US President Donald Trump arrives at number 10 Downing Street for a reception on December 3, 2019 in London, England. Image by Getty Images

Dear Editor:

I have to admit that when I first read news stories about President Trump’s latest executive order, suggesting that he was turning Judaism into a nationality, I had visions of being stripped of my American citizenship and thrown out of the country. And I don’t think I was the only one.

But my fears were laid to rest when I learned that Title VI of the federal education code already protects religious groups who are, or are perceived to be, ethnic groups — including Jews, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus. That’s when I realized the separate nationality business was just a misinterpretation.

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And while it is true that there is anti-Semitism on US college campuses — just as there are many other types of bigotry — it is not the major phenomenon that it is touted to be. In fact, studies conducted by Stanford University in California and Brandeis University in Massachusetts found that most Jewish students felt comfortable on their campuses.

Then why did Trump issue this order, with its interesting timing right in the middle of impeachment hearings?

The short-term answer is that the order features a new definition of anti-Semitism that includes criticism of Israel. Of course it’s unconstitutional, but it won’t stop college administrators from squelching anti-Israel activism Israel in order to insure they don’t lose federal funding.

But the long-term answer — and this should make all Jews sit up and think — is that we are being used once again as pawns in somebody’s political game. This time the goal is to cast the Democrats, especially progressive Democrats, as anti-Semites and win the 2020 election for the Republicans.

The smear campaign has already begun.

Sincerely,

Lois Pearlman

Guerneville, California

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