tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946638.post7789069449620435540..comments2023-07-26T05:09:03.206-07:00Comments on Corner Deli: A Boycott Built on BiasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946638.post-11936411212765827182007-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:002007-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:00I am disturbed by your repeated use of the concept...I am disturbed by your repeated use of the concept of anti-Semitism as I do not understand what this concept means. In fact, I would go along with Michael Neumann and state that the concept's true meaning has seen an evolution as the result of its overuse for political purposes (see his essay <A HREF="http://www.counterpunch.org/neumann0604.html" REL="nofollow">what is anti-Semitism?</A>). I am sure that, as a lawyer, you realize that the use of words is not neutral and that with the right assumptions and words one can prove anything.<BR/><BR/>Nor do I feel that you explain the very existance of "Anti-semitism". Somehow you assume that Israel is being unfairly singled-out but you do not look into the reasons behind this phenomenon. I think that there are plenty of reasons for such a singeling out. For one thing, neither Syria or Sudan enjoy the kind of support from the UK government or, even more relevantly, the US government which has pumped about <A HREF="http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2007/06/truly-staggering-costs-of-us.html" REL="nofollow">3 trillion dollars</A> into the what is a self-declated ethno-religious "Jewish state".<BR/><BR/>I think that explaining it all away under the heading of "anti-Semitism" does nobody a favor, and certainly not Israel.<BR/><BR/>There is no doubt that Israel is probably the most unpopular country in the world today (only the USA, Palau, Tuvalu and Micronesia systematically side with it) and that a lot of truly ugly regimes out there as much or even more condemnation as Israel. Likewise, South Africa under Apartheid was, no doubt, not truly worse than many other African countries - but it triggered the most outrage. Why? Out of some mysterious "anti-Southafricanism" or out of objective reasons which made South Africa the target of international outrage?<BR/><BR/>I wish you would address these issues head-on and not obfuscate them under the worn-out concept of "anti-Semitism" which is truly loosing its power to either label or, much less so, intimidate anyone.<BR/><BR/>Kind regards,<BR/><BR/>VSVINEYARDSAKER:https://www.blogger.com/profile/12570841380033481032noreply@blogger.com