Our community must know: These political movements can be stopped, slowed down… and ultimately moved to irrelevancy

Photo: AP Images

IN the wake of the unprecedented attacks in Israel, one might expect unanimous condemnation and expressions of solidarity for the Middle East’s only democracy. Instead, within 24 hours, university student organizations blamed Israel for the slaughter, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) announced a “pro-Palestine rally” that included the display of a swastika and stomping of the Israeli flag, and the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter posted a social media message that celebrated the image of a Hamas terrorist in a paraglider.

This is abhorrent, vile, despicable behavior. But our community must know: These political movements can be stopped, slowed down… and ultimately moved to irrelevancy. Here’s how.

Political movements need leadership.

These groups may appear strong and powerful, but in fact, most are issuing these “bold” statements from a dorm room computer or a Manhattan coffee shop. They don’t have well-known leaders in front of their cause. Despite their desire to be compared to the civil rights movement, they don’t have a Martin Luther King Jr. or a Gandhi endorsing them. (Of course, why would we expect such nonviolent heroes to associate with causes that advocate hate and division?)

Some would argue that these movements have elected officials associating with their causes, but can we really compare a handful of junior legislators to the number one politician in the world, who is speaking directly against their deadly rhetoric? William F. Buckley Jr. once referred to office of president as the “First Politician.” When the First Politician, Joe Biden, calls Hamas “pure, unadulterated evil” and says the American people “stand with Israel,” we have a prominent leader who contrasts with their vacuum. We need to point this out again and again and again.

Political movements are only as strong as their membership.

After the DSA protest, Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) renounced his membership in the movement. Rashida Tlaib holds the neighboring seat in Congress and despite this, Thanedar renounced the DSA. This weakens their movement. After the Harvard students association put out an inflammatory letter, the law firm Winston and Strawn rescinded their job offer to a law student who had signed it. Which member of Congress or student would want to be associated with such movements?

But we have a responsibility to not alienate members of our cause. I spoke to a House member this past week who told me how exhausted he felt after fighting in Congress for Israel. I told him that if he comes to my community, I’ll pack the shul to the brim with people who’ll give him a standing ovation. How many letters of thanks will we send to Congressman Thanedar or to Winston and Strawn? How many of your elected officials will you thank for their statements?

Political movements are only as strong as the noise they generate.

It often seems that these causes get promoted through tweets, cable news appearances, and even congressional speeches, but it’s important to recognize that this small but vocal minority thrives mainly off of sound bites and negative news.

Nobody was better at generating negative noise for a destructive cause than Senator Joseph McCarthy. The red-baiting Republican from Wisconsin dominated the 1950s with his nonstop accusations and his political stunts. Presidents feared him, celebrities feared him, most of the prominent counter-movements at the time were terrified of him. Until he picked a fight that he couldn’t win.

McCarthy went to war with the US Army, making a wild series of accusations that they were harboring Communists. When McCarthy tried to grill Army counsel Joseph Welch in a public hearing, Welch finally had enough and pushed back. “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”

This was a devastating blow to McCarthy. It drew the contrast between noise and rational thought. McCarthy was later censured by the Senate and his career would never recover. His movement dissipated overnight.

The noise is never going to stop unless you counter it with rational facts and thoughts. People will post sensational statements on social media, and it is your job to respond with rational facts. Papers will publicize outrageous claims, and it is your job to write rational responses to the editor. Politicians will parrot propaganda, and it is your job to call their office and present a rational viewpoint. Terrible movements will be exposed for what they are the facts are brought to light. There is no defense of murder and terrorism, and these movements are exposed for what they are when the light of reason shines on them, which we must do again and again.

These fringe movements will not be defeated overnight.

Although there are tools to counter these movements, they will not ultimately fall without long-term, consistent action from each of you and your communities.

They thrive when you are silent, and they are loud.

They thrive when you don’t vote, and they do.

They thrive when they rally, and we stay at home.

We have thousands of shuls, schools, and millions of voices.

We have a dedicated community that loves and cares enough to raise our voices.

We have emes on our side and the incredible privilege and ability to be civically engaged.

When we are united and we come out in force speaking with one voice, we can’t be stopped.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 982)