It's Time to Stop the Hate, America

by NYPalinPower

"Listen to me people, just because you talk to a woman about glasses, purses, children, and dating, does not mean that you are going to sit down for a glass of Kool-Aid, and give up on everything that you believe in. Liking Sarah Palin is not a sin. Judging her as a politician, rather than a human being, is."
- Ilana Angel

http://www.jewishjournal.com/keepingthefaith/item/defending_sarah_palin_over_a_glass_of_kool-aid_20100305/

Ilana Angel writes a blog for The Jewish Journal. Last Tuesday, she unexpectedly met Sarah Palin in Los Angeles at a restaurant and then blogged about it. Excited to meet such a "lovely person" she was happy to share that experience with her readers. However, the responses she got was more than she was bargaining for.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/keepingthefaith/item/sarah_palin_my_unexpected_new_bff_20100303/

As a fellow Jew, I am proud of Ilana Angel for defending Sarah Palin in her blogs. She continues to this day to defend her even though it isn't the "politically correct" thing to do or popular with her readers. And while she doesn't agree with Sarah's politics and will never vote for her, I honor Ilana's decency and "chutzpah" for standing up to those who responded with such shocking and hateful comments.

I entirely agree with Ilana about the hatred issue. To attack anybody personally based solely on their politics (or religion or race, etc..) is ignorant and is an embarrassment to the human race. I have also seen horrible personal attacks on our president, and although I am certainly not a fan and I don't agree with his politics, I have never condoned this kind of hatred.

In my view, the world is one huge family, and it is healthy that our individual views differ, but we should not hate one another for them. We all are unique with varying beliefs and opinions. We don't have to agree, but we must respect those differences. As one person once wrote on Sarah's Facebook wall, we are all just one little piece of jigsaw that together make a beautiful puzzle. So let's stop the hatred America before something very terrible happens. We must be decent with one another. Let us speak up, talk back and debate the issues and then vote at the ballot box. But don't ever, ever hate your fellow human being.

In a follow-up blog she writes:

"I am being called brave for writing the blog. I am being hailed as a hero for not judging her. I am being called a idiot for liking her. I am being judged negatively for being kind. Has the greatest country in the world become so polarized over this woman, that we have forgotten how great this country is? There are moments in each of our lives where we have the choice to be kind and decent, or animals. It is beyond crushing to me that this blog presented so many people with the chance to be kind, and instead inspired them to be animals."

http://www.jewishjournal.com/keepingthefaith/item/shabbat_shalom_sarah_palin_20100306/

Then she goes on to ask some very important questions (as us Jews typically do):

"Why is it, that just because I do not agree with Sarah Palin and her politics, I need to hate her? Who is so superior to think that it is okay to hate based on things that, on the most basic of levels, don’t really matter?"

"What message are we giving each other, if we are able to hate each other for beliefs? This week has made me sad. Sad as a mother that there is so much hate in the world in which I am raising my son. I met a cool lady, with killer boots and fabulous glasses, and because I liked her, I am hated. Have we learned nothing from the history of the world?"

And finally, a sort of prayer:

"What a lovely world it would be if were able to define ourselves as people first. Imagine the future we would be giving to our children, if being a good person, was more important than the color of our skin, or who we vote for."

So Ilana, keep up the good work and keep on blogging! And although I'm not looking to find Mr. Right, I send my best prayers and wishes that you do!