Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

RainWalker

(605 posts)
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 12:17 PM Nov 2023

Let's talk about this picture.... logically

So it seems this picture is a pretty hot ticket this morning with some folks saying that it's filled with Jewish hate but people are missing something that's right there out in the open staring them in the face.

Let's take a look.





"Stephen A Schwarzman Building".
So just who is Stephen Schwarzman?
He's a right wing billionaire who's donated 10s of millions of dollars to Israel. He's an extremist and the CEO of Blackstone. Oh but it gets even better and I firmly believe this is why this specific building was targeted by pro-Palestinian activists.

Stephen Allen Schwarzman (born February 14, 1947) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group, a global private equity firm he established in 1985 with Peter G. Peterson. Schwarzman was briefly chairman of President Donald Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum.


Oh oh....Trump? Well well ...

In September 2011, Schwarzman was listed as a member of the international advisory board of the Russian Direct Investment Fund


Oh oh....a Putin connection too?

Schwarzman is a Republican who favors lower taxes, lower government spending, and women's rights.
He raised $100,000 for George W. Bush's political endeavors.In 2020, Schwarzman donated $15 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super-PAC tied to Mitch McConnell.

In August 2010, Schwarzman compared the Obama administration's plan to raise the tax rate on carried interest to a war and Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939, stating, "It's a war. It's like when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Schwarzman]


This guy's a complete train wreck.
And it's easy to understand why this building was targeted.






15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

stopdiggin

(12,930 posts)
2. the picture is brimming full of hate
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 12:33 PM
Nov 2023

and I find it extremely doubtful that the target of that hate - was this man's roll in domestic politics. (it's a F-ing public library!) But - points for creativity ...

proceed ....
- - - - - - - -

 

RainWalker

(605 posts)
3. There's no hate in that pic
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 12:45 PM
Nov 2023

And honestly I'm rather tired and exhausted over the gaslighting about it. Since when is an oppressed people calling out for liberty, freedom, and an end to their oppression equal to "hate"? The Palestinian people aren't free.

And we greatly differ on our opinion about the building, obviously.

AZSkiffyGeek

(12,632 posts)
6. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 01:12 PM
Nov 2023

Then explain what a library named for an American philanthropist has to do with Palestine.

Hekate

(95,022 posts)
10. It's raw hatred of both Jews and of the free dissemination of knowledge and learning
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 02:09 PM
Nov 2023

That’s what I see.

2.4% of the US population is Jewish. In the world it’s 0.2% — Zero point two.

My late mother-in-law was born in 1914 while her parents were in transit out of Russia and heading for Vienna. She loved Vienna the rest of her life, tho she left forever in 1938.

She made the cogent observation: “It’s odd that they think all the Jews are Communists, and at the same time that all the bankers are Jewish.” Meaning, the anti-semites are blind to their own cognitive dissonance.

And so it goes.


 

RainWalker

(605 posts)
11. I don't understand what that has to do
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 02:11 PM
Nov 2023

with the picture at hand. Sure there's antisemitism but I'm not seeing that exhibited here.

ms liberty

(9,857 posts)
4. Those things are good to know, but this vandalism was not helpful to their cause
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 12:55 PM
Nov 2023

Whatever their intent, the result was not a good look for them. It was rather immature and does nothing to further their cause in a positive way.

 

RainWalker

(605 posts)
5. I think there's a generational divide here
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 01:01 PM
Nov 2023

Young people all across the country and the world are doing nonviolent protests from climate change to Palestine and it's all that they have. I see actions like this as an essential part of our democracy. Now had someone been hurt or something important forever destroyed then I can see that as a step too far but I think it's important to remember this is no different than what we've seen with Confederate statues and statues of Christopher Columbus.

ms liberty

(9,857 posts)
7. I see it, and so will a lot of America, as vandalism of a library. Period.
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 01:25 PM
Nov 2023

Most people do not know and won't care whose name is on the building - they see it as a library, a public building; they see that taxpayers will have to pay for the mess to be cleaned up, and regular people will be very critical.

Just to make clear, I'm not addressing the content of the vandalism or the messages they may have intended to publicize. While I may or may not agree with any or all of it, I'm okay with people protesting. I do think if you care about an issue, it's more effective to not drive people away through poor marketing and publicity of said issue. It's also shortsighted, since any of your opponents or competitors are going to use it against you.


Hekate

(95,022 posts)
9. This is a public LIBRARY. How about they wreck all the Carnegie Libraries across the USA?
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 01:50 PM
Nov 2023

There’s even one in my town. Come on over with yer cans of red paint, because Andrew Carnegie was an old Robber Baron. Yee haw, we can’t have people readin’ books paid for by the likes of him.

Libraries all over this country are under attack. Are you in favor of that? Because the far-right people doing it are “sincere” in their beliefs that libraries are dangerous — does that make it okay?

So you, RainWalker, should start thinking logically. You either support public libraries — or you don’t.

Carnegie funded the building of 2,509 "Carnegie Libraries" worldwide between 1883 and 1929. Of those, 1,795 were in the United States: 1,687 public libraries and 108 academic. Others were built throughout Europe, South Africa, Barbados, Australia, and New Zealand.. https://dp.la/exhibitions/history-us-public-libraries/carnegie-libraries#

 

RainWalker

(605 posts)
13. Do you share the same opinion
Fri Nov 24, 2023, 02:15 PM
Nov 2023

when it comes to statues of Confederate leaders and Christopher Columbus too?

I'm thinking quite logically. I illustrated why this building was likely targeted and explained who the guy is; a fascist billionaire Trumper who has ties to Putin and who's donated 10s of millions to Israel.

Beastly Boy

(11,249 posts)
15. So "From the River to the Sea" sign prominently appearing
Sat Nov 25, 2023, 10:42 PM
Nov 2023

above Schwarzman's name is a reference to a right wing billionaire?

Or does it refer to a Trump advisor?

Or does it refer to a member of the international advisory board of the Russian Direct Investment Fund?

Or does it refer to a Bush fundraiser?

...I could have sworn it referred to a genocidal antisemitic sentiment... and of course, it could not possibly have any connotations associated with an antisemitic stereotype of a filthy rich Jew, could it?

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Israel/Palestine»Let's talk about this pic...