I have been aware of Douglas Murray for about 5 years. The right leaning British pundit. I remember him wiping the floor with Michael Malice – another interesting Podcaster, who tried to argue Camus with Douglas – he wasn’t having it. Douglas has written many books, the most recent: The strange Death of Europe and The War on the West.
So Oct 7 happens, and suddenly Douglas is in Israel and the whole world learns about him. At a time when the world is celebrating the ability to be antisemitic again – Douglas is a real light in the darkness.
Some people asked why there weren’t protestors if this is the theater sign outside. Well, it’s Koreatown, and that is pretty far east. The protestors like to stay in West LA, certainly the spoiled college students do.
About three months ago, he announced a live tour, with a stop in LA. I was among the first to buy tickets. Turns out there were 32 of us just from The Torah Minyan, he is one of our younger members.
Douglas shared some of the video he took right after 10/7. Among the images, the safe room where 11 Thai workers were brutally executed, he told us we are lucky we can’t smell. I have said for a while, that all the attention is on the Kibbutizim and the Nova festival. The town of Sderot gets forgotten as do the murdered Thai workers. Part of me understands – everyone picks and chooses what to focus on – but those forgotten are exactly that – forgotten.
Blurry picture of us. It was so nice sitting amongst a full theater with mostly other Jews and others who support us and the West. There were some people I recognized, a lovely Jewish actress I know from X, my favorite podcaster Chaya Leah and some of her kids. Eric Weinstein was there with his wife and someone said they saw Sam Harris. Since it was only a one night event – either you were there last night or not.
Not the best pictures, but seeing him in person was great. Being in the energy of the room, was great. It was clear we the audience as well as Douglas and Natasha Hensdorf (sorry no picture) really need this time together. It’s been almost a year of hell, a year of getting used to the reality of antisemitism as a part of life – again. So yeah this love fest was very necessary.
Douglas didn’t really say much new – but one thing he said that is very reassuring is how incredible the young Israelis are. I am very aware of amazing young Americans – they don’t make the news – but now is not the time to give up on the youth.
Leah