But I thought what the hell. Sometimes someone that seeks attention needs to be exposed for all to see. 

Last week we shared on these pages what Stephanie Edmonds really thinks of unions and her fellow UFT brothers and sisters. This week we will see what Stephanie Edmonds thinks of the Holocaust and her fellow Jews. 

I first wish to qualify that yes, it has been extremely tough on students the last 10 months. I feel for them immensely. I feel for their parents. In fact, I feel for everyone that has been affected by COVID in one way or another. Mistakes and missteps have been made. But neither do I trust the NYCDOE, DeBlasio, or Cuomo one bit in their plan(s) or guess work.  I have not been happy with the way the UFT has handled things, but at the end of the day I am sticking with my union and my colleagues. 

This tweet is from Stephanie (@classdisrupti0n) from early December (CLICK TO ENLARGE): 

 

 

 

Let's just sit back a moment and let this all sink in. I'll wait. 

OK? Done?

Before getting into the obvious issues with this series of tweets, let's focus on the first line where Stephanie proclaims that she is "standing for all Americans." This little pissant fart in the wind is going to stand for all Americans? With only 1,293 followers on Twitter? Kim Kardashian has 68.6 million. As much as I think Kim is useless and would listen and follow her way before Stephanie. Is Stephanie being hyperbolic or does she have some deranged sense of self?I shan't comment and will leave it for the mental health professionals and those in the psycho-pharmaceutical field to determine. 

Next.

Maybe Stephanie does not realize that over 6 million Jews were murdered during World War II for nothing other than being Jewish (yeah, I know that there were the disabled, gypsies, and gay and lesbians killed but I wish to just focus on what hits home to me).

What is your problem Stephanie? How dare you trivialize the Holocaust! How dare you use what your fellow Jews have gone through to advance your politics. You're not even Jewish! Do you know what it is like to be a Jew? Do you know what it is like to know the history of Jews and the Holocaust? Have you lost any family members to the Holocaust? 

Yeah, what the students are going though sucks. But this is the best we got. People are afraid. Parents are afraid. We have a disease that is out of control. I know people that have died. That have been sick. But people, meaning teachers, are making the best out of a shitty situation and people like you are not helping! You have all this time to tweet, to have a You Tube channel, Instagram, and now, a website that sells merch (CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE)!  Every social media site is dedicated to one thing and one thing only. Yourself and your "brand" You don't give one damn shit about the kids. Think I am wrong? Then stop showing yourself off especially when you are handing out donations and freebies. 

The students that are learning remote, in NYC (except for middle schools and high schools right now), are remote because their parents/guardians decided that's how they want their children educated. Stay the fuck out of their business. Focus on your job, not yourself. 

To compare students who are learning remote to the Holocaust? Are students being thrown into ovens? Are their parents? Are the students being used for medical experiments? Are the students being ripped away from their parents? What kind of sick person makes this comparison? 

What Stephanie wrote is beyond the pale. And if you notice the 3rd tweet when given a chance to walk it make she just doubles down. It's all about Stephanie. For a Jew to compare remote learning to the Holocaust is just wrong.

But I am willing to give Stephanie a chance. Stephanie, feel free to email anytime you want. We can have a Zoom or Google Meets meeting. I will bring along several Holocaust Survivors. If you are the person that you claim to be, you won't have a problem sharing with these Survivors what you are comparing the Holocaust to. Or you are more than welcome to speak through Zoom at Shabbas services at my step-mother's synagogue. Probably won't be any Survivors but I am pretty sure that everyone at the service has at least one family member that was killed in the Holocaust. 

Own your words. Put money where mouth is. And while your contemplating your decision Stephanie, have a look at this Auschwitz video. You should be well aware of this!

In 2008, a month before my son was to start first grade, I brought him with me to the Westchester County Center where old time Yankee Ron Blomberg was doing a signing show. I told Ron that my son was also going to be starting Hebrew school in September and he looked directly in my son's eyes and said, "Always be a proud Jew."

I have always been a proud Jew, but never a blind Jew, especially when it comes to Israel.

There are lots of things that Israel has done over the years which have really pissed me off. The settlements, the wall, bulldozing houses, the Occupied Territories, the kowtowing to the  religious right, Netanyahu, the hysterical talk about Iran, and so much more.

But, I will say this point blank. There must be a solution soon and it is as much up to Israel as it is with the Palestinians to come to an agreement. The only solution is a two separate states with Israel continuing to be, and always will be, a Jewish state. Jews need and must always have a homeland, a place where they are the majority, a place where they can go if there is ever another Holocaust.

So what is one to think when the UFT Solidarity Facebook page shows up on my feed this comes along (Click to enlarge)?



 Click here to read the article. But before we get to the allegedly anti-Israel, anti-Zionist article, a few words about Randi and her trip.


The author, and by posting and sharing this, UFT Solidarity, seem to imply that not only did Randi and several other AFT upper echelon  travel to Israel on the AFT's dime, but Randi and the AFT are owned by Israel and J-Street.

But one of the free thinkers of UFT Solidarity left a comment;

I liked this page to support teachers even if their union doesn't support them.

If instead this page is to promote Islamic terrorists and lie about Israel, it behooves you to be honest and change the page name.

For the record, in Israel, government members are women, Arab, Druze.
Arabs and women vote.
Arabs and women in the army.

So, what apartheid, exactly?
None.

The Crack Team will soon send her a gift basket from Hickory Farms, of course no pork products, to say thank you.

I have no proof, nor does anyone, that Randi went there on the AFT dime. Nor, do we have proof that Randi is a shill, owned, has her bread or Matzoh buttered, by Israel or J-Street.

Want to whine about J-Street? Better to deal with them than with AIPAC.

Watch the video. So Randi speaks in favor of a two state solution. So what if Randi talks about peace? HEre are some of her words at the conference that she attended.

“This is a difficult moment for those of us who believe in the ideal of Jews and Palestinians living side by side, in two states, with real rights, and with security,” Weingarten lamented.

She lambasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “last-ditch effort to retain power.” It was, she said, “both painful and pitiful – just days after thousands of us went to Selma to honor those brutally beaten fighting to exercise the right to vote – to watch Netanyahu renounce the two-state solution and demonize Israel’s Arab citizens for exercising their basic democratic rights.”

Weingarten fretted about a status quo that “threatens the future of the State of Israel.” She posited herself as a representative of the reasonable middle in a “vast chasm between those who believe: Israel, right or wrong, and never mind the occupation or democracy; and those who believe: Israel is evil and doesn’t have a right to exist, which then justifies BDS, or worse, violence or terrorism.”

This is a proud Jew speaking, not a a blind Jew. But Randi brings up a great point and the point the author takes umbrage with. The call for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel until as the author wants, to make the Israel withdraw from the West Bank and/or make one state is wrong, just plain wrong.

But yet no one wants to BDS Russia, China, (Look at Tibet), Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Venezuela, or any other totalitarian country. Why? 

Let's not forget that in Israel, Muslims, Christians, and Druze can practice their religion. Serve in government, serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, leave free. What other Mid-East can say the same?

As I had written at beginning, and as Randi as agreed, Israel has a responsibility in this mess. But it takes two to tango. Even without the issue of the Occupied Territories, the right of return is a non-starter. If this happens Israel will not be a Jewish state in 50 years.

I have disagreed with Randi on many things. I have not been shy about it. However, if she does something I agree with I won't be shy about sharing that as well. And if it is something I agree with and she is being attacked I will defend her. And if any Jew anywhere or Israel is being attacked I will without a doubt have their backs in my own way.

People don't realize that in 1948 most if the Arabs and Palestinians fled not because of the Israeli (Yes, this happened) Army, but because the government of Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan encouraged their people to leave telling  them they will soon be victorious and they will be able to come back.

 Israel would not be occupying the West Bank if Jordan never had entered the war. Remember this. Jordan from the time of the partition to 1967 allowed ZERO Jews and Israelis into the Holy Land. Since 1967 Israel has allowed full access into Jerusalem.

Between 1948 and 1967 Jordan had done nothing to promote or turn over the West Bank for Palestinians. In fact, what is now Jordan was part of the Province of Palestine during the Ottoman Empire. Why not pressure Jordan to turn over their land as well?

Israel days after the 1967 war offered all the land they took back under the condition of peace and recognition. They were turned down. Israel has shown what they will do when serious peace offerings are undertaken. See The Sinai.

Why should Israel withdraw unilaterally from the West Bank? Have we not seen what has become of Gaza?

Both sides must make efforts. Both sides must tone down the rhetoric. Both leaders must do what is best for their people not for their political lives.

It is amazing that whomever posted this on FB from UFT  Solidarity did not take the time to do research, or even read, the article or find out about the author, Ali Abunimah. Just look at the web address;  https://electronicintifada.net . Abunimah is a virulent anti-Semite whilst living in the United States breathing the air of freedom he can't enjoy in the Middle East. His statements in the past have been repugnant and has compared Israel to Nazi Germany and has called for a third Intifada.

By sharing this on Facebook, UFT Solidarity either agrees with Ali Abunimah, did not properly vet the article, or there is no organizational controls at UFT Solidarity. We here at SBSB doubt that it is the latter for all decisions in our opinion are made in a vacuum and come down as decrees.

How can a Jewish educator in their right mind now support UFT Solidarity? In the opinion of The Crack Team a Jew should take a long, long look at what they are getting into. If you are a compliant, of course this is just opinion, quiet Jew, you might not worry about support. But what happens if you are not?

If UFT Solidarity wins, will a Jew have to be concerned with any future support of the anti-Israel/anti-Zionist lobby? Would we be seeing Ali Abunimah or his cohorts welcomed at 52 Broadway?

I have finally sat my son down to watch Schindler's List. We have been watching it in bits and pieces. This past Sunday we watched when the ghetto was liquidated. It was a movie, I've seen that scene before and it still disturbed and sickened me.

My great-great uncle, Maurycy Trebacz  was one of the most famed Jewish-Polish artists of his time. He and his family died in the Lødz ghetto in 1941 just because he was a Jew.

Ron Blomberg. He knows.

First let me share, for those who don't know, that I am a Jew. It seems important in this conversation, but from what I have been reading it is. I am not a Lower Eastside Jew, wait I am. My paternal grandfather and his family first lived on Ave C and 9th St when they first came over in 1903. Eventually they moved to the Bronx and my grandfather was quite active in Tammany Hall. Oh, and during prohibition ran booze down from Canada and after that sold Slivovitz out of the trunk of his Buick that my great grandfather had produced using my 6 year old father and his 8 year old cousin to smash the plums in the bathtub in his apartment on Walton Ave in the Bronx.


I also have some tried and blue Communists in my family. A cousin, the actor Howard Da Silva (He played Louis B Mayer in "Mommie Dearest" and Ben Franklin in "1776") was a Communist and blacklisted by Joe McCarthy.

When my dad's uncle went off to Berkeley in the mid 1920's, it was Howard Da Silva who turned him onto Communism. My great uncle was soon ushered out of the State Department just before WW II, moved to China after the war, fell out of favor with Mao in 1949, and moved to Rome where he lived until his death in 1977.

My great-aunt (My grandfathers sister) said to me about 20 years ago (This coming from a 91 year old short Jewish woman) "I'll kill anyone in the family that doesn't vote for a Democrat."

Oh, before I forget, I lost family in the Holocaust. My maternal grandmother's uncle (As well as her brother in law. He married her sister!) died in the Lødz Ghetto in 1941 along with his wife and his children. His name, Maurcy Trébacz, one of the most famous Jewish-Polish artists of his time.

So, enough of the bromides, M'kay?

But I am not writing to share my life or make my life the center of this blog post, rather I wish to share why I am disappointed with MORE and fear for it's future.

First, there are some very good people with MORE. These people are able to see both sides of the issue and able to listen to others. These people want to see MORE (As do I) be able to overtake Unity and take control of the union. But the perspective is that MORE will much rather deal with this "Social Justice" mantra than deal with the fact that TEACHERS ACROSS THE CITY ARE HURTING AND IN PAIN AND HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN.

Francesco Portelos was arrested and spent 33 hours locked up (And let's not forget this). My story. Christine Rubino. Jeff Storobinsky. ATR's? And let's not forget the countless stories that come into my email and DTOE's each and every day from teachers being harassed, belittled and discontinued.

Where is MORE on this? Not to be seen of nor heard from. Nothing. Nada. Bupkus.

When it was suggested that MORE picket and/or have a presser in front of Sam Pirozzolo's optical store, it was met with an extremely tepid response.  

When I suggested to someone at MORE  that they should have had someone or people picket the 84th precinct when Portelos was arrested (It was known several days in advance of Portelos' pending arrest) the answer I received was. "It will look stupid."

But how did I get to have this audience with such a person? This MORE person called me up, on a SUNDAY, and without even saying, "Hey Pete, this is *******," went into such a tirade, that the senior citizens at the CVS I was at were not only able to hear this tirade and imagine the frothing at the mouth from this person, but were blushing.

Yet, teachers do not get support, yet Con Ed workers do from MORE? Why do ConEd workers on strike get attention and teachers don't? Oh yeah, "Well if we show them support, they will show is the same." A lot of people are still awaiting our blue helmeted brethren.

But MORE has no problem supporting the march of a race baiting, anti-Semite while not supporting the cops and the NYCPBA? Edited for the crazies (IN RED) who forgot what I had written  a week ago: Firstly, what happened in Staten Island was wrong. Do I think that people of color are treated differently by than others my some NYPD officers? Yes. Does this effect the way the community interacts with NYPD? Yes. Should the UFT have supported this march? No way.

The UFT showed it's hypocrisy in supporting the march for the act of one police officer. We as teachers are broad brushed day in and day out by the acts of a very few. We are railed against, beaten down and left on an island without any support. By making this march about the UFT's involvement we have put the 99% of officers of the NYPD who do the right thing in the shoes we don't like being forced to wear by outsiders. And.... The UFT could have showed it's support for the community in other ways than endorsing this march.

We as teachers could have been asked or encouraged to go out into that Staten Island community and found common cause with the citizens. We as teachers have been subject to heavy handed tactics by Tweed and worse, SCI. We, both teachers and the Staten Island community have been affected by the last 20 years in this city of a top down, heavy handed, oligarchy, near police state by our elected officials and those at 1 Police Plaza. Oh yeah, the old, "What have cops done for teachers?" But then what have ConEd workers done for teachers?

When I bring this up on the MORE listserv what happens? I get a phone call, while I'm in Chicago going to a Cubs game, telling me to cool it. This smacks of if not censorship, but rather being told to toe the party line.

I want nothing more (Pardon the pun) to see MORE succeed. But it is trying to be too many things to too many constituencies. MORE must concentrate on the teachers, the schools, the students, and education and only then will the social justice aspect fall into place.

MORE needs to show the same fervor for teachers that are mistreated and shat upon that it shows for others. It needs to be GEOGRAPHICALLY more (Again, pardon the pun) inclusive.

MORE, has a perception issue. It is real and there are a lot of people that feel this way. And this are not pro-unity, pro status quo people. These are people that truly are searching for an alternative and feel that MORE can be that great alternative but these people just have far too many qualms and concerns about MORE.

It's too bad that they don't truly see that.