![](https://abagond.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/dual-loyalty.png?w=500&h=280)
(Image via Daily Kos)
Dual loyalty (by -1200) is where a citizen is suspected of foreign loyalties. In the US it made people distrust President Kennedy as a Catholic loyal to the pope. Or President Obama as a “secret Muslim”. Even worse, it led to the Japanese American internment – and, in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust.
The US State Department gives it as an example of anti-Semitism:
“Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.”
The Bible says it goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt:
“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people:
“‘Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.’
“Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.”
(Exodus 1:8-11)
That distrust and suspicion has been what the persecution of Jews has been built on ever since. It is beloved by fascists because they need a scapegoat.
And it is still with us:
Donald Trump, on August 20th 2019 as the US president:
“Any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”
the next day he added:
“If you vote for a Democrat, you’re very, very disloyal to Israel and to the Jewish people.”
The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) was quick to condemn his words:
“[President Trump] made it clear he thinks Jews have a dual loyalty to Israel. This #antiSemitic trope has been used to persecute Jews for centuries & it’s unacceptable to promote it. He should apologize immediately.”
Deborah Lipstadt, author of “Antisemitism: Here and Now” (2019):
“[Trump] may not have meant it as [anti-Semitic], but this gives intense comfort and succor to white supremacists.”
Over 30% of the US, according to an ADL poll in 2015, believe that Jews “are more loyal to Israel than to America.”
Yes, this was the anti-Semitic trope Ilhan Omar was accused of last March, her words taken out of context (as usual). She said:
“I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee.”
She was talking about the hold AIPAC seems to have over many in Congress, most of them not even Jewish.
Jewish Americans are hardly the only people in the US with ties to or feelings for an ancestral homeland. That is just being American. Cuban Americans, for example, are not much different. That kind of stuff is hardly a sign that one is not a loyal American.
– Abagond, 2019.
Sources: ADL, AOL News, The Forward, State Department.
See also:
- US ethnic groups
- Hitler
- Hitler: Race and People – wherein he scapegoats the Jews
- The Holocaust
- Ilhan Omar
- Jews
555
So who in the US is NOT suspected of having dual nationality?
Trump himself technically does, but no one suspects him of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure Melania Trump has dual identity.
LikeLike
He’s flailing, looks like he’s headed towards a meltdown or something, nervous breakdown, like that! Unreal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
@jefe
I disagree. Trump is not loyal to Putin, he’s envious of Putin. He does not want to serve Putin, but to be a Putin in his own right, but without even Putin’s shriveled little merkin of small-r republicanism, a Czar of the United States.
LikeLike
Remarkably, in July the House of Representatives overwhelming condemned the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement. So it seems that Americans can organize against of the policies of any country in the world, including our own, with hardly a yawn. First Amendment, y’know. Any country, that is, except Israel. Regardless of its brutalities, oppression, and internationally illegal actions against the Palestinian people, virtually a slow-motion genocide, criticism of the gov’t of Israel is verboten. Otherwise, you’re to be pilloried as a (gasp!) anti-Semite. (Funny, although it could be argued that it is used more often than the “race card,” one never even hears of an “anti-Semite card.”)
Notice that “dual loyalty” is a ploy used to cover much darker motives. During WWII it was used against Japanese-Americans but not against German-American Bundt, which was larger, in-your-face, and demonstrably more dangerous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@tankermottind
Where did I say anything that connected Trump and Putin? What does this have to do with Putin?
Trump’s eligibility for foreign nationality is with the UK. His mother was Scottish and she never renounced her UK nationality after she became a naturalized US citizen, so Trump was born to a UK citizen. Trump’s father was born to two German nationals, but since Trump’s grandfather’s German nationality was rescinded, I doubt that he could claim it back.
Boris Johnson was born a dual national as well, but did renounce his US nationality prior to entering government service.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Richard_III
Their condemnation is ♫”all about the benjamins…“♫
A lot more serious than hot air from Congress are the individual states that have passed unconstitutional laws against BDS. Restricting American free speech activities that criticize a foreign government.
A lot of grease on a lot of palms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm… Yeah, what is to be an American? It’s a bit tougher I suppose because we don’t tend to see ourselves as “ethnically” American. Most ethno-nationalists operate on the basis of a particular ethnicity. What we have in America is a relatively new concept because our ethnicity is one that we’re attempting to dynamically construct… if we even wish to admit to having to one.
LikeLike
Remember when America use to be white, those were the good old days.
LikeLike
The US was never a white country. When will people recognize that?
It just used to have a majority of white nationalists from around the early 1800s to the early 2000s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@jefe
I won’t speak for tankermottind because I took your comment to reference Trump’s UK heritage. However, As I read the post, I too thought about how many people try to position Trump as having a loyalty to Russia in an effort to discredit him. Not really about nationality as much as loyalty and splitting Trump’s loyalty between US and Russia undermines his “America 1st” platform.
Regarding these tweets: They energize the White nationalist base by showing that he agrees with their racist interpretation of Jewish loyalties while highlighting waning progressive support for Israel which is all about the Evangelicals in his base. I doubt he cares 1 bit about offending Jewish Americans because his racist outlook dictates that he believe financial interests make them vote Republican no matter what.
He’s highlighting anything too progressive for main stream Republicans to keep them from jumping ship, but otherwise taking them for granted and stirring up the fringes to get the numbers he needs. Mainstream Republicans will vote against a Democrat most of the time even if they’re not voting for the Republican. Getting those fringe folks to the polls is harder and he focuses on making them passionately supportive of him. The backlash from these tweets is exactly the type of free media his entire strategy is counting on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look at what’s happening now with all theses killings ,homosexuality and abortions.
Illegals are taking over and the young generation has no morals. Trashy America.
LikeLike
America use to be great before the Feminist and illegals took over.
LikeLike
Trump has been double crossing America with Russians.
LikeLike
White people vs Native Americans = At&t or smoke signals.
LikeLike
White people kicked everyone asses and took what they wanted.
LikeLike
@ Open Minded Observer
“Getting those fringe folks to the polls is harder and he focuses on making them passionately supportive of him. The backlash from these tweets is exactly the type of free media his entire strategy is counting on.”
What bothers me is how willing the corporate media is to carry Trump’s water and amplify his message. Both Trump and the media are being opportunistic and working for their own purposes (votes and clicks) while ignoring the greater good.
LikeLiked by 2 people
@bigbig40boy:
Put it to music and compose yourself a concerto!
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Afrofem
Yep. Trump is guaranteed ratings. His campaign, his antics, his scandals, his opinions, his idiocy and absurdity… all of it has boosted news ratings, launched entire podcasts, driven you-tube revenue, etc. He’s turned America into a reality TV show that the entire world is watching.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Herneith
It’s kind of hilarious to read him bleating out racialized silliness like a wounded lamb trying to get attention. LOL!
Poor thing….
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Open Minded Observer
I know it is cold comfort, but other countries are dealing with Trumpian figures too: Bolsinaro in Brazil, Duterte in the Philippines, Johnson in the UK and Modi in India. Loud mouth demagogues who are driving their respective countries over a cliff.
America today feels like a three dimensional science fiction novel. The sad part is that we are at the beginning of the scary curve, not the end. There are still more frightening chapters ahead.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol, you negros are a trip especially the dark skin ones.
LikeLike
Wait until the Democrats get control, no more speaking English no guns and Gays and feminist, destroying America.
LikeLike
Democrats= freak party.
LikeLike
Anarchist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What are you, sliced bread? Clown, take your pills!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, Mr. Chitterlings.
LikeLike
Look who stand in line for handouts for free back to school supplies, dark skinned blacks.
LikeLike
Nope just the Democrats we already know how the Republicans are but it’s the Democrats you better keep your eyes on too. They will speak for any race except black people.
LikeLike
@ bigbig40boy
I deleted several of your comments, here and elsewhere for being way off topic.
LikeLike
Lol, tell your buddies the Democrats I’ll take it easy on them so you won’t censor me and your white buddies will be happy too.
LikeLike
Do you even censor Your peeps the Democrats.
LikeLike