Zero Tolerance for Antisemitism

In the landscape of American politics, where division often drowns out unity, candidates like Russell McAlmond emerge as beacons of principled resolve. A Republican contender for the United States Senate seat in Oregon McAlmond brings a unique blend of experience as a former U.S. Marine, financial leader, Universal Judaism rabbi, and human rights advocate.

His platform, rooted in a fervent commitment to ethical individualism, positions him as a staunch opponent of all forms of group-based hatred, with a particular emphasis on eradicating antisemitism from the fabric of American society. McAlmond advocates for a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism, viewing it not merely as a historical atrocity but as one of the world's most pernicious manifestations of collective prejudice.

This article explores McAlmond's stance, situating it within the broader context of antisemitism's enduring threat and the moral imperative of ethical individualism, a philosophy he has articulated as the antidote to such ills.

The Enduring Menace of Antisemitism

Antisemitism stands as one of humanity's most insidious and persistent forms of group hatred, a venomous ideology that has poisoned societies across millennia. From the blood libels of medieval Europe to the industrialized horrors of the Holocaust, and into the contemporary surge of online vitriol and campus unrest, antisemitism has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to dehumanize entire populations based on perceived collective traits.

In the United States, incidents of antisemitic violence and rhetoric have spiked alarmingly in recent years, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a 140% increase in assaults following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel—a trend that underscores the urgency of federal intervention.

This hatred thrives on the fallacy of group judgment, where individuals are reduced to caricatures of their ethnicity, religion, or heritage, stripped of their individuality and rendered targets for scapegoating. As the founder and executive director of the Center for Human Equality in Grants Pass, Oregon, he has long championed anti-bigotry initiatives, including his role as Southern Oregon's chapter leader for the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR).

In his writings and public advocacy, McAlmond decries antisemitism as a moral abomination that not only endangers Jewish communities but erodes the ethical foundations of any pluralistic democracy. For Oregon's U.S. Senate race, where issues of equity and justice resonate deeply amid the state's progressive ethos and rural-urban divides, McAlmond's zero-tolerance pledge translates into concrete policy proposals: enhanced federal hate crime prosecutions, mandatory education on the dangers of group-based prejudice in schools, and robust protections for religious freedoms.

He envisions legislation that would classify antisemitic acts as domestic terrorism equivalents, ensuring swift accountability while fostering interfaith dialogues to prevent recurrence. This approach is not punitive for its own sake but restorative, aimed at rebuilding trust in institutions that have too often failed vulnerable groups.

Ethical Individualism: The Philosophical Bulwark Against Group Hatred

At the core of McAlmond's crusade lies Ethical Individualism, a human relational philosophy he developed and expounded in his 2021 book, Ethical Individualism: A Human Relational Philosophy. This framework posits that true moral progress demands rejecting all forms of group judgments—those insidious categorizations that label people as inherently superior or inferior based on race, religion, nationality, or any collective identifier.

McAlmond argues that such judgments are not only factually flawed, as no two humans share identical experiences or essences, but profoundly immoral, as they deny the inherent dignity of the individual. "Each person is a distinct mosaic of experiences," he writes, "not a stereotype defined by race, religion, or nationality." In an era where identity politics and tribalism fuel polarization, ethical individualism calls for symbiotic relationships built on mutual respect and equality, where interactions benefit all parties without favoritism or exclusion.McAlmond's philosophy is no abstract treatise; it is a practical ethic forged from his diverse life path.

McAlmond rejects collective guilt outright, as articulated in his essay "The Fallacy of Collective Guilt," where he asserts that criminal justice—and by extension, social justice—must target individuals, not proxies like family or co-religionists. This stance opposes not only antisemitism but all group-based discriminations, from anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to racial profiling, positioning McAlmond as a holistic defender of human dignity.

For Oregonians, where rural conservatism intersects with urban progressivism, McAlmond's ethical individualism offers a unifying vision. He critiques both extremes: the demonization of "elites" that veers into antisemitic tropes and the overreach of affirmative action that risks reverse group judgments. Instead, he proposes Senate-led initiatives like nationwide "Individualism Education Grants" to fund programs teaching empathy through personal narratives, ensuring that Oregon's youth— from Portland's tech hubs to Eastern Oregon's farmlands—grow into citizens who see neighbors, not categories.

A Senate Agenda for Zero Tolerance

As a candidate for Oregon's U.S. Senate seat, McAlmond's zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism integrates seamlessly with his broader ethical framework, promising legislative action that safeguards individuality while confronting hatred head-on. He supports expanding the FBI's hate crimes division with dedicated antisemitism task forces, drawing on models like the Department of Education's antisemitism reporting mechanisms but amplifying them federally.

McAlmond also advocates for tax incentives for businesses adopting anti-bias training rooted in ethical individualism, recognizing that economic vitality in Oregon's timber, wine, and tech sectors depends on inclusive workplaces free from prejudice. Critics might dismiss such zeal as performative, yet McAlmond's track record— from testifying before Oregon legislatures on parental rights and equality to authoring essays that dismantle groupism's logic—demonstrates authenticity.

In a Senate chamber often gridlocked by partisan tribalism, his voice could bridge divides, co-sponsoring bipartisan bills like the Antisemitism Awareness Act while pushing amendments to embed ethical individualism in civil rights law.

Russell McAlmond's bid for Oregon's U.S. Senate seat is a clarion call to reclaim America's promise of liberty through the lens of ethical individualism. By demanding zero tolerance for antisemitism—one of the world's most egregious group hates—he challenges us to transcend the shadows of prejudice and embrace the light of individual worth.

In a nation grappling with rising bigotry, McAlmond's philosophy offers not division, but a path to genuine unity: one where every person, regardless of heritage, is met with respect and opportunity.

As Oregon voters weigh their choice in this pivotal race, McAlmond stands as a reminder that true leadership judges actions, not affiliations—and in doing so, forges a more just union. His vision, if realized, could ripple beyond the Beaver State, inspiring a federal commitment to humanity's highest ethic: seeing each other as we truly are—unique, irreplaceable, and worthy.