Letter: West Hartford’s Disrespect America Caucus
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Dear Editor:
The November 12 council meeting was needlessly contentious.
The subject of controversy was a statutorily required, minority–party nomination to the town’s Human Rights Commission. The appointee had dedicated decades of her life to service in the community, so it seemed like a simple decision.
While it should have been a smooth vote, a few of her benign Facebook posts in support of Israel pulled out the anti-Israel activist crowd.
Shockingly, as the rest of the room rose and covered their hearts for the Pledge of Allegiance, the group of activists refused. Only one member of the diverse crowd of about a dozen stood up after a quick look around at her friends and a resigned shrug.
Apparently, West Hartford has a Disrespect America Caucus. Their insult to basic civility contradicts what this town, and this country, should stand for. And if West Hartford residents don’t push back, this group may very well determine West Hartford’s future.
Among those who refused to stand for the American flag was a self-described Palestinian-American who spoke about the offensiveness of supporting Israel. Perhaps she refused to stand on religious grounds. If it was for political reasons, considering Gaza is a terrorist–run theocracy where criticizing the government can be a capital offense, one would think she would appreciate a country where criticizing the government is a protected right.
There were also several who remained seated for the Pledge of Allegiance but made sure to include the phrase “As a Jew” as a justification for their perspectives. Starting a political opinion with “As a Jew” is a strong sign that the speaker’s views are probably more about their politics than their faith.
For the uninitiated, here’s a simple rule of thumb: if a Jewish person isn’t standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, they aren’t representative of the American Jewish community.
One Jewish activist wore a kaffiyeh, the Palestinian resistance scarf seen on an odd cross section of jihadis and progressive activists who don’t seem to be sure what they’re protesting at any given moment. To be sure, there’s no rule against wearing a kaffiyeh while standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Yet, insisting on doing the former while refusing to do the latter is likely a clear statement of values.
Another of the Disrespect America crowd unironically spent her three-minutes talking about respect after having just sat stone faced and resentful during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ultimately, the anti-Israel crowd being unwilling to stand for the flag shouldn’t be a surprise. The only time an American flag comes out at a pro-Palestine rally is if it’s going to be stepped on or burned.
So really, West Hartford’s Disrespect America Caucus was just staying on brand.
However, it was concerning to see town council members try to distance themselves from support for Israel rather than distance themselves from those who refuse to stand for the American flag. Maybe it was just politic civility, or perhaps they really didn’t see the group remain seated. The town council members were, after all, facing the flag as an elected official in America should.
And of course, a person can hate America and still enjoy First Amendment rights. But there is no requirement for elected officials to care what these people have to say.
The statutorily required nomination moved forward 9-0, but based on the comments from some elected officials, the Disrespect America crowd had an impact.
On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, the town council meeting raised red flags about how West Hartford will handle this important anniversary, both in West Hartford schools and around town.
It is clear that if West Hartford residents want to make sure America’s 250th birthday is celebrated and not denigrated, they must reach out to government and school leaders and demand it.
Ari Schaffer
West Hartford
This is not the West Hartford I grew up in 40-50 years ago.
That’s the beauty of being an American. As a citizen, I can still love my Country, even when I disagree with our policies. I have the right not to stand for the National Anthem or salute the flag. I have the right to speak my mind or practice the religion of my choice or none at all, without fear of persecution. The US Constitution grants me these inalienable rights. If you think otherwise, you’re missing the entire point of this “experiment” our founding fathers set in motion some 249 years ago.
Israel’s current government is no friend of the United States anymore. They don’t care about us, our safety or interests. They want to use us for our weapons and political shielding to continue the killing of innocent women and children without remorse. The horrific murdering of innocents that has happened the past 2 years has slowing made American’s realize Israel’s theocracy/autocratic government is not concerned with peace, but with the extinction of Palestinians and their country. Hamas may be a terrorist organization but Israel has helped create them by their decades long ruthless military occupation of the West Bank. Until Israel gives the Palestinian people their freedom and humanity, peace will allude that area of the world as it has for decades. Only through freedom can Israel and Palestine truly work together to create a peaceful coexistence as neighbor countries.
Every statement in this op-ed could be flipped on its head and land closer to the truth. Ari worked for the Trump White House and now does comms for the conservative Buckley Institute, named for the famous white supremacist and “OG” Tucker Carlson: William Buckley, Jr. I wouldn’t trust Ari on democracy, patriotism, Islam, or policy in general. He seems to be mediocre at PR too, given this drivel.
Get the whambulance. The fash are sad!
You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest.
1) Who are you to decide who represents the Jewish American community?
2) That’s quite a leap from protesting someone’s pro-Israel comments to not celebrating our 250th anniversary
As expected – the comments on this letter are sadly pointing out the frightening state our country is in.
Standing or not standing to the pledge of allegiance is a choice , certainly not one that can be exercised in a dictatorship or a totalitarianism … yet making choice is telling of someone who doesn’t appreciate the freedoms this country has to offer. This is TOP privilege! As a refugee I treasure the rights and freedom this country has offered me. When we stepped into this country the first thing we did is hung an American flag – in gratitude and recognition of the relief we felt that we can live free of fear. Attending that meeting was glaring evidence of the contrary, that once again we have to live looking over our shoulder. The comments here just confirm it.
On the right and on the left, time and time again “anti-Zionism” seems to stand shoulder to shoulder w anti-Americanism. (Before you go at me look up the origins of “antizionism” as a Soviet invention to topple the West, mainly US)
This op-ed says nothing of substance about what the people against appointing Robin Santiago actually said at the meeting, and instead chooses to attack their character. If you go and watch the recording of the Town Council, you’ll see that Santiago’s innocuous “pro-Israel” views included her sharing posts denying famine in Gaza, demonizing Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, and even saying that “95% of Jews are Zionists, and the other 5% are stupid.”
This kind of straw-man approach to engaging with opposition is a classic tactic of the Israel lobby, and one that is increasingly failing. For the record, a majority of Americans now oppose sending additional economic and military aid to Israel, according to a new New York Times/Siena poll.