There was a news item the other day about a dramatic inctrease in anti-semitism here in the UK. (one attack and loads of grafitti). The grafitti that got the most attention read "Jihad 4 Israel." This bugs me, and the press shouldn't fall for it. Condemning protest against the actions of the Isreali government as being anti-semetic does no one any favours.
You know, this is very true, but it made me think about a viewpoint I've heard recently, relating to politics here in the States, that might be applicable here.
The question here was, why did it take economic and political Armageddon for a Democrat to get elected here? Surely any reasonable discourse would show that the Republicans are devoid of any governing policy except to make the rich richer, at the expense of all else (including the survival of the middle class).
So this guy points out that the answer to the question
is in the fact that it was even asked. WTF does that mean?
?? Well, what he was saying is that while Democrats are sitting around searching for reasonable policies that can be justified with clear headed analysis of the data, the Republicans are out stirring up tribal hatred to get votes. So, in the extreme, you have some egghead Democratic policy wonk on TV saying something like "And so, in the final analysis, though there are merits to the opposing point of view, we feel that this course of action should be pursued instead ... on a trial basis of course, with revision and modification as may become necessary".
And on the other channel, the studly (or leggy) Republican is saying - "You know why life sucks? Because THEY did this to you! Yes, the liberal elites that want to take YOUR hard-earned money and give it to welfare queens and illegal immigrants!! Wasn't life better when you were growing up? Vote for US, let's get rid of THEM, and everything will be good again!!!".
And so there's no way level-headed policy analysis can compete with rabble rousing.
So, yes, you're right that it's not justifiable to tar those who want to have a reasonable discussion about Israel's faults with the brush of antisemitism. But while one side slaps itself honorably for not playing according to the Rules of Hoyle, the other side is building pipe bombs to blow up airports and subways with.
Who's going to win that one?