This article first appeared on Meaningfulminute.org Two things can be true at once. Great thinkers can see multiple sides of an issue at the same time. Nuance, subtlety, and complexity are paramount when considering ideas. I believe the following are two true statements: Kanye West is suffering from severe mental health issues.
Mental Health is not an excuse for antisemitism. The antisemitism that has reared its ugly head in the wake of his comments is indicative of a much larger issue that goes well beyond Kanye West.
It is cruel to give Kanye West a platform. It is clickbait at its worst. Taking advantage of someone who is incapable of doing better to get more eyes on your program is an act of evil. Kanye is clearly not well and needs help. For those of us who have watched people with mental health disorders destroy their lives, you know what I am talking about. It is heartbreaking to watch. Kanye is a global personality with millions of fans. To put these numbers in context, there are approximately 15 million Jews in the world. Kanye has 32 million followers on Twitter. His words (for reasons that boggle the mind) matter to many. Elon Musk was correct in removing Kanye from Twitter after he posted a vile picture of a Magen David and a swastika together. It incites violence, and free speech should not be conflated with dangerous speech. Antisemitism is on the rise. CNN reported that there was a 400 percent rise in antisemitism last year. In the forty-five minutes followin
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