Friday, March 16, 2007
Also at Harry's Place -- you probably already have seen this, but I wanted just to mention something about it -- the UK Palestine Solidarity Campaign has purged (effectively) a number of its members who, disturbed about anti-Semitism within the movement beyond even their own profound ability to overlook, attempted to get the group to do something about it. No tears for these, please, as the group includes uber-boycotter Sue Blackwell amongst others who, in any other context, are nothing but rogues...nevertheless, the incident is notable for just how bad things are way out there on the fringe. Read the entry at Harry's Place and follow the links if you're not already familiar: Atzmon's Triumph.
A couple of notes: One, while this is all an incident occurring way, way out there on the political fringe, it is not as fringe in the UK as it is over here. Second, I believe things happening out there on the penumbra have the potential for a butterfly effect of sorts -- it all seems irrelevant and fringy, but the fact is that these things have a way of echoing into the mainstream and moving the nature of the discourse. Just as very few mainstream Democrat politicians would admit to any kinship with Chomsky, yet their rhetoric often contains within it the very echoes, so this stuff that seems so way out there has its pull, whether you realize or not. (See, for instance, the Overton window)
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I'm glad you mentioned this, because what happens in Britain absolutely affects the Left here. I know this because I'm a pretty typical left/liberal American Democrat and have been shocked by the antizionism/antisemitism infecting the blogosphere.
Much of this traces to Britain. Britain is historically a very antisemitic country and the history of the Mandate and the years before, during and after the Holocaust may be unknown to many who are conditioned to think of Britain, because of our common language, our wartime experiences as allies, as an uncomplicated friend.
But, where the Jewish people are concerned, it isn't that simple. Where Israel is concerned, Britain has been outright perfidious, and has played both sides for her own advantage for well over a century now - longer, if you look at the 19th Century "Great Game" the Empire played in Central Asia and which continues to this day. Unfortunately the US, via the oil industry, is also involved as well as the Soviets/Russia and of course France and Germany - all this intrigue layered on top of the already complex Middle Eastern/Central Asian matrix. And of course one must mention the BBC and the Guardian - the bias in these outlets is palpable. Cartoons have appeared in the Guardian which rival der Sturmer's.
In the case of the BBC, this is a media outlet of global reach and includes TV, radio, internet and the bias is reflected in many languages. The BBC radio outlet in the Arab world is reputedly very biased, anti-Israel and antiwestern; and the shows are produced in Cairo; they will now be adding a television station as well.
In any case, the British antiIsrael movement cannot be ignored. Boycotts and attempted boycotts against Israeli academics, artists, divestiture attempts supported by the Anglican establishment, attacks on Israel's very existence sponsored by the Respect party (Galloway et.al.) and fueled by Muslim extremists, have also driven antisemitic attacks and incidents to a sharp increase in recent years.
I agree with Solomon about the butterfly effect, but submit that in the US and Canada, the butterfly has already reached storm proportions. Just look at our campuses and on the left wing blogosphere.
It's very troubling and has long since crossed the line from "criticizing Israeli policies" to outright antisemitism and arguments against Israel's very existence.
"I'm a pretty typical left/liberal American Democrat and have been shocked by the antizionism/antisemitism infecting the blogosphere."
That also applies to me.
Political trends on the left do often emerge in Europe first and then cross the pond: albeit after a time lag, in a slightly diluted form, and affecting fewer people here. That's because our intelligentsia often looks to Europe for its inspiration. In these cases, you see a trend emerge first Britain (or France), then among those in American academia, then the liberal press, and then filtered down in diluted form to the mainstream press and even politicians.
One thing, though: I am actually happy that the members against antisemitism were booted out of the UK Palestine Solidarity Campaign. If they had won grandly to an all-round applause, that would have given added credence to the "I'm not antisemitic, just anti-Zionist" argument.
One can theoretically have nothing special against Jews but think that the Arabs objectively have more right to the land. But the facts and figures are blurry, and the needs of both groups compelling. I think that denying Zionism entirely means--to a great extent--denying the Jewish narrative. So it's hard to keep anti-zionism and antisemitism totally seperate.
Now, at least, this particular movement won't have any further pretense. The waters will be less muddied.
I'd like to see the self righteous Brit Socialist Twits who yammer about "occupation" push to evacuate Girbraltar, Falkland Islands, Carribean, repatriate looted works in the British Museum...
fuk anti racism bcuz its all a load of bollox all the immigrants especially the paki scum shud b sent bak to their own country insted of comin over here and makin us change our traditional british ways and taking all our jobs and scrounging off the government. white powerrrrrr
jerry must be a "socialist".