As a life-long Steeler fan who, by coincidence lived in Pittsburgh from 1987-1990, it warmed my heart to see how the team altered its logo to honor the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack.
As the facts pour in about the accused shooter, Robert Bowers, it appears that his anti-semitism was part of being a white extremist. Yet, it also appears that unlike the accused mail bomber in Florida, Cesar Sayoc, Bowers is no fan of President Trump. It may be that Bowers targeted this particular synagogue over its perceived sponsorship of helping refugees enter the US. It also appears that this synagogue was involved in interfaith events with organizations like the Council of American Islamic Relations. The local CAIR office alluded to having been welcomed in the synagogue.
Anti-semitism is a hate that cuts across many ideological divides. White nationalist, neo-Nazi anti-semitism is but one form of anti-semitism. Another form is that found in the Middle East/Muslim world including the likes of Louis Farrakhan here at home. It is all well and good for the cynical CAIR to express "solidarity" with the Jewish community. It would be better if they confronted Islamic anti-semitism. Though CAIR claims not to be involved in international issues. they are a consistent critic of the Jewish state of Israel. They are also connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. In addition, they represent an ideology that demonizes Jews as being less than human.
Although Bowers apparently does not represent Islam and has no apparent connection to academia, we need to remember that we have a serious problem with anti-semitism on our university campuses, arising out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that plays out in our universities. The administrators of our universities have shown themselves time and time again to be unwilling to tackle campus anti-semitism. Why is that? It would be easy if it solely consisted of white racists or neo-Nazi students. The problem is that it is largely due-overwhelmingly, in my view- to pro-Palestinian students and faculty and groups like Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Student Associations-not to mention the toxic Middle East Studies departments. I base this on my own experiences at UC Irvine witnessing hate filled speakers and disruptions of Jewish, pro-Israel events. Coupled with that is my own research over the years into what happens on too many other campuses.
But I have come to the conclusion that we must acknowledge the fact that the KKK-types, white nationalists, and neo-Nazis are out there. They are despicable and must be countered. On the other hand, I don't expect the CAIRs of our country to admit and confront their own form of Jew hatred. What I do expect is that our universities would engage in some introspection into the anti-semitism that is played out on their campuses. It may be that Robert Bowers has never set foot on a college campus. That doesn't necessarily mean that none of these seeds have been planted in the halls of ivy.
Neo-Nazis are definitely out there, and we know that even one crazed individual can cause a lot of damage. But its also important to remember that neo-Nazis have no support of any political party or institution in the US. They cannot affect public policy, laws, or education. In contrast, islamist anti-semitism has the support of he Dem party, university campuses, public school districts, etc. Thet do influence policy, laws and education of our kids. hey are far more dangerous because they institutionalize anti-Semitism.
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