I am a recovering Catholic, having been brainwashed at an early age by that religion and thrown out of Catechism class when I was 12 because I asked the priest the question, why is god a man? Why can't god be a woman? (Yeah, I am a feminist).
I now believe god is photosynthesis/sunlight, which is really the source of all life as we know it. But that's for another comment.
It appalls me to read about people butchering other people because they are considered infidels if they don't pray to a certain god, and I often lament about the millions of people killed over the centuries in crusades, and other religious wars.
This is insane. If this most recent killer targeted the Jewish population because he hated the Jews, and it looks like that was his base reason, there will be no hope of ending these insane assaults until the world realizes that no one god, no one religion, is superior to another.
I am not holding my breath waiting for that to transpire.
1
Once again it's the AR15. Get rid of them! And I sure hope the president spoke against white supremacists.
We need to change our laws and people need to be more vigilant about family and friends.
Look for hate chatter online. Once we have intel a person wants to commit a mass killing or any killing, we don’t just wait until they do it. We arrest them. We need major changes to our laws.
Firearms are a bigger issue but we can’t change those laws as our citizens don’t believe they are a problem. They really think there is nothing you can do and this is part of life and guns aren’t the problem. We are living with idiots that don’t care that their own kids are getting slaughtered. So unfortunately gun laws will never change. Makes me sick listening to people to their asinine “arguments”.
The shooter tried arson on a Muslim mosque a week ago and then went on to kill at a Jewish Temple.
Arson shows a willingness to kill in a terrible way. Investigating arson should be given more priority.
2
its called terrorism. we need domestic laws against domestic terrorism.
3
I don't understand why Omar is featured on top of this article about the latest tragic gun killings.
As devastating as it is for the survivors, mass shootings are no more news in the US than are auto accidents. We are willing to pay any price for teenagers to carry military assault rifles.
3
Condemning anti-Semitism is meaningless as long as the Trump regime not only refuses to condemn but embraces RW white nationalists & their mantra of hate.
4
The assailant is almost certainly psychotic and likely schizophrenic. It is beyond absurd to attribute the vile acts of an insane person (and I mean that in the medical, if not legal sense) to Donald Trump's rhetoric. There were many more school shootings under Obama and it was equally wrong to blame his rhetoric for them. The real problem is that we don't accept that violent psychotic mental illness is far more common than most of us appreciate. Therefore, we don't identify and aggressively treat psychotic mental illness early enough and we explain away and normalize psychotic symptoms. Combining that with easy access to guns and you get horrific tragedy. This shooter is no different than Charles Guiteau (assassin of President Garfield) whose murderous act was blamed on being a disgruntled office seeker. Guiteau was insane and, in all likelihood, so is this shooter.
4
@MJG
Donald Trump's rhetoric normalizes the expression of hatred, malice, and aggression. It's beyond absurd to think there's no link between the prevalence of violent acts of hatred and a "leader" who revels in the rhetoric of hatred and violence ("2nd amendment remedies"), even if it's not one to one. The comparison to Obama is beyond the beyond -- what possible connection could Obama's rhetoric have with school shootings in the first place? Please...
3
The increase in violent hate crimes committed by white supremacists is directly linked to Donald Trump’s daily message of racial and religious hatred and intolerance.
Trump’s defense of white supremacists and Nazi marchers - “there are good people on both sides” - needs to be strongly condemned by leaders at home and abroad. Those that remain silent, such as Netanyahu, are aiding and abetting the spread of White Supremacy around the world.
6
I believe the majority of us are so tired of the hate coming out of this White House administration. There is nothing but lethal paranoia and falsehood . After the Mueller report hopefully normal people will reflect that the American were deceived or not deceived and elected a two headed monster.
As normal people We care about everyone who is emotionally, physically hurt and put in the line of fire by a racist and anti American president with a disturbed administration.
Exhibit one family members ,
exhibit two S. Miller, k. Conway and precious Sarah etc.
Last year, week, 6 months ago, yesterday when will we be like New Zealand purge ourselves of the money machine and save our children and neighbors lives. Schools, nightclubs, domestic abuse victims,being shot at the bus stop, rallies etc it never ends. We are more than lethal weapons.
How many people have to die in one day for people in America to understand that this is craziness there has to be a better way to live.
We all know prayers and tears are useless it sounds comforting but we need to be real. Politicians won’t pass laws to stop this insanity . All we can do is keep fighting in hopes America could become like New Zealand. How many people need to die to support and outdated concept, there is no one coming to take anyone’s guns however there are people coming to take our lives and they find us because they are stalking normal people all the time. Who protects us from the deranged gun owners?
2
This is really the fall of the American empire. Criminals filled with hate armed with AR15 assault weapons kill innocent students and church goers and the government who is paid to protect us, looks the other way and actually fights against criminals getting access to assault weapons instead of the other way around. You would think that by now the White House, the Supreme Court and Congress would have done something about it by now. Why can't we be more like New Zealand and Australia?
9
The shooter called the police to report himself and he was taken alive. Amazing. I wonder if he was taken to Burger King before the police station. These people are really comfortable carrying out mass shootings or what was intended to be a mass shooting. Even planning a mass attack is no big deal. The Coast Guard officer with the in-home arsenal and plans to kill "almost every last person on Earth" is now out on bond. Politicians and law enforcement are doing nothing to stop these attacks and mollycoddling these shooters when they are apprehended are incentives for the attacks to continue.
9
Just another male white supremacist terrorist.. One of donnies “very fine people”...on both sides.
5
We have never had a president that incited hate and got away with it like this one.
7
Looks like one of donnies “very fine people from both sides”.
The bigot in the Whitehouse needs to stop supporting white supremacy. Sadly those are HIS supporters.
4
There is no doubt that President Trump's rhetoric has emboldened White supremacists and anti Semites! It has been documented that some of his support comes from that sector! I find it ironic, and incredibly bewildering and sad, that the little support he gets from American Jews, comes from the ultra Orthodox Jews, and Yes, Chabad folks, who because of their visibility, excepting the Tree of Life massacre , are in the crosshairs of many anti semites! What strange bedfellows! Amazing!!!
7
Your coverage on this is very late. There was a small article on page A24 of the Sunday New York Times print edition. I'd be interested to understand why. Was it not considered sufficiently important?
7
Yet another act of reprehensible domestic terrorism by yet another gun owner. And the only likely response from the top of our political leadership will be to : Rally for more guns and to defend more of the supremacist behavior.
4
Plausible deniability is a helluva drug. It can get you high, just thinking about it.
1
The absolute best defense against gun violence, whether it is in Poway, Sri Lanka, Paris, Chicago, Ferguson, or Fargo, is for good people to call the police. Know a Muslim imam or Christian preacher who is advocating hate of Jews? Call the cops. Know a neighbor who has an unlicensed handgun(s)? Call the cops. Know an unhinged white guy posting on 8Chan? Call the cops. Know someone building something weird in their garage? Call the cops. And keep calling, until you get action. If you don't get action from the cops, call the press.
7
Among the injured is a man from Sderot, an Israeli town just across the border from Gaza. Its civilian residents are subject to regular, unprovoked missile attacks against its homes, civic buildings and kindergartens. Violence and antisemitism, like the proverbial Satan, come in many forms.
3
My heartfelt prayers and thoughts to the Chabad of Poway congregation, the Jewish community, the residents of Poway, and residents of San Diego County. May your strength in faith and unity overcome this devastating loss.
Commendable praise and recognition to Rabbi Goldstein, the off duty Border Patrol Agent, and local and state law enforcement agencies in preventing further loss of life. The recent abhorrent and deadly violent attacks on places of worship around the world are not to be tolerated, and it is without doubt that all individuals acted with bravery and courage that ensured the individual who carried out this attack was brought into custody.
It is both appalling and saddening that the number of attacks happening at religious places of worship around the world are increasing at an astronomical rate. These are tragedies that have no reason to ever come to fruition at sacred and venerated sites. Appalling because the factors that lead individuals to choose to carry out such intolerable acts against others is a serious problem in todays society. Sad because the emotional, mental, and physical scars are forever life changing to those unfortunate to be caught in the crosshairs.
How can we as a country end senseless acts of violence and hatred? It starts with those who are in positions to have an impactful influence on its masses of followers to genuinely adhere to the words they preach and speak, and to be held accountable when their consistent actions prove otherwise.
1
I opened the Huffpost this morning and saw an article about a synagogue shooting. There was a lovely picture of a beautiful woman who is the victim.
But nowhere did I read the shooter's name, see a picture, or get every detail of their sordid life. So far, they are just "the shooter" and instead, I am hearing and seeing pictures of victims.
This is the way we should handle all of these attacks. Let's quit giving the attacker instant notoriety as they all try to be the next supervillain but instead focus on the victims. Let's quit publishing their mantras and calls for violence. Let's blot them out.
10
Trump and the Republicans have helped emboldened these angry unhinged elements in our society and they probably don't care too much as long as they are able to stay in power.
They are also making sure it is easy for them to obtain the guns they wish to use. Those who voted and continue to vote for Trump and his followers own some of the blame.
2
I watched Trumps response to this horrible event And couldn’t help but see how he pushes these hate crimes forward by preaching hate everyday. Time to wake up America. God help the folks that were involved
4
The language of terrorism is misleading. This was done by a 19 year old mentally ill kid. The only thing that is terrifying is that we sell guns to mentally ill people?
1
The terrorist is in the Whitehouse. He spews hateful rhetoric, claiming their are fine neo nazis in Charlottesville.
3
@Harris Silver
And when a Muslim shooter kills someone, he/ she is not mentally ill but a terrorist?
No mentally ill gun toting Muslims.
2
Certainly, it is expected that in a country of some 310 million people, there are those who will engage in very bad behavior.
The reporting after events such as the one covered here, creates the impression that hardly anyone is safe, even as the overwhelming majority of Americans each year will never be a victim of a violent crime. But many Americans might be rattled by the reporting, the cumulative effect of which could be worse than the crime itself.
But sure, it is unlikely that anything can be more traumatic for those directly affected by the precipitating event.
The fact is that lately there has been a rash of hate crimes directed against people in their houses of worship. Worldwide, but a disturbing number here in the US, since the the 2016 election. Involving shooters with automatic weapons.
2
I read the nytimes daily and I didn’t know this happened until I turned on cnn. This should be at the top of the page, or we should be able to view the homepage like the newspaper as we used to. One should not have to scroll down to see this. This is an unbelievable tragedy and I am deeply saddened by the hatred exhibited by the actions of this individual. We must all fight prejudice.
7
A clear, common thread is emerging from all the recent attacks on houses of worship of the 3 major religions in the world; and that is, that atheist's who hate religion are intent on killing anyone who still believes in God.
@ERA
Please keeps the Buddhist out of this mess.
1
Just where did you get the idea the shooter is an atheist? A dangerous bigot, certainly.
3
Don’t blame this on atheism. Blame this and Pittsburgh and countless other mass murders on crazy white men with assault rifles.
3
When is the President of the United States going to give a strong speech condemning the theory and practice of White Supremacy from slavery, through lynching and Jim Crow segregation, to profiling, unequal pay, and mass incarceration?
1
Unfortunately, never. This president cares only for advancing himself and surrounding himself with his cronies. Vote him out of office in 2020 and hope he goes quietly, without violence.
3
The language of terrorism is misleading, this was This was done by a 19 year old mentally ill kid. The only thing that is terrifying is that we sell guns to mentally ill people?
1
It could be argued that all such shooters are mentally ill but the fact is, he described his motive using the language of antisemitism and white supremacy. Apparently he takes responsibility for an anti-Islamic hate crime, as well. Since the 2016 election this kind of speech has been more out in the open than it has been in years. Even if he was acting alone, he’s taking his cues from terrorists.
2
If a non Muslim commits acts of terrorism and murders of innocent civilians ,the issue of PTSD, child hood trauma and similar issues are brought up immediately to by the defense attorneys to obliquely minimize the depraved acts of murder of the innocent. A Christian student of bible study tries to kill innocent Muslims by using his car recently and his defense is already well planned in the name of PTSD.
Not a single time I see this type of defense mentioned if the same depraved and equally condemnable heinous acts are done by a Muslim any where .
Do muslims have no mental disease or PTSD or childhood trauma ? I bet there are very sick minds in every society regardless of religious faith .
Why then the entire world of Islam is blamed for the actions of some mentally sick individuals ?
This 19 years old white nationalist and a so called follower of Christ ,who murdered the innocent in Jewish temple had also burned a Muslim house of worship earlier . If equal attention to investigate that hate crime by FBI was done with same zeal what is shown now ,this man would have been prevented from trying to commit a mass murder of Jews.
2
Once more, an AR-15 rifle was in play. I reflect on now-Justice Kavanaugh's testimony, when challenged on the Sandy Hook massacre, how he said, "there's nothing we can do about that since the AR-15 is in common use now." This is an example of the far-right mentality that says any violence goes in our society. When will these people do something about all this shooting?
10
I a friend of mine observed and I agree with her sentiment that when you hear someone was killed in a mass shooting it is starting to feel like you heard they were killed in a traffic accident. This is a truly sad commentary on our current situation.
7
The California synagogue shooting is on page 24 of Sunday's NY City Edition. This is a story about the resurgence and continuation of an awful aspect of our society -- gun violence and antisemitism -- and clearly belongs on the front page. I find it disturbing, irresponsible, unprofessional, and poor judgement that the editor(s) put the article on page 24.
24
Mike of San Francisco.
Yes let's blame President Trump for the synagogue killing and attack. And while we are at it the ills of the world, weather and everything that has gone wrong since the beginning of time. I am being facetious but that is what the Trump haters are doing.
President Trump was in no way responsible for this murderer's actions as were you nor I. He condemned it in the strongest language and said anti semitism is horrendous. I do believe this was a hate crime and this madman must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
5
@KMW
That is correct, Trump is not responsible for this attack. Nevertheless, he is fully accountable for stirring up all of the racists and anti-Semites during the past two years and three months of his disastrous presidential administration.
16
I don't know about you, but I have never referred antisemitic white supremacists as "fine people" as did the current President.
While I appreciate that Mr. Trump correctly said it was a hate crime and condemned anti-semitism, his other words, or lack thereof, subverts that message. Many of us, also, are waiting for him to to denounce and renounce support from anti-semites, not just occasionally call anti-semitism horrendous. We are waiting for him to do more than talk, by directing greater resources to tracking and significantly disempowering those individuals and groups encouraging, intentionally facilitating, and/or planning or conducting hate crimes.
8
@KMW
Trump himself radiates hatred, malice, and aggression. His vile, hateful rhetoric has encouraged those with similar pathologies to commit violent acts.
5
“Jews will not replaces us” chanted the marchers in Charlottesville and later the President of the United States called them “very fine people”. And Trump’s words were greeted and embraced warmly by White supremacist groups across our nation. “He’s with us” was the reaction on social media by an assortment of hate groups and David Duke was ecstatic.
Hate crimes are on the rise big-time and Trump recently refused to acknowledge that these groups and their acts are a threat. Hate groups get it, they know Trump was forced to condemn this horrible act of violence, but they know Trump speaks to them with a wink on a regular basis.
And they heard him loud and clear the other day when he claimed he answered questions “perfectly” in the days after Charlottesville.
The moral decay in our nation has been accelerated by the racist in the White House.
17
Why is this not called terrorism?
7
Because a conservative white bigot committed this crime & republicans like to pretend that its mental illness when one of their own acts out inappropriately. There are violent hate groups across the United States and calling them terrorists is unacceptable to republicans because of the overlap between extremism and conservative reactionary republicanism. Its like the Saudi’s promotion of Wahhabism resulting in terrorism in Sri Lanka. The rhetoric of extremism is disconnected from actions it promotes. Or as religious conservatives here and elsewhere would have it, deniability is everything and truth is fungible especially when blood is involved.
4
@Di It is not called terrorism because the shooter is white, but it should be called terrorism. This is indeed terrorism, and a lot of the domestic terrorism we are seeing now is a direct result of our President's open approval of white supremacists and neo-nazis.
Another terrible tragedy. The NRA and the President and the everyone who voted for him and the GOP, all have blood on their hands.
This must stop. America has become a racist and antisemitic killing field.
When I grew up in Washington, D.C. in the 50s and 60s, we had a Nazi presence nearby, George Lincoln Rockwell. Nonetheless, I do not recall any incidences involving murders at synagogues. What is happening now to change things?
There is something vicious in the air around the world right now resulting in attacks on Muslims in N.Z., Christians in Sri Lanka, and Jews in Pittsburgh and near San Diego. Neo Nazi ideology is part of the problem, but so is the sense that differences in religion are a legitimate cause for mayhem.
Sometimes I think that there are just too many people on this earth, that we are all behaving like overcrowded rats. Then I remember that we live in a time of constant change when people show their fear by needing to blame someone, anyone. Sadly, when they want to blame, they appear to have easy access to semi-automatic weapons and on-line support.
It does not help matters that so many countries are leaning far right these days and that so many leaders appear to have no moral compass whatsoever. I don't see a solution until weapons are harder to obtain and until leaders change their tones (or better yet, until we change the leaders).
6
My money is on a tumor in the white matter above his amygdala, along the lines of the one that afflicted the Texas sniper.
We seem to be encountering an epidemic of these lately, which are largely going unnoticed and unexplained.
It could be that something or someone is going wrong with our water or our politics.
2
There's a tumor, all right. An extremely large, malignant Tumor, occupying the Oval Office.
VOTE, 2020. Vote them ALL out.
17
Do a little research and take my advice. Put a Tax Stamp on magazine fed weapons. Not on .22 rim-fire. Nor on guns developed before 1900. A Tax Stamp worked on automatic weapons and short barreled rifles it will work on the above.
;
1
I was very upset by the shooting in the synagogue on Saturday. I opened up my newspaper this morning to read additional details. There was NOTHING on the front page and the article was on page 24 of the paper. I would have expected more from the NYT. This story shows what is going on in the country today and hiding the article on page 24 says it is not that important. I am disappointed!
15
Agree.
8
Waiting any moment for Trump, Congressional Republicans and the NRA to call for better mental health screening in the US. Will it screen for white supremacy or are there too many very fine white supremacists who will be unfairly harmed? Free speech hate supported by Second Amendment rights with zero restrictions will continue to deliver mass murder headlines in the US.
6
This is a terrorist. Period.
10
Of course we grieve for the woman who was murdered, but I also mourn for the lost innocence and likely lasting trauma imposed on all who were there; especially the little girl whose wounds most certainly aren't just physical.
May their faith and community support and sustain them now and in the future. May we all sustain and comfort them and one another.
53
Rabbi Goldstein is the hero of this tragedy. That he attempted to engage the shooter is truly amazing. What a wonderful man.
88
@EMiller
Even more heroic, were the actions of the 60-year-old woman who sacrificed her life to defend him.
35
I totally agree. The rabbi should be honored with an award for courage by the President and/or Congress. The fact that, unarmed, he tried to engage the assailant makes his behavior all the more brave.
19
@Shade Seeker
Thank you for pointing the woman's courage and heroism. She, too, should be posthumously honored by Congress.
32
Synagogues, churches, mosques...places where the religious go to pray for peace, to uplift their weary and disheartened souls, to love rather than hate. When will this craziness end? How will it end? And these ruthless killings are not by Middle Eastern or Central American immigrants and refugees fleeing violence and oppression. They are at the hands of White home-grown deranged men. They are abetted by a racist and bigoted so-called president who recently ranted that this country will not give up their rights to own their own kind of weapons of mass destruction that are as lethal those used in combat. They are abetted by a Congressional Republicans who are loathe to relinquish their seats of power because they need those nativists and fanatical 2nd Amendment activists for the next election. I read that the NRA is in its own way falling apart, sated by greed and corruption. I say good riddance. Folks, get a grip and see what is happening our country. This is no longer the home of the brave and land of the free.
115
@Kathy Lollock "When will this craziness end?" Kathy, I'd like to say when people give up the idea that my god is better than your god or give up religious belief entirely. However, Im coming to believe that they will just find some thing else to focus on. Read Dr. Seusse's book about the sneetches. I used to read it to my sociology classes. Hate will always find a way. Strong gun control and hate crime laws might help as well as the government and schools proactively pushing the idea of freedom of thought but restraint in action.
9
@Kathy Lollock
"places where the religious go to pray for peace"
When there is peace, there is no profit.
6
@John Locke:
Unfortunately, mostly for young men who struggle for a sense of power or belonging, they began to feel powerful and welcome when they join hate groups. There may be many reasons, but any reason to hate and kill others, is one too many.
3
When they chanted "the Jews will not replace us!" as they marched, the president said there were fine people on both sides. This is yet another consequence of Trump's reckless rhetoric.
19
@PeteH:
Mr. Trump does not speak only reckless rhetoric, he lies. He is only interested in his own needs and is taking our country down with hom.
I support the Second Amendment.
The Second Amendment in it's entirety, not just the last phrase of it.
3
The only thing I know is that the sooner Trump and his minions are out of power and publicly disgraced, the better.
21
Trump has called it a hate crime, but he has not referred directly to the synagogue attacker by name as a hater, or renounced the many haters among his supporters for their all-too-visible involvement in extreme right-wing activities, such as those currently being carried out by armed vigilantes posing as patriots along our Southern border to help carry out his political agenda.
As we have all learned to our great regret by now, some haters are very fine people,
9
In a matter of a few days we have seen a church, a mosque and a synagogue attacked. Mr. President it is time you tone down your discourse. You unleashed the power of hatred to win elections. JFK once said “Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside”. Mr. President you said in your inaugural address "I and only I" will change America. Well, you own it now. It is not too late. Tone down your discourse.
4
Won't be long now before metal detectors and armed security guards will be as commonplace at synagogues (and other houses of worship) in this country as they are at courthouses.
3
They already are in many places.
Meanwhile, not so much at US churches.
Telling and disgraceful.
@Jay Orchard
Many synagogues in Europe and Asia have armed guards at the entrance checking identifications and ensuring that nobody enters with a weapon.
The newly minted "Great" America is unique in her cruelty to the citizens of this country. The leaders of this Democratic Republic are beholden to big moneyed interests at the deep expense of the great 99%. Big Pharma wins. The Industrial Military Complex wins. Big Medical wins. Big Manufacturing wins. Even Big Tech, as it leeches the nation's soul through social media, wins. In the face of gross injustice to the citizens of this country, Trump has inspired a radical racist faction to arms. The majority did not elect Trump. The majority is not represented in Congress. This country is fractured. This country is broken.
6
This is very tragic.
3
This attack was domestic terrorism. We should stop downplaying when it's White Supremacists that commit these horrific acts. This is a serious threat to our country.
I think about what would have been the reaction if it was armed ISIS sympathizers waving ISIS flags marching through Charlottesville. But having armed White Supremacists march past Synagoques in Charlottesville saying Anti-Semitic statements, that threat shouldn't be taken just as seriously?
I hear people say the answer to hate speech is more speech, not less. These White Supremacists stay in an echo chamber on the internet, I don't think many opposing thoughts are getting through to the most extreme members. There will continue to be deadly consequences for allowing White Supremacists to reinforce their hate on the internet.
51
@infinityON
A joint intelligence bulletin (“White Supremacist Extremism Poses Persistent Threat of Lethal Violence”) recently issued by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security put the white nationalists threat in perspective. It showed that white supremacists “committed 49 homicides in 26 attacks from 2000 to 2016,” an average of about three murders per year.
Not all the victims murdered by white supremacist were members of racial or ethnic groups traditionally targeted by white supremacists. Four of the 49 victims were white supremacists killed by other white supremacists during arguments over drug deals while eight were law enforcement officers murders while attempting to arrest white supremacists for armed robbery and other offenses. So, white supremacists murdered 37 Americans because of their race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation during the 16-year period, an average of slightly more than two murders per year.
The FBI Uniform Crime report shows that there were 17,284 murders in 2017 alone. So white supremacists account for about 0.01 percent of murders.
Mote than 3,000 Americans were killed by Islamic terrorist in the same timeframe.
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3924852-White-Supremacist-Extremism-JIB.html
6
@William Case
Dont be too selective then William case: go back to Oklahoma bombing, or start after September 11th, 2001. One big number is used as an average -- to inflate the number.
9
@William Case
The dates you selected are misleading (as a prior reply to your comment points out) and almost irrelevant:
What are the numbers since 2016? In other words, since Trump campaign/presidency?
10
Sadly we have a new calendar of martyrs with the victims of school shootings and those who were worshipping in their houses of prayer whether they were synagogues, mosques, or black churches. May God bless all the victims and console their families and friends, and may the wounded heal.
The day before this event, Trump defended his comments at Charlottesville. He said the white supremacists were admirers of Robert E. Lee, ignoring the torches, the chants of "Jews shall not replace us," and the swastikas. The NRA is in turmoil with lawsuits and financial corruption.
The new white hood is the anonymity given to those who hate on line. The best response on the part of social media would be to either ban those who participate in the hate rants (which does include Trump), or reveal the actual names. That would change the discourse. At Charlottesville, the white nationalists' faces were captured with cameras, their identities discovered, and they had to face the shock and dismay of their family, friends, and employers.
We must stand against all the hate speech, the hate crimes, and those who support them. That includes politically as well as morally whether the victims are immigrant children, those of religions not shared, or those persecuted as LGBTQ, or minorities.
Sheldon Adelson was Trump's top supporter and is said to speak to him monthly. Hate crimes, including anti-Semitism, have risen more than 50% during Trump's term. He and all others must be voted out.
44
@SMB
".... He said the white supremacists were admirers of Robert E. Lee,..", while totally ignoring that these people were admiring an individual who had taken up arms in rebellion against the constitutional government of the United States of America. Furthermore, Trump ignored that many of these statues are reminders of, not the Civil War, but the Jim Crow era.
By totally ignoring the context of the statue, Trump encouraged white supremacists. This has led to the bombing of (black) churches and the shooting of Jewish synagogues.
As you stated, he is totally complicit in these hate crimes.
8
@SMB:
ASAP!
1
Yesterday, the final day of Passover, shabbos, I, too, was praying at a Chabad congregation ( orthodox Jewish) locally.
Because we keep the sabbath and do not use any electronics, we did not learn of what happened in this other synagogue until after sundown.
Honestly, I was not surprised.
It seemed to be just a matter of time until more people of faith would be gunned down.
And, of course, Jews are always a convenient target for those who hate.
This occurred exactly six months to the day (October 27, 2018) when another group of Jews, praying in a synagogue in Pittsburgh on the Sabbath, were murdered.
It has not taken too long for them to be forgotten by so many who wailed about the tragedy.
How long will it take for people to forget these people in San Diego?
How many more such incidents like this will it take, how many more school shootings, murders of glbtq people, minority groups, before there is a meaningful ( gun control, making hate crimes a national and essential focus for eradication) response?
30
Chabad is not the word for "orthodox" Judaism. It is the name of a particular group of ultra-orthodox ashkenazi Jewish people.
6
NYT, Good job covering the preacher and his ideology in Sri Lanka!
Now please do the same for this menace of ‘white supremacy’. Preachers of hate, organizations, funding, foot soldiers in America and elsewhere in EU, if they’re linked.
What motivates them and why do they hate America and its diversity? Why does KKK invoke Christianity? All of it needs to be investigated and shared with the public.
Looking forward to your investigative piece.
8
‘Hate crime?”
No, it. Was yet another white nationalist terror attacking.
7
I blame Donald Trump. Because of his title and rank, he gives every crazy bigot permission to behave as he does, to act without thought, to speak not from informed reason, but from his uninformed gut. Now, having just applauded the NRA and its ilk for giving him a lot of money, more gun violence has been initiated. This is tragic. This is horrendous. This is his fault.
13
I am also an attorney. When a Muslim man drove a van onto on the West Side Bike Path and killed several persons either last summer or the summer before before the day ended more than half a dozen clients who think they are more religious and "better" Jews than me called me with "Did you hear the news?" They continued with every detail and took up close to 15 minutes each. For Pittsburgh and this shooting I have received no calls. Somehow, if angry white men, young or old do this, my religious associates seem to find it no big deal. I can only guess at why there is a different standard, but know that if either of these shooters had a Muslim name, I could not write this because my phone would be ringing off the hook.
11
So, if this guy were black, or Muslim, he would be called a terrorist.
How did he get his semi-automatic assault rifle? What does the NRA have to say about this?
I'm sorry for the Temple's loss.
5
You wanna talk about hate crimes? Religion itself is a hate crime. Even the Muslism scriptures fall short of the absolute barbarity found in the Jewish scriptures. This idea that the Jews are a special people in God's eyes has brought an absolute immeasurable misery to the Jews themselves and the world.
I say chuck it all out. We can and must do better.
1
Why is any online message board like 8chan, which permits hate speech and inspires and encourages violence, allowed to operate?
10
There is a question whether this is a hate crime? Really.
American Jews, particularly the liberals, need to recognize that their support of Palestinians and the Bds movement is feeding the fires of antisemitism!
What Jews should do is stop wringing their hands! They, we, should prepare to fight back.
If we wait for society to step in, then how are we different from the Jews of Germany in the 1930’s.
3
Trump can tweet someone else's words about praying for the victims of this terrorist--notice the lack of spelling errors--but he has neither criticized white supremacists in real terms nor taken action against them as President.
I believe him to be quietly supportive of such people. He is certainly a hypocrite.
5
Please start calling this terrorism already.
6
This ‘terrorist’ attack needs to be investigated with the same urgency that other terrorist attacks committed by non-whites command.
This menace of ‘white supremacy’ is real. From bi-partisan and unequivocal condemnation of the ‘ideology’ at the highest levels of the government to outlining sources of such hate, be it alt-right channels, forums, websites, neo-nazi groups and offshoots, all of it requires the same heavy-handedness that such attacks deservedly demand.
And then follow the ‘money trail’ of these preachers of hate and their ‘foot soldiers’.
If this remains unchecked, no house of worship will be safe in America, esp. those frequented by minorities, imperilling the most fundamental expression of American democracy: First Amendment Rights regarding freedom of religion and peaceable assembly.
America is at a crossroads. Time to correct course or else, be forever relegated to the third world of fascist dictators and despots.
7
I don’t get this business about “The Jews will not replace us.”
I have met up with hundreds, no make that thousands
of Jews in the course of my lifetime if you want to include the High
Holidays, and not a single one of them has ever expressed the slightest interest in replacing them, often going to extreme lengths and way-out-of-their-normal-ways-of-doing-business to decline any interest in doing so.
Yes, there are a considerable number who express a keen interest in tearing these newfangled Nazis limb from limb, but even then there is what amounts to total bewilderment about this replacement thing.
What is about these guys and ladies that makes them think anybody has any interest in replacing them?
I have, of course, run into numerous Jews who are dismayed, disgusted and sickened by them and would like to throw-up in their faces.
A better, more honest and possibly more effective recruiting slogan for them would be “The Jews will find us disgusting and sickening, will legitimately label us as cowards and will take pride in spitting in our faces.”
1
How can anyone who is Jewish support Donald Trump? He is fomenting this craziness all the time...
2
For those who have the stomach for it, I recommend reading Mr. Earnest’s full “manifesto."
It is widely available on the internet.
Although frightfully boring, it is chock-full to the nth-degree with all the hate, bitterness, rage, paranoia, envy and magical-thinking you would expect of it.
Its sole redeeming virtue is that it makes an additional very good case for the continued and permanent survival of the Jewish State of Israel.
2
Unfortunately, the synagogue shooting in San Diego on Passover demonstrates it's not only those who are motivated by religion who engage in the killing of innocent worshipers. The shooting by someone apparently inspired by social media to kill Jews in the name of anti-semitism and white nationalism also raises the question whether social media is appropriate for all humans. Perhaps its time to consider whether allowing social media to be used by everyone without regard to their sanity or morality is the equivalent of allowing nuclear or chemical weapons to be possessed by any government that wants them.
12
Not just during Passover, but during Shabbat (Sabbath)!
@Jay Orchard
The shooter's targets, include the woman slain, are white.
@William Case
This is the most nonsensical quibble I've come across. You are being transparently disingenuous well beyond the point of dishonesty. "White supremacy" and "white nationalist" ideology have always prominently featured the hatred of Jews. Everyone knows that. So what's your point, really?
3
So, where is Trump’s televised national address outlining his administration’s plans to root out homegrown white supremacist terrorists?
Can Americans expect some protection, or should we not hold our collective breath on this one?
30
@Oceanviewer
We are already blue in the face. They know what is happening. They are just afraid to admit that someone has 'The Trump Card.'
1
The stream of multi-directional hatred emanating from right-wing radio and television (Murdoch/Sinclair) and the Internet has become relentless, and preys on the weak-minded, fearful, resentful, paranoid, and mentally unstable. In a country with easy access to firearms of all descriptions and little infrastructure to deal with mental health issues, this situation continues to result in the kind of domestic terrorist shootings which have become an almost daily occurrence in America. As long as our political class refuses to stand up to the NRA and support sensible gun control, the slaughter will continue.
15
The killer is a typical American terrorist, enabled by the easy access to lethal weapons here and the proliferation of alt right websites. trump mouths sympathy but meanwhile gives a wink wink nod nod to white supremacists, an important voting block of his.
57
@J.Sutton Here's an example of just how easy that access is in much of the country. In my local newspaper last weekend is an ad from a local sporting goods store. Springfield Saint AR platform rifle, 5 30-round magazines, 1500 rounds of ammunition and a carrying case for $799. All you need is a valid driver's license and be 18 years old.
22
@Mark Wow, that's a great deal for a lot of firepower. No wonder every yahoo in town has one.
3
@Mark . Wow.. and exactly what legitimate purpose would such a package serve, with five 30-round magazines? I guess if you are planning to defending your survival bunker?
6
Schools, houses of worship, malls... another automatic weapon and another horrific day of wanton carnage in America. As we shake our heads in disbelief and pray for the families of those gone and those fighting for their lives we hear Trump in Wisconsin extolling the rights of citizens to bear arms and singing the praises of the NRA. How does this shameless, cowardly man live with himself and utter to the mindless attendees how much he loves the USA. Disgusting and heartless … the POTUS without a soul.
30
Anyone working in the advertising/mass communications fields knows that repeated messaging stimulates response. It is reasonable therefore to link horrific events like this with continual hate spewed by the Oval Office through its right wing media outlets. One simply cannot disassociate cause from effect to mitigate undesirable outcomes.
13
As a supporter of gun control, I'm really not sure what stricter gun laws would have done to prevent this shooting.
The shooter seemed to develop his opinions on 8chan, a notorious alt right board. He even hated Donald Trump. Perhaps better monitoring of violent internet havens like this is whats needed.
Another solution is to expand the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which is already used by religious institutions across the country to harden and strengthen physical infrastructure. We should make this program more accessible and better funded so all places of worship have access to a safe place to meet and pray.
8
@Aaron don't believe this weak minded shooter was not a supporter of 45 unless he was impatient for even more racist actions than 45 is providing. But nationalist terrorism is on the rise under 45 who provides overt hatred and disrespect of the targeted groups. 45 and his repub followers have some ugly definition of "the other", the not American enough and their answer to this problem is violence.
Although one person dying from a terrorist's gun is abhorrent, I had to ask why only one person died and not many more as we have seen time and time again.
The lower number of people killed is likely because California gun laws prohibit the sale of semi-automatic firearms and other assault weapons. A law to confiscate magazines larger than 10 rounds was declared unconstitutional, but the decision is on hold during appeal. (from Wiki)
Banning these weapons should be a top priority of all Democrats from local to national.
6
@Carol
That's absurd. Fine. Limit it to 10 rounds. But if you don't limit the number of clips a person can have, it hardly matters.
And no, what happened is the guy's gun jammed.
2
@Carol
I moved here from the SF Bay area, to which I'd moved from Montana. I had a Glock (semi-automatic, as are all modern pistols) licensed in MT, and as a result it was licensed in CA as soon as a background check completed.
Semi-automatics are legal in CA. But all transfers must go through a licensed dealer, which means a Federal background check will be performed.
Getting a carry permit requires one show a need to be protected. I knew a lawyer in CA whose case history rendered him a possible target of certain criminals; he had a carry permit, but didn't wear a holster or make it at all obvious.
1
@Carol they dodged a real massacre when his AR15 had problems.
The shooter is a white male nursing student, who happened to be on the Dean's list at Cal State San Marcos. Lives at home with his parents.
How could they no see this coming?
12
@ClydeMallory
So, he's a virulent anti-Semite, but no one at home noticed it?
I don't have kids, but believe I would have.
1
@ClydeMallory:
It appears this young man found more strength, a sense of power and belonging than he did with family and school. The seeds of hatred are everywhere and can make people feel more powerful as a member of a hate groups. Make them feel a sense of power in their hatred and they believe they belong in a group that brings power and the right to kill those who are not like them. Therefore, they must be eliminated. It worked well for Hitler.
We also have a president who cares only about himself, and what's in it for him. He does not appear to have authentic sympathy about others, unless the is something in it for him.
Also. our gun laws make killing easy.
@ClydeMallory Because we can't always see into the hearts of others. Even our own children. Blaming parents in the hour of their own grief and bewilderment without knowing more about them is unkind.
3
Why doesn’t the Trump Administration do more to investigate homegrown white terrorists and, hopefully, prevent them from carrying out their plans of death and destruction?
Are Americans to assume that they have sympathizers in Washington?
21
@Oceanviewer:
The, "Very fine people on both sides", quote from Trump says it all. It only takes an ounce of a nudge to push some already mentally unstable people over the edge. Mixing the understanding that our health care system denies the most needy of all of us from proper care and the GOP fight against it, coupled with Trump's disgusting rhetoric, . . . why are we surprised at outcomes such as this?
14
@JC I agree, except for the "why are we surprised" part. That phrase serves only to drain gumption from those who might have been inspired by the rest of your comment to act for change. It encourages resignation.
We always should be disturbingly surprised by hate crimes.
2
This is a terrible tragedy and it clearly demonstrates that virulent anti-antisemitism is on the rise. Rather then focus on if this attack had been carried out by a Muslim or about white nationalists- I think it would behoove the commentators to express their sympathy for what took place here.
5
@Deena
Sorry Deena et al.
We are numb to this weekly occurrence.
Apparently is really doesn't matter to a large majority 'cause it keeps happening. All we do is express sympathy for what took place and don't act to stop it.
Gee sorry doesn't amount to a hill of beans when we allow the same thing to continue.
2
Social media platforms like 8chan are directly responsible for this violence. They provide the critical link between like-minded terrorists who otherwise would have no audience or source of inspiration. They should be held accountable for horrific acts like this one.
14
I suppose there might be some good news here in that our national policy regarding gun control might be to hope for jammed weapons........??
3
We should not blame President Trump for this tragedy. He strongly condemned this man and anti semitism. It must be said that this man hated Donald Trump and his policies. Let's place the blame where it lies and it is at the foot of this sick and evil madman. My thoughts and prayers go out to those victims and their families. May they rest in peace. This atrociousness was committed during Passover which is even more disturbing and sad.
5
@KMW:
Yay! More "thoughts and prayers". Good work; it's a great solution!
9
@KMW
.. Except these sort of hate crimes/murders definitely do not happen in a vacuum. The President did not tell this guy to shoot, but he does spew a lot of lies, intolerance, fear, and even hatred.
..And given the scope & power of the President's ability to spread this message of intolerance.. he can not be considered innocent..
28
@KMW
What you aren't saying is the white terrorist didn't think Trump went far enough! Not that he didn't agree with or side with Trump.
Sorry, NO! Trump doesn't get any slack for not being as awful as the terrorist. And he doesn't get any slack because he shrugs and doesn't do ANTHING to stop it from happening again.
Disturbing and sad is the fact that his disingenuous supporters don't make any pretense of stopping the next terrorist attack, nor hold their leader accountable.
5
The shooter, Caucasian male, avowed white supremacist. Do I believe that this young man is mentally ill? No, I do not. Do I believe that he is a product of racist, white identity, conspiracy theory and extreme right wing political and religious ideology and indoctrination? Yes. Do I consider him one of many American home-grown terrorists? Yes. Do I believe that under the Trump Nation's underlying motive of winning at all costs that these acts of domestic terrorism will continue? Yes. Am I concerned, worried and fearful for this country's stability and democracy? Yes.
131
@rustymoe: Let us condemn those who condone such crime. Even though we are inclined to vote Democrat our selves, however, let us not try to twist this horrible incident into still another reason to publicize the name Trump. As his own Jewish-convert daughter could verify, given all his other faults,he is not anti-Semitic.
@rustymoe,
But this terrorist said he despises Trump for the Trump's pro-Jewish stance.
1
There needs to be a mandatory concealed carry requirement for all worshippers at any place of religion. People that forget to bring their weapon should be cited on the spot.
No more shootings guaranteed.
@JJ
Try that in Europe before you suggest we do that in the US.
Since 2000, every synagogue that I have ever visited to attend services in Europe has security, and generally expect visitors to present their papers in advance before being admitted.
From personal experience, that has been true in (in alphabetical order) Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Rome, Prague and Venice.
A bigger concern is that if everybody was "packing" at services and a gunman showed up, the "Shootout at the OK Corral" would look like a party for 8 year old girls by comparison.
Putting security at the entrance, including if needed a patrol car parked in front to the building, is a much better approach.
14
@Joe From Boston
God watches over and protects you, so long as you have a gun? That's a bit self-defeating for religion, no?
1
@JJ
Apparently the off duty BP officer at the scene was hired by the congregation as a security guard. It did not seem to prevent the shooter's entry. Had his gun not jammed it could have been much worse.
I am overwhelmed by the hatred that is breeding in this country. Especially when you attack people who are there to pray.
What is happening to our world? Why do we breed so much hatred toward those who are different than we are, people who are going to their services to praise God. How can people who may call themselves "Christian" murder others who are not like them. They must learn their hate from somewhere, or someone.
I am a Roman Catholic. We believe that there are three elements who form God: the one who made our world, His son Jesus, a Jew, who died a a horrible death to save us from our sins, and the Holy Spirit, who helps us to live our faith.
That is not important though. Because we are all children of God, and should be able to pray safely in their love and honor of the Father. Why are we breeding so much hate: look at the world we live in. There is an abundance of hatred and anger against all who are different from us, who simmer inside a hatred against others. And a policy in this country that mocks and demeans those who are different from themselves.
My condolences to the people who went to Temple to pray, and were attacked so viciously. This is a sacred and holy place. May God be with you and comfort your pain and loss.
May we remember that we are all Children of God, and live in peace.
24
What is happening to the United States boils down to this: Trumpism.
26
@everyman
Hate, bigotry, antisemitism has always been here. What’s different is the added element of the internet. That’s what happened to us. There may be no way to put the genie back in the bottle at this point.
2
@Donna S
Yes, of course. Because the data shows clearly that there were no incidents of terrorism, racism, or gun violence before Trump took office. Everything is simple to the simple-minded.
2
Why hasn’t the GOP leadership with Trump demand to stop the sale of all automatic weapons like in New Zealand’s one and only mass shooting with an automatic weapon? There leaders stopped the sale of all automatic weapons in a heart beat. The NRA is getting free tax breaks from the GOP and kick backs by campaign contributions. We will keep seeing these horrible news stories as long as the NRA is paying off our GOP politicians. Very sad.
51
@D.j.j.k.
Agree. Clearly the NRA is a co conspirator in this ongoing national mayhem, white nationalism, covert corruption via lobbying $$ and perks to "thank you very much" congressional and presidential sorts. The rest of us non bigoted, non racist, non mass murder weapon carrying sorts are forced to live in an increasingly anxious environment. Another slaughter of faithful innocents. Have we not exhausted our quota of "thoughts and prayers" for a generation? Isn't it time to experiment with preventative action rather than meaningless lies by our so called leaders, who just happen to be protected by capitol security. We have none, what is wrong about this picture?
17
@D.j.j.k.
In the US, automatic weapons have been illegal to sell or possess since the 1930s.
1
@D.j.j.k.
Who has the 'Trump Card?'
1
If this attack on a Jewish synagogue had been carried out by somebody of the Muslim faith instead of a right-wing anti-semite, every article in the media would be shouting the work "Terrorism." Why the double standard? Hmmm...
116
@Beartooth
I'm suspicious over the people who turn anti-Semitic carnage into a pity party for Muslims due to when the label terrorism is used or not used. Those who so quick to show outrage due to believing Muslim mass murderers are labeled "terrorists" more often than non-Muslim mass murderers are showing that perceived slights to Muslim murderers are more offensive to them than innocent people being slaughtered.
15
@Tara Pines
I believe his point was not that Muslim attackers should be cut some slack. Instead, I believe the point is that white right-wing terrorism poses an equal or even greater threat, but that we tend not to demand proportionate action because we refuse to categorize the actions of such white home-grown attackers as terrorism proper.
The argument isn't that Muslim terrorism should be taken less seriously, but that attacks by white nationalists on Jews - or anybody, for that matter - should be treated just as seriously.
I'm not sure who genuinely argues that Muslim terrorists are getting a unfair deal and it strikes me as odd that anybody would assume the proposal inherent in this was that we should stop defining Muslim terrorism as such.
That seems like a weird over-sensitiveness to somebody pointing out what is objectively a lopsided trend in mischaracterization that has serious policy and safety implications. I guess I have to assume that such people were more worried about the possibility that somebody might not think ill enough about Muslims than that we fail to honestly face the rising threat of right-wing domestic terrorism.
12
This second attack on a Jewish synagogue after the one in Pittsburgh last fall represents the conflation of the incendiary rhetoric supporting the alt-right and white nationalism, and the abject refusal to regulate weapons of mass murder like the AR-15 by Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The "hate crime" belongs to Trump and the availability of these weapons belongs both to him and his Republican Party. The hypocrisy of Trump sending condolences on the heels of demonstrating his strong support for such weapons in a speech at the N.R.A. convention where he publicly trashed an arms control agreement is clear. It mirrors the hysteria he stoked of an invading "caravan" of immigrants that was cited by the gunmen who massacred 11 Jewish Sabbath worshipers in Pittsburgh. After Parkland and now a second attack in a synagogue, it's time for gun control and the alt-right, white nationalist agenda of the now Trumpublican Party to be the major issue in November, 2020.
85
This will generate the usual thoughts and prayers, but won't be the last time, while the president and republicans have their say. They continue to make school and/or church attendance more dangerous by the day with their do-nothing approach to just one more threat to our nation.
37
Yes, all the while claiming mastery of what it means to be Christian.
3
So, was this guy one of the "fine people" on "both sides" Trump lavishes praise on?
68
"The synagogue did not have a guard at the time"
True. But when "not having a guard" is a factor in the story, it says something about where we are as a society.
83
@S. Benson Other news is reporting that a border patrol agent was working for the synagogue as a security guard. He shot several times at the suspect, but only managed to hit the car he fled in.
4
The shooter claimed to be inspired by Pittsburgh, but what is contributing to the dramatic rise in normalization of anti-Semitic attitudes and acts across our country and globe? This past week's flagrantly anti-semitic cartoon in the International edition of NYtimes and the editors inadequate apology is symptomatic of a cancer spreading in all our institutions. Time for some deep soul-searching and an open investigation. J'accuse you - NY Times. Who approved it? How did this happen? What steps are being taken prevent another incident like this? Apologies can't undo the millions of readers who saw that vile image and will be forever influenced by it.
37
@Leslie Green
Thank you for your comment. Yes, we hear your concern and understand your request for more information. Our Opinion desk agrees that the cartoon should not have been published and has since given this response:
“We are deeply sorry for the publication of an anti-Semitic political cartoon last Thursday in the print edition of The New York Times that circulates outside of the United States, and we are committed to making sure nothing like this happens again. Such imagery is always dangerous, and at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise worldwide, it’s all the more unacceptable. We have investigated how this happened and learned that, because of a faulty process, a single editor working without adequate oversight downloaded the syndicated cartoon and made the decision to include it on the Opinion page. The matter remains under review, and we are evaluating our internal processes and training. We anticipate significant chances.”
3
@Leslie Green Trump is just a puppet. The question is who pulls his strings?
2
@Leslie Green Trump is just a puppet. The question is who pulls his strings?
1
Why are American Houses of Worship required to pay for local Police protection when holding services. Especially given the surge of attacks across America. In Europe local
communities have long provided Police Protection. Sometimes around the clock. With anti-Semitism and religious intolerance spreading across America why force local Houses of Worship
to pay for their own protection ? Surely we can do better by providing Police protection at our Houses of Worship at public expense.
10
@Peter I Berman:
"Surely we can do better by providing Police protection at our Houses of Worship at public expense."
1.) We should not need it; don't succumb yourself to the desires of the NRA.
2.) It would be nice if religious institutions paid local and federal taxes. We're footing some of the bill, regardless of what they spend money on.
7
Elie Weisel called 'indifference' the moral equivalence of complicity. Today's 'indifference' is the gun rights activists and their political allies who refuse to compromise their beliefs toward helping rid our nation of machine guns that easily fall into the hands of white supremicists and the mentally deranged. If this goes on, unabated, then our nation will lose a core value of its being and sink into an abyss. Healthy societies depend upon rational compromises.
21
@Bruce Egert
I wholeheartedly agree about indifference being a problem in our society, but please don't assume people with different worldviews than you on the subject of gun ownership are not caring people.
1