anti-war,anti-atrocites / NOT anti-semetism, but accusations=

[jarnocan]

a useful device.

"There's a small but vocal pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel and perhaps anti-Semitic faction of the Democratic Party,'' ... former Lieberman aide and informal adviser to the campaign.... "It is a small minority but it is getting bolder, and even worse. There is a growing tolerance of it in the progressive community."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200607280002?src=other
this is mostly non-sense in my sincere opinion. Being oppose to right wing policies and war, Israel, or in the USA does not mean someone is anti-semetic. We have to clear this one up, because it is complete BU**SH**, and most importantly is being used as a TOOL by the far-right to, discredit, demean, denounce, devide and conquer. The accusation of anti-semetism is a VERY intimidating to many people, including those in the media, and there for can be used very effectively by master manipulators.
Reality on the other side, is yes, some anit- semtics will use the real tragic events, to promote their agenda, so will some on the far-right.
The PNAC , Likud and other far -right groups to have close ties.

"US News / Special: Empire Builders / Spheres of influence: Neocon ...Some of the strongest supporters of Israel's right-wing Likud Party in the already ... this open letter from PNAC to President George W. Bush urging "
www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/spheresInfluence.html

http://www.oilempire.us/pnac.html

[bryant69]

1. I don't think it's anti-semetic

That said I think it's plain that many have decided which side they are on, whether it is Israel or Hezbollah (although admittedly the people who are supporting Hezbollah are quick to deny such support).

And I think once you've picked a side, you are naturally an apologist (to a certain extent) for the atrocities they commit.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. They are "quick to deny" because there isn't one. -nt

[bryant69]

3. Yes I agree - they certainly don't want to admit it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Indeed.

Just like you don't want to admit that you shot JFK from the grassy knoll.

[bryant69]

5. Oh no- I'l admit that, but it was from the rocky knoll

The Grassy knoll was too crowded, couldn't get a good shot.

Also, I cancelled Star Trek.

[stepnw1f]

12. lol... good one (nt)

[booley]

11. Maybe "we" deny it

because "we" AREN'T on Hezzbollah's side.

You know, just like being against the Iraqi Occupation doesn't make one FOR terrorism.

I have no problem condemning hezzbollah. it' s just that Israel can kill on a level that hezzbollah only wishes it could.

[jarnocan]

14. good point

some try to equate condemning actions with denying Israel's right to exist, and then use it to advance their agenda.

[elana i am]

16. I would agree.

I'm not on Israel's side, and I'm certainly not on Hezbollah's side. I'm on the side of the majority of Lebanese people who have no affiliation to Hezbollah yet are being attcaked by Israel the very same way the innocent Iraqis were attacked by the US. Am I just really simple minded or is it really just that simple?

[cali]

6. I don't know why DUers

are such atrocious spellers. It's anti-semitic, not anti-semetic, and that surely isn't the only commonly misspelled word around these parts.

[jonnyblitz]

8. you must be running out of hairs to split if you are complaining

about spelling. :P

[WilliamPitt]

13. Why do you hate Isreal?

:P

[jarnocan]

15. because many of US just have real lives and multi-task etc.

We are not all professionals, we are busy. Usually I spell check if I write a letter, but not always on here.
I have also always found it interesting that the term is mostly used concerning only Jewish people.
"Semitic-speaking peoples of the Near East and northern Africa, including the Arabs, Arameans, Babylonians, Carthaginians, Ethiopians, Hebrews, and Phoenicians."

[KharmaTrain]

7. I See It As Ignorance

There's a combination of factors at work here. Each creates what I see as a distorted view of the I/P situation and the Middle East mess in general.

The dirty secret in the reigious society of this country is the "separate status" Jews hold in this country and how they're different or lost or bad. I've encountered too many in my years who have never met a Jew or had limited contact and it's like they're at the zoo...they look to see if I have horns or ask why I don't see Jesus the same way they do. It's not said overtly, but it demonstrates how inbred misunderstanding between religions is and that it starts at a very early and formative age.

There's also a misunderstanding of the history of this conflict and the parties involved. I've been fortunate to have spent a summer traveling all over Israel, including up to the Lebanese border and into the West Bank. I saw Palestinians being treated as second-class citizens, but also know that's how they were treated by the Jordanians and are treated that way by other Arab nations. I feel for their isolation and how they've been used as proxies in a culture war that was used by the US/USSR during the cold war and now has been hijacked by the Neo-Cons and Arab Nationalists for their own purposes. In the middle is a lot of carnage, hate and misunderstanding.

Israel's problem has been her success. In the need to feel secure and not trust others to provide that security, the country has developed a survivalist mindset that has only hardened over the years as the attrocities and bodies pile up. This war isn't the last one...nor will the next...each is waged based on the past and the polarization and misunderstanding grows further.

Finally, the biggest misunderstanding is there's only one solution here...be it a "Greater Israel" or Palestine or Syria. Each group has its own myopic view of their situation and have allowed history and third parties to increase those tensions and misunderstandings.

While I'm Jewish and a supporter of the State Of Israel's right to exist...and legitimacy (which Palestinians and Arabs don't), I don't support Likud or Neo-Cons and generally oppose most things these people stand for. But I also see a dispropriate bias here as to how Palestinians and Arabs are victims to some massive brutal Israeli monster. There needs to be dialogue...unfortunately it doesn't stand a chance when there are set opinions.

[smacky44]

9. If by "success you mean getting the most sophisticated weapons then yes.

But I take exception to this statement:
"Israel's problem has been her success. In the need to feel secure and not trust others to provide that security, the country has.." Israel hasn't exactly done this on their own. They confiscated the best land and waterways from the Palestinians, rule by fear, intimidationm, and deceit, and are NOT able to feel secure even WITH all the aid that the US gives it. Without the US acting as obstructionist to the UN and the rest of the world, Israel would not be nearly as "successful" as you claim. Their own brand of "apartheid" reigns and their atrocities of so-called self-defense convinces me that they are no more civilized than their Arab or Palestinian neighbors, maybe even less so because they have the power to be different and refuse to be.

[KharmaTrain]

10. How About U.S. Aid To The Palestinian Authority?

Now did Israel control that money? Nope, it went to Arafat. If anything Israel hoped it would be invested in setting up businesses and civilian activities that would promote trade and thus cooperation between all involved. To me that's always been the key...for both sides to move forward there needs to be an economic relationship between these people...not favoring one side or another. While Israel has taken American aid and invested it not just in its military but in its civilian infrastructure and economy, the PA squandered the money and the opportunity. This wasn't deceit by Israel, this was from their own leaders who stuffed their own pockets at the continual suffering of their own people.

Or how about the Arab nation...loaded with money...who have offered only lip service and a cold shoulder to the Palestinians? The Jordnanians could have created a Palestinian state, but kept it as a province...and a poorly maintained one at that. Egypt could have done the same with Gaza. You talk about "aparthied"...even though this isn't a separation of races, how about the second-class status Palestinians live in within other Arab countries? How the Arab powers in the region have made sure the refugee camps remain...segregating the Palestinians from the rest of the population so as to keep this strife on high boil and to create a diversion from their own repressive action on their own people. But I guess we look the other way when its Arabs mistreating Arabs...it's only the Jews who do it.