I used to be a reactionary and hated Jewish people because I believed antisemitic conspiracies about them. Now I've been reeducated and consider them comrades but I hate Israel for obvious reasons.
For the country being a white supremacist settler-colonist state that's doing a slow (now fast) genocide on Palestinians. It's nice to be on the correct side for once, as I used to believe that Israel controlled the USA and not vice-versa, I've learned so much more about the world thanks to leftism. Being a reactionary I was seriously ignorant and in the dark, fueled by dumb ass racist thoughts and a baby's understanding of the world.
I was conservative/libertarian, never antisemitic, always thought nazis were the bad guys, and it was hard for me to see Israel for what it is. I still hold back out of fear of being misinterpreted as antisemitic and I don't want to encourage antisemitic ideas by accident, or give antisemites any ground to work with. Antisemitism has filled the gaps in so many conspiracy theories for hundreds of years.
Zionists worked hard to equate "jewish people" with "israel" and it's fucked up how deeply they've managed to poison that well. It's like this perverse, somehow-socially-acceptable version of racists screaming "go back to your own country" at poc who were born in ohio.
I'm personally very happy for you that you've changed for the better but I'm sure you also know subconsciously that there's never any good that can come from admitting this
Could be wrong but you're probably hoping this confession will relieve the guilt of the sins in the past?
Don't think there are any priests here just delete this and hide the past
Yeah but I'd rather not lie. Just been thinking about stuff this morning and today with Israel and the war and thinking about how I would have felt, the old me, in the past. I make no illusions about who I used to be. But thanks.
I've thought a lot about this recently. Like I'm sure that a lot of us might have had problematic or even awful views in the past, but talking about them does nothing except make the speaker seem less trustworthy to the people impacted by their past views.
You see it way too often in transfemme communities where someone will be like "lol I used to be a fascist but I got better." Like cool, glad you're better now, but now I need to question whether you've really gotten over those bigot brainworms.
I am happy you are not shitty anymore, SorosFootSoldier, and I trust that you will continue to be vigilant about shitty ideas resurfacing.
I think the process of re-educating fascists as a community and how that works while maintaining a safe space is very complicated, but that re-educating fascists in general is good. And maybe it goes without saying, but I’m glad you’re here, that you’re in a better place as a leftist, and that you’ve been able to share so much of your life with us, the good and the bad. I’m grateful for it. I occasionally talk about you with my partner, who’s enjoyed seeing Mr. Softie when you post him.
People are capable of growth, change, and realizing their full potential. If we ignore this fact then we might as well abandon the communist dream. Personal cynicism and antisocial thinking must be conquered as much as external power structures. Ignorance can be a convenient cover for reactionary thought, but they are not the same. If Mao had written off every ignorant rural farmer as hopeless the revolution in China would have failed. The terror of the revolution is for the powerful who steer the ship, not the masses huddled trying to simply survive.
I can't remember a time I didn't know a Jewish person, or one treating me poorly. Jewish people gave me food when I was hungry, and friendship when I was lonely. I'm pretty sure the first person to alert me to what isn'treal was doing was Jewish person who didn't support it, that was a long time ago though and I can't remember who it was. Muslims I've meant seem decent too.
No one wants to see loved ones hurt, so remember compassion is a super power. Many Jewish people have settlers in their family that they can't justify hating. Bloodshed no matter how justified shouldn't be celebrated. It might give rise to hope but hope is only the possibility of improvement.