ONCE

 Once things were different. Once I could get up and out of the house in 15 minutes, an early departure to go to work; now an early departure day is getting up to go to that doctor or the other doctor or the other. And on and on. Once I could get the posting out on time - always. Now I do my best. I promise to do my best to bring that about - once again. Thank you for being patient and I promise to try my best. Once again.

Once upon a time there were other things that were once upon a time. Once upon a time I took for granted that I was an American, born and bred, multiple generations, accepted with no distance between my acceptance as a resident, as a citizen, and that of any other citizen. My country accepted me. Wanted me. No questions about that. That was once. That is not now, most definitely not now.  

Once, I watched the news at 6 and at 11. Once I read a paper daily. Once I did not check myriad times for updates on the reality of a world gone mad. Once that was so. Now it is not so. Today I keep a close watch on the news. Which campus now is erupting in a rampant vile antisemitism. Which professor has been outed as a Jew hater, a proponent of genocide of the Jews once again, even as he cast that aspersion on the Jews themselves - always easy to blame a victim for what befalls him rather than the oppressor. Hate has ugly faces and tongues which fill the air with threats and chants of death.  Once in America this was not so. Today? There it is.

Once I understood that antisemitism still existed, but it was minor. Our people were enmeshed well within society in all levels and in all professions and trades, in business and in the arts. We led good lives. Took care of our own who needed help and extended many arms to the world outside the community. Life was calm. Evidently, that bothered people and there is no longer that calmness, that trust in the future. Instead, there has been a growing sense of confusion and uncertainty. How and when did this ugliness come about? Can we combat it or is this JewHatred so thick, so interwoven into evil hearts and minds and calls for more dramatic responses?

The very fabric of life was being shredded before our eyes, under our feet, over our heads. We no longer were sure of a safe walk down the street or a peaceful stroll through the grounds of the nearby university. Or a blessed session of prayer and celebration. We held our children tighter, closer to us lest we not be there to protect them. Bottom line - we now found ourselves living in a very different world. A world that defied and trashed a once that was, and drove full speed backwards to an uglier once, reviving it in the world of today, a very vicious now.  

Once can bring about awful memories. Once, almost 90 years ago, the arena of Madison Square Garden was rented out and filled with violent Nazis calling for loyalty to Hitler. For America to stay out of the war. Once the air was thick with racist remarks. Blood curdling remarks. Songs boasting of dripping Jewish blood. Once, but not now - until now, once again. Not now. but yes, now.

An ugly once from the past once again filled Madison Square Garden with racist remarks, crazed Antisemitic remarks. An ugly once, rampant again in the world of now. Today. Every Hater has now felt empowered, safe to come out of the closet, shed the disguise and go, loud voice braying into the dark. An ugly once -today, in technicolor. 

America now faces a decision which will affect the world. Who is to be the next President of the United States? Once it almost made no difference for however much they differed in politics and view, a core knowledge was that they had a responsibility to this country, its citizens and to the world at large Not a single one proposed treason. Not a single one riled up the crowds. Not a single one threatened to bring the military out against the citizens of this country. No one threatened imprisonment for opponents. No one calls for days of revenge. But today, now, we have that situation. 

Neither of the candidates are perfect. Neither of them says what people who support Israel need to hear. But one imperils the entire idea and structure of a democratic country, of Democracy.  Threats to defriend, to ghost, to adopt out of a family -no call for that. But here it is for Hatred poisons all it touches. But in any case, you must vote. If you have no vote, you have no voice. and no right to have a voice.

Abdication of responsibility is a go nowhere bottom line or rather a total loss.

Think - think again. Choose.   

  Evaluate the Once and the now. And the to be.

Vote wisely.