Why does it feel like it’s now perfectly acceptable for people to loudly and proudly proclaim their anti-Semitism?

Ever since Hamas terrorists’ savage attack on Israel two months ago, when they murdered more than 800 men, women, teenagers, babies and grandparents and some 350 soldiers, while taking hostages including infants, far too many people have become far too comfortable in spewing anti-Semitic rhetoric — some of it violent — and, in some cases, acting on it.

This ignorant anti-Jewish bile has been on display on social media, on college campuses and at demonstrations where Israel’s response to the October 7 attack is roundly condemned while Hamas’ murderous actions are pretty much ignored. We see people — teenagers, college students, activists, highly-educated professionals — gleefully ripping down posters of hostages in Gaza and then laughing and boasting about it for the cameras. Overseas, we have seen Stars of David and swastikas spray-painted on the doors of Jewish homes and businesses in an effort to target and intimidate them, much as the Nazis did in the 1930s.

It’s also been disheartening to hear anti-Israel rhetoric coming from some officials in Washington who’ve seen fit to repeat the battle cry of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which Israeli backers see as an ominous threat to its existence. A Michigan congresswoman who amplified that battle cry while also accusing President Biden of supporting genocide earned a well-deserved censure from the House of Representatives.

What is wrong with these people and some of their disgusting behavior? Why did the Hamas massacre open the floodgates to such hateful rhetoric and actions? Some of it is just plain anti-Semitism and much of it is due to people’s plain ignorance.

Far too many have seemingly brushed aside the Hamas massacre and instead condemned Israel’s rightful response. Social media has turned into a hateful forum for anti-Israel and anti-Jewish postings by activists seeking an immediate Israeli ceasefire, conveniently forgetting that Hamas broke a ceasefire on October 7. Twitter (the owner of which has reposted anti-Semitic tropes and taken a hit from advertisers as a result) and TikTok (which has amplified comments praising Hitler and Osama bin Laden) are two of the biggest destructive megaphones out there.

Over 40 celebrities and influencers have signed a letter telling TikTok that the platform is “not safe for Jewish users,” saying that, “rampant antisemitism is a common problem that TikTok has failed to address for far too long.” We also saw a comment trend lamenting that “we went from ‘Never Again’ to ‘Osama bin Laden made some valid points’.”

Yes, Israel’s government doesn’t always comport itself admirably and helpfully, especially when it comes to its West Bank neighbors. But to somehow equate Israel with the violent terrorists who have turned Gaza into a violent, heavilyarmed state is quite a stretch.

John Kirby, a White House spokesman, was clear when he addressed anti-Israel activists accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide. “Israel is not trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map,” he said recently. “Israel is not trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat.”

There simply is no place for this kind of garbage in 2023, only 80 years removed from Hitler’s Holocaust. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York last week said, “To us, the Jewish people, the rise of anti-Semitism is a crisis, a five-alarm fire that must be extinguished.”

We’re all for the free expression of ideas and the ability to protest, but for people to side with a murderous gang of thugs whose primary aim is the destruction of Israel is sickening. You can be in favor of a Palestinian state without being opposed to Israel’s existence. You can criticize Israel without calling for the destruction of the Jewish people there. Those who think this kind of talk is justified need to look long and hard in the mirror — and also get their information from sources besides clownish, vapid social-media sites. Read real history, not baseless propaganda on the Internet.And focus any legitimate criticisms where they belong: At the perpetrators, not innocent people.

We have the freedom to speak, yes, but sometimes it’s a good idea to think first before speaking — especially about complex issues whose roots date back a couple of millennia and whose solutions are not found in an Internet meme.