[Hermann the Cherusker]

What convinced me was this line "The Lobby" (their capitalization), an overwhelmingly Jewish force abetted by some Christian evangelicals and a gentile neocon collaborator or two, who have hijacked American foreign policy and controlled it for decades."

That is a statement of a perceived fact. It may or may not be true, but there is certainly nothing hateful in the statement that implies an irrational dislike of Jews by the authors.

Cries of anti-semitism about this paper simply reinforce the common view that what is really "anti-semitic" is anything that Jews and their friends don't like or disagree with.

[gondramB]

"That is a statement of a perceived fact. It may or may not be true, but there is certainly nothing hateful in the statement that implies an irrational dislike of Jews by the authors."

I think that to perceive things that incorrectly requires a foundation of anti-semitism.

Do you suppose the authors would have problem with us standing with with a country in Africa if it was the one shining example of democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of the press surrounded by brutal dictatorships intent on its destruction?

[Minn]

Cries of anti-semitism about this paper simply reinforce the common view that what is really "anti-semitic" is anything that Jews and their friends don't like or disagree with.

A good friend of mine once shocked me by going on a anti-Jew barstool rant that came out of nowhere. I’ve never really respected him since. I’ve never understood where sentiments like this come from. I have a hard time noticing somebody is Jewish when I’m looking right at them. Other people sense evil and danger whenever a Jew is around. Anti-Semitism is the strangest thing. It’s seem so irrational and without basis in anything. Maybe you cold help me out, by explaining how and where you acquired it. How old were you when this all started? Do you hate blacks, Catholics, or any other group? Or, is it just those damn Jews and their retched state? Were you exposed to diatribes by a relative as a child? Do you have any other phobias like fear of germs or government agents? Do you generally have a social life or do the people that know you consider you a crank?

Of course, I’ve never met you, and I’m sure you consider yourself completely non-bigoted, but phrases like “Jews and their friends” reveal a hostility you can deny if you want, but is obvious. Just curious how you arrived at this state.

[veronica]

That is a statement of a perceived fact. It may or may not be true, but there is certainly nothing hateful in the statement that implies an irrational dislike of Jews by the authors.

I'd say it's pretty irrational to argue that Jews control all the Christians in the Bush administration. Unless of course you think Christians like Bush and Rumsfeld are easily duped into making war.

[Thorin]

>>>>>>>Cries of anti-semitism about this paper simply reinforce the common view that what is really "anti-semitic" is anything that Jews and their friends don't like or disagree with.

You are exactly right.