Really shocked and saddened to see a picture like this in my schools newspaper and to know that hate lives on the streets of Seattle. Regardless of how one feels about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the current situation between Hamas and Israel, there are NO legitimate reasons for drawing a comparison between Israel and the Nazis, accusing Israel of committing genocide, or equating Zionism to Nazism. Such comparisons are not legitimate critiques of what is going on under any reasonable standards, but rather slanderous speech which incites hatred against Jews. While I fully support anyones right to exercise the first amendment and make their voice heard on an issue, it is horrible to see protests against Israel devolve into open and unabashed anti-semitism. Even animals have sympathy reads a sign in downtown Seattle. What is that supposed to mean, Israelis are less than animals? I am not saying that all people who protest Israel are anti-semitic, but wake up people! This isnt one or two isolated incidents, this is something that has become all too common throughout the world. Such hatred has unfortunately led to violence against Jews. Many of these signs and slogans are not pro-Palestine, they are anti-Jewish! It really saddens me to know that there is still this much open hatred towards my people even in (for the most part) tolerant and progressive Seattle. It is time people unite to speak out against all forms of hatred when discussing Israel-Palestine - whether it be anti-semitism, Islamophobia, or any other form of bigotry. Such hate has no place at UW, in Seattle, or anywhere else. If you dont understand how/why Holocaust/Nazi comparisons are hurtful and not legitimate critiques, I recommend you read an article I will attach below, which is a bit long but a very well expressed explanation - an excerpt: (Nazi comparisons serve) to wound Jews in their recent and most anguished history and to punish them with their own grief. Its aim is a sort of retrospective retribution, cancelling out all debts of guilt and sorrow. It is as though, by a reversal of the usual laws of cause and effect, Jewish actions of today prove that Jews had it coming to them yesterday. Berating Jews with their own history, disinheriting them of pity, as though pity is negotiable or has a sell-by date, is the latest species of Holocaust denial, Full article: independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/howard-jacobson/howard-jacobson-letrsquos-see-the-criticism-of-israel-for-what-it-really-is-1624827.html
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:38:51 +0000
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