There was some talk about the name of the blog. In fact, it was compared to "nazi sites:"
if you know who it is then tell her/him that I said that they should change their blog name. Because to the progressive ears it sounds like the Hitlet Youth blog: e.g., jihad watch, campus watch and other Nazi sites.
I suggest Hapoel-Kos is reflects the liberal attitude the participants.
Interesting comparison to make. Certainly it cannot be an accident that the reference he makes is to Nazis. But in any event, attacking the name is just silly in my opinion. There is no comparison in the slightest between this blog and "Jihad Watch" or "Campus Watch." The argument is so illogical. It would be akin to me comparing George Bush and George Soros because the names sound similar. Or perhaps more in tune with what this comment said, it is like comparing Daily Kos to the Daily Express because they both contain the word daily.
I don't feel the need to be defensive. This blog is what it is. I only intend to shine light on things at Daily Kos that, in my opinion, go over the line and yet go unnoticed or, even worse, are celebrated. My goal is no different from Kos. To get more and better Democrats elected. I simply believe that if the views of certain people on Daily Kos were to become part of the Democratic Platform, our mission would be harder to do. In fact, just their unchallenged presence makes our job harder to do. We already needed "A Great Schlep" to help convince Jews to stick with Obama, and I am already hearing "I told you so" from those who didn't. This is what we are up against, and this is why I started this blog.
Regards,
DKW
the ironic part is these people who throw the word "Nazi" around, some of them are OK with Hamas/Hezbollah, which not only do the Nazi salute, but hate Jews as the Nazis did. And Al-Husseini collaborated with Nazis, and is still celebrated by Palestinians. Sorry, that is a FACT. if they wanna hit Israel on that it like other Western nations, and Arab nations covertly had ties with South Africa, then we can hit them on their leader's not only ties, but active collaboration in activities with Nazis. Israel did not support apartheid policies. But Al-Husseini et al did know about the Final Solution and was among the few, and his turning back Jews from Palestine is what got Jews into ovens. Also, Nasser and Assad gave former Nazi war criminals, Aribet Heim, and Alois Brunner havens.
ReplyDeleteDo they not get that if Jews ditch the party, the party is over? Most of the private money the Democrats get is from Jews. And thats not to stereotype or anything. Also, the Jews have proportionately helped the Democratic cause more than any ethnicity in history. And the Jews were the second most important ethnic group during civil rights after the blacks themselves in bringing about civil rights. Also, don't they get that Israel is our ally, the only democracy in the region, and helped us keep Soviet imperialism out of the ME and today take the hits from jihad meant for us? Its like the far left not only wants to throw away Jews, but it WANTS to be soft on defense.
Query why the name of the site doesn't invoke Human Rights Watch or UN Watch which is probably the closest thing for an inspiration for this blog.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
DKW
Well Andrew, you summarize the issues that concern me.
ReplyDelete1) I believe in the State of Israel and I believe in supporting the State of Israel. I also support the peace process and the creation of a Palestinian State.
2) I believe that constructive engagement a la Clinton is better for the region than is ther hands-off approach of the Bush Presidency. However, many people, like my father-in-law, much prefer the let Israel do what it wants approach.
3) Most Jews who are Democratic support both Israel and the Peace Process. I think there is a general discomfort when the focus and the demands are entirely on Israel. If the Democratic Party ever adopted the views and rhetoric of some at Daily Kos, the Party would be in grave danger. Constructive Engagement is one thing, "the Zionist Regime," "Apartheid" and "Genocide" is something completely different.
4) I have never voted for a Republican in my life. However, I did sit out a Congressional Race because I refused to vote for Jim Moran (who has a history of anti-semitic comments). Adopting the views expressed by some at Daily Kos would result in Jewish Democrats leaving the party or sitting out elections. There is no doubt in my mind.
5) I am friends with a front-pager. He always tells me to ignore the I/P debates because they are a fringe and stand no chance of their views being adopted by the Party. I have no idea if he is right or not. However, with the occassional stories that have ended up as recced diaries, the comments that get large numbers of uprates, and my concerns about comments Meteor Blades, a representative of Daily Kos, has made, inspired me that I just couldn't leave this alone and hope my friend was right. That is why I created this website.
Regards,
DKW
DKW, I completely agree with every point you've made. However, lets not use the term "constructive engagement" with I/P because that was the term Reagan used with apartheid, and Tom J's diary did the same equating. Unless its with the Palestinians, who need constructive engagement.
ReplyDeleteI'm a staunch Democrat and agree with you completely on I/P, which is why I voted Hillary. I believe the fact she was so "evil" on Kos was because she was pro-Israel, and thus an "evil neo-conazionist" and I think this in the grassroots, tho NOT TO SAY ABOUT ALL OBAMA primary voters, but a significant portion, is why Obama thinks he can kind of be "tough" on an ally and put all the focus on Israel but almost nill on the Arabs. I don't think this is a significant force, but perhaps a factor.
But I am hopeful about the Bayh-Rish letter which has 71 signatures. But I urge you and everyone to contact any Sen, especially Democratic ones, to sign it.
I like Dennis Ross' views on I/P. He debunks the myth of "linkage" of Israel being the problem in the ME.
Krissy,
ReplyDeleteI did not mean to make any reference to Reagan and Apartheid. It was a term I was using to describe the Clinton approach. Engage in the regoin with honesty. Both sides need pushing.
Interesting that I also supported Clinton and was turned off by the vitriol aimed at her at Daily Kos. However, I can't say it had anything to do with Israel.
I also like Dennis Ross, but then again, I liked an awful lot about the Clinton years.
Regards,
DKW
Y'know, I have to say, for the moment, at least, things are not too bad over there.
ReplyDeleteWe have Volley continuing his laudable efforts to find common ground. We have an unspeakable diary that, while overly sentimental for my taste, is still a perfectly fine diary. Even Tom J, who I generally see as anti-Israel ideologue, and unquestionably an anti-Zionist, has a diary lacking the usual toxic rhetoric and hyperbole.
And that's really the problem, isn't it? It's not we object to criticism, but to the extremity of much of the rhetoric. I suppose that I am a broken record on this, but we must insist on the difference between criticism and demonization.
Criticism is necessary, but demonization breeds hatred.
Karmafish,
ReplyDeleteI know where you are coming from, and in a sense, you are right. However, a very good argument can be made about why anti-Zionism is actually anti-Semitism. They won't buy it at Daily Kos. I once wrote an article about it, but it is a lost cause. They use the word Zionism as if it is a pejorative. As if I should be ashamed of being a Zionist.
TomJ's diary is better than his usual, and I note that he has removed the anti-semitic website from his blogroll which is a start. But he still sets up the dichotomy that supporting Israel is Republican in nature and attacking Israel is Democratic in nature. Look at his paragraph where he talks about George Bush. This is an extreme problem as this is the very sentiment that will be embraced by Republican Israel supporters and has the greatest risk of alienating Pro-Israel Democrats.
Regards,
DKW
Yup.
ReplyDeleteI agree that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitic and, in fact, also wrote a diary on just that topic.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/15/549585/-Is-anti-Zionism-anti-Semitic
This is just the kind of thing that I have said on dKos, and elsewhere, a jazillion times. Anti-Zionism postulates that of all the world's people, Jews and only Jews, despite the Holocaust, must be denied self-determination and self-defense.
Naturally that is anti-Semitic because it denies to Jewish people what it accepts as right and good for everyone else, so of course it's anti-Semitic.
Often those who disagree will say something like, "Well, I'm an anti-Zionist, but I do not hate Jews." What these guys don't understand is that anti-Semitism is not necessarily even about hating Jewish people.
Others will take the "Zionism is racism" line. This also is nonsense, because Zionism was a nationalist movement like any other. If Zionism is racism then all nationalist movements are racist.
Then still others will argue that the problem with Zionism is that it was based on the "ethnic cleansing" of the Palestinians. This, too, is utter nonsense. The refugee problem was not caused by anything inherent in Zionism, but by the civil war started by the Palestinians in November of '47.
{I truly am a broken record!}
:O)
We agree on each and every one of those points and I couldn't have said it better. I mean there is a guy called Jon the anti-Zionist Jew. That would be like me calling myself DKW the anti-Palestinian State Palestinian.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you guys think of Obama giving anti-semite Desmond Tutu a Medal of Freedom? Do you think this reflects an anti-Zionist trend in parts of the party, or simply Obama's own view of Israel, which we always should have known was negative? Not to mention that Robinson woman he gave an award. I seriously don't get what he thinks he's accomplishing. Most Dems and Repubs signed both AIPAC bills.
ReplyDeleteI mean Tutu yea fought apartheid, and we applaud him. But that was 20 years ago. In recent times, he sides with anti-semites and racist dictators to bash the Jews and ignore Islamic terror. I think Obama has erred, and for many Jews, he's reaching the final straw. He hasn't visited Israel once during his term. Obama may be the one who ends the Jewish-Democratic coalition, or seriously ruptures it.
To be honest, Krissy, I am exceedingly wary of calling Desmond Tutu an anti-Semite. I know of nothing that he has said that is anti-Semitic and I think it does us not the least little bit of good in making the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteKarma, he talks of the "Jewish Lobby," compares Israel to Hitler, and of course uses the apartheid analogy, all of which are inaccurate and are meant to demonize and destroy Israel, not actually bring peace. He meets with Hamas leaders as well. He supported the Durban II conference even after what happened at Durban I. I'm sorry. He's lost all anti-racist credentials. he's an anti-semite.
ReplyDeleteand I know its not PC because we're supposed to believe anyone like Tutu is automatically above criticism or question. The truth is Ralph Nader was once a great man too, turned demagogue. A South African's words don't automatically mean truth or godliness. Apartheid was indeed evil as hell and we're all glad its gone. But that doesn't mean all the people who brought it down are Gods. The problem is they are now POLITICIANS on a world stage, and some are trying to curry favor with sides in the fight between the West and Islamists. I am aware the West neglected the anti-apartheid activists during apartheid, and that was a mistake. That is not to say the ANC was perfect: I'm pretty sure their case would have been more received had some not associated with Communists, tho I'm in no way characterizing them as "communists." They had a noble goal, and they achieved it. But it does not give anyone the right to start taking the sides of anti-semite racists. I strongly urge you read an article called "Franchising Apartheid" to see why people like Tutu run their mouths. Google the article. Its great. Also, more South Africans, ironically, despite people like Tutu, support Israel than the Palestinians. Tells you something: the people who lived apartheid aren't really buying that comparison, or Tutu's Hitler analogies. And the article was half written by a black anti-apartheid activist.
ReplyDeleteTutu meeting with Hamas as he does is the height of hypocrisy.
Well, I will be happy to look into it, but unless I find some exceedingly strong evidence contrary to my initial stance on this, then I will stand by that stance.
ReplyDeleteLet me look into it.
Cheers!
Karmafish,
ReplyDeleteOn this one I mostly agree with Krissy. I am not sure if it is fair to call Tutu "anti-semitic." He has certainly made anti-Semitic comments and really biased comments in the past.
For Obama to give a Medal of Freedom to two people who have been very unfair in their attitudes towards Israel is very interesting to me. Not sure I am going to read anything into it, but it is certainly something worth noting and storing in the back of your head.
Regards,
DKW
It's kind of funny how obsessed certain people are with this. They need to get a life. And their concern that we are calling them out "by name," when they are all using pseudonyms anyway. Does anyone think that one guy's first name is "palestinian" and last name is "professor?" Is he listed in the phone book that way?
ReplyDeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteIt underscores an important point. They want to post on Daily Kos, in their own insular community, but they are scared that their views will be expressed to the public? It makes no sense.
We are not identifying who these people are and outing them. We are taking what they write at a site under a psuedonym, and posting it at another site. I thought the point of Daily Kos was to get our ideas exposed. I am offering their views more exposure. If they don't want their views to get attention, they have the right not to post them.