Op-Ed
February 23, 2024
I met an old Ukrainian Jew at somewhat nook retailer in Denver. Turned out we’re each searching for the identical issues. Some we might discover within the retailer; t’others we ain’t gonna get. Not on this lifetime.
He’s been right here for many years, and has a slight accent I couldn’t place. So, being a snoop by nature and career, I requested him the place he hailed from.
“Ukraine,” he mentioned.
“Oh, man,” I mentioned, “I’m sorry.” I laid a hand on his shoulder.
I requested him about his household in Ukraine: the place they had been, how they had been doing, when was the final time he’d seen them or heard from them?
We talked about that for some time: extra about Ukraine than about Russia. What is there to say about Russia?
Somewhere within the Mexican Foods aisle, my musician’s ears heard he was Jewish. Something concerning the oboe in him …
I didn’t have to ask him, and he didn’t should ask me.
Who else would schmooze with an 80-year-old Ukrainian Jew at a deli?
Inevitably, the schmooze turned to Israel in Gaza. To say that that’s a sensitive topic right this moment is like saying that Hiroshima and Nagasaki had been regrettable incidents.
We didn’t dance round it. He mentioned, to my shock, that he was extra devastated by Israel’s response to the Hamas atrocities than he was by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
He advised me that he thought Jews, and Israel, had been higher than that. But now, he mentioned, he sees he was incorrect, and that made him sadder than something anybody might say about his enemies.
My sentiments precisely.
Look: Hamas admits that its objective is to slaughter Jews — to exterminate them if potential.
To which I say: “Well, good on ya, mates, for admitting it. Now why don’t you sit down and shut up. And if you can hold two thoughts in your mind at once, duck.”
But my new buddy and I used to assume that’s not what Israel is about.
Or was about.
As my new buddy and I stood collectively within the checkout line — full strangers — we hugged each other, briefly — not too briefly — that hug went on for fairly a number of seconds. The different folks in line had been good about it and appeared away.
I can perceive that. They might need thought we had been long-unreconciled father and son, or possibly simply two old homosexual guys. They didn’t care. I like Denver.
Me and the old man had been third and fourth in line.
Then we talked softly concerning the political state of affairs within the United States: the crescendo of fascism. He had the identical tackle it as I do.
And he’d already lived by means of it. More than as soon as.
I requested if there was any method to put together for what appears positive to return.
He shook his head, as if to say: I’m simply glad I don’t should reside by means of it once more.
Then he advised me 13 phrases that just about sum up our nation’s state of affairs on this election 12 months.
“The only way I can feel some relief is to lower my standards.”
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