Mark Twain has been quoted as saying,"In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing."
Lately I am finding this more and more to be the case in certain circles on certain issues.
It seems to me that how you see yourself is largely determined by the shard of the broken mirror into which you choose to gaze. Truth is only going to happen after you acknowledge the mirror is cracked in the first place.
Rumors are swirling around so I will simply say that after a brief tenure at The Confluence I have decided to leave. I will not go into specifics here. Suffice it to say that the reasons being reported as to why I made this decision are largely inaccurate. Anyone can feel free to get in touch with me if they desire first hand information regarding my reasons.
To quote Twain again, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
Oh, and Big Jew Hater Joe Cannon has declared that it is his opinion that Israelis want to kill all the Palestinians.
"I do think that the Israelis want — in the end — to kill or to expel all Palestinians. It is the Palestinians, not the Jews, who are being “driven into the sea” as the axiom has it. In fact, the plan has been pretty open for some time now."You got it. Joe, I thought you were just another bigoted leftist Jew hating dumbass, but you figured it out. Killing Palestinians is the Israeli national pastime. That's why there are none left. And to think that I saw it on Confluence Street.
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I think i know why you made that decision, and I just want you to know I admire you for it and stand in solidarity with you. It seems hard that a lot of otherwise intelligent people totally misunderstand the experience of being Jewish in a world that a mere 65-70 years ago was putting people in ovens for no other reason than their affiliations, be it Jewish, gay or gypsy. When individuals compare Israel to the Nazi regime or Apartheid they should be called on it, or at least their opinions in the future must be suspect if their ideas can include that nonsense. Silence is complicit, and agreeement with those sentiments is in fact, anti-semitic, though many are wary of imposing that label. Maybe the anti-semitic feelings are too buried to be recognized by the holders, and too politiically incorrect for the bystanders.
Thanks for not being silent, or silenced. This blog has become a treasured stop on the internet highway, where I did have to remove my own exit to certain blogs before all the brouhaha at TC.
"Joe Cannon has declared that it is his opinion that all Israelis want to kill all the Palestinians."
Where on earth did you come up with that? He never said any such thing and I would love to hear how you managed to infer that message from what he actually did have to say.
But don't worry. I don't plan to make a habit of commenting on your site.
Inky
I am beyond proud to say I am no stranger here .. When antisemitism is not recognised for what it is in most naked form , when it slithers in a snakes belly disguised as "political discourse" the world becomes a more dangerous place , in my estimation. And it requires me to question the judgement of anyone who would even occassionaly link to a racist / misogynist/ or antisemitic blog, andalso question if would I want to be known for posting there. I think not . I have a reputation to maintain .
whoda thunk it
lanikai, thank you for your support. It means a lot; truly.
The situation at TC is unfortunate. The sanctimonious and self-righteous way it is currently being handled, with half truths, innuendo, and outright falsehood only exacerbates the problem. I am only more convinced that leaving was the correct decision.
Swan; your thoughtfulness and support are greatly appreciated as always.
Bigots like Cannon have been wrapping their hatred in their false morality for ages, this is nothing new under the sun. Decrying racism while being racist...what a brilliant sense of moral courage that is.
Inky; Infer? No, I can read.
Cannon said on TC
"I do think that the Israelis want — in the end — to kill or to expel all Palestinians. It is the Palestinians, not the Jews, who are being “driven into the sea” as the axiom has it. In fact, the plan has been pretty open for some time now."
Did I read that wrong, or am I being obtuse?
Please don't make a habit of commenting here if you're going to be unprepared for class and not do the required reading.
the fact that those comments were allowed to remain posted at the confluence made my head spin.
Yes, Shtuey, you are being obtuse, deliberately conflating the Israeli government's policies and actions, which is clearly what Cannon was referring to when he said "the Israelis want — in the end — to kill or to expel all Palestinians," with the views of ALL Israelis. I happen to know and treasure the friendship of Israelis who belong to the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement. I know that there are plenty of Israelis who find actions such as the latest assault on Gaza abhorrent, but with the establishment of a Netanyahu-Lieberman governing coalition, I don't see much hope for such voices effecting change for the better anytime in the near future.
Inky
Oh, sorry I used the word "all" when Cannon only implied it. Whatever.
Just out of curiosity, do you find it just as abhorrent that rockets fell on Israel, and are still falling now, and that, despite repeated petitions to the UN by Israel, nothing was done?
The fact that people like Cannon refuse to acknowledge is that Israelis are just as entitled to have their human rights upheld as the Palestinians.
Make no mistake, there has never been at any time a peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Neither Hamas or Fatah recognize Israel's right to exist, and both are dedicated to her destruction. The fact that right wing parties received more votes than the left is a reflection of the fact that Israelis are not interested in making peace with terror kleptocracies, and why should they be?
If the world made half the effort to help Palestinians build legitimate political institutions that they expend on condemning Israel then we'd have peace.
Until that happens there is no point in even talking. The only good thing about a right leaning government in Israel is that they aren't stupid enough to think that Fatah and Hamas will give peace for land. Land for peace with Fatah and Hamas is a lie.
I have blood kin in Israel. No one is happy about what happened in Gaza, but without pressure from the international community to stop the weapons smuggling and rockets Israel has very few options. Contrary to popular belief there is no magic peace wand to wave that turns genocidal Islamists into pacifists.
Shtuey -
Contrary to popular belief there is no magic peace wand to wave that turns genocidal Islamists into pacifists.
What about the "moderate Taliban"? Don't they deserve to be heard, too?
/snark
Just came by to say, you have my support 100%. We definitely made the right decision, no matter how painful it was to get there.
The reality is that if genocide was Israel's policy why is this even an issue? Oh yeah, because genocide is not Israel's policy. Ooops!
Anyone who makes statements such as Cannon's shouldn't even be at the table, and those who support them shouldn't even be allowed to use the port-a-potties outside. We like to deal with reality, not propaganda Chomsky bullshit.
Thank you madamab! I would have preferred to remain silent on this issue, but it's difficult to do so when lies are being told about you by people who don't even know who the hell you are.
No, it wasn't easy, but we're in good company.
Hey, I'm with you all the way. Cannon isn't just an anti semite, he's a total asshole, and as for that person that runs that blog over there, its like school on Saturday, no class!!! LOL @ madamab!
PS, I PROMISE to do a post at the Tavern in the next day or so!
Thanks GCH! I'm amazed that a post like that went up, Cannon behaves in a way that demonstrates why we took the position we did, and some people over there are still don't see it.
People are weird.
Just wanted to stop by and offer a hug.
I don't feel I know enough about the I/P conflict to comment on it so I usually keep my mouth shut. But it became clear to me rather quickly through JC's comments on TC that he has a decidedly toxic viewpoint.
Swanspirit, I completely understood your point about "marginal" anti-Semitism disguised as political debate. I first noticed it during the 2000 election and IMO it's getting worse. And this observation comes from an atheist outsider so when I can see it I don't understand why others can't.
Hugs to all,
gxm17
(I'm not sure if you're moderating comments, so if I accidentally double post please remove the duplicate.)
Thank you gxm for your support.
You're always welcome at OMV.
You know you will always have my support. Though I have no blood kin in Israel I have memories of my friend Yair...and the selflessness he showed a handful of Navy sailors while we were on shore leave in Haifa, Israel.
Ten years later I met Yair again this time in Savannah, GA and he remembered that time in Israel and remembered me.
You made me go and look at my pictures from my first visit to Israel....and remember with warmth the time spent in Israel.
I was feeling kind of lo ...after reading the comments here I feel much better ..
I am also puzzled as to why " some people don't see it" when it ... antisemitism , that is ...
is up and walking around and talking out loud ...
So my thanks to everyone here , and I am looking forward to lots of interesting posts and commentary :)
because it's been there forever.
It's hard to see it if it's presented as normal.
When I was little, my nana had a whole wall of really old pictures.
I used to ask @who's that?@
@It's uncle Schlomo@
@where is he?@
@he died at Birkenau@
and auntie Hannah, and auntie Rashela and cousin Miriam and cousin David.
They were all dead. They had all died in the Holocaust. My nana was the last of that line, and through her, that heritage, of those people, little merchants, craftsmen, a rabbi or two, modest jews from Bassarabia, had to be passed on.
she had chosen to not raise her children as jewish ( my grandfather was a non practicing cristian) because that doomed them to a life of privations and hatred.
In the last years of her life, with cancer eating her body, she chose to try and reach out to us, her grandchildren. To try and make us understand what we were and where we came from.
The first thing she taught us was how to hide it. She was right. most people's atitudes cange wen they are told I am Jewish. It's like confessing I have an embarassing disease.
People like Cannon keep that hatred alive and well.
And Riverdaughter has the audacity to say that we should lose the Holocaust crutch. Of course, dog forbid we might embarass the christians with a reminder of their crimes.
And her @my grandfather was jewish, I know what i'm talking about@ offends me. It sounds like @my best friend is black@ for some reason.
Ah yes, the Holocaust crutch. I wonder how far you would get at TC if you made an equivalent statement about the oppression of women...not very far I would think, and rightfully so. The Holocaust is not a a crutch, it was an event in which 1/3 of world Jewry was incinerated for no reason other than baseless hatred. But it happened to American Indians first so we should just stop yammering about it.
We don't need a homeland Soopermouse. It's not as if every major power during WWII closed its doors to Jewish refugees, or sat on their hands while they knowingly ignored the killings, facilitating the genocide...oh wait...
I get quite tired of pronouncements from people who have no stake in the future of Israel, or a Palestinian state for that matter, who lack the most basic, first hand knowledge regarding the history and current situation. They have all the answers don't they? Isn't that special.
The fact is that the Holocaust is the prism through which Jews see the world because we know what the world is capable of, and the world was complicit. Once an event like this happens to you there is no going back. It is a collective pain knowing the world let this happen. It is a constant reminder that you are not really wanted and, when given the choice, the world was fine with you being wiped away.
It is hope that let's us think that things have changed. We have seen first hand at that blog that there is still a very long way to go.
Soopermouse, that story is heartbreaking. I'm sorry, but I'm starting to think that Riverdaughter is just as bad as Cannon. Especially after some of the stuff she wrote the other day. She pretends to want to be balanced on the issue, but if you read what she writes about the creation of Israel it is clear that she doesn't even know what the hell she is talking about. On top of that she's a liar. That whole post was so off base it made my head spin. she and bostonboomer really slandered some very good people. They should be ashamed of themselves.
yep
I followed my nana's advice for a long time- not show my jewishness because it was dangerous.
Then I decided that I had nothing to lose. I'm in your face Jewish, and proud of it.
I will stop supporting Israel as soon as my people arefree to live as equals everywhere else, and not a second sooner.
people who live in the USA as americans have no right to ask the Israelis to leave a land they have more rights to than any non native american has to the US of A. If they want to return the land to its original owners, they should clean up their damn house first.
mind you, we do have more rights to Israel than they do to the USA.
The first time i stepped foot in Israel, I felt, for the first time in my existence, home. I belonged there, in a land I've never seen before, more tahn I did in the country I was born in or anywhere else.
I was no longer rootless.
And then I went to Jerusalem and that was my heritage. That is what we are defending, and it is worth defending.
And they want to play oppression olympics with us?
soopermouse, as a gay person I find your story really touching. I also spent the first couple decades of my life trying to desperately hide who I was out of fear. The closet is an awful thing to be in. I'm glad that you were able to embrace who you really are.
bigotry looks the same regardless who it's aimed at, in my experience.
We don't live in a good world. MY nana used to say it to me all the time, and she was right. We don't. And the best way for those on top to keep everyone else down is by having each oppressed category hate the others. Divide and conquer.
Hi, shtuey, I think I've told you of my mixed heritage many a time- my Sephardic Jewish dad and my gentile German mom (they looked like Ricky and Lucy together!). Anyway, I took my ailing mommy out for a spin yesterday, and she informed me of something I never knew before. I always thought my maternal Grandmother hated my dad because of who he was, but my mom said that she didn't want her to marry my dad, because she was in Germany when the horror began and thought any children my mom would have would be forever at risk of persecution and she didn't want my mom or her grandkids to have to deal with it. Now I know part of why my mom never converted and why they had us live a secular life.
My Jewish Grandmother IDA , "came over on the boat" when she was 13, to meet and marry the man who was my grandfather whom I never did meet. She was Orthodox, very strict .
My father had five siblings . One brother changed his name , married a German girl and was lost to the family until my dad finally found him , but that was not until after his brother was already dead. I remember, my father cried holding on to the phone . His younger sister, my Aunt Suzie worked for Bobby kennedy , and later for Bella Abzug , for many years. She was a pistol, and I so loved her .
I have never heard the term holocaust crutch before , and I hope I never hear it again. My Aunt Suzie would have lost it . My dad would have said "don't pay any attention to them; the world is full of stupid people".My Italian mother would have been appalled.
But that term is almost on a par with holocaust denial ...stunning in its ignorance . Stunning ....
I deeply appreciate the rich cultural heritage I have .
PS I don't do interblog flame wars , so I won't be mentioning names etc .... I just move on ;)
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. We are all in this together. It is not only Jews who suffer from Judeophobia; we are all victims. Whether you are Jewish, gay, Roma, of color, a woman, when one faces prejudice, bigotry, and slander, it means that any of us at any time can be preyed upon. It means no one is safe.
Israel is the door that is open when all other doors are shut. That is something worth defending.
You got that right Shtuey ... I love the way you express yourself ... and everyones else here too comments here are amazing.... I feel as if we are in big ole comfy chairs sittin around talkin ..with some great music on of course ...
I don't think of myself as a victim , tho I know I have been "victimized".... But I am very upset at the thought of others being victimized ...We cannot be truly free as a people or a country while this kind bigotry has power...After all this is why this country was founded and is great .. I believe that we cannot forget , even when others do ... or want you to pretend to forget... to make them feel better
That goes for Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza as well. How can anyone expect peace when not even the terrorists who supposedly represent them don't even stand for their human rights. Standing for the destruction of Israel is a far cry from standing for the human rights of Palestinians. People like Cannon apparently do not see that, and probably never will.
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