Big League Politics By Â
This guest op/ed was written by Ileana Drobkin.
I wish there was a photo capturing my face at the very moment a parent called to tell me his kid along with others were hurling antisemitic tropes at my son; my 12-year-old son. I can just imagine how my jaw would be hanging open, eyes enlarged and left hand reaching for some imaginary answer. Iâm known for my loquaciousness but thisâŠthis brought out that proverbial cat and she held my tongue. My first words after one of the longest pauses in recent years was âHow did they even know he was Jewish?â How sad; my first thought and words was essentially blaming the âvictimâ for othersâ ignorance.
My son is a quarter Jewish and very proud of his Jewish heritage. His interests and intellect is beyond the normal 12 year old so we have a list of topics heâs to stay away from with friends or other kids around his age. Up until now heâs only read and heard of antisemitism. I knew eventually heâd come across an unkind word, an ugly Antisemitic slur but I didnât think it would be at 12. The horrific attack on Israel on October 7th moved that timeline. I always like to caveat this is my experience and I fully acknowledge and condemn any anti-Muslim rhetoric, hate speech or sentiments for that matter.
According to TheConversation.com, Scholars found the following regarding the social media platform, TikTok âkids and young adults are especially in danger of being exposed, often unwittingly, to antisemitism on the very popular and fast-growing platform, which already counts over 1 billion users worldwide. Some of the content that is posted combines clips of footage from Nazi Germany with new text belittling or making fun of the victims of the Holocaust…
