WE’RE NOT IN BURMA-SHAVE TERRITORY ANYMORE

By Cory Franklin | October 28, 2024

Last week, two billboards on the highly travelled Interstate 294 spur off the Edens Expressway displayed the following messages for more than 90 minutes during the busy evening rush hour commute: FUCK ISRAEL and DEATH TO ISRAEL. The backdrop for both billboards was a Palestinian flag.                                                 

Given the timing and the location of the billboards – between Northbrook and Deerfield, two suburbs with substantial Jewish populations – it is clear the obviously antisemitic messages were designed for maximum impact. One resident’s comments were a clear indication the billboards had their intended effect, “I couldn’t believe a message like that was so visible, especially in the place it was. This community in Deerfield, borderline Northbrook, is a predominantly Jewish area in the North Shore. How do you explain that to younger children? That sign was visible. Someone that’s a 13 or 14-year-old that sees that, they’re going to know and they’re going to ask questions, and it breaks my heart.”                                                  

The company that owns and operates the billboards disavowed any responsibility, and the signs were quickly taken down. The messages appear to be the work of a hacker, or hackers, still unknown as an investigation continues.                                                       

OK, that’s what actually happened. The incident speaks for itself. But some of what happened afterward bears scrutiny and provides three lessons. 

(Editor’s Note: The headline of this column referencing “Burma-Shave” shaving cream addresses a different time in America before antisemitism and hate of Israel became mainstream Democrat Party ideas.)                                                                                

1.The power to decide whether to cover an event is far more important than the decision of how to cover the event:                

It was notable that media coverage of the antisemitic billboards was basically local. Except for Newsweek, which did an abbreviated account, no national outlet carried the story. A google search of The New York Times, Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal revealed no mention of the incident. The national electronic media did not cover the story. Essentially, the story of blatantly antisemitic billboards seen by thousands in a major metropolitan center was not deemed worthy of coverage by newspapers and linear media, otherwise willing to expend untold words ad infinitum on campus protests, university professors’ offhanded remarks or corporate employees’ intemperate e-mails. Interestingly, The Chicago Tribune, with the largest readership in the Midwest, did a 1200-word article on how the last local Chuck E. Cheese family restaurant phased out its animatronic band, but made no mention of the Northbrook billboards. Any questions about priorities?                                                                                        

  1. The concept of hate speech makes no distinctions. And when anything can be considered hate speech, nothing can be considered hate speech.                                                                    

After the billboards come down, the Northbrook Village Board duly issued a statement including the following: “The Northbrook Village Board unequivocally condemns antisemitism and all acts of hate speech.”                                                                                              

Someone might have pointed out to the Board that there weren’t any other acts of hate speech here – but hey, nothing says virtue signaling like intersectionality. Nothing special about these billboards. This has become reflexive: after any instance of antisemitic speech, the responding entity – whether a university, a corporation, or a government body – must add the obligatory “other acts of hate speech” (in this case, considering the Palestinian flag backdrop the standard inclusion of “Islamophobia” might appear slightly outré.)                                                                                                  

No matter that antisemitic acts in America are rising rapidly and are vastly disproportionate to this population compared with other groups – according to the FBI 10% of all hate crimes were antisemitic (likely an undercount), with just 2.5% of the population being Jewish. And forget that antisemitic acts have a long, centuries-old tradition, interspersed with some, shall we say, notable historical episodes – any official statement just can’t have those Jews feeling special. Of course, when intersectionality and virtue signaling mean lumping together all forms of hate speech at every turn, then in the words of Inigo Montoya in the movie Princess Bride, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”                           

 3.Remember how they used to say you could be anti-Israel or anti-Zionist without being antisemitic? As Gilda Radner would say, “Never mind.”                                                                         

Some of the accounts of the billboard incident called it anti-Israel, attempting to draw a distinction between a political statement and a flagrantly antisemitic one. This is, needless to say, bollocks – those billboards were intended for, and more important, meant Jews. It has always been possible to criticize some aspect of Israel – the military, the political leadership, the food, the fashions – without criticizing all Jews. But the October 7 Hamas massacre revealed that the vast majority of criticism of Israel is a smokescreen for criticizing “the Jews.” Those signs on campuses and street protests made it clear that Israel and Zionist were code words for … well, you know.                                                                      

 Can anyone seriously doubt that the call to eliminate Israel is not antisemitic? Take the statement “Death to Israel” at face value for a second. Israel was founded in 1948 as a result of a UN resolution (how strange that seems today) and a response to British colonialism in the Middle East (for all those who call Israel “colonialist”, it was actually anti-colonialist.) Pakistan was founded at roughly the same time, also as a response to British colonialism (and the establishment of Pakistan resulted in more than a million deaths of Muslims and Hindus.) 

Has anyone called for Death to Pakistan? Or Death to Malaysia, Singapore, Tanzania or Puerto Rico? All of which were created or changed by UN resolution. Only Israel doesn’t have the right to exist.                                                               

And no matter that the media can trot out Jews who are critical of Israel, often to the point of saying it should not exist. Every political war has its useful idiots and fellow travelers. If you have any doubt what the billboards FUCK ISRAEL and DEATH TO ISRAEL really mean, substitute “The Jews” for “Israel.”                                     

Occasionally, some group will eliminate the middleman and say exactly what they mean: “Jews go back to Germany (or Poland)” or “Hitler had the right idea.” As Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction would say such statements provide a “moment of clarity.”                                                                                                                

In his must-read new book, After the Pogrom, British columnist Brendan O’Neill writes, “No more justification for Israel’s existence is necessary than the fact that so many wish to bring Israel crashing down… The aftermath of 7 October exposed the irrationalism of Israelophobia. It confirmed that today’s burning hatred for Israel is fundamentally a manifestation of the moral disarray and drift into unreason of the West itself.” 

Update: Last Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, in the Orthodox section of Rogers Park a gunman shot a Jewish man, who was on his way to synagogue. When first responders arrived, the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired on them before he was disabled by return fire from the police. The incident is under investigation.

Nothing to see here…move along.

 

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About the author:

Dr. Cory Franklin

Cory Franklin, physician and writer is a frequent contributor to johnkassnews.com.

He was director of medical intensive care at Cook County Hospital in Chicago for more than 25 years. An editorial ng the pathologists who studied it intently but had no idea what body part it could be. This was before it was known as trolling.)

There is a lesson here. The next time someone tells you, with unmistakable conviction, that he believes in “the science,” gladly offer to discuss science with him over a sandwich. Give him a choice, chorizo or perhaps kosher salami. board contributor to the Chicago Tribune op-ed page, he writes freelance medical and non-medical articles. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Jerusalem Post, Chicago Sun-Times, New York Post, Guardian, Washington Post and has been excerpted in the New York Review of Books. Cory was also Harrison Ford’s technical adviser and one of the role models for the character Ford played in the 1993 movie, “The Fugitive.” His YouTube podcast “Rememberingthepassed” has received 900,000 hits to date. He published “Chicago Flashbulbs” in 2013, “Cook County ICU: 30 Years of Unforgettable Patients and Odd Cases” in 2015, and most recently coauthored, A Guide to Writing College Admission Essays: Practical Advice for Students and Parents in 2021.

Comments 42

    1. I’m appalled at the rise of antisemitism under this administration and the democrats. I guess Obama’s desire to “ fundamentally change America “ is working. This IS NOT the America I grew up in.

    2. The cockroaches who published that swill on the Northbrook/Deerfield billboard are the lowest of the low. Corey is right about the “Hate Israel but am not antisemitic” stupidity. When a hater consistently slams Israel, one must eventually conclude that the Israel hater also loathes Jews. Hello, Auschwitz apologists!

    3. Are these billboard posts designed to provoke non Muslim to respond with “Death to all Muslims!” Hmm, I wonder, but it would solve the Middle East issue and so many other places globally, as Islam is just like Abraham’s illegitimate son Ishmael, just plain hostile to others. Why didn’t Abraham just wait for Sarah to become pregnant?

  3. To be fair, I did hear about the billboards on News Radio 78 WBBM in the morning on Friday. They did not get specific about the wording, but they did say “antisemitic messages” were flashed on the billboard. I do not know if the story was repeated because I only listen a short time each morning.

  4. I did see a blurb about this is the Daily Herald. Interestingly enough, the Northbrook Police washed their hands of this and handed the “investigation” to the (are you ready for this ?) Metra (yes Metra) police as the billboard is allegedly on Metra property. Given the efficiency of the Metra Department, don’t count on anyone ever getting to the bottom of this.

    If this kind of stuff wasn’t so serious it would be comical.

  6. If we can win the election, immediately end the war in Ukraine. Ukraine should never be a country that “wags the dog”. God’s work, is to bring peace to Ukraine. Then back Israel like no other ally now or ever. Islamist terror is a phenomenon like no other and threatens everyone, including Muslims.

    Thank you Dr. Franklin. I actually heard a caller on the Shaun Thompson show call in with this billboard news live, in real time.

  7. Thank you, Dr. Franklin, for your consistently insightful opinion pieces.

    It’s worth noting that the Tribune Guild once accused John Kass of antisemitism for drawing attention to George Soros’ funding of Kim Foxx and other district attorneys across the country, whose policies many believe have weakened the criminal justice system. Ironically, this same guild now remains silent on blatant instances of antisemitism occurring openly within communities that once relied on the Tribune for honest reporting.

    We must push back against this selective media narrative. A significant step toward restoring balanced coverage and accountability is to support leadership committed to these values — in this case, Trump.

    We escaped the challenges of Illinois and Cook County just days before the COVID lockdowns. I’ll be watching the returns from Florida, thinking of and praying for friends and family who remain.

  8. Over the past several months I’ve had the good fortune to reconnect with a law professor friend, and also my undergrad history professor and long-time mentor whom I’ve kept in touch with albeit sporadically for over 50 years. My favorite courses with the latter centered on foreign policy and political philosophy.

    When I raised for discussion with each friend growing concerns about the seeming prevalence of anti-semitism among faculty at the elite American universities, both quickly responded with the assertion that there is a “distinction” between anti-semitism and anti-Israel pronouncements. I didn’t argue the point, not wishing to engender ill-will between old friends (a sad commentary on the state of our communicative abilities nowadays). But in my heart I knew in present circumstances that no such distinction is valid. Thanks for articulately making that case!

    1. You CAN make a distinction. I like to say that criticizing Israel is not antisemitic, but LYING about Israel is. The lies usually reveal themselves in conspiracy theories about Israel committing genocide or wanting to take Southwest Asia from the Med to the Tigris River.

  9. To further clarify for the younger readers out there. The Burma Shave signs were a sequential group of white on red signs that were alongside the highway. At 45-50mph easily readable with the last sign being “Burma Shave. “

    One of my faves:
    30 days hath September
    April June
    And the speed offender
    Burma Shave.

    Thank you Dr Franklin for this very timely column. Maybe a commentary on the MSNBC insertion of photos and comments comparing the Trump MSG event with one in 1939 where the Nazis held a rally? Truly shameful.

    The media and politicians seek to divide us, pitting one group against another. We are supposed to be the UNITED STATES of America. Who is behind the curtain pulling the strings? That is the real question. I have already voted (in a red state) so whatever happens in the next 8 days will not affect my voice/vote
    IMO the current admin had 4 years to prove themselves. From 60 minutes (surprisingly ) last night Russia’s economy is doing very well since the war in Ukraine started, to hear our admin talk the US is doing just fine. Not at the grocery store nor the gas pump although reserves have recently been released to ease gas prices and fool the voter. God help us next Tuesday.

  10. The author criticizes ‘THE PAPER’ about the lack of coverage of the antisemetic billboard but finds it ok to write TWO EDITORIAL OPINIONS in THE PAPER recently. Hmmmmm, Very interesting.

    1. What’s your point?
      Two different stories completely.
      I live in Tennessee and heard nothing of this billboard.
      I live in Tennessee and did not read his opinion pieces.
      I’m definitely interested in the billboard story not so much the opinion story.
      I’ve noticed your name before in the comments, you seem to be a bit of a troll.
      That being said you do have free speech guaranteed so knock yourself out.

  12. While in Michigan Orange Man courted and GOT endorsements from the Muslim groups and leadership. Does that make Orange Man Pro Palestinian, antisemitic, etc. Just asking.
    And who gives a scat about followers of a phony so called religion/faith?

  13. There is no national news media. It has become the propaganda wing of the Left. Two days ago on the North Side a Muslim man shouting ” Allahu akhbar” shot a Jewish man on his way to Temple. The shooter fled the scene but returned to force a gun battle with police. He is alleged to be one of Bidens illegals who was allowed entry into this country. No national coverage by the media. No hate crime charges by Soros state’s attorney Kim Foxx. It was hilarious to watch a Chicago Gold Star dance around the incident without stating the obvious to the TV cameras. Thankfully Second City Cop broke the story so it forces the incident to be reported accurately. At least by Fox news and other conservative outlets. It will be ignored by mainstream outlets unless they can shape the narrative to blame Donald Trump. As the saying goes same ole’ same ole’. To quote a line from a movie, “..the truth? You can’t handle the truth!”.

    “

  14. If this had been a similarly scummy anti-black message, it would have been covered in prime time by all the network news organizations for a week, with a massive DOJ effort to find the perpetrators of the crime.

  15. Thanks to Cory and Kasso for enlightening us all. At the ripe young age of 77, I am absolutely, positively flabbergasted at the anti-Jewish protests, sentiments, demonstrations on our college campuses and cities across the nation. I’m dumbounded. Having grown up in south shore, our house was one of three with a Christmas tree, living next door to all our Jewish neighbors, and classmates! We ate together, and basically grew up in each others’ homes, sharing our backgrounds, ethnicities, curiosities and cuisines. We even ended up going to high school and universities together. But that was 60 years ago, and one ever dreamed what we’re witnessing today on these campuses and city streets. But then, it’s our own fault. We sat back and relied on college professors to “teach” our kids – which they did – indoctrinating them into the marxist/socialist idiology, teaching them what to think – rather than how to think. I was fortunate, as my university gave me the tools with which to go out into the real world and inquire, probe, ask and seek out my own truths and facts – not those spoon fed to us today on mainstream and social media. That instruction serves me well yet today. Unfortunately, so many products of schools and universities today have been seriously handicapped, espousing only what their teachers embedded in their porous and young minds, and I fear it won’t improve anytime soon…..

  16. Less than two weeks ago my husband, siblings and spouses returned from a Rhine River cruise. At Cologne Germany we visited the Cologne Cathedral and outside that cathedral were white chairs each with a picture on them labeled “kidnapped”. I asked our guide if those were missing children. He replied no those were the Jews kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th. Keeping the victims in the forefront of peoples’ minds at all times. This was but one instance in Europe about support for the Israeli hostages. And yet in the US, we are afraid to acknowledge the victims of the terrorists who started this war, for fear of insulted and disenfranchising Muslim voters. Our media and country should be ashamed! We rightly recognized the victims in the Ukraine but somehow ignore the hostages of Hamas from Israel! Shame on our leaders, (at all levels), media and “news” outlets.

  19. Death, taxes, and anti-semitism are forever. And there is not a thing any one of us can do about them. Acceptance of the forever is the road to good mental health. It’s the new stuff which should demand our attention–men pretending to be women getting medals and trophies is one of them. Another is putting and paying for surgical and pharmaceutical transgender mutilations of illegal aliens. A third is censoring free speech.

  20. To Dr. Franklin, re: “other acts of hate speech”
    I get it. This galls us. It dilutes the substance of the objection. But it has become “reflexive” for a reason – if the disclaimer that “we denounce all bad things” is *not* included, then they open themselves to (maybe justified) accusations that they’re only objecting because it’s *they’re* ox that’s being gored. And so, they play the squish card to try to avoid those accusations.

  21. A few observations regarding Dr. Franklin’s profound column:

    There is NO hate speech exception to the First. I assume the billboard was privately owned.

    That being said, incidents like this should be – for all Jews – analogous to the canary in the coal mine. The ancient Jew hatred is endemic. It exists everywhere including in the good ole USA.

    The major problem with Jews – as my father said to me over 60 years ago – is that Jews keep on repeating the same mistake: they outsource their protection to others. That did not work out well in Germany, nor will it in the US. Jews have to learn the hard lesson: they and they alone are responsible for their own protection. That means rather than spending years learning how to play the violin for instance, young Jews should refocus – spend years learning how to fight and learning how to shoot. That is the unpleasant reality. Rather than calling for gun control – a suicidal act if ever there was one – Jews should be full-throated defenders of the 2nd.

    And if Dr. Franklin thinks that only a few Jews are useful idiots – in their support of what amounts to their suicide – he is I fear mistaken. Many Jews are self-loathing and for some reason guilt ridden. Hey, they support the very political party that supports what the good doctor is railing against. If there ever was a time for Jews to get off the Democratic Party plantation it is now. But I for one do not forsee such a mass exodus.

    Ultimately the more complex issue is why most Jews support the very organizations that seek their destruction. That to me is the much bigger and perplexing issue.

    And if anyone is curious, I grew up a Jew (very secular one) in the capitol of American Judaism: NYC and its suburbs. So I know what I’m talking about.

        1. Bruce- You are keeping in mind that Trump himself attracts and subtly encourages some of the most blatantly racist nut-jobs in the country, including the antisemitic ones, correct?

          1. Bob: That is one of the reasons why I said Jews should not out source their protection to others but assume responsibility for their own well being. Antisemitism is endemic; across the political spectrum.

  24. Hit the nail on the head Mr Franklin. Thank you for being so brutally honest.

    It truly is refreshing to see this widespread bias by omission exposed for what it is, antisemitism.

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