dstieger wrote:So, we'll mark you down as an inaugural donor to 'AEPAC'?
Sorry, frank...I'm mostly here just to amuse myself.
Maybe I am so far removed from either 'side', that I'm not 'qualified' to comment on validity of the anti-Semitic label. I have trouble seeing it in others...trouble empathizing (other than holocaust, I guess)....trouble understanding why anyone might have that deep seated bias against Jewish people. I guess I also struggle with it, because it isn't necessarily racist prejudice....or even religious prejudice....I'm a bit at a loss. I don't deny it is quite real...I just can't relate well
I'm not having any issues at all with anything you've said, rarely if ever do anyway.
I understand why Israel "seems" different to many. Some blindly support everything because they are either Jewish and wear blinders (not all Jews)... or are Christian (not all Christians) and need things to happen to make their deepest beliefs come true. Both have self interest in the mix. And that's a lot of pressure on any country to overcome.
Remove those sets of supporters and Israel is a nation that should not be above criticism to the rest of us. I was only adding that it receives a disproportionate amount of micro-scrutiny.
Phil, you are reading correctly, but somehow managed to add in lobbying money that I did not mention. I can't dispute that either.
I'd rather not hijack the intent of this thread, I've been heard enough over the years.
Bottom line: of course one can criticize Israel without being anti-Semitic.