Rep. Ilhan Omar is once again being criticized for tweets that are alleged to be dog whistle anti-semitic. Her supporters naturally deny that, point out that she supports Bernie Sanders who is Jewish, and complain that critics are obsessing over every little thing she says.
This accusation and defense of a Democratic woman of color is interesting in this era of hyper vigilance of Republicans and young white men in general for dog whistles of racism (use of a circled thumb and forefinger OK sign is proof positive that one is a white supremacist, no further evidence needed). In our political and social discourse have we on all side become too quick to accuse and condemn? Have we forgotten our Freud (sometimes a cigar is just a cigar)?
On the immigration thread the value of living in the same communities with people who are different is being praised. Yet in our national political discourse differences in outlook or ideas are immediately attacked not just as different, misguided, or mistaken, but as evil, signs of social pathology, immoral degeneration. Those who don't see things our way are a basket of deplorables, no working together possible.
This does not bode well for the fate of our nation.
