At 09:04 11-4-02 -0500, Marvin Long wrote: >In America, there was a time when black people would go to the white >police to ask for help dealing with the white KKK, and the police would >tell the black people to go away because being seen with them might put >the police in danger, i.e. the KKK might see the police as pro-black and >as a target. That is why I believe that when a civil authority puts its >own safety above the dignity and rights of a minority, then it is racism. >That is why I interpret the event in Norway's Parliament as I do, and that >is why I react as I do to your explanation.
Assuming the event is representative of Norwegian policy (which it probably is not), it would still make sense. Show of Israeli symbols might lead some idiot to launch an attack; while Jews (like anyone else) have a right to openly wear religious symbols, the Norwegian Parliament also has to consider the safety of her other visitors. This is not racism, this is a matter of public safety. What do you think will happen if someone would have attacked an Israeli visitor to the Parliament for showing Israeli symbols? I can tell you what will happen: the public will demand that the responsible government officials be sent home because they failed to protect the public. Now, what is more important? The right of an Israeli to openly wear Israeli symbols, or the right of everyone (including said Israeli, BTW) to be protected from being blown up? Jeroen _________________________________________________________________________ Wonderful World of Brin-L Website: http://www.Brin-L.com Tom's Photo Gallery: http://tom.vanbaardwijk.com
