The courage needed to call yourself a Zionist

Somehow, the word “Zionism” has gotten a bad rap these days. Understood to be synonymous with a form of colonialism, it has become completely misrepresented by a generation which has conveniently turned it into a pejorative, associated with exclusivity and bigotry. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Zionism, coined by Theodor Herzl in 1896, defined the establishment of an independent Jewish state in the place where their ancestors had once lived. Yet, today, it has become a slur that is intended to denigrate Jews and also cause supporters of Israel to decline any association with the title.

Take the recent case, when representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties were asked about whether or not their candidate was a Zionist. Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Trump campaign adeptly skirted the issue by saying, “President Trump did more for Israel than any American President in history, proceeding to enumerate Trump’s record on Israel as brokering normalization deals between Israel and several of its neighbors to moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.” 

Continuing on, she said, “All of the progress made by President Trump in the region has been unraveled by Kamala Harris’s weakness and America Last policies. When President Trump is back in the Oval Office, Israel will once again be protected. Iran will go back to being broke, terrorists will be hunted down and the bloodshed will end.” 

Yet, even though she verbalized the very strong stand of the former president, reminding everyone what Trump did in the past and what he hopes to do in the future, should he be elected, Leavitt stopped short of using the term Zionist to define her boss, one which the current president, Joe Biden has, ironically, not hesitated to use. Nevertheless, a real Zionist would not have made constant demands for a ceasefire, before the enemy, who executed a brutal massacre, had been completely eradicated, making sure that there would no longer be an existential threat. 

A true Zionist would have understood the radical ideology that seeks to destroy the Jewish nation, and, consequently, would have championed, without qualification, Israel’s moral right to defend herself, rather than blame too many deaths on the way the battle was being fought. Finally, a true Zionist would not have relied upon skewed information, provided by terrorists, to come to the conclusion that weapon shipments should be halted.

All this, however, is consistent with the Democratic position, which must find some way to placate its progressive, antisemitic constituency that has turned bitterly against Israel and Jews by association. 

So, when an aide, for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, was posed the same question, in response to the Harris/Walz campaign, an affirmation was made, assuring the commitment of the Vice President and her running mate, stating that both support Israel’s right to “defend itself from threats, including from Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.” But when pushed further, there was no implementation of the word “Zionist” to ensure an immovable position of the candidates.

The only conclusion which can be drawn from the obvious decision of each campaign, to avoid identification with the problematic term, is the all-too-familiar societal pressure which almost always determines what to embrace and what to carefully dismiss for fear of adverse public reaction. 

Clearly, this is exactly what has happened. Zionism has now joined the list of objectionable labels, relegated to the ranks of “conservative,” “patriotic,” “God-fearing,” “family-oriented,” “heterosexual,” and so many others which are looked upon as unfashionable and out of touch with today’s more progressive direction.

But, in this particular case, it’s not even a matter of being called outdated in one’s viewpoint. It is a far more sinister association – one which is accusatory of genocide, white supremacy and oppressing others less privileged. In short, it is just another in a long succession of the redefining and weaponization of words in order to further a narrative and an agenda.

To be blunt, Jewish words are actually being used against Jewish people to mark them as the enemy of society. So, it’s no wonder why people are anxious to shy away from a term that will link them to an ethnicity which is now seen as hateful and problematic. 

 If you think about it, it’s actually a diabolically clever tactic to help cancel out those you don’t like. Just take a characteristic, trait, symbol or descriptive name, that identifies them, turn it into a toxic negative and then disseminate it through social media. It won’t take long before everyone has received the memo which basically lets you know that you dare not defend or align with the noxious title which will only end up infecting you with the same disease.

Call it an extension of cancel culture or a sophisticated method to isolate someone. What is sure is that it definitely works! Identifying as a Zionist will now take courage, because it will be looked upon as the mark of Cain – meant more as a curse.

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t so long ago that we began to hear the term Christian Zionists being used as a qualifier, to identify that they weren’t just ordinary Christians, but those who ardently supported Israel, to the point of adopting the identification of their Jewish counterparts in the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

These were the people who made regular pilgrimages to the Jewish homeland, both for tourism and the personal meaning, which accompanied them back to their homes, as well as their desire to connect with Jews living in the land, whom they admired and supported. For them, a trip to Israel was so much more than just a memorable vacation!

It is sad that the intimidation of labels is now being employed as a means to rethink Jewish support for fear of being looked upon as siding with the wrong group. But it’s likely to be indicative of a trend, the likes of which we will probably see more and more, and that is the need to muster the courage in order to be true to our opinions and beliefs. 

Who doubts that as time goes on, there will be a greater effort to conform with whatever is determined to be mainstream thinking, as opposed to arriving at independent conclusions? Why wouldn’t we be expected to conform to the majority viewpoint? Because, that makes it easier to control populations and deflect an opposing position.  

It’s sad to say, but we are entering a time when calling one’s self a Zionist will demand courage, but for those who choose the identification, they can expect the blessing which comes to those who love Israel per the promise of Genesis 12:3 – I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you!