On the one hand, you resent it when people demonstrate against the likes of Dershowitz when they appear somewhere to speak. No doubt, you'll lambast any demonstrators opposing Seva Brodsky's next appearance. On the other hand, when someone whom you despise gives a talk, you call out your own troops to demonstrate against him.

I know that Finkelstein isn't an equivalent to Dershowitz. He isn't even equal to Brodsky, though I can see where others would consider Brodsky a rabble-rouser. But I think that this demonstrating and counter-demonstrating is pointless. Let Finkelstein speak without disturbance...and therefore without much brouhaha. There are better ways to counter his influence than shouting insults and slogans outside an auditorium door.

In any case, if you behave in a way that's parallel to the other side, you only encourage everyone else to see the partisans of both sides as morally and behaviorally equivalent.

"On the one hand, you resent it when people demonstrate against the likes of Dershowitz when they appear somewhere to speak. No doubt, you'll lambast any demonstrators opposing Seva Brodsky's next appearance. On the other hand, when someone whom you despise gives a talk, you call out your own troops to demonstrate against him."

Well, yes, in the way that someone who would take arms against Nazi Germany was virtuous, but someone who took arms against America was not, though both may have been fighting their own governments (to take matters to the most absurd level to make the point).

Just to clarify, the final quote is from the email I received, not from me.

And for the record, I'm against disrupting anyone's talk, and I'm definitely for avoiding giving any impression that "our side" is anything like a mirror image of the, for instance, SDP freaks, and I am often ambivalent about giving them (especially Finkelstein) any extra attention...on the other hand, I can see the place for expressing a little outrage, getting a little attention, and letting press, public and administration know that this is not just another point of view coming to speak, then that's a success.

But, a demonstration is not my call. It's happening (I guess), and my support is with them.

The people who classify Seva Brodsky a "rabble rouser", share the same goals as the Islamic Society of Boston and CAIR, ISM, ANSWER and finkelstain.

The real "rabble rousers" are the Islamofascists warn us not to offend the "arab street".

The "arab street" should beware of the "dhimmi, kafir, infidel street".

Solomon,

I'm sorry but I think your analogy to someone taking up arms against Nazis vs someone taking up arms against America is a bit overblown. I'm sorry, but I don't see the connection.

As for the final quote not being yours, I was aware of that, but I understood that you were citing it approvingly.

I never implied that you were for disrupting anyone's speeches. If you want to express outrage by demonstrating outside an auditorium, fine. But don't be critical if those who disagree with you do the same. I just think there are better and more effective ways to counter people like Finkelstein. And, mind you, the press won't necessarily report such demos as expressions of outrage, they'll just juxtapose "activists" [read: moonbats] on both sides of the equation.

And please note that what you call "not just another point of view" is very subjective. There is a spectrum here, or better, a slippery slope. Nazis marching in Skokie were not representing just another point of view, nor are KKK rallies. But when you get into speakers and movements that are not illegal, then it gets slippery.

I still think that these small demos make people look silly. They only allow speakers like Finkelstein to feel more important than they really are, and to see themselves and present themselves as persecuted heroes. But, hey, you're entitled. To each his own.

You say you don't like my analogy but you go right on making the same point again. So the counter-protesters at the anti-Iraq War demonstration a few weeks back (the "gathering of eagles" who protected the Vietnam Vet memorial) just came off as a mirror image of the moonbats they were standing against? I don't think so. I think they showed people who didn't like those protesters that they weren't alone and gave them something to feel good about.

The fact is that the MSM coverage of the recent Chomsky demo at Newton was extremely favorable.

I've come to realize that constantly worrying over protesters from "our side" just becomes an excuse to do nothing.

To eachu his own as you say.

Responsible protests outside of a finklestain or "Wheels of Jihad" presentation are important because they present a response to their lies, half-truths, disinformation.

Apparently some people want to discourage those who would unmask finklestain and his cronies because it impedes the acceptance of his lies.

Campus Watch

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/3263/

reprints an article in the Brandeis Hoot on the finkelstein road show.

"Seva Brodsky, an off-campus audience member" is quoted in the article as asking questions of finkelstein.

Finkielstein is a slime, and it seems from the linked article (thank you, Eddie) that he presents outrageous statements as facts. But this statement really shocked me:

"I'm being cast as a martyr these last few weeks," said Finkelstein of his recent battles at DePaul to earn tenure. "Two thousand years ago, another Jew tried that with mixed results."

Is he comparing himself to Jesus Christ? Even in jest, this is off-color to glorify himself that way. This man needs a shrink.

I wish that audiences were better educated about the Middle East, so they wouldn't find Finkielstein "refreshing," as one student put it.

However, I must add that I was not impressed with your hero, Seva Brodsky. His question was "do you hate your parents? Do you habitually rape your niece?" He came across as an obscene crackpot. This kind of "activism" we could well do without. Please tell me that this was misreported.

Ugg...I think the point Seva was trying to make is akin to Finkelstein's constantly throwing out hanging charges against Jews and Israelis akin to "When did you stop beating your wife..."

Particularly see Ruth Wisse, "Why did you kill your grandmother?"
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014973.php

In fact, I'm sure that's what he was trying to get at...I would have chosen a different way to say it.