t.
Shabbat Shalom, dear friend.
I agree that some of what he said for NYC had potential for important change if he can balance the budget and find a way to make the city more affordable BUT as you said, he wasn't raised on love of Israel and Jews. And in the world of today, he doesn't see any reason to be circumspect - so much of those who voted him support his "globalize the Intifada" even if they don't know why that's a bad thing.
Lots to say about this. The new mayor of my hometown , though gratefully no longer my place of residence, is a danger to all. He is clueless, evil and his election is downright frightening. He has made a point of appointing the most inexperienced individuals to his team. Their skill set lie with their politically left wing sentiments, ability to curse and outright Jew hatred. Those who voted for him are naive and equally hateful of are just self hating Jews.
I think naiveté is a complex problem facing so many today, along with preferring to believe that their liberal, progressive belief system will save them and the world. It's hard to accept that maybe it's more complicated now - for Jews, for Gazans, for the world. I keep hoping he'll just be a bad mayor and that will be the end of him but I don't think so.