How the Idelogical Roots of Anti Semitism, Anti Indigeity and Pro Sex Work Idealogies Intertwine.

Hey! I wrote this and would love feedback:)

Poison Apple, Rotten Roots

I am a sex trafficking survivor from Canada, now I live in Israel.

My insights into how Canadian liberal Jewish communities navigate antisemitism is from a pre-October 7th world. The message I got from reform Judaism/ liberal Jewish spaces was that talking about Jewish ethnicity is problematic, up for debate, borderline racist and exclusionary. Left wing antisemitism does not exist or is unimportant. Focusing on intersectionality will liberate everyone from oppression. Experiencing antisemitism in a racial way is ridiculous. This made me very nervous, and I wanted to leave Canada, for already I saw so many Jewish community leaders failing and in denial of modern antisemitism.

*Things are changing but I think basic education on Jewish ethnicity; Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi Jews are all indigenous to Israel, around 50% of their DNA is Levantine, they also are all related through their Indigenous DNA. Arab Muslim conquest and colonization, pogroms/ hate leading up to the holocaust, historical Jewish oppression in the Middle East, historical Jewish oppression in Pre State Israel Palestine… *a population kept artificially small by Islamic violence and beyond… *Mizrahi and Sephardi jews being expelled and forced often with brutal violence to flee to Israel, ethno-religious minorities being killed/ oppressed in the modern era of the Middle East etc.… needs to be implemented in Rabbinical training, teacher training, Jewish schools, textbooks on Jewish history, Israeli schools, Conversion courses, Yeshiva, Seminary etc.… The lack of knowledge within the community is shockingly bad. I had a teacher at an orthodox seminary in Israel go on a rant that Ashkenazi Jews are kharzas, I took over the class and said Ashkenazi ethnicity is simple, it follows a historically documented migration pattern. From Israel to Rome, from Rome to France, Germany, Eastern Europe etc.… *These migrations are all mirrored in the ethnicity composition, which is typically 50% Levantine, 30% ancient Italian, 20%Western/ Eastern European. At least we can strengthen our own communities. These issues could even be covered in a day, so far it seems none of this is an education standard.

My insights into pro sex work rhetoric are mostly from experiences in Canada within the queer music scene, activists, artists, and government outreach/ women’s charity spaces. “Sex work is freedom, capitalism cheat code, sexy and fun… Sex trafficking is an unimportant issue” I felt from a hidden caste of women that should die, the echoes from a past of constantly being told I would be killed felt like a broken promise… Why am I alive just to wander this other world where I am still alone and worthless even in freedom. My victimhood had no social currency, I was surrounded by privileged people who would or did shun me for being a survivor.

A lot of Canadian Indigenous activism is hollow and anti-women at its core. The biggest issue facing Canadian Indigenous women and girls is sex trafficking/ prostitution. *Indigenous people are 5% of the Canadian population yet 50% prostitutes/ sex trafficking victims are indigenous. *The average age for entering prostitution in Canada is 14. *Pro sex work activists promote full decriminalization which increases demand. To look away from the danger, racism, colonialism, slavery, and instead chant sex work is work is demonic. Land acknowledgements are common before events “We are on stollen native land of xyz tribe” but these same people are often pro sex work.

I believe basic statistics about the horrors of prostitution should be taught in high schools/ universities. In textbooks, in medical training, social worker training etc. etc. Unfortunately, it seems university classes on feminism now fully support rapist hyper capitalism rhetoric, but propaganda does not bloom forth from nothingness. *In the 1970s pornography companies wanted to combat the radical feminists saying pornography/ the sex industry was bad… thus the liberal movement of sex work being positive has billions of dollars of vested interest…*Liberal men/ men on a personal level also consciously lie and promote this propaganda. Beyond abuse there is the danger of the risks of pornagraphy addiction and prostitution increasing violence, all of this leads to public health/ safety issues. In Canada the colonialism/ racism of the sex industry needs to be taught as well.

My own grandmother and aunt became prostitutes at 13 years old. My grandmother did not understand how to prevent pregnancy as a young teenager. *Prostitutes have extremely high rates of HIV, STDS, depression, PTSD, brain injuries etc... I myself have CPTSD, depression, health issues and a brain injury, dental problems etc. from sex trafficking. I tend to get sick a lot but often go into denial making it worse, and many other ways this affects my life.

Why is sex work not being called out as racist, colonialism, pedophilia, slavery, capitalism, dangerous, classist? The only time I see the dangers of prostitution acknowledged by liberals is to say legalization will make it safer. Studies have found this untrue, legalization is normalization and increases demand which increases sex trafficking. *89% of prostitutes wish to escape, legalizing brothels is not the answer, this only makes it harder to escape. *The Nordic model does not glamorize prostitution; this lack of propaganda allows a structure to form; focus on an exit plan and support for abuse survivors.

I’ve been affected by Pro Sex work rhetoric into many ways… Some examples… Being referred multiple times to a pro sex work charity by doctors and social workers. The charity does queer pro sex work activism. I finally called after being referred 3 times? The charity was confused why I was being referred to them. One doctor also referred me to a service that helps immigrants who have been through torture. I am not an immigrant, I am a Canadian citizen. Half of sex trafficking survivors are indigenous Canadians. When I got HIV tested, I told the nurse the reason was sex trafficking, she said I was lying. One women's charity I called, quickly asked what are my pronouns? Though the operator was lost for info on help for sex trafficking survivors… Most places only offered me talk counseling or to be put on a waiting list. These charities are oriented for domestic violence etc… I wish I could have real therapy for what I've been through, being drugged for years, constantly threatened to be killed, child exploitation etc… talk counseling with someone not trained for this has been very depressing.

Misunderstanding antisemitism, sex trafficking or anti indignity will not help us fight it.

The phrase “Jewish women don’t count” ... when its rape is ridiculous and disconnected from the reality of pervasive anti women propaganda on the left. Rape does not matter if it’s not politically convenient. Violent men and violent culture is often portrayed as the epiphany of victimhood. Antisemitism seems surreal and cruel, beyond understanding but i see the same toxic patterns in pro sex work rhetoric. Misunderstanding the toxic depths of left-wing colonialism, sexism, hyper capitalism… will not help fight antisemitism. Pro terrorist and pro sex work rhetoric helps normalize a kind of activism that centers privilege, erases victims, disinformation, hyper capitalism, and using indigenous activism as a mask to hide rape and violence.

I think education is a great tool against propaganda, the lack of basic education on topics that would take a day or hours to cover is terrifying. I've seen the structures within the Jewish community, and they are brittle and hollow for this fight. I’ve drowned in the nightmare of pro sex work rhetoric that is anti-indigenous at its core.

The sources are on my substack.

https://open.substack.com/pub/queenofsadsongs/p/poison-apple-rotten-roots?r=5lyhb2&utm_medium=ios