Changing the Subject from Israel/Palestine to Me
Vilifying Israel is an Obsession
Published: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 10:59 AM CST
Elizabeth Mayfield’s letter (Jan. 8) follows the rhetoric of much anti-Israel hatred: pre-empt all criticism of Israel with a statement that your words will be labeled antisemitic. Thus, when such biased statements are made, you can say, “See, I told you so.”
It’s probably fair to say that the majority of Tribune readers, from ultra-liberal to ultra-conservative, think that the U.S. is a great nation in many respects, and at the same time, we also can find various aspects of our culture and government to criticize.
Israel, like the U.S., should not be exempt from criticism. Neither should Israel be criticized out-of-context (e.g., ignoring the terror that prompted military actions.)
However, the obsession with incessantly vilifying and demonizing Israel (and no other country) renders the accusations meaningless and reveals more about the accuser’s motives than about Israel.
Mayfield claims “Israel will cost us money, lives and morality.” The aid given to Palestinians and their descendents in Gaza, the West Bank and in several Arab countries by the U.S. and other nations has, over the years, amounted to many billions of dollars. The U.S. funds Palestinians both directly and indirectly via the United Nations (note: the U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N.). Much of that money has gone to Arafat’s billionaire widow, to plump up Hamas and Fatah bigwigs and to purchase weapons that facilitate terror.
Anybody who believes Israel has a problem with morality should try living under Sharia law, where he won’t have to endure any western morality or democracy.
When Gaza and the West Bank grant free speech and free press and when Palestinian children are no longer nurtured on a diet of hatred and worship of terrorists, then a true comparison can be conducted between Israel and its Islamic neighbors.
JL Metcalf
Fort Dodge
Published: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 10:59 AM CST
Elizabeth Mayfield’s letter (Jan. 8) follows the rhetoric of much anti-Israel hatred: pre-empt all criticism of Israel with a statement that your words will be labeled antisemitic. Thus, when such biased statements are made, you can say, “See, I told you so.”
It’s probably fair to say that the majority of Tribune readers, from ultra-liberal to ultra-conservative, think that the U.S. is a great nation in many respects, and at the same time, we also can find various aspects of our culture and government to criticize.
Israel, like the U.S., should not be exempt from criticism. Neither should Israel be criticized out-of-context (e.g., ignoring the terror that prompted military actions.)
However, the obsession with incessantly vilifying and demonizing Israel (and no other country) renders the accusations meaningless and reveals more about the accuser’s motives than about Israel.
Mayfield claims “Israel will cost us money, lives and morality.” The aid given to Palestinians and their descendents in Gaza, the West Bank and in several Arab countries by the U.S. and other nations has, over the years, amounted to many billions of dollars. The U.S. funds Palestinians both directly and indirectly via the United Nations (note: the U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N.). Much of that money has gone to Arafat’s billionaire widow, to plump up Hamas and Fatah bigwigs and to purchase weapons that facilitate terror.
Anybody who believes Israel has a problem with morality should try living under Sharia law, where he won’t have to endure any western morality or democracy.
When Gaza and the West Bank grant free speech and free press and when Palestinian children are no longer nurtured on a diet of hatred and worship of terrorists, then a true comparison can be conducted between Israel and its Islamic neighbors.
JL Metcalf
Fort Dodge
posted by Facing Facts at
2:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home