You think I’m interested in being “special”? There is no competition here. Catholic churches getting attacked in France is a direct attack on French culture and tradition on their own territory. It’s guests welcomed in the front door trying to take over your home, rape your wife and kids, make off with the furniture. It’s an act of insolence that the French should not tolerate, but do.
Attacks on Jews, however, occur the world over, and there’s no point in pretending that it will not happen again in America, even though it has been a very welcoming place overall. Best to prepare for the inevitable, and have plans of defense in place. That’s not putting on airs or claiming we’re “special,” but being realistic.
I hope the French have enough of a sense of self-preservation to do the same in their own country. I moved to Israel when Obama took office, because it’s our only real home, and I no longer recognized an America where this creep got elected President just by looking good in a suit and being black at the same time. Over here, we get to fight back and anticipate the attacks before they come. In America, when I left, the Jewish community at large would not do that. Now they are ‘shaked’.
Good luck in your new home. A lot more Jews have died from terrorism there than in America. Just saying.
As for Israel being the only real home for Jews, that leads to some awkward questions for Jews who don’t live there, doesn’t it? Is it fair of you to hang that label on them: not real Americans, British, etc? Look, I recognize the utterly unique historical position of the Jews, and acknowledge that full assimilation may come at a price many don’t want to pay. But putting it as you do has led to real hardships over the centuries for Jews not in a position to make the choice you did.