Bethany Mandel says it’s starting to feel like a cosmic joke, and she’s right.
In 2017, Mandel wrote a column for The Forward titled, “We Need To Start Befriending Neo Nazis,” and she’s been haunted on Twitter ever since with screenshots of that headline as proof that she’s a Jewish Nazi sympathizer.
On Saturday, she replied to Rob Rousseau’s disgusting tweet that Federalist writer Bre Peyton died at 26 “in a somewhat comical fashion.”
But y’all are the good guys.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) December 30, 2018
This, of course, compelled liberals to post that screenshot and accuse Mandel of being a Nazi — because she wrote a piece a year ago about how people like Daryl Davis, an African-American, have been able to convince 200 members of the KKK and other white supremacist groups to renounce their views by approaching them, asking questions, and listening.
So, sure, it must have stung a little bit to see a New York Times correspondent praising this provocative piece in Mother Jones:
An amazing read: Provocative @MotherJones article about how invective and attempts at isolation don’t work in dealing with white extremism. What may work? Empathy, according to the studies they cite. https://t.co/udXc5K0n75
— Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) December 28, 2018
OH RLY https://t.co/8hN35LV6Jb
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) December 30, 2018
@bethanyshondark was all over this ages ago.
— Jim Girouard (@JimGirouard132) December 29, 2018
THEY ARE LITERALLY DRAGGING ME FOR IT RN OMG IM DYING pic.twitter.com/8geXD8EdIp
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) December 30, 2018
Bethany Mandel, a conservative writer who advocated for befriending Nazis, dead. – My AP obit
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) December 30, 2018
It’s starting to feel like a cosmic joke designed to drive me crazy pic.twitter.com/8GjYPTd8ls
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) December 30, 2018
“What a thought provoking piece in Mother Jones!”
“Bethany Mandel, Jewish writer and top recipient of online anti-Semitic attacks from neo-Nazis is a… Nazi!”
– Same people— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) December 30, 2018
Sure, when Mother Jones says the same thing a year later, it’s a must-read.
How dare you try to convince Nazis they shouldn't be Nazis?
— ⛄️Wonderful Christmastime Liker? (@jtLOL) December 30, 2018
If only you had been brave enough to point this out over a year ago pic.twitter.com/ykzKnCOohg
— soonerhokie (@soonerhokie) December 30, 2018
I know you know this but never forget you are the good one in this exchange. The only way they win is if they drag you down to their level. Never let them
— Zachary Stanelle (@ZStan99) December 30, 2018
Disregard these trolls. You are doing God’s work. I love your writing.
— Lisa Buethe (@LisaBuethe) December 30, 2018
Let’s see what people are saying about Mother Jones suggesting approaching white supremacists with empathy:
Empathy works for everything.
— Impalalala (@Xytiel) December 29, 2018
Empathy is always the answer to all human problems.
— stillirise (@stillirise1963) December 29, 2018
Makes sense when you think of it, as invective and isolation are primary *causes* of driving people to extreme ideologies. Good article.
— Crushin Busch (@advice_solid) December 28, 2018
Unless you are dealing with sociopaths, empathy always works. If you have empathy you have understanding. If you have understanding you know how to reach out to people and speak to them and show them a different path.
— Elizabeth Burnside (@Eli414) December 28, 2018
The lesson here?
iTs DiFfErEnT wHeN iTs In MoThEr JoNeS
— Quotron (@Quotron_) December 30, 2018
Related:
Rapper Talib Kweli outs Ben Shapiro, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson and more as white supremacists https://t.co/cuZYRW0B3S
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 13, 2018
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