Dear Representative Omar

[dreamshark]

 I sent this to my US Representative today:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please stop with the ad hominen attacks. 

 

Thank you for apologizing for your ill-considered remarks and promising to "continue to learn," but I'm afraid that you may be learning the wrong lesson. It's not just about avoiding certain phrases that might sound anti-Semitic. It's about civility. 

 

I like to think that Minnesota is a place where we believe in what some have called "The Civil Society." We try to treat each other with dignity and compassion even when we disagree passionately about some things. Flippantly accusing your own colleagues of selling out their values for money is not civil, whether they are Jewish or not. You can disagree about policy, but unsubstantiated personal attacks are just  wrong. Please stop this, and stop it now. You are not representing me when you behave like this. 

Comments

[lydy]

I dunno. She represents me. I think it is incredibly difficult to argue against money in politics, and against the Israeli government. That the confluence of the two was weaponized is...she needs to be careful. Jews are very vulnerable, especially right now. But the critique from the right is in bad faith. Her apology seemed fine, to me. And yes some of her colleagues are selling their values for money, and I do not have a problem with her saying so. In a lot of ways, I could do with a little less "civility" and a lot more compassion. I think she has the latter, and am not so concerned about the former.