Is "Anti-Israel" the current version of "Anti-American" now?

[Armstead]

In the post 9-11 world, the charge of being "anti-American" was leveled at any criticism of Bush, the US foreign policy, the War in Iraq, etc.

It worked. Because of that, many politicians went along with awful stuff for fear of being branded as "anti-American."

And, because of that, anyone who did criticize or challenge had to waste half their time saying "I am an American and I fully support our country...etc. etc." before being able to make their point.

So we ended up with a mushy and meaningless "debate" as the country followed the primrose path of the Neo-Cons to war, international isolation and degeneration.

Is the "anti-Israel" or, worse, "anti-Semitic" charge now being used in the same way ? It seems there is in the political establishment and media establishment a tacit assumption that it is "anti-Israel" not to tow the line and blindly support Israel's aggression. This also creates a single narrative of what is happening, rather than a full and more objective view of the causes and effects of what is currently happening.

It also shows up here on DU and elsewhere. Criticize Israel's policies and actions, and you are anti-Israel or even anti-Semitic according to some.

Personally, I just want to hear some damn objective truths, unbiased analysis and some honest assessments of what is happening.

I also support Israel's right to exist and defend herself, but that dopes not mean they get a blank check of support for terrible policies and actions....Just like I love the US, but I am not going to blindly support my country's actions when it is wrong.

[Nimrod2005]

1. OF course if you hear Frist, Rush, Bush, Cheney, Hannity...etc. speak!

I say fuck them all, including Israel...

[jonnyblitz]

3. somebody posted last night "this is Democratic Underground

not Israel Haters Underground" implying we are SUPPOSED to support Israel as members here or we were somehow not "with the board". which is similar..

[Skip Intro]

2. Seems so - just like "Support Israel" may be the new "Support the Troops"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1725752&mesg_id=1725752


Otherwise, you support the terrorists, or something...

[Armstead]

10. IMO "Support Israel" also should mean....

...Support common sense and decency."

If Israel were to exert those qualities, instead of launching all out war, it would be in their own self-interest.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nosillies]

5. I've been thinking the exact same thing.

I think so many of us have had to say repeatedly over the past few years "I'm not anti-American, just anti-war." Same phrase now, just replace American with Israeli.

[megatherium]

6. Many people on DU criticize what Israel is doing. That's fine.

But there are some people on DU who question the right of Israel to exist, or who believe the foundation of the state of Israel was itself a crime. I respect people who argue that (most of them are not anti-Semitic) but I think that crosses the line. Reading the review of the book Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz in the New York Times provided a disturbing reminder of the need for a Jewish homeland.

[KaptBunnyPants]

7. Most would agree on the need for a Jewish homeland.

But it wasn't our land that was taken. The Arabs got screwed, and yes, it would probably be best if they just got over it, but liberals have a genetic flaw which prevents us from ignoring the legitimacy of someone elses complaint.

[Armstead]

9. Liberals should also be looking at it through Arab eyes

I think the genetic flaw of liberals in this case is that we don't tend to look at it through both sets of eyes.

I try and picture how I'd feel if I and my neighbors were booted off our lands, or saw the same thing happen nearby.

It doesen't excuse the actions of those extremists and haters who are determibned to perpetuate those old greievences and violence. But I do think we have to have a more well-rounded view of it.

[Jacobin]

8. Its a real problem

And has been for some time.

Blindly supporting any nation, whether right or wrong, is what makes for unhealthy nationalism, e.g. "America Love it Or Leave It" of VietNam times.

It has been successfully made politically incorrect to criticize Israel for anything, even though it is an openly racist theocracy, with significant elements of the Likud party in control whose doctrine is to expand their territory by taking other nation's land by force, using the Bible as a pretext.

[mdmc]

11. awlays enjoy your posts

k/r

[Armstead]

12. Thanks

[mdmc]

13. should be always

:)