| Subject: Re: fundamentalism is scary |
Author:
Raisinmom
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Date Posted: 20:06:33 07/14/02 Sun
In reply to:
Astrid
's message, "Re: fundamentalism is scary" on 18:26:40 07/14/02 Sun
>Do you think that September 11th has led to an
>increase in anti-Semitism, or has it encouraged
>anti-Semites to say previously unspeakable things? Or
>is there a coincidental increase in anti-Semitic
>statements and crimes in the past several months?
I think the effect of September 11 was small; it did free some people to say, "See, once again Israel is the cause, blah blah blah." But (i) that isn't necessarily anti-Semitism, and (ii) I just don't think that's what is fueling the uptick. (I note, however, the persistent myth circulating in Arab countries that Israel orchestrated the September 11 attacks/that 4,000 Jews were told to stay home from work in the WTC area that day.)
What is, in my opinion, driving the rise in European anti-Semitism is increased Israeli/Palestinian tension (suicide bombings and Israeli military action). This not only permits anti-Semites to say previously forbidden things, whether openly or cloaked in anti-Israeli rhetoric, but also brought to light some newly minted anti-Semites whose hatred would have otherwise remained dormant or, at least, hidden. In addition, everyone is facing harder economic times, and Jews are traditionally a scapegoat for such dissatisfaction. Indeed, one day I will write a paper on my theory that women and Jews often function as "canaries in the mine shaft" -- that is, a society in which the treatment of Jews and/or women takes a sharp downturn is certainly one headed for trouble (as in Afghanistan a few years back). There are plenty of other factors too (the receding specter of the Holocaust, the need for the Saudi and Egyptian governments to divert attention from the problems in their own countries, etc.)
>I believe there is a legitimate position to be heard
>that is critical of the current government in
>Israel--Ariel Sharon was found guilty of war crimes by
>Israel itself.
Astrid, no one disagrees that it's legitimate to be critical of the current Israeli government. I've agreed repeatedly on this. As for Sharon, can we at least be clear here? The "war crime" finding that I believe you refer to related to Sharon's actions many years ago and does *not* apply to Sharon's actions during the new intifada. (My apologies if I have misunderstood.) And kudos to Israel for self-criticism -- I haven't seen any similar soul-searching from Palestine about *its* war crimes in intentionally slaughtering innocent civilians at discos, pizza parlors and supermarkets.
> Clearly there is legitimacy to the
>idea that Israel has a right to self-defence, but
>there is also legitimacy to the idea that the
>Palestinians are a hopelessly oppressed people.
>
Well, I guess we'll just have to disagree here. I do *not* agree that the Palestinians are "hopelessly oppressed" in a way that justifies suicide bombings, which seems to be where you're going.
>I just bring this up because I was a bit taken aback
>by Raisinmom's response to Robert Fisk's piece. But I
>have been reading more about the recent rise in
>anti-Semitism in Europe, and I understand now why she
>would react to British reporter Fisk like that. Yet,
>I don't believe for a minute that Fisk is either
>anti-Israeli or an anti-Semite. I do think that he
>was sympathy for the Palestinians, as he seems to on
>principle for all people who are underdogs (he was
>almost killed by Afghani people last year, and yet he
>understands their rage rather than condemns it).
>
Okay, so we disagree. Sympathy for Palestinians does not an anti-Israeli make, but Fisk's piece went well beyond that, as noted in my original post. And I specifically said I did not see any evidence that he's an anti-Semite, so I don't see why you mention this again. Finally, I should note that I would have the same opinion of Fisk's piece even in the absence of growing European anti-Semitism.
>So, is the concern that any criticism of Israel will
>fuel the anti-Semite's cause?
No, the concern is that the criticism is wrong. Of course criticism of Israel should not be squelched for fear that it might fuel anti-Semitism.
>Or is there a
>deep-seated fear that such criticism is truly at heart
>anti-Semitism?
Well, it is a concern when this is the case, and many are beginning to question whether some of the more virulent anti-Israel propaganda, particularly in Europe, is actually anti-Semitism. (I again refer you to Ron Rosenbaum's piece.) Is it a "deep-seated fear"? I think not. Jews recognize that one may criticize and not hate; the vast majority of Jews don't run from every criticism of Israel screaming, "Anti-Semite!"(though I am aware that a small and unfortunately vocal minority may). Just as I am sure you are sick of intimations of anti-Semitism when you criticize Israel, Jews get weary of intimations of alarmism when they defend Israel. Most Jews react to anti-Israel criticism not out of any deep-seated fear of anti-Semitism lurking in the criticism, but because they think Israel is in the right.
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