You’re taking it easy on some really hateful people, but getting angry at over protective Zionists.

I noted earlier my surprise at the sensitiveness of the HP posters (though I understand it tbh) … but I do wonder if you make such a stink about the anti-Semites on Weiss’s site because I honestly don’t remember seeing you get remotely uptight about those lovely individuals …

There are some 50+ of these hard liners at HP. Real anti-Semites at Mondoweiss remain rather the exception to the rule. There are some, no question about it but relatively few and far between. At HP even mild ‘criticism’ meets with this barrage of denial, distortion, ad hominem, ‘they do it too’, ‘whataboutery’ etc etc.

The only fair comments were made by Gabriel, David T. Vildechaye (that one tried to get me banned at Terry Glavin’s) and Alex.

Let’s edit this a little …

“When a committed anti-Zionist like Phil Weiss get’s loved by Mondoweiss’s hard core Anti-Semites, then perhaps Phil should draw some conclusions. Mondoweiss is hardly an extremist site, yet look at the kind of anti-Israel support it attracts”

Goes both ways rather easily eh?

“There is a very big difference between a university campus and America at large. ”

I guess, but I don’t really buy those examples. Maher wasn’t branded a traitor – he’s just let go for a stupid comment.

During times of war, which it was, the media rarely starts asking questions until the war itself comes into question (basically, most of the US felt the Afghanistan war was justified – media included). I don’t think the media feared it would be branded traitors.

And I somehow doubt the votes on Bush’s bills were passed as many people voted ‘yay’ for fear of being branded a traitor if they voted no.

I’ve more or less given up trying to do that over there.

When a committed Zionist like Alex get’s torn into by HP’s hard core Zionist following then perhaps HP should draw some conclusions. HP is hardly an extremist site, yet look at the kind of pro-Israel support it attracts.

To think HP banned a respectful anti-Zionist commenter like Hasbara Buster, yet allows some of the most vile rubbish hurled at one of ‘their own’ speaks volumes about modern Zionism, IMHO…

There is a very big difference between a university campus and America at large. The reality was that people were largely afraid to speak out. There was a definite sense at large that questioning the government was disloyal. The hypersensitive environment led to Bill Maher’s show not being renewed because he said the 9-11 hijackers were not cowards, to American media who were afraid to ask any tough questions, and to the government who allowed Bush to introduce far-reaching bills that took away civil liberties and invade Iraq on a false premise.

Sorry Gabriel, that is not true. I was in the US during and after 9/11 (on university campus) and there were quite a few ‘anti-Afghanistan’ protests and they weren’t called traitors. They were ridiculed but traitors? That’s harsh.

I think there has to be a line drawn with Nakba – surely they can remember an event when deprived them of land. I have no issue with that to be honest, to each his own. But if they use the day as a platform to call for Israel’s destruction, I think that’s a step too far.

This is not treason. If you can stand in the middle of London yelling “down with Britain” it should not be a crime. Organizing a march for people who believe that Britain should not be country should not be a crime. Trying to use violence for any reason should. Saying “I don’t believe in Israel as a state for Jews” is something I disagree with but is not a crime. You should not criminilize belief. Israel is becoming more and more like the Post-9/11 U.S. where unless your professed your love of everything American (Bush, invading Iraq, taking away civil liberties, etc…), you were branded a traitor. Security, yes, but not at the sake of rights.