Canada's Labor Union is Anti-Semitic and proud of it

Whether or not you agree with the stand that this union has taken on boycotting Israel (a similar position, I would add, to one that has been considered by a number of universities in this country), criticizing the policies of Israel is not the same as anti-semitism. And while this is a complex issue and there is more than one side to the story, many innocent Palestinians have suffered from brutality in the conflict with Israel.

And no one is "pro-terror" except for terrorists. To make an accusation that "Canadians are pro-terror" is just idiotic. From your many posts on the subject, it would appear that you are anti-Canadian, which is just another form of bigotry.

 

Well, I don't know that being critical of Israel is anti-semitic. In fact, I'm fairly sure it's not. If you really want to get to the heart of the situation in the middle east today, specifically the Israel and Palestine situation, you have to jump back to the Palestine Mandate for a start, and then go a bit further back to get the backstory on the situation.

However, Israel should move on. We moved on from the massacre of US sailors on the USS Liberty. The UK moved on from the Israeli masscare of sleeping British Paras. It's time for Israel to move on as well.

 

Michael may have had to go to work. I can't speak for him, but I agree generally with his politics/values.

First, I'd like to know more specifics about the CUPE vote. You mentioned only two issues: the wall/fence and the right of Palestinian return to Israeli territory. Were/are there other issues?

Second, I would not vote for such a resolution.

Third, I agree with Michael's post. Taking a position against an Israeli POLICY or TACTIC is not anti-Semitic. Your assertion that any criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic "because Israel is a Jewish state" is flawed reasoning, the kind that erodes international support for Israel rather than gaining any. I doubt any non-Jew here at PC is as "pro-Semitic" as I am, but even I do not equate decisions of the Israeli government (which, as you know full well, is itself badly divided) with "Jewishness". If you continue to insist that criticism of Israel is ipso facto anti-Semitism, I'll have a hard time supporting much that you say.

Israel is at a completely unexpected juncture. The startling pro-Hamas, anti-Fatah vote in the West Bank and Gaza has rendered the Palestinian ability to negotiate moot for the moment. No reasonable person can support Hamas in the light of its position on Israel, least of all me---even though I also understand that Hamas did much more than Fatah over the years to try to meet some of the day-to-day needs of Palestinians.

The net result is that Israel has what at first glance seems to be an unexpected gift from heaven: a greatly increased ability to impose a unilateral "settlement". How it handles this opportunity will largely determine its future ability to survive in peace among the other nations of the Middle East.

I have great respect for Canadians in general. To say they're "pro-terror" on the basis of the action of one or two relatively tiny groups is irresponsible and inflammatory.

 

Man, did doberman get out of bed on the wrong side this morning, or what? So, a few 'representatives' in one province take a vote, and suddenly 33 million Canadians are anti-semitic terrorists? I don't think so. Did you read the part in your own quote where "the union would continue to work for Palestinian rights"? Were you aware of the Canadian government's cutting of Hamas funding and adding them to the terrorist list? What about all the other members of this international political and economic boycott?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Jun 1 2006, 04:00 PM) [snapback]264190[/snapback]</div>

I have had a very good day not reading his posts. Nor will I ever read them. That's what "ignore" is for. Now here is a thought - wouldn't it be great if there was a huge 'ignore" button for all neocon crap? I do my best, but some of it still gets through.

 

One casts "aspersions" on another's actions, not dispersions.

To "disperse" means to break up and scatter, as in the Jewish Diaspora following the Babylonian Captivity.

 

I am Jewish, and I oppose the repressive policies of the government of Israel. And most of my family opposes Israel (probably about a 4 to 1 ratio). While the extremist government of Israel would like to paint its opponents as all anti-semitic, there are many Jews, and many others who are not anti-semitic, who oppose Israel for the way it has treated the Palestinians, first driving them out of their homes by terrorist bombings around the time Israel was formed, and then by stealing their water rights, and generally depriving them of their legal and civil rights.

Opposition to Israel is not of itself an anti-semitic act or a support of terrorism.

 

Hi daniel,

I am curious about something if you do not mind... knowing that you are agnostic (at least i suppose so from what I read)... does the term Jewish, as you used it, one that is "racial?" (Question is otherwise unrelated to your post).

.........

On topic:

I read an article by an author who was a self-proclaimed 'pro-Israeli'... and she said that she was appalled by the way Palestinians are treated and how people label others as anti-semitic who are otherwise very much pro Israeli.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mirza @ Jun 1 2006, 07:41 PM) [snapback]264423[/snapback]</div>

I am an atheist, not an agnostic. The Term "Jewish" can refer to religion, culture, or ethnicity. Obviously, I am not religious. And my parents never practiced or taught me the culture. However, I am an ethnic Jew.

According to Jewish law, you are a Jew if your mother was a Jew. I could emmigrate to Israel and become a citizen there, and I could marry there under the racist marriage laws. Of course I have no intention of doing so. Israel is a mean and racist place. Many Jews are not racist, but as a whole the country may be more racist than the U.S. Israeli Arabs are treated as second-class citizens, and even Jews who immigrate from Europe or America are discriminated against by those who did not.

Actually, Jews and Arabs are the same race (Semitic) except that the Jews of the diaspora have spent a thousand years in Europe or elsewhere, picking up a greater or lesser amount of European (or other) ancestry.

At one time I even pondered whether to call myself a Jew at all, since of the three definitions I fit only one, and my physical appearance suggests that I have as much Causasian as Semitic ancestry. However, my family self-identifies as Jewish, and I have no desire to try to set myself apart from them.

But I most definitely oppose the racist and oppressive government of Israel, as do about 3/4 of my family.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Jun 1 2006, 04:26 PM) [snapback]264209[/snapback]</div>

After reading all of the reply statements the fact is that whatever term you use the results are the same. The world has always hated the Jews and will always hate the Jews. Antisemitism will never go away. That is why Israel and all those who support Israel really should not care about public opinion. It seems that the world holds Israel to a higher standard than her neighbors and the rest of the Jew haters in the world. Therefore, Israel will continue to do whatever is necessary to survive!

Smurf

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Jun 1 2006, 09:40 AM) [snapback]264000[/snapback]</div>

I will have to make this quick as I'm in the process of going away for another 2 week business trip.

First of all, you are a deranged NeoCon American prick. So now Canada is "pro terror?" Just when I think you’re an donkey, you manage to outdo yourself. We really are getting fed up with this vocal minority of know-it-all war mongering American nuts who look at the entire world as their exclusive property.

Want to know why Americans are universally hated? Not because we are “jealous†of you, it’s because we have such strong contempt for your two-faced bullshit and back stabbing deals. As the old saying goes, with friends like you, who the hell needs enemies?

Build a wall between Canada and the U.S.? That sounds like a great idea, go right ahead. Too many freeloaders already trying to get free health care. Stop purchasing goods from Canada? Another great idea! Let's tear up NAFTA/FTA - which always favors the U.S. anyway - so Canada is free to sell its goods and services globally without forking over to Americans at Loss Leader pricing.

Just one little problem, and this will actually be a BIG problem for the U.S.

A lot of natural gas pipelines run from Canada into the United States. There are a lot of high-tension electricity pylons that send power south into the U.S. Let's not forget that - at 19% of total American oil imports - Canada is the single largest source of American oil imports.

So sit in the dark and sweat your balls off this summer, it's shaping up to be a long hot summer. You can also sit in the dark and freeze them off this winter too. As far as your love affair with the pickup and SUV, hehe good luck. Maybe you can buy more oil from Venezuela or Iran.

Oh, and while you're at it, look after your senior citizens for f***s sake. They're creating long lines at our pharmacies. You can make up all the garbage you want about American health care, it’s no secret Canadians are healthier and live longer, despite spending a fraction on extravagant “after the fact†health care.

Don’t be a baby and go crying to a Moderator either. You wanted the opinion of a Canadian, you got one. Prick.