Where are the rallies for the civilian population in Ukraine?

It is an obvious double standard to be outraged by the conflict between Hamas and Israel, but not by Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

There are strong emotions at play in the debate about the war between Israel and Hamas, where words like “genocide” and “occupation” are used interchangeably.

Despite the fact that both Israel and Ukraine stand on the side of democracy and freedom, similar feelings are not evoked to elicit rallies to support Ukraine, which is fighting against a Russian aggressor and invader.

Russia is purposefully and systematically trying to exterminate the Ukrainian population and for more than two years, and without the slightest attempt to hide it, the country has purposefully gone after the civilian population bombing hospitals and schools. More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed.

Still, young people do not take to the streets for a population that is bombed day after day for no fault of its own. A population that is fighting for its existence, democracy, and freedom. This lack of moral stance rings hollow and hypocritical.

Why do we allow Russia to get away with behavior that is perpetrated by an aggressor with no respect for human life and democratic values?

Perhaps it is rooted in an unconscious bias towards the Jewish population. The thought is appalling, but is there really any other way to understand it? Unfortunately, antisemitism comes in many colors. In any case, the silence and lack of standing up for the Ukrainian people bears witness to a lack of morality and integrity. It would suit those who have strong feelings when the conversation turns to Israel to side with Ukraine in an equally loud way.

If you ask young people in the US about their opinions on the war in Ukraine, many say that Ukraine is so far away that the conflict has nothing to do with them. The lack of understanding the context of history and of international politics is extremely worrying.

It is as if the protesters identify with the Palestinians and see Israel as the tyrannical parents. Why they do not have the same sense of indignation about the gigantic country of Russia in relation to the much smaller Ukrainian state, I do not understand.

Hvor er demonstrationerne for angreb på civile i Ukraine?

Det er dobbeltmoralsk at være indigneret over konflikten mellem Hamas og Israel, men ikke over Ruslands angreb på Ukraine

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Students at elite colleges are used in a larger manipulation scheme when they rally for Palestine

In the United States, student protests are spreading from one college to another.

How convenient it must be to be able to express one’s views on death and destruction from the manicured lawns of prestigious universities, writes Desiree Ohrbeck about the American students’ protests in favor of Palestine. File photo: Justin Sullivan

“There are social media posts circulating online regarding a “Walkout for Palestine,”” the principal at my daughter’s high school said in an email a few days ago.

In recent days, pro-Palestinian students all over America have protested, from Berkeley, California, to Columbia University in New York. They have taken over the universities in common areas, tents, and balconies. At Harvard University, they have shielded and fenced off their common areas to avoid demonstrations breaking out. There have been more than 100 arrests, and some students have been expelled and thrown out of their university housing.

Anti-Semitic outbursts such as » there is only one solution – Intifada Revolution, «which express support for violent Islamic terrorism and » from to the river to the sea, Palestine will pray free « (which in Arabic is even worse, as it literally ends in: »… Palestine is Arab« and thus express a desire for the de facto annihilation of Israel). The demonstrations have turned violent, and the police have had to intervene. An Arab-Israeli man confronted the protesters with their anti-Semitic remarks – and was promptly punched to the ground. The situation is so out of control that Columbia’s leadership has asked its lecturers to conduct virtual classes until this semester’s last day of instruction.

When young people in the US leave their university campuses after rallying, they are lucky enough to be able to go to bars, go out to eat, and do as they please. They have that privilege because they live in a free democracy. They will never experience the consequences of their outcry; unlike the people who live in the Middle East, they will never suffer. How convenient it must be to express one’s views on death and destruction from the manicured lawns of prestigious universities.

In a free, democratic country, one has the right to demonstrate peacefully. But that’s not what’s happening in America’s universities these days.

Today, I got another email from the school Principal at my daughter’s school: “The origination of this event occurred from an outside organization and didn´t involve any of our students,” he wrote. Although his formulation was somewhat cryptic, it testifies that organizing rallies is taking place on a higher level than the individual educational institution. Perhaps the same is the case at the world-renowned American universities, where well-intentioned, kind-hearted students react to the death and destruction they see in Gaza?

The question is: Who is pulling the strings? Who is strategically using young people in a larger war on values?

Naive studerende på topuniversiteter i USA bliver brugt i et større manipulationsspil

I USA breder studenterprotesterne sig fra det ene universitet til det andet.

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The “Free Palestine” scarf that told a story about integration in Denmark

An Imam gave the middle finger to the Danish way of life during a historic ceremony.

Imam Siad Ali caused a stir and angered the Danish population when he wore a scarf with the inscription » Free Palestine «. Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

On Sunday, the succession of thrones was celebrated in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus. Representatives from various religious communities were invited to the festivities in Aarhus Cathedral. The Muslim imam Said Dahir Ali chose to wear a scarf that promotes the destruction of Israel and hatred of Jews. And that made me wonder whether a scarf can be considered an expression of hate speech and an accept of persecution of minorities, i.e. Jews?

It is gradually becoming clear that “Free Palestine” means “Destroy Israel”. After October 7 last year, it is clear what such annihilation looks like. To say the least, why a representative of the Peace Mosque in the neighborhood of Brabrand would display such an inappropriate symbol is thought provoking. Apart from being a huge middle finger to how you are expected to behave as a guest at a ceremony, I ask myself the following question: How “peaceful” is the mosque really, if its imam has no problem advertising an attitude that anyone knows means violence against a sovereign country and its people?

An imam is trained in Islam, his role is to teach and guide his “congregation”. That is a huge responsibility. How can we allow a religious leader to be at the helm of such great disrespect towards the entire Danish population, its values, culture, history, and general understanding of basic ways of conducting yourself?

The Danes love their royal family, and they love their cultural traditions. A nation needs unifying symbols – and whether you are a royalist or a cultured Christian, the royal house and the country’s holidays do just that. Furthermore, to a Dane, it is completely unacceptable not to behave according to the norms in various social contexts.

And finally: If there is something the Danes cannot stand, it is mixing religion and politics in situations where we are meant to come together. When you are a guest, you act accordingly. And if you represent a different faith than the one you visit – in this case a Muslim in a Christian church – then you follow the host’s rules. That is one of the reasons why I will never set foot in a mosque. But if I chose to visit one, I would, naturally, follow the rules expected of me.

The situation with the imam’s conduct at the biggest celebration the country will experience for many years to come, is an indication of a serious problem.

If a leader and representative of the second largest religious community in Denmark has that little respect for the Danish ways, while knowing an entire nation is watching, and in a place that exudes everything that is core to the Danish culture, and still chooses to provoke with a political expressing that screams in its un-Danishness – that says something about a large part of the country’s population not sharing the same values, culture, and code of conduct for what is a cornerstone of being Danish, and further has absolutely no problem expressing it. Denmark has consequently failed to make it clear to newcomers how enormously privileged it is to be invited to the party – on special occasions and as a resident.

Det partisantørklæde sagde en hel del om integration

Imam gav Danmark en kæmpe fuckfinger under festgudstjenesten for kong Frederik.

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A war across the Middle East could mean a change in Europe´s long held values

Europe’s Jewish population is approximately 1 million. By comparison, there are about 44 million Muslims living in Europe. If the Middle East is in flames, the politicians must stand firm on the democratic values we pride ourselves on.

The war that began with a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 keeps escalating. One hundred days in, several countries in the Middle East are involved. On Friday, the US and UK bombed targets in Yemen, where Iran-backed militias have hijacked and attacked container ships in the Red Sea.

Europe´s identity is rounded after WWII. Most of Europe has been spared from war since nazi Germany capitulated. In Denmark, we spend the time working on creating a democratic, well-developed society that cares about its citizens and their rights. Abroad, Denmark has an image of being a HC Andersen fairytale country. That might be a slight exaggeration, but previous generations have built a society where citizens are by and large prosperous and have a standard of living far beyond what many other nations experiences.

Clearly such a nation with peace and security that ensures its citizens democratic rights, welfare, and resources attracts people from other places without such privileges. The demographics of Europe have changed, and the continent has a large group of people who feel a strong connection to the Middle East. Often Muslims do not think in terms of nationality – but in religious communities.

That kind of connection has implications for the riots and demonstrations we witness in Europe these days where people with roots in the Middle East and Africa – across nationalities- march together. That can be a dangerous cocktail for countries that have traditionally consisted of homogeneous populations and values enabling countries to uphold stability and strong democracies.

How do we ensure stability in Europe with a large Muslim population if the Middle East is in flames? How do we take care of our Jewish minority when angry Muslims roam the streets, smash cemeteries, and attack synagogues? How can we trust politicians will not deviate from our long-held values in an attempt to avoid angry masses marching?

If you compare the Jewish population in Europe to the Muslim population, it makes sense from a populist viewpoint for the politicians to adopt a more ‘practical’ position to ensure stable conditions internally in the European region. We already see countries with a large Muslim population changing their narrative, criticizing Israel’s fight in Gaza. But if that stands is widely adopted, Europe will end up like Israel: With domestic and international populations that despise and hate us.

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The Jewish people and x-Muslims are the canaries in the coal mine

Intersectionality is used to excuse egregious violations of human rights.

It makes no sense to take to the streets claiming to be an advocate for human rights, equality, democracy, etc. and at the same time pay tribute to a regime that works for the Islamization, mutilation, and annihilation of an entire people – and later all other “infidels,” writes Desiree Ohrbeck. Archive photo: Emil Nicolai Helms

Hamas’ stated goal is to destroy Israel and build on the ruins of the Jewish cities – “from the river to the sea“. The terrorist organization is a sub-branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, the world’s largest Islamic organization, which through political, social, and economic means work towards an Islamization of first the Middle East, since Europe.

It is as if intersectionality is introduced to college students on the first semester who then “understand” the world – without giving any thought to where such a theory is bound to end. Indeed, race, class, and gender play a role in who you are and what you think and feel. It focuses on people and groups, on systematic discrimination and on the fact that some have fewer privileges than others. No doubt, this is an important understanding that helps create a nuanced picture of how our world works.

Unfortunately, students leaning into this theory also acquire guilt and shame which apparently effect their sense of right and wrong, since some jump to the conclusion that violence, murder, rape and mutilation, which we saw after the massacre in Israel on 7 October, is understandable.

But if Western leftists who claim to stand up for human rights, democracy, minorities, minorities, LGBTQIA+, etc., excuse bestial acts by saying that these misdeeds are understandable, then where is the foundation of democratic values?

It makes no sense to take to the streets claiming to be an advocate for human rights, equality, democracy, etc. and at the same time pay tribute to a regime that works for the Islamization, mutilation, and annihilation of an entire people – and later all other “infidels”. Linking arms with Hamas supporters goes against the very human rights that the same students, academics, and cultural radicals say they stand for.

I struggle with understanding if people are naive, crazy, indifferent, or unwilling to see what is actually unfolding before their eyes.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali grew up in a Somali home, was sent to Germany to be married off, but managed to escape to the Netherlands and ended up as a Member of Parliament. She now lives in the US because the Netherlands cannot guarantee her safety.

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of a Hamas’ founder, and Yasmine Mohammed grew up in Canada with a Palestinian-Saudi mother and an Egyptian stepfather. All of them work to spread democracy, insight into Islam and to raise awareness of especially women, children, and ex-Muslims who, even in the Western world, live in danger of losing their lives. They know Islam inside and out. I have read books by them, and I do not understand why more people do not listen to their voices. Instead, they are met with arrogant refutations of their statements as “individual eyewitness accounts.” I guess it’s easier to convulsively cling to a belief that Islam is the religion of peace as opposed to what is right in front of their eyes?

It is incomprehensible and shameful to see college presidents, news anchors, journalists, and “experts” twist and turn to try to avoid the logical conclusion about a religion that has taken an extreme turn in the last 20 years.

Is the lack of willingness to take a stand with Israel rooted in hatred and guilt for one’s own history – and for the Jewish people? To believe that everyone will be a good, kind person if given optimal conditions such as freedom, friendliness, etc. is deeply rooted in most of us.

However, it is time to come to terms with the fact that not everyone shares the idea that the Western way of life, culture and view of democracy is the ideal way of life.

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Going back in history does not bring territorial justice

Stories about our countries´ history and identity are important – but also manipulative and distorting

What is the conflict in Israel really about? One of the answers is: It is about a people of six million Jews who are fighting for the right to their land. A people who have always been prosecuted. And then it is about 1.9 billion Muslims, of whom 314 live in the countries surrounding Israel, who will not open their borders to the two million Palestinians with whom they share religion and cultural roots, writes Desiree Ohrbeck. Stock photo: Stringer

Denmark has not always been a tiny country. We were a huge nation – until bit by bit we lost land. The British Empire spanned the globe and was the kingdom where the sun never sat. France, and other colonial powers, had territories in Africa and Asia. Germany was an empire, Poland and Russia have fought over borders, so have countless other nations.

Imagine what a war-obsessed world we would live in if all countries decided to argue for the size they had at the exact moment in their history when they were most powerful and insisted on those borders?

In college, I studied Nordic Philology and history at Copenhagen University. I focused on the history of Russia and ended up working as an intern for a semester at the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia. On weekends I spent my time visiting various areas of the country to understand the country’s culture and history. Like the other Baltic countries, Estonia has a strong national identity. If you ask an Estonian citizen, the country has a right to be an independent country. If you, however, ask a Soviet leaning Russian citizen, the answer will be different. Taking the argument to the extreme, one could pose the question whether Denmark should claim that Estonia belongs to the Danish territory. It was, after all, during a battle in Estonia that our beautiful flag, the Dannebrog, fell from the sky – a battle, Denmark won.

My point is, of course, that it never stops if we go back in history to find out which peoples belong where and where the border should be drawn.

“What is the conflict in Israel really about?” my son asked the other day. The question is simple, the answer is not.

History is fascinating because it deals with identity, culture, belonging, and nation building. But history is untrustworthy and has always been used populist and manipulative to distort and blur through a desire for a specific narrative. It is difficult to form a complete picture and fully comprehend the course of events both as they unfold and when looking back in history. There is a reason why understanding the validity of sources is an integral part of studying history.

Israel is fighting to stay a sovereign nation. Palestinians are fighting to be a nation, too. I have heard countless interviews by historians, political scientists, interest groups, politicians and others who all have their input on why one group or another has the right to certain areas in and around Israel. While trying to understand it dawned on me: Perhaps it doesn’t matter where the borders were at any given time in history.

The UN played a crucial role in the creation of Israel. But institutions that have had enormous importance and enjoyed respect since the Second World War no longer have the same influence in a world where power relations are breaking down.

So, what do I answer my son? – It is about identity, self-awareness, and a larger political game where Palestinians are used as chess pieces? Or: It is about a small people of 6 million Jews in Israel (12 million worldwide) who are fighting for the right to their land. A people who have always been persecuted and about the 1.9. billion Muslims, of whom 314 million live in the countries surrounding Israel, who will not open their borders to the two million Palestinians with whom they share religion and cultural roots? Or do I simply answer: It is about two different stories that give two different peoples the right to the same piece of land?

Hvor langt tilbage i historien skal man gå for at få territorial retfærdighed?

Historiefortælling er vigtig – men den er også manipulerende og forvrængende. Og i tilfældet Israel handler det om to forskellige historiefortællinger, der giver to forskellige folkeslag ret til det samme stykke land.

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Why are Palestinians and the left not speaking out against Hamas?

The left has adopted the language of Hamas and are used as ponds by the terrorist organization.

Apartheid, genocide, war crimes. Words have specific judicial definitions. Words have meaning and should not be abused, as is the case in the propaganda war going on in the West and on social media far removed from the war in Gaza.

If we put aside a worldview many inherently subscribe to where, as a default, those with tan skin and few economic means are “good” and those who have a lighter skin tone and are financially more affluent are “bad”, our worldview might be shaken. It’s challenging, maybe even uncomfortable, but at least we don’t then fall into a specific discourse but are able to think independently.

“The children, Désirée. The children.” My friend´s voice cracks on the phone as we talk. She is born and raised in Israel but moved to New Jersey a few years ago. She is one of many who lost a family member in the October 7 massacre. “The forensic pathologists thought they´d seen everything. But they have never seen such brutality against the women Hamas subjected to sexual crimes before killing them.”

Since October 7. we have all learned the gruesome details. Rapes, beheadings, infanticide, violence, and massacres, the Jewish people has not experienced since World War II.

Hamas is known for its web of underground tunnels, funded by good-hearted Western organizations who thought their donations to materials would be used to improve water supplies, housing conditions, and living standards but were instead stolen by Hamas and turned into weapons and tunnels that run far into Israel´s territory. Hamas has no scruples and uses schools and hospitals as depots for weapons and as entrances to its underground network. In its day, Hamas was voted into power by the citizens of Gaza – who then never again got the opportunity to dethrone them in a democratic held election.

Genocide – this is what Hamas and Middle Eastern states want over Jews in Israel and everywhere. “They won’t give up until they’ve annihilated us,” sighs my friend. “What else can we do but defend ourselves?”

Israel has never claimed that they want to exterminate a specific group of people, but the Muslim world has. Isn´t that the definition of a stamp of approval of genocide?

War Crimes – On that terrible Saturday three weeks ago, Hamas killed civilians; women, children, the young and the old. Desecrated civilians and paraded them on social media. That is how Hamas fights, without respecting rules of war. Contrary to this, Israel warns civilians in Gaza before bombing Hamas-held targets.

Apartheid – “20% of Israel´s population is Palestinians and Arabs. That´s not a problem,” my friend continues and says that peace negotiations must start as soon as possible. “What other alternative is there?,” she asks.

Her heart breaks for the women and children suffering and for a Palestinian population that´s used in a larger Middle Eastern strategic game. And then she says: “Imagine if it was Denmark this happened to. If you didn’t have a home, a place you belonged to with your history, language, culture.” And that sentence hits home for me. Because even though I have lived abroad for many years, Denmark is in my heart. Denmark is where I belong, where I understand the culture, the traditions, the seasons, where I know the smells. Denmark is my home, in my body and soul.

Why are people on the left on the side of terrorists? Why do they repeat the language of Hamas and accept being pawns in a cruel worldview that glorifies violence?

Israel is fighting for its very existence and survival and the right to live in a democracy among neighbors that do not respect democratic values and human rights. In Denmark and the USA, and in the Western world in general, an academicized discussion is taking place at the universities, where well-intentioned norm-setting professors express their support for the Palestinians in Gaza and speak with moral concerns about Israel.

On the streets of Copenhagen and Seattle, and in major cities in the West, good-hearted left leaning people walk side by side with less good-hearted jihadists. How Palestinians, Muslims, and people on the left do not vehemently and in no uncertain terms distance themselves from being the useful idiots of terrorists is a mystery to me.

Hvorfor siger palæstinensere og venstreorienterede ikke fra over for Hamas?

Venstreorienterede har adopteret Hamas’ sprogbrug uden skelen til, at de dermed bliver terrororganisationens nyttige idioter.

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