Why one student switched sides over BDS

[shira]

Five months ago, I sent the following message to the president of Students for Justice in Palestine, “Way to go! Just wanted to let you know that I stand with your position on Divestment 100 percent and your letter was way more articulate than the opposing letter. Yes, what’s happening in Israel right now stinks of the same inhumane racism and bigotry we’ve come to see from the Jim Crow laws and apartheid. If our campus wants to truly pride in diversity and equality, they would see that divestment is the first step towards equality and justice for all.”

Today, I stand here, as a former supporter of Divestment, to tell you, that I was wrong.

Five months ago, I blindly supported the BDS movement on our campus, I was one of them. I discussed my support of BDS on the radio, many of my friends were in SJP, and the many minority communities I was in, were fully invested in BDS. I even planned last summer to join the campaign against Israel. I was emblematic of many college students across the U.S, being anti-Israel in the name of social justice and equality.

Over the summer, a violent and hateful picture posted to the SJP page was brought to my attention. It was in response to our school’s decision to turn down Divestment and it stated “Ethnic Cleansing Starts Here” a mockery of our school motto and a sign of disrespect to our student body. In the instant I saw the picture, I questioned it’s hateful motive, so as an opinion writer for the school paper, I set out to interview various Jewish students on campus to get their perspective on the issue. As students opened themselves up to me, I saw that they felt attacked, and isolated on a campus where they should feel safe. I knew in the testimonies I heard, that they felt voiceless. I published the article, stating my change in stance regarding Divestment and condemned the organization for being hateful. I condemned them for reducing Israel to a caricature specific to their narrative. I condemned them for marginalizing students on our campus.

In just 2 days after publishing, I received over 30 messages, calling for my resignation from the paper, calling me a baby killer, a racist apartheid supporter, and other hateful slurs I can’t mention right now. I have been threatened on campus and off, online and offline and have lost friendships I valued in the process. I’ve lost my sense of safety on our campus, but what I’ve lost in taking this important stance, I’ve gained in an amazing community through Stand With Us and other Israel advocates, not only within our campus but across the country.

http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/12/09/one-student-switched-sides-bds/

BDS bullies in action against Jewish students on campus.

So much to be proud of.

[Scootaloo]

2. If you're curious, here's his piece from The Daily Aztec (student Paper)

http://www.thedailyaztec.com/54505/daily-aztec-stories/ethnic-cleansing-starts-where/

It's breathless pablum.

But y'know, so long as it helps support the brutal and lethal occupation that you feel so proud of...

[shira]

3. Do u enthusiastically approve of BDS bullying methods....

...against Jewish students on college campuses?

There's a decent response to this question.

How about a solution to the bullying while you're at it?

[Scootaloo]

4. I don't approve of bullying anyone, Shira

Nor do I approve of making up false claims of being bullied. And sorry, being ":uncomfortable" with discussion of a brutal policy enacted by a nation's governmetn is nowhere near the same as being "bullied."

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

12. That comes up a lot, doesn't it? Uncomfortable.

God it must really kill some to have to admit that Israel is an apartheid state.

Uncomfortable...


Just like Americans have to admit that we are a torture state. One can be uncomfortable about it, but that doesn't change things.

[shira]

16. You're funny. It would help if u knew what apartheid actually was....

You believe that simply pointing out actual apartheid in Lebanon against Palestinians is itself evidence of Israeli apartheid.

Anyone disagreeing with you is also guilty of apartheid.

You said it yourself here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=58262

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

19. Hey, why not have the guasto to post what I have posted previously?

Here it its.

Taking another people's land, for use for ones own at the expense of the former, is Apartheid.

Inserting another group of people (over 500k illegal settlers) onto that land is Apartheid.

Having two sets of laws, one (look the other way) for the illegals - one (draconian) for the Palestinians is Apartheid.

Being in a constant state of harassment against the Palestinians, as they do anything to survive, is Apartheid.

Destruction of Palestinian homes, crops, livestock, even life (as f it were sport) is Apartheid.

Looking the other way (IDF clowns) as settlers attack Palestinains and their property then driving the Palestinians off for settler protection is Apartheid.


Reducing the Palestinians living within Israel to "*Arabs" besides being just a tad overtly racist is Apartheid.


Suggesting that "*Israeli Arabs" be forcibly removed from Israel to Palestine...revoking their citizenship, from a politician from the only Democracy in the Mid East is Apartheid.


Forcing Palestinians (aka *Israeli Arabs...aka Bedouin) off off their lands within Israel so as to construct Jewish-only settlements is Apartheid.


Suggesting the annexation of more of the West Bank to Israel is Apartheid.


Cheering this kind of crap on, while attempting to discredit the truth tellers is Apartheid.

[shira]

20. You deliberately left out the very next line of what u wrote in that quote...

Trying to deflect attention away from Israeli apartheid to Lebanon, while the real problem lays at the feet of Israel, is not only Apartheid but also is the laziest form of racism that I would expect from the Hasbaradists to belch forth into conversation.

See? The very mention of Lebanese apartheid is....apartheid to you.



Interestingly, in the middle of what you just quoted from yourself there's this massive fail...

Reducing the Palestinians living within Israel to "*Arabs" besides being just a tad overtly racist is Apartheid.

Calling Palestinians god-forbid "Arabs" is racist to you, and worse it's apartheid! Oh the humanity!

Ergo, you have no clue what apartheid is.

============

You don't even realize you defend apartheid constantly here.

After all, you're the one here defending apartheid policy vs. Jews and Xtians who merely wish to pray at their holy sites. Talk about projecting your own defense of apartheid onto others...



Your anti-zionist "analysis" is better suited for clown school.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

21. I really don't believe that you are making any sense now, shira.

In fact you appear, IMHO, to be hyperventilating.

The world has a very good clue what apartheid is, my poor deluded friend, and that is why BDS is growing.

BDS is what Israel and its supporters fear...and for good reason.


The writing is on the wall, and it doesn't look good for apartheid Israel.

[shira]

23. The proper thing for u to do is admit u were wrong.

What you wrote was ridiculous.

Honesty.

Try it.

=========

Maybe stop your defense of Temple Mount apartheid policy against non-Muslims seeking to pray there.

At the very least stop defending Apartheid before you accuse others (falsely) of cheering it on.

=========

Lastly, the BDS movement has been proven over and over again to be racist and supportive of terror against Israelis. I challenge you to state FTR that BDS is not racist and supportive of terror.

You up for that challenge?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

24. Please stop with the theatrics. I am embarrassed for you.

[shira]

25. I understand your reluctance to defend your views. n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

26. BDS is growing, shira. Face it. Israel is a rogue state.

No amount of lipstick on a pig will change it from being a pig.

[shira]

27. Can't handle simple criticism of BDS? I understand...

What I don't get is why you enthusiastically promote such a hateful, racist & fascist, pro-terror, pro-Apartheid movement like BDS, knowing it's rotten to the core. Can you riddle me that one?

If I'm wrong, then please explain.

Do you figure things are so bad you feel you have to work with the nastiest gutter anti-semites in order to oppose Israeli policy? Is the situation really that desperate?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

28. I'm stating the truth, shira.

I believe that any explanation that I could give to you would either be;

A. Over your head.

B. Met with resistance and more goal post changing.

C. Met with resistance and more endless queries.

D. All of the above.

[shira]

15. So u think Jews on campus are making false claims of being bullied by BDS'ers? n/t

[Scootaloo]

17. Here's what I think.

I think some men get very defensive when it is pointed out how much shit women have to put up with in their lives.
I think there are white people who get very uncomfortable when there is talk of racial injustice in the United States.
I think there's a number of straight people who get edgy when talk turns to LGBT rights and straight privilege.
I think there are some number of Jews who are upset by talk of the oppression of Palestinians by Israel.

These topics don't target the people who are getting defensive and angry over it. They are not being "bullied," though they may make that claim, because they do feel uncomfortable with these topics being broached. Why? Well, in these topics, the people getting defensive identify on some level with the caste doing the oppression, even if they personally do not support or endorse the wrongs being done by that caste (though of course, some might.)

[oberliner]

18. Do you think there are some Muslims who are upset by talk of anti-Semitism in the Arab world?

Would that be another category similar to the ones you listed?

[shira]

22. "I think there are...Jews who are upset by talk of the oppression of Palestinians by Israel."

There certainly are, just as there are anti-Zionists who are upset hearing of Jews being victims of Palestinian or Arab terror.

According to the anti-Zio playbook, only Palestinians can be victims while Jews are the oppressors. The script demands that it has to be that way....always.

==================

You once wrote that Holocaust survivors were invaders & thieves, basically leading the way as oppressors of Palestinians. I thought that was maybe one of the most vile things you ever wrote here.

That's not simple "talk" about oppression of people It's demonization.

Jews get upset when people "talk" like that.

==================

Using the words genocide, apartheid, colonialism, Jewish supremacy and white nationalism to describe Zionism is not "talk either".

It's straight up Jew-baiting.

==================

Calling for Israel's end, saying it never should have come about, that Jews have no right to their own state in their historic indigenous homeland, that they stole it all from the Palestinians who have exclusive rights to the land....means we aren't just talking about oppression of Palestinians. It's way more than that.

Everyone knows it's way more than simple "talk" about some issues.

It's about ending Israel. All the "criticisms" are a means to an end. These "criticisms" are not meant to improve Israel's behavior in order to make it a model Western democracy. They are meant to delegitimize the Jewish state and bring it down altogether....along with its Jews. Once a totalitarian racist Palestine ruled by Hamas (or worse) is created on the ruins of what was once Israel, it's "tough shit" for Jews who would then be in the very same position they were in as victims for the past 2000 years prior to 1948.

Everyone knows what would happen to the Jews of Israel with Hamas in charge there. And let's be real, that's exactly what anti-Zionists want. They make that clear when they support or defend Hamas' rocket attacks or defend the recent Jerusalem synagogue massacre as merely Palestinians fighting back.

That's what upsets Jews and makes them uncomfortable.

We know what this "talk" about oppression of Palestinians really is. It's Jew-hatred posing as human rights activism. Even David Duke FFS sees himself as a human rights advocate first and foremost.

We've been down this road before. For the last 2000 years. Anti-Zionists look, smell, and talk just like the Jews' tormentors of the past 20 centuries. We're experts at figuring out where we stand with those who hate us and/or want us dead. You can't put lipstick on the anti-zionist pig & think you're fooling us.

[oberliner]

5. Seems pretty earnest

What about the article makes you call it breathless pablum?

[azurnoir]

6. well it seems Mr Berteaux has finally found his niche

what is really very interesting is that for all he claims to have been an avid supporter of all things Palestinian absolutely nothing in his writing history at the Daily Aztec would indicate that, but we are to believe that one poster he found distasteful totally and completely turned him around, what it did do was get him published in Times of Israel and the publication we see here in this OP, virtually all 3 are the same


http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/anthony-berteaux/

list of previous and current writings for Daily Aztec

http://www.thedailyaztec.com/author/aberteaux/

[oberliner]

7. Do you think he's lying?

Do you think he wasn't really an avid supporter and just made this up to get published in the Times of Israel and elsewhere?

[azurnoir]

8. as I said he seems to have found his niche

and it also seems his claims have gotten him a smidgen of notice but he also seems to be writing the article over and over

a subsequent search also showed this

http://www.standwithus.com/news/article.asp?id=3662

[oberliner]

9. Yes but do you think the whole thing was a ruse for the start?

That is to say - do you think he ever actually was a fervent supporter of Palestine in the first place or do you think he just made that up to help get noticed?

[azurnoir]

10. I think his support of Palestinians did not run very deep I would and do doubt

all such "I've seen the light" instant converts on just about any subject

[oberliner]

11. I would agree

Especially considering he is still only just a sophomore in college.

[King_David]

13. You hear people on DU always telling us

How they used to once be supporters of Israel but not anymore.

Maybe the same kind of phenomenon.

Maybe as Azurnoir claims their support wasn't very "deep" to begin with.

Maybe....

[oberliner]

14. Perhaps so

I do know that freshman-sophomore years in college are generally "figuring things out" time in terms of where one stands on various issues.