Antisemitism, 20% Allies, and Colonel Nicholson

The previous post in this space (“Antisemitism’s Sharp Left Turn: An Open Letter to My Left-of-Center Friends”) argued that in 2023, many on the political left are in denial about an incontrovertible fact: that right-wing antisemitism is mostly the realm of marginal kooks, while left-wing antisemitism has become widespread, virulent, and politically powerful. The essay also implied that those on the political left have a moral obligation to clean up the ethical mess that arises naturally from their increasing obsession with racial taxonomies and hierarchies.

Today’s post argues that some on the right are so invested in political animosity that they reflexively dismiss any efforts by those on the left who are, in fact, seeking to crawl out of said ethical mess. This post is a plea for my right-of-center friends to seek out and work with the sincere efforts of those on the left who are, in fact, awake to what has happened. …

By exhibiting absolute contempt for anything and anyone left-of-center, such right-of-center voices make it more difficult to snuff out the flames of antisemitism currently raging. Since October 7, the 20% allies are in plain view—and frightened. Welcome their alliance, however narrow and fleeting.

[It’s a great essay, worth reading in full. Robert asks us to decide what matters more: a short-term political benefit, or a long-term cultural and moral benefit in pushing anti-Semitism back to the margins? I’d say the latter is far more important, and it will eventually matter politically too. His reference to “Bridge on the River Kwai” is spot-on, too. — Ed]