by Alan Miller
Let me preface my remarks by stating that I am so old that my birth certificate is written on papyrus. Having lived through World War II as a child here in America, I experienced firsthand the blight of antisemitism among people who had no reason to be bigoted or prejudiced. I realized early on that there was something profoundly significant about Jewish identity. What was it that made Jews so special that brought on this attention? Over the decades, this belief has only been reinforced by observing the immense contributions of American Jews to our country.
America had long stood as a beacon of democracy, from defeating totalitarian regimes in World War II to helping rebuild the post-war world through initiatives like the Marshall Plan, which revived Europe. The Japanese never knew democracy over centuries, and today they thrive as a democracy. Enemies were restored to forms of government they had never experienced; democracies were born.
And here in the United States, Jewish Americans have been an integral part of this fabric, excelling in almost every walk of life. Consider the contributions of figures like Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Benjamin Cardozo; scientists like Jonas Salk whose discoveries saved millions of lives, or Albert Einstein; authors like Elie Wiesel and Saul Bellow; cultural icons like Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, Barbra Streisand, and Bob Dylan; sports legends like Sandy Koufax; veterans and war heroes like Mel Brooks, and Kirk Douglas who attained fame after the war.
The common denominator between all of these extraordinary individuals and myself is simple: we are all descended from immigrants who came to this country and helped make it great. That is the uniqueness of America—immigrants have made it great (while at the same time we have shamelessly trampled on the rights of Native Americans). So why today are we treating immigrants who have been here for decades like criminals? Why is a black or brown skin reason for masked military to descend on them, manhandle them and do violence, even killing? Why has two centuries of Jewish acceptance suddenly led to incredible antisemitism and violence?
I submit that much of this disgraceful conduct and bigotry lies at the feet of a Jew—Steven Miller (no relation, thankfully), who has been referred to as Trump’s brain. Miller grew up in California, and has led a privileged existence, went to Hebrew school, attended Duke University and is the individual behind our current and ruthless immigration policy. Only one generation removed from grandparents who escaped both Russian pogroms and the Holocaust, his blind prejudice is apparently without conscience or recollection of the events which his own family endured. How can you separate children from parents, break up families? There is a purpose to legal immigration, and removing criminals from our society, but the conduct our own government is engaging in is inhumane. Add to that the inhumanity of the Netanyahu regime in Israel and their slaughter of Palestinians, and you can see why the temperature of the civilized world has risen against Jews.
Yet these people and their inhumanity represent only a small minority of Jews, here and abroad. It is the innocent majority, sadly, which then suffers. As history has taught us, this too shall pass, if we persevere and hold on to our beliefs.
These words represent my feelings, and not those of any other individual or organization.
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