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From: dje@5941ux.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Don"t equate anti-Zionism with racism
Message-ID: <292@5941ux.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 10:09:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: 5941ux.292
Posted: Wed Jun 15 10:09:52 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 17:08:04 EDT
References: unc.5379
Lines: 46

OK, Tim, we meet head on.

In my article on discrimination as faced by Jews, I mentioned that Jews often
are confronted with a hostility towards Zionism, our national movement.  In
your reply, you state:

	"You could start by not assuming that the only possible basis for
	disliking Zionism is racism....  it is a leading reason [but]
	it is not my reason."

Soon after, you come right out with:

	"I dislike Zionism because it is racism, both in the abstract and in
	the concrete.  Israel is a segregated nation, in which racial laws
	provide, for example, economic sanctions against Jews who marry
	Gentiles.  The Israelis claim to be "God's chosen race" and make
	racially-transmitted claims about their rightful ownership of certain
	tracts of land.  This is racism, no more, no less." 

Aside from the obvious contradiction, that's a pretty nasty series of 
accusations.  (Aren't you the one who says that the burden of proof is on the 
accuser?)  Israel certainly has its social problems, but they are not nearly so
sinister as you depict.  I'd like to see another country faced with as much 
external hostility come up with a better record.

You have provided a perfect example of the kind of public anti-Zionist diatribe
that seems so fashionable these days.  Zionism is central to the beliefs and
needs of the vast majority of the Jewish people.  Anti-Zionism is a denial to
the Jews of their right to nationhood.

It's one thing to disagree with a country's policies.  It's something entirely
different to single out one country for public flagellation.  Jews do not like
to be singled out for "special treatment" by non-Jews.  Singling the Jews out
as the only people not entitled to their nationhood is a particularly ugly 
example of racism.  It becomes even more objectionable when we are accused of
racism in the process.

I started by pointing out the kind of attitudes that Jews are often confronted 
with.  Some people think we're crying wolf.  Given the kind of hostility we've 
had to face, are we really being all that unrealistic?  I don't think so.  The 
purpose of this reply is not to impugn anybody's motives but to ask for an 
increased understanding and sensitivity.  

Dave Ellis / Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ
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