Mumdani is what has happened to the Democratic Party. Overtly anti-"zionist" but (he claims) not anti-semitic. The democrats continue to self-destruct.
HELL NO! Not I. I didn't get to my views by being blissfully ignorant. More like having my face shoved up to reality and the need for survival. You are very intolerant. Well, I can be that too if you like. I don't live in the Middle East. I DO live in NYC. I worked till I was 75 years old. My husband and I both have disabilities and we worked and worked and worked and worked. I didn't mind it. But the bottom line is that, although we own our own apartment (still paying a mortgage!) and have a bit tucked away, we depend very much on the social safety net for our continuing existence. Our medical bills for prescriptions just to keep us functioning were atrocious. Trump wants to CUT the safety net. That threatens ME directly. Hence, my support of the ultimate safety netter. IF he had said "from the river to the sea" or that Israel should not exist, that would have been a deal breaker, but he SAID Israel should exist. I grew up in the slums of the Lower East Side. 4th floor walkup, urine in the halls, bathtub in the kitchen, and gang wars at night that made West Side Story seem like a fun game. Very, very integrated. I'm no child of privilege. Mamdani is a response to Trump. I am somewhat to the right of Mamdani on this topic but, born and bred, and still living in New York City, I have to think about MY CITY first. Religion is worthless unless it is compassionate and lifts everyone up. Jesus was a JEW who had many of the same ideals as progressives have today. I don't expect you to like Jesus but just to remind you that he WAS a Jew and never meant to be anything BUT a Jew! His values were JEWISH. Tikkun. Either you are part of the solution or you are part of the problem.
This is the United States of America. We have freedom OF religion AND freedom FROM religion. As I understand it, religion is meant to help people be good to one another and protect one another from harm. It is meant to transcend barriers to being humane. Progressive values express these things to the max.
This is not covered on CNN but my stand is that we are allowed to criticize all religions but decency demands we have some respect for them. Hate speech IS criminal anyway. Am I not allowed to disagree with any kind of fundamentalism? I would not ever want to live under a government like that in Iran. Nor would I ever want to live in a hellhole like Uganda. But I do not like the direction the USA is moving into. It's trying to be The Handmaid's Tale. Christofascism is terrible. I don't subscribe to it at all! I separate antisemitism and antizionism into 2 different entities. You can believe me that I will be watching closely to detect if either of these entities emerge in our mayoral election. I could always write in Lander if need be.
As Pete Buttigieg put it, religion should not be used as a cudgel against people. I don't like fundamentalism of any sort and that does include all religions. I'm not sorting out Islam for any special treatment here.
“What do you think the devil’s going to look like if he’s around? … Nobody is going to be taken in by a guy with a long, red, pointy tail!” Aaron (Albert Brooks) in Broadcast News
“The prince of darkness is a gentleman.” King Lear
A small quibble: listing harmless slogans, you missed or skipped our most glaring current example: "Make America Great Again," which has come to stand for indiscriminate deportations, suppression of constitutional rights like free speech, tolerance for racism and antisemitism (think of Trump's friendly dinner with neo-Nazi Kanye West and Nick Fuentes), and uniformed military on the streets of our second largest city.
As for Mamdani (check that spelling, Peter!), I too find his support of BDS, his refusal to condemn the slogan "globalize the intifada," and his holding of Israel to a double standard troubling. Has anyone asked him if he believes in the right of Arab states to exist as Muslim states? I'd be curious to hear his answer. At some level, though, I believe the election became a referendum on Cuomo, with Mamdani representing the resistance. When it's a choice between a problematic and naive idealist or a convincingly accused sex pest... well, it's a tough choice. One might wonder why Brad Lander gave Mamdani cover, and whether his cross-endorsement made a difference.
So, yes, it's disconcerting, but I'm hoping that if New Yorkers hire Mamdani, he will learn and grow into a more palatable leader. Thanks as always Peter for writing about important subjects and giving us a chance to think through urgent issues for our community!
Thank you Jeff. As for putting Trump's "Make America Great Again" on the list, he would (God forbid) need to do more than spew untruths and associate with vile individuals. He would need to murder many thousands of people. It was the slogan Globalize The Intifada that I was felt was akin to those I'd mentioned. Does that make sense? And yes, if he's elected, I hope he grows, as you say, into a more palatable leader. That is merely a hope, not an expectation — as politicians typically reveal more of themselves, rather than less when they are elected. Surely, we've seen that recently.
Trump is preparing the murder of thousands of us by shredding our safety and sending in thugs to manhandle innocent people. Did the folks on the Mayflower have papers? i wonder if my grandparents did.
I’m am NOT for many of the policies our president has put into place. However, at this point in time he is nowhere near a Pol Pot. I just told a Mexican friend that if he needs it, he can stay with us.
"Trump is preparing the murder of thousands of us by shredding our safety and sending in thugs to manhandle innocent people."
I am not a Trump supporter. I voted for Hillary, Joe, and Kamala. I've never said one positive thing about him. It's your blog, but why give a "like," and encourage delusional, irresponsible, demonstrably false rantings like this?
Show me ONE thing that I said was false or delusional. ONE thing. If my Medicare is cut and my husband and I cannot afford the medications we need to function, that will kill us. My husband could die of blood clots or a heart attack. He could be status epilepticus. I would be pain-wracked, BP high, thyroid underactive, etc. Ask our doctors if you don't believe me. And the staff members in our complex are Latinx. I don't fancy ICE agents coming in our halls to arrest them. IDK if my grandparents had papers when they got in this country. Ergo, do I lose my lifelong citizenship? WHERE IS THE LIE? WHERE IS THE DELUSION? WHERE IS THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY? I'm talking reality here. Survival.
If I am "raving" it is because your characterization of me is totally wrong. If I said I WASN'T for Mamdani, would I fit your definition of normal? Welp, there are a LOT of people like me. We are definitely NOT antisemites by any stretch of the imagination.
Certainly "Globalize the Intifada" has a lot more dead innocents associated with it than MAGA, but it's been around much longer. Give Donald some time! As for Mamdani, I think he will face some stiff challenges as he approaches the general election, and will have to answer for past positions. Voters will have another chance to evaluate him--perhaps he will surprise us all!
It terrifies me that ALL of my non-Jewish friends, and some of my Jewish ones, think that Mumdani is our new savior. They love him and will follow him to the ends of the earth. Where does that leave us??
Sorry, Peter, but we are on opposite ends of the pole on this primary result. Yes, my views on Israel are somewhere to the right of Mamdani. But I've been a Democratic Socialist since time out of mind and I voted for Mamdani because of his strong backing of the safety net. I see his candidacy as a response to the horrors that Trump is bringing to our nation. New York City is a tough and expensive place to live and Trump is driving us crazy with worry. I agree with you that Mamdani would have been better off condemning that crazy expression. But, OMG, Cuomo bothered women! Adams is a complete creep who is in cahoots with Trump. Sliwa? Never! Maybe if Trump hadn't threatened so many of our civil liberties and sent ICE thugs to our city, maybe somebody else might have won this primary. Our support of Mamdani is an equal and opposite response to Trump. You might hate me for this but I hope you don't. Remember this, Mamdani DOES support Israel's right to exist. He DOES condemn the violence of terrorists. And one small "editorial" correction. It's MAMDANI not MUMDANI.
I think you are echoing what I've just said in my essay. Mamdani is a response to Trump. Understandable. But what is understandable is often not desirable. I hear you Billie. I know how important a safety net is to you and many of us. It is not academic, it is reality. I want very much for you to feel, and to be, safe.
Much appreciation to you my friend. I hope the wars in the Middle East will end with Israel safe and sound. Thank you for your deep compassion and understanding. You are a remarkable man.
Crediting Voice of Zion for this spot-on observation:
You think Mamdani's dangerous because he's radical?
No. He's dangerous because he's charming. Because he's palatable. Because he plays the activist while laying the legal groundwork for the annihilation of the Jewish collective.
Thank you, Peter, for once again so eloquently expressing the threat to freedom yet another anti-Trump idealist represents. Political correctness will become the order of the day, privilege for his cronies - not to mention the crime and chaos that will erupt if he's elected and defunds NYPD! May those who believe in Hashem pray NYC is spared such a tragic fate!
Peter, this is why we are friends. We can understand and sympathize with one another. It is my sincerest hope that the people of Israel will be safe and that a 2-state solution can be established. I hate intifada and I would tell Mamdani that any time! Thank you for your deep compassion and understanding. I am proud to call you my good friend.
I am very worried. This election may build a wall between my children. Some live in NY and the others in Chicago. The New Yorker I believe voted for him because she really disliked Cuomo and the Chicago clan are modern orthodox and cannot believe Mamdani is the democratic candidate. Oy!
Mumdani is what has happened to the Democratic Party. Overtly anti-"zionist" but (he claims) not anti-semitic. The democrats continue to self-destruct.
When Jews give up their religious heritage in exchange for progressive values in a vain attempt to assimilate, it always ends in tragedy.
It's not assimilation at all. It's an expression of the most truly Judeo-Christian values.
Thank you for proving my point.
Hardly. No tragedy here.
Except for blissful ignorance.
She's a raving nutcase. You don't have to be a Trump supporter to realize that.
HELL NO! Not I. I didn't get to my views by being blissfully ignorant. More like having my face shoved up to reality and the need for survival. You are very intolerant. Well, I can be that too if you like. I don't live in the Middle East. I DO live in NYC. I worked till I was 75 years old. My husband and I both have disabilities and we worked and worked and worked and worked. I didn't mind it. But the bottom line is that, although we own our own apartment (still paying a mortgage!) and have a bit tucked away, we depend very much on the social safety net for our continuing existence. Our medical bills for prescriptions just to keep us functioning were atrocious. Trump wants to CUT the safety net. That threatens ME directly. Hence, my support of the ultimate safety netter. IF he had said "from the river to the sea" or that Israel should not exist, that would have been a deal breaker, but he SAID Israel should exist. I grew up in the slums of the Lower East Side. 4th floor walkup, urine in the halls, bathtub in the kitchen, and gang wars at night that made West Side Story seem like a fun game. Very, very integrated. I'm no child of privilege. Mamdani is a response to Trump. I am somewhat to the right of Mamdani on this topic but, born and bred, and still living in New York City, I have to think about MY CITY first. Religion is worthless unless it is compassionate and lifts everyone up. Jesus was a JEW who had many of the same ideals as progressives have today. I don't expect you to like Jesus but just to remind you that he WAS a Jew and never meant to be anything BUT a Jew! His values were JEWISH. Tikkun. Either you are part of the solution or you are part of the problem.
It should read, "I am somewhat to the right of Mamdani ON ISRAEL." I keep trying to edit the text, but it's not taking.
This is the United States of America. We have freedom OF religion AND freedom FROM religion. As I understand it, religion is meant to help people be good to one another and protect one another from harm. It is meant to transcend barriers to being humane. Progressive values express these things to the max.
And we are allowed to criticize all Religions. Christianity, Judiasm, AND Islam. No exceptions.
Of course. That is a given. It's only fanatics that don't grasp that.
In EU countries, governments are trying to criminalize criticism of Islam, crying Islamophobia. I'm sure you're aware of this.
This is not covered on CNN but my stand is that we are allowed to criticize all religions but decency demands we have some respect for them. Hate speech IS criminal anyway. Am I not allowed to disagree with any kind of fundamentalism? I would not ever want to live under a government like that in Iran. Nor would I ever want to live in a hellhole like Uganda. But I do not like the direction the USA is moving into. It's trying to be The Handmaid's Tale. Christofascism is terrible. I don't subscribe to it at all! I separate antisemitism and antizionism into 2 different entities. You can believe me that I will be watching closely to detect if either of these entities emerge in our mayoral election. I could always write in Lander if need be.
As Pete Buttigieg put it, religion should not be used as a cudgel against people. I don't like fundamentalism of any sort and that does include all religions. I'm not sorting out Islam for any special treatment here.
The Devil Speech by James L. Brooks
“What do you think the devil’s going to look like if he’s around? … Nobody is going to be taken in by a guy with a long, red, pointy tail!” Aaron (Albert Brooks) in Broadcast News
“The prince of darkness is a gentleman.” King Lear
“Sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace.”
Wears a red hat that says MAGA!
Touché
"Sometimes the devil/Comes as a Prince of Peace..." -- Bob Dylan
You DO know that the phrase "Peace Through Strength" was an old Nazi slogan, right?
A small quibble: listing harmless slogans, you missed or skipped our most glaring current example: "Make America Great Again," which has come to stand for indiscriminate deportations, suppression of constitutional rights like free speech, tolerance for racism and antisemitism (think of Trump's friendly dinner with neo-Nazi Kanye West and Nick Fuentes), and uniformed military on the streets of our second largest city.
As for Mamdani (check that spelling, Peter!), I too find his support of BDS, his refusal to condemn the slogan "globalize the intifada," and his holding of Israel to a double standard troubling. Has anyone asked him if he believes in the right of Arab states to exist as Muslim states? I'd be curious to hear his answer. At some level, though, I believe the election became a referendum on Cuomo, with Mamdani representing the resistance. When it's a choice between a problematic and naive idealist or a convincingly accused sex pest... well, it's a tough choice. One might wonder why Brad Lander gave Mamdani cover, and whether his cross-endorsement made a difference.
So, yes, it's disconcerting, but I'm hoping that if New Yorkers hire Mamdani, he will learn and grow into a more palatable leader. Thanks as always Peter for writing about important subjects and giving us a chance to think through urgent issues for our community!
Thank you Jeff. As for putting Trump's "Make America Great Again" on the list, he would (God forbid) need to do more than spew untruths and associate with vile individuals. He would need to murder many thousands of people. It was the slogan Globalize The Intifada that I was felt was akin to those I'd mentioned. Does that make sense? And yes, if he's elected, I hope he grows, as you say, into a more palatable leader. That is merely a hope, not an expectation — as politicians typically reveal more of themselves, rather than less when they are elected. Surely, we've seen that recently.
Trump is preparing the murder of thousands of us by shredding our safety and sending in thugs to manhandle innocent people. Did the folks on the Mayflower have papers? i wonder if my grandparents did.
I’m am NOT for many of the policies our president has put into place. However, at this point in time he is nowhere near a Pol Pot. I just told a Mexican friend that if he needs it, he can stay with us.
"Trump is preparing the murder of thousands of us by shredding our safety and sending in thugs to manhandle innocent people."
I am not a Trump supporter. I voted for Hillary, Joe, and Kamala. I've never said one positive thing about him. It's your blog, but why give a "like," and encourage delusional, irresponsible, demonstrably false rantings like this?
Kip, it’s a fair question, best answered privately. Email or DM me.
🙏
Show me ONE thing that I said was false or delusional. ONE thing. If my Medicare is cut and my husband and I cannot afford the medications we need to function, that will kill us. My husband could die of blood clots or a heart attack. He could be status epilepticus. I would be pain-wracked, BP high, thyroid underactive, etc. Ask our doctors if you don't believe me. And the staff members in our complex are Latinx. I don't fancy ICE agents coming in our halls to arrest them. IDK if my grandparents had papers when they got in this country. Ergo, do I lose my lifelong citizenship? WHERE IS THE LIE? WHERE IS THE DELUSION? WHERE IS THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY? I'm talking reality here. Survival.
If I am "raving" it is because your characterization of me is totally wrong. If I said I WASN'T for Mamdani, would I fit your definition of normal? Welp, there are a LOT of people like me. We are definitely NOT antisemites by any stretch of the imagination.
Certainly "Globalize the Intifada" has a lot more dead innocents associated with it than MAGA, but it's been around much longer. Give Donald some time! As for Mamdani, I think he will face some stiff challenges as he approaches the general election, and will have to answer for past positions. Voters will have another chance to evaluate him--perhaps he will surprise us all!
It terrifies me that ALL of my non-Jewish friends, and some of my Jewish ones, think that Mumdani is our new savior. They love him and will follow him to the ends of the earth. Where does that leave us??
When we unify we are strong. May this bring us together. ❤️🇮🇱
Sorry, Peter, but we are on opposite ends of the pole on this primary result. Yes, my views on Israel are somewhere to the right of Mamdani. But I've been a Democratic Socialist since time out of mind and I voted for Mamdani because of his strong backing of the safety net. I see his candidacy as a response to the horrors that Trump is bringing to our nation. New York City is a tough and expensive place to live and Trump is driving us crazy with worry. I agree with you that Mamdani would have been better off condemning that crazy expression. But, OMG, Cuomo bothered women! Adams is a complete creep who is in cahoots with Trump. Sliwa? Never! Maybe if Trump hadn't threatened so many of our civil liberties and sent ICE thugs to our city, maybe somebody else might have won this primary. Our support of Mamdani is an equal and opposite response to Trump. You might hate me for this but I hope you don't. Remember this, Mamdani DOES support Israel's right to exist. He DOES condemn the violence of terrorists. And one small "editorial" correction. It's MAMDANI not MUMDANI.
I think you are echoing what I've just said in my essay. Mamdani is a response to Trump. Understandable. But what is understandable is often not desirable. I hear you Billie. I know how important a safety net is to you and many of us. It is not academic, it is reality. I want very much for you to feel, and to be, safe.
Much appreciation to you my friend. I hope the wars in the Middle East will end with Israel safe and sound. Thank you for your deep compassion and understanding. You are a remarkable man.
Crediting Voice of Zion for this spot-on observation:
You think Mamdani's dangerous because he's radical?
No. He's dangerous because he's charming. Because he's palatable. Because he plays the activist while laying the legal groundwork for the annihilation of the Jewish collective.
Thank you, Peter, for once again so eloquently expressing the threat to freedom yet another anti-Trump idealist represents. Political correctness will become the order of the day, privilege for his cronies - not to mention the crime and chaos that will erupt if he's elected and defunds NYPD! May those who believe in Hashem pray NYC is spared such a tragic fate!
Mamdani is good news for Florida and Texas real estate.
Why should he ask for Hamas to release hostages? He was happy they were kidnapped.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific, America Will Be Radical Islam Free!
Freedom of Speech Works Both Ways.
Have a Nice Day😊
Peter, this is why we are friends. We can understand and sympathize with one another. It is my sincerest hope that the people of Israel will be safe and that a 2-state solution can be established. I hate intifada and I would tell Mamdani that any time! Thank you for your deep compassion and understanding. I am proud to call you my good friend.
I am very worried. This election may build a wall between my children. Some live in NY and the others in Chicago. The New Yorker I believe voted for him because she really disliked Cuomo and the Chicago clan are modern orthodox and cannot believe Mamdani is the democratic candidate. Oy!