another antisemitic vandalism incident at Walt Whitman yesterday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the pickle issue is silly, everyone eats pickles in Central/Eastern Europe, Jewish or not Jewish.

But why are these antisemitic incidents happening at MCPS when there are a lot of Jewish students and teachers? Seriously asking - does anyone know the cause root? (not from US originally).

There are a lot of root causes. Probably a mix of the following, and you might weight them differently than I do but I think all are in mix:

1) Jewish stereotypes have persisted for centuries, and there remains a lot of prejudice against observant Jews in particular because non-Jewish people find the degree to which they hold themselves apart to be unnerving;

2) There is a peception of Jews holding outsized wealth and influence, which leads to resentment;

3) Antisemitism and racism walk hand-in-hand, as a core tenet of racism is that non-Whites are inferior so if they are organizing themselves or doing well there must be a shadowy white-adjacent figure behind the scenes;

4) Teenage edgelords are jerks, and they are picking up antisemitism online.

Yes, I understand this, but still, with such a large Jewish population in MoCo, I am still surprised....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Eastern Europe, if you grew up there, you may not have encountered Jewish people. This is because the Nazis and local collaborators murdered almost all of them. What happened to all of their homes, businesses, and belongings? They were all immediately stolen, fully extorted if not stolen immediately, and then looted (down to the clothing of recently murdered people) by local collaborators.

Many peasants believed longstanding myths totally made up and fabricated about Jewish people, initially based on the idea that somehow Judas was responsible for the death of Jesus, who was also Jewish.(And many other peasants did not believe or perpetuate these utter lies).

In the US, some folx brought over antisemitism with them. In the early part of the 1900s there were super antisemitic radio shows and propaganda sponsored by the foxtv of that era.

Thanks, but I am partly Jewish, as I already mentioned during the pickle-debate. On my mother's side, a good part of the family was gathered, taken and murdered. I am just surprised that this is happening in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Eastern Europe, if you grew up there, you may not have encountered Jewish people. This is because the Nazis and local collaborators murdered almost all of them. What happened to all of their homes, businesses, and belongings? They were all immediately stolen, fully extorted if not stolen immediately, and then looted (down to the clothing of recently murdered people) by local collaborators.

Many peasants believed longstanding myths totally made up and fabricated about Jewish people, initially based on the idea that somehow Judas was responsible for the death of Jesus, who was also Jewish.(And many other peasants did not believe or perpetuate these utter lies).

In the US, some folx brought over antisemitism with them. In the early part of the 1900s there were super antisemitic radio shows and propaganda sponsored by the foxtv of that era.

Thanks, but I am partly Jewish, as I already mentioned during the pickle-debate. On my mother's side, a good part of the family was gathered, taken and murdered. I am just surprised that this is happening in MoCo.

Antisemites are everywhere. The right-wing nutjobs are making it OK to show it again.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised no one is talking about this, but the antisemitism issue at Whitman intensified and is national news now that some students joked about using challah to lure Jewish people to the secluded Andaman Islands and burning them at the stake:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/05/montgomery-county-schools-antisemitism/

And apparently, school administrators are trying to use Restorative Justice to handle the issue and it's not going well: https://theblackandwhite.net/74417/news/its-getting-closer-and-closer-debate-team-takes-stock-after-students-antisemitic-comments-on-club-trip/

This WaPo columnist had a great time mocking MCPS and its entire RJ model and practice as well: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/16/antisemitism-walt-whitman-high-school-opaque-social-justice-jargon/

Honestly, I know it's well-intentioned, but RJ seems like an utter failure in practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Eastern Europe, if you grew up there, you may not have encountered Jewish people. This is because the Nazis and local collaborators murdered almost all of them. What happened to all of their homes, businesses, and belongings? They were all immediately stolen, fully extorted if not stolen immediately, and then looted (down to the clothing of recently murdered people) by local collaborators.

Many peasants believed longstanding myths totally made up and fabricated about Jewish people, initially based on the idea that somehow Judas was responsible for the death of Jesus, who was also Jewish.(And many other peasants did not believe or perpetuate these utter lies).

In the US, some folx brought over antisemitism with them. In the early part of the 1900s there were super antisemitic radio shows and propaganda sponsored by the foxtv of that era.

Thanks, but I am partly Jewish, as I already mentioned during the pickle-debate. On my mother's side, a good part of the family was gathered, taken and murdered. I am just surprised that this is happening in MoCo.

Antisemites are everywhere. The right-wing nutjobs are making it OK to show it again.

Agree. Look at the Woods homophobic club post. It is shocking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one is talking about this, but the antisemitism issue at Whitman intensified and is national news now that some students joked about using challah to lure Jewish people to the secluded Andaman Islands and burning them at the stake:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/05/montgomery-county-schools-antisemitism/

And apparently, school administrators are trying to use Restorative Justice to handle the issue and it's not going well: https://theblackandwhite.net/74417/news/its-getting-closer-and-closer-debate-team-takes-stock-after-students-antisemitic-comments-on-club-trip/

This WaPo columnist had a great time mocking MCPS and its entire RJ model and practice as well: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/16/antisemitism-walt-whitman-high-school-opaque-social-justice-jargon/

Honestly, I know it's well-intentioned, but RJ seems like an utter failure in practice.

were these incidents reported to the police?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one is talking about this, but the antisemitism issue at Whitman intensified and is national news now that some students joked about using challah to lure Jewish people to the secluded Andaman Islands and burning them at the stake:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/05/montgomery-county-schools-antisemitism/

And apparently, school administrators are trying to use Restorative Justice to handle the issue and it's not going well: https://theblackandwhite.net/74417/news/its-getting-closer-and-closer-debate-team-takes-stock-after-students-antisemitic-comments-on-club-trip/

This WaPo columnist had a great time mocking MCPS and its entire RJ model and practice as well: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/16/antisemitism-walt-whitman-high-school-opaque-social-justice-jargon/

Honestly, I know it's well-intentioned, but RJ seems like an utter failure in practice.

were these incidents reported to the police?

If only the W's would give restorative circles a chance to work. What they've been doing clearly doesn't since these problems are like clockwork.

[Anonymous]

It sounds to me like the targeted students felt like the restorative circles put an undue burden on them to teach the perpetrators how to be a good person. Maybe they would have felt less put-upon if the consequences had more teeth. The "education" provided to prevent this behavior is sorely lacking. You have uncomfortable Pyle middle school teachers for instance reading canned ADL No Place for Hate advisory scripts. Then, when that obviously does little to curb racist, antisemitic and homophobic behavior, they trot out the restorative circles. I'm all for post-incident healing, but first you have to acknowledge the pain they cause to everyone, hold people accountable (the wrestlers at Wheaton are punished for a coach's decision but kids stating a plan to burn Jewish classmates at the stake get to keep debating? MCPS makes principals call police over homophobic middle schoolers but not antisemitic 17-year-olds or kids doing drugs in the bathroom?) I'm with the columnist. It feels like the county ties principals' hands and uses a strange melange of inconsistent rules and policies to look like they're doing the right thing while the system fails. Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Eastern Europe, if you grew up there, you may not have encountered Jewish people. This is because the Nazis and local collaborators murdered almost all of them. What happened to all of their homes, businesses, and belongings? They were all immediately stolen, fully extorted if not stolen immediately, and then looted (down to the clothing of recently murdered people) by local collaborators.

Many peasants believed longstanding myths totally made up and fabricated about Jewish people, initially based on the idea that somehow Judas was responsible for the death of Jesus, who was also Jewish.(And many other peasants did not believe or perpetuate these utter lies).

In the US, some folx brought over antisemitism with them. In the early part of the 1900s there were super antisemitic radio shows and propaganda sponsored by the foxtv of that era.

Thanks, but I am partly Jewish, as I already mentioned during the pickle-debate. On my mother's side, a good part of the family was gathered, taken and murdered. I am just surprised that this is happening in MoCo.

Antisemites are everywhere. The right-wing nutjobs are making it OK to show it again.

What are you smoking?

Most actual attacks on Jews are by black males, and I doubt those are right-wing nutjobs.

Same as attacks on Asian Americans btw. It's time to address the elephant in the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds to me like the targeted students felt like the restorative circles put an undue burden on them to teach the perpetrators how to be a good person. Maybe they would have felt less put-upon if the consequences had more teeth. The "education" provided to prevent this behavior is sorely lacking. You have uncomfortable Pyle middle school teachers for instance reading canned ADL No Place for Hate advisory scripts. Then, when that obviously does little to curb racist, antisemitic and homophobic behavior, they trot out the restorative circles. I'm all for post-incident healing, but first you have to acknowledge the pain they cause to everyone, hold people accountable (the wrestlers at Wheaton are punished for a coach's decision but kids stating a plan to burn Jewish classmates at the stake get to keep debating? MCPS makes principals call police over homophobic middle schoolers but not antisemitic 17-year-olds or kids doing drugs in the bathroom?) I'm with the columnist. It feels like the county ties principals' hands and uses a strange melange of inconsistent rules and policies to look like they're doing the right thing while the system fails. Make it make sense.

Not only the consequences having more teeth, but the specific complaint is that the emphasis and pleasure was on the offended students to "forgive" the offending students rather than correcting the behavior.

It sounds like restorative justice is more focused on restoring the offender or aggressor than the victims or targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds to me like the targeted students felt like the restorative circles put an undue burden on them to teach the perpetrators how to be a good person. Maybe they would have felt less put-upon if the consequences had more teeth. The "education" provided to prevent this behavior is sorely lacking. You have uncomfortable Pyle middle school teachers for instance reading canned ADL No Place for Hate advisory scripts. Then, when that obviously does little to curb racist, antisemitic and homophobic behavior, they trot out the restorative circles. I'm all for post-incident healing, but first you have to acknowledge the pain they cause to everyone, hold people accountable (the wrestlers at Wheaton are punished for a coach's decision but kids stating a plan to burn Jewish classmates at the stake get to keep debating? MCPS makes principals call police over homophobic middle schoolers but not antisemitic 17-year-olds or kids doing drugs in the bathroom?) I'm with the columnist. It feels like the county ties principals' hands and uses a strange melange of inconsistent rules and policies to look like they're doing the right thing while the system fails. Make it make sense.

Not only the consequences having more teeth, but the specific complaint is that the emphasis and pressure was on the offended students to "forgive" the offending students rather than correcting the behavior.

It sounds like restorative justice is more focused on restoring the offender or aggressor than the victims or targets.

Sorry, meant to write "pressure" not "pleasure."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Eastern Europe, if you grew up there, you may not have encountered Jewish people. This is because the Nazis and local collaborators murdered almost all of them. What happened to all of their homes, businesses, and belongings? They were all immediately stolen, fully extorted if not stolen immediately, and then looted (down to the clothing of recently murdered people) by local collaborators.

Many peasants believed longstanding myths totally made up and fabricated about Jewish people, initially based on the idea that somehow Judas was responsible for the death of Jesus, who was also Jewish.(And many other peasants did not believe or perpetuate these utter lies).

In the US, some folx brought over antisemitism with them. In the early part of the 1900s there were super antisemitic radio shows and propaganda sponsored by the foxtv of that era.

Thanks, but I am partly Jewish, as I already mentioned during the pickle-debate. On my mother's side, a good part of the family was gathered, taken and murdered. I am just surprised that this is happening in MoCo.

Antisemites are everywhere. The right-wing nutjobs are making it OK to show it again.

What are you smoking?

Most actual attacks on Jews are by black males, and I doubt those are right-wing nutjobs.

Same as attacks on Asian Americans btw. It's time to address the elephant in the room.

What elephant in the room is that? That all black males are criminals and to be feared?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Eastern Europe, if you grew up there, you may not have encountered Jewish people. This is because the Nazis and local collaborators murdered almost all of them. What happened to all of their homes, businesses, and belongings? They were all immediately stolen, fully extorted if not stolen immediately, and then looted (down to the clothing of recently murdered people) by local collaborators.

Many peasants believed longstanding myths totally made up and fabricated about Jewish people, initially based on the idea that somehow Judas was responsible for the death of Jesus, who was also Jewish.(And many other peasants did not believe or perpetuate these utter lies).

In the US, some folx brought over antisemitism with them. In the early part of the 1900s there were super antisemitic radio shows and propaganda sponsored by the foxtv of that era.

Thanks, but I am partly Jewish, as I already mentioned during the pickle-debate. On my mother's side, a good part of the family was gathered, taken and murdered. I am just surprised that this is happening in MoCo.

Antisemites are everywhere. The right-wing nutjobs are making it OK to show it again.

What are you smoking?

Most actual attacks on Jews are by black males, and I doubt those are right-wing nutjobs.

Same as attacks on Asian Americans btw. It's time to address the elephant in the room.

What elephant in the room is that? That all black males are criminals and to be feared?

??

How do you jump from the previous statement to that one?

[Anonymous]

The Bear Jew from Inglorious Basterds should pay a visit to whitman and simply smash the antisemites’ skulls to bits in front of the student body.

We’re getting sick of coexisting with people who hate us for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Whoever said this, it’s true for NYC and exactly no where else.

What are you smoking?

Most actual attacks on Jews are by black males, and I doubt those are right-wing nutjobs.

Same as attacks on Asian Americans btw. It's time to address the elephant in the room.