12-17-2019, 10:21 AM
The controversy, as I understand it, based on what I've read from Jewish people against the idea:
1. It pushes the "dual loyalty" trope of Jewish Americans not really being American, but linked to Israel first (It is apparently something they've been fighting for a long time.) Trump has a history of this behavior, even saying things like
This narrative has been used as a basis for violence against Jews (for being "UnAmerican") and the Jewish community in America has been fighting it for a very long time. This new executive order severely damages their fight against this narrative.
2. It potentially allows the government to affect school funding if any curriculum or school functions criticize the Israeli government. This order was specifically crafted to protect Jewish people under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Essentially, the concern is that it equates being Jewish to being of Israel, and protects the Israeli government from criticism, at least superficially.
3. If being Jewish is a race, then we can now call Christian - Jewish marriages "interracial marriages" despite both people potentially being white. And that's objectively silly (this one is more of a joke. The first two are the major issues). Most American Jewish people do not define themselves as a different race or nationality. They view being a Jew as being a cultural or religious identity. Their nationality is American.
The relatively good news is that this isn't unprecedented. Muslim, Hindu and Sikh religions are protected under Title VI because there is recognition that people of these religions generally share ethnic characteristics. So it's not unprecedented to protect religions in this manner. But I'm not sure making Jewish a nationality was the correct way to go. And it smacks of underhanded tactics (Such as further empowering the dual loyalty trope that Trump has used on several occasions).
1. It pushes the "dual loyalty" trope of Jewish Americans not really being American, but linked to Israel first (It is apparently something they've been fighting for a long time.) Trump has a history of this behavior, even saying things like
Quote:"In my opinion, you vote for a Democrat, you're being very disloyal to Jewish people, and you're being very disloyal to Israel," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, "and only weak people would say anything other than that."https://www.npr.org/2019/08/22/753131249/trumps-disloyalty-claim-about-jewish-democrats-shows-he-doesn-t-get-how-they-vot
"I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty," Trump said from the Oval Office.
This narrative has been used as a basis for violence against Jews (for being "UnAmerican") and the Jewish community in America has been fighting it for a very long time. This new executive order severely damages their fight against this narrative.
2. It potentially allows the government to affect school funding if any curriculum or school functions criticize the Israeli government. This order was specifically crafted to protect Jewish people under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Quote:Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistanceFor example, if students on a school campus hold a BDS rally or event, that could be construed as anti-Israel (it is anti-Israeli Government) which can then, under this change, be used to justify defunding a school for allowing "anti-Semitic" behavior on campus. But...being anti-Israel isn't the same as being Anti-Semitic. Opposing the Israeli Government, and the things they are doing to the Palestinians, is not a matter of race. It is a matter of policy. But this change could effectively equate the two.
Essentially, the concern is that it equates being Jewish to being of Israel, and protects the Israeli government from criticism, at least superficially.
3. If being Jewish is a race, then we can now call Christian - Jewish marriages "interracial marriages" despite both people potentially being white. And that's objectively silly (this one is more of a joke. The first two are the major issues). Most American Jewish people do not define themselves as a different race or nationality. They view being a Jew as being a cultural or religious identity. Their nationality is American.
The relatively good news is that this isn't unprecedented. Muslim, Hindu and Sikh religions are protected under Title VI because there is recognition that people of these religions generally share ethnic characteristics. So it's not unprecedented to protect religions in this manner. But I'm not sure making Jewish a nationality was the correct way to go. And it smacks of underhanded tactics (Such as further empowering the dual loyalty trope that Trump has used on several occasions).
![[Image: oN5QAdY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/oN5QAdY.png)
