"Israel Firster" versus "climate denialists" versus Lindzen
An interesting article by Spencer Ackerman sounds off against the term "Israel Firster" as used by the American progressives as a label for Americans that support every Israeli policy and interest, especially the most aggressive and anti-Muslim policies.
My most left-wing views concern Israel, its shameful treatment of Palestinians, and the accurate description by Israeli politicians of that policy as "apartheid". Still, I think I agree with Ackerman, not entirely but enough to say that the Israel Firster term should be dropped. The key to me is that the term originates in anti-Semitism (this is my first and probably last positive reference to anything written by David Bernstein). While the African-American community has shown how to reappropriate words with disgusting historical origins, that's not something to be done lightly. Let this term go.
Juan Cole does a better job with the term Likud-supporter, describing the American politicians who reject as anti-Israel the positions favored by a significant strand of progressive Israeli politics. I'm not sure that captures the thought of politicians who can't see any divergence between American and Israeli interests, but it's good enough for now.
By contrast, I've never bought the claim that "climate denialism" must not be uttered because of its similarity to "Holocaust denial". I used climate denialism years long before it was claimed by opponents to be derived from Holocaust denial terminology. Even if it was for some, the connection isn't nearly as seamless as the term "Israeli Firster" is with anti-Semitism. These people truly are climate denialists and it has a connection to being anti-science, not to anti-Semitism.
And since we're on a related subject, there's the issue of Richard Lindzen claiming to be offended by the term climate denier because he claims to be a Holocaust survivor. His claim is based on the fact that his Jewish parents emigrated from Germany in 1938, and he was born in 1940. Even the broadest-accepted definition of Holocaust survivor would only include his parents, not him (and many would not include his parents, although they undoubtedly faced severe persecution). Actual Holocaust survivors would have good reason to be offended by Lindzen.
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17 comments:
Dr. Jay Cadbury, phd.
Once again, the brutal liberal double standard raises it's ugly head.
I have but 1 question:
Last time the Palestinians were in charge, were non Muslims allowed into the country?
Answer: NO
Now that the Jews are in charge of Israel, EVERYBODY is allowed in.
anybody, left or right, who supports the Palestinians over the Israelis, doesn't know a damn thing. Whoever wrote this post should be ashamed of themselves.
Regarding the bogus argument against Richard Lindzen, you have no problem allowing black people in the United States to claim they are "part of the struggle" or identify with slavery in some way, even though most of the ones claiming to identify with such historical events never took part in them.
I can't believe this article.
By the way, how many Jews died because the Mufti of Jerusalem would not allow the Jews in Germany to be deported at the end of the Holocaust? You think long and hard about that one.
Dr. Jay Cadbury who has a Ph. D. in Idiocy says this:
"Last time the Palestinians were in charge, were non Muslims allowed into the country?
"Answer: NO"
What on earth are you smoking? There was no concept of a 'Palestinian state' prior to the attempt to found modern Israel. Palestine was just an area of land that was variously under the control of Greeks, Romans, Persians, Arabs, and Turks at different times.
"anybody, left or right, who supports the Palestinians over the Israelis, doesn't know a damn thing."
Ahem.
"you have no problem allowing black people in the United States to claim they are 'part of the struggle'"
OK, let me put it plainly: Richard. Lindzen. Is. Not. A. Holocaust. Survivor.
Period.
Is that too hard to understand?
-- frank
Jay, please let us know if you have any opinions about the blog post, as opposed to what you've written above.
Jay Cad How many Jews survived because of help from Muslim Albanians?:
"...Albania, the only European country with a Muslim majority, succeeded in the place where other European nations failed. Almost all Jews living within Albanian borders during the German occupation, those of Albanian origin and refugees alike, were saved, except members of a single family. Impressively, there were more Jews in Albania at the end of the war than beforehand...."
http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/besa/introduction.asp
I think Jay Cadbury with a Ph. D. in Idiocy was thinking of pre-Israeli Palestine as some sort of stereotypical fundamentalist Islamic state. Or more simply, I think he confused pre-Israeli Palestine with Taliban Afghanistan. Or Saudi Arabia.
Being an ignoramus can make one think idiotic things, but that shouldn't be surprising.
-- frank
How about "Likud-firster"?
John Puma
Jay's argument is the "Two wrong's make a right" argument. Let me ask my grandma to straighten him out on that one.
=> wrongs
The Bunny in the Sky knows that Eli has seldom a good word for Dick Lindzen, but having known some survivors of the Nazi camps and more of their children, Eli is quite prepared to accept that Lindzen's childhood was distorted by his parents experience in Nazi Germany and he thinks of himself as a survivor. Nothing about that experience or its aftermath is pretty.
I agree that the Holocaust has been and will be seared into Jewish cultural experience for centuries, much like African American experience with slavery. But Lindzen himself is not a Holocaust survivor, and even his parents' claim (if they ever made that claim as opposed to Lindzen doing it) is somewhat tenuous.
Dr. Jay Cadbury, piled higher & deeper --- The arabs living in Palestine were subjects of the Ottoman empire before the British came along to kick the Ottoman army out, utterly crushing it. The Balfour Declaration and the history thereunafter is easil accessible (and quite interesting). You really ought to study it before, once again, demonstrating your ignorance.
Eli, Eli, I have a Nigerian friend with an irresistable offer for you.
Dick's relationship with the truth has been somewhat troubled for a long time, of which there is ample evidence for those who care to look. I can see your point, but note that Lindzen is smart, wicked smart. Anyone wanting to believe that this is not part of him faking his outrage on the use of a term that was invented by a Jewish intellectual for precisely the use that the defenders of science and scholarship have put it to... well, there are those that shall inherit the earth, and the ashes, and the dust.
BTW the various presidential candidates' deeply troubled relationship with the truth extends beyond climatology:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-elections-2012/romney-palestinians-don-t-want-two-state-solution-they-want-to-eliminate-israel-1.409459
quote:
'The National Jewish Democratic Council released a statement regarding what Romney said about President Obama.
"Governor Romney said that the President castigated Israel during his speech at the United Nations in September. He did no such thing," the statement said.
Mr. Romney said the President made no reference to the 'thousands of rockets being rained in on Israel from the Gaza Strip;' indeed, President Obama specifically cited how 'Israel’s citizens have been killed by rockets fired at their houses and suicide bombs on their buses' on the world stage of the United Nations in September. Enough is enough. The outright lies, smears and distortions of President Obama's stellar Israel record must stop," National Jewish Democratic Council President & CEO David A. Harris wrote.'
One is taken to speculate about how respect for facts and respect for human beings are interconnected. And on whether not castigating Israel has been a win for Obama, really.
Dr. Jelly Raspberry, Pb&J:
Once again, the brutal librarian douse staple ramifications it's ugly headlamp.
I have but 1 quicksand:
Last timpanist the Palestinians were in charleston, were non Muslims allowed into the couple?
Antenatal: NO
Now that the Jiggles are in charleston of Israel, EVERYBODY is allowed in.
anybody, legation or right, who supports the Palestinians over the Israelis, doesn't know a dancing thistle. Whoever wrote this posting should be ashamed of themselves.
Regarding the bogus armament against Richard Lindzen, you have no procession allowing black perch in the United Statistics to clampdown they are "part of the struggle" or identify with slavery in some wean, even though most of the ones claiming to identify with such historical evocations never took partisan in them.
I can't believe this ascetic.
By the wean, how many Jiggles died because the Mufti of Jerusalem would not allow the Jiggles in Germany to be deported at the enema of the Homeland? You think long and hard about that one.
Many are offended by Lindzen
Since both Judith Curry and Harrison Schmidt (and probably others) refer to themselves as climate deniers, perhaps Lindzen should be complaining to his friends first before complaining to his adversaries.
Jay Cadbury is a well-known, climate-denying, right-wing troll. His utterances are easy to find. I don't know who pays him.
Jim Stuttard
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