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On 04 Mar 2015, at 10:10 AM, A.R. G via Marxism <marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > And on the flipside, what should I make of "leftists" like the > Anti-Deutsch, or the AWL, or the US SWP, who have either engaged in overt, > extremist support for Israel, Zionism, and its US lobby, or at the very > least engaged in apologism by smearing critics who go "too far" as > "anti-Semites" and the like? And their continued influence in "leftist" > circles (including this one) in which there are people who are constantly > walking on eggshells about anything that could possibly be perceived as > "anti-Jewish"? I’ve never had any affiliation with any of the groups mentioned, but I actually think we *should* walk on eggshells when language is involved that plays even unconsciously into anti-Semitic caricatures - but I believe this more for tactical reasons than moral ones. That isn’t to deny for a moment that willful anti-Semitism is repugnant, but even perfectly fair and desparately necessary criticisms of the state of Israel, or of individual Zionists or Zionist organisations, are constantly spun by Zionists as anti-Semitic - and I think we should be absolutely vigilant in avoiding and distancing ourselves from language that makes that easy for them to do, precisely in order to protect the space for the enormous amount of criticism that needs to be made, as part of a broader campaign of opposition and resistance. From our previous exchange, and from your description of the piece you’re writing, my sense is that you may disagree with my approach on this issue. I hope you’ll at least allow that it may be a reasonable and considered one. _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
