Listening to Arabs

[pistoff democrat]

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As he spoke, Gevara—a nickname perhaps intended in homage to Fidel Castro’s sidekick Che Guevara—began to cry. So did several of his listeners, including some Israelis. Afterward, one of them, the same Ruthie who had insisted that he be heard, contacted B’Tselem, an Israeli human-rights organization specializing in complaints about the treatment of Arabs, to see if she could secure help for him.

cut

A Palestinian-American boy, passionately devoted to the Palestinian cause but with a puppyish softness that bespoke his American upbringing, wanted to know how I could characterize a "religious state" like Israel as a democracy. Later, in the cafeteria, I explained that unlike the case of Christianity or Islam, Jewishness entails both a religion and a nationality. "Does anybody know this?" he asked finally, when he got the point.

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On a substantive level, both within the sessions and outside, several Arab participants gave an impression dramatically different from the prevailing whine. I was approached by a young man from the audience, none too well groomed and dressed in a white jalaba: "I listened to you yesterday," he wanted me to know, "and what you said was painful to me, but I think we need to hear it." A Lebanese editor of a journal of international affairs interviewed me at length, for publication; although he did not appear to be buying most of what I was selling, he was interested and believed his readers would be, too.

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One began: "Hi all, I would like you to read these two articles by an American writer." The articles, nearly 20,000 words in all, were by David Duke, former head of the Ku Klux Klan, and they gave a Nazi-like version of the role of Jews in American life, including the claim that it was really the Jews who bombed the World Trade Center. The Lebanese boy who strove for fairness reacted strongly: "I am ashamed of being associated with such an argument and wanted to assure everyone that no one in his right mind would advocate this bastard’s ideas, nor would they listen to others who do." Once again the Egyptian girl was embarrassed. She had not known who Duke was, only that she liked what he said; in a private letter to me, she explained that she had been given the articles by "Dr. Asmat Abdel Magid, the former head of the Arab League and the former-foreign affairs minister of Egypt, the head of the negotiating mission in our peace agreement with Israel."

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http://www.commentarymagazine.com/muravchik.htm

[edzontar]

1. Your point?

Commentary is a Repuke-Neocon and voraciously pro-Likud, pro-settlement, and anti-peace magazine.

I am sure they were "delighted" to publish this piece, since it helps them, and you, to denigrate "Arabs" as unworthy of a homeland.

As if this rght had to be earned by proving the worthy poinions of every one of a nation''s citizens.

If this was so, our country would be in trouble too.

It is well-known that poisonous attitudes like this are popular in the Arab" world.

Racism, hatred, and bigotry are pretty broad human universals, in fact.

You could find an ignorant person on the street in any country, any town, anywhere in the world.

The kid probably does not know who Duke is, and probably does not care, since his remarks feed into the boy's already established resentments and hatred against Israel and Jews.

Kindof reminds of the recent embrace of the racist Neofascists Fini and Alessandra Mussolini by some of your colleagues on this board.

[edzontar]

2. Another note...

In the complete piece, the author also sees some signs of hope...a welcome thing in a piece published by this generally obnoxious, RW rag.

[Muddleoftheroad]

4. Quick question on two of your points

How does this show Arabs, "as unworthy of a homeland?" I read it and I still find Palestinians worthy of a homeland whenever they choose peace.

According to you, "It is well-known that poisonous attitudes like this are popular in the Arab" world." I am not sure all here would agree, so don't you think informing them is a good idea?

[edzontar]

8. Palestinians resent what Israel has done to them...

That is hardly a big revelation.

As for any other details--re the possibility that the whole thing is false...I have no way of knowing, but I would never put this beyond the machinations of Commentary of the Repuke American Enterprise institute, since their principle Traffic iin all matters is in lies.

[mmm]

3. That is the silliest shit I have ever seen

Palestinians would never say the things he quotes them
as having said. This drivel is pure fiction served up
for the consumption of the uninformed. This boy is twisted.

[Muddleoftheroad]

5. Care to give us some evidence of this?

[bluesoul]

6. Ehm am I missing something

Why wouldn't they say something like that? This piece actually proves that many are so wrong about Palestinians and Arabs and this rings more of a pro-Palestinian then anything, even though the author may have not thought so by posting it ;)

[edzontar]

10. Right--if you read through the piece...which i did after my first post

The author actually shifts to a more hopeful tone, suggesting that these attitudes can, and to an extent, are being transcended.

The original poster, of course, negelcted to excerpt those sections.

[pistoff democrat]

14. Right, edzontar!

I put forward my biased paragraphs with the good article title and the good article which I hoped all would read.

It seemed to me the article in toto would receive a fairly positive response...if people would only have read it (as you did).

[GabysPoppy]

7. I have seen spin before

But that takes the cake

[bluesoul]

9. Gabby I am bit confused

Who is now objecting to what here? That what those people said in the article is not true or that those complaining about it? :)

[edzontar]

11. I don't know if the post is true....

On the merits, its seems believable enough.

But again--what is the point of snipping out the "worst" parts, if not to infame?

[pistoff democrat]

15. Certainly the point is not to inflame.

It is to post something that when read in toto, which is what I thought we are supposed to do...that the 4-paragraph limit has to do with copyright, not substance...that we might come together.

I guess I just never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity...

[edzontar]

16. OK, but why not include one of the HOPEFUL parts?

There is much too much polarization on this issue, and in this forum as it is.

We really could use some pieces that move in the direction of our human commonality, and that point to solutions, rather than inflame passions.

[GabysPoppy]

12. Here's a clue

"Palestinians would never say the things he quotes them
as having said."

[bemildred]

21. Very clever propaganda.

Extremely well done.
This fellow may or may not be twisted, but he is
good at his job.

[pistoff democrat]

13. The problem is

that nobody let Gabby know which is the approved Team Israel news source this week, so I ventured into a new source (oops).

Actually, did you who commented so harshly really read anything other than my excerpts?

[edzontar]

17. I went back to read it....I don't necessarily think it is phony...

But am not well-informed enough to tell.

I still think you might have included some of the less inflammatory stuff in your excerpts.

A thought, perhaps, for the future.

[pistoff democrat]

19. You're right.

I hang my head in shame.

This forum just gets the juices flowing...and I really thought people would read the article.

Please accept my apology for poor judgment.


:hi:

[pistoff democrat]

18. Did I just call you by your granddaughter's name?

Sorry, Poppy!

[GabysPoppy]

20. Too great

We both have granddaughters named Gaby.

[pistoff democrat]

22. ummmm....no, we don't

:yourock:

[GabysPoppy]

23. I shouldn't try to read and comprehend at certain times

LOL