Let's fight real antisemitism, not create false narratives to stoke hate and fear: Opinion

There is a rising crescendo of hate speech in this country. Be it racist, antisemitic, anti-Hispanic, anti-Asian, anti-LGBTQ+ or anti-woman. No one is safe from bullying remarks and aggressive acts.

The hateful rhetoric of words and the ensuing actions are occurring all over our commonwealth, all across our nation, worse it is now occurring within our own families.

Violence, physical and now cyber, was once like firecrackers that startled us. But now this hate and violence are being flung around like confetti that we simply have gotten used to and now brush off.

And that is the real issue, the extremes are inflicting the loudest noises upon us, gathering more people into their tents of wanting to divide us.

Peacemakers will talk. But these dictators and pedagogues, be they leaders of countries, fanatical groups (like the NRA), extreme religious factions, candidates or elected officials more zealous on winning, it is their noise that is driving the majority of people into becoming silent.

When one person or one group haphazardly labels any act by another person or another group as racist or antisemitic, it resolves nothing. It does, however, drives more fear and anger within each opposing entity.

When speech is too casually labeled as offensive, we become desensitized to the actual racism and the actual antisemitism around us and we shrug off those real threats that divide us and pull us ever farther apart.

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When we allow the spread of misinformation and crying wolf over imaginary dangers, we destroy our faith in the power of our vote and in ourselves at a time when we cannot afford to lose a single voice in the public debate on what direction we want our country to go.

Our democracy relies on all of us to be engaged and to be aware of the challenges that others face in order to be in a safe and secure community.

Creating false narratives that co-opt real pain does a disservice to every single person, past and present, who has bravely stood up against actual hate and violence.

Opinion: Political debates should be spirited, but antisemitism has no place in our public square

This country and this commonwealth are at a critical juncture in our democracy. Will we acquiesce to that soothing propaganda of hate and fear, be it from politicians, elected officials, clergy, our relatives and neighbors? Or will we realize that every voice who gathers their courage to stand up to say this is wrong removes one kernel of divisiveness?

Our democracy depends on all voices. Our democracy survives on truth.

We must stand together and be vigilant against false rhetoric, spoken and written, perpetrated by those who only seek to tear us down and keep us weak.

To redirect that famous Walt Kelly's 1970 line in Pogo: "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Amelia Adams, Kathie Buchino, Maria A. Fernandez, Nikki Marzian, Susan B. Stokes, Bobbi Jo Weber and Virginia Woodward are community activists in Louisville.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Let's fight real antisemitism not create false narratives and cry wolf