Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Today's must-read from Jeff Jacoby:
CRITICIZING Israel doesn't make you anti-Semitic: If it's been said once, it's been said a thousand times. Yet somehow that message doesn't seem to have reached the hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who turned out last week to protest Israel's military operation in Gaza. As their signs and chants made clear, it isn't only the Jewish state's policies they oppose. Their animus goes further.
Demonstrators chanted "Nuke, nuke Israel!" and carried placards accusing Israel of "ethnic cleansing" and bearing such messages as: "Did Israel take notes during the Holocaust? Happy Hanukkah." To the dozen or so supporters of Israel gathered across the street, one demonstrator shouted: "Murderers! Go back to the ovens! You need a big oven."
The Arab-Israeli conflict induces strong passions, and the line that separates legitimate disapproval of Israel from anti-Semitism may not always be obvious. But it's safe to assume the line has been crossed when you hear someone urging Jews "back to the ovens."...
Read the comments under Jacoby's letter on boston.com. He couldn't have planted a better proof for his thesis.
Why are so many of us unaware that for some years running now---let's call it since the second intifada erupted at the end of September 2000---that Anti-Semitism is no longer a bug but a feature?
We thought that Anti-Semitism was something that society should attempt to eradicate, because Anti-Semitism is harmful for all of society.
Well, guess again.
Anti-Semitism is---and has been for sometime---the essence of political correctness. And, of course, Anti-Zionism is the epitome of virtue.
Anti-Semitism, for that matter, is not even Anti-Semitism anymore. It's just Jews trying to play the victim card, etc., etc. And distract a naive world from the Jews' purported machinations (according to which view, held by minions around the globe, whatever's wrong with anything, it's because of Jews.)
Well, maybe it's time to plough those Holocaust Museums under and sell the real-estate? And let the world reap its just desserts....
And maybe it's time for Jews to start looking out for themselves (once again?) instead of trying to save a world that just ain't interested (hear that, Michael Lerner, et al.?)
(For how, in fact, can we "save the world" if we are unable to look out for ourselves?)
Looks like the Day of Judgment's 'a comin' (once again).