Zionism = Racism?

16

Alex Gottschalk

on Dec 27, 2004

Do you consider Eisenhower a Conservative? Nixon? Ford?

17

Dr Guy

on Dec 27, 2004

Do you consider Eisenhower a Conservative? Nixon? Ford?

And your proof? Oh, they did not nuke Iraq, Egypt or Syria!

What stellar logic!

18

Alex Gottschalk

on Dec 28, 2004

During the Suez Criesis Eisenhower forced the Israeli, British, and French forces to withdaw. the Eisenhower administration forced a cease-fire on Britain and France, which it had previously told the Allies it would not do. Part of the pressure that the United States used against Britain was financial, as Eisenhower threatened to sell the United States holdings of the British pound and thereby precipitate a collapse of the British currency.
Ford- however did some positive things for Israel. On a letter dated December 9, 1974, from US Senators to Ford the opeing sentance says: In writing to you about recent developments in the Middle East, we wish to reaffirm the commitment to the survival and integrity of the state of Israel that has been the bipartisan basis of American policy over 26 years and under five administrations. Nixon was anti-Semitic but Pro-Israel however- It should be obvious that supporting Israel doesn't mean someone is not anti-Semitic. Many fundamentalist ministers who believe Jews are destined for hell support the existence of a Jewish state for reasons stemming from their millennialist theology. But even if Mideast policy did accurately measure attitudes toward Jews, the notion that Nixon aided Israel out of philo-Semitism is absurd. When Egypt and Syria launched their attack in 1973, Kissinger and Nixon deliberately waited for Israel to suffer losses—despite pleading from Israeli ambassador Simcha Dinitz—before delivering aid. They hoped to equalize the region's balance of power and to make Israel a more compliant party in regional peace negotiations. Only after a week, when the situation became truly dire, did the United States step in, knowing they could not let a pro-U.S. democracy be overrun by Soviet allies. Even then Nixon leveraged the assistance to keep American Jewish groups from lobbying on behalf of oppressed Soviet Jews. Nixon's intervention clearly resulted not from any belief in pro-Jewish feeling but from cold Realpolitik calculations. Resting on transient geopolitical considerations, such support was inherently fickle. Different global circumstances could easily have dictated a different course of action. Nixon himself even conceded—as he said on a tape that was released in 1999—"Accepted, I'm not pro-Israel; I'm not going to let Israel's tail wag the dog."

19

whoman69

on Dec 28, 2004

Wow, now liberals hate Israel. Who was it that got the Arabs to finally come to the peace table with Israel? Was it....Jimmy Carter.

Did Nixon, Reagan, Bush or Dubyah do anything to help Israel gain acceptance in the Arab world? Dubyah is calling for Israel to give up territory to make a Palestinean state. Under the Reagan and Bush administrations, instead of trying to get the PLO to come to grips that Israel is there to stay they split off the west bank and Gaza.

Like most issues, the right can say they are for an issue but their actions speak more loudly.

20

Alex Gottschalk

on Dec 28, 2004

Wow, now liberals hate Israel. Who was it that got the Arabs to finally come to the peace table with Israel? Was it....Jimmy Carter.

Did Nixon, Reagan, Bush or Dubyah do anything to help Israel gain acceptance in the Arab world? Dubyah is calling for Israel to give up territory to make a Palestinean state. Under the Reagan and Bush administrations, instead of trying to get the PLO to come to grips that Israel is there to stay they split off the west bank and Gaza.

Like most issues, the right can say they are for an issue but their actions speak more loudly.

Excatly Whoman. The Camp David Peace Accords signed with Carter lead to Israeli peace with Jordan as well.

21

whoman69

on Dec 28, 2004

Excuse me but by your own words that sounds like Eisenhower supporting Israel to me.

No wonder you need to pull out the dictionary so often. The first sentence once again says, "DURING THE SUEZ CRISIS, EISENHOWER FORCED THE ISRAELI, BRITISH AND FRENCH FORCES TO WITHDRAW." In short he forced Israel to do something it did not want to do.

22

drmiler

on Dec 28, 2004

Excuse me but by your own words that sounds like Eisenhower supporting Israel to me.

Reply #18 By: Alex Gottschalk - 12/28/2004 8:30:43 AM

During the Suez Criesis Eisenhower forced the Israeli, British, and French forces to withdaw. the Eisenhower administration forced a cease-fire on Britain and France, which it had previously told the Allies it would not do. Part of the pressure that the United States used against Britain was financial, as Eisenhower threatened to sell the United States holdings of the British pound and thereby precipitate a collapse of the British currency.

23

hitparade

on Dec 29, 2004

NOW WE ARE ALL ISRAELIS
By Phyllis Chesler
Since September 11, I have learned that we are all Israelis. I have learned that Islamic terrorists do not distinguish between progressive or reactionary human beings; they are not interested in whether or not we oppose imperialism, colonialism, misogyny, or the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The September 11 attacks were a direct hit on Western civilization and the values it upholds, which include democracy, secularity, modernity, individual rights, and women's rights—as well as laissez-faire capitalism, military and governmental arrogance and corruption. Like it or not (and I do not), this is the civilization we live in. Understand it—and weep—but let us also be clear about who is responsible for September 11.

I first learned how different the Judeo-Christian West and the Islamic East are when I was living in Afghanistan in the early 1960s. My feminism may have been forged in Kabul living under extreme pre-Taliban gender-apartheid. Afghanistan has never been colonized, so there were no Westerners to blame. It was then that I learned how not to romanticize wily, colorful, third-world tyrants. For years, American feminists were calling for the removal of the Taliban and that is precisely what the Bush administration set out to accomplish. Yet, feminists and leftists opposed the invasion of Afghanistan. Yes, I know that Bush, Sr. and the oil companies also funded the Taliban at one point, but that doesn't mean that the United States should refrain from bringing down the monster it helped to create.

Since September 11, many progressive Westerners have still not learned this and have continued to focus on the moral failures of Israel and America instead of the enemy at our gates—as if demonizing Jews or the American government will keep us safe. (Women do not "cause" sexism, Jews do not "cause" anti-Semitism.) Israel's failure to integrate Arabs into its society as equal citizens is reprehensible, but nothing justifies the systematic terrorization of the Jewish people by terrorists who themselves have repressed and destroyed more Muslim and Arab people than the State of Israel ever has. Since September 11, Israel is increasingly being treated as the symbolic scapegoat for all the crimes committed by both colonial Europe and repressive Arab regimes—a classic position for the Jews in human history.

I am a member of Women of the Wall, and the co-editor of a book about to appear on the subject. We have been suing the State of Israel and the Ministry of Religion on behalf of Jewish women's religious rights. Were we Arab women we might have been beheaded for daring to bring such a lawsuit in an Islamic country. While our struggle is not yet over, we have prevailed in the Israeli Supreme Court. I would like Israel's Jewish critics to remember that we are safer in Israel than in Saudi Arabia.

What I have learned post-September 11 is this: There is no shame in being an American patriot and a Zionist. It is important not to lump all Muslims together, not to take American support for Israel for granted, to seek pro-Israel alliances with people whom I may not agree with on other issues, and to consider every Jew as both an ally and an honorable opponent. We must avoid rhetoric, rage, and self-righteousness, and remember that most Jews focus either on Israeli racism towards Arabs or on the world's continued hatred of the Jews—but we must remember both wrongs at the same time. And, when asked, I must speak my truth, even where other truths are more highly valued. –September 2002

Dr. Chesler is an Emerita Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies, a psychotherapist, and an expert courtroom witness. She has lectured and organized political, legal, religious and human rights campaigns in the United States and in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. A popular guest on national television and radio programs, on the internet, and on campuses, she has been an expert commentator on the major events of our time. She has lived in Kabul, Afghanistan, and in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. She currently resides in Manhattan.
Dr. Chesler is co-founder of the Association for Women in Psychology (1969), The National Women’s Health Network (1974), and is a charter member of the Women’s Forum (1973-74). She was the Editor at Large and wrote a column for "On The Issues" magazine (1988-2000).

Dr. Chesler’s twelve books and thousands of articles and speeches have inspired people on many diverse issues. Her books include: Women and Madness; Women, Money and Power; About Men; With Child: A Diary of Motherhood; Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody; Sacred Bond: The Legacy of Baby M; Patriarchy: Notes of an Expert Witness; Feminist Foremothers in Women’s Studies, Psychology, and Mental Health; Letters to a Young Feminist; Woman’s Inhumanity to Woman; Women of the Wall: Claiming Sacred Ground at Judaism’s Holy Site; and The New Anti-Semitism: The Current Crisis and What We Must Do About It. She is currently preparing a new edition of her classic, best-selling work, Women and Madness, and is completing a new book about the importance of independent thinking among women. Both works will be published by Palgrave-Macmillan (St. Martins).

She has lectured to mental health, legal, medical, interfaith, feminist, and Jewish groups, and at colleges and graduate schools. Dr. Chesler has appeared on The Today Show, CSPAN, the O’Reilly Factor, Oprah, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, Court TV, Nightline, Good Morning America, The History Channel, The MacNeil-Lehrer Report, Washington Journal, Donahue, Geraldo, and on network and local radio and TV programs all over North America and Europe. For three years, she was a regular contributor to NPR’s program “At the Opera.” She is currently a columnist for Frontpage magazine and The JewishPress. In the last year, she has been interviewed hundreds of times in the media about anti-Semitism and has delivered more than 50 lectures on the subject.

She is a co-founder and a Board Member of The International Committee for the Jerusalem-based group, Women of the Wall (1989-present); a member of the Arts and Letters Council of the Wyman Institute of Holocaust Studies (2004); a member of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (2004); and a member of Academic&Media Watch on Anti-Semitism (2004). She started studying Torah in 1989 and published her first d’var Torah in 2000. Her archives reside at Duke University. She may be reached at her website www.phyllis-chesler.com.

24

kilahchris

on Dec 31, 2004

Since September 11, I have learned that we are all Israelis. I have learned that Islamic terrorists do not distinguish between progressive or reactionary human beings; they are not interested in whether or not we oppose imperialism, colonialism, misogyny, or the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The September 11 attacks were a direct hit on Western civilization and the values it upholds, which include democracy, secularity, modernity, individual rights, and women's rights—as well as laissez-faire capitalism, military and governmental arrogance and corruption. Like it or not (and I do not), this is the civilization we live in. Understand it—and weep—but let us also be clear about who is responsible for September 11.

Although this is a comforting thought, to feel that islamic terrorist are out to end our democracy and our way of life out jealousy or religious beliefs. it is wrong. Innocent people died on sept 11, and thats why millions of american seek comfort in knowing that nothing was done wrong on their part. They will say Islamic terrorist just hate who we are". That may be true but it is the direct result of years of Bad U.S foreign policy.

Millions americans feel this way about sept 11. There are sadly mistaken. Sept 11 was a direct result of years of bad U.S foreign policy and weak almost laughable security. Before you state that they are against and trying to uphold our values system of individual rights, freedom of speech and (the whole nine).... you have to ask yourself why????? why would terrorist want to end democracy??? nobody ever answers this question with a solid answer. People usually cop out and say well there fanatical religious beliefs tell them to hate america blah blah blah. The argument does not cut butter. Religious beliefs just don't spur up!!! something has to feed it!!!...... what created these beliefs that america are evil??? Such malcontent has to form from something that has happened to the fanatics before 9/11.
The only other rational argument other than religion would have to be jealousy of democracy and the american way. This argument is even weaker than the religion one. Jealousy is sometlhing that stems from a desire to want. If they wanted democracy they will simply practice it. They do not desire democracy.

Im a proud American born and raised in Bronx NY, but even i can see the truth (sometimes it ugly). If you look at and study United States Foreign policy for the last 40 years (especially pertaining to the middle east) you can see the birth of Islamic fantacism. Its ugly but that the way the world is. I am by no means condoning the actions that took place on that day. However, the terrorist on sept 11 felt oppressed by the United States support for isreal, and rigid policies regarding contries like Syria, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. They sees us as a co-conspirator in the undeclared war between Isreal and the Islamic fundametalist.
(1) U.S supported isreal during the October war,
(2) American condeming any islamic country whom they suspect is developing Nuclear Missles while Isreal is allowed to have them creates a double standard that islamic terrorist resent.

(3) America pumping million of dollars and weapons to Israel (some of those same weapons are used to killed Islamic terrorist and many times innocent people)

(4) Israel defiance of rules and regulations sometimes. (Last Year Israel invaded Syrian airspace and attacked what was claimed to be a terrorist breeding camp). Ask yourself a question how or who gives them the right to fly warplane into another soverign country???? Syria went to the UN and complained but to no avail. what if Saddam invaded or Syria invaded Israelean airspace and claimed they were fighting terrorism as well?? The United States would be outraged.

(5) One nutcase terrorist blows himself up and kills innocent people, and Israel responds by blindly destroying whatever they believe to be terrorist houses or safe haven. As result many innoncent palestinians die as well as terrorist die. Two wrongs dont make a right.

Not saying that terrorism is not evil, or that Fanatics arent wrong when they blow themselves up to kill others. There ill feelings towards america stems from Foreign policy and the believe that Israel and America has joined an unholy alliance against them and there lands. Im not saying its rationale or even the right way to think. But that is the truth and that is why they chose to attack america. the Twin towers are representative of the financial base which generates the money that is used to fight islam, and although they killed innocent people in their minds they only returned the favor of what has been done to their people.

Once again not saying I support there radical beliefs but that is the truth. America must first learn about her enemies before she fights them.

25

drmiler

on Dec 31, 2004

Reply #24 By: kilahchris - 12/31/2004 3:02:49 PM Not saying that terrorism is not evil, or that Fanatics arent wrong when they blow themselves up to kill others. There ill feelings towards america stems from Foreign policy and the believe that Israel and America has joined an unholy alliance against them and there lands. Im not saying its rationale or even the right way to think. But that is the truth and that is why they chose to attack america. the Twin towers are representative of the financial base which generates the money that is used to fight islam, and although they killed innocent people in their minds they only returned the favor of what has been done to their people.

Once again not saying I support there radical beliefs but that is the truth. America must first learn about her enemies before she fights them.

Sorry but I gotta disagree with this. Once they hit american shores and kill americans well then, the gloves have to come off and school's out.