While it can certainly be argued that he did not do enough,
such as bomb railroad tracks and/or enter WWII earlier, FDR is generally
considered a hero in European Jewish households. This is unsurprising,
considering his involvement in ending WWII, and thereby insuring that the
Jewish people would not be utterly destroyed. In The Plot Against America,
Philip Roth imagines a different outcome. Rather than FDR winning the 1936
election, a President who is thoroughly against joining into the war and seemingly somewhat anti-Semitic is elected as president. The Holocaust
continues to move forward as America continues to stay out of the war, even
seemingly staying on Germany and Hitler’s side in the conversations. Roth
follows a regular non-religious Jewish family in Newark, NJ, who is forced to
confront the reality that their president, and eventually the overall
government, is not there to help them. Eventually, riots and pogroms begin to
overcome different American cities and anti-Semitism becomes more accepted. An
American Holocaust still does not happen, but Roth’s conception certainly
allows for an alternative ending.
What was perhaps so chilling about The Plot Against America was how feasible it all seemed. I left the
book somewhat scared at the prospects of this possibility. If something like
that really could happen here, even in America, what are we doing here, in a
place that could turn on us so quickly? Some might question why we are in America even if we don’t have the fear of future
anti-Semitism.While I certainly hear this claim, the events of the past two weeks have
made me question if the reality Roth writes about is actually possible anymore.
In a move that got much less attention
than it probably deserves, the US Senate had a resolution to back Israel if
they were to attack Iran (you can read about that here). I don’t want to get
into the merits of such an attack in this forum, but the trust that the
American government has in the Israeli Parliament is inspiring. For those that
were afraid of a Rothian outcome with the current government, it has certainly
not been the case. In this environment Jews as a whole are being protected
perhaps more so than ever. The aftermath of the craziness in Boston has also been
heartening. The almost ubiquitous outcry against violence, the overwhelming
support that the city of Boston, and other US cities have provided for those
affected by the tragedy far surpasses the danger imposed. Although he attacks were certainly on a severely smaller scale than September 11th they were not treated as such. Everyone wanted to help and show his or her support.
Even the Yankees had their hearts in Boston (don’t wait for that to happen
again). The outpour was inspiring to say the least, with even comedians such as
Colbert, acknowledging that the bombings showed the strength of the city rather
than its deficiencies. Even Muslim
leaders have not taken to the fallen bomber, because “a person who is devoted does not kill innocent people.”
Eli Wiesel once said: “I swore never to be silent whenever
and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take
sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the
tormentor never the tormented.” In both cases of the Senate and the Boston
Marathon, I see this view in the American people. Perhaps, in the
aftermath of the Holocaust or more recently September 11th itself,
America has increasingly accepted the Biblical worldview of not standing idly
by while their brothers blood is spilled.
Granted this does not mean that there is no anti-Semitism
going on in America. Yesterday, while walking in the street a man said, “go
back to your own country” while passing me. A couple things stuck out at me.
First, I completely did not think he was talking to me. I have never been
confronted with that type of speech in New York. When I realized he was in fact
talking to me, I was first thankful that he thought I did have my own country
(apparently anti-Semites are still think Israel is a Jewish country). This type
of encounter was so out of the norm that it did not faze me that much. Some
people still hate, but that is not the norm we live in.
These last two weeks have furthered my gratitude towards the
US as a haven for the Jews in the Diaspora. It may be too good to us, making
many Jews comfortable leaving their heritage and joining American culture
completely, but I am happy that I can live in a country in which can feel
comfortable in. At the same time, I can only hope that one day it will become
the country that I left with ultimate appreciation towards what it has done for me and the Jewish people as a whole.
