"Democracy" is a mass-organizing (mass-confounding) slogan employed by demagogues and dictators. It's a very seductive velvet glove stretched tightly over their iron fists.

The "democratic Palestinian state" tactic is old hat. Arafat used it in his U.N. speech of 1974, with the familiar Palestinian talking points: Judaism not= Zionism; we dream of return; etc.

The standard for a liberal society is that it be a republic - not a democracy - albeit one which establishes and preserves some democratic aspects.

So take heart - and may this help spur the discussion in how to go to town demolishing Hamas and their apologists.

Here is a link to an excellent response to the "Zionism = Racism" canard written by the late Daniel Pearl's father: http://www.zionismontheweb.org/Anti-Zionism_is_racism.htm

Key paragraph: "As a form of racism, anti-Zionism is worse than anti-Semitism. It targets the most vulnerable part of the Jewish people, namely, the people of Israel, who rely on the sovereignty of their state for physical safety, national identity and personal dignity. To put it more bluntly, anti-Zionism condemns 5 million human beings, mostly refugees or children of refugees, to eternal statelessness, traumatized by historical images of persecution and genocide."

I wish the world was simply backsliding to anti-Zionism... but I'm finding an increasing number of publications that are blaming the Jews and Israel for almost every ill in society.

The Harvard paper blaming the pro-Israel lobby for the war in Iraq is the latest example, (by the way, if anyone asks you what country benefitted the most from the invasion of Iraq the answer is "Saudi Arabia").

I think this Passover I will pray that the Jewish people be freed from the slavery of being the world's eternal scapegoat.

I'm not surprised by the attitude of the Europeans. Much sadder is when I see Americans supporting the same attitude. : (

Jeremiah:

Demolishing Hamas will be a two front war. In Israel, it's primarily military, though G-d knows there are enough deluded leftists to deal with too.

Europe is lost. England without Churchill is, well, France. And France, well, the only people who marched after Ilan Halimi was tortured and murdered were primarily Jews. The French come out to march to make sure they can keep their jobs even if they never work.

As far as propaganda, America is the only battleground that counts.

Jake:

Actually, it was a paper that came out of the Kennedy Center written by two Harvard Academics that blamed the Israel lobby for, well, everything.

That paper was so over the top that I'm pretty sure those two guys are on the Saudi payroll. It contains every anti-Semitic canard ever thrown at the Jewish people save blood in the matzo and I was shocked that I didn't find that in the footnotes.

People, if you are sending your little darlings to Harvard--well, you're paying the salaries of some hardcore Jew haters.

What a refreshing way to start the week, Robert: with a Seraphic briefing on the two-front war against Hamas. I like your prayer, Jake. G-d Bless America, Irina.

Irina:

"Much sadder seeing Americans supporting such attitudes."

Also at this lunch, our roving diplomat friend told us that leaders of the Presbyterian Church went to Beirut Lebanon for a private meeting with Hamas to discuss divestment from Israel.

So you have an American Church group meeting with a terrorist organization whose charter calls for the destruction of the state of Israel, and they do this in the name of "fairness."

Go figure.

Alan Dershowitz just produced a 40-page rebuttal (.pdf format) to that Kennedy Center report:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21983

We did have a few friends at Harvard. But Lawrence Summers has been drummed out as president, and Alan Dershowitz brings a lot of unwelcome baggage along with his helpful words on Israel.

I attribute some of the rise of Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism to the strange and hipocritical self-loathing of the liberal rich. Robert has talked about this scenario in Hollywood, where he often encounters multi-millionaires who jet off to the Hamptons... but still call themselves socialists.

I think the same thing is happening on U.S. campuses. With 40k-a-year tuition, more professors and students are beginning to feel bad about all the wealth and think they should be advocates for all the "have nots." Then they look at Israel and their students who happen to be Jews and they figure the Jews are definitely part of the "haves." This is why we need to send more Jewish and non-Jewish students to Israel for a semester or two. Let them see how hard it is economically for most Jews there and that they all have to ride the bus to work, not a limo... and then they have to worry that the bus will be bombed. Some "haves"!

Jake:

You're ignoring several salient campus facts.

1. The majority of Professors are left leaning liberals who are reflexively anti Israel.

2. On most camupses there are well organized movements to deligitimize the state of Israel.

Your analysis feels awfully close to a Marxian class analysis and I just don't buy it. We're up against a well organized and well funded enemy who are out to destroy us. Guilty rich kids don't scare me. They amuse me.

Yeah, I think I should mean this is the "fertile ground" on which the organized hate-mongers are sowing their seeds. I tend to think the student bodies of the past, where most students either worked while in school or paid their own way, would have been less tolerant of this B.S.

Most people don't want to look beyond the first layer. In an age of instant gratification it is easier to make snap decisions, even at the risk of being wrong.

"It's an astonishing phenomenon when your enemies accuse you of what they themselves are absolutely guilty of."

Robert,
This is something that I have been thinking too - I recently saw some of the ridiculous Arab propaganda video clips that can be seen on MEMRI.org, where Arab actors falsely portray Jews as being brutal (ie. killing children for their blood, killing our own people for 'heresy', etc), when it is in fact THEY do are brutal to their own people (ie. dragging 'traitors' bodies through the streets, encouraging their children to commit suicide). At the very least, it's a self-hating thing to do.

The acts they commit are totally against the Torah - even if we had a traitor in our midst, we wouldn't drag their body in the streets. Even with an enemy's body, something created by G-d, there is still a level of 'kedusha' that we have to honor with a dead body.

It just really bothers me that people go out of their way to say that Jews are racist pigs, but will defend Arabs for the same behavior.

Feh.

Have a good Pesach!

Rachel :)

Rachel:

It's a sign of the intellectual corruption of our times that the lies the Arab world lives by are swallowed whole by the academic/leftist world. One can only conclude that a deep seated antiSemitism is at the root of this movement.

A happy and kosher Pesach to you and yours.

There is this essay from Eliot Cohen about the Walt and Mearsheimer paper.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040401282.html

It's worth reading, lest anyone think the paper was anything OTHER than anti-Semitic whoredom (agreeing with you, Robert, on their having been paid by the Saudis, who have given large sums to Harvard).

Another good discussion of this, from Britian, is this: http://www.melaniephillips.com/diary/archives/001661.html

All these things are happening, and yet the majority of Jews, sadly enough, don't see it or will not recognize it; Some Jews gladly give away huge sums to these universities with no strings attached, rather than to Jewish causes which could desperately use the money.

BTW, it was 4 year ago that Hamas sponsored and carried out the bombing in Netanya where 29 people at a seder were murdered, and hundreds of others injured. These are the same people now running the "democratically" elected govt. of the Palestinians.

It is not a small poll, the Palestinian election, subject to error. It was a plebiscite of the entirety of the West Bank and Gaza. They can't blame this on a single group of terrorists or leaders; the Palestinian people, in a full vote, have chosen to continue with their war to destroy Israel.

How much clearer does it get than that? Anyone who says the Israelis should palaver with these murderers is clearly either delusional, stupid or anti-Semitic themselves.

Maurice:

Thanks so much for the valuable links.

When the Walt & Mearsheimer paper was brought to my attention by our young friend David R, my first reaction was that these knuckleheads probably had nice fat accounts in the Cayman Islands c/o of the Saudis. The footprints on this article are simply too large, I'm talking King Kongish, even for loony Harvard academics.

These two are nothing less than modern day Quislings, as are most Left leaning academics, and we can expect to see more and more of these types sprouting like poison. The Arab terrorists know where to find their best friends and apologists –– in the halls of the Ivy League Universities.

The Protestant divestment movement and the new supersessionism:
http://www.keshertalk.com/archives/2005/05/the_protestant.php

A recent encounter with Columbia prof Joseph Massad:
http://sicat222.blogspot.com/2006/04/face-off.html

Yehudit:

Thanks so much. Both links are incredibly valuable and I urge everyone to go to them.

You look around and you wait for the civilized world to come crashing down on these barbarians--and when it doesn't you realize that courage and goodness are in very short supply.

Exactly the argument I had with an Israeli diplomat ~15 years ago when he maintained that after Oslo, the world would never tolerate a Palestinian resumption of terrorism; or if it did, "We could deal with that." Feh!

Your last paragraph sums it up so well, Robert.

I was young and idealistic and believed in Oslo. But I will not be fooled again. It has been obvious to me for a long time now that peace is not their goal.

And Europe? Utterly disappointing, but unfortunately no surprise either.

Solomon 2:

In fact, it is quite clear that outside of America, most of the world would welcome the destrction of Israel and her Jewish citizens.

I have come to the point in my life where this simple truth no longer disturbs me. I just accept and move on.

Well, we're doomed. My wife has said so for a few years now, and I can't really disagree anymore.

All that's left to do is try to teach our kids well, and have enough non-Jewish friends so that some of them will hide us when they come for us with torches and pitchforks.

In two nights we will recite "In every generation they have risen against us..." If only it wasn't true. If only they would skip my children's generation.

Oh. The other thing to do is to own firearms.

Pesach sameach! [Happy Pasover!]

Stacey:

Don't feel too badly, Oslo was designed to fool people. Unfortunately, many Jews died as a result of that particular deadly illusion. We will not let it happen again.

Europe was lost during WWII but for one great man: Winston Churchill.

Europe now is doing what Europe does so well: surrendering to evil.

Doctor Bean:

Gee willikers, what a fun comment to respond to. Okay, I know you; Karen and I just had Shabbos lunch at your house so we know you have a, ahem, weird sense of humor.

And yet... The Jews in Europe are pretty much doomed. In France, certainly. England, you better believe it. South Africa, the clock is ticking, Germany, Russia, are you kidding?

The good news?

We're talking Fortress Israel/America. Which is more than enough to defeat the barbarians at the gates.

I have come to the point in my life where this simple truth no longer disturbs me. I just accept and move on.>>

While Robert's above statement sounds bitter and the kind of thing that can eat you out inside, if you can keep your optimism in your life and your own family life healthy, I actually think realizing this statement is basically true can be quite liberating. Maybe things will change in the coming centuries, but we shouldn't hold our breath.

As Jake says, not bitter, not bitter at all. Simply calling it as I see it, like a good ump at an all American baseball game--minus the steroids.

It wasn't that long ago that a screenwriter in Hollywood could at least challenge this sort of anti-Israel thinking by penning and seeing through production a movie like Exodus. But nowadays that isn't permitted, is it? Courage is supposed to be found in movies decrying McCarthyism or anti-American flicks like Fahrenheit 911.

Why doesn't anyone in Hollywood protest this? Is it because California was where the first shadow of jihad fell, back when RFK was assassinated by someone who didn't like his pro-Israel stance back in 1968?

Solomon:

Are you kidding? Hollywood make a pro Israeli movie. That's like asking the Israelis to make an pro Israeli movie.

An amazing thread, Robert, thank you. I am so grateful that this country does, for the most part support Israel and Jews, right now. The growing anti-Christian attitude along with the anti-Semite attitude you often write about tells me that might change. We must be ever vigilant and always remain in prayer to Him Who's hand covers all.

Suz:

You are so right: we must be ever vigilant. As we will say in the Passover seder: "In every generation they rise aganst us."

I agree with Suz....

The rising anti Christian bigotry is disturbing.

I think it is a mask against hatred of religious observance of all kinds...

The rising anti Christian bigotry is disturbing.

I am confused by this. Are there examples?

Examples? Jack, do you live in the USA? Where the alleged separation of church and state is used to batter any public display of religion? Where nativity scenes are routinely banned? Where prayer in the Name of Jesus is litigated against? This one is too easy so I assume you are looking for deeper, more aggressive examples. How about churches burned, movies demeaning, even denigrating Christians in ever-increasing scenes depicting, ignorant, bigoted Christians only. When is the last time you watched a movie showing rational, loving Christians in normal, everyday lives? I dont think one has to look very hard for anti-Christian or anti-Semitic behaviour and attitudes, but I'm interested if you have another view of the things I've described.

"It's an astonishing phenomenon when your enemies accuse you of what they themselves are absolutely guilty of."

Excellent line. I'm gonna remember that one.

You had lunch with the Beans? Does that mean you're going to be remodelling your kitchen now?

Psychotoddler:

We went through that particular lunacy several years ago. Never again!

Hi Suz,

Yes, I live in the US and I am not in favor of Nativity scenes in public places anymore than I am in favor of sticking Jewish events in public places.

By public I refer to places that are funded by our tax dollars. I am not interested in prayer in public school. Parents who want that should send their children to parochial school.

Where prayer in the Name of Jesus is litigated against?

This is too general, but if we are talking about public venues such as public school graduations than it is inappropriate to have it there.

How about churches burned Clearly this is wrong and I'll accept that. But I'll still ask how many, how often and how frequent relative to the number of Christians in the US.

movies demeaning, even denigrating Christians in ever-increasing scenes depicting, ignorant, bigoted Christians only

Too broad and too general to respond to. Without specific details there is no way to answer.

When is the last time you watched a movie showing rational, loving Christians in normal, everyday lives?

I don't go looking for this anymore than I go looking for the same of Jews or any other faith.

But if you want my honest opinion here it is. I don't buy the argument that some people make that there is a war on Christianity. It is a fake war.

You don't have to make special arrangements to take time off for your holidays. You don't have to worry about dietary issues, dress codes, and so many other little details.

You guys are the majority and reap so many benefits from it.

I am not asking for anything special. All I require is that we adhere to the law and that makes it very clear about places in which there is a legal separation of church and state.

I don't want the 10 Commandments on my government buildings. I don't want religion in the public domain. Those are areas that should be neutral. Those are places in which all people should feel comfortable because they are American, not because they are a Christian/Jewish/Buddhist American.

If you want to put a nativity scene on your front lawn, then you should be allowed to and I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with you to fight for that right. But not in the public domain.

Jack, I agree that some of my responses were to general to respond to, it was late, I was ill, etc. so I'm glad you didnt attempt it. Perhaps this will get more specific. But, first I'd like you to clarify a couple of things you said, just so we both kinda know where the other stands on some issues.

You said, "This is too general, but if we are talking about public venues such as public school graduations than it is inappropriate to have it there". I guess I need to understand why you find praying in Jesus' Name inappropriate? Are you offended to see a muslim bowing to the east to pray? I dont agree with the theology which requires him to do so but it certainly doesnt affect my sensibilities at all. But perhaps you mean something else.

You said, "I don't want the 10 Commandments on my government buildings. I don't want religion in the public domain. Those are areas that should be neutral. Those are places in which all people should feel comfortable because they are American, not because they are a Christian/Jewish/Buddhist American.". Same issue for me. need to understand why it affects you any way at all. When I see the Catholic crucifixion, I dont feel an affront to my neutrality. I'm a Christian who disagrees with the Catholic faith in many ways, including the crucifixion, but it doesnt affect my faith to come upon it. You see my drift here? I dont not understand why anyone finds those things "inappropriate", offensive, etc. Maybe I'll come to a better understanding by learning why motivates you in those areas.

Hi Suz,

I am limited in time but I'll my best to give you an answer that makes sense.

Religion is a very personal and private thing. Religious beliefs are not always predicated upon logic and reason. Belief in G-d is a matter of faith and nothing more.

The world is not filled with tons of tolerant people who are happy and willing to live and let live. That can create a situation in which minorities are placed in situations in which they can be ostracized and abused.

Religion is a perfect example of a practice which is often used as an excuse to engage in practices which no thinking person can call kind.

Children are exceptionally good at picking on others who are not like them. If you look at prayer in school you see an environment which can be rife with potential trouble. There are many scenarios in which it is possible that some kids could be excluded because they are not doing as the others do.

From a different standpoint I can look at about 2000 years of persecution of Jews by Christians. It is really within the last sixty years or so that things have improved. And it has been a dramatic improvement.

But even so, I can tell several stories of being forced to fight Christian kids who claimed that Jews killed Jesus. I know many other stories from many other people that are similar. I can write about quotas and all sorts of other nonsense along these lines.

When you ask

I guess I need to understand why you find praying in Jesus' Name inappropriate?

I want to ask why you think it is appropriate. Why should we have to have a prayer at a graduation. Why does religion have to be involved?

My son has been enrolled at a Jewish preschool and will be attending a Jewish day school in the fall. His sister will follow in his footsteps.

I offer that because it is not a matter of my not being a "believer." It just comes back to a place where I find religion to be a source of dissension.

I just don't see a reason to create a problem. I know that I am rambling here, but I suppose that you could say that when you look out for the rights of the smallest you look out for all of us.