ON ISRAEL, DEMI LOVATO & BULLSHIT.
I spent a little time with Demi Lovato a few years back at a White House Correspondent’s Dinner during the Obama Administration. She was with Nick and Joe Jonas. I have a photo, but I can’t find it and It’s 3:39 AM and I’m tired of looking for it. (Sorry — I really tried, you guys. They all looked great, as did I. Black Tie business).
Apparently this was a particularly difficult time in what has been a series of difficult times for the gifted young artist. I sensed nothing amiss, quite the contrary, in fact. She was as sweet and composed as could be. But that’s the tell. We who struggle with substance abuse can be hard to pick out. It comes with great practice and a capacity for deception akin to a CIA operative, believe me.
As someone who has struggled, I’ve followed Ms. Lovato’s trials and tribulations with some interest, and I root for her. I very much enjoyed the documentary she made a few years ago which is a worthwhile watch even if, like me, you aren’t particularly a fan of the music itself (it’s not at all bad, in fact it is quite good— it’s just not my genre).
But this piece isn’t really about any of that. It was an article I read this morning — one regarding a trip she took to Israel and the ugly backlash that ensued — which prompts. Here is an excerpt from the original report, which was absolutely lovely:
Demi Lovato says her trip to Israel filled ‘the God-sized hole in my heart.”
The “Confident” singer shared about her trip to the Holy Land with her 74 million Instagram followers.
“I am an American singer. I was raised Christian and have Jewish ancestors,” she wrote. “When I was offered an amazing opportunity to visit the places I’d read about in the Bible growing up, I said yes.”
She felt fulfilled. Which is the one thing people who struggle are desperate for. For something to fill that brutal God-sized hole in their hearts.
And then all hell broke loose. She was shamed, humiliated, and ultimately felt forced to apologize because of the massive — massive — backlash she received. For simply honoring Israel. For finding peace there, as so very many do. What is this? Who are we?!
I find it puzzling how, in this day, an ill-conceived remark or tweet or whatever about you-name-it can literally cost you your livelihood. Anything but Israel, that is. Israel and the Jewish people are fair game. In this era where we are so desperately eager to relentlessly condemn anything even remotely off-putting, where is the condemnation of the continued vitriol aimed at this great nation and people? A nation and people who, by the way, are far more than just sentimental allies of our nation and people. We share souls.
Not to mention, what on earth are these ugly individuals— who, as followers of her social media accounts, who know of Ms. Lovato’s difficult journey — thinking in treating her this way? No one deserves this sort of treatment. It’s surely a broader social media conversation for another day, but good grief. Beautiful life journey turned into a nightmare in just a few hours. Boom. 2019.
Several years ago, I was running a conference in Washington where a former Israeli Prime Minister was the headliner. He was around for a few days, and I could regale you with stories, but I’ll keep it at this for purposes of the narrative. The thing that really struck me was how different his protective detail was from the other details in and out of the building, including the United States Secret Service (USSS). You know a USSS agent when you see one. Suit, earpiece, shades, so on and so forth. Generally cordial. Not so much with the Israeli protective detail. Leather jackets, no shades — they look you straight in the eye as if daring you to make one false move — and utterly cold. And they are everywhere but you don’t notice half of them. I remarked to someone in the delegation about the intensity and the person said something to the effect of “You have to understand. Wherever we go — on any given day — with or without the PM, most people we come across hate our country passionately and many are literally thinking of how to kill us. We prepare accordingly.”
That was the chilling moment that I came to truly understand Israel and the realities of what our friends’ lives are like.
So I hope, Demi Lovato, that you will stop apologizing and reject any type of shame, embrace and absorb the love and warmth you felt in The Holy Land, take good care of yourself, and let the haters do whatever stupid shit they are going to do. There are millions more people rooting for you than not, and if anyone deserves our love and gratitude, it is Israel and her people.
That said, I’m not going to be holding my breath awaiting the moment that it becomes politically incorrect to bash either.
Shame on us for continuing to abide this absolute bullshit from those who feel perfectly at ease beating up on people like Ms. Lovato who simply tried to share a thoughtful sentiment about a spiritual experience in one of the most spiritual places on earth.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they that love thee shall prosper. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will say now, peace be within thee. For the sake of the House of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
— Psalm 122
