Monday, September 11, 2006

Comment is free

I have recently been contributing to the UK Guardian's "Comment is Free" (CiF) blog and this has been a mixed experience

There is a plethora of hatred and vitriole against Jews and Israel on this blog which the Guardian provides a platform for on the basis of a misplaced liberalism

We have already seen ample evidence over the years of the dangers of spreading hatred and lies. Reading 9/11 reactions today people were saying that the attacks have divided them - this is what the terrorists want

Here is a typical example of one of my posts - I feel very let down by the Guardian in its approach:

Regarding the anti-semitism (which no-one denies exists btw) you are doubtless a reasonable person who will see through this sort of nonsense. This is not the case in general and there is ample evidence that these sorts of comments are harmful and dangerous
Some is provided for example by this article which highlights a significant rise of anti-semitic attackshttp://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/758192.html
Surely every one should be concerned about this, whether it affects them directly or not?
I don't buy the Guardian to pay for anti-semitic diatribes to be published on CiF day in day out. OK as an identified and generally identifiable Jew this affects me personally. However I am now on the verge of stopping buying the Guardian after 30 years of reading it not because of its alleged anti-semitism but because of its misplaced liberalism in allowing this
What happened to no platform for racists etc?
Shortly after your comment we get a fine example of pure hatred and stupidity from Maxxed [suggested dropping a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv]. Some people may rise above the hatred and stupidity which permeates these forums, Maxxed is not one of them
Most people won't act but the sickening persistent day in day out attacks and vilifications of Jews, charectirsations of Jews/Israelis/Zionists as Nazis and worse, etc etc is a national disgrace, a betrayal of any identifiable values which I thought the Guardian represented
Just for the avoidance of doubt, I am concerned by all attacks of this nature. I am deeply worried by Daily Mail attacks on immigrants, tabloid attacks on foreigners, attacks all over on Islam which deserves our respect as one of the great world religious and cultural traditions.
Perhaps one sees what one is most sensitive too but what I see mostly in any discussion which even vaguely relates to Israel/Palestine is constant hatred of Jews
As I said above anti-zionism is not anti-semitism however it certainly can be.

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