I’m just going to say it: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is right, and nothing she said was anti-Semitic.

I’ve watched an extended video of her remarks, and I’ve read a transcript of them. Any remark she made with respect to “divided loyalties” was directed at members of Congress, by way of AIPAC, the powerful lobby that cultivates unity between the U.S. and Israel. Her complaint was that any criticism of AIPAC is viewed as hatred of Israel, and so is ipso facto anti-Semitic. The reaction to her remarks actually proves her case.

Divided loyalty fears are as American as the Pledge of Allegiance. Consider the Japanese-Americans in internment camps during World War II; the suspicion of Catholics as tools of the pope; or the hate/fear of Muslim-Americans since 9-11. Fox commentator Jeanine Pirro clearly stated this by claiming Omar’s hijab meant she would be more loyal to Sharia law than U.S. law.

What is missing from the discussion of Ilhan Omar’s remarks is what she said indicating her own sympathy with Jewish persecution. She pointed to the death threats she faces even now as a reminder of what Jews have often faced.

But when Omar speaks out against Israeli troops firing into Gaza at protesters, journalists and medics, it is not anti-Semitic to say something. It is anti-American to say nothing. Yet almost every member of Congress stayed obediently mum. The real question — which Rep. Omar tried to ask — should be: Why does this happen?

Jeffrey Hobbs