Coverage of Jewish movie showing in SLO ignores realities of antisemitism | Opinion
2 realities ignored
It is difficult to recreate a spoken moment to journalistic standards. But the benefit of the doubt given to the hate speakers and the lack of credence given to Jewish witnesses in the Sept. 5 “Reality Check” piece in the Tribune simply ignores two realities. First, just look at any comment section near anything involving Jews nowadays. They are full of murderous bile. To believe there weren’t these kinds of things said defies our daily experience.
Whatever the excuse of the day is, and there always is one, special anger, hate and murderous ideation is reserved for any act of Jewish sovereignty. We see you. Second, the film itself co-sponsored by the Diversity Coalition is an Oedipal whine meant to stir this kind of hate made by two tokens; tokens, just like the other co-sponsor, the so-called Jewish Voice for Peace, tools to be used to attack Israel and the other 90% of Jews. No organization called “The Diversity Coalition” would engage in such tokenism if the group in question was any people other than Jews. Would they show a detransitioners’ film to represent trans people? Of course not. But by now we all know DEI is not for Jews.
Jon-Erik G. Storm
Los Osos
What is and isn’t antisemitism?
These days, the term “antisemitism” is often misused. Simply, it refers to hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people.
The belief that present Israeli government policies vis-a-vis Palestinians is wrong-headed, cruel and counterproductive is a political and moral judgment, not evidence of antisemitism.
Similarly, protesting against current Israeli government policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and on the West Bank is not antisemitic. Most campus protest in favor of basic human and civil rights for Palestinians is not antisemiti, it is anti-Netanyahu policy.
In the early 1950s, when I first became aware of the new state of Israel, I could not have been prouder of my Jewish heritage. Emerging from the unimaginable horrors of European antisemitism to build a thriving nation has been a remarkable accomplishment.
I have tried to be guided by millenia-long Jewish notions of social justice and respect for the inherent value of all life. Having long-time Israeli friends and visiting there several times, bonds are deep.
However, I am appalled by the policies of the present Israeli government, led by hateful extremists. It is both unimaginably cruel and unjust to millions of Palestinians and, as long as it persists, there can be no true peace for Israel itself.
Seth Steiner
Los Alamos
No dictators here
President Trump has taken to repeating a familiar refrain: “He’s a dictator. He’s a dictator. A lot of people are saying maybe we like a dictator. I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.” “Already they’re saying, ‘He’s a dictator,’” President Trump added, before warning that Washington, D.C., “is going to hell, and we’ve got to stop it.” And again: “I’m a man with great common sense, and I’m a smart person. And when I see what’s happening to our cities, and then you send in troops — instead of being praised, they’re saying, ‘You’re trying to take over the republic.’ These people are sick.” The president doth protest too much. After all, he is the one who campaigned on being a “dictator on Day One.” He is the one who floated the use of military force against “the enemy within” — which in practice seems to mean anyone who dares oppose or criticize him. This is where we stand just seven months into his presidency: a leader normalizing rhetoric of authoritarian power, while Congress — the branch meant to check the executive — has largely neutered itself.
Edie Lycke
San Luis Obispo
Need to end virulent rhetoric
In the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk, Representative Mace stated that the democrats had to own this crime. It turns out, the assassin wasn’t a democrat after all. Neither should Republicans own the killing of a Minnesota legislator, despite the killer also having a hit list of other prominent democrats. Instead of blaming our political opponents for the rampant political violence in our nation, the two major political parties ought to be working together to end the root cause. To begin, they can end the virulent rhetoric that causes division and hate crimes against our neighbors. A country with two political sides raging at one another, accusing, threatening, insulting, and inciting violence is not what our finding fathers had in mind when they created this great country. America has been greatest when our leaders respected the differing views of political opponents.
Tom Bauer
Morro Bay
More political violence to come
Charlie Kirk’s death is sad and deserves our thoughts and prayers, as do the deaths of an inconceivable number deaths yet to come. Other political violence to come as result of children being denied vaccines, poor people being denied Medicaid and seniors losing their Medicare and social security. Charlie’s death was quick. The deaths of children and seniors will be prolonged and painful. But just think of how many billionaires will be able to purchase their luxuries and pleasures.
David Fernow
Templeton
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
