If you’re at all familiar with Harry Potter, you’re likely aware of the Sorting Hat. It’s actually considered its own character — a sentient magical hat used to sort out which of the four houses the students of Hogwarts are best suited to. 

As the tragic events in Israel unfolded this past week, and social media filled with hot takes and thoughtful takes alike, I couldn’t help but notice that the situation was serving as a its own sorting hat — only instead of designating people denizens of Slytherin or Hufflepuff or Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, it identified — with unexpected clarity — people’s respective camps on the matter of Jews and the very existence of a Jewish State. 

I will say: Some of you surprised me.

— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) October 9, 2023

Of course there are those who don’t believe Israel should exist at all, and thus see any actions — no matter how heinous — taken against its citizens (or Jews in general) as justified, even cause for celebration. They’re not surprising, as ugly as they may be. 

The ones who surprised me are the ones who slyly found ways to equivocate on the matter. Or even worse, the ones who decided that quibbling over whether it was 40 or four babies beheaded or the true shade of dried blood on a coloring book would garner them some added clout. 

From where I’m sitting, when you’re splitting hairs over babies’ heads, it’ll take more than a magic hat to sort you out.  

This “Moore to the Point” commentary aired on NewsTalkSTL on Monday, October 16. Audio included below.