[quote]coolexec wrote:
eic wrote:
Bullmoose wrote:
WhiteCaesar wrote:
…
I guess I missed the meaning of that sentence, as it was in the middle of a rant about Israel as a nation, and the attitude they give to the world. I can see where you were coming, now that I look closer at it.
That being said, I’m not trying to say that anti-semitism doesn’t exist, but I do think that, particularly from what I’ve seen on these boards, it’s a term that gets tossed around at anybody who isn’t firmly pro-Israel. It gets to the point where it’s just a meaningless attack even when it’s justified, rather than the accurate condemnation it would be if used properly. Of course, the more I think about it, the more I realize no amount of posting by me will change some people’s auto-defense mechanisms, so it really doesn’t matter. It’s silly, is all.
Because that is usually the case. If you are against Israel, being a Jewish
State you will usually find anti-semitism also.
I definitely disagree with this. There are plenty of faults to be found with Israel, all of them to do with their behaviour, as an entity, rather than their collective faith. Accusing people who call them out on those faults strikes me more as a way to avoid having to deal with them, than as being productive. Even if someone was anti-semetic, if they make a valid point, calling them names or pointing out their bias doesn’t change the facts.
I once lived next door to a gay couple. They were assholes. Pretty much everyone in the building hated them. They accused
us all of being homophobic, and every newcomer to the building disliked them as well. If they would have quit hiding behind their gayness (?), and just shut up their damn dog and made a few other efforts to be courteous, they wouldn’t have had any problems with us. Instead, they bitched and complained, and nobody like them.
I think that if Israel, and Israel’s supporters, made the effort to be ‘courteous’ to the international community (i.e. tone down the arrogance and abide by ALL relevant U.N. resolutions) instead of just labelling people as anti-semites and/or terrorists, then their lives would be easier, because then they’d have only the anti-semites to deal with (admittedly still a major problem, but a smaller one), rather than the anti-semites as well as the people they’ve pissed off.
That was pretty far off the topic of the thread, but like I said, I don’t read or post here often, so I might as well make the most of it when I do.
Bullmoose:
A simple method of distinguishing would be someone who has an informed, more tempered criticism of Israel, versus someone who has baseless and wild accusations that are clearly fueled by passion. See the following examples:
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Non-Anti-Semetic Criticism of Israel: The Israeli government made a mistake in allowing settlers to build homesteads on lands that were captured in armed conflicts with the Arab states. This would have made a policy of returning said lands to Palestinians much easier.
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Anti-Semetic Criticism of Israel: The Israeli government isn’t shit. They are just a bunch of rapists and imperialists who bully innocents to promote their own desires. Fuck them. They wouldn’t be a thing if it wasn’t for the United States giving them guns and bombs and planes.
If many accusations of anti-Semitism arise in this thread (I have made such claims myself) it is because there is unfortunately too much of the latter.
eic, you put that very well indeed.[/quote]
Thank you, sir!