There is a double standard regarding pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel voices. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is expected to be extremely careful with his language – condemning any statements that could be interpreted as incitement to violence like “globalizing the intifada.”
In contrast, U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) has repeatedly made inflammatory or dehumanizing statements about Palestinians, such as calling for Gaza to be “nuked” like Hiroshima and Nagasaki and using hashtags like “#StarveAway” in response to reports of famine in Gaza.
In 2021, when a user on X posted an image of a deceased Palestinian child pulled from rubble and asked Fine how he sleeps at night, he responded, “Quite well, actually! Thanks for the pic!”
Despite the extreme nature of Fine’s rhetoric, he has faced little backlash, while pro-Palestinian activists are frequently pressured to moderate their speech.
This disparity illustrates how Palestinians and their advocates are often held to standards of “perfect victimhood,” while pro-Israel politicians face few consequences for openly advocating or celebrating collective punishment or violence against Palestinians.
All public figures should be held to the same standards of responsible speech. Only then can we have a fair and honest conversation about the crisis in Gaza.
Terry Hansen
Milwaukee
