Dear Friends,
As an Israeli, it's been a rough month, to say the least.
As an American, it’s been an awakening month.
My home country has been through a devastating day of Holocaust horrors on Oct 7, followed by extreme violence and antisemitism that brought us back in time to historical moments in our heritage that we thought we would never witness again in this lifetime.
I am broken, my heart is broken, and as an Israeli - I fear that this was a sign of evil, threatening to take over the world. Coming to America. Presented already in our streets. Coming to our homes.
I grew up in a democracy that opened its gates to all. As America's little sister, Israel emulated the exact modern western philosophies America has adopted.
It didn't work for us, as you see.
I love Israel. I love America.
When I moved here 23 years ago the first thing I appreciated the most was the FREEDOM - to walk the streets of New York at the time and not live in the fear of terrorism that I was born into. To not live under a sky full of sirens and rockets, stabbing attacks, exploding busses, and constant terrorism. To not live in a country of bomb shelters and safe rooms.
I cherished the FREEDOM that represents this beautiful country we live in, and the freedom embedded in its spirit and national anthem - The Land of The Free.
The freedom to be, love, and live, terror free.
And of course, the relentless pursuit of happiness.
And then Sep 11 happened.
As an Israeli I knew right away that it was terrorism. It took hours and a second plane to confirm that to Americans.
I felt as if terrorism followed me to America. But this time it was different.
I felt on the one hand less safe post the attack as America did not know how to respond to terrorism. It was too foreign. The chaos in the streets of New York was alarming. I’m used to the fighting spirit of Israel - not the fear that Americans have felt.
But the next day something magical happened - the streets flooded with loving people caring for each other, singing together, taking care of each other and spreading light and love.
It was beautiful to see and experience.
The following years I felt more secure. Our borders were secured. Terrorism was imbedded in our spirit and we moved through life with caution, screening through immigrants, screening through terrorist supporters in job interviews and making sure our country was safe.
And than something else happened.
We turned into guilt.
We started walking on egg shells for the sake of making people feel better. We removed all safety barriers to our nation, we welcomed and accepted everyone, and beyond that - put everyone else on a pedestal above Americans.
Minorities became the loud voice, suppressing the American voice.
We put everyone else before Americans.
As an American and a minority immigrant I have to say…
I didn’t move here to escape my country and create the same country and environment I grew up in here. My country was fine.
I didn’t move here to preach to people about my heritage and my country and deep throat people to chant for it. If I wanted to chant for my country I would do it from my country.
I didn’t move here to wave other countries flags and infuse my culture into this culture.
I moved here because of the American values and culture.
I moved here for freedom, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness.
I moved here for the American Dream.
And I am devastated to say - the American dream has turned into a nightmare.
It seems like all the outlaws of the world have moved here to bring all their problems and personal vengeance upon the people of America and make it into what pushed them out of their own country - hate, crimes and violence, and now they force everyone to be like them.
Isn’t it a shame that you tried to create a culture of diversity inclusion and equality only to run over Americans for doing exactly that?
Maybe diversity inclusion and equality are not the right priorities?
Maybe the American values are.
Maybe all of us minorities should just try to fit in better.
I want the old America back!
The America I fell in love with.
The old America I saw in the movies as a kid.
The old America when everyone were nice and friendly to each other- even if it looked fake at times.
The old America that had manners, and nauseating politeness.
The old America that I didn’t at first fit into - but I tried really hard and eventually did, and it was worth it.
The old America was not perfect.
It needs improvements.
But it was sure as the hell we created a lot greater than the America we have today.
The old America was great! It is the reason I moved here and what all countries aspired to be.
So let’s go back in time and make America, America again!
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