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(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)
From the Mayor’s Desk
By Mayor Katjana Ballantyne
We all hold our core beliefs. For me, I believe when any one of us is harmed, we are all harmed. I have no tolerance for any form of hatred whether it’s antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, or any other hateful view. My immigrant experience has taught me to value and champion differences. It is also why I am opposed to all war. And war is what I wish to address today.
I’ve been listening hard to community members since the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel and throughout the war raging in Gaza. We have residents personally impacted by the death, destruction, and horror there. They are grieving an unimaginable grief. Countless more are outraged and deeply pained by the atrocities, afraid of rising hatred in our society, and alarmed by tensions coursing through our own community.
I have had conversations with individuals who are horrified by both the attacks and war. I’m also hearing about how this conflict is feeding into a rising tide of dangerous antisemitism and Islamophobia in our larger society. It is a challenge to find the words that address such an ugly and brutal conflict, and the hate it is fueling, in some productive and comprehensive fashion.
As Mayor of this community, I want to call for us to raise up our long-forged Somerville values of respect for the dignity of others. It’s important that we discuss how we’re addressing these horrors and interacting with each other here in our own four-square miles. I believe this is all connected. How can we call for peace abroad if we cannot model it here at home?
I was raised in a household with generational war trauma. This experience is woven into my visceral opposition to all war. My parents lived through World War II as youths. Later, my Czech-German mother and my Scottish father met, married, and adopted me after I was orphaned in Greece. We are a family of immigrants from three different countries carrying not just the history of our ancestors with us but also the memory of war and destruction. My earliest years were spent among people who were still putting themselves and their countries back together from the ravages of that war – even after the passage of two decades. I know first-hand how war scars its survivors and how the weight of a thing that happened before you were born can be a looming presence in your life.
I don’t say that so that I can claim some sort of moral authority. I say that in the hope you will hear me when I say this: we need to hear and respect everyone’s losses and history when they’re being voiced. Closing the door to dialog shortchanges us all.
In Somerville, we’ve also long been proud that we don’t just tolerate our differences, we seek them out and value them. We celebrate them. And we defend them. As a City, we remain resolute. We have not and we will not tolerate hate speech, bias, or violence in our community or our schools. Let me be very clear on that – I condemn all acts of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Anti-Arab and Anti-Palestinian bias.
Leaders are furiously negotiating for a ceasefire while more people die and endure unimaginable suffering and hostages remain held. I join with world leaders in calling for a ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchange, and massive humanitarian relief. Yet a ceasefire is just a pause in the fighting. It’s not peace. It does not diffuse the tension that animates this fight. I will say then, again, what I’ve been saying since day one, we need more than a ceasefire. We need peace – lasting, just peace.
While you and I may not solve the crisis in the Middle East, we can and must model peace here. Those pointing out that antisemitism has been on the rise worldwide, creating danger in the United States, and feeding growing normalization of antisemitic rhetoric and tropes, are correct to raise the alarm. Those taking issue with the portrayal of all Palestinians as terrorists, and the persistent racism and danger they face in the U.S., are also correct to raise the alarm.
So, I’m not just making an empty appeal for everyone to get along. I’m suggesting we do something much harder: engage with the people with whom we’re angry and seek understanding. Peace takes work.
Local government creates many paths to progress, but it takes each of us as individuals to create the path to a forthright, empathetic, and productive dialogue. It takes each of us to choose respect over aggression, civility over discord, common ground over disagreement. That’s not giving up the fight. It’s taking the fight head on.
I shared a little of my story to start and I’d like to close with the story of another. Recently, I spoke with a Somerville resident who fled here from a war-torn country. He told me what he desires and cherishes most about living here is the sense of safety, the peace, and the acceptance he feels – that he found the strength to advocate for people back home by being rooted in his safe haven here. It is a simple but fundamental observation. I’d argue it packs a power we should not underestimate.
Seeking peace and respect here at home is not ignoring the conflagration abroad while raising lesser issues at home. Just as war trauma gets passed down through generations, I’d say a mindset of peace is contagious in real-time. It is not naïve to hope that modeling peace at home may help it take root elsewhere. It is the very stuff of hope and progress.
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Mayor Katjana, do you want to restore peace, respect and safety in our city?
Then start by speaking the truth and begin humanizing the Jewish community currently being boycotted by city hall.
A responsible mayor would speak the simple truth: “Hamas terrorists are responsible for starting the war in Gaza. Not Israeli Jews who left Gaza “Jew-free” since 2005 in exchange for peace and certainly not Somerville Jews.”
A responsible mayor would begin to humanize the victims of Oct 7th: Mayor Katjana, please say the words “Rape is not resistance”. You can try it privately, we understand, you’re under pressure from bona-fide masked hate-groups. But cowardice is not an immutable characteristic, please at least watch “Screams Before Silence” Mayor Katjana, if you refuse to show it.
A responsible mayor would stretch a banner across the city hall, armory and the police station stating that “Rape is not Resistance” after hearing that people in the city under her watch are being threatened for uttering this true statement. What are you going to do Katjana? Ignore and boycott people speaking truth while battling imaginary “hamaso-phobia”? We stood up to hate for our Muslim neighbors by around 10:45 on 9/11/2001, but please do keep insulting and persecuting non-compliant Jews, Mayor Katjana.
Then maybe lets talk about stopping taxpayer funds for anti-Jewish hate groups? Were not just talking about the council’s resolution campaigns to save hamas from the war it started or the hate fest movie nights at the armory. Lets also thoroughly examine how our tax dollars go to fund “[Jew] Free Palestine” hategroups throughout the city? Nobody is fooled any longer by the motivation of hamas supporters at this point. A responsible mayor would call out hate Mayor Katjana.
Also, Mayor Katjana, have you asked Muslims if they agree with your label of “Islamophobia” for Jews who try to restore safety in our community? Cause when Tsarnaev senior revealed his jewhating views, the imam at the mosque on Prospect st ran to tell the cops instead of protecting the terrorist. Are you sure you want to lump all Muslims into the terrorist Hamas supporters camp? Maybe they’re not cool with pimply Hamas cosplayers from Tufts alienating the Muslim community on their behalf? Terrorism is not foreign to our town, shameless hate for Jews is new, but we can deal with hate if only our elected officials get our of their preferred ostrich position. Boston Strong.
“SpiderJerusalem” is spouting a lot of irresponsible nonsense and sure as hell doesn’t speak for me, nor I’ll bet, the great majority of Jews in Somerville.
Naturally, I’m troubled by the increase of anti-semitic incidents in Somerville and by the extremist rhetoric of the apologists for Hamas who claim to be for peace in Gaza.
But to attack Katjana Ballantyne like you have is absurd, totally unfair, divorced from reality,and downright hateful!
A trip to the Australian Outback allows us to observe the magnificent ostrich’s similar fright response while in its natural habitat. The peculiar posture assumed by the bird allows a means for illusory escape from dangers of reality while gaslighting designated oppressor foes. With hungry vultures patiently circling overhead.
Mayor Katjana, looks like all US Jews on here agree that Somerville City Hall’s rising and open hatred for Jews is simply unacceptable.
Mayor K, you gotta stop funding anti-Jewish bigotry with our tax dollars and start running some philo-hebraic campaigns to restore safety and sanity here in Somerville. Screams Before Silence is free to screen at the Armory every weekend. And not a penny more for “[Jew]Free Palestine” hate spreading All She Wrote bookstore and East Somerville Main Streets. (All She Wrote makes the call for [Jew] killing explicit in the map of Israel covered in a hamastica pattern on their window hate sign.)
At this point in US history Jews fought for their civil rights and they’ve earned them. Why should we cede them??? Why Willingly relinquish rights we have earned??? Jews were at the forefront of every civil rights movement fighting for the rights of others, but when it comes to our own civil rights, why should we be so afraid to stand up for ourselves?
What other than the respected sir’s own internalized antisemitism should we, Somerville Jews, be embarrassed for?
We Somerville Jews are not medieval lepers spreading “Zionist infection” to be chased out of the village square, ignored, mocked and boycotted. Jews should not be dehumanized and terrorized for speaking the truth. Somerville Jews or elected officials who stand up for Jews should not be threatened for standing up to vicious blood libel. We Jews are the heart and soul of our Somerville community. We stand up for every persecuted minority first.
Why is open hatred for the jewish community acceptable?
Once lit, hatred for Jews does not go away by itself “if we all simply just ignore it”. It ignites sectarian infernos that consume societies as a whole and result in actual genocidal events. Heed the warnings of actual Jewish refugees who know what its like to wait for threatened “anti-zionist” pogroms.
See you at the City Hall organized Oct 7th vigil Mayor Katjana Ballantyne?
Hey Spider
Why is it that I have a strong hunch that you are a right-wing nut job and Trump supporter? Since you are so “courageously” outspoken, how about at least (honestly!) telling everyone who you are supporting for president?
But I doubt you will – because then those Somervillians who read this will know where your nasty, hateful rhetoric is coming from. But really, it isn’t all that necessary – because your over the top, vitriolic idiocy gives you away.
Long time Somerville resident that’s all you’ve got?
That they are likely nut job and you’ll discredit their true statements because their tone makes you uncomfortable? It’s not hateful to say Rape isn’t not resistance. It’s not hateful to call out the Mayor who hasn’t said a gosh darn thing about the safety of Jews in this city. This piece included. She purposely stayed right in the middle as not to impact the votes she may get in the future.
You only call out Spider Js tone because what he says is true and you not Ken have anything to say to really dispute their statements. You don’t have jack otherwise. Yeah maybe he could be nicer but does being nice ever get anything done? You are both in denial about the safety of Jewish residents in this city and it’s only going to get worse now that Tufts is back and groups like SJP are out canvassing.
Long time Somerville resident: they will come for you as well. You think you’re safe by being a good Jewish person or liberal? They came for the Jews and YOU didn’t say anything. I hope there is someone to speak up for you against authority when they come for you “Long time Somerville resident.
– Sincerely another longtime Somerville resident
Loud crickets from city hall.. Cat got your tongue Mayor Katjana?
Please address the questions posed to you, dear Mayor Katjana:
Why are you and your SRJ dept boycotting jews who are being physically threatened by DSA linked terrorists? (Councillors have been informed and tasked with reporting evidence to the FBI. DSA members remember, snitch early, snitch often if you want to distance yourself from your terrorist wing. Maybe mayor will be more forthcoming with questions from federal authorities. Cause its easy to stonewall powerless Jews otherwise.)
How can we report hatecrimes against Jews if you block us, Mayor Katjana?
Why are you allowing use of taxpayer money for jewhating propaganda and Hamas fundraising under the guise of “helping palestinians”? UN is unable to separate humanitarian funding from terrorism linked activities, how can the lady from AllSheWrote make sure she’s not funding hamas with our tax and donation dollars? Why is jewhate allowed?
Why are you refusing to hold basic philo-hebraic activities to counter the surge in jewhate? Like holding vigils for Oct 7th victims and screening Screams Before Silence?
Is it because you’ve internalized the anti-jewish beliefs of the Somerville hamas supporters coddled by our tax dollars, Mayor Katjana?
Since so far we’ve only had Katjana’s supporters calling Ol’ Spider a poo-poo head and questioning his gonzo bonafides (yes Spider Jerusalem did mitterate upon Mr. Nixon’s shoes back in the day, please watch Where the Buffalo Roam. Warren Ellis keeps lamenting that kids just dont read graphic novels anymore.), so instead lets hear what certified lefties without hamas brainworms have to say on the subject. Brianna Wu recently published a very poignant article that adresses the issue in a form that may be more palatable to the audience not acustomed to having their indoctrination challenged.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/09/09/opinion/israel-hamas-war-progressives-antisemitism/
Special thanks to the Somerville Times for allowing this much needed civil discussion to take place without silencing us non-SJR-compliant Jews.
Spider
You need to stop referring to “We Somervile Jews” because you sure as hell don’t speak for the Jewish community in this city…and you ain’t fooling anyone about who you “represent.” How many right-wing Trumpists are there in your tiny grouplet of extremists – 5? 10? 15?
Your rants have the same level of coherence, logic, and truth that Trump’s tirades do! And please don’t insult anyone’s intelligence by denying that Trump (who, by the way, happens to be one of the worst anti-semites in America) is someone you agree with about all of this bullshit. Your screeds here sound like any one of Trumps recent “speeches”.
As for all of your vicious attacks against Katjana Ballantyne…she wrote a heartfelt plea for peace, tolerance, and understanding and you have turned it into something that is just the opposite. Why are you so twisted with hatred??
.
But I do have a straight forward question for you: You have repeatedly criticized (to put it very mildly!) Mayor Ballantyne for not sufficiently denouncing the rapes that Hamas terrorists committed on Oct 7. But you have never offered anything approaching actual evidence to back up your scurrilous accusations. So put up or shut up! What did Katjana Ballantyne say about those horrific rapes that led you to make such absurd and disgusting comments about such a good, honorable and decent person?
And feel free to have the last word – because continuing a back and forth with someone like you ..or “Mr 38 years”.. is an utter waste of time – time much better spent calling voters in swing states which I’m doing 2 hours a day, 7 days a week to help defeat the kind of right-wing extremism that you so obviously personify.
I’m a Jewish resident of Somerville for 40 years now, and I totally reject what Spider Jerusalem is saying, and especially his claim to speak for all local Jews. Because he doesn’t, not by a longshot.
I have no idea why you included East Somerville Main Streets in your unhinged ranting. I was happy to volunteer at their East Somerville Foodie Crawl last week, as I do nearly every year.
Mayor Katjana “Hamasophobia” Ballantyne. Why are you not holding a vigil on October 7th in front of the City Hall with full police protection for the Jewish community and well-wishers against any hate group attacks?
Mayor, this Jew voted for a Ballantyne mayor and her Dainty Socialist Club because we were told “a Napoleonic jewhating bald nazi would take over city hall”. We did not vote for the Tufts-Hamas chapter to setup a weaponized Iranian-directed jewhate propaganda mill on Highland ave with our city hall funds!!!!
All moderate lefties, who like yours truly for decades have been doing the actual fighting for GOOD against Evil, are very, Very, VERY upset with the brain-rotted prog-racists who have ruined a century of human advancement with their insane inverted progresive-racism scam.
And now the race-grifting cult-leaders are scared “movementless” that the moderate lefties will finally grow a pair and tell the prog-racists to go pound their “jew fragility” struggle sessions.
Yes, believe this old soviet jew, what you are living thru is an american version of the chinese cultural revolution. Just as ugly and damaging. A psychological civil war imposed upon an unsuspecting population.
Sorry guys, you don’t get to launder your white guilt with Jew tears this time. Jews are not white-colonizers for you to erase or decenter or whatever euphemism is trendy in KultSpeak these days. Jews are indigenous to Israel, “white [Jew] privilege” is just another way to say “jews control the world”, and Zionism is JEWISH PRIDE mayor Katjana. And any idiots screaming about the war a bunch of Hamass jewhaters started, BLAME HAMASS JEWHATRED, NOT JEWS.
To the “throw-other-jews-under-the-bus save-your-own-derierre” crowd trying to shut up voices of people who know what it is like to actually wait for a pogrom:
Pointing out an elected official’s hypocrisy, funding of very likely terrorist-linked groups with city funds and utter disdain shown towards basic Jewish Pride, is not “hate for the mayor”, it is a civic responsibility of every brainworm-free Somervillian.
You don’t have to be Jewish to stand up for the Jews. Councilor Matt McLoughlin, you are wanted at the mic. Our taxes should go to teach kids math and sciences, NOT HATRED FOR JEWS!!!
Mayor please conduct mandatory brainworm screenings for all city council members, because your boycott of Jews and refusal is can only be explained by severe physiological condition.
AND HOLD AN OCT 7TH VIGIL!!!!