[net.politics] Jackson's slur and his Crime

sam@nsc.UUCP (Sam Cramer) (03/05/84)

Andy Berman engages in some lovely apologetics for Jesse Jackson, stating
that his recent antisemitic remark (not Jackson's first, by the way) was
"in very poor taste, and displayed a definite insensitivity".

Envoking the familiar argument of moral relativism, Berman continues,
"Alas, our language is so much a reflection of the racism that permeates our
society, from which none of us is entirely shielded".

I wonder if Mr. Berman would similarly defend the racist remarks of a Klansman?

It's clear to me that racist statements are *objectionable* - not simply "in
poor taste", and certainly not deserving of "gee whiz, we're all really guilty"
type rationalization.

Berman goes on to allege that Jackson's true crime is his backing of the PLO,
to whom Berman refers, but never names, dressing them up as "the recognized
organization of the Palestinians".

So saying, Berman makes two allegations, both false.

1) Jackson is being persecuted, not for his now famous antisemitism, but
   because of his pro-Palestinian viewpoint.

   Peculiar.  George McGovern has said pretty much the same things as 
   Jackson (although he hasn't, thankfully, seen fit to smooch with Yassir 
   Arafat), and he isn't "persecuted" by the evil conspiracy that Jackson 
   claimed was dogging him.

2) That the PLO, a gang of murderous terrorists, is the "recognized 
   organization of the Palestinians", and that Yassir Arafat is the "recognized
   leader of the Palestinians."  
   
   Andy, which faction of the PLO are we talking about?  Fatah?  Al-Saiqua?  
   PFLP?  PFLP-GC?  [By the way, which are the MERIP terrorist sweethearts 
   this week?]

   Within the PLO, the various gangs don't "recognize" each other as 
   legitimate.  Certainly Arafat's expulsion from Tripoli by PLO rebels says 
   something about the degree of recognition that he enjoys.
   
		Sam Cramer
		...menlo70!nsc!sam 	(got my own account!)
		...fortune!nsc!sam

bbanerje@sjuvax.UUCP (03/11/84)

>> 1) Jackson is being persecuted, not for his now famous antisemitism, but
  >>  because of his pro-Palestinian viewpoint.

 
A point that doesn't seem understood here...

	Semite != Jew.  Even Arabs are Semites.  Wow, maybe some of
the more militant Jews on the net are actually anti-semitic as well.
Boggles the mind!
-- 


				Binayak Banerjee
		{allegra | astrovax | bpa | burdvax}!sjuvax!bbanerje