(PatriotPostNews.com) – Canada, like any other Western nation in 2024, finds itself entangled in the web of “cancel culture”, a troubling phenomenon that echoes historical patterns of discrimination and suppression. For Jewish people, this is unfortunately nothing new.
Amidst the rising tide of antisemitism and the rampant abuse of cancel culture, the anti-Israel movement stands at the forefront of attempts to silence Jewish voices. Their efforts have found success all too frequently, with organizations and institutions succumbing to pressure to silence Jewish individuals and events.
In March 2024, a theater in Hamilton, ON, reversed its decision to host the city’s Jewish Film Festival after receiving threatening emails and social media backlash over the inclusion of Israeli films. On the other side of the country, British Columbia cabinet minister Selina Robinson resigned from the province’s New Democratic Party (NDP) government due to concerns over antisemitism within the party. In her resignation letter, Robinson highlighted the chilling effect of antisemitism, which extends to silencing openly Jewish individuals who speak out against such discrimination.
Moreover, Canadian champion cyclist Leah Goldstein experienced firsthand the consequences of cancel culture in connection with her Jewish identity when she was disinvited from speaking at an International Women’s Day event in Ontario after pressure from anti-Israel activists, who objected to her military service in Israel over 30 years ago. Following her removal, Goldstein – who previously served in the Israeli Defense Force – posted on her own site that she had been dismissed without having a chance to make her own statement.
Jews have long been familiar with the tactics of cancel culture, having faced centuries of persecution and discrimination. Today, efforts to deny the Jewish community’s connection to Israel have gained momentum, particularly given the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The horrors of history serve an important purpose: to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Sadly, it seems that cancel culture is determined to erase that, and one can only dread what that may lead to.
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