It is very difficult to wade through the rhetoric on almost any issue today and not feel extremely gross afterward. It's like wading through a septic tank, and even though you managed not to get any in your mouth, nose, or eyes, you don't feel like you'll ever be clean again.

Nowhere is this more evident than the current conflict in the Middle East. As Israel prepares further action against Gaza, the Hamas-run government, and the people who elected that terror group into office, the Internet is alive with atrocious apologists for Hamas and justifications that Israel had it coming to them. Social media is a vile hellhole... okay, it's more of a vile hellhole than normal. But there are people on the platform voicing support for Israel and condemning Hamas for its attack.

Hamas killed hundreds of Jews, kidnapped more, and did absolutely horrific things to women and children (and even worse to their corpses). But the people who call Hamas out for its actions are cast on social media as the villains, and in the worst moments of humanity online, good people are publicly crucified for their words.

A lot of people may not know who Tara Strong is, but if you're a millennial or younger (or you have kids in that age range), they know her voice. She is one of the most prolific voice actors in Hollywood and has been active for decades. But Strong chose to voice support for Israel, and for that, she lost her role in an upcoming cartoon she was starring in.

Her offending tweet? This one.

For those who support the actions of #Hamas; when they infiltrate your home town, on your soil, break into Jewish homes, raping, beheading innocent babies,will you applaud them? Will you wave their flag while they slaughter Christians & Muslims who don’t believe their ideologies?

— tara strong (@tarastrong) October 10, 2023

It is worth noting that there are also multiple tweets on Strong's timeline and tweets she liked that show support for the innocents in Gaza who are just trying to live their lives and are constantly under threat of attack - either from Israel in retaliation for something Hamas has done or by Hamas if they aren't loyal enough. This is a region of the world that is incredibly unstable and many people there have never known peace. Strong, like so many others, understands this, and her Twitter timeline is reflective of that.

I hope you’re ok, I’m not 💔All news is heartbreaking & the images are repeating in my mind & I’m overwhelmed with sadness, just donating to innocents in #gaza & those suffering in #Israel. Received some pep talk requests from @cameo & I’m donating them all to @ChildrenofPeace ❤️

— tara strong (@tarastrong) October 13, 2023

But that hasn't stopped the antisemitic left from going after her, attacking her relentlessly, and saying absolutely vile things to and about her. 

However, none of that matters to the folks behind the show Boxtown, which originally cast her to play a lead character. However, last week, the show announced the part was being recast. Strong herself did not find out until the show made the announcement on Twitter.

Hello all! Just wanted to offer a quick update on Boxtown. We will be recasting the role of Bill (previously played by Tara Strong). We’ll have more info soon on open auditions.

Thanks for y’all’s understanding as we re-orient and figure out the next steps. #Boxtown…

— “Boxtown” the animated series (@BoxtownOfficial) October 12, 2023

In a reply, Strong said, "Just found out on twitter! This is what happens when you help fans get shows made I guess. Fired for being Jewish. Glad I helped you get your kickstarter money. Please lose my email address & pray for my family in Israel and in Gaza. & #prayforpeace."

The recasting decision is a bizarre one. Strong said nothing offensive unless the creators of Boxtown think that Israel is in the wrong by simply existing. Factually, her tweets condemning Hamas were all correct. She responded to and liked tweets that were critical of Hamas to a point that might be excessive, but given that she herself is Jewish and that we're seeing yet another rise in antisemitism across the world, it's understandable that she would be passionate.

This isn't about cancel culture, though it's at least tangentially related. Rather, this is about the incredible desire of elements in the media and entertainment industry to take part in moral relativism. Israel is an aggressively defensive country with money and firepower, and a deep desire to protect itself. It has taken aggressive actions against people who threaten it. To some folks, that makes them no better than American imperialism and Western colonialism. 

To them, Israel is just another white country being mean to brown people. 

Nothing Strong said or did was in any way controversial - or, rather, it shouldn't have been. Objectively speaking, she is right to say that Hamas' actions were horrifying, uncalled for, and the people who support Hamas are supporting all of that. For some independent cartoon that, let's face it, needs her a lot more than she needs it, to replace her over that very simple thought says a lot about them. And none of it is good.