While I appreciate the need to address antisemitism in the Seattle area, the contortions that this initiative seems to take is head scratching. This issue is not as complicated as it is made out to be. To me we are discussing Jew-hatred which is not hard to define. No one seems to want to condemn this behavior except for Jews themselves, but not unless it includes all hatred of other groups. Why is it that Jew hatred cannot stand on its own as an evil. It’s because non Jews don’t see it as such and therefore won’t engage. This is a deeper problem
I don't think we can only rely on organizations to protect us. I experienced zero support after reporting antisemitic comments in a video played at a King County government commission meeting. We also need broad-based grassroots organization and efforts.
This was a while back. The LWSD had a forum on bullying. Bullying was officially defined as a repeated action. Their rules did not define a one-time action as bullying. Either the definition needs to change, or another disciplinary classification needs to be created. Last year the LWSD issued detailed guidelines for inclusion. I don't really view them as being followed to protect Jews. Ethnicity policies keep Jews out of education work groups legally because they can say that they are seeking more diverse candidates. I hope that Jews and Blacks can partner on the issue of hate incidents. Terrible things happen to Black kids, especially with respect to football. In 2023, students entered a bathroom and made racist comments to a Black cheerleader from the visiting team. Every year there are severe incidents of racism against Black students at rural schools. There is a trend away from discipline. The policy question then becomes what should happen to students who commit racism or antisemitism at school, even when it happens only once and doesn't meet the repetition criterion in the definition of bullying. I should add that disabled students face similar issues. The things able students say to students with disabilities like ADD are completely objectionable. Some kids even tell disabled kids to commit suicide. This actually happens.
While I appreciate the need to address antisemitism in the Seattle area, the contortions that this initiative seems to take is head scratching. This issue is not as complicated as it is made out to be. To me we are discussing Jew-hatred which is not hard to define. No one seems to want to condemn this behavior except for Jews themselves, but not unless it includes all hatred of other groups. Why is it that Jew hatred cannot stand on its own as an evil. It’s because non Jews don’t see it as such and therefore won’t engage. This is a deeper problem
I don't think we can only rely on organizations to protect us. I experienced zero support after reporting antisemitic comments in a video played at a King County government commission meeting. We also need broad-based grassroots organization and efforts.
This was a while back. The LWSD had a forum on bullying. Bullying was officially defined as a repeated action. Their rules did not define a one-time action as bullying. Either the definition needs to change, or another disciplinary classification needs to be created. Last year the LWSD issued detailed guidelines for inclusion. I don't really view them as being followed to protect Jews. Ethnicity policies keep Jews out of education work groups legally because they can say that they are seeking more diverse candidates. I hope that Jews and Blacks can partner on the issue of hate incidents. Terrible things happen to Black kids, especially with respect to football. In 2023, students entered a bathroom and made racist comments to a Black cheerleader from the visiting team. Every year there are severe incidents of racism against Black students at rural schools. There is a trend away from discipline. The policy question then becomes what should happen to students who commit racism or antisemitism at school, even when it happens only once and doesn't meet the repetition criterion in the definition of bullying. I should add that disabled students face similar issues. The things able students say to students with disabilities like ADD are completely objectionable. Some kids even tell disabled kids to commit suicide. This actually happens.