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Behind the Aegis

(53,833 posts)
Fri Apr 20, 2018, 12:50 PM Apr 2018

(Jewish Group) Sen. Brian Schatz Calls on Fellow Progressives to Fight Anti-Semitism Within...

(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)

Sen. Brian Schatz Calls on Fellow Progressives to Fight Anti-Semitism Within Their Ranks, Not Just On Right

As someone who reports regularly on anti-Semitism across the globe and the political spectrum, one of the most frustrating parts of my job is seeing how anti-Jewish bigotry is constantly dismissed as the perpetual sin of other people. That is, while many individuals are happy to oppose and expose anti-Semitism among their ideological opponents, they balk at confronting it among their allies. Invariably, when faced with evidence of anti-Jewish hate on their side, partisans will insist that the other side is worse, as though this is a relevant retort rather than an evasion.

We’ve seen this unfortunate pattern play out repeatedly in recent days, whether it has been progressives dismissing the anti-Semitism of Louis Farrakhan and his Women’s March fans by gesturing to Trump and the alt-right, or conservatives waving off Trump’s apologias for neo-Nazis by pointing to leftist critics of Israel who lapse into anti-Semitism. In reality, the only people who win this fight over which group or political faction is “more anti-Semitic” are the actual anti-Semites, who keep on spreading their hate while their would-be opponents instead point fingers at each other.

Yesterday, progressive Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii refreshingly called out this disingenuous dynamic. Speaking at the annual J Street conference in Washington, Schatz advocated for a more open and critical discourse on Israel, and defended those like himself who disagree with Israeli policies while supporting the state of Israel. But along the way, he also made a key point about anti-Semitism that is worth highlighting.

“In one year, anti-Semitic incidents have increased by nearly 60 percent,” he noted. “And frankly, it’s coming from all sides.” This crosspartisan bigotry, Schatz continued, has historical precedent that should disturb us. “Philip Spencer, an emeritus professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Kingston University, has documented how the Nazis were able to build a movement based on anti-Semitism: It’s because the political parties never pushed back. Not the Social Democrats or the Communists in Germany, and not the resistance across the continent.” Those who overlook anti-Semitism, in other words, will ultimately be overtaken by it.



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FINALLY!!! This bears repeating...... the only people who win this fight over which group or political faction is “more anti-Semitic” are the actual anti-Semites, who keep on spreading their hate while their would-be opponents instead point fingers at each other.

And just because it was so poignant, here is J.K. Rowling's quote on anti-Semitism:

'Would response to any other form of racism or bigotry be to squirm, deflect or justify?'
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(Jewish Group) Sen. Brian Schatz Calls on Fellow Progressives to Fight Anti-Semitism Within... (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Apr 2018 OP
I think he makes a great point Mosby Apr 2018 #1

Mosby

(16,168 posts)
1. I think he makes a great point
Fri Apr 20, 2018, 02:43 PM
Apr 2018

I think Jewish DUer's have been trying to deal with Antisemitism from the left, we have been confronting people about bigotry against Jews for more than 15 years now on this website.

It's not easy with a conservative government in charge in Israel, the latest example is Natalie Portman, who just refused an award from a non-profit group because she apparently is unable to distinguish between Israel and the netanyaho government. I thought she was smarter than that, guess I was wrong.

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