Labels

I've been reading all the comments on Political Animal's post about the situation in Israel. The thread has been incredibly disturbing. Let me give you a little taste of what is on there.

Right of the bat, things get ugly:

"I'd like to see prominent Jews in this country take the lead in bringing Israel back under control. We can't afford to let one ethnic group selfishly manipulate our policies when our country's survival is at stake (talking about the U.S.)" - Chillio

I responded with:

"I can't believe you actually said that. You think it's those sneaky maniuplative Jews again, directing this country's foreign policy. Get yourself out of the 18th century and into this one. Your comments border on outright anti-semitism."

Now, I took great care not to actually call Chillio an anti-Semite. I said that his comments "border" on anti-semitism and I stand by that. For centuries, it has been a Jew-baiter standby to say that Jews have too much power. When Chillio implies that were it not for Jews in this country, the USA would not support Israel, he is drawing on a long history of anti-semitic claims. That's why I pointed it out to him.

A few minutes later Obe (another commenter) came to Chillio's defense:

"Count me among the new "anti-semites." I am a proud member, damn proud. Because what the idiot above who used this term really means is that anyone who criticizes the murderous conduct of Sharon or Likud is an anti semite. It's the same bullshit we hear in America: If you don't support the resident Bush, you are an unpatriotic trader. It's the same dumb reasoning and Nazi mentality.

So yes I AM AN ANTI SEMITE because I think Sharon is a murder, and Likud is an army of facists.

Israel should be brought to heel. I'm sick of funding their murder and whacked out government. I want accountability from these thugs before they get any more of my money. Let them be barbarians if they want, but why do I have to pay fund it."

I tried to explain to Obe that I was not equating criticism of Israel with anti-semitism:

"I was NOT saying that Chillio's comments bordered on anti-semitism because he criticized Israel. Read my post and you'll see that. One can criticize the Israeli government's actions and not be anti-semitic. What was anti-semitic was his charge that one small ethnic group (jews) was controlling the US's foreign policy. This is the anti-semitic chrage. Anyone with even the tiniest bit of history knows the explosiveness of that charge. And that is what I was underlining."

But that didn't seem to do it. Yet another commenter jumps on the "new anti-semite" bandwagon:

"I'll second this. This is exactly how I feel as well. Couldn't have said it any better myself."

And then topping it off with:

"Every decent person has to be a "new anti-semite". The old word for "new anti-semite" is "anti-fascist".

This line of thinking, that to be an anti-fascist is to be anti-jewish (thereby equating Jews and Fascists), is what is actually, "deeply troubling" about this situation. It should not be "deeply troubling" that Israel killed the known leader of a known terrorist group whose self-proclaimed goal is to destory Israel, kill Jews and target Westerners. It should not be "deeply troubling" that a democracy is trying to defend itself from people and groups who want to see it anihilated. It should not be "deeply troubling" when a country decides not to punish innocents but rather punish the actual perpatrators of terrorism (i.e. the leaders).

What is "deeply troubling" is the willingness of the American Left to rise to the defense of HAMAS!! Unbelievable! We're not talking about the duly elected leaders of a fledgling democratic movement, we're talking about HAMAS!! Hamas is not a group of "freedom fighters." The term "Freedom Fighters" implies that you believe in Freedom. Hamas doesn't fall into that catagory. If they did, they would take care not to target civilians. If they did, they would limit their political violence to the occupied territories. They are terrorists.