I was against that even at the time and I remember how scary it was to say so! But once I did say so, a tsunami of people agreed... we just need to not be afraid and not give these clowns any more power than they already have.
But it also doesn't include anything *I* don't believe. On the issue of Israel, my views are closer to those of the Federal Society than those of the far left. If we can find common ground on one thing, we can build on that to the point where our country is less polarized and dysfunctional. The far left wants to kill me and mine. This is the literal truth and I'm not going to ignore it. On this front, they deserve my solidarity even less than the Federalist Society even though I am still on the left and always will be.
I read your posts though we don't always agree, which is fine. I learn a lot and, like you, I love Israel with all its faults. But I kind of hit a wall with this one. Praising Bowles and Weiss is over the line for me. Read the NY Times' review of Bowles' book, which says a lot (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/14/books/review/morning-after-the-revolution-nellie-bowles.html) and was informative about the spirit and antipathy of both Bowles and Weiss. As a Jewish lesbian, they make me ashamed. I'm not sure that Bari Weiss has moved out from the dark side given her ongoing collaborations with right wing actors.
The NYT review is a caricature, wildly unfair. Bowles is a lifelong activist and I don't think that's changed. It's okay to acknowledge that the far left seems more consumed with performing virtue and eating its own than with meaningful political work, that their ostracism of others is often capricious and cruel, and they're often devoted to Utopian nonsense at the expense of any workable measures. I agree with all that and I'm not in bed with the right, so why can't the same be true of them?
It's not that I don't have criticisms of the Left. I do. I just think that it's important not to align oneself with the Right - like speaking at the Federalist Society or doing Elon Musk's dirty work when he took over Twitter. My rabbi says that as supporters of Israel and progressives, we occupy a narrow place. And my opinion is that we have to watch out for strange bedfellows. I have only distain for Speaker Johnson and booed him when he got up to speak at the DC March and Rally for Israel. These people are not my allies, regardless of the issue. I don't think Weiss and Bowles tread that line carefully and mostly fall over.
I guess it depends what you think a powerful voice should do. Should we speak only to those who already agree with us? Is that the best use of our persuasive powers? She opened that Federalist Society lecture asking them if they were sure they hadn't invited her by mistake since her political beliefs are so different from theirs. Being effective politically is about moving the needle of others, not just preaching to the choir.
I have not only taught courses on Jewish literature but written some of my own. Still, I've always avoided book clubs because I doubt I'd agree with the books being chosen. I answered yes to your question because I support the idea, even if I choose not to participate.
The left made a terrible mistake when they cancelled Al Franken.
I was against that even at the time and I remember how scary it was to say so! But once I did say so, a tsunami of people agreed... we just need to not be afraid and not give these clowns any more power than they already have.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5HmLdRqvYjBtjR1S/?mibextid=WaXdOe
Shabbat shalom, Elissa! Your fans love you, too!
Yes! I would love to further support Jewish writers and look forward to building more community around this too. I’m buying the book!
Wonderful! Let's make Morning After our first title.
Yes, but I read her speech and it didn't seem to be about anything they didn't already believe.
But it also doesn't include anything *I* don't believe. On the issue of Israel, my views are closer to those of the Federal Society than those of the far left. If we can find common ground on one thing, we can build on that to the point where our country is less polarized and dysfunctional. The far left wants to kill me and mine. This is the literal truth and I'm not going to ignore it. On this front, they deserve my solidarity even less than the Federalist Society even though I am still on the left and always will be.
I read your posts though we don't always agree, which is fine. I learn a lot and, like you, I love Israel with all its faults. But I kind of hit a wall with this one. Praising Bowles and Weiss is over the line for me. Read the NY Times' review of Bowles' book, which says a lot (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/14/books/review/morning-after-the-revolution-nellie-bowles.html) and was informative about the spirit and antipathy of both Bowles and Weiss. As a Jewish lesbian, they make me ashamed. I'm not sure that Bari Weiss has moved out from the dark side given her ongoing collaborations with right wing actors.
I understand. I felt that way once.
The NYT review is a caricature, wildly unfair. Bowles is a lifelong activist and I don't think that's changed. It's okay to acknowledge that the far left seems more consumed with performing virtue and eating its own than with meaningful political work, that their ostracism of others is often capricious and cruel, and they're often devoted to Utopian nonsense at the expense of any workable measures. I agree with all that and I'm not in bed with the right, so why can't the same be true of them?
It's not that I don't have criticisms of the Left. I do. I just think that it's important not to align oneself with the Right - like speaking at the Federalist Society or doing Elon Musk's dirty work when he took over Twitter. My rabbi says that as supporters of Israel and progressives, we occupy a narrow place. And my opinion is that we have to watch out for strange bedfellows. I have only distain for Speaker Johnson and booed him when he got up to speak at the DC March and Rally for Israel. These people are not my allies, regardless of the issue. I don't think Weiss and Bowles tread that line carefully and mostly fall over.
I guess it depends what you think a powerful voice should do. Should we speak only to those who already agree with us? Is that the best use of our persuasive powers? She opened that Federalist Society lecture asking them if they were sure they hadn't invited her by mistake since her political beliefs are so different from theirs. Being effective politically is about moving the needle of others, not just preaching to the choir.
Also Weiss has broken with Musk very publicly.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-blasts-bari-weiss-journalist-ban-1234649044/
I have not only taught courses on Jewish literature but written some of my own. Still, I've always avoided book clubs because I doubt I'd agree with the books being chosen. I answered yes to your question because I support the idea, even if I choose not to participate.
Noted! :-)
I had no idea there were Jewish romance books. Wild!