U.S. Jewish leaders call for boycott of Beijing Olympics

[subsuelo]

A wide-ranging group of U.S. Jewish leaders plans to release a statement Wednesday urging Jews worldwide to boycott the Summer Olympics in Beijing, citing China's troubling record on human rights and Tibet.

"We are deeply troubled by China's support for the genocidal government of Sudan; its mistreatment of the people of Tibet; its denial of basic rights to its own citizens; and its provision of missiles to Iran and Syria, and friendship for Hamas," the statement reads.

"Having endured the bitter experience of abandonment by our presumed allies during the Holocaust, we feel a particular obligation to speak out against injustice and persecution today."

The declaration was organized by Greenberg and Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of New York - both Orthodox Jews - and the Washington-based David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.

Haaretz - read more

[oberliner]

1. Already posted this in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3289708

Why do you think its better suited for I/P?

Seems to deal with American Jews and China, doesn't it?

[subsuelo]

2. Do the organizers also agree to boycott Israel for it's criminal actions against Palestinians?

[oberliner]

3. Is Israel hosting the Olympics?

Somehow I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Behind the Aegis]

24. No. It is called "conflation." n/t

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. Perhaps Israel should sit this one out, since we're all passing moral judgments.

The Israel-only crowd usually points to China as the "other bad guy."

The willful blindness, hypocrisy and arrogance of this statement makes me sick to my stomach.

Hey boys, how about looking in the mirror?

[oberliner]

5. These are US Jewish leaders - not "Israel"

I don't think it is fair to conflate the two.

I'm not sure what you mean by the "Israel-only crowd".

This is a pretty broad group of American Jewish organizations representing the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox communities.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Don't be so surprised.

What would be seen as something positive were it from any other group of religious leaders is nefarious and duplicitous when done by Jews. Look at your post in LBN...same thing.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

14. I misread. I understood the OP to call for Israel to boycott. My bad.

That makes more sense. Whew!

[bemildred]

7. So boycotts are good now?

Not unfair and counterproductive?

[oberliner]

8. When did these groups make any statement about boycotts being unfair and counterproductive?

To the contrary, I've heard some Jewish leaders argue that anyone who is considering boycotting Israel must also consider a boycott of China (among others).

[bemildred]

9. Who said "these groups"?

Not me. But I have certainly seen that argument made here. I personally think boycotting China is a bad idea, not because I approve of their Tibet policy, I don't, but because I think it's a bad idea. But I have seen it said here that boycotts of Israel were unfair and counterproductive. So the question I was aiming at was why it's a different case for China. FWIW, I think attacking Ms Gordimer is a bad idea too.

[oberliner]

12. The article is about groups who are supporting a boycott.

Your rhetorical question: "So boycots are good now?" seemed to suggest that at one point boycotts weren't good.

If that wasn't directed at the groups in the OP, I'm not sure who it was directed at. No one has yet expressed their support of the call by these groups to boycott the Olympics.

[bemildred]

15. Are you claiming it's never been said here that boycotts are unfair and counterproductive?

I thought I was reasonably clear.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. The reality is they are not calling for a boycott of the nation of China, but the Olympics.

That fact will escape many here. I didn't read where they were calling for a total boycott of China, but rather a boycott of a singular event, the Olympics, which is being held in China. Personally, I disagree with their decision to boycott a sporting event that is representative of all nations, or is supposed to be.

[bemildred]

11. It's like this, if boycott is an acceptable weapon for people to use,

then it's acceptable for anybody to use for any cause they choose. It's like free speech. If we can agree on that, I have no further argument. I don't care if it's China or the Olympics or Walmart.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Free speech -- Fire!

There are limits to free speech. I feel there should be limits to boycotts. To boycott an entire country, no matter how "evil," is courter-productive in my opinion. A country is made up of a variety of components. If it is the political arena, boycott it. If it is the economic sector, boycott it. That said, I feel most boycotts at that level are useless and really only hurt "the little guy." It is interesting the selective outrage of those who jump on boycotting the Olympics, but think nothing of boycotting the entire nation of Israel (not you, per se, just some here I have seen). However, anyone can boycott anyone else they want...I just don't see it in such a "black and white" perspective.

[bemildred]

16. Well, opinions will vary.

I see that you concede that boycotts are an acceptable form of political expression. Generally speaking, one can assume that the targets of boycotts won't like it, and I don't see why they should. In fact that is sort of the whole point of a boycott, to apply pressure. I just wanted to reduce the argument to the merits of the particular boycott, rather than any question of the utility of boycotts in general.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. Then look at the merits.

Do you see a difference between yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater and standing up on a table and yelling "Union! Union!"? In the same vein, do you see a difference in boycotting an entire nation and boycotting a specific event?

Personally, I feel boycotts are more useful when focused on smaller levels or on something direct, such as boycotting a local store which promotes homophobia or boycotting a product (line of products) because they are harmful. However, boycotting an entire nation, to me, seems pointless and, at worst, a form of bigotry (especially if other countries with similar or worse policies go unscathed).

[azurnoir]

18. Black South Africans might differ with you on that n/t

[bemildred]

20. The embargo on Cuba, the embargo on Gaza, the sanctions on Iran.

If nations can boycott each other, I don't see why individuals cannot boycott anything they like.

[oberliner]

21. South Africa ought to be boycotted right now for their support of Mugabe

He is definitely in the running for longest standing most brutal dictator on the continent.

[bemildred]

22. That is one we can agree on. nt

[Vegasaurus]

26. Some people will contend

that the leaders of Israel are worse than the most brutal dictators in Africa or the middle east.

It boggles the mind.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. They might, and might not. n/t

[azurnoir]

27. Huh?

Are you saying that the boycotts of South Africa had nothing to do with the ending of apartheid, or that that Black South Africans preferred apartheid?

[Behind the Aegis]

28. It is very simple.

You said: "Black South Africans might differ with you on that n/t"

I replied: "They might, they might not. n/t"

[bemildred]

19. I think opinions will vary.

In my opinion, I don't support any of these boycotts, at present.

[LeftishBrit]

25. There is a difference between boycotting a specific event, and boycotting an entire country

I often support boycotts of specific events, and specific sanctions on a country. I rarely support a total boycott; though there could be exceptional circumstances. In all cases, there needs to be a specific objective of the boycott ('you must stop doing X'; not just 'we don't like you; you're bad guys').

In the present case: I don't support a boycott of the Olympics, because other countries have been fully aware of the oppression of Tibet for a long time - long before China was made the host of the Olympics - and they should have refused China's bid in the first place. A boycott now would be unfair to the athletes of all countries who are competing there after extensive training (I might feel differently if this was something new that had suddenly come up). However, I think that it was wrong under the circumstances to allow China to host the Olympics in the first place.