By State Senator Tony Hwang
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
— George Santayana, *The Life of Reason*, 1905
The unthinkable atrocities of October 7th, 2023, when innocent Israeli citizens were brutally attacked and murdered while going about their daily lives, the world was reminded of the brutal reality, the constant threat of violence faced by the Israeli people. This attack on innocent people is a stark reminder of the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust, the genocide of World War II.
Recently, Connecticut Jews were reminded of the anti-semitism ever-present here in this state when CT State Representative Anabel Figueroa remarked at a recent campaign event that it would be “impossible” for a Jew to represent her district. There have also been anti-semitic incidents on our state’s college campuses with recent anti-Israel protests, featuring attacks on Jewish students raising fear for their safety and security. These stark realities reaffirm the necessity for the American people to remember history and renew our unwavering commitment to Israel and her people.
In May of 2017, I attended a screening of a documentary that told the tragic and inspiring story of 25,000 European Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi occupation and possible genocide to find refuge in Shanghai, China, during World War II. The evening was a powerful reminder of the importance of diplomacy and the profound impact of acceptance, compassion, and human dignity in the face of evil.
The purpose of that gathering was to honor the legacy of those who survived and the generations that followed. However, it also underscored the critical importance of reinforcing the unique and unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. Both nations share a commitment to the values of democracy, the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the freedom from persecution based on religious beliefs. In both countries, these principles are held as self-evident and resolute.
For Israel, staying true to these values means constantly balancing its ideals against the demands of national survival. The challenges remain acute: beyond Hamas, Israel faces existential threats from Hezbollah, Iran, and other hostile entities. Living under the constant threat of violence and military aggression aimed at eradicating its existence is a daunting reality for Israel.
This resonates with my personal experience, having spent the first nine years of my life in Taiwan under the constant threat from a powerful enemy, China. I know firsthand the fear and trauma of living under the shadow of military attack due to political and ideological conflicts. It also reaffirms my deep gratitude to the American soldiers and the unwavering commitment of the American people and government leaders to protecting the Taiwanese people and the ideals of democracy, the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the freedom from persecution based on political values.
Unlike any other modern democratic nation, Israel has endured an unprecedented number of terrorist attacks within its borders, even before the atrocities of October 7th. The United States must ensure that Israel has the ability to maintain its self-defense and undertake all necessary efforts to win this war and protect its citizens from future attacks.
Israel’s leaders and the global Jewish community must have full faith and confidence that U.S. support is resolute and unshakeable. With changes in administrations often come uncertainties, but we must ensure there is no ambiguity in the United States’ support of Israel.
We must reaffirm our dedication to Israel’s survival as a homeland for the Jewish people. We must also send a message to our allies in the region and beyond that we stand with Israel. America’s commitment to Israel today extends beyond strategic interests and shared values. It reflects the resolve of U.S. leaders since World War II to atone for the fact that, unlike Shanghai and many other cities around the world, America’s wartime ports were closed to Jews fleeing Hitler’s Germany. Since then, America’s moral duty to ensure the survival of a Jewish homeland has never been more clear. No single step the United States could take would be more important in supporting and defending Israel and its people during this Israel-Gaza war while striving to revive peace talks that are essential to preventing future conflicts and violence.
State Senator Tony Hwang represents and is running for re-election in the 28th Senate District and is Chief Deputy Senate Republican leader in the CT General Assembly. Hwang is the 1st Asian Pacific American to be elected into the CT State Senate which has deliberated since 1639. As a 1st generation immigrant, Hwang has been a leading voice in immigration and tolerance advocacy and the pursuit of the American dream.
