You Will Not Define Us, Donald Trump
Donald Trump has signed an executive order that defines Judaism as both a race or nationality and a religion. He states this is so the federal government can fight anti-Semitism on college campuses. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states the government can withhold funding for education programs that encourage anti-Semitism “on the ground of race, color or national origin.” Religion is not covered under Title VI. So, the President has decided to redefine us.
This is wrong for a number of reasons. Trump considers the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) against Israel to be anti-Semitic. However, Trump has had a ongoing problem with separating the actions of the Israeli government from being Jewish. They are different. Israel is a nation. Judaism is a religion and a culture. All Jews do not agree with the actions of the Israeli government in its treatment of Palestinians. In fact, we disagree on many things. Anti-Semitism is the hatred or prejudice against Jews, not Israel.
On December 7, 2019, speaking to the Israeli American Council in Hollywood, Florida, Trump had the audacity to invoke the old anti-Semitic trope of “dual loyalty” when he said that many Jews “don’t love Israel enough.” An anti-Semite has no right to tell American Jews how we should feel about Israel or its right-wing government. And, labeling Judaism as a nationality for the express purpose of curbing free speech is insulting, dangerous, and un-American.
A day after the New York Times broke this story, a transcript of the executive order was made public. It did not specifically redefine Judaism as a nationality. But, this fact doesn’t change the climate for Jews Trump has created. He still equates support for Israel with “good” Jews. He doesn’t get that his remarks to the Israeli American Council weren’t just anti-Semitic tropes, but encouraged more anti-Semitic acts. And, he is using the free speech argument as a wedge that’s sure to promote more discord. As Yair Rosenberg wrote in the Washington Post, what’s interesting about Donald is that he believes all that tripe about Jewish stereotypes. But, rather than hate us because of them, he likes us because of those qualities. It’s an understatement to say this is convoluted and sickening.
Jews are not a monolithic group of people. We share a culture and a history, one that is full of examples of misguided and tragic labeling. But, we get to decide where our loyalty resides and for what purposes.
Donald Trump, you don’t define us. We do.
This poster is part of a series of posters Jeff Gates does under the guise of the Chamomile Tea Party. Often taking World War II-era propaganda, he remixes them with new text and imagery about the rancor so prevalent in American political discourse. Download a high resolution copy of this poster for free. In fact, all Chamomile Tea Party posters are free to download under a Creative Commons license.
Follow the history of our country’s political intransigence from 2010–2018 through a six-part exhibit of these posters on Google Arts & Culture.