Moderators: This post does not belong in the I/P forum. Please do not move it there.From Chief U.S. Correspondent,
Shmuel Rosner of Ha'aretz:
Tuesday morning was a special one for the U.S. State Department's first envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism. Gregg Rickman had only been in the job for a few days, and was already being called on to carry out an important task. If the State Department spokesman was asked during a news briefing about the latest comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rickman was asked, how should the spokesman reply? Rickman came up with the main points of a statement for journalists - a first, modest contribution to this important battle.
--SNIP--
And what about the British academic boycott of Israel: Is that anti-Semitic, or anti-Zionist? Rickman knows that distinguishing between the two, if at all possible, is one of the most complicated problems he will have to face. Rickman wouldn't pick sides, saying he has not yet studied the issue in depth. But there's no doubt he will have to study the issue so he can figure out whether such incidents fall under his purview.
Israel is clearly the biggest obstacle. Where does the line fall between hatred of Jews and political opposition to, or even hatred of, Israel? Rickman knows that in Israeli eyes, the difference is minimal. Everyone is particularly sensitive when they are the ones being criticized, Rickman said, adding that some people consider anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism to be the same thing. He will need to come up with criteria to determine what is permissible and what is forbidden, what is anti-Semitic and what is just political when it comes to Israel.
Anti-semites deserve their own especially-hot place in hell to be sure. But a little birdy tells me this position will quickly become a mouthpiece for the Bush Administration to issue papal bulls on what is and what is not (the the British academic boycott or the boycotts worldwide against Israeli goods because of their public distaste for the United Nations, International Law or basic things like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) anti-Semitic.
This is the next in a series of logical steps to demonize or trivialize nations (even our allies) which disagree with US foreign policy. I'd love to believe that Boosh has the best of intentions, and maybe he does, but his track record implies
otherwise.
PB