I suppose I am a rat scratching in the wall with my friends, the Jews. Powerful poem.
Russians (especially Russian Jews) used cynical jokes to help them survive the radical disjunction between fact and official reality. One series of jokes involves questions submitted to "Radio Armenia."
One joke goes, "Radio Armenia, what is National Brotherhood Day?"
Radio Armenia answers, "National Brotherhood Day is the day when the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Armenians, the Georgians, the Turkmen, the Kazakhs, and all our peoples join hands to go and beat the Jews."
The darkest Russian Jewish joke I ever read (ironically in a book of Jewish humor) was set in 1800s Czarist Russia, in a tiny shtetl that had frequently been the target of pogroms. The rabbi warned his Congregation, "I just heard a little girl went missing and turned up drowned. No doubt they're going to blame us, so prepare for another pogrom."
Suddenly the door to the synagogue burst open, and the Rabbi's teenage son rushed in and breathlessly announced: "Good news! The girl who drowned was Jewish!"
Those who use that language… its on them. I have nothing else to add except this… those that choose hatred, and death, its on you. It has nothing to do with me. I dont care what you say i am. Its you that is the problem.
Every time I read Eve Barlow's timely dissectations of the topsy turvy anti Jewish narrative that has been circulating in polite society, I find myself wishing and hoping that every normie non Jewish man or woman in the West find time in their everyday lives to start fighting back against this narrative with just a simple show of support for their Jewish brothers and sisters. Just do it people.
LOL! You are using my line! But I agree. The whole concept of the white man’s burden is condescending. It is the rest of the world that seeks to thrust this upon us, and only us. And I utterly reject it.
They our empathy and our support. But all too often it is a one way street. Fortunately all of my non-Jewish friends support Israel, know the truth about 10/7, and know where the blame lies. Nobody wants Palestinian suffering or death. But their freedom is their responsibility. I refuse to accept this 21st century version of the “White Man’s Burden” especially when it isn’t the white man’s, but the Jewish people’s burden to free the Palestinians from the leaders they selected.
Exactly. It was the Palestinian civilians who committed the worst atrocities on 7/10. The rapes, the mutilations, the burnings, the kidnappings. They are not our ‘burden’, nor our responsibility. They are responsible for themselves, their evil and their actions. I’m fed up with the world treating them like children without agency. Enough of this rubbish already.
I suppose I am a rat scratching in the wall with my friends, the Jews. Powerful poem.
Russians (especially Russian Jews) used cynical jokes to help them survive the radical disjunction between fact and official reality. One series of jokes involves questions submitted to "Radio Armenia."
One joke goes, "Radio Armenia, what is National Brotherhood Day?"
Radio Armenia answers, "National Brotherhood Day is the day when the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Armenians, the Georgians, the Turkmen, the Kazakhs, and all our peoples join hands to go and beat the Jews."
The darkest Russian Jewish joke I ever read (ironically in a book of Jewish humor) was set in 1800s Czarist Russia, in a tiny shtetl that had frequently been the target of pogroms. The rabbi warned his Congregation, "I just heard a little girl went missing and turned up drowned. No doubt they're going to blame us, so prepare for another pogrom."
Suddenly the door to the synagogue burst open, and the Rabbi's teenage son rushed in and breathlessly announced: "Good news! The girl who drowned was Jewish!"
Those who use that language… its on them. I have nothing else to add except this… those that choose hatred, and death, its on you. It has nothing to do with me. I dont care what you say i am. Its you that is the problem.
Sending you strength, Eve. And love.
Every time I read Eve Barlow's timely dissectations of the topsy turvy anti Jewish narrative that has been circulating in polite society, I find myself wishing and hoping that every normie non Jewish man or woman in the West find time in their everyday lives to start fighting back against this narrative with just a simple show of support for their Jewish brothers and sisters. Just do it people.
I makes me think of Maus..
(It)
Wonderfully written. Thank 💪🏼you.
Keep up the good fight.
Your poetry and power is blindingly brilliant.
It’s hard to bare .
Thank you Eve. You are the light, the truth.
LOL! You are using my line! But I agree. The whole concept of the white man’s burden is condescending. It is the rest of the world that seeks to thrust this upon us, and only us. And I utterly reject it.
Amayn
Most excellent, but: Does the blindfolded heart remember the light that never left? This side of The Veil?
They our empathy and our support. But all too often it is a one way street. Fortunately all of my non-Jewish friends support Israel, know the truth about 10/7, and know where the blame lies. Nobody wants Palestinian suffering or death. But their freedom is their responsibility. I refuse to accept this 21st century version of the “White Man’s Burden” especially when it isn’t the white man’s, but the Jewish people’s burden to free the Palestinians from the leaders they selected.
No, the Palestinians are not the Jewish people’s burden. Not after October 7. You are engaged in the racism of low expectations.
Exactly. It was the Palestinian civilians who committed the worst atrocities on 7/10. The rapes, the mutilations, the burnings, the kidnappings. They are not our ‘burden’, nor our responsibility. They are responsible for themselves, their evil and their actions. I’m fed up with the world treating them like children without agency. Enough of this rubbish already.