the worst they could say was not no.

is Tel Aviv the only city they’ve ever heard of?

I mean I think it's ugly and awkward, the random joined up letter and the disproportionate curve of the g look really clumsy? Why is the r like that?

it doesn’t look like Hebrew at all, but it’s ugly. that’s the connection they’re making. “spiritually Israeli” in, one might say, a new font.

you literally cannot talk about any problem without them going "oh but that's nothing compared to how awful america is". my reaction is apropos of lurking on a discussion on the fucking Spanish Inquisition and seeing some americans go "yeah no matter how bad that looks what's happening in the US right now is worse" and fucking excuse me??? that's not what we were talking about??? this isn't a competition! and it's not just historical atrocities you can't talk about anything bad happening anywhere but americans won't try to to make it about the US! can't talk about china, or russia, or iran or anywhere but americans won't change the subject to how much they hate america.

and before anyone says, it's NOT just leftists that do this. not by a long shot, i've been in a front row seat to watching certain people get radicalised on the right, and they hate the US if anything even more. they see it as an Israeli puppet state, for one thing. if you try to bring up something shitty Iran does they'll start describing America in terms of Islamist talking points even if they are radical Christians. hm, i wonder if there's a lesson there?

the leftists at least should know better, though, they should have SOME kind of idea of international solidarity. they should understand that sometimes justice means listening to other people and taking in new information, not just forcing the conversation to be about their own issues!

it really IS just American Exceptionalism in reverse. it's not healthy self-criticism, it's self-obsession. it's not caring about justice and "being better", it's taking all the breathing space away from anyone anywhere outside the US-- which yes, guys, is most of the world!!!-- who is facing any kind of hardship. it's making historical discussion impossible when you treat living as a gentile in fucking modern Springfield, Massachusetts like living as a jew in the 15th century a cell in the Castillo de San Jorge! IT'S A MASSIVE INSULT TO EVERYONE THE INQUISITION TORTURED AND MURDERED.

i say that as if i don't understand why they're downplaying the atrocities... Notice that however much they yap about their own bullshit, they don't actually try to make it better! most of the loudest "america is the most evil place on earth and throughout time" voices are middle-class white people, both left and right! AND YAPPING ABOUT THEIR OWN BULLSHIT DOESN'T HELP ANYONE ELSE.

justice isn't about self-hatred! it never was! why can't they just let other people talk about something other than america?

@no-starless-sky

“I can only imagine the pain and fear an attack like this, during Shabbat services, causes for the congregation and for Jewish New Yorkers across our city,” Mamdani stated.

The mayor emphasized that every New Yorker should be able to practice their religion without fearing violence, describing the event as a “despicable act” that “has no place in our city.”

“Our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe,” Mamdani added.

Guys, he is just constantly shocked and horrified and appalled and disturbed by these antisemitic actions that have no place in our city and everyone should be able to practice their religion without fear of violence and he will do everything he can to ensure people can practice their religion and keep these New Yorkers who want to practice their religion safe.

Also if you kind of point out how this is actually pretty weird and probably tells something not very pretty about both societies you attract people getting extremely defensive about misogyny being a real issue…

also that apparently “when you get a chance” usually means “when you take a break from the thing you’re immediately doing” and not “on a list among various other things you are doing today or tomorrow”