and my response was killed for calling the author of the slander a mildly stinky word.
If you look at the preceding discussion in that thread the matter at hand was the issue of control of language itself, where being member of some specific groups was being used to veto and disparage the usages of others, to control language for political purposes, no other explanation being given. It was a recognizable and oft-repeated political tactic of language control and I was challenging it for what it was. In response to my challenge a very hard hitting response was invited, but the in my face slander was totally unwarranted. However, it was that in my face slander that remains in open print.
IMO general charges of antisemitism and antiarabism, etc., whether in the ME or other countries anywhere in the world, are overly used for generating heat, ire, heightened emotions, and to substitute for real and honest discussions of real threats to peace and real methods for encouraging peace. The ME as a whole is in midst of volatile sectarian-based conflict that can't possibly have a solution that avoids the uniting of different sectarian objectives equally for the benefit of all, regardless of sect. Yes, by the very nature of sectarian wars, sectarian warriors of every side will flatly assert that working together in full equality is impossible, citing the other side, whatever side it is, for being unreasonable, primitive, inhumane, .... , the entire gamut from A to Z of rhetoric devoted to explaining why the other is unfit to breathe the same air as real human beings.
I've been called a genocidal antisemite for suggesting that perhaps a one state solution of some kind is not only increasingly inevitable, but doable for I/P, where I point to the existence of many multi-ethnic, multi-national, multi-sectarian countries. Perhaps in another forum I'd be called a genocidal antiarab, but either way, such slanderous responses are not just unhelpful but IMO they are positively harmful to peace, and promote the continuation of sectarian war. I've been called a genocidal antisemite for saying that Palestinian RoR is a right recognized by the international community, and by conventions signed even by Israel. In the short time I've involved myself in DU I/P I've lost count of the times I've been called antisemitic just for disputing the rightness of the Zionist political philosophy of Israel -- there is a substantial group contributing to DU I/P which flat out asserts that criticism of Zionism (as enacted in Israeli politics, of course, as something that exists in a body of law) in terms of concepts of universal human rights, is antisemitic, because antizionism is antisemitism, QED. This group doesn't consider their charge of antisemitism slander, they call it proven fact. In fact, as you have to know that is the first and last argument of resort used in every case where the political philosophy of Zionism is questioned.
I say that in DU I/P examples of real bigotry as in this OP meld into the same group of conversations where accusations of antisemitism are flung at me, personally, and at others here, with no regard whatsoever beyond the flimsiest self-serving arguments for whether the charges are well-founded. And this is not right.
You, LeftishBrit, are a person I respect. I totally agree with what you've said in response to me. In fact, I tend to agree with your POV in general - from what I've read in your posts. This is why I've responded at length. I have nothing more to say in my own defense.
I've engaged in internet forums/groups of all types, from the very informal recreational to the strictly formal academic, for close on 2 decades now. It's important to me that I recognize and respect the rules of the groups I engage with, most of which are implicit. I'm still very new here and have a lot to learn about the allowed limits of civility, which as always weave through the twists and turns of contradiction. All that matters to me is that I retain my own sense of right, and try to recognize when I go off the rails. But I consider the DU I/P discussion to be quite important and consequential not only to my life and growth as a person, which is my primary reason for engaging, but perhaps in a small way to the real lives of the people of Palestine and Israel - because I think every little bit counts in some way.
= new reply since forum marked as read
