The Rush to Judge Ilhan Omar

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03/05/2019 18:34

Subject: The Rush to Judge Ilhan Omar

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jsteele
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Last Wednesday, speaking at DC's Busboys and Poets restaurant, Representative Ilhan Omar presented remarks that were quickly characterized as anti-Semitic. For example, Jonathan Chait, claimed that Omar was accusing US Jews of allegiance to a foreign country:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/omar-israel-hawks-allegiance-foreign-country-anti-semitism.html

This version of Omar's remarks was quickly broadcast and widely condemned, eventually leading to the drafting of a Congressional resolution condemning Omar's words, though not explicitly naming her. This resolution may be voted on as early as tomorrow. However, viewing Omar's complete talk shows that Chait and others have misrepresented what Omar actually said. By trusting the accuracy of accounts such as Chait's, Democrats rushed to judgment of Omar and have now trapped themselves into a position of being forced to wrongly rebuke her.

Here is a transcript of Omar's talk:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/what-ilhan-omar-25142297

She begins by describing how she understands the attachment and support of her Jewish constituents to Israel and compares it to her children's passion and compassion for Somalia:

I know that I have a huge Jewish constituency, and you know, every time I meet with them they share stories of [the] safety and sanctuary that they would love for the people of Israel, and most of the time when we’re having the conversation, there is no actual relative that they speak of, and there still is lots of emotion that comes through because it’s family, right? Like my children still speak of Somalia with passion and compassion even though they don’t have a family member there.

She then complains that there is not space to talk about uplifting Palestinians. She says that when she hears Jewish people disparage Palestinians, she does not allow herself to believe it is because the individual is Jewish. She calls that type of thinking a "dark space". But, then she describes the other side of that coin:

And what I am fearful of is that because Rashida and I are Muslim, that a lot of Jewish colleagues, a lot of our Jewish constituents, a lot of our allies, go to thinking that everything we say about Israel, to be anti-Semitic, because we are Muslim. And so to me, it is something that becomes designed to end the debate. Because you get in this space, of like, I know what intolerance looks like and I’m sensitive when someone says that the words you use Ilhan, are resemblance of intolerance. And I am cautious of that and I feel pained by that. But it’s almost as if every single time we say something, regardless of what it is we say, that it’s supposed to about foreign policy or engagement, that our advocacy about ending oppression, or the freeing of every human life and wanting dignity, we get to be labeled in something, and that’s the end of the discussion, because we end up defending that, and nobody gets to have the broader debate of ‘what is happening with Palestine?’

Then came the part for which she is being criticized. What must be understood about what Omar is saying, is that she is not accusing Jews of having dual allegiance, but rather the pro-Israel lobby forcing non-Jews to be have anE allegiance to Israel. Remember, right at the beginning Omar expressed understanding for Jewish support for Israel and has no issue with it.

So for me I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is ok for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. And I want to ask, why is it ok for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, of fossil fuel industries, or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobby [group?] that is influencing policy.

Effectively, those pushing to punish Omar and doing exactly what she said she feared. Discussion of US support for Israel or the role of the pro-Israel lobby in the US is being blocked by allegations of anti-Semitism. To prevent any discussion of those issues, House members, led by Democrats, are preparing to punish Omar for something she didn't say.

If you would like to view the Omar's talk, here is a video of it:

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crYCI6jglSU[/youtube]

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