Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site nsc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!menlo70!nsc!sam From: sam@nsc.UUCP (Sam Cramer) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Jackson's slur and his Crime Message-ID: <727@nsc.UUCP> Date: Sun, 4-Mar-84 17:41:01 EST Article-I.D.: nsc.727 Posted: Sun Mar 4 17:41:01 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 6-Mar-84 02:37:53 EST References: <903@ihuxm.UUCP> Organization: National Semiconductor, Sunnyvale Lines: 44 Andy Berman engages in some lovely apologetics for Jesse Jackson, stating that his recent antisemitic remark (not Jackson's first, by the way) was "in very poor taste, and displayed a definite insensitivity". Envoking the familiar argument of moral relativism, Berman continues, "Alas, our language is so much a reflection of the racism that permeates our society, from which none of us is entirely shielded". I wonder if Mr. Berman would similarly defend the racist remarks of a Klansman? It's clear to me that racist statements are *objectionable* - not simply "in poor taste", and certainly not deserving of "gee whiz, we're all really guilty" type rationalization. Berman goes on to allege that Jackson's true crime is his backing of the PLO, to whom Berman refers, but never names, dressing them up as "the recognized organization of the Palestinians". So saying, Berman makes two allegations, both false. 1) Jackson is being persecuted, not for his now famous antisemitism, but because of his pro-Palestinian viewpoint. Peculiar. George McGovern has said pretty much the same things as Jackson (although he hasn't, thankfully, seen fit to smooch with Yassir Arafat), and he isn't "persecuted" by the evil conspiracy that Jackson claimed was dogging him. 2) That the PLO, a gang of murderous terrorists, is the "recognized organization of the Palestinians", and that Yassir Arafat is the "recognized leader of the Palestinians." Andy, which faction of the PLO are we talking about? Fatah? Al-Saiqua? PFLP? PFLP-GC? [By the way, which are the MERIP terrorist sweethearts this week?] Within the PLO, the various gangs don't "recognize" each other as legitimate. Certainly Arafat's expulsion from Tripoli by PLO rebels says something about the degree of recognition that he enjoys. Sam Cramer ...menlo70!nsc!sam (got my own account!) ...fortune!nsc!sam