From: rothberg@bimacs.BITNET (Danny Rothenberg)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: intolerance
Date: 4 Nov 92 13:19:36 GMT
Organization: Math department, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, ISRAEL

In article <92308.0209172893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> 2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA (andy) writes:
>In article <1992Nov2.143745.6279@cbnewsl.cb.att.com>, saal@cbnewsl.cb.att.com
>(samuel.saal) says:
>>
>>In article <92304.1853132893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> andy
>><2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>>
>>>I'm glad to say I've got a lot of private support from other Jews on the net
>>>who point out that certain individuals only object to politics on the net
>>when
>>>it's politics they disagree with. It is sad that there is currently real fear
>>>by many Jews to openly disagree with the prevailing opinion propogated by the
>>>current Jewish establishment. I would ask, plead to those on the right to
>>>consider this: By attempting to silence those who disagree in the community
>>>you serve only to destroy dialogue, propogate intolerance and worst of all
>>>alienate those Jews who have different opinions. You do Judaism no good and
>>>much harm by in effect silencing those Jews with different opinions.
>>
>>I doubt anyone has a problem with rational, even handed, discussion of
>>both "left" and "right" perspectives.  It is when the anti-zionist
>>views come packaged in form so close to antisemitism as to be
>>indistinguishable to all but the most naive that discussion becomes
>>pointless.
>I am not even an anti-Zionist. Indeed, most of the sentiments I am expressed
>are also expressed by Israelis. I am anti-revisionist zionist, anti-jabotinsky
>anti-betar/likud. But I do believe Israel has a right to exist. I do find
>reprehensible this habit among some American Jews to try to silence dissent
>or criticism by accusing any critics of Israel of being anti-semitic. By your
>sloppy use of the phrase, a significant number of Israeli Jews would be
>classified as "anti-Semitic". Indeed, if anyone is anti-Semitic among Jews, it
>is those Jews who hate Jews who disagree with them, like yourself.
>>--
>>Sam Saal      kingfish!saal OR saal@kingfish.att.com
>>        Vayiftach HaShem et Peah Ha`Aton

I think the above argument has another perspective to it which both of
you do not have

Unlike both of you I live in Israel, and whether you agree or disagree
with the policy of the government of Israel you will not necessarily
be affected by its consequences.  (Before you flame me, I do realise
that anti-Semites everywhere need only the flimsiest excuse for their
deplorable activities.)

Personally, I have a lot more respect for Shulamit Aloni and her ilk
for being in Israel, than I have for you, Sam.  Conversely I have much
more respect for Arik Sharon and his ilk than I have for you, Andy.  I
have purposely left out of the comparison the religious issue which is
much more complex and much more emotionally charged.

Hope the above is of interest :-)

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danny Rothenberg            |    ^     Life's a dream-so sleep through it!
Bitnet:                     | \-/-\-/         Be'ahavat Chinam
rothberg@bimacs             |  X   X Am Yisra'el       The People of Israel
Internet:                   | /-\-/-\Be'Eretz Yisra'el In The Land of Israel
rothberg@imacs.cs.biu.ac.il |    V   Im Torat Yisra'el With The Torah of Israel
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------