Letters to the Herald (Aug. 30 and Sept. 2) criticizing this paper for publishing a column criticizing Jews who work for President Trump, who coddled white supremacists who chanted, “The Jews will not replace us,” were ideological and factually inaccurate.
Each disguised criticism of progressives, and President Obama, who opposed expanding settlements and other forms of aggression, contrary to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
To equate anti-semitism to disagreement is fallacious. To disagree with another Jew or a Jewish leader can never be anti-semitism or un-American if it is a rational difference of opinion and not based on ethnicity. Many Jews oppose the settlements.
The letter written by William Rottenberg falsely stated: “The media and progressives ignored the rise in anti-Semitism but now use it as a club to beat Trump.” Is Donald Trump being unfairly treated for the rise of white supremacy? Statistics from the Ant-Defamation League, FBI and the Southern Poverty Law Center show that since the election of Trump, hate crimes have risen dramatically.
It is not using a “club” when statistics show that since Trump’s election, hate crimes against Americans have increased 47 percent and the distribution is alarming: Jews: 26.8 percent; blacks 22.9 percent, LGBTQ 13.7 percent, Muslim 11.8 percent, Latinos 10.3 percent and all others 14.9 percent. His statements have emboldened the Ku Klux Klan.
We do not need division or lies to defeat white supremacy. All victims of hate crimes should unite against white supremacists and all Americans should stand together. Please do not use scapegoats to excuse Trump’s actions or words.
Michael E. McLachlan
Durango
