dcbeltway wrote:
Communism and Marxism has proven to be a failed idealogy from Romania to Vietnam.

Advocate wrote:
Various countries have called themselves "communist," none have been communist.

COMMENT:
Re-read the comment just before yours: of countries that have called themselves communist or Marxist, I said "none have been communist" - not as defined by Marx. That includes Romania and Vietnam. Like or dislike communism as you will, but you cannot justify your dislike using as examples nations that were not Marxist communist.

CAT! You are an astounding writer. Well summed up.

-- kent shaw ( aka ekat )

I never said capitalism was perfect there are certainly problems and I recommend Confessions of an Economic Hitman to learn examples and certainly fascism is horrific and the opposite extreme. However, Communism and Marxism has proven to be a failed idealogy from Romania to Vietnam. Socialism has worked well in Sweden though and I think social programs are good.

dcbeltway (43) wrote:
"I also dislike ANSWER because they have communist affiliations. I am strongly anti-communist because I married an Afghan and his country was occupied and destroyed by the Soviets."

COMMENT: The anti-Marxist Soviet Union was a top-down state-capitalistic dictatorship. It was not communist. Various countries have called themselves "communist," none have been communist. Marx described communism as a democracy and a bottom-up "dictatorship of the proletariat." None of the countries that have called themselves communist have been democratic, none have been bottom-up dictatorships of the proletariat. Marxist communists usually refer to these nations such as the former Soviet Union, North Korea, etc, as having a form of government they call "state capitalism."

Instead of a number of giant corporations that own most of the means of production and rule through the government, as in Nazi Germany, Mussolini's Italy, or the present United States, in "state capitalism," the state acts as a single corporation that owns everything with the party leaders acting as an executive board. There may be valid reasons to not favor communism as an economic and social system, but because you didn't like the former Soviet Union is not one of them.

Cat (28) yours is easily one of the most thoughtful responses I've read in CD. If anyone skipped it, I recommend they go back and read it.

checksandbalances (28) quoted (Jaded Prole):
"The zionists do more harm than good to Jews. Zionism creats and nourishes anti-semetism."

checksandbalances then quoted a dictionary in an attempt to counter Jaded Prole:
"Zi·on·ism
n. A Jewish movement that arose in the late 19th century in response to growing anti-Semitism and sought to reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Modern Zionism is concerned with the support and development of the state of Israel. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Zionism"

checksandbalances then commented:
"How does Zionism create anti-semitism when it never existed until the late 19th century? Anti-semitism has been around for thousands of years."

Yes, there was anti-semitism before the late 19th century: during the infamous Christian Crusades for example, the Semites that they were "anti" included the Muslims as well as Jews. But thousands of years? Hmm.

There was, I suspect, anti-Hebrewism when Abraham's tribe slaughtered entire towns of Canaanites in order to steal their land, just as I suspect there is a good bit of anti-Israel Zionism amongst the Canaanites, now called Palestinians, many hundreds of whom have been slaughtered by the latest invasion by Hebrew people in order to re-steal the same land that Abraham's bloody tribe stole in the first place.

The line "reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine" should read "re-steal a Jewish homeland in Canaan/Palestine." Zionism, meaning to re-establish/resteal the land from the inhabitants, certainly creates and nourishes anti-Zionism, even amongst many Jews as a little Googling will affirm.

bah.
Good luck with that.
You are a better Christian as a Muslum.
Aside from the usual handful of self-hating Jews you can hear a pin drop.

Vern things were better for Afghan women under Zahir Shah who gave them a lot of rights and starting from his reign many women began attending school and removing the veil. Women did not have it good under the Soviets and neither did men or children they were occupied and no one likes being occupied particularily by people who disrespect their religion and culture. My in-laws remember well bombs and rockets going off in Kabul and the horrors of the civil war and reign of the Taliban that followed. My husbands generation has known nothing but war from cradle to present. Zahir Shah's era was the best time in Afghanistan for women, men and children and my older in-laws have fond memories of those days.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/world/asia/24shah.html

I agree with you about the fundamentalists these people have destroyed Afghanistan. They would not have risen in power without the illegal occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union though.

On the Palestinian issue I mentioned my personal feelings are that we need to reach out more to Jewish progressives and help them to understand the suffering of the Palestinians. We cannot do this in an antagonistic and hurtful way if we are to win them over to the side of justice and peace. They have power to create postive change in their own community.

How does Zionism create anti-semitism when it never existed until the late 19th century? Anti-semitism has been around for thousands of years.
________________________________________________

That's like asking, "How does a hydrogen bomb create radioactivity? Radioactivity has been around since the Big Bang!"

Really. Maybe you should read some about life for women in Afghanistan during those years. It was much better than under the Fundamentalists.

Why should we coddle Jewish-Americans who either are silent or tribal in their allegiance over human rights? We have all been indoctrinated into the horror of the Nazis, and thus are easily exploited. What good is the lesson of the Holocaust if it can't be applied to all human experience instead of shielding some past victims from committing the crime in the present? The sign is not exclusive. The symbol remains the same no matter who flies the colors.

Vern I disagree with you on that one. A lot of progressive Jews support Palestinian and Muslim and Arab human rights. When they see the swastica naturally they become very upset and offended as do I. I'm Muslim by the way. I believe we need their support so I think these types of signs are offensive and do a disservice to the peace movement. Israel may claim it speaks for all Jews but not all Jews agree with Israel. Same thing for those who carry out acts twisting the noble teachings of Islam. They don't speak for me.

I also dislike ANSWER because they have communist affiliations. I am strongly anti-communist because I married an Afghan and his country was occupied and destroyed by the Soviets.

Everybody: Read "A Little Thing Called Genocide" by Ward Churchill, (AIM member and University of Colorado professor), a scholarly collection of his essays on the WWII Holocaust and the genocide of the native peoples of the Western Hemisphere. He minces no words. This book has the most exhaustive bibliography (50 pages) I've ever seen.

alembic two (good screen name btw)

"In other words, you wouldn't be willing to retun Florida to the pre-Seminole's or New Mexico to the Clovis ancestors?
How unreasonable of you — but count me in agreement with you unreasonableness."

As GBS wrote, all progress depends upon the unreasonable.

"And, as much as I agree with your point, I can't agree it would be a simple solution to disband Israel. In fact, as we both know: It's not going to happen"

It's a simple solution; and for the very reason of its simplicity, is unlikely to be implemented. It's only meant to counter the "5 million Jews in a sea of Arabs" gambit, the "Israelis are victims though they have nukes & modern weaponry up the wazoo" sentiment -- in which Israelis are always conflated with Jews worldwide.

And to remind us just how illegitimate US territorial claims are here in the imperial homeland, a link to the Trail of Broken Treaties --

http://www.aimovement.org/ggc/trailofbrokentreaties.html

Quotes from an interview with Congressman Jim Moran that brought down charges of Hitler-like thinking from Democratic politicians.

"AIPAC had an amendment to recommit the whole Armed Services Bill in order to add language requiring America to develop missile defenses jointly with Israel, to share all its missile defense technology with Israel. That passed overwhelmingly. There were only thirty members—that's less than 10 percent—who voted against sharing all our missile technology with Israel. It received about 400 votes in favor of it."
"They (AIPAC) support domination: not healing. They feel that you acquire security through military force, through intimidation, even through occupation, when necessary, and that if you have people who are hostile toward you, it's OK to kill them, rather than talk with them, negotiate with them, try to understand them, and ultimately try to love them."

WE owe Walt and Mearsheimer a huge debt of gratitude for finally bringing this topic to public discussion. After a half century of propaganda "teaching" us that to criticize Israel's ACTIONS is to be anti-Semitic, it is time to recognize that her actions have, in the case of Palestine, been both illegal and immoral.

If we want peace in the Middle East, Israel's Zionist leadership and the Zionists in our government that continue to fund its occupation and military actions against its neighbors must all admit this truth.
Only then, with justice for the Palestinians as a primary goal instead of Israel's final triumph over them and -- what, their extinction? -- can real peace talks begin. (Unlike the Bush/Rice sham pretending to give Abbas some sort of reassurance while helping Israel maintain its position of occupier.)

Someone upthread questioned why there were no protests and then ironically, downthread, someone mentions Michael Lerner...
ANSWER organized enormous international rallies at the onset of the Iraqi invasion. At these rallies were Palestinian groups who brought their plight under the umbrella of US ME policy. Many people were annoyed that ANSWER represents a coalition of interests and there were some internal conflict between those who thought it should focus exclusively on Iraq and those who saw all these issues of injustice related. Granted, there were the fist-pumping college kids--and like the tasered student in Florida so many saw as too impudent--that is the way kids are when they are young, sincere excited about changing the world. In the crowd were swastikas = the Israeli flag and maybe Michael Lerner saw it and started to squeal about the antisemitism on the Left. He made such a fuss, writing letters to the Wall Street Journal claiming ANSWER denied him the opportunity to speak and rallying up the old guard of the Progressive Left-notably over at "The Nation" where David Corn wrote redbaiting diatribes against ANSWER.

http://www.counterpunch.org/lerner02142003.html

Like the Zionism = Racism (which I have recently noted has evolved to "Zionism=Terrorism") the relevance of the Palestinian reality was buried by those who call themselves progressives on every issue except Israel. They deliberately sought to undermine any relationship of Israel to US foreign policy and they continue to do so today with their claims that the Israel lobby really isn't any more influential than other lobbies or it is all about the oil and just the oil. What they achived was basically to derail the momentum of the anti-war movement. Karl Rove couldn't have orchestrated it better. Now they have the audacity to complain about the weak anti-war movement.

I am filled with utter and complete disgust. And if on some level I didn't care about Jews as human beings, I would say they have no one to blame but themselves for their participation in using tactics to silence the outrage against Israel treating Palestinians the way the Nazis treated the Jews.
If I was Palestinian would I be wrong to wave a flag that equated the swastika with the star of david?

Mirif59, there have been organized protests to oppose the Zionist lobby's hold on us. What's that? you never heard of any, hmmm, wonder why? I think there are some on Youtube you can check out, pretty pathetic affairs. I really urge everyone to check out and join Cnionline.org (make sure you do .org not .com) I wish I knew how to the link thing.

To me, the entire issue stacks up as Faith Based Hate, the great Jewish, Christian and Muslum's gift to the arms industry.

Friday evening on Bill Moyers Journal there will be an interview with Rabbi Michael Lerner who has been working for peace and reason for a very long time. Check out Tikkun too.

To Cat: Gee, that was a lot to digest and it's given me much hope as well as gratitude for your words. I'm glad to have this chance to finally hit the sack with encouragement because of your sharing from what must be lots of experience.
I'm a very senior citizen and learn much from these discussions. Thanks again, Cat.
Peace and Love,

GrammaMickey

Dichterfreund -

In other words, you wouldn't be willing to retun Florida to the pre-Seminole's or New Mexico to the Clovis ancestors?

How unreasonable of you -- but count me in agreement with you unreasonableness.

Unfortunately, the mad step was taken in 1948 to formally recreate biblical Israel in modern Palestine. And, as much as I agree with your point, I can't agree it would be a simple solution to disband Israel. In fact, as we both know: It's not going to happen.

Back to the drawing board.

The Right Wing movements in Israel and the U.S. that support nothing but war and occupation are doing regular Israeli and American Jews about as much good as Bush and the neocons are doing for regular Americans. Not much. In fact, scratch that.

The Israeli Right Wing and the American Right Wing are causing us all--Jews and Gentiles--great harm. And, bitterly, the Israeili lobby seems allied with the Christian right that has no real concern for the safey and security of Israel--rather, they are excited for the Left Behind-esque apocalypse that, for them, can't arrive soon enough.

Great, great people folks.
Clap. Clap. Clap.

for the good of all Cat

One day at work a young mulatto was brought in in handcuffs. He had stabbed and killed another boy in a gang fight. He was with us for a diagnostic. He was a rough and tumble street wise brat. He took out one employee with prejudice because the fellow was black and then did the same with another because they were white. Both were suspended for alleged racial slurs. It was a sensitive time and this was the spin in those days. He sauntered about like he owned the place.
The head physician was a perceptive, peaceful man and moved the boy into my unit. He begin his strutting Empowered buy his last two accomplishments he challenged me.
Big Mistake.
I was only 6 years his elder, and we weighed about the same. I too had been street raised. Enough to say that we got along very well, after I explained in clear terms he could understand, That I like him was neither white nor black, and that he was best not to be fooled by my appearance.
Semites are not a religion they are a race. Although I have a Jewish great great grandmother and that makes me by lineage one of the pack. I stand alone against any one who harms another out of greed.
Palestine in my opinion, was stolen and given to German Jews. This seems to me why they commit the same crimes that the Nazi's did. It is a cultural anomaly not a race determined behaver.
Often I wonder how someone can give away someones else's home. Why didn't the United States ask the population to offer them....say Texas, or Pennsylvania? Is anyone smiling?
As to the Jewish need for power over everything, this religious bent is present in Christan and Muslim philosophy. The, "God loves me best", mentality is a form of significant, insignificance. Every scared brat wants to join the bad gang and be special!
As a child in the world of white bread I buddied up with a Jew together we took the shit from Christians. Pelted with spiked horse chestnuts, our books and work stolen and trashed, Jew was a dirty word and I, well I was branded a Chink. They didn't know what a Puerto Rican looked like. They were doing their best! The powers that be were the teachers who conveniently looked elsewhere during any abuse that didn't draw blood. Certain things never change.
Zionist, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Pagan, what of it? All fools set like dogs in a pit against the other to destroy each, for the grand entertainment of the world market, world domination and the malicious, sadistic arrogant elite....who ever they may be?.
The pathetic pity is that if these designers of chaos spent half their efforts on improving the world we would live in a jewel. It is their lack of imagination and limited depth that drives them to rape the planet and it's people.
Not by appearance or by name w ill they be known but by their actions.
We as a world people must ground ourselves in what is in front of us not what is promoted with the cunning of a mass media, mesmerizing. Most of us want to be happy, safe, healthy, loved and live in an joy filled world with others. No matter what race or creed. And then there are those who spoil spirits against each other for the worship of money and power, their sacraments are interest, debt, and credit, they sacrifice all of us to their life hating god.
Withdraw from them the source of their power....your fear....and your willingness to do their bidding. Withdraw in anyway you can from their system of control. Do not indulge in their sacraments.
Cash and carry.....develop small self-sufficient communities based on respect. Keep your religions to yourselves. Work no further than you can walk. Spend your time and your efforts with those you know as human beings. Buy and grow food locally. Learn the healing arts. Live simply, live powerfully....not dependently. Always suspect limits and those who put them in place. When tempted by the sinister for gain over another do not be fooled by appearance. You are being used.
I think of the religions of the bible as a three headed atrocity, snarling and tearing itself to bits as the perverted players put wagers on which head will last the longest. What a display of stupidity.

Some years ago there was a license plate frame with the words
JerUSAlem atop it, with the letters USA in bold red caps. As gymRNpozSC describes above that is the mindset that many in this country, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, have. I wonder how many of them have read and understand OUR Constitution....or even give a schitt about it? We better hope there is someone's God on our side when the fit hits the shan.

"TIME WOUNDS ALL HEELS"...

American Christianity often teaches that Israel is God's Chosen Jewish people, and as my sainted late very God-fearing little mother used to say, to quote her, for the purpose of clarifying why people think like they do, she would say, "Woe unto us (the USA), as a nation, when we turn our back on Israel!"

And she believed it.

And people have translated that into UNCONDITIONAL CONDONING AND BLIND ACCEPTANCE of whatever they do.

Which is NOT the same thing.

Thus, we have the foundation for the "why" we have done so.....condoned blindly since the beginning.

iyamwutiam, hate crime is an abomination because it involves prying into people's thoughts. Freedom of thought is the absolute bottom line of human rights. Without it we have nothing like in Nineteen-eighty-four. This, naturally includes all hate crime, e.g. against homosexuals, blacks, etc.

The hate crime you are talking about is implemented in Europe, not the US.. right? But by what correctivelens says, it sounds like it is implemented here. Fuck that shit. We used to have some semblance of freedom of speech here.

Still and all, just from my own experience, hate really sucks, too. It shouldn't be illegal to hate or to disagree. I'm just making a comment that it sucks. It's ugly.

(Jaded Prole) "The zionists do more harm than good to Jews. Zionism creats and nourishes anti-semetism."

Zi·on·ism
n. A Jewish movement that arose in the late 19th century in response to growing anti-Semitism and sought to reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Modern Zionism is concerned with the support and development of the state of Israel. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Zionism

How does Zionism create anti-semitism when it never existed until the late 19th century? Anti-semitism has been around for thousands of years.

"The minority, the ruling class at present, has the schools and press, usually the Church as well, under its thumb. This enables it to organize and sway the emotions of the masses, and make its tool of them." [Albert Einstein, letter to Sigmund Freud, 30 July 1932]

To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Comforting words.

A simple solution: anyone whose family emigrated to Palestine after 1933 should return to their family's country of origin, returning the Jewish population to what it was prior to the start of the assault on European Jewry.

International law should not kowtow to a claim on land based solely on ancient myths.

Did not the USA Congress, within the last three years, pass legislation ordering your executive (a part of the Dept of State?) to pay especial attention to anti semitism? Seems to me it had to do with both your domestic and foreign policy, and that a special branch was to be set up to monitor incidents of anti semitism.
Sort of a hate crime law,but an anti-semitism law, a particular area of hate crime law.
So, I guess you would have to be careful.

Here in Canada one of our Aboriginal leaders paid a visit to Palestine. On his return he had things to say about the occupation's effect on Palestinians. He said some harsh things about the occupation, then about Jews, and ended up in criminal court for what he said about Jews. Lost formal honours our country had given him. He hasn't said much about Israel and Palestine since then.

Perhaps one way would be to sue for slander a person who makes an accusation of anti semitism. Show loss of livelihood,loss of career...and get compensated by the individuals and groups throwing around the accusations

correctivelens,

"Cowards die many a deaths. The valiant taste of death but once."

Cowardice is no excuse. Besides, why not ask your people out there why the Zionists keep on wasting US taxpayer money on giving military and financial aid to ROGUE regimes such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, etc ... where VIOLATION of human rights are VERY BLATANT and why not take the time to question Israel's backdoor support of these rogues who blatently harbour terrorism? And while at it, why not bring up the issue of the near-zero and irrelevant middle class in Israel that currently exists? The economy in that country is always in shambles thanks to not only wars for oil but "free" trade, deregulation, privatization, offshoring, outsourcing, wage depression, lack of worker safety and protection laws, etc ... just like the US. Now that's a good way to safely get your views out there. Besides, if our Founding Fathers, save Hamilton, were afraid to stand up for life and liberty, you and I wouldn't be typing here.

A personal note: I have bristled my entire life at the control that Zionists and Israel have over this country. I learned early on not to voice my grievances, for being labeled an anti-semite was like being a social leper.

Now, I am an attorney in Southern California. I am not Jewish. If my views on Israel became public, who knows what would happen to my career? I doubt I would get a referral from a Jewish attorney (those are hard to come by anyway), and frankly, I wonder how judges would treat me (or my clients). I feel like I wear a political muzzle everywhere I go because of the awesome power that Zionist Jews hold in my profession. I hate to admit this weakness, but I fear for my career. I imagine many progressive Jews feel the same way.

Anybody else?

"Even in Israel such muzzling is NOT tolerated. There is more and deeper discussion about the topic"

Curmudegeon99 makes a good point. While Israel has it's Zionist right wing, it also has a lot of healthy minority dissent. Only is the US does this bizarre, pan-partisan ban on criticism of Israel exist. Gush Shalom's Uri Averny regularly gets columns in H'aretz - but you absolutely never see his or any similar such criticism of Israel in the Washington Post or NY Times.

As an aware Muslim woman, I have often struggled with managing my resentments toward the AMERICAN Jewish community because of what often appears as blinding support of an illegal and immoral treatment of the Palestinians. I'm so very grateful to brave individuals like the author of this article as well as all the Prof. Norman Finkelsteins of the world to set my focus back to the beauty of humanity. I hope many within my own community will follow their courageous example.

It's hard to understand why these tactics are so effective in this one particular case. Really.

What should happen is we the citizens should sponsor a march, a demonstration in solidarity against the continued funding of Israel as long as it practices terrorism against the Palestinian people.

Since the public is not dependent on the pro-Israeli lobby, or subject to political punishments outside of the workplace, we are free to take to the streets and reclaim some measure of control over how our tax dollars are spent.

Really, it's an extension of the argument against funding the war in Iraq. I don't think it is unfair to couple the two.

My friend's son went to a private JEWISH school in high school. Here's the shocker.

When he asked his high school history teacher, herself a jew, about teaching the history of Saudi Arabia and the US relationship, the history teacher gave a pathetic response:

"The school has the right to decide what to teach in the school curriculm. There are some portions of world history which will take too long to teach."

He asked the teacher about cutting down on changing current events assignments to research on history in the middle east and here's the teacher's pathetic response:

"If you don't like what we're doing then why not take another class. And if you ask another question against our curriculm, I will have to send you to the principle on disruption charges."

You know, maybe the kid has a very good point. The Jews both at home and in Israel are NEVER given the real history. As a result, they grow up with prejudicial thinking unless they get education outside the school system be it high school or college.

Just to share my experience. When I was doing my undergraduate work, a 'friend' threatened to tell the police on me for my speaking out on the situation in the Middle East in a private discussion. Sure as hell shut me up...

I am pretty sure this atmosphere of fear is not going to be there for much longer.

Even in Israel such muzzling is NOT tolerated. There is more and deeper discussion about the topic. If the opposition were branded as anti-semites. about half of the citizenry would qualify. While most would still go along with the Israeli government. at least there IS discussion, take the newspaper Ha'aretz as 1 example.

Also remember the cries of anti-semitism raised whenever anyone tries to tell the full story of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty and whenever the USS LIBERTY is mentioned at the burial of a survivor(yes, representatives of Israeli govt. do attend each and every one as far as I have determined).

No, what is needed is for Jews themselves to come forward and speak out as they always have when it comes to injustices. They have to be realizing by now the longer this goes on the worse the backlash will be. The truth does come out eventually no matter how hard you try to squelch it.

"So I have a suggestion. Let's all have a bunch of t-shirts printed up with "Anti Semite" printed on the front and back."

Kent Shaw

I would sincerely advise against it. As you may know it is a criminal offense (meaning straight to jail with NO ability to mount a defence - by law!!) if one questions the Holocaust in 11 EUROPEAN countries- Israel I can understand but almost all of Europe?!?! The recent hate crime bill is definitely implemented to quell and most importantly frighten the general public (all it would take is a few high profile arrest and locking these people up for a Loooooong time).

There is no doubt - that the 5,275,000 jews in the US (second only to Israel-if THATS to be believed) hold an incredible amount of sway in the very fabric of the United States - extending from commerical enterprises - like Disney, CBS, Goldman Sachs to key government positons - Wofowitz, Chertof etc. This is an INCREDIBLE amount of penetration and power for a only 1.75 percent of the population and is paralleled in the annals of history -particularly European history.

One must take comfort that the European nations- particularly Germany/France and England also had/have this phenomena and we are simply taking our place although belatedly. As we can see - particularly in Britain and the US- the accleration to silencing of dissent and increase surveillance is directly related to indebtedness of the people and government to 'fiat' currency.

I woud suggest - emigration, removal of indebtedness atleast personally and finally silence- as we have seen through the arious revolutions - the overthrow on existing financial yokes only results in more elaborate yokes that find quicker, more efficient ways to regain not only footholds but increased domiance.

regardless- it is becoming increasingly difficult to question the cult status of certain creeds- and even IF you are a overwhelming majority in terms of your views on free speech etc- I doubt that you would be able to effetive penetrate any government - as governments by design are to concentrate the power and income of the masses to the minority. The rest is planned subterfuge, deception and of course various forms of subjagation in order to increase the concentration to the point that only .001 percent if not more!!

Live your life with out rancor at this as there are too few that have insight, too many powerless and life is too short.

Nationalism is just plain stupid. And dangerous. Not to mention illogical.

The concept of "country," as in I'm an American, or I'm a German, is a bad, bad thing.
The existencs of countries does FAR more harm than good.

"Countries" do more negative than positive. The negatives only exist because of the existence of countries, and all of the positives could exist other ways, too.

Actually, defusing "anti Semite" is even easier than that. Just point out (accurately) that Palestinians are Semites, too.

(Hey, put that on your T-shirt!)

the whole thing would be comical if it werent so bloody.

I am told that Israel is Judaiism and Judaism is Israel. So, when speaking of Israel, one is speaking of all Jews.

So, obligingly, I will say things like "The Jews are imprisoning shooting and bombing the Gazans." or, The Jews refuse to recognize Hamas as the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinians" or, "The Jews are bulldozing WB Palestinians homes for their Jewish settlements"

And so, thereby, I get justifiably accused of anti-semitism through my sweeping statements regarding all Jews.

It appears that they (I'll leave it to the reader to decide who "they" are) deliberately set a trap to create anti-semitism where none existed, just so that can shout "anti-semitism!". It's ludicrous!

That's sad, Oscar. A dillema and a convoluted psychology of victimization that allows for the victimization of the other as a defense.

Somewhere, somehow it has to stop. Someone has to stand up because over the course of time it won't be sustainable and there will be backlash if the ethical course isn't followed. One could say it doesn't matter, either way we will be victimized and use it as a defense of being the brutalizer rather than the subject, but what does it do to one's moral place in the world? Would one be willing to become what one despises so not to be on the other side of the ghetto wall?

The question that needs to be asked of all folks of Jewish faith: Are you more committed to Israel than to the US?

Americans should stand for their country first. Hey Oscar, are you an American? The US has taken Israel's side since 1948, most often to the US's detriment.

We all need to speak out. AIPAC has grown too powerful and a war with Iran will mean the end of this country. We cannot let that happen. Thank you Peace Now Members and Muzzlewatch for your courage we all need to utilize that same courage.

It is sad and disheartening that I have to have felt afraid for years to speak about what I think and feel about what Israel is doing.

I have been afraid for years of being retaliated in my community in business. I have chosen to remain silent. I have not been sufficiently brave on this issue.

On the other hand, prudence dictates that one not expose ones' self to danger, much like the Jews in Germany who had to decide not to stand up to the Germans, because they were simply outnumbered and out organized.

The zionists do more harm than good to Jews. Zionism creats and nourishes anti-semetism. It's time for American Jews to wake up and reclaim a progressive heritage by throwing these double agents for Israel out and denouncing their heavy-handed anti-democratic tactics.

The term "anti semite" needs to be defused so that it becomes meaningless. Jews are helping this effort out every time they attach that epithet to one who makes even the mildest remark opposed to Israeli policies. It gotten to the point that to so much as suggest the Palestinians may have some small grievance the speaker is labelled "anti semitic". So I have a suggestion. Let's all have a bunch of t-shirts printed up with "Anti Semite" printed on the front and back. Let's just defuse this accusation to the point that it becomes as ludicrous as it actually is.