Naming the name

[MajGenl.Meade]

I really hope this link works...

When Anti-Israel protesters showed up and disrupted the a New York City Council meeting in protest of a motion commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz, this is what Councilman Greenfield had to say about the Anti-Semitic outburst:


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10 ... 89&fref=nf

[Big RR]

He makes some good point, and was obviously responding to a particular action, but his raising of the mantra that opposing the interests/policies of anti-Semitism is BS, IMHO. Certainly, many who do oppose Israel are anti-Semites who deserve that name, but not all oppose Israel because they lament that Hitler only killed half that man's family. And the assertion that they do so for that reason is offensive as well.

[rubato]

Some people oppose Israel because of their gross human rights abuses of Palestinians both in and out of Israel.




yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

Edited

That's how it works. If the subject is anti-Semitism the conversation slides into a condemnation of Israeli excesses in the face of er... anti-Semitism.

[Big RR]

And if the subject is a condemnation of Israeli "excesses", it often denigrates into allegations of anti-Semitism because it's easier to make that claim than discuss the issues.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I thought the subject was anti-Semitism occasioned by fascist intervention of Jew-haters at an NY meeting... there you go.

[Big RR]

Listen to the link you posted; the arguments he made were that any criticism of Israel is based in anti-Semitism and those who criticize Israel do so only because they regret Hitler didn't kill the rest of his family. Bullshit? But of course; but it is what you posted and what I responded to.

As for the actions of the protestors, given what the resolution being discussed was and recognizing that we do not have a similar account of what occurred, I would not be surprised if they were the result of anti-Semitism. If he had limited his comments to that, I would likely have agreed (and I did note he made some good points).

[MajGenl.Meade]

the arguments he made were that any criticism of Israel is based in anti-Semitism and those who criticize Israel do so only because they regret Hitler didn't kill the rest of his family

Maybe you're the one who should listen to the link. He made no such argument but specifically discussed "what we have seen here today" and how the people involved in that revealed themselves for what they are. If I missed the part where he even brought up all criticism of Israel and all of those who do so criticise, then please give me the quote.

I don't hear that at all but perhaps it's there

[Sue U]

Here's a little more context (my emphases):

Pro-Palestinian activists disrupt City Council meeting
BY Erin Durkin
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7:07 PM

Pro-Palestinian activists disrupted a City Council meeting Thursday to protest Council members’ planned trip to Israel next month.

Protesters in the balcony of the Council chamber unfurled a Palestinian flag and began yelling “Palestinian lives matter,” “Don’t support genocide,” and “Melissa, you’re a hypocrite,” a slam on Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who will lead the Israel delegation.

Council members reacted furiously to the demonstration - especially because the disruption began as they were concluding a vote on a resolution commemorating the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

A few dozen protesters were booted from the chamber, with some physically removed, and were ordered off the City Hall property all together.

“I’m a Jewish New Yorker. I live in the Bronx, and I do not support so-called progressive City Council members taking a trip to Israel. It is a trip to legitimize the discriminatory practices of Israel,” said Pam Sporn of the group Jewish Voice for Peace.

Protester Nastaran Mohit said it was hypocritical for pols who push for racial justice to support the Jewish state's actions. “If you want to do a die in on the steps of City Hall saying black lives matter, then Palestinian lives matter as well.”

In an impassioned speech after the protesters were removed, Councilman David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) accused them of anti-Semitism.

“What you saw here today was naked, blind anti-Semitism,” he thundered.

“That’s what you saw, and that’s what you watched, and that’s what you witnessed - people who were upset for one reason. Do you want to know why they’re upset, do you want to know why they’re angry, do you want to know why they unfurled that flag today? Because Hitler did not finish the job. He only wiped out half of my family.”

Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito also denounced the protesters. “This outburst was offensive, outrageous and counter to the values of the City Council,” said her spokesman, Eric Koch.

Chiming in on Twitter, Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) called it “disgusting” and Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) called it “shameful.”

Fifteen Council members plan to take a nine day trip to Israel paid for by the Jewish Community Relations Council and the UJA Federation of New York starting Feb. 15.

The protest clearly violated the decorum of the Council proceedings (as protests do), and its timing in relation to the Council resolution on the floor was perhaps awkward. But this protest was not anti-Semitism, and Councilman Greenfield's tirade was inappropriate and way over the top; criticism of Israel and the City Council's inter-governmental business with Israel does not make anyone an anti-Semite, a Nazi or a supporter of genocide. Greenfield's knee-jerk accusations were just a way to dismiss the substance of the protest without having to actually address it.

[Big RR]

Meade--Just listen around 30-45 seconds and around 1:45 and you'll see how broadly he chose to make his remarks; they were not directed at the protestors.

sue--if that's what the protestors were addressing, it appears that their choice of time was bad as the resolution discussed had nothing to do with travel to Israel.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Pam Sporn ????

Sometimes they just write themselves.