At 12:58 11-4-02 -0500, Marvin Long wrote: > > You demand that we provide extra security for possible Jewish targets; I > > agree that they (just like anyone else) are entitled to protection. I > do see > > a double standard here, however. You demand that we protect the Jews, but > > when others try to protect themselves it is anti-Semitism. > > > > Why should the non-Jewish Europeans not be allowed to take measures to > > prevent themselves from being blown up? > >Here's my truly bewildered question. Are attacks on Jews in Europe really >so commonplace that it makes sense for non-Jewish *citizens* to distance >themselves from their fellow *citizens* rather than stand beside them in >defiance of these crimes?
We are not distancing ourselves from our Jewish citizens. What apperently has been asked a few times is to refrain from showing Jewish/Israeli symbols so as not to provoke an attack. This is in the best interest of everyone (we are all members of the "public" in "public safety"). With the exception of a few idiots, everyone here in Europe condemns the attacks. We *are* standing beside our Jewish citizens, but that is not going to be much help if we get blown up. >I understand the reasoning that says, "I don't hate Jews, I just don't >want any trouble." I don't approve of it, but I understand it. But is >there really enough violence against Jews in Europe to justify that >attitude at all? Personally, I think there is not all that much violence against Jews in Europe. True, there have been some attacks, but not really all that many. The only reason it gets all that media attention from around the world is because the targets are *Jewish* targets. If those attacks had been against, say, some Baptist churches, it would probably only have been mentioned in a three-line article on page 27 or so of some major newspaper. On CNN, it would probably go something like "President Bush met with Russian president Putin to <yadda yadda yadda -- long story>. In Europe, a few Baptist churches were burned down by protesters. And now, the weather." Jeroen _________________________________________________________________________ Wonderful World of Brin-L Website: http://www.Brin-L.com Tom's Photo Gallery: http://tom.vanbaardwijk.com
