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As the horrors of the Israel-Hamas war unfold, events here demonstrate the consequences of politicians' recklessness in wielding fear as a tool to garner votes. In appealing to the worst in us, too many have been willing to trade human lives for political power.
An appalling example came over the weekend, when police say a 71-year-old Illinois man fatally stabbed a 6-year-old boy and wounded a 32-year-old woman because of their Islamic faith (and as a response to the war).
Because of faith, the man believed to have been the woman's landlord felt compelled to murder an innocent boy.
Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis -- a man who wants to be president of the United States -- decided it was necessary to spout that this country should not be taking in Palestinian refugees as they flee the Gaza Strip because they "are all antisemitic." He doubled down by dismissing pleas that Israel provide clean running water and utilities to the 2.3 million civilians in the region.
Most of his fellow Republicans rightly draw a distinction between Palestinian civilians and Hamas. Even Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, understands, "Our enemy is Hamas. It's not the Palestinian people."
But DeSantis clearly believes playing the hate and fear cards will win him some political points.
"The U.S. should not be absorbing any of those," he squawked.
One wonders if he's read about similar sentiment regarding wave after wave of immigrants to this country -- many who were fleeing war and persecution. Germans, Irish, eastern Europeans, Italians, Chinese, southeast Asians, Latin Americans … those are just the major migrations. While most of us have evolved past the hate, fear and ignorance wielded during each of those waves, it appears DeSantis has not. And it is nauseating to think he believes his filthy tactics will GAIN him votes.
Meanwhile, it may be time for a refresher on the words to which for 140 years the human beings in so many of those waves looked for hope: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore."
That's who we are. It is truly shameful DeSantis doesn't know it.