Recently I read an article by David Jackson in USA Today, titled”A third Nazi Reference at the Democratic Convention”. I followed Obama’s speeches since the Convention in Boston and even wrote at that time that he was sincere and honest. Frankly speaking, when I was young, I was like him.  Unfortunately I was caught in WWII when the Germans invaded Tunisia.  My father was called to the French Army. At age 14 I left Tunisia to help my Jewish brothers who served the children refugees who fled to France. We had a castle at our disposal, where large numbers of young orphans between the ages of 4 and 12 landed every day. Most of them were from Poland, from Hungary, from Belgium, etc. They were malnourished, some were wounded, some were sick. We had to slowly, slowly gain their trust and try to nurse them to health. I remember one of them, who actually was 17, but who looked like age 10. He had a gun and didn’t trust anyone, as he was scared to be in the wrong hands. In 1956 I served as an officer in the French and the Israeli Armed Forces to push back the Egyptians and to free the Suez Canal.

  
The words that I heard at the Convention, such as “Nazi” or blaming Ryan of using Hitler’s and Goebbels’ tactics, or mentioning Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress, etc brought up very bad memories.  I have not seen the President or anyone else apologize for these words. I cannot understand how people remain silent in face of such accusations. This gave me a very bad feeling about the new Democratic Party, and even more so about the Jews who are still with this Democratic Party. I understand, their parents and ancestors came to the US and helped the Democratic Party rise. I understand what loyalty to the Party means for them, but they should check what became of this party today. I knew the good people of the Democratic Party before. I knew JFK’s mother, Rose Kennedy. I came especially from Germany to contribute to her fundraising campaign. Knowing that the Democratic Party has been a good ally for the Jews for over 70 years, I believe that the party changed its ways completely and it is a pity to see this change. I think that this party will lose its good membership base, along with the Jews.

When I came to the United States forty years ago, I always visited the Congress and the Senate and I enjoyed seeing the cooperation between the two parties, which kept things in balance. Since Obama is in power, my reassurance was shattered, and I don’t see a reconciliation any time soon, as the seed Obama sowed will not easily disappear, unless the Democrats and the Republicans wake up and realize the catastrophe that could be avoided for America to regain its strength. 

Copyright 2012 Emile Tubiana