Regarding the Steven's comment:
Finally, I find prefacing criticisms of Israel, and policy networks
linked to Israel, with 'some of my best friends are Jewish' to be
deeply offensive, and I think it actually feeds the belief (not
really widespread on the wsn in the first place) that criticism of
Israel and anti-semitism are one and the same thing.
Steven Sherman
Dear Steve,
Please pardon the cliche, uh, political incorrectness.
What preface (if any) would NOT feed the belief that "criticism of
Israel and anti-semitism are one and the same thing.?" Seems to me
I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't.
I didn't post the article to offend but to elucidate the external
players in formulating US foreign policy. The preface might not have
been appropriate ...and regarding my motives for expressing an
opinion I guess I'm a little naive about separating a perception of
bigotry or racism from criticism of the Israel and its policy
advocates' racist agenda. Both comments in the preface are the truth.
And in this country "criticism of Israel and anti-semitism are
(often) one and the same thing."
How DOES one head off that perception in posting criticism?
I'm not anti-semitic. But all too often as soon as one criticizes
Israel and policy advocates there is much foaming at the mouth about
the head of anti-semitism rearing its ugly head again. Seems one
can't get around the "lets talk about the messenger" when one wants
to talk about Israel's role in the continuing world wars - which was
the point of the post.
Actually I find your comments instructive. I won't do that again. And
I'm sooo glad I didn't post that missive to a foundation list with
the comment. If you think you are "deeply offended" you should hear
the howls from those folks. They're heavy hitters in progressive
issues and the political realm. But I can't even seem to post any
criticism of Israel in that list unscathed. The result (from what I
see getting around) is that JINSA remains in the shadows of the
national debate.
What exactly would a respectable preface to such a hard criticism be?
We've discussed loaded words like "Zionism." We've discussed pc. The
hot button issue I brought up was " It could be argued that the
mother of modern terrorism is Israel in concert with American
imperialists."
No one touched it. Too obvious to even point out, eh?
I hope we don't spend too much time on one's individual shortcomings,
peculiarities of expression and intent and miss the point of the post.
Tim Jones
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<http://www.groundtruthinvestigations.com/>