https://twitter.com/Yochidonn/status/1314309986198134794
Unpopular opinion alert:
For better or for worse, when one wears a uniform, they lose their status as individuals. They are now representing something larger than themselves. Their actions bring both pride and shame to the larger group. It is therefore incumbent on the group to make sure that those representing them are doing so correctly.
Now, we are all human. We understand that there can be rogue actors who bring undue shame to the uniforms they represent. We expect them and their bad actions to be called out. It is the reason we back the police and the military, even though not everyone acts in the manner the uniform demands. They have internal policing measures to ensure the standards are kept. When there is a cover-up, or when it seems a blind eye is turned, we are rightfully outraged.
From the time we went down to Mitzrayim, there have been three things which have set us apart. We pride ourselves on our dress, our language, and our names. We wear them as a badge of honor. A uniform, of sorts. Something that tell us, tells the
world, WE ARE DIFFERENT. What we do while in uniform reflects on everyone else who rides under that flag. How we react to the misbehavior of others wearing that uniform is closely watched, and we are judged accordingly.
From the start of this pandemic, right through the summer and up until today, there has been rampant misbehavior in the frum communities of NY. Not only has it rarely been called out by our leaders, it has actually been endorsed by many. Have there been pockets of exceptions? Sure. Some neighborhoods and groups have done better than others. During some periods of time, compliance was better than others. But by and large, those who fall under the umbrella of "ultra-Orthodox" in NYC have not kept to the restrictions placed upon them by the government.
This argument isn't about whether the restrictions are justified. This is specifically addressing the complaint of anti-Semitism by Cuomo. You don't need to like the law, and you can choose to follow it or not, but that doesn't change the fact that his accusation is accurate. This also isn't an argument about whether other people also misbehaved. It's irrelevant. They don't wear a uniform. They represent no one but themselves.
It hurts to be called out. It hurts even more when the person calling up out is a scumbag with no right to the moral high ground. It's scary when we think being called out in a certain way will lead to more anti-Semitism in a city already overflowing with it. None of that makes him wrong.
Side rant: if you're a political activist who sells the community's votes to politicians as a block, don't complain when those same politicians treat you like a block.
@Yehuda57 you can tear me apart now.
