Last night Meryl Streep modeled good resistance to bad behavior. She pointed out behavior that was reprehensible. She did not name-call. She did not even name names. She simply observed that it is a scandal when a powerful man uses his national pulpit to mock someone who is less powerful.
This week there are several confirmation hearings scheduled by the U.S. Senate for cabinet appointees. (Click link for the schedule.) This is our opportunity to speak up. Call your Senators, and tell them what questions you want the candidates to answer. This is something you can do regardless of party affiliation: you call tell your Senator what you want. You don’t need to name-call. Just say politely that you’d like Senator Jeff Sessions to be asked XYZ in his confirmation hearing, or that you hope that Ms. Betsy deVos will be questioned about XYZ. You can tell them you support those nominations, or that you oppose them.
If you are phone-averse, call your Senator’s local office late at night. You’ll get the voicemail. Keep those phone numbers. Call regularly about things that concern you.
If your Senator is already someone you feel will do what you think is right, still call them. They need to be able to say, “10,000 of my constituents have called me.” They need to know that you support their point of view.
Chatter on Twitter means nothing. Chatter on Facebook means nothing. A phone call from a constituent always gets the attention of an elected official, because they want to be re-elected.
And someone out there is saying, “What does this have to do with Basic Judaism?” To that I say: everything:
Once there was a gentile who came before Shammai, and said to him: “Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot. Shammai pushed him aside with the measuring stick he was holding. The same fellow came before Hillel, and Hillel converted him, saying: That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it.” – Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Anyone who can give a speech like that is NOT “UNDER-RATED”! Bravo Miss Streep.
Yes, she can really put on an actor’s performance too!
Excellent! I need to see what Meryl said!
I love how you ended the post with the story about the convert. The end line – “That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it.” – Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a” – is truly beautiful. Thank for your for posting!
PS I will write my rep but he’s GoP/TP and, as I remember, he supported Trump so I doubt it will make much difference BUT just in case, I’ll send him a message. I think there are still some GOP people who are just as worried as any democrat about the bigotry and racism (and many other “character flaws”) Trump has exhibited over the years. I’m hoping my rep is one of them).
Be well and thanks again for your posts! 😀
Your rep wants to be reelected. He has someone tallying those calls. If enough people call, the needle will move.
4.8 million viewers watched Meryl Streep on this video and many have posted it. 40,000 disliked vs 70,000 who approved. Meryl took the first step and now as you say Rabbi Adar the people need to follow up.
We here hear it everywhere we travel in the world “like all the nicest people are Canadian”. For the most part it is the way we view the world. We are one family living on a tiny blue planet within the grandeur of the cosmos. “That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow…”