Comments for Scottish Jews For a Just Peace http://blog.sjjp.org.uk Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:04:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The BBC “reports” on Iran by Philip Wadler http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2012-01-11/the-bbc-reports-on-iran/#comment-57169 Philip Wadler Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:04:47 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/?p=121#comment-57169 The BBC reply looked almost reasonable to me, until I read your dissection of it. Yes, you should complain about their response to your complaint! -- P The BBC reply looked almost reasonable to me, until I read your dissection of it. Yes, you should complain about their response to your complaint! — P

]]> Comment on Malcolm Rifkind at the Edinburgh Literary Jewish Society by Scottish Jews For a Just Peace » Archive » The BBC “reports” on Iran http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2012-01-15/malcolm-rifkind-at-the-edinburgh-literary-jewish-society/#comment-57166 Scottish Jews For a Just Peace » Archive » The BBC “reports” on Iran Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:38:35 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/?p=135#comment-57166 [...] to this issue that goes beyond Israel’s probable involvement. I’ll explain it in a further post [...] [...] to this issue that goes beyond Israel’s probable involvement. I’ll explain it in a further post [...]

]]> Comment on The Palestinian Gandhis by hilda meers http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2010-12-28/the-palestinian-gandhis/#comment-55308 hilda meers Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:16:58 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2010-12-28/the-palestinian-gandhis/#comment-55308 Interesting to see comments on Budrus - this film has been shown in Aberdeen, with so much praise that it's being re-shown on Thursday 22nd September at Aberdeen University, the day after Abbas is due to make his UN bid for Statehood status for Palestine. For those who quibble that only talks with Israel can result in agreement on the many issues -borders, security, the separation wall, water resources, fate of refugees and prisoners held in Israeli prisons - my simple thought is, It takes two to tango. In my opinion as one member of sjjp, Israeli Governments don't want peace, don't want equal rights for Palestinians; just consider the blockade of the Gaza strip, the demolition of Palestinian homes, the unchecked rampages of 'settlers' by successive Israeli govenments! And as for hoping the US leadership will modify its complete support for Israel now it has Obama as President, I'm reminded of a poem by Robert Browning that I read many years ago, called 'The Lost Leader.' the opening lines were,    Just for a handful of silver he left us,    Just for a ribbon to stick on his coat... A reminder to us not to rely on leaders, instead make our own efforts for freedom, justice, peace by peaceful means. This is why I support BDS - not all in our jewish group do. Interesting to see comments on Budrus – this film has been shown in Aberdeen, with so much praise that it’s being re-shown on Thursday 22nd September at Aberdeen University, the day after Abbas is due to make his UN bid for Statehood status for Palestine. For those who quibble that only talks with Israel can result in agreement on the many issues -borders, security, the separation wall, water resources, fate of refugees and prisoners held in Israeli prisons – my simple thought is, It takes two to tango. In my opinion as one member of sjjp, Israeli Governments don’t want peace, don’t want equal rights for Palestinians; just consider the blockade of the Gaza strip, the demolition of Palestinian homes, the unchecked rampages of ‘settlers’ by successive Israeli govenments! And as for hoping the US leadership will modify its complete support for Israel now it has Obama as President, I’m reminded of a poem by Robert Browning that I read many years ago, called ‘The Lost Leader.’ the opening lines were,
   Just for a handful of silver he left us,
   Just for a ribbon to stick on his coat…
A reminder to us not to rely on leaders, instead make our own efforts for freedom, justice, peace by peaceful means. This is why I support BDS - not all in our jewish group do.

]]> Comment on SJJP statement on the conviction of Paul Donnachie by Michael MacGregor http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55284 Michael MacGregor Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:46:31 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55284 Hey! A right wee clever glogs here trying to bamboozle us with an inside out logic. Don't fall for it friends, I don't actually for a moment expect most of youse would. He begins with the word "Imagine" and uses this fantastic aproach throughout his dubious contribution. This stuff gives me the sort of teeth grinding headache that used to begin when the teacher announced the next lesson as "interpretation"! But let's give it a go. Need we argue over the word "country" as a physical entity? Fine. Who would argue that a political movement arose amongst a section of people of Jewish ethnicity in the early part of the 20th Century. That movement is identified by the term Zionism and campaigned for a homeland for Jewish people. Is there a wealth of unassailable historical evidence that "the ethnic cleansing of a certain ethnicity from an existing country" took place in Palestine to meet the Zionist demand? Why are we all stupid but the Zionists? I don't think so! Michael MacGregor Hey! A right wee clever glogs here trying to bamboozle us with an inside out logic. Don’t fall for it friends, I don’t actually for a moment expect most of youse would. He begins with the word “Imagine” and uses this fantastic aproach throughout his dubious contribution. This stuff gives me the sort of teeth grinding headache that used to begin when the teacher announced the next lesson as “interpretation”! But let’s give it a go. Need we argue over the word “country” as a physical entity? Fine. Who would argue that a political movement arose amongst a section of people of Jewish ethnicity in the early part of the 20th Century. That movement is identified by the term Zionism and campaigned for a homeland for Jewish people. Is there a wealth of unassailable historical evidence that “the ethnic cleansing of a certain ethnicity from an existing country” took place in Palestine to meet the Zionist demand? Why are we all stupid but the Zionists? I don’t think so!
Michael MacGregor

]]> Comment on SJJP statement on the conviction of Paul Donnachie by hilda meers http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55280 hilda meers Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:45:47 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55280 Dear, dear, shum mistake here - the offending student has apologised for fingeriing the flag, Mark, but denies using the word 'terrorist'. I suggest that labelling him as anti-semitic racist is a much overused ploy for anyone who has the guts to express an anti-Zionist view. So, as well as getting basic facts wrong in this particular case, anti-Zionist jews (like me) get labelled as what they're not. And since Arabs are semites too, hurling abuse at the growing number of concerrned people who work for freedom for Palestinians i.e. for peace and justice, is even more nonsensical. What's more, world opinion is becoming increasingly shocked by the arrogance of Israel's government and its counterproductive violence. Dear, dear, shum mistake here – the offending student has apologised for fingeriing the flag, Mark, but denies using the word ‘terrorist’. I suggest that labelling him as anti-semitic racist is a much overused ploy for anyone who has the guts to express an anti-Zionist view. So, as well as getting basic facts wrong in this particular case, anti-Zionist jews (like me) get labelled as what they’re not. And since Arabs are semites too, hurling abuse at the growing number of concerrned people who work for freedom for Palestinians i.e. for peace and justice, is even more nonsensical. What’s more, world opinion is becoming increasingly shocked by the arrogance of Israel’s government and its counterproductive violence.

]]> Comment on SJJP statement on the conviction of Paul Donnachie by mo http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55276 mo Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:59:23 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55276 what a sad bunch of pathetic apologists you lot are. Thank goodness for you, you dont live in an Arab 'democracy' or Zimbabwe or Burma or Cuba etc etc -youde be flogged or tortured to death by now. Grow up! what a sad bunch of pathetic apologists you lot are. Thank goodness for you, you dont live in an Arab ‘democracy’ or Zimbabwe or Burma or Cuba etc etc -youde be flogged or tortured to death by now. Grow up!

]]> Comment on SJJP statement on the conviction of Paul Donnachie by Catherine http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55266 Catherine Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:37:04 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55266 It is a Jewish cliche that we hold diverse opinions and enjoy debate. But Jews do tend to agree that Zionism and Judaism are distinct, even when they hold very different views about Israeli politics. To equate being Jewish with exclusive membership of a particular Middle-Eastern nation-state is actually very close to classic European Anti-Semitism. It would mean that British Jews, for example, aren't fully British at all, but will always be inherently alien. Mick's simplistic analogy constrains what it means to be Jew, and so threatens the variety and breadth of Jewish identity. It's a line of reasoning, which, though he didn't mean to be Anti-Semitic, could nevertheless fuel Anti-Semitism. It is a Jewish cliche that we hold diverse opinions and enjoy debate. But Jews do tend to agree that Zionism and Judaism are distinct, even when they hold very different views about Israeli politics.

To equate being Jewish with exclusive membership of a particular Middle-Eastern nation-state is actually very close to classic European Anti-Semitism. It would mean that British Jews, for example, aren’t fully British at all, but will always be inherently alien.

Mick’s simplistic analogy constrains what it means to be Jew, and so threatens the variety and breadth of Jewish identity. It’s a line of reasoning, which, though he didn’t mean to be Anti-Semitic, could nevertheless fuel Anti-Semitism.

]]> Comment on SJJP statement on the conviction of Paul Donnachie by mick http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55193 mick Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:14:13 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2011-09-04/sjjp-statement-on-the-conviction-of-paul-donnachie/#comment-55193 Imagine a student who rubbed his genitals on the Egyptian flag and said Egypt had no right to exist and ethnic Egyptians should be deported where they came from. When he got to trial he just said that he was anti Egypt and not anti Egyptian, and there was nothing racist about deporting all the ethnic Egyptians. What would the cruel judge do? It almost feels futile to explain this, but anti zionism is the most naked form of modern racism. The movement is, quite simply, the only acceptable way to demand the ethnic cleansing of a certain ethnicity from an existing country. Imagine a student who rubbed his genitals on the Egyptian flag and said Egypt had no right to exist and ethnic Egyptians should be deported where they came from. When he got to trial he just said that he was anti Egypt and not anti Egyptian, and there was nothing racist about deporting all the ethnic Egyptians. What would the cruel judge do?

It almost feels futile to explain this, but anti zionism is the most naked form of modern racism. The movement is, quite simply, the only acceptable way to demand the ethnic cleansing of a certain ethnicity from an existing country.

]]> Comment on Gilad Atzmon in Edinburgh by Sharon http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2006-11-24/gilad-atzmon-in-edinburgh/#comment-32977 Sharon Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:54:21 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2006-11-24/gilad-atzmon-in-edinburgh/#comment-32977 So Gilad Aztmon is beyond the Pale but it is okay to support one nationalist movement while denying the validity of another nationalist movement? And Jews who immigrated to Israel before one discovers that Zionism is bad are okay, but Jews who immigrated later are not? Personally I prefer to live by a more consistent idea - either nationalism is legitimate and therefore Zionism is just as legit as Palestinian nationalism, or nationalism is not legitimate, in which case neither Zionism nor Palestinian nationalism are legitimate. This seems more consistent. So Gilad Aztmon is beyond the Pale but it is okay to support one nationalist movement while denying the validity of another nationalist movement? And Jews who immigrated to Israel before one discovers that Zionism is bad are okay, but Jews who immigrated later are not? Personally I prefer to live by a more consistent idea – either nationalism is legitimate and therefore Zionism is just as legit as Palestinian nationalism, or nationalism is not legitimate, in which case neither Zionism nor Palestinian nationalism are legitimate. This seems more consistent.

]]> Comment on Action on Gaza blockade by avileh http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2008-01-24/action-on-gaza-blockade/#comment-28278 avileh Tue, 05 May 2009 20:47:43 +0000 http://blog.sjjp.org.uk/index.php/2008-01-24/action-on-gaza-blockade/#comment-28278 I use Firefox at home, and it seems to work fine, but we've had some tech fixes since you posted this (I think). Is it any better now? I use Firefox at home, and it seems to work fine, but we’ve had some tech fixes since you posted this (I think). Is it any better now?

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