In response to the Ft. Hood shooting

When I think of the Irish or the Jews, two ethnic groups of which I am a proud member, I am bombarded with many images. Sometimes I think about the injustices done to these two peoples and, with few exceptions, am pleased with the way in which we’ve responded.

In my home office, I have old anti-Irish and anti-Jewish political cartoons to remind my children that they didn’t always have it so easy.

As a result of this upbringing and conversion to Judaism, I have little tolerance for whining. Relatives always said, “If you’re looking for sympathy, it’s in the dictionary between shit and syphilis.”

Now I use that same philosophy with my own children.

They love it.

In the face of suicide bombings throughout the Middle East, atrocities committed elsewhere in the name of Allah, and most recently a slew of killings by someone whose relatives say “anti-Muslim” harassment is to blame, I am thinking more people should follow the Irish and Jewish example.

And blow those IRA and Orthodox Judaism examples out yer ass. They are the exception, not the rule. And you know it.

And another thing – Homosexuals have been harassed in the military for years. There are laws in place that prohibit them from admitting who they are – and Muslims are complaining of harassment instead of categorically denouncing such a hateful act.

How do they feel when they think of their people and the way they’ve responded to oppression?

They can’t be proud.

They shouldn’t be proud.

They should stop it. If they love their culture, faith, and future – they should stop it.

Before it’s too late.