The election of two Muslim women (Tlaib, Omar) as members of the House of Representatives and some of their less temperate comments have begun to surface the concept of “dual or divided loyalties.” Their allegation being Jewish politicians having loyalties to Israel as well as the United States. Nobody seems to mention these ladies’ loyalty to the Palestinians as well as the United States.
Actually, divided loyalties are nothing new. Irish-American politicians have had a soft spot in their hearts for the Emerald Isle like forever, essentially nobody objected when it was Tip O’Neal or one of the Kennedys. I’d guess many Italian politicos feel warmly about Italy, too. So what? I have a soft spot in my heart for England and Scotland, from which a bunch of my relatives emigrated. None of us put the interests of those places before U.S. interests.
In a country populated mostly by immigrants and the offspring of immigrants, dual loyalties are a fact of life. Being interested in, and caring about the wellbeing of the old country is fine. Such only become a problem when people from “there” ask us to change to become like “there.”
Bottom line, and this must be made clear to all immigrants: you chose us, we didn’t choose you. Therefore, you adapt to us, we don’t adapt to you. If assimilation doesn’t work for you, the door is open and you’re free to try somewhere else or go home.
Afterthought: Today's Democratic Party is vaguely anti-Israel. Any Jewish person who labels him- or herself a Democrat has already demonstrated they put commitment to the U.S. ahead of commitment to Israel. Their political choice is prima facie proof.
