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December 16, 2003
Oldest hatred, latest chapter
Powerful piece on the Tech Central Station website correctly analysing the new antisemitism as a deadly nexus between European leftism and radical Islamism, facilitated and camouflaged by political correctness. The author, Jean-Christophe Mounicq, identifies not only the Islamicisation of Europe as the main motor of the new antisemitism, but the censorship of any protest at this process and the appallingly perverted thinking that follows: 'Contemporary political correctness defines any limits on immigration as racism. Any political leader, intellectual or "normal" citizen, who suggests that immigration should be controlled through the application of law or who advocates repatriation of illegal immigrants is denounced as a racist. It is sometimes even considered outrageous to suggest that immigrants should obey the laws of their host country. "We cannot obey this law because it is incompatible with the Koran" is a claim heard more and more often from Muslims. "Native Europeans" often seem ready to abandon their principles to avoid conflict. 'Airplanes full of illegal immigrants sent back to their native country have been compared, by French intellectuals, journalists and political activists, to the trains that carried Jews to Dachau. Thus a former French interior minister, Jean-Louis Debré, who carried out this policy, was portrayed as a Nazi despite being of Jewish origin himself. This attitude was termed as "Reductio ad Hitlerum" by philosopher Leo Strauss. The sophism might be caricatured as: Hitler loved dogs; X loves dogs; thus X is a disciple of Hitler'. The consequence is a rising tide of hatred and -- particularly in France -- murderous violence towards Jews facilitated by the left under the spurious cover of anti-Israelism: 'This old anti-Semitism from the Right is progressively disappearing. The new anti-Semitism comes from the Left. Eerily echoing the voice of the defunct Soviet Union, anti-Israelism today is the most powerful modern vector of anti-Semitism. Since World War II, anti-Semites have attacked the Jewish state as a substitute for the Jewish people. One may notice that intellectuals from the Left who propagate anti-Israelism and political correctness are often Jewish themselves. But the overwhelming numbers of anti-Semitic acts in Europe are of Arab-Muslim immigrant origin. 'To avoid debate on these facts, as the EU is doing, is counterproductive. On 19 November, one French Jewish disc jockey was murdered by an Arab Muslim. The murderer was proud of "having eliminated one Jewish scum from the earth." To prevent any debate, French authorities said the Arab was "psychologically disturbed." Maybe. But are other crimes from "less psychologically disturbed" Muslims needed before Muslims and the Left are called to task?' And how many such crimes will be needed before Britain starts asking similar questions? Posted by melanie at December 16, 2003
Comments
Melanie, The article by Jean-Christophe Mounicq is excellent. More people are finally starting to say publicly what Pim Fortuyn warned about: that the presence of very high concentrations of Muslim immigrants in some European cities (ie: Rotterdam: 50%) becomes a real problem if a substantial minority are unable or unwilling to integrate. This would be true of any group of immigrants but is particularly significant if the religion they practice (Islam) is based upon a set of assumptions and practices about the rights of individuals that are at loggerheads with the values and laws of a western liberal democracy which lays great emphasis upon individual freedom, rights and responsibilities. The real problem is not the private practice of Islam but the development of an extreme 'ideology' that encompasses anti-western values with a hatred of certain minority groups, particularly Jews. Given the social conditions (high unemployment, inability to integrate and some racism from some parts of the host countries' populace) of a large minority of young Muslim men in some European cities (more in 'Old Europe' than in the UK (yet) or in southern or eastern Europe where there are only tiny Muslim populations) these problems have become combustible. Some imams add fuel to the flames by preaching sheer hatred towards some minority groups (particularly jews but gays also are often described as 'filthy pigs' too). It is hardly newsworthy anymore when a synagogue is attacked, or jewish schoolchildren or even a rabbi are attacked in the streets (as has happened in Brussels and Antwerp recently). There has also been a sharp increase of street attacks on gays by the same types of groups of young Muslim men. I have never ever heard of gangs of Jewish boys or gay men attacking people in the streets..! Shortly before Pim Fortuyn was assassinated, I was on a train journey from Amsterdam to The Hague and a small gang of Muslim boys started chanting 'Hamas, Hamas...all jews to the gas'. Unfortunately, the left of centre socially-democratic politicians, do not live in the areas where these things tend to happen. Their failure to address this situation by even debating it openly is leading to the worst kind of unintended consequences: boosts to the extreme-right parties (such as anti-immigration Vlaams Blok in Belgium which polled 37% in this year's elections in Antwerp)which would go much further in trying to tackle these problems than most decent ordinary people would ever want. It is not so much a question of politicians fiddling while Rome burns but politicians having become almost paralysed by their wish to avoid saying anything controversial that could lose them votes or could lead to them being branded as racist. Interestingly, Pim Fortuyn got a lot of support from amongst various immigrant communities (particularly first generation immigrants) in Rotterdam who understood the real nature of this problem and the importance of tackling it far more than the politicians themselves. There are no easy solutions - but the first step is for people to be much more open and honest in discussing these issues - that is one small but essential step in the right direction Posted by: David at December 16, 2003 05:48 PMActually David it is much worse. THe politicians recite a mantra they recited as student radicals in their youth. Always judge a man by what he did in 1968.....we have too many of that generation who mouth slogans and who as middle-aged politicians still mouth slogans. They are ineffectual and only their tongues are exercised, rarely their brains. They have created widespread dissent underground and balkanised their societies rather as the German Democratic Republic......the citizens whisper truths to each other and outside listn to broadcast lies from The State. The world of Orwell's "1984" has been subsumed into Huxley's "Brave New World", and we have shadow-men unable to think except to herd together at summits and meetings and utter trite commentary and the populace has switched off. The powder-keg awaits bin Laden's spark...for it is he that wishes to ignite a conflagration, and most politicians are afraid of the cities that may burn......Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester saw it burn in 1980s and minor examples such as Bradford put the politicians on edge. Though Bradford is just 80km from Europe's largest military base. Pim Fortuyn was killed by a lunatic vegan gunmen, but he was set up for slaughter by the politicians of the Dutch State and their names are well-known. Politicians however, are men without a following ready to be blown away like straws in the wind. Posted by: Romulus at December 16, 2003 06:53 PMRomulus, "Actually David it is much worse". Yes, you make a series of good points. It is also much worse because the problems themselves are likely to get worse...they are If the politicians are so weak now...how the hell will they deal with what might happen in the next 1, 2, 5, 10 years? No doubt, they will be continue to respond either weakly or inappropriately. As you say, a lot of citizens now see through the constant window-dressing of modern governance provided par excellence by Blair et al in a parody of Emperor-has-no-clothes tables, spin, and the latest 'we care because we listen' initiatives. Truly worrying stuff... Posted by: David at December 16, 2003 07:14 PMIslamic hatred of Jews and Christians is now becoming apparant for all to see. Today, the Barnabus Fund highlights the case of a young Christian boy in Pakistan, kidnapped, brutally beaten and starved, then forcibly converted to Islam. This man has come to the exact same conclusions I have after a year or so of reading left-wing media and talkboards (such as the ones at al- Guardian and Das Independent.) I grieve for the Europe whose 3,000 year old culture is being systematically destroyed on the one hand by ugly, stupid and vain men and women, and on the other hand by barbarians from an alien and hostile civilization. Posted by: Susan at December 17, 2003 12:05 AMThe media have been so indoctrinated by the left wing, trendy, pro-terrorist and anti-hero lobby, that the abduction of a Christian doesn't make headlines, the same way as the systematic slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Christians in Somalia hasn't made headline news - and it never will. The Christians have no highly paid PR consultants working on their behalf, which the Arabs do have and use to their advantage, to gloss over little incidents and to put a wounded Palestinian child on the front page of a newspaper when the slaughter of 2,000 Congolese didn't even make a paragraph! Our media is bias, just as the rest of the European media is... Our politicians don't want to be branded racist by the fast growing Muslim community. It is sometimes even considered outrageous to suggest that immigrants should obey the laws of their host country. "We cannot obey this law because it is incompatible with the Koran" is a claim heard more and more often from Muslims. "Native Europeans" often seem ready to abandon their principles to avoid conflict. We will be seeing a formerly Christian Europe increasingly lower their own moral standards and take up those of Islam - and it's started with the political correctness surrounding Christmas, Easter, etc., although all Islamic festivals are quite openly promoted! Are we succumbing already to the global Jihad, which will eventually lead to the Islamisation of the world, when the Khilafa is eventually established? No politician is, as yet, willing to face this issue!
'To avoid debate on these facts, as the EU is doing, is counterproductive. On 19 November, one French Jewish disc jockey was murdered by an Arab Muslim. The murderer was proud of "having eliminated one Jewish scum from the earth." To prevent any debate, French authorities said the Arab was "psychologically disturbed." Maybe. But are other crimes from "less psychologically disturbed" Muslims needed before Muslims and the Left are called to task?' This is similar to the way the media treated the murder of Pim Fortuyn. The Dutch government immediately claimed that his murderer was a disturbed animal rights activist. At the trial however, the murderer confessed that he did it 'to protect Holland's Muslims'. Posted by: Murph at December 17, 2003 01:43 AMQuite right, Murph. The whitewashing of Pim Fortuyn's murderer was even predicted to me by a Danish friend the day Van Der Graaf was arrested. She said the government would erase the guy's Internet postings and cover up all other information about him. I thought at the time that she was being bizarrely paranoid. I didn't know much about the Euroelite and the Europress at that time. I have a different viewpoint today. Posted by: Susan at December 17, 2003 02:09 AMSusan, you must look back at the histories of the "Euro-elite" say in the 1970s to see the uideas formed in their youth.......the is the era of betrayal by institutions, what the French call "trahison des clercs"......and a conspiracy against their nations in favour of "superordinate goals" with abstract names like "Europe" or "multi-culturalism".....they are the generation wedded to abstractions and not to the needs and wishes of real people Posted by: Romulus at December 17, 2003 06:11 AM"The real problem is not the private practice of Islam but the development of an extreme 'ideology' that encompasses anti-western values with a hatred of certain minority groups, particularly Jews." This is not a "development" but rather an integral part of Islam, David. Islam is not practiced in private, but is rather a group, mind-control affair. "It is hard to blame Muslims for this, as they are only doing what their religion requires them to do. " Pardon me, DP??? WHY is it "hard to blame Muslims"? They, after all, are the perpetrators, the ones responsible for the intolerance and violence of Islam. If they did not adhere to its misanthropic, misogynistic, so-called "religion" then there would not be this problem called radical Islam out for world domination. "they are the generation wedded to abstractions and not to the needs and wishes of real people" Romy, they Euros have no one to blame but themselves. When radical Islam speaks of the "decadent" West, they think they mean the US–but, it is actually Europe that is much more secular and certainly much, much more decadent. The EU is like the proverbial frog in the water bath. They will not notice or not acknowledge someone is trying to murder their civilization until it is too late. As terrible as it is, the only thing we can hope for is that radical Islam attacks more and more innocents, world wide and fast—therewith showing their hand. Because that is the only way the PC brigade will understand that these people are not kidding. That they want to subjugate the whole world to fascist Islam. I always find it fascinating that Islam decries the "hegemony" and "imperialism" of the West—but, Islamic hegemonic imperialism—now THAT is a "good" thing. Trouble is, we'd all have to live in 7th century backwardness and misery. I highly doubt that most of the world is up for that. After all, Islam is only 1/5 of the world's population. Let the earth take a couple of whirls, let a few more bombs go off, let more innocents be murdered and the PC crowd will start to have an epiphany! Lili
When one has despicable, utterly asymmetrical reporting from the Middle East which portrays the Jewish state as a nation of ruthless, Rambo-crazed bullies, there can be little surprise that the end result has been a re-emergence of Jew hatred in Europe. And Moslems may very well be the chief perpetrators, but it is the Europeans who are, once again, showing complete indifference to the persection of Jews on their continent. Try the little gem below from the "Press" Association which was carried today by the Scotsman.com. Oh, those wicked Jews, keeping nice Mr. Arafat, that saintly Muslim and eternal peace-maker, from enjoying the gentle joys of a Christmas in Bethlehem. 12:09pm (UK) "PA" Israel today dashed Yasser Arafat’s hopes of visiting Jesus’ birthplace at Christmas, insisting that the Palestinian leader will spend his third Yuletide trapped in his battered West Bank headquarters. Arafat met a Christian delegation at his sandbagged headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah today. Asked whether he plans to take part in the Bethlehem Christmas festivities, Arafat said: “I hope so. I haven’t missed it, except since being besieged in this building.” The Palestinian Authority has officially requested that Arafat, a Muslim, be allowed to attend Christmas services in Bethlehem, said an Israeli official. Israel’s policy is that “Arafat stays where he is,” the official said. “He’s free to go, but it’s not guaranteed that he’ll be able to return. Since 2001, Israel has banned Arafat from attending services at the Church of the Nativity, built over a grotto where it is believed Jesus was born. Israel has only let Arafat leave his Ramallah headquarters once in the past two years to visit the West Bank cities of Jenin and Nablus. http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2305336 Posted by: Charles at December 17, 2003 11:14 AMMore and more Europeans and Americans are recognising the superiority complex of Islam, the obsession with Jihad, the determination to destroy all rivals. Lili, "Romy, they Euros have no one to blame but themselves. When radical Islam speaks of the "decadent" West, they think they mean the US–but, it is actually Europe that is much more secular and certainly much, much more decadent." These statements are too trite, Lili. "they Euros have no one to blame but themselves" I'm not sure who you are blaming? European politicians (in which case which ones in particular?). European countries (which ones?). European members of the public? European Jews? I think you need to be more specific: the problem in terms of countries is particularly one of 'old Europe' (mainly France, Belgium and NL) - not Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece or Eastern Europe. France is worst. It has the largest concentrations of muslims living often in concrete jungles on the edge of large cities. These are lawsless 'no-go' areas where gang-rape of girls who dare to show their faces is not uncommon. Many first generation Muslim immigrants are as powerless to deal with it as apparently are the French police and legal system. The violence and chaos of these areas is being transported daily into other areas of the same cities and underlies a lot of crime and some of the young men are now being galvanised through vicarious association with the sufferings of Palestinians and the nastier aspects of Islamofascism. It is a problem that has crept up almost unnotcied until the last few years. French politicians don't know how to deal with it effectively, because they are probably wary of the effects on voting patterns of being seen as 'islamophobic' and also are probably concerned about adding fuel to the flames. The French Parliament has recently banned head scarves in schools - but this seems to me the worst kind of empty posturing by the French political classes. After all, it is not the young girls who are involved in the Jew-bashing and the gang-rapes Posted by: David at December 17, 2003 12:44 PMWhat is the metaphysical ROOT of "left-liberal" antisemitism? Posted by: Kenny at December 17, 2003 02:01 PMRead this book and find out. Why the Jews? In short: the left-wing hatred of the Jews is economic, while the Islamic (and Christian fringe) hatred is religious in origin and scope. Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at December 17, 2003 04:15 PMExplain to me why nearly every central leftish thinker in history has been Jewish, if left-wing ideology is in its very nature anti-semitic. Karl Marx, Ernst Bloch, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, Walter Benjamin? Yes, that lovely moderate Muslim, Arafat shows his solidatity with Christians by taking part in Mass. How hypocritical when he denies the Judeo - Christian connection to the Temple Site. "Read this book and find out. Why the Jews? In short: the left-wing hatred of the Jews is economic, while the Islamic (and Christian fringe) hatred is religious in origin and scope." Andrew.If you are refering to Prager and Telushkin's superb wee book then I am glad to see that you have read it, but I am afraid that you have failed to understand my question or the book's main contention..... Posted by: Kenny at December 17, 2003 04:57 PM"Explain to me why nearly every .....". I have to go now but I will be glad to oblige later this evening or first thing tomorrow. Posted by: Kenny at December 17, 2003 05:00 PMDon't be so smug Lilith. This shit is happening in the US too. Counterpunch and ZMag are full of the kind of stuff this article is about. Counterpunch even has a CAIR staff member as a columnist. The main difference between us and the Euros is that we have more experience in integrating a lot of different types of people, and some of our Muslims can't resist the old melting pot culture of the US, which is still strong despite the Left's best efforts to destroy it. (I personally know of a lot of Iranian-Americans who have converted to Christianity.) That, and the fact that we take in everybody as immigrants, whereas the Euros seem to only just take in Muslims. "we have more experience in integrating a lot of different types of people" yes I am sure what's left of the indigenous peoples USA agree with that statement. Posted by: bernie at December 17, 2003 05:27 PMWell, bernie, I have a Native ancestor, and I'm pretty well-integrated :)) Obviously you don't know that millions of us "European-Americans" have at least one Native or indeed African ancestor. US certainly wasn't kind to the Natives, but most of the indigenous were wiped out when North America was still officially various parts of EUROPEAN empires. Moreover, lots of Natives don't want to be "integrated" -- they live in their own sovereign terrority, with their own governments, and the US respects that (today). Always the snide, snickering Eurosuperiority, no matter what, eh bernie? Can't give the USA credit for anything, any time, anywhere. I guess it really hurts for present-day Europeans to realize that the descendents of the pathetic peasants and serfs your ancetors ethnically cleansed, starved, beat, raped, persecuted and warred on so much that they got up and left, are now largely responsible for protecting what's left of your culture. Yeah, that would be us, the European-Americans, the people who weren't good enough for the oh-so-superior European Continent and culture, the people who lived in wooden huts and ate acorns rather than stay in oh-so-superior, oh-so-tolerant Europe. (Descendent here of people who fled from that garden spot of "humaneness" known as Ulster, and others who were starved out of Southern Germany in the mid-1800s.) There's much that I admire about Europe, but God, how I hate your snobbery and snideness. Posted by: Susan at December 17, 2003 06:07 PMsusan On forms for employment say, what do you write for ethnic identity? Another oldest hatred, latest chapter: "I'm not sure who you are blaming? European politicians (in which case which ones in particular?). European countries (which ones?). European members of the public? European Jews?" Most certainly I am blaming the people, David. Every nation gets the government it deserves. The Europeans have elected and selected their politicians. They are entirely to blame just as Muslims are to blame for the leaders they have. "I think you need to be more specific: the problem in terms of countries is particularly one of 'old Europe' (mainly France, Belgium and NL) - not Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece or Eastern Europe." I think it is interesting that the countries who know the most about Islam, having been occupied by it for centuries, are the ones supporting the US. "France is worst. It has the largest concentrations of muslims living often in concrete jungles on the edge of large cities. These are lawsless 'no-go' areas where gang-rape of girls who dare to show their faces is not uncommon. Many first generation Muslim immigrants are as powerless to deal with it as apparently are the French police and legal system. The violence and chaos of these areas is being transported daily into other areas of the same cities and underlies a lot of crime and some of the young men are now being galvanised through vicarious association with the sufferings of Palestinians and the nastier aspects of Islamofascism." Yes, indeed! have you read this article?: "The Barbarians at the Gates of Paris" "It is a problem that has crept up almost unnotcied until the last few years." This I cannot agree with, David. I go to Europe rather often. If I, as an American, have noticed the problem for years then my conclusion must be that the Euros have CHOSEN to ignore the issue. "French politicians don't know how to deal with it effectively, because they are probably wary of the effects on voting patterns of being seen as 'islamophobic' and also are probably concerned about adding fuel to the flames." That is changing because France is recognizing that Islam and not just radical Islam, is a threat to the French secular state and the way of life they love so much. Imagine, no wine, no great food whenever, fasting of all things, no flirting, no mistresses, no casual "love," no French "decadence". What a crime! :-) "The French Parliament has recently banned head scarves in schools - but this seems to me the worst kind of empty posturing by the French political classes. After all, it is not the young girls who are involved in the Jew-bashing and the gang-rapes" I see the scarf as the symbol of the misogyny of Islam as well as a symbol of radical Islam. Certainly these girls are forced to wear them, whether they admit it or not! There have been plenty of rapes of non-hijab wearing girls by "pious" Muslim males. Chirac is quite correct to say that there is something "aggressive" in the veil. There is nothing in the Q'ran that states that women must be veiled. They need to "cover their ornaments." However, Mohammed, that chief misanthrope, he had plenty negative to say about women and keeping them under wraps—purdah. Here is something that just makes you sick! "French Close 2 Islamic Day Care Centers; Cite Scarf on Girl, 3" It seems that Muslim males cannot feel empowered without humiliating and subjugating either the "Non-believer" or women. They start with the babies. The West is constantly criticized by "superior" Muslims for the blatant sexuality we flaunt. YES!!! ;-) Tell me why does a 3 year old child have to be veiled—unless she is being sexualized? Susan, I have said very often that we don't have the same problems as Europe BECAUSE we integrate and assimilate people whereas Europe has a policy of not doing so. However, Muslims are another kettle of fish. If they recognize the flaws in Islam there is hope. If they will obey secular laws and be loyal to the secular state, there is hope. But, given that the Qu'ran supports lying to the "infidel" to protect Islam I have concerns. This will get worse and worse. But, the world will learn that Islam is a threat to civilization as we know it. Lili PS—Bernie, you clearly know little about native American peoples. I live in an area of many reservations. American Indians want to keep their cultures very, very separate and distinct from mainstream America. They have their own religions and system of justice. There is a lot of pride in native culture.
Lili- "the world will learn that Islam is a threat to civilization as we know it" it's funny that, considering the birth of "civilization" is where Iraq is now. I was being ironic with my comment on Indigenous peoples' "acceptance" of "integration". Posted by: bernie at December 18, 2003 12:27 AMFirstly, can someone please explain to me why certain generalisations of Arabs are "OK" whilst generaliations of Jews are... anti-semitic, xebophopic etc. "Yes, that lovely moderate Muslim, Arafat shows his solidatity with Christians by taking part in Mass. How hypocritical when he denies the Judeo - Christian connection to the Temple Site. Barry, if you are Jewish, you really should not throw stones on this particular issue. Islam venerates Christ as a true Prophet of God. This is a matter of fact and is beyond debate, as it appears repeatedly in the Koran. Jews, on the other hand, made it a traditional practice (up until the end of WWII) to spit on every cross they saw, and many Orthodox Jews today STILL incorporate curses aimed at Jesus Christ in their prayers, claiming that he was little more than a wicked sorceror and blasphemer. (And much, much worse. He did, after all, have the unmitigated gaul to insinuate through his teachings that God didn't play racial favorites, and that all people (even Gentiles) were His children. Man, how that must have pissed the Sanhedrin off!) Now, who are the pragmatic (cynical more like it)ones trying to chum up real good with the Christians and the Christian-Right Barry? ;-D I'll give you a clue. It isn't the Muslims. Great post by Rob Maynard. I could not agree more. "Romy, they Euros have no one to blame but themselves. When radical Islam speaks of the "decadent" West, they think they mean the US–but, it is actually Europe that is much more secular and certainly much, much more decadent"
You have a rosy-tinted view of the US Lilith and view everywhere else through a dark glass....a bit ethnocentric really, and you seem to push towards the inevitable conclusion from your posts.....that somehow Muslims should become soap ad lampshades and turned into ash........it really does come through that you think Europe should become ethnically 'pure'. IT is a viewpoint, but those who tried it before are no longer with us. Would you really have oted for Le Pen instead of Chirac ? Susan, so you have many people from Ulster ? Wonder why ? Fewer people died violently there in The TRoubles than in HOuson each year, and trouble is focused on 3-4 housing estates, with very little property crime........I bet they were economic migrants.....good to see they preferred to enter the US rather than go to Eire.......just how many Irish illegals are there in the USA now ? Posted by: Romulus at December 18, 2003 07:13 AM"it's funny that, considering the birth of "civilization" is where Iraq is now." That was way before Islam, Bernie. When Islam arrived on the scene civilization was snuffed out and Islamic totalitarianism came about. After all, Islam is a conduit and not an innovator. Take a look at a historical time-line and see. Quite literally NOTHING has happened for hundreds of years in Islamic states to move them out of the middle ages. The great irony is that Islamofascists use modern technology to further their 7th century aims toward a Caliphate. LOL "YES, we can understand the Saudi regime as backward, medieval etc but that is not a reflection upon ***Arabs overall*** but an expression of the function of the Saudi economy in providing the west with its far, far, far, OVER-INFLATED energy demands at a good price. Let's be honest, how could rich Calefornians live without their precious air-conditiong.. . ." Mr. Maynard, these are NOT generalizations about Arabs. Neither are they generalizations about the Saudis. They are FACTS! Facts which Arab scholars themselves have admitted and decried here for three years running: UN Report on Arab Development: http://www.undp.org/rbas/ahdr/ According to the report this is what is keeping Arabs back is three things: "freedom, women’s empowerment, and knowledge." This is because of the Qu'ran and its teachings if these are strictly adhered to. Islam does not permit personal freedom as we know it. Islam subjugates women, treating them as property and Islam is against higher education above religious education—despite the fact that the Qu'ran says "read." Read means read the Qu'ran. Most of the degrees from "university" that Arabs take are religious studies degrees—making them unemployable. If all the expats left Saudi Arabia tomorrow the nation would collapse because they cannot even wipe their own tushies much less run their failing infrastructure. "Fifteen Arab countries are below the water “poverty line” Today the average income in Saudi Arabia, despite oil riches, is about $8K whereas only ten years ago it was 3 times that. Those Arab states who have no oil have an inordinate amount of poverty. "If the present rate of progress is maintained, decades would elapse before illiteracy is eradicated or enrolment [sic] in education reaches the level attained by developed countries in the mid-1990s. . . " When student are taught "religion" in madrassas this issue is explosive. --- "Can we please stop identifiying the citizens of regimes such as Egypt or Saudi with the expedient rhetoric of their rulers?" NO! We cannot. Can we call a spade a spade and tell the TRUTH for a change instead of PC lies, Mr. Maynard? When 43% of the Arabs are illiterate and two thirds of those are women; when "honor killings" abound; when the 22 Arab states combined, with a population equal to that of the US, have a GDP of less than that of Spain; when the only region with slower growth is sub-Saharan Africa; when more than half of the young people in the Arab states want to emigrate; when Arabs regularly demonstrate FOR Islamic terror; when Arabs fund Islamic terror with their charities; when Saudi Arabia admits to an unemployment rate of over 30%, etc.— then we are not generalizing in a xenophobic manner. All Muslims are not terrorists. But, all Islamic terrorists are Muslims! ALL the 9/11 terrorists were Muslims. We do not see other religious fanatics en masse, murder innocents on a regular basis all over the world as do Islamic fanatics. Those are FACTS and NOT generalizations! "Islam venerates Christ as a true Prophet of God. This is a matter of fact and is beyond debate, as it appears repeatedly in the Koran." Regardless, Islam puts itself and the "true-believers" above ALL. Others are to be converted, subjugated or killed. THAT is what the Qu'ran states in hundreds of violent passages. Mohammed is the one "prophet" in Islam who is truly revered and the Jews and the "Unbelievers" are disdained, dhimmified and to be subjugated or killed. Read all about it here in the Qu'ran: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/quranindex.html "I doubt Europe has surpassed the USA in "decadence" - it merely follows, it does not lead !" Well, Romy, I cannot turn on the regular TV in the US and watch hard-core porno at any hour as I can in Europe. I don't see sex shops and porno theaters like those of Beate Uhse on many a corner in the US. One cannot see live sex shows in the US as one can in Europe. One cannot see gays kissing and fondling one another on the street as one can in Europe. One cannot pick a prostitute out of a store-front window as one can in Europe. One cannot get a hotel next to a brothel as one can in Europe, etc. . . Sure we have lots of vice and crime, but decadence is a Euro specialty. That's one of the reasons I LOVE Europe. ;-) "You have a rosy-tinted view of the US Lilith and view everywhere else through a dark glass....a bit ethnocentric really, and you seem to push towards the inevitable conclusion from your posts.....that somehow Muslims should become soap ad lampshades and turned into ash........it really does come through that you think Europe should become ethnically 'pure'. IT is a viewpoint, but those who tried it before are no longer with us. Would you really have oted for Le Pen instead of Chirac ? . ." That is pretty funny, Romy dear. You read such bizarre things into my posts. I hardly have a "rosy-tinted view of the US," dear Romy. I am very much against the current administration and find much wrong with the US. I criticize it regularly. I have told you before that people get annoyed with my love for certain parts of Europe. Your outrageous idea that I am for annihilating all Muslims a la the Nazis is plain BULLSHIT!!! Show my a post where I have said any such thing—even remotely. I am for eliminating (yes, that means killing or capturing) and prosecuting and convicting ANY terrorist, whether they are Muslims or whatever. These people who threaten innocents should be put away for life without any possibility of parole—IMHO. I am against the death penalty—even for the monster Saddam. A life time in a terrible prison is a much more fitting punishment to me. I am FOR a secular, democratic, pluralistic state and against ANY religion that tries to insinuate itself on the populace—Christianity included. I am for a Reformation in Islam! As a non-public figure and a non-journalist I say precisely what others don't have the guts to say. I speak the truth about Islam and Muslims. Simply read the Qu'ran and the hadiths and educate yourself as to what Islam is all about. Then you too can speak the truth. Certainly many quotes from Muslims exist that say EXACTLY the same thing: That Muslims are responsible for Islamic terror and no one else! If we were having a conversations about Christianity or Judaism I would tell you a thing or two about those religions too. I am an "equal opportunity" critic of organized religions. ;-) I would have voted for neither Le Pen or Chirac. They are both buffoons in my eyes. Although, Le Pen is easier on the eyes. "so you have many people from Ulster ? Wonder why ? Fewer people died violently there in The TRoubles than in HOuson each year, and trouble is focused on 3-4 housing estates, with very little property crime........I bet they were economic migrants.....good to see they preferred to enter the US rather than go to Eire.......just how many Irish illegals are there in the USA now ?" So, Romy, what is the population of Ulster in comparison to Houston, since we are talking death stats? LOL Not too many people in Houston get killed via terrorism—yet. BTW—the US has TONS of illegals from Europe. They come here on a tourist visa and never leave. Wonder why? Are you disputing that the US is a land of immigrants and that is what makes it great? Lili Lili "One cannot see gays kissing and fondling one another on the street as one can in Europe" You obliously ain't been to any of the following places recently, lady: - San Francisco So, please don't add 'gays kissing in the street' as one more indicator of 'decadence' and claim it is just a European phenomenon, cos it ain't!;-) Posted by: David at December 18, 2003 11:22 AMRob "PLEASE, AS A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT, SUBSTITUTE "ARAB" FOR "JEW" (IN POSTS ON THIS FORUM) AND SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH" Well, I've tried that with my posts and, because I have been careful to be specific in my comments about the behaviour of some young Muslim men, influenced by some very unpleasant hatred in some mosques, and who have been clearly influenced by the sort of western-values hating ideologies of the Taliban and bin Laden, I cannot be accused of generalising or of any 'phobia'. So, please do not generalise about all posters on this thread being 'any'phobic (change pre-fix to suit taste). Posted by: David at December 18, 2003 11:53 AM"ALL the 9/11 terrorists were Muslims. We do not see other religious fanatics en masse, murder innocents on a regular basis all over the world as do Islamic fanatics. Those are FACTS and NOT generalizations!" WHAT!!! - look at Hindu fanatics in India, the Jewish fundamentalists in Hebron, the history of christianity in the crusades and the systematic persecution of Jews in the inquististion not to mention both the Catholic and Protestant terror in Northern Ireland. Even Buddism can develop a fanatical element in, for example, the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930/40s. Secondly, I really think that we need a more subtle understanding of the emergence of Islamic fundamentalism in the middle east and the reason for both the economic and moral bankrupsy of such regimes. Fundamentalism only really emerged as a potent force in (distorted) opposition to the US backing of the despotic Shah in Iran. It still gains ground largely (not forgetting the lunatics that genuinely belive in it) as an expression of popular opposition to the interference of western powers in the region for economic and geo-political purposes. Rob, "ALL the 9/11 terrorists were Muslims. We do not see other religious fanatics en masse, murder innocents on a regular basis all over the world as do Islamic fanatics. Those are FACTS and NOT generalizations!" Read these words carefully, Rob. The other religious fanatics you cite have not exported murder to as many countries - and into the west - in the same way as Al Qaeda. My only disagreement with the statement above is that the acts were carried out by extremists and not moderate Muslims. "[islamic fundamentalism] still gains ground largely (not forgetting the lunatics that genuinely belive in it) as an expression of popular opposition to the interference of western powers" But, Rob there seem to be enough western 'lunatics'(?) who do believe in it to have attended Al Qaeda training camps, to have been plotting terrorist outrages in western countries and to have become involved in attacks on Jews and synagogues in those countries. And, these 'lunatics' have - you have failed to mention - been aided and abetted, given justification and succour, by some imaams in some mosques. Whilst the history of religious hatred is instructive to the understanding of just how interlorent extreme followers of a particular religion can be it cannot be a subsitute for looking at the contemporary facts of a particular phenomenon and its consequences: in this case, for want of a better word, islamofascism.
"Islamofascism Inc" CEO Osam Bin Laden, formely a US government funded group. Now seeks private sponsers. Original US taxpayers most welcome. Posted by: bernietrip at December 18, 2003 12:51 PM"Islamofascism Inc" CEO Osam Bin Laden, formely a US government funded group. Now seeks private sponsers. Original US taxpayers most welcome". :-) Yes, but we learn from our mistakes, don't we, Bernie? All western governments have at some stage or another had trading relations or have even supported very unpleasant regimes. But that is not the fault of today's citizens in those western countries (any more than all of the 'isms' and 'phobias' of the past are)...so, it's important to look at contemporary events and decide how best to respond to them in terms of contemporary reality: history has to take a second place to this (difficult as that may be). Posted by: David at December 18, 2003 01:15 PM"Well, Romy, I cannot turn on the regular TV in the US and watch hard-core porno at any hour as I can in Europe. I don't see sex shops and porno theaters like those of Beate Uhse on many a corner in the US. One cannot see live sex shows in the US as one can in Europe. One cannot see gays kissing and fondling one another on the street as one can in Europe. One cannot pick a prostitute out of a store-front window as one can in Europe. One cannot get a hotel next to a brothel as one can in Europe, etc. . . " Well Lilith move to New York and watch late-night cable; or perhaps you can buy on the net the kind of movies censored here. Beate Uhse is tame, and you can see just how clean and antiseptic it is when you visit Germany. The US produces most of the stuff....I cannot recall if Traci Lords was German or Swedish......and Jeff Stryker makes his money selling bubble-gum I suppose, The annual number of hardcore video rentals in the US has risen from 79m in 1985 to 759m in 2001. Hardcore pornography in the shape of videos, the internet, live sex acts and cable television is now estimated to generate around $10bn, roughly the same amount as Hollywood's US box office receipts. Americans spend more money at strip clubs than at Broadway, regional theatres and orchestra performances combined. The industry has mushroomed since the 70s, when a federal study found that it was worth little more than $10m. Now the US leads the world in pornography; about 211 new films are produced every week. Los Angeles area is the centre of the film boom and many of those in the trade are otherwise respectable citizens. Nina Hartley, a porn star, told Schlosser: "You'd be surprised how many producers and manufacturers are Republicans." The majority of women in the films earn about $400 a scene. At the moment, there is a surplus of women in California hoping to enter the industry. The internet has provided a fresh and profitable outlet. In 1997 about 22,000 porn websites existed; the number is now closer to 300,000 and growing.
Do please open your eyes on Castro Street or down in the Village........you do lead a rather spinsterly old-maid kind of life Lilith. Have you been living in a Skinner Box or are you incarcerated somewhere ? I am beginning to feel your friends on this site are your only real contact with the outside world, and it is becoming almost an obligation for us to help you see the world beyond your room. No Lilith, I dispute the exodus from Ulster to the US....I believe there are lots of illegals from Eire in the US, but that terrorists are more likely to seek refuge in the US if from Ulster than people from the Six Counties. Posted by: Romulus at December 18, 2003 01:59 PM"CEO Osam Bin Laden, formely a US government funded group. Now seeks private sponsers. Original US taxpayers most welcome". ERROR: The USA did not finance bin Laden. Never did. The Saudi Government financed bin Laden - he was a fundraiser, nothing more. The US Govt armed the anti-Soviet resistance, but Saudi raised the money. BTW: Is it true that Saudi has justr banned the importation of crucifixes, female dolls, teddy bears, and effigies of Buddha ? So all you can have now is GI Joe ? Romulus, "Do please open your eyes on Castro Street or down in the Village........" THanks, glad it's not just me who's noticed all that gay activity on the east and west coasts (it's the bit in the middle that Lili must be refering to) "you do lead a rather spinsterly old-maid kind of life Lilith" Romulus! That's a little unfair: I had imagined Lili as a fiesty Helene Hanff type character (as played by Ann Bankcroft in "84, Charing Cross Road"...except she actually does come to Europe, unlike Helene Hanff. She sounds charming (is ad-hominem OK when it's a compliment?):-)
"ERROR: The USA did not finance bin Laden. Never did. The Saudi Government financed bin Laden - he was a fundraiser, nothing more." Yet another important distinction pointed out by my learned friend Romulus. Osama was never the recipient of American funds, although no doubt other groups within the Mujahedeen were. In fact, Osama's initial primary role within the resistance infrastructure that the USA helped to set up, was to liase with amenable Saudi patrons and persuade them to hand over their petrodollars in the name of Allah and all that crap. Delayed response, for which apologies, to the anonymous individual who asked, late yesterday afternoon, "...why nearly every central leftish thinker in history has been Jewish…” I am not sure that I would agree with that “every”, but I am willing to concede what I take to be your main point. As noted by Prager and Telushkin in the above mentioned “Why The Jews?” “The association of Jews with revolutionary doctrines and ideological social upheaval has not, unfortunately, been the product of antisemites’ imaginations.” They continue, “The making of a Jewish radical is a complex social and psychological process but its essential elements can be discerned. First, these Jews have inherited a tradition of thousands of years of challenging other’s values- though of course in the name of Judaism and ethical monotheism rather than radical secular ideologies. Of course non-Jewish Jews do not base their radical doctrines on the Jewish tradition, indeed they usually denigrate it, BUT THE TRADITION’S IMPACT COULD NOT BE AVOIDED, ONLY TRANSFORMED.(The emphasis is mine.) I wholeheartedly agree with their point about the Judaic tradition of “challenging other’s values”, but I must beg to differ with them when they say that the Left’s “radical doctrines” owe nothing to “Jewish tradition”. I hold to the view that these doctrines represent a distorted and secularised version of the Jewish tradition of “social justice”, that they are secularised forms of Judaeo-Christian heresies. Posted by: Kenny at December 18, 2003 04:54 PMInteresting figures you cite, Romy. LOL Do yo have personal knowledge of same? ;-) The US is a big place. Very innovative. As yet, we don't lead the world in sex flights to Thailand. That is the "decadence" realm of the Euros and the Arabs. "Do please open your eyes on Castro Street or down in the Village........you do lead a rather spinsterly old-maid kind of life Lilith. Have you been living in a Skinner Box or are you incarcerated somewhere ?" Actually, I am a rather happily married woman. And unlike you, I have lived on both east and west coast in the "decadence" capitals of the US and Europe for many years. Indeed, I was abroad almost half the year last year. Unless one goes to bath houses or gay bars, etc. one is unlikely to see gays fondling one another on the street in the US. Porno, while available, is not available so blatantly as in Europe on common channels. I stick to my giving the decadence prize to the Euros. Unlike you, I am walking about free and not confined to a mental hospital, Romy. As to the "Skinner box"—it is men who respond like Pavlov's dogs when it comes to sex. They can drop a quarter into a vending machine and get "bothered." The Muslims have it right on that count. Men are undisciplined when it comes to women or other men in some cases. ;-) "No Lilith, I dispute the exodus from Ulster to the US....I believe there are lots of illegals from Eire in the US, but that terrorists are more likely to seek refuge in the US if from Ulster than people from the Six Counties. Huh? What ARE you talking about! You are getting me confused with another poster again. Poor Romy. LOL Need to go to some meetings now. Later, Romy. Take your Prozac otherwise they will give you Thorazine and put you into one of those nice, tepid baths. ;-) Lili
"And unlike you, I have lived on both east and west coast in the "decadence" capitals of the US and Europe for many years. " Thanks for telling me where I have been residing....I did not know you had kept track. We are probably still neighbours then.......are you the one that is always screaming late into the night ? Posted by: Romulus at December 18, 2003 07:26 PM"Actually, I am a rather happily married woman"
Lili...Romulus, Stop arguing in such a personal way!! Judged by your argumentative and 'spikey' relationship (in this thread at least), I'm beginning to think you are married......to eachother :-) Posted by: David at December 18, 2003 08:42 PMLili, "one is unlikely to see gays fondling one another on the street in the US" Fondling? Lili, you must have been positively scouring the streets of Amsterdam to have seen gays 'fondling' in the streets. It's not exactly an every day occurrence! Kissing, maybe, but fondling? Never!;-) Anyway, this is a distraction - we have established that both the US and Europe are decadent - is it really worth spending much time arguing over the extent of that decadence? Posted by: David at December 18, 2003 08:56 PM"Judged by your argumentative and 'spikey' relationship (in this thread at least), I'm beginning to think you are married......to each other :-)"
David: "Stop arguing in such a personal way!!" Romy continues to get personal. So I thought for once I would retaliate. ;-) Most of the time I just ignore his grasping. "Judged by your argumentative and 'spikey' relationship (in this thread at least), I'm beginning to think you are married......to eachother :-)" Romulus: "It is a thought........." He just wanted to know if I was married, David. Now that he does, I hope that will "cure" his of whatever his problem is. Perhaps he could move on to Susan. "Fondling? Lili, you must have been positively scouring the streets of Amsterdam to have seen gays 'fondling' in the streets. It's not exactly an every day occurrence! Kissing, maybe, but fondling? Never!;-)" Actually, David, you could go to ultra-decadent Berlin and see plenty—both genders are "doing their thing" with each other—on the streets and in the clubs. Amazingly, it's the women who do more of it than the men. I suppose they feel that the rest of us won't object to watching women—given that so many men are voyeurs. ;-) "Anyway, this is a distraction - we have established that both the US and Europe are decadent - is it really worth spending much time arguing over the extent of that decadence?" Like I said, that is WHY I like Europe so much and the US too. Why not flaunt it? You only live once! I don't believe in those 72 raisins in Paradise. I'd rather have them here. Lili "ERROR: The USA did not finance bin Laden. Never did. The Saudi Government financed bin Laden - he was a fundraiser, nothing more." Ah okay so who funds the CIA? Call a spade a spade. Oh no I forget ,then we cannot get on our moral high horses then can we? Posted by: bernietrip at December 19, 2003 04:04 PMGet real Bernie....just what did the CIA train bin Laden to do ? Collect money from his father's friends ? teach him Arabic ? He did not fighting....never has.....he was a fund-raiser....you know the kind that rattle tins or collect outside the Mosque.....you must thing Arabs are really dim-witted to think the CIA needed to show him how to do that. Besides it was the Afghans that the CRW section of MI6 (the SAS) that trained Afghans....bin Laden's boys were Arabs and they were not part of the SIS/CIA operations....or do you think the International Brigade in Spain in 1936 was trained by SIS and NKVD ? Do some background reading and you will find that bin Laden was freelancing.......it is a sad world when the US gets credit for stuff it did not do......go ask the Russians if they think the CIa trained bin Laden.......I doubt they even cared about him.....he was the little rich boy from Saudi Arabia who grew up with the royal princes in Riyadh and probably could not even clean a rifle let alone use one......he is a poseur....a banker....... Posted by: Romulus at December 19, 2003 06:36 PM"Any democratic, progressive peoples in Afghanistan were crushed in the same way the CIA " Are you a Brezhnevite Bernie ? Noone considered Najibullah a "democrat"...he ran a Communist regime installed by the USSR to hold the fort whilst they withdrew. Go read up Volkogonov and find out just how Soviet Special Forces staged the coup and how Gorbachev was desperate to get out before Poland exploded........read up on the internal tensions in the USSR and the crippling cost....... "democratic, progressive peoples" ? In Afghanistan ? Wrong choice of word "democracy", I was getting my CIA coups mixed up! US style "democracy" has led to it bombing the poorest nation on earth. "it is backward, ignorant, criminal" Kenny, David, well put points Rob. The truism is that we are responsible for our governments behaviour (even if we did not vote for them). Posted by: bernie at December 19, 2003 10:02 PM"it is backward, ignorant, criminal"
As for US Imperium Bernie......they should recognise they have one, but are too self-effacing to acknowledge this. Great Britain maintained one for 3 centuries and as you obviously know your Kipling it is what we call "The White Man's Burden" Posted by: Romulus at December 20, 2003 05:50 AMYawn... Israel kills 21, injures 55 in two weeks - Have you been wondering what has become of Palestinian life in the occupied territories as the world's attention was turned towards Iraq? While there have been no Palestinian attacks inside Israel for ten weeks, In the last two weeks alone, Israel has killed 21 Palestinians and injured 55 others. In an attack on Palestinian civilians and property yesterday, the Israeli
December 16: Israeli occupation troops seriously wound 12-year old Ahmed Ismail when he hurled stones at troops who raided his town December 13: Israeli occupation troops fire at a taxi, killing Kamilah Mohammad Asaad al-Shouli, a mother of two, and injuring the taxi driver December 13: Five Palestinians, including three children and a 45-year-old woman wounded when Israeli tanks shell the town of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. December 11: Israeli occupation troops kill five Palestinians, including a medic and a 17-year old. December 9: Israeli occupation troops kill 16 year old Faris Jimzawi from Qalandia refugee camp with a bullet to the eye as he and other young boys tried to remove part of the wall Israel is building around them.
According to Miftah, a Jerusalem organization founded by Hanan Ashrawi,
2. The US government's consistent failure to back up its statements of concern for the humanitarian disaster Israel has created has led Israel to believe that the administration's concerns should not be taken seriously. 3. Israel's construction of a Wall surrounding Palestinians is a clear 4. Israel's Wall and settlements undermine the chances for a just peace and 5. The daily killings of Palestinian civilians, along with Israel's 6. The Administration's expressions of concern about Palestinian human And here's some interesting points for you to ponder : Did you know that by the end of 1967, there were only 3 settlements in total (concentrated in the West Bank), whereas now, this figure has risen to 195. 18 settlements have been established in Gaza Strip, and 177 in the West Bank (including Jerusalem)? Did you know that the climax of settlement activity took place during the Likud term from mid. 1976 to mid. 1985. During that period a total of 118 settlements were established? Did you know that The Israeli Inter-Ministerial Committee to Examine the Rate of Development for Jerusalem determined that a demographic balance of Jews and Arabs had to be maintained: 73.5% Jews and 26.5% Palestinians. (this is the favorable Israeli situation…)? Did you know that more than 70% of Palestinians live below the poverty line (avg. $2/day)? Did you know that more than 4,000,000 m² of cultivated Palestinian land has been deliberately destroyed by Israel since the outbreak of the Intifada in late September 2000? Did you know that there are 4.6 million Palestinian refugees in the world today, as a result of the 1948 and 1967 Israeli occupation of Palestine? Did you know that Israel remains the only state that has legislated the use of torture? No country other than Israel has “legally” allowed the use of torture in its “security” procedures? Did you know that Israeli forces killed an estimated 13,000 Palestinians since 1948? They forcibly evicted 737,166 Palestinians from the homes and land. 503 Palestinian villages were entirely depopulated and destroyed? Did you know that UN Security Council Resolution 242 was adopted unanimously on November 22nd 1967 after the Arab-Israeli war in June 1967. It calls on Israel to withdraw its military forces to the boundaries prior to that war, thus, to return all Palestinian territories it occupied by force. Did you know that in 1882 the first wave of Zionist mass immigration to Palestine began. Baron Edmond de Rothschild of Paris provided financial support for Jewish colonization in Palestine. Did you know that in 1896 Theodor Herzl, an Austrian Zionist leader, published “Der Judenstaat,” advocating the creation of a Jewish state. As to its location, Herzl wrote, “We shall take what is given us, and what is selected by public opinion." Did you know that in Gaza, 80% of the population is supplied with water; however, this service is almost always irregular, unreliable, and extremely poor in quality? Did you know that in Hebron, where a Jewish settler population was planted in and around the city, it is estimated that 70% of the water in Hebron goes to an estimated 8,500 settlers and 30% goes to the city's 250,000 Palestinian inhabitants. In Gaza, 3,000 to 4,000 settlers use 75% of the available ground water while around one million Palestinians use less than 25%? Did you know that a deliberate campaign of “ethnic cleansing” or “silent transfer” has been in effect since 1967 fulfilling Israel’s aim to create a decisive majority of Jews in Jerusalem? Did you know that the implementation of the Israeli Ministry of Interior’s discriminatory residency policy has meant thousands of Palestinians living in Jerusalem are forced to leave the city of their birth and lose their inherent rights as residents? Did you know that the Israeli Inter-Ministerial Committee to Examine the Rate of Development for Jerusalem determined a demographic balance of Israeli and Palestinians had to be maintained: 73.5% Israelis and 26.5% Palestinians? Did you know that an illegal state of siege has been imposed on Jerusalem, since 1994, banning Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza from access to the city? Did you know that the status of Permanent Resident granted to Palestinians is revoked when a Palestinian moves outside what Israel has illegally designated as the “municipal boundaries” and when a Palestinian receives the status of a permanent resident in a foreign country or becomes a citizen of a foreign country? Did you know that to maintain a Permanent Resident status, granted to Palestinian residents of the city, Palestinians must prove their “center of life” is in Jerusalem. The Ministry demands proof of continuous stay in the city. Authorities never warned Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem that living outside the city jeopardizes their status in the city or their right of return. Did you know that the notification of residency revocation also includes the children of the individual receiving the notice. The Ministry’s figures only relate to those who received the notification of the decision, so the number of Jerusalem Palestinians required to leave the city is many times higher? Did you know that the Israel’s National Insurance Institute’s implementation of the Governments policy seriously prejudices the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem and denies them basic rights including health insurance? Did you know that the Palestinian political prisoners are subjected to egregious torture by the interrogators of the Israeli General Security Services (the Shin Bet). Torture is used routinely and systematically? Did you know that in 1987, Israel decided to establish the Landau Commission to investigate allegations of torture against the General Security Service (GSS). However, its recommendations contributed to the systematic torture of hundreds of Palestinians each year. Later that year, it released its report with the exception of a secret appendix. The report stated that the GSS had used force in an unacceptable manner to the international community. Furthermore, the report confirms that GSS personnel had lied under oath about their activities? Did you know that between 1987 and 1994, the GSS interrogated some 23,000 Palestinians? Did you know that torture methods used by the GSS include the following: Al-Shabeh(shackling the detainee to a small chair or a wall, while covering the head with a sack that reeks of vomit and urine), suffocation, food deprivation, sleep deprivation and restriction of toilet facilities, beatings, “The Cupboard” treatment, pulling hair off the body, electric shocks and burning, threats, including death threats and violent shaking? Did you know that after decades of war and on-going military occupation, Palestinians in the OPT have been left with thousands of antipersonnel and antitank landmines, and unexploded munitions remnants on their lands? Did you know that in the year 2000 most severe closure of schools was in the city of Hebron, in the village of Hawwara near Nablus, where the Israeli army imposed curfew for more than 30 days. Four schools in Hebron were taken over by the Israeli army and were used as army posts. At least 15 schools were severely hit by Israeli shooting or shelling in different areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Physical losses were roughly estimated at around US$ 400,000? Did you know that as a result of Israeli army roadblocks, siege, closure and curfews, numerous teachers and pupils could not reach their schools that were in operation. The percentage of teachers who could not report to their work locations varied between 10% and 90%, depending on the location of their schools? Did you know that the deployment of new Israeli military roadblocks, which cut off Palestinian areas from Israel as well as from each other, have prevented the flow of goods, services, and workers between Palestinian towns and villages, with great and long-term losses in Palestinian economic life? Did you know that the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including east Jerusalem) began in 1967 as a means of controlling and annexing Palestinian land occupied during the “1967 War” ? Did you know that the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including east Jerusalem) began in 1967 as a means of controlling and annexing Palestinian land occupied during the “1967 War.” ? Did you know that the “Expansion” of existing settlements is a policy adopted by the Israeli government. These expansions are in many cases larger than the settlements themselves. Expansions take place on confiscated Palestinian land? Did you know that the very existence of Israeli settlements is a direct violation of internationally binding agreements and regulations; international humanitarian law explicitly prohibits the occupying state to make permanent changes that are not, in the first place, intended to benefit the population of the occupied? Did you know that Israel has been neglecting the environmental effects that are imposed by the settlements on neighboring Palestinian communities. Most of the settlements have not developed sewage treatment plants; which implies that sewage is often allowed to run into the valleys, threatening neighboring Palestinian towns and villages in terms of agriculture and health? Did you know that the deployment of new Israeli military roadblocks, which cut off Palestinian areas from Israel as well as from each other, have prevented the flow of goods, services, and workers between Palestinian towns and villages, with great and long-term losses in Palestinian economic life? Did you know that Israel has created different building regulations for Palestinians and Israelis. These regulations are clearly biased towards the interests of the latter. The frequent refusal of Israeli authorities to grant construction permits to Palestinians who wish to build on privately owned land has left the latter with no choice but to take extreme risks in building regardless of Israeli approval. Sweeping Israeli bulldozers often follow such risks? Did you know that since 1967, the Israeli authorities have confiscated large areas of Palestinian land in east Jerusalem as green areas only to be changed later as yellow areas for exclusive Jewish use. The settlements of Neve Ya’cub, Pisgat Zeiv, Ma’ale Adumim, Gilo, the French Hill, Giva’at Shabira and Har Homa are all built on land previously classified by the Israeli authorities as “ Green Zones”? Did you know that the discovery of archeological sites doesn’t stop Israeli colonialist activities as long as the discovered places are non-Jewish. This policy is very well manifested in Rachis Shu’fat colony where Canaanite, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic excavations have been discovered. Nevertheless, Israeli bulldozers continued to destroy these sites to make room for new Jewish construction? Did you know that the Fourth Geneva Convention, ratified by Israel in June 1951, prohibits the deportation or forcible transfer of Palestinians, whether to another country, to Israel or to t Occupied Gaza? Did you know that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998 classifies deportations and forcible transfers as "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes"? Did you know that the EU statement issued (2002) has came to a conclusion that the Palestinian curricula is free from racist remarks and that all allegations against it are unfounded? "Did you know that "
"My question is that I don't quite understand the thesis linking the left with anti-semitism...." Rob, Firstly, I must return to my original question above. What is the metaphysical root of antisemitism? What is it's ESSENCE? Kenny, Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped. Posted by: Pulcifer Jeremy at January 25, 2004 10:09 AM |
