Words Hurt but Tanks and M16s Kill
Putting Accusations
of Anti-Semitism in Context
by Linda Belanger
Dissident Voice
December 28, 2002
Canada is in the
midst of yet another debate on anti-Semitism. This time, the uproar was spurred
by statements made by David Ahenakew a native leader and recipient of the Order
of Canada. Mr. Ahenakew’’s statement that Hitler was right "to fry 6 million
of those guys because they were taking over" is disgusting and his
membership in the Order of Canada should be withdrawn immediately. However, I
can no longer contain my resentment over the endless superficial and pointless
discussions, interviews and opinions on "growing anti-Semitism".
One particular
dialogue on CBC radio left me steaming for days. Upon sitting down and
analyzing the reason for my anger I concluded that it is not so much what was
said as what was not said that disturbed me. The idea put forward by one of the
participants that since most Jews are Zionists, one cannot claim to be
anti-Zionist without being anti-Semitic. Neither the host nor the other two
participants in the discussion saw fit to challenge this opinion. This idea
must be challenged in the strongest terms each and every time it is put forth.
IT IS NOT RACIST TO OPPOSE A RACIST IDEOLOGY. If it is true that most Jews are
Zionists they must be re-educated to abandon this ideology. It is not up to the
rest of the country to accept it.
As usual in this
type of discussion one is made to feel that Jews are more victimized than other
groups or that anti-Semitism is somehow more abhorrent than other forms of
racism. Although reference was made to bomb threats against Synagogues and Jewish
Schools, there was not one reference to threats made to Mosques and the current
hate literature being published on Muslims and Arabs by the Zionist controlled
media.
Typically, only
one participant touched upon what he referred to as "the situation in the
Middle East in regards to Palestinians". I suppose this vague statement
was intended to raise the issue of a possible link between rising anti-Semitism
and the Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza. Policies that include 24
hour curfews for months, home demolitions, destruction of ancient olive groves,
roadblocks that prevent access to education, jobs and healthcare and total
disregard for over 65 United Nations Resolutions. The rank hypocrisy of talking
about offensive WORDS, no-matter how stupid, racist and ignorant, in regards to
Jews and the Holocaust while ignoring what is actually HAPPENING to
Palestinians right NOW must surely be offensive to any intelligent listener.
The Zionists
supporters will argue that Israel is held to higher standards that other
nations. But Israel proclaims itself to be a bastion of freedom, democracy and
justice. Nations like Israel, Canada, the United States and Britain, should be
held to higher standards than developing countries with undemocratic
governments and large uneducated populations.
There can be no
discussion regarding growing anti-Semitism without consideration of the Israeli
apartheid system imposed on Palestinians. Although I am not of Arab background,
my anger at this injustice in intense. Fortunately it is tempered by age and
experience. My parents often repeated to me that there are good and bad in
every race: time has proven them right. I have also had the good fortune of
becoming acquainted with Jews who see the injustices being perpetrated on Palestinians.
Since a young age I have turned to writing when I am sad or angry.
What of the
children of people of Arab descent? Both Canada and the U.S. have a substantial
Arab and Muslim populations whose sympathies clearly lie with Palestinians. How
is the testosterone charged teenager of Arab descent going to react to news
that 8 year old children of a group he identifies with, are being shot for
throwing rocks at tanks or sometimes just shot in the back? What is this kid
going to do when he hears lengthy discussions about anti-Semitism on radio and
television and nothing about the crimes committed against his own kind? I can
bet it will not be to write. Talk of anti-Semitism without looking at the
context may be a way to fill air time without generating the ire of B'nai
B'rith but in no way contributes to reducing anti-Semitism. Real solutions come
as a result of discussion by an informed public. There is no winning through
suppression of information and discussion. You can only keep the lid on the pressure
cooker for so long before it blows up.
Since my early
teens I have heard in reference to the Holocaust that "It must not happen
again". This is a wise statement that has become part of our moral fibre.
But "It" is happening again - to Palestinians. Sympathy for Jews and
revulsion for Hitler and the Holocaust must not be carried beyond the bonds of
logic. It must end when the victim becomes the oppressor, otherwise we have
learned nothing.
The pro-Israeli
camp is quick to point out that Arabs are not sufficiently critical of
Palestinian suicide attacks on Israeli's but how often does one hear Jews
condemning the Israeli policies of aggression on the entire Palestinian
population. I blame the media for this as much as Jews because I know that
there are Jews who passionately condemn and actively oppose Israeli apartheid.
By giving air time to the whining Zionists with their preposterous precepts and
not the to "left-wing" Jews who oppose the policies of the war
criminal Ariel Sharon and his ilk, the media is contributing to anti-Semitism
AND condoning the racist Zionist policies which are completely irreconcilable
with our values of freedom and equality.
Linda Belanger is an activist living in Canada. Email: Belalin54@hotmail.com