THE MOSQUE SHOOTING… the way I see things, the Jewish and Muslim communities should be allies against hate, not attacking each other. Both communities know what it feels like to be targeted, feared, dehumanized, and subjected to violence simply for who they are.
Instead, I see too many people actively fanning the flames of suspicion, fear, and division. And shootings like this, along with attacks against Jews, Muslims, and others, are among the tragic results. Sadly, there will likely be more.
What disappointed me most was watching some people begin with sympathy… only to immediately pivot into “but…” narratives designed to redirect grief into suspicion and ideological reinforcement.
“But grief isn’t a shield for the leadership of that mosque. And the leadership has a record.”
That kind of framing may appear analytical on the surface, but too often it becomes part of a broader ecosystem of fear amplification and narrative suspicion rather than genuine understanding or healing.
And when I see lines like… “They’re starting to take down my stuff…”
…I recognize something else that has become increasingly common in highly ideological online spaces… persecution itself becomes part of the identity. Moderation becomes “proof” of truth. Pushback becomes validation. Followers begin to feel they are part of an embattled truth-telling movement fighting hidden forces and manipulated narratives.
That dynamic exists across ideologies, religions, and political movements. And it’s dangerous.
And honestly, WHAT WORRIES ME MOST RIGHT NOW… is not Judaism or Islam. It’s the accelerating rise of CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM and the way it is increasingly being embraced, legitimized, and amplified politically, including by the current administration and many seeking power. History has shown us repeatedly what happens when religion, nationalism, grievance, and political power fuse together. That should concern all of us.
We should be finding ways to reduce hate, fear, and dehumanization… not feeding algorithms and outrage cycles that make all of us less safe.