The New Anti-Semitism and the Questions Left Unasked
Thursday April 27, 2006
I never would have thought that two American professors from prestigious American universities would have much in common with Osama bin Laden.But then I noticed that in the most recent tape attributed to him, Bin Laden identified those in the...
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About Virtual Talmud
This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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rabbi susan grossman's comment on the now notorious walt-mearsheimer article begins by equating those authors with osama bin laden and really does not go far beyond that atrocious comparison. I find it depressing that any critical survey of Israel and its influence on u.s. foreign policy is so often met with such shrill and irrational accusations.
We'll never get anywhere on trying to discuss this.
Oh, I dunno, maybe if the article is "now notorious" it's for a reason and the comparison is both apt and the point of the blogpost, rather than being "shrill and irrational." And the questions she raises appear to be anything but shrill or irrational. You may disagree and refute them point by point. But there is nothing irrational about them. That's just toxic labeling to avoid dealing with the real issues that she raises.
I read the Mearsheimer/Walt article and there are two things wrong with it right up front: first, it posits a single cause for American foreign policy in the Middle East, the Israeli lobby (which is not only Jews, nor is it all Jews); and second, it does not compare policy in this region to others -- other writers have noted that policy is not too different for other regions. But one of their big points was that even trying to discuss the subject would get them labeled anti-Semites. Way to live down to their expectations. And furthermore, five minutes searching the Kennedy School's publications shows that a ton of work has been done on Islam's discourse with the West.
Every comment after the first one does the same thing as the rabbi's article. This 'don't look behind the curtain' sort of misdirection confirms assertions made by the Walt-Mearsheimer paper. They're right. We have labeled them anti-Semites and not addressed the actual questions raised.
It is now time for the Jews of the world to stand together and promote their homeland and also 'GOD' or "Hashem". Never mind what the other countries of the world believe is their personal best interest. It is time for us to stand and promote the words of our "Torah". If other nations disagree with our religious beliefs and having them as the written law of the land of Israel. All throughout history the only person who has come to our aid is "Hashem". Can the world get prep[ared for Israel to stand on its religious laws and protect its own lands that were gifted to us by "Hashem" and reccognised as such by the United Nations itself back in 1948. If the Arabs don't like us being in the Mid East then to bad for them. Let them take up the issue of the Jewish homeland with "Hashem" HIMSELF. If the Muslims want to wage a holy war against Israel then so be it. Let "Allah" defend them against "Hashem".If the USA wants to destroy Israel by chopping it up into little pieces - then let thre USA find another true friend in the region. If Israel believes that by sealing its borders the terrorists will need to go elsewhere to kill "Infadels". If israel also deems it neccessary to close the West Bank region so be it again. I nation is permitted to protect its citizens from death brought upon it by outside countries or militant groups. MAY "HASHEM" BLESS AND KEEP ISRAEL ALIVE - FREE - AND WELL FOREVER + ONE MORE DAY. SHALOM JUDAH