I Was Protested At Bard College For Being A Jew

Graham2001 · 14th October 2019, 11:06 AM

The author quoted below is a Jewish critic of Israel and it's policies. She was protested by the BDS while hosting a panel on Anti-sematism.

Quote:

“Come to my panel tomorrow,” I said. “Come protest my comments on Zionism. I’ll be talking about the occupation. Bring your signs.”

I told them I’d reserve the first and second audience-questions for members of their group, but that protesting the all-Jewish anti-Semitism panel was undercutting their work.

“Don’t you see that?” I asked. Didn’t they see that protesting Jews over Israel when they are not even talking about Israel is racist? Didn’t they understand that saying we were responsible for the behavior of the Israeli Jews just because we shared their ethnicity was racist? That making every conversation with Jews about Israel is racist?”

“The conversation about anti-Semitism is already inherently about Israel,” one of the students archly explained, repeating a deeply anti-Semitic trope that has been voiced across the spectrum from David Duke to Louis Farrakhan to Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters. Right-wing anti-Semites see any accusation of anti-Semitism as a Jewish conspiracy to take away the rights of whites, while left-wing anti-Semites sees the same accusation as an attempt to silence Palestinians.

https://forward.com/opinion/433082/i...r-being-a-jew/

Here is her response at a later panel.

https://www.loom.com/share/580158a06...e2a79af1708586

Cavemonster · 14th October 2019, 11:17 AM

I was raised Jewish, but I didn't see this particular side of American Jewish culture until college.

I was invited to a show called "An Olive on the Seder plate" that was, in my opinion, a multifaceted look at the history of the state of Israel with a message that you can be a proud Jew and even support the existence of Israel while being critical of the actions of the Israeli government, the IDF and settlers.

The show seemed to me reasonable, even funny, and far from hateful.

Yet, after the show ended, about half the audience stood up. They were there from some student Jewish organization to condemn this "Antisemitic propaganda".

The idea that any criticism of Israel is antisemitism, even when it comes from Jews, is closely, cultishly held by a chunk of the community. It never ceases to weird me out.

Graham2001 · 14th October 2019, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Cavemonster

I was raised Jewish, but I didn't see this particular side of American Jewish culture until college.

I was invited to a show called "An Olive on the Seder plate" that was, in my opinion, a multifaceted look at the history of the state of Israel with a message that you can be a proud Jew and even support the existence of Israel while being critical of the actions of the Israeli government, the IDF and settlers.

The show seemed to me reasonable, even funny, and far from hateful.

Yet, after the show ended, about half the audience stood up. They were there from some student Jewish organization to condemn this "Antisemitic propaganda".

The idea that any criticism of Israel is antisemitism, even when it comes from Jews, is closely, cultishly held by a chunk of the community. It never ceases to weird me out.

Indeed, you can criticize the actions of the Israeli government without invoking anti-semetic claims. But all to often activists on the Left make anti-semetic claims without seeming to understand what they have done or worse claiming that simply putting the word 'Israeli' in front of the word 'Jew' transforms whatever canard was uttered into a legitimate political statement in support of the Palestinians.

Brainster · 14th October 2019, 03:16 PM

I did love what one of the profs said:

Quote:

“Why are you silencing Palestinians?” he demanded. “There should have been a Palestinian discussing anti-Semitism. They have many thoughts about it!”

Perhaps we could have a straight man up there to discuss homophobia.

Puppycow · 14th October 2019, 07:00 PM

Did you see the three letters to the editor in response to Ungar-Sargon?

https://forward.com/opinion/letters/...d-batya-ungar/
https://forward.com/opinion/letters/...rd-conference/
https://forward.com/opinion/letters/...-and-saw-deep/

As I sensed, it's a bit more complicated than she makes it out to be.

14th October 2019, 11:06 AM	#1
Graham2001 Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,327	I Was Protested At Bard College For Being A Jew The author quoted below is a Jewish critic of Israel and it's policies. She was protested by the BDS while hosting a panel on Anti-sematism. Quote: “Come to my panel tomorrow,” I said. “Come protest my comments on Zionism. I’ll be talking about the occupation. Bring your signs.” I told them I’d reserve the first and second audience-questions for members of their group, but that protesting the all-Jewish anti-Semitism panel was undercutting their work. “Don’t you see that?” I asked. Didn’t they see that protesting Jews over Israel when they are not even talking about Israel is racist? Didn’t they understand that saying we were responsible for the behavior of the Israeli Jews just because we shared their ethnicity was racist? That making every conversation with Jews about Israel is racist?” “The conversation about anti-Semitism is already inherently about Israel,” one of the students archly explained, repeating a deeply anti-Semitic trope that has been voiced across the spectrum from David Duke to Louis Farrakhan to Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters. Right-wing anti-Semites see any accusation of anti-Semitism as a Jewish conspiracy to take away the rights of whites, while left-wing anti-Semites sees the same accusation as an attempt to silence Palestinians. https://forward.com/opinion/433082/i...r-being-a-jew/ Here is her response at a later panel. https://www.loom.com/share/580158a06...e2a79af1708586
	__________________ "I need hard facts! Bring in the dowsers!" 'America Unearthed' Season 1, Episode 13: Hunt for the Holy Grail Everybody gets it wrong sometimes... Last edited by Graham2001; 14th October 2019 at 11:08 AM. Reason: Added a link to the article quoted

14th October 2019, 11:17 AM	#2
Cavemonster Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6,283	I was raised Jewish, but I didn't see this particular side of American Jewish culture until college. I was invited to a show called "An Olive on the Seder plate" that was, in my opinion, a multifaceted look at the history of the state of Israel with a message that you can be a proud Jew and even support the existence of Israel while being critical of the actions of the Israeli government, the IDF and settlers. The show seemed to me reasonable, even funny, and far from hateful. Yet, after the show ended, about half the audience stood up. They were there from some student Jewish organization to condemn this "Antisemitic propaganda". The idea that any criticism of Israel is antisemitism, even when it comes from Jews, is closely, cultishly held by a chunk of the community. It never ceases to weird me out.
Cavemonster Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6,283	__________________ The weakness of all Utopias is this, ... They first assume that no man will want more than his share, and then are very ingenious in explaining whether his share will be delivered by motorcar or balloon. -G.K. CHESTERTON

14th October 2019, 12:18 PM	#3
Graham2001 Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,327	Originally Posted by Cavemonster I was raised Jewish, but I didn't see this particular side of American Jewish culture until college. I was invited to a show called "An Olive on the Seder plate" that was, in my opinion, a multifaceted look at the history of the state of Israel with a message that you can be a proud Jew and even support the existence of Israel while being critical of the actions of the Israeli government, the IDF and settlers. The show seemed to me reasonable, even funny, and far from hateful. Yet, after the show ended, about half the audience stood up. They were there from some student Jewish organization to condemn this "Antisemitic propaganda". The idea that any criticism of Israel is antisemitism, even when it comes from Jews, is closely, cultishly held by a chunk of the community. It never ceases to weird me out. Indeed, you can criticize the actions of the Israeli government without invoking anti-semetic claims. But all to often activists on the Left make anti-semetic claims without seeming to understand what they have done or worse claiming that simply putting the word 'Israeli' in front of the word 'Jew' transforms whatever canard was uttered into a legitimate political statement in support of the Palestinians.
	__________________ "I need hard facts! Bring in the dowsers!" 'America Unearthed' Season 1, Episode 13: Hunt for the Holy Grail Everybody gets it wrong sometimes...

14th October 2019, 03:16 PM	#4
Brainster Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 18,174	I did love what one of the profs said: Quote: “Why are you silencing Palestinians?” he demanded. “There should have been a Palestinian discussing anti-Semitism. They have many thoughts about it!” Perhaps we could have a straight man up there to discuss homophobia.
	__________________ My new blog: Recent Reads. 1960s Comic Book Nostalgia Visit the Screw Loose Change blog. Last edited by Brainster; 14th October 2019 at 03:18 PM.

14th October 2019, 07:00 PM	#5
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 25,595	Did you see the three letters to the editor in response to Ungar-Sargon? https://forward.com/opinion/letters/...d-batya-ungar/ https://forward.com/opinion/letters/...rd-conference/ https://forward.com/opinion/letters/...-and-saw-deep/ As I sensed, it's a bit more complicated than she makes it out to be.
	__________________ A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool. William Shakespeare