Courthouse News Service: Opinion Column Explores Prejudice, Civility

• The author of a Courthouse News Service opinion column donated $100 to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) but stopped further donations due to a lack of acknowledgment.
• The author's Jewish grandmother, Oma, instilled strong values of politeness and influenced the author's views on language and prejudice.
• The column discusses the historical use of racial epithets like "kikes" and "nigger," contrasting it with Oma's descriptive use of "shvartzes" without malice.
• The author believes societal prejudice has not disappeared but has shifted targets, now focusing on Muslims.
• This is exemplified by Texas Governor Greg Abbott's opposition to a proposed Islamic community development near Dallas, which includes a mosque, school, and retirement home.

This Courthouse News Service opinion column argues that American society has not genuinely overcome its deepest prejudices; instead, these biases have merely shifted their targets.

The author of this Courthouse News Service opinion column recently made a financial contribution to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group they generally support, despite public criticism from figures like Donald Trump. This initial donation of $100 was intended to be the first of many, yet the author ultimately decided against further contributions. The unexpected reason for this change of heart was the organization's failure to acknowledge the initial gift with a simple thank you.

This seemingly minor detail, the author explains, harks back to lessons learned from their Oma, a Jewish grandmother who, if alive today, would be 130 years old. Oma was characterized as an exceptionally sweet and polite individual, whose values deeply influenced the author. She was a talented pianist, capable of playing Chopin with ease, and possessed a strong moral compass. The author firmly believes that Oma would have sided with CAIR's mission, rather than with certain political figures.

Even amidst global turmoil, violence, and widespread suffering, the author contends that basic courtesy, as instilled by Oma, retains its significance. The principle that there is "never an excuse for not being polite" was a cornerstone of Oma's teachings, shaping the author's perspective on interactions and expectations, even from organizations dedicated to important causes.

The column delves into the author's personal encounters with derogatory language, recalling a childhood incident where they were called a "kike." At the time, the author misunderstood the slur, believing they were being called a "kite," and thus did not perceive it as an insult. This experience highlights a broader discussion on the historical prevalence of racial epithets in American society, noting that terms like "kikes" and "nigger" were once openly used.

Further illustrating the complexities of language, the author recounts an anecdote involving their Oma and father. The author's father, a distinguished pharmacology professor and editor of a science journal, also had a past playing piano with blues bands on Chicago's South Side. During childhood, the author sang a playful, altered version of "Twinkle-twinkle Little Star" taught by their father, which included a mild expletive. Oma's reaction was one of profound shock and disapproval, questioning the origin of such language, underscoring her strict views on proper speech.

The author also reflects on Oma's use of the Yiddish term "shvartzes" to refer to Black people. It is clarified that Oma used this term descriptively, meaning "black" in Yiddish, and not with any intent to insult or demean. This is supported by the fact that her son, the author's father, associated with Black individuals. The author aligns with comedian Lenny Bruce's philosophy that the true harm lies not in the words themselves, but in the "repression behind the words" and the intent to hurt, suggesting that personal lack of repression prevents them from causing harm.

This Courthouse News Service opinion column argues that American society has not genuinely overcome its deepest prejudices; instead, these biases have merely shifted their targets. The author contends that while the open use of slurs against Jewish and Black communities may have diminished in "polite society," a new focus of animosity has emerged: Muslims.

This contemporary prejudice is exemplified by a situation in Texas, as observed by a Houston Chronicle columnist. Texas Governor Greg Abbott voiced opposition to a 402-acre master-planned community, initially known as EPIC City and rebranded as 'The Meadow' in November 2025, located northeast of Dallas. This development, intended for members of the Islamic faith, included plans for a mosque, a private Islamic school, and a retirement home for elderly Muslims.

The author highlights a perceived double standard in this opposition, suggesting that if a similar initiative were undertaken by a group of Christians, Governor Abbott would likely offer his endorsement. This contrast underscores the selective nature of the resistance, indicating that the underlying prejudice, rather than disappearing, has simply found a new community to target, reflecting an ongoing pattern of societal bias.

This article is a personal opinion column reflecting on societal prejudice, language, and religious freedom. It does not report on a specific legal development, ruling, or regulatory change, and therefore offers no direct actionable legal implication for lawyers or compliance officers.

Source: Original commentary via Courthouse News Service