In praise of the Jewish blogosphere

[Violet_Crumble]

By Richard Silverstein

I began my blog, Tikun Olam, in February 2003, one month before the Iraq war began. Even more than opposition to the imminent war, what motivated me was my passion to speak out on behalf of Israeli- Palestinian peace. Military force, I have always believed, though it might serve a legitimate defensive function, ultimately could never resolve the conflict. I have been dedicated to this cause all my adult life, but until blogging developed, I had no regular, public means of expressing my views.

It was lonely at first. The world of blogs, not to mention of progressive Jewish ones, was much smaller five years ago. But what drove me was seeing blogging as a personal expression of angst, passion, anger, identity - whatever are your deepest emotions

<snip>

Not that all's always well in the Jewish blog world. The breaking down of communal consensus has caused a breakdown of civility, and some blogs are characterized by a barrage of hate, invective and verbal assault.

There has also been a steep rise in partisanship. More radical, violent and racist ideas get more attention than they ever did in the past. I have been unsuccessfully sued for libel for calling militant pro-Israel activist Rachel Neuwirth a "Kahanist." The owner of another far-right site, Masada2000, started a mock blog in my name, which included pornographic references and a stolen image of my son and me, with a caption saying we were making bombs (we were baking cookies). Masada2000's owner also threatened me with genital mutilation. Members of the Kahanist Jewish Task Force Web site wished that I would get cancer of the rectum. It would be wrong to see these merely as aberrant Jewish expressions or the actions of lone troubled individuals (though they might be that). For the Internet has given nuts a huge megaphone to amplify and spread their hate.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/948025.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Kudos Richard!

:thumbsup:

[msmcghee]

2. "For the Internet has given nuts a huge megaphone to amplify and spread their hate."

Yeah, read your own website, jerk.

[breakaleg]

5. Getting personal are we? Considering your many hate filled posts, I find this amusing.

In some circles, comparing Palestinians to cockroaches might seem a little extreme. But from you, it's just another day at DU.

[oberliner]

6. Did you see where an Egyptian was quoted as comparing Palestinians to locusts?

The shoppers depleted Rafah stores, prompting 32-year-old Ashraf el-Sayyid, an Egyptian, to ride his motorbike into the Gaza Strip. "I need to buy bread for my children," he said. "The Palestinians left us with nothing. It's true, they are dear to us, but today, they were like locusts."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gaza_shopping_spree_1

[msmcghee]

8. I don't expect an answer from breakaleg . .

. . but do you recall me comparing Palestinians to cockroaches? I have no recollection of that. If so could you remind me of the context or perhaps provide a link. I've done a search but nothing comes up.

[Scurrilous]

28. What does that have to do with the racist comments posted on DU?

:shrug:

[ProgressiveMuslim]

44. Hunger does that to a person. Shame on Israel. nt

[msmcghee]

7. Someone else mentioned that too.

I have no idea what you're talking about. Please provide a link.

[breakaleg]

9. I copied the text when you wrote it but I can't find the thread.

Page through your posts and trust me, it's there. Unless it's been deleted already.

[breakaleg]

10. Found it. It's been deleted, of course.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=197504&mesg_id=197556

[msmcghee]

12. OK - I remember that post.

But I don't remember referring to Palestinians as cockroaches. I'm not saying I didn't use the word - but is it possible I was referring to the militants firing rockets and then scurrying under cover before the IDF could react? I do remember that I was discussing how I had gained a fresh understanding of Egypt's hesitancy to help the Palestinians too much - based on the op. I can't imagine why I would have used the word "cockroaches" in that context.

For the record, I don't think of the Palestinians as cockroaches and I think it would be very unlikely I would say that in a post. I do have a very bad opinion of militants who attack innocent civilians with the intent to kill as many as possible - and who celebrate when they are successful. For them, I think "cockroaches" is a pretty mild label. But it's not a word that write very often. I think I would have remembered it. According to the DU search engine I have never used it in this forum.

I do notice a tendency here to to twist my words so they can be characterized as bigoted whenever possible. Forgive me if I remain a little suspicious.

[breakaleg]

13. "18. It's like somebody turned on the lights." It seems pretty clear to me.

[msmcghee]

14. Please read what you just posted . .

"18. It's like somebody turned on the lights." It seems pretty clear to me."

Have you ever heard the expression that finally understanding something that was difficult is like a light bulb going off? Have you ever seen a cartoon of someone with a light bulb over their head when they figure something out?

You are saying that because cockroaches don't like the light - if I say that when I understand something elusive it's like somebody turned on the lights - that I am calling Palestinians cockroaches.

Do you have any ability to think rationally at all?

[breakaleg]

17. The OP of the thread was about the wall coming down and Palestinians streaming into

Egypt freely. In response, you said what you did. The image that came to mind was Palestinians scattering when the lights came on. I do think that's exactly what you meant.

[msmcghee]

21. Scattering into Egypt . .

. . where the lights were also on? Riiiight!

If I had meant to use that metaphor I would have said, "18. It's like somebody turned on the lights and the cockroaches are scurrying into Egypt" or something like that.

Not, "It's like somebody turned on the lights. It seems pretty clear to me."

Images of cockroaches scurrying for cover is the sick product of your own mind.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[oberliner]

16. Would that we could review all the statements contained in deleted posts

I have read quite a few choice insults directed at Israelis that were more than a little dehumanizing.

[breakaleg]

18. If a person's posts are deleted regularly, perhaps some soul searching is in order. nt

[msmcghee]

20. Yes, let me know what you discover. n/t

[breakaleg]

22. My posts don't get deleted very often. Do yours? nt

[msmcghee]

23. I can see you're not going to discover much down that path.

There are so many interesting psychological parallels between the Palestinian war against Israel and the war in this forum by those who support the Palestinians war against Israel.

One, is that it's always the other side's fault. The other side is always assumed to have the worst possible intentions and never given any credit for good intentions no matter how obviously that is the case - and never the benefit of the doubt. That's a characteristic of fanaticism BTW. It's always somebody else's fault and you are never responsible for what happens to you - like being shown to be a fool.

As you might notice I enjoy seeing this forum through that window. It's a wonderful look into the human nature of conflict.

[Violet_Crumble]

34. I don't get why any deleted post of a dehumanising nature is being discussed or defended...

I've seen some of the posts you refer to before they've been deleted, but what I don't recall seeing happening in the past is people returning and actually trying to defend their posting of such comments, and I suspect the reason for that is that most people would realise that they crossed a line and there's good reason why their post was deleted. When they return and try to argue why such comments should have been posted, it's a good indication that they'd post the exact same thing again and don't have any comprehension of what was wrong with their comment in the first place. And if someone returns, not just once, but time and time again, and admits they should have taken more care in how they expressed themselves, that just wears thin after the first few times, coz it becomes clear that they're either not taking care in how they express themselves, or they're using that reason as an excuse to continue posting comments of a dehumanising nature....

[msmcghee]

36. Cute. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

41. Nope. True n/t

[msmcghee]

11. I've been searching for two days. Can't find it.

Can you PM me with whatever you remember about it?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

45. I recall your absurdly comparing yourself to an artist, for your sly allusions.

You're so clever. Not.

[msmcghee]

29. Gore says "changing light bulbs" not enough.

Obviously he means not enough to expose all the Palestinians running for cover. Who would have thought that Al Gore was a racist Palestinian hater who thinks they are cockroaches. And to think they gave him Nobel prize.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3154353&mesg_id=3154353

[Tom Joad]

15. I should let msm speak in her own words...

I suspect though that eventually, if peace becomes a hopeless mirage in an ever hazier future, that Israel will tire of the constant state of war and killing and may adopt even more stringent defensive policies that would help more Palestinians see the wisdom in living someplace other than next door to Israel.

That may be their only reasonable alternative.

Or talking of human rights for Palestinians (note the use of "terrorist" for Palestinians

Far more likely that after 9/11 no politician . .

Edited on Fri Feb-16-07 12:43 PM by msmcghee
. . would gain traction from supporting human rights for terrorists - or those who could easily be characterized as terrorists by their political opponents. ......

[msmcghee]

19. This is so interesting Tom.

Your posts repeatedly spout lies that are inflammatory personal insults that have no basis in fact.

Yet, if I use a common expression for a Eureka moment - the lights going on in my head - that is interpreted as me calling Palestinians "cockroaches" and my post gets deleted with no explanation from the mods after repeated requests.

Very interesting.

[msmcghee]

24. Did a little editing did we?

[Tom Joad]

25. much editing. you should try it.

[Scurrilous]

27. More like...

jealous.

Extremely jealous.

A fellow DUer gets published in a major Israeli newsite and it drives some here up the wall.

[Violet_Crumble]

35. You hit the nail on the head there...

So extremely jealous that it feels the need to try to hijack the thread into a discussion of its favourite subject - itself!

[msmcghee]

37. Actually breakaleg high jacked the thread.

I just responded to his/her attack by defending myself. I realize that people defending themselves from attack makes you furious as it does all bullies. But just like in the ME - if there were no attacks there would be no need for self defense. ;)

[Violet_Crumble]

40. Take yr drama queen theatrics somewhere else...

I'm not furious, nor am I a bully. I do however think yr a not particularly bright troll who's not interested in any serious discussion, and you confirmed yrself in another thread that yr not here to engage in constructive discussion...

Have you thought about starting yr own forum where you can talk about yrself to yr heart's content without having to bore the shit out of the rest of us here?

[msmcghee]

42. Take a deep breath Vi. Maybe a hot bath. It's over. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

43. I'm glad yr going to be taking my advise and starting a forum all about *you*...

And you really do need to put down the mirror and stop projecting yr own impotent rage onto others :)

[msmcghee]

46. Maybe a couple of aspirins too. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

47. You could write all about yr aspirin taking on yr new forum! n/t

[azurnoir]

3. The internet has given a vioce to those that little or none

the result is a "war" of words where the parsing any statement for the slightest inaccuracy in an attempt to purvey the idea of "mathematical truth" has become hallmark. However the parameters have changed and history will never again be written solely by the "victors"

[Vegasaurus]

4. Not again with the word salad...nt

[Violet_Crumble]

32. No-one else but you seems to have trouble understanding the poster..n/t.

[Vegasaurus]

48. delete

[LeftishBrit]

33. This sort of 'parsing' war of words preceded blogging...

Certainly common enough in the British Parliament; and in the law courts!

True that with blogging, more people get their 'day in court' than in the past.

[azurnoir]

49. While the parseing was surprising

for me, it was also eye opening. When it happens in a legal office or government function it is not a surprise, on an open forum however it was, especially when you consider how informal the rest of DU is.

What is really important though is information availability, possibly (likely) British are more world conscious than Americans who tend to rather insular.

[LeftishBrit]

26. Good for all you bloggers!

but I cannot believe that "In the age before blogs, Jewish leaders were like political bosses. They ruled their roosts, and anyone who questioned them was easily frozen out of communal discourse. Their politics were conservative and generally supportive of the Israeli right." In the UK at least, Jewish politicians and activists through the years have ranged from the conservative (e.g. the late Sir Keith Joseph) to the liberal/left (e.g. my MP Evan Harris who is on the left wing of the Lib Dem party) and included communists and other far-leftists.

As regards the 'cockroaches' remark: I believe that this is attributed to the late Israeli General Rafael Eitan - and caused a lot of indignation among Israelis whom I know. I don't remember anyone saying it on this forum, and I am sure I would have noticed such a thing.

[Violet_Crumble]

31. I'll add my congrats to Richard here....

It's quite a feat to be published in Ha'aretz....

As regards the cockroaches remark: I did see someone in this forum make a comment that portrayed Palestinians in Gaza as being like cockroaches, and I'd say the reason you didn't notice it is it was deleted reasonably quickly. But just like when the infection metaphor was used, I'm sure we can put that sort of thing down to 'subtle cultural differences'?

[msmcghee]

38. Just curious, but did you read the thread after that . .

. . deleted post?

PM: What is that comment supposed to mean?

Me: I've re-read the post. There are no typos . . what don't you undertstand?

PM: "it's like someone turned on the lights."

If I had used the word "cockroaches" in that thread referring to Palestinians - don't you think PM would have mentioned that? Don't you think that would have been the focus of her comment? Don't you think she would have mentioned it?

Instead she asked what I meant by "it's like someone turned on the lights".

If I had used the word "cockroaches" in that post - do you really think my meaning would have required clarification?

Unless you can come up with an actual quote from me I suggest you STFU with your accusations and stop with the bigotry.

[Violet_Crumble]

39. Yeah, I saw you comparing yr 'prose' to that of Bob Dylan!

I also noticed that you refused to clarify what you'd said. That more than anything in more than one thread where you claim you've been misunderstood says a lot.

Also, if you bothered to read my post you'd have noticed that I didn't say you used the word cockroaches...

Ah, so now yr saying that I'm a bigot coz I did see that post of yrs. Yet you whine and carry on incessantly about people calling you a bigot (I've seen far less in the way of accusations against you than I've seen of you whining about how everyone calls you a bigot) and had the nerve to do a post insisting that the forum would be a better place if accusations of bigotry stopped. Here's some advice for free, - follow yr own advice just for once....

[bemildred]

30. Kick. nt