Jewish communities and the liberal left
La Shawn Barber's got a very interesting topic about the Jewish community and the left. It asks if those who vote Democrat and/or have liberal leanings are aware of the anti-semitism and anti-Israelism that are becoming a growing problem within the party or its supporters.
Part of the problem, IMO, is that the representatives of the Democrats seem afraid or unwilling to speak up and tell their supporters who lose their heads over anti-war/Zionist/Israel positions and even go so far as to support the villains in cases like these that such ways are not only wrong, but are part of the problem with the bigotry currently eating away at the left, and leading to its losing support bases.
As some respondants point out, their families or people they know of Jewish backgrounds are either disinterested in the problems facing both the US and the middle east, or unwilling to take them seriously. I can only wonder though what their thoughts on bad government are like, and if a grave subject like what Prof. Paul Eidelberg cites here are of any interest to them. Or, if they consider any corruption like what the Israel Labor Party's been wallowing (mentioned here) in to be of any serious concern. Or even someone like Charles Bronfman, who made illegal contributions to the Labor party, and to Ehud Barak's own campaign at the time.
My point there would have to be if they realize that crime, even political, does not pay. That's a question I see being asked too little, even among Jewish reps of left-liberal standings, and if you ask me, I think it should come into discussion more often.
One more thing: someone on the topic argued that he didn't think being anti-Israel was anti-Semitic. Not so, as even Martin Luther King once pointed out in this way at the Boston-Harvard University campuses in his time:
Part of the problem, IMO, is that the representatives of the Democrats seem afraid or unwilling to speak up and tell their supporters who lose their heads over anti-war/Zionist/Israel positions and even go so far as to support the villains in cases like these that such ways are not only wrong, but are part of the problem with the bigotry currently eating away at the left, and leading to its losing support bases.
As some respondants point out, their families or people they know of Jewish backgrounds are either disinterested in the problems facing both the US and the middle east, or unwilling to take them seriously. I can only wonder though what their thoughts on bad government are like, and if a grave subject like what Prof. Paul Eidelberg cites here are of any interest to them. Or, if they consider any corruption like what the Israel Labor Party's been wallowing (mentioned here) in to be of any serious concern. Or even someone like Charles Bronfman, who made illegal contributions to the Labor party, and to Ehud Barak's own campaign at the time.
My point there would have to be if they realize that crime, even political, does not pay. That's a question I see being asked too little, even among Jewish reps of left-liberal standings, and if you ask me, I think it should come into discussion more often.
One more thing: someone on the topic argued that he didn't think being anti-Israel was anti-Semitic. Not so, as even Martin Luther King once pointed out in this way at the Boston-Harvard University campuses in his time:
“And what is anti-Zionist? It is the denial to the Jewish people of a fundamental right that we justly claim for the people of Africa and freely accord all other nations of the Globe. It is discrimination against Jews, my friend, because they are Jews. In short, it is antisemitism. The antisemite rejoices at any opportunity to vent his malice. The times have made it unpopular, in the West, to proclaim openly a hatred of the Jews. This being the case, the antisemite must constantly seek new forms and forums for his poison. How he must revel in the new masquerade! He does not hate the Jews, he is just 'anti-Zionist'!” -- Martin Luther King, JrThe same could be pointed out about anti-Israelism. In fact, if it matters, let me just say that, to be anti-Holland is also to be anti-Dutch as well. My assumption is that, because the names of the nationality and the country are different, so that comes as a perfect excuse for some racists to go and spout their foolish arguments. But as the great King pointed out in his time - not so.
