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The liberalism of fools (Anti-Semitism)
The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 11/18/03 | editorial board

Posted on 11/17/2003 4:46:28 PM PST by Pokey78

Anti-Semitism used to be known as the socialism of fools. Today it might more appropriately be known as the liberalism of fools. Last weekend's suicide bombing of two synagogues in Istanbul killed 23 people and wounded some 300, but it might have been far worse. According to the authorities, the death toll might have been up to 800 if security had not been tightened. Yet this massacre prompted a curious article in yesterday's Guardian by Fiachra Gibbons, who is an expert on minorities in the Ottoman empire. Rather than concentrate on the Islamist extremists responsible, Gibbons depicted a Jewish minority that had lived in harmony with its Muslim neighbours until the creation of Israel. "Of all the trials that have befallen them over the last 500 years, none has brought more threat than the existence of Israel." The mere existence of the Jewish state, apparently, "may unwittingly provoke attack".

What has happened to the liberal media in Europe that the slaughter of innocent worshippers and the desecration of ancient synagogues in Istanbul should evoke implicit criticism, not of the perpetrators, but of Turkey's ally Israel? Since the last attack on an Istanbul synagogue in 1986 by Palestinian terrorists led by Saddam's late protégé Abu Nidal, a great deal has changed. Then, the condemnation of the killers was universal and unconditional. Now, each new atrocity against Jews is greeted by new attempts at justification or relativisation. When Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir expounded his anti-Semitic conspiracy theory at a recent gathering of Islamic leaders, all 57 present applauded. Western responses were muted. As the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, said yesterday: "Radicals are preaching hate and nobody is protesting."

Nor is the new anti-Semitism limited to the Muslim world. On Saturday, a Jewish school near Paris was burnt down. So common have such attacks become in France that Le Monde did not even consider this incident worth reporting yesterday, but President Chirac appears to have woken up to the danger - late in the day. A poll sponsored by the European Commission finds that Israel is now considered by EU citizens to be the greatest threat to world peace. A liberal consensus is emerging that holds Israel responsible for the resurgence of anti-Semitism. To blame the victim is to exonerate the perpetrator. The carnage in Turkey should be a warning to Europe.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antisemitism; hc2

1 posted on 11/17/2003 4:46:28 PM PST by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78
It should be a warning to Europe, but I doubt it is...

Prairie
2 posted on 11/17/2003 4:50:49 PM PST by prairiebreeze (Prairie turning the calendar over again today. Another year survived on the planet!!)
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To: Pokey78
A liberal consensus is emerging that holds Israel responsible for the resurgence of anti-Semitism.

Europe has devised "final solutions" to their Jewish problems before and I'm sure they will again...

3 posted on 11/17/2003 4:56:39 PM PST by Onelifetogive
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To: Onelifetogive
Only this time the Jews will resist the next European attempt to destroy them.
4 posted on 11/17/2003 5:01:34 PM PST by zarf (..where lieth those little things with the sort of raffia work base that has an attachment?)
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To: Pokey78
Anti-Semitism used to be known as the socialism of fools.

This is confusing. I thought socialism was the socialism of fools.

5 posted on 11/17/2003 5:37:21 PM PST by rogue yam
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To: zarf
what jews? there are few jews in europe these days (compared to the 1930s). (as if there was no resistance before) jews are not needed for anti-jewism, just secularist G-d hating euro-trash. what the euros need is some good tennessee whisky. maybe that will help calm them from their new surge of anti-jewism
6 posted on 11/17/2003 6:18:39 PM PST by APRPEH (tag you're it...)
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To: a_Turk; Alouette; SJackson; Salem
Ping!
7 posted on 11/17/2003 7:27:43 PM PST by Slings and Arrows (Am Yisrael Chai!)
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To: 1bigdictator; 1st-P-In-The-Pod; 2sheep; a_witness; adam_az; af_vet_rr; agrace; ...
FRmail me to be added or removed from this pro-Israel ping list.


8 posted on 11/17/2003 7:47:21 PM PST by Alouette (My son, the Learned Elder of Zion)
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To: SJackson; yonif; Simcha7; American in Israel; spectacularbid2003; Binyamin; Taiwan Bocks; ...
Check this out. Have EU IQ's suddenly fallen into the single digits in the past few months? Incredible!

Israel, keep your powder dry!



If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me. ~
  -  -
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)

Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~

9 posted on 11/17/2003 7:57:37 PM PST by Salem (FREE REPUBLIC - Fighting to win within the Arena of the War of Ideas! So get in the fight!)
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To: prairiebreeze
In their minds, the Euros are warming up the ovens.
10 posted on 11/17/2003 8:59:26 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: diotima
Ping.
11 posted on 11/17/2003 10:00:45 PM PST by AnnaZ (::: RADIOFR :: Hi-Fi FReepin' 24/7 ::: http://www.theotherradionetwork.com/pgs/rfr_schedule.htm :::)
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To: Salem
Have EU IQ's suddenly fallen into the single digits in the past few months?

Intelligence, or lack thereof, is irrelevant. This is about dead Jews. All of them. Again.

12 posted on 11/17/2003 10:02:37 PM PST by tubavil
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To: yonif
As the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, said yesterday: "Radicals are preaching hate and nobody is protesting."
13 posted on 11/17/2003 10:09:39 PM PST by tubavil
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To: Pokey78
Reminds me of something a few months back. I was looking at the "other website" (the one for DUmpster children) when somone had posted that Eli Weasel was supporting the war in Iraq.

The first response, the very first was somone saying how they hate Israel, about 90% of the posts that followed were just pure anti-semetism, either by hatred of jews, or hatred of Israel, though the article had absolutley no comments from Weasel in regards to Israel or anything haveing to do with jews.

14 posted on 11/17/2003 11:27:07 PM PST by Sonny M ("oderint dum metuant")
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To: tubavil
As the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, said yesterday: "Radicals are preaching hate and nobody is protesting."

Who's going to protest? The jews who were pretty much wiped out in europe, or the people, who supported wiping them out?

15 posted on 11/17/2003 11:39:10 PM PST by Sonny M ("oderint dum metuant")
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To: Alouette
"Radicals are preaching hate and nobody is protesting."

Not even Reform Judaism is protesting, Alouette, since they too are part of the Left.

I found out that our (Reform) rabbi died at 61 while we were in NY last week. Very sad. Although the guy was a leftist, as you'd expect, I liked him alot. Now I find myself with even less motivation to rejoin the temple.

16 posted on 11/18/2003 5:07:35 AM PST by Sam Cree (democrats are herd animals)
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To: Sam Cree
btt
17 posted on 11/18/2003 10:28:31 AM PST by tracer
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To: Pokey78
I almost feel guilty for saying this, but at least it makes sense that anti-Semitism should finally find its true home on the Left. That the world's most ancient nation and religion (and the one true one, to boot) should find all its detractors on the Right has always scandalized me.
18 posted on 11/18/2003 11:41:23 AM PST by Zionist Conspirator ("Palaeoconservatives" are national relativists.)
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To: Zionist Conspirator
As the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, said yesterday: "Radicals are preaching hate and nobody is protesting."

That is the essence ofthe world fight against extremism/hate/and terrorism. If the world focus on hate preaching, and punish governments that allows that, we will have less trouble in our war on Moslem terrorists.

19 posted on 11/18/2003 11:50:12 AM PST by philosofy123
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