Today, while visiting the African American Museum in D.C., Trump said he thinks that anti-Semitism is “horrible.”
This was in response to an alarming rise in threats directed at Jewish community centers across the nation and to vandalism at a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis, where headstones were overturned.
Trump said he speaks out against anti-Semitism whenever he has the chance but he did not do so at his press conference when a young Jewish journalist asked him to speak out against the growth of anti-Semitism. Instead, Trump berated the reporter, reacted personally, and said he was “the least anti-Semitic person” ever, in non-response to the question.
This followed the strange White House statement commemorating the Holocaust that failed to mention the six million Jews who perished.
Although His beloved daughter Ivanka to Jared Kushner, who is Jewish, Trump has a Jewish problem. Maybe he doesn’t want to offend his alt-right buddies, like Steve Bannon, or David Duke.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Trump has no moral center.
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Drumpf’s comment lacked so much enthusiasm and any true feeling and belief that he barely could read the written statement that he was assigned to deliver. His daughter sent a tweet today that showed that she may have converted to Judaism to the get husband of her choice, but that in NO way is she Jewish…she never mentioned anti Semitism or Jewish people, but directed her comment generically to all minorities…the same purposeful leaving out of JEWS as Drumpf did re the Holocaust.
Meanwhile this week at my RESIST meeting, we learned that only about two miles from my house there was swastika graffiti spray painted on houses and cars in the park. NO mention was made of this on our local paper, The Acorn. And at my university, the BDS phony Palestinians terrorize the Jewish students endlessly with the help of the KKK bigots and thugs and all are allowed on campus supposedly as their First Amendment rights.
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His comments were unimpassioned, almost mechanical, as if the words were sticking in his throat as he read them. He almost sounded believable…almost.
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Trump’s daughter converted to Judaism, has Jewish grand children and son-in-law and has been working diligently to repair relations with Israel and Netanyahu after 8 years of a tumultuous relationship with Obama…How can anyone honestly say…Trump is anti Semitic? I guess truth really is in the “eye of the beholder!” If Trump crapped gold…some would say…but it’s not platinum! He can do no right in some eyes obviously. I just wish everyone would support the pilot of the plane we are all on! Like it or not…if the pilot crashes…we all go down in flames with the plane! Might be best to help guide the pilot than steer the plane into a cliff!?! Ughhh!
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As an educator and public school district administrator, I do not have the luxury of “crashing the plane.” There are lives that depend on our work and we do everything we can to make sure that we exercise diligence in acquiring the leadership skills we need in order to meet the needs of our students and families. My constituents are unforgiving. The president has to learn that leadership is about humility and reflection as well. It is always about the people we serve. The pulpit can be a powerful lever for change, if we use it to unite and not divide, encourage and not discourage, and build instead of destroy. The pilot you talked about cannot just fly a plan without logging in thousands of hours. The pilot also needs a co-pilot that he will listen to so they can both insure the safety of all passengers. Most of all, the pilot knows that he is ultimately responsible for arriving at the destination. Right now, I am not sure we know where that destination is because the messenger becomes more about himself rather than the message itself. I grew up in a third world country led by a dictator. I never voted in my country and only knew of one president who controlled the media and everything else. Finally, after 20 years in power, the people had had enough and exercised their right to freedom. We called it People Power. When leaders empower people, they become productive members of society. We see this in organizations where leaders give people a voice in the decision process. These are the organizations that are able to sustain change and move from good to great.
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Open minded,
You are doing exactly what Trump did: changing the subject.
There has been a spike in anti-Semitic incidents since his election. A reporter asked at his press conference what he would do to discourage such incidents, and he angrily responded “I am not anti-Semitic.” No one said he was. He was asked what he would do, like telling his followers it was wrong, and he didn’t do it. Unfortunately some of his followers are very anti-Semitic. They might listen to him. He should be as tough on racism and anti-Semitism as he is on our allies, at the very least.
And why did he forget to mention the millions of Jrwskilled in the White House Holocaust statement? No other president omitted that fact.
As for Israel, his one-state solution will be the death of Israel because Arabs have more children than Israelis. If there is one state, it will not be a Jewish state. Intelligent people know that.
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Diane…it was reported that there were 680 death threats made in California over the weekend to Jewish Centers that cater to the elderly and infirm, and to preschool children as well as infant care.
Such brave guys these deranged bigots are…and how ‘vicious’ some will shout out if actual IDF members stand guard to protect the helpless elders and babies from being murdered. It was only a few year ago in LA that one of these anti Semites machined gunned down little preschoolers.
Trump has incited this…and he and his cohorts are egging on this behavior which was shown at all his campaign stops…and even in Florida the other day. He is a LIAR and BIGOT of the worst sort. And he has trolls on every blog trying to rally others to support.him, to “give him a chance.as the Captain of the plane” …which is pure crap.
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Error…numbers seem to be differing. Not 680 in Ca….here are various links.
More bomb threats target Jewish Community Centers. Trump finally …
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/living/jcc-bomb-threats-anti-semitism/
10 hours ago – A number of JCCs, including Orlando’s, received multiple threats. …. another man opened fire at the JCC in Granada Hills, California, wounding five … She’s not alone: “48 U.S. Jewish Centers Received Bomb Threats in Past …
Robocall bomb threats target Jewish centers across US for third time …
https://www.rt.com/usa/375866-jcc-bomb-threats-third-time/
Feb 1, 2017 – At least 17 Jewish centers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, New … Many of the centers have been advised to create a security plan and …
Bomb threats again rattle Jewish centers – USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/01/…threats…jewish-centers/97289048/
Jan 31, 2017 – Another wave of bomb threats swept through Jewish community centers across the nation Tuesday. Centers from Albany, N.Y., to Boulder, …
Dozens of bomb threats made at Jewish centers across US in recent …
http://www.theblaze.com/…/dozens-of-bomb-threats-made-at-jewish-centers-across-us-in-re...
Feb 1, 2017 – Alpert Community Jewish Center in Long Beach, California · Lawrence … For the Boulder Jewish Community Center, it’s the second threat they’ve ….. We will never know how many of these were fake complaints seeking to …
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You do not sound very “Openminded” to me.
If you were really open minded, you would have objected to the fact that it is only just now that Trump has condemned the anti-Semitic acts that have been going on, as opposed to the other times recently when he was asked about this and all he could say was that he was not anti-Semitic and his son-in-law and daughter were Jewish.
And anyone who is not anti-Semitic would have mentioned the millions of Jews killed by Germany during the Holocaust Remembrance day. But not a word about the Jews from Trump then.
Open your own eyes.
“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:5
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I’m convinced “Openminded” is an Andy Kaufmann-esque performance piece. He/she also knows that since Hitler’s personal physician was Jewish, it is further evidence that he knew absolutely nothing about the Final Solution. It was another example of, as that great philosopher and intellectual Sarah Palin taught us, “Going rogue.”
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It’s good to be open-minded, Openminded, but with an annual salary of $400,000.00 as president ( though meaningless to him), he needs to make less stupid mistakes and/or intentional omissions that send ambiguous signals to his fringe followers. Usually someone at this pay-grade is expected to bring basic competencies to the job, not commit amateur- learning on the job- types of mistakes, like his off- the-cuff comments that have real world and often harmful consequences.
It’s freakin irresponsible at best, and, at worst, intentional and potentially deadly, obfuscation! In the private sector he would be fired. He acts like a buffoon and, thus far, is an embarrassment to our country.
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Openminded,
The plane has been hijacked by Charles Manson and a bunch of brainwashed disciples. What do you do?
Just a hypothetical.
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Upgrade so you can delude yourself you have nothing to do with them.
Such a simple answer! Also, schedule at manicure, pedicure, and facial massage upon landing to get ready for the after party (I’m assuming the flight is landing at LAX).
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You’ve got to respect the pilot. Manson deserves a chance.
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Openminded, you and your supporters have to get a better analogy than that. The obvious thing is, I don’t get on a plane that is being piloted by someone with absolutely no flight experience, and with a crew with zero flight experience. I don’t think most Ravitch readers would either.
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And from his loyal supporter with no condemnation from “FFace”
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Openminded
Obama had a tumultuous relationship with the right wing Israeli Government whose actions in the occupied territory have been condemned by by the anti Semitic Israeli chief of staff and the anti Semitic defense minister. Both members of Netanyahu’s Lukid party. Both resigned in disgust comparing some of Israels actions to pre war Germany on Holocaust remembrance day.
But of course there is that unholy alliance between Israel and the Christian right seeking to hasten Armageddon, There is even the alliance with those high minded members of Al Qaeda in Syria. So where does Trump fit in.
Having Jewish relatives and being antisemitic is not at all inconsistent Especially when the power dynamic makes it easy for you to compartmentalize . I wonder what it would look like if Donald was the less wealthy son in-law. Or if Jared and Ivanka got a divorce.
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He knows where some of his voters come from. I have no idea what Trump is as he tries to fudge everything belief-wise. However, being from the states in the midwest he carried, I can assure you some of his supporters are, in a genteel way, of course.
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Am I the only person who thinks it’s odd that he spoke about antisemitism at the African American heritage museum, but didn’t say a word about race relations? About the achievements of African Americans? About criminal justice? What, are ethnic minorities interchangeable to this person?
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He did make some typically incoherent statements about African Americans, especially Ben Carson, who was with him. There is an exhibit honoring him.
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Thanks, Diane. I hadn’t seen them reported anywhere. It’s that corrupt lying media!
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Here is someone else who had the same reaction to Trump’s comments: banal stream of consciousness and incoherence
https://www.google.com/amp/www.theroot.com/trump-makes-weird-tone-deaf-speech-at-african-american-1792587876/amp?client=safari
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“Get me Carson, I need to go to the black museum!”
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I am not allowed by the Post Dispatch to make comments, but others in St. Louis offered explanations….
So there is an assumption that White Supremacists did it. So if they discover that a group of Muslims did it, this story is DOA.
It’s probably kids being jerks. But some of my brethren will be certain it was Trump himself and that this is a precursor to Kristallnacht 2.
I’m from U-city and it could of easily just been some local kids getting into trouble
Completely agree, it looks like three or four drunk teens that were showing off to each other of how strong they are. Maybe even young football players hitting them like blocking sleds?
Every now and then vandals strike our cemeteries. I have been in a lot because I am an amateur genealogist. I guess they do because the dead cannot defend themselves and it makes them feel strong, or cool, or whatever
“There’s nothing to indicate it was any type of hate crime,” he (Detective Lemons) said.
“Those who would do this are the Nazis of tomorrow” or they are the Marxist (i.e., “anti-fa”) of today.
My first guess are punk teen boys, of any race, and the religion of the headstones mean nothing to them. They would’ve done it to Cathoics, or whatever.
My second guess is another hoax, by either Jews themselves, or some other Trump hating group.
Who are NOT responsible are the white supremacist bogemen.
it goes on, and on, and on.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/for-some-families-pain-at-finding-vandalized-headstones-at-university/article_bafef56a-6ef2-5f90-a327-0ba7fa11e50b.html?mode=comments
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I have not heard a single comment that assumes that white supremacists did this, nor that this will be swept under the rug if some other group (or kids) did this.
In related news, two different Muslim groups from the greater St. Louis area have spoken out against the vandalism, and encouraged their congregants to assist in the clean up.
As far as a hoax, that treads into anti-semitism itself–the assumption that Jews perpetrate hate actions against themselves in order to achieve sympathy.
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There were a lot of decent comments, but I thought an awful lot of the ridiculous stuff like this.
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joe, I’ve respected your comments in the past, even when I disagree. Until now. You seem very quick to dismiss this heinous act and I am sure you will accuse me of drawing conclusions too quickly.
But, accepting your comment that this is “kids being jerks”, those “jerks” have, to put it as charitably as I can, are clueless to the point of being pretty racist and bigoted. Throwing toilet paper in trees can be considered juvenile. Getting drunk and throwing up can also be considered juvenile (as long as they don’t get behind the steering wheel of a car). Tipping over gravestones in a religious cemetery is not juvenile. It crosses an uncrossable line. Please don’t make excuses for them. This is much more “kids being jerks” and please don’t try to preempt it with “So if they discover that a group of Muslims did it.” That’s just a bigoted form of insurance policy.
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I failed miserably to communicate. I was listing comments I regarded as ridiculous, and all too typical of a percentage of st. louis people. I am in complete agreement with your criticism of them. Sorry I did not make it clear what I was trying to do.
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I apologize if I jumped the gun and assumed the worst. I guess that’s a danger of writing these comments. There have also been many times I have mangled my intention. Consider my respect back to where it should be. Again, sorry and thanks for your comment.
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I saw TV footage of the vandalized cemetery on St Louis. Authorities are unwilling to call it a hate crime. Shocking. Dozens of headstones were knocked over. Not a prank.
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I am glad you recognized that strange media attitude. I hesitate some times to talk about St.Louis, because there are bigger places where much more is going on. But the most unique thing about St. Louis is the chokehold on reporting legitimate education news, and finding ways to discuss them. The Mayor’s race is a significant story—Slay will step down after more than a decade….the Post Dispatch has endorsed Antonio French, who was diametrically opposed to what Slay and Danforth asked the state board of education to do in 2007. The takeover disenfranchised voters regarding their children, and that remains the situation. Some believe the endorsement of French is not for real, just a maneuver to derail a young black woman named Tishaura Jones. A look at her most well heeled white opponent, Lyda Krewson, with a pleasant smile on her face, and Jones, with a droopy scowl in the official presentation this morning by the pd, offers clues, but it remains mysterious. I told one of the elected but powerless board members…..antonio will win by 13 votes, and no reporter will recognize that the margin of victory came from social security aged voters who really appreciate his series of jazz concerts. Antonio actually thinks the arts are an important part of education.
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A little off topic Maxine Waters just lays out the case for the firing squad with a draw dropper that got passed the censor
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jaw >not draw
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Wow! You go, Maxine! Telling it like it is.
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I’m afraid that had Trump no immediate Jewish relations, the threat of bombings would not have been enough to force out his condemnation.
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Yes, Akademos–this may be a case RE: Ivanka: “She is a great person, always pushing me to do the right thing” from his Nordstrom Tweet.
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You are completely overreaching on this one. Good God, his own daughter converted to Judaism. Give the man a chance and let him try. Accept the fact that he’s not like any other career politician, and he’s going to do it his way–even if you don’t like how gruff he is. He’s OUR president, warts and all, so instead of constantly undermining him on your blog, root for him to do well so that the country moves forward. Accept the fact that not everyone shares your opinion. Jeeze, at this point, he could find a cure for cancer, and you would still have a problem with that.
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Isabel,
Unfortunately we know too much about Trump to expect he intends to do anything other than enrich himself. He also inexplicably is advancing Putin’s policy goal–to restore the USSR.
Why should I think well of a man who intends to remove protections on the quality of the air and water?
One of his first acts was an executive order relieving oil and gas companies of the need to report foreign bribes. Why? Then an executive order to permit coal companies to dump waste in streams?
Should I cheer his desire to pollute the water and air?
Should I be pleased that he appointed an unqualified billionaire as Secretary of Education, whose goal is to destroy public education?
.
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The script of the Trump trolls is always “give the man a chance”…and then the scolding, and saying “he’s OUR president”, and the “cure for cancer’ comparison. This word for word admonition has appeared here and at other blogs…so Bannon/Conway have their paid trolls, and their volunteer trolls organized. Other Trumpsters with NO imagination or facts other than “alternative facts” follow their lead.
Reality is that hundreds of thousands of Americans who KNOW Trump is far from their, OUR, president, and not do not want to give him a chance to set off a nuclear conflagration, and destroy OUR reputation world wide, are rapidly ORGANIZING to battle this insanity. Groups like RESIST, Indivisible, Our Revolution, are mobilized and millions of voters/citizens/residents are joining and voicing the OPPOSITION.
We are finding a way, through the 25th Amendment, to get rid of a crazed malignant narcissist through established law. Some are working on other avenues such as impeachment. The best legal minds in the nation like Laurence Tribe are already filing lawsuits.
NO…we MUST NOT “give the man a chance”….we must all join forces to get rid of him. And we must all be active in working on the 2018 election to get Congress turned around. If the Dems do not get elected then we WILL lose Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, and all other societal benefits for which people of good will who believe in a fair society for all, not just the 1%, will be finished.
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Ellen, an excellent point about how similar, even identical, the Trumpistas’ scoldings and comments are.
I wonder how many of them said, when people were criticizing Obama, “Give the man a chance! He’s OUR president”? Damned few of them, if any, I bet.
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When will the Democrats stand up to #45? When will Republicans stop #45?
What has to happen before the magic vail of blindness is lifted?we need to support the Southern Poverty Law Center as much as possible.
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1 in 5 Public School Students in the Class of 2016 Passed an AP Exam
The College Board reports this morning that more high school students are taking and passing Advanced Placement tests–and more of them come from low-income families.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2017/02/ap_results_release_2017.html?cmp=soceml-twfdbltz-ewnow
[http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/Scores%20above%203.png]
1 in 5 Public School Students in the Class of 2016 Passed an AP Exam blogs.edweek.org More students, and more low-income students, are taking AP tests than ever before, the College Board reports.
________________________________
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1/5,
Whoopdeedoo! Hot Damn! Praise the Lord!
What a joke and the joke is on those who pay to take a standardized test called the AP.
I was certified to teach AP, hell the district paid me and four other Spanish/French/German teachers to take a week long course (three hour graduate credit from a state university as an incentive) on teaching to the test. Yes, that’s all it was. How to teach to the test, how it is graded and the basics that were to be covered. What a joke of a course for grad credit.
But, hey, the number of students taking AP courses increased the school’s state scores. That’s all that mattered from the adminimal point of view.
AP courses are the fool’s gold that Glass was talking about in one of Diane’s prior posts.
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From
http://forward.com/sisterhood/363694/ivanka-tweets-reaction-to-jcc-threats-why-not-mention-anti-semitism/
“[Ivanka Trump’s tweeted reaction to JCC bomb threats] mssed the part of anti-Semitism 101 where you learn that it’s not just about >religious< intolerance.”
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Thanks bethree 4 this cold water tweet, wake up call, from the Christian/Jewish pretender, Ivanka.
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Thanks, bethree5. &, Diane, I saw the news report on the cemetery, as well. A spokesperson said that he had not seen anything like this in (can’t recall exact #) his 40 or so years. I read, somewhere, that commenters had written this off to juvenile offenders–“punks” & “misguided teens.” No! So much more ominous than that mere attribution.
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There is an old Jewish cemetery in East LA where the same sort of grave desecration happens almost every week…it does not often get reported on since the media and even the police finds it to be our own new normal.
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