← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Blond Knight
Thread ID: 15362 | Posts: 6 | Started: 2004-10-19
2004-10-19 03:24 | User Profile
:caiphas: = :evil:
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VDARE.COM - [url]http://www.vdare.com/francis/anti_semitism.htm[/url]
October 18, 2004
Bushââ¬â¢s New Anti-Semitism Law May Criminalize Thought By Sam Francis
A tip of the hat to the Department of State, which had the guts and good sense to express its opposition (sort of) to congressional legislation creating an office for monitoring "anti-Semitism."
The bill passed both houses of Congress by voice vote and was signed into law by President Bush last week.
It's a very silly and dangerous measure.
"We opposed creation of a separate office for the purpose and opposed the mandating of a separate annual report," a State Department spokesman told the press. "We expressed the view that separate reports on different religions or ethnicities were not warranted, given that we already prepare human rights reports and religious freedom reports on 190 countries." [Anti-Semitism office planned at State Department, By Nicholas Kralev, Washington Times, October 14, 2004]
But the Department isn't dumb. Having seen how easily it passed, the spokesman explained also why the law really wasn't a problem after all:
"Itôs more of a bureaucratic nuisance than a real problem. We are not going to fight a bill that has gained such political momentum."
You bet your pension you're not.
The bill did not, of course, pass Congress because there was such a massive groundswell of grassroots support for it. It passed because Jewish organizations demanded it, and no sitting politician wants to get on the wrong side of these groups.
That's why the bill passed the Senate by agreement and the House by voice voteââ¬âthere's no debate and no record of how anyone voted.
Pushed by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and most other major Jewish organizations, the bill requires the Department to record acts of physical violence against Jews, their property, cemeteries and places of worship abroad, and the response of local governments to them.
As the Department notes, it already issues reports on "human rights" abuses, and there's no special reason why attacks on Jews should be recorded separately.
Why not reports about attacks on other groupsââ¬âblack people, white people, women, Christians?
If the lobbies that represent such categories can make enough noise for it, there would be such reports. The State Department could then spend all its time recording what should be the concern of local police departments.
The Department was right the first time that the bill requires a duplication of what it already does, but that's not what's really wrong with the law.
What's wrong with it is that it opens one more door to the criminalization of thought and expression.
The bill requires only that acts of physical violence against Jews be recorded, not expressions of anti-Semitism, but you can bet the bill's promoters will soon be pushing to include what they claim are "anti-Semitic" expressions to be reported as well. As press reports noted, "among the attacks that prompted passage of the bill" was "the recent claim by former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad that Jews 'rule the world by proxy.'"
That's the sort of stuff the State Department will now have to record and report about?
Last year the British Parliament debated a bill that would have allowed British citizens to be extradited to European Union countries to stand trial for expressing "xenophobia and racism" if the expressions were broadcast into countries where they are illegal, as in several European countries they are. It didn't pass, and the law just enacted doesn't do that, but all of it is part of the same pattern.
The pattern is the criminalization of thoughtââ¬âfor "xenophobia," "racism," "white supremacy," "homophobia," "anti-Semitism," "patriarchalism," and any number of other isms, manias and phobias unknown to any language a few years ago.
What really drives the crusade to criminalize thought and expression is not any legitimate revulsion against real violence (which is already illegal) but the compulsion of powerful and well-organized lobbies to muzzle criticism.
Neoconservatives are already claiming that criticism of them is really "anti-Semitism," which is what they also said about the recent FBI investigation of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for espionage for Israel, and what the Anti-Defamation League and many other Jewish spokesmen said about Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," and what the same groups say about criticism of Israel or of U.S. policies toward Israel.
It might be a lot simpler if the State Department had to report on what isn't anti-Semitism.
The list would be a lot shorter.
What is worrisome about the new law is not that the Department will have to duplicate what it already does but that what is not anti-Semitism at all, let alone violence, but merely criticism and dissent will be demonized and curbed.
Maybe in some minds that was the real purpose of the law all along.
And maybe, before the congressmen and senators all shouted their approval of the measure, they should have talked and thought about it a little more than they did.
COPYRIGHT CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
Sam Francis [email him] is a nationally syndicated columnist. A selection of his columns, America Extinguished: Mass Immigration And The Disintegration Of American Culture, is now available from Americans For Immigration Control. Click here for Sam Francis' website. Click here to order his monograph, Ethnopolitics: Immigration, Race, and the American Political Future.
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2004-10-19 13:16 | User Profile
September 10, 2004
Hon. Colin Powell United States Department of State 2201 C St. NW Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Secretary Powell:
We are deeply disappointed to learn of the State Departmentââ¬â¢s opposition to the Global Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (H.R.4230), which has been proposed by Rep. Tom Lantos.
This legislation would require the State Department to compile an annual report on anti-Semitism around the world, and would make it the responsibility of a specific office within the department to focus on this serious and growing problem.
The State Department opposes the legislation on the grounds that it would show ââ¬Åfavoritismââ¬Â to Jews by ââ¬Åextending exclusive status to one religious or ethnic group.ââ¬Â
The State Department is wrong. It is the anti-Semites who are singling out Jews, and that is why the fight against anti-Semitism deserves specific, focused attention. The Lantos bill is a timely and appropriate response to the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
Moreover, we note that the State Department does already have a number of offices that extend ââ¬Åexclusive statusââ¬Â to groups or issues of concern, among them offices on Tibet, Human Trafficking, and womenââ¬â¢s rights.
The State Departmentââ¬â¢s position on the Lantos legislation carries troubling echoes of the past. The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies has documented how, during the Holocaust, the State Department did its best to downplay the Jewish identity of Hitlerââ¬â¢s victims--even though the Nazi regime had clearly singled out Jews for annihilation. Statements by U.S. officials about Nazi atrocities seldom mentioned the Jews. This made it harder for the American public to understand what was happening and hindered efforts to rally public support for rescue of Jews from Hitler.
Mr. Secretary, your strong statements at the Berlin conference on anti-Semitism earlier this year gave us hope that our government has learned from the terrible silence of the State Department regarding anti-Semitism in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. The Global Anti-Semitism Awareness Act offers an opportunity for your strong words to be translated into policy.
Sincerely,
Stephen J. Solarz Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1975-1993
Prof. David S. Wyman Author, The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust 1941-1945
Jack F. Kemp Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1989-1993 Republican Nominee for Vice President, 1996 Founder and Director, Empower America
Dr. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 1981-1985; Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Stuart E. Eizenstat Special U.S. Envoy for Holocaust Issues, 1996-2002; Deputy Treasury Secretary, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, Undersecretary of Commerce, 1993-2001
R. James Woolsey Director, Central Intelligence Agency, 1993-1995
Anthony Lake Professor, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; National Security Adviser to the President, 1993-1997; Director of Policy Planning, State Department, 1977-1981
Richard Schifter Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, 1985-1992
Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Hough, Jr. President Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Ted Peters Interim President Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Professor of Systematic Theology
Dr. Harold W. Attridge Dean, Yale University Divinity School and Professor of New Testament
Rev. David L. Bartlett Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Preaching and Communication Yale University Divinity School
Maxine Clarke Beach, Ph.D. Vice President and Dean Drew University Theological School
Sister Rose Thering O.P., Ph.D. Professor Emerita, Seton Hall College
Father Richard John Neuhaus Editor-in-Chief, First Things
Marvin Kalb Veteran news correspondent and Founding Director of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, at Harvard University
Janis Ian Singer-Songwriter
Rudy Boschwitz United States Senator, 1978-1991
Miles Lerman Chairman, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 1994-2000
Sister Dorothy Peterson, FCJ Director of Local Church Outreach Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
Sister Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq. Partner, Vollmer & Tanck, LLP
Cynthia Ozick Writer
Abraham D. Sofaer George P. Shultz Distinguished Scholar and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution Legal Adviser to the U.S. Department of State, 1985 -1990
David Brenner Comedian-Actor-Author
Prof. Robert A. Krieg Author of Catholic Theologians in Nazi Germany Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Clifford D. May President, The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Former New York Times correspondent and editor
Rev. Daniel Groody, csc, Ph. D. Assistant Professor of Theology Director, Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture Institute for Latino Studies University of Notre Dame
Sister Dr. Lorelei F. Fuchs, SA Associate Director Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute
Prof. Arthur Hertzberg New York University
Prof. Susannah Heschel Chair, Jewish Studies Program, Dartmouth College
Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Streets Chaplain, Yale University
Rev. Dr. Kathleen J. Rusnak, M. Div., Ph.D. Pastor, Our Saviour Lutheran Church
Benjamin Brafman, Esq. Brafman & Ross, PC
James Carroll Author, Constantineââ¬â¢s Sword
Michael Novak Theologian, author, former U.S. Ambassador and White House adviser; Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Dr. Garry Wills Professor of History, Northwestern University; Winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction
Rev. Mitties M. DeChamplain, Ph.D. Trinity Church Professor of Preaching The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church
Ben Wattenberg Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Moderator, ââ¬ËThink Tankââ¬â¢ (PBS), 1994 to present
Rev. Vincent A. Lapomarda, S.J. Coordinator, Holocaust Collection College of the Holy Cross
Michael J. Horowitz Director, Hudson Institute Project for Civil Justice Reform General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget, 1981-85
Gabriella Lettini, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture Union Theological Seminary
Dr. Mark Falcoff Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Member, U.S. Delegation to the U.N.Human Rights Commission
Jon D. Fox Member, U.S. House of Representatives, l995-98 Member, Board of Directors, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA Professor of Biblical Studies Catholic Theological Union, Chicago
Rev. Prof. John A. McGuckin Priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church Professor of Early Church History, Union Theological Seminary Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies, Columbia University
Nina Shea Director, Center for Religious Freedom Freedom House
Harvey J. Feldman U.S. Ambassador, retired Senior Fellow, The Heritage Foundation Editor, The Journal of International Security Affairs
Richard Perle Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1981-1987
Peter Himmelman Singer-Songwriter
Rev. Richard P. McBrien Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology University of Notre Dame
Dr. Phyllis Chesler Emerita Professor and author of The New Anti-Semitism: The Current Crisis and What We Must Do About It
Sister Carol Rittner RSM, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of Holocaust & Genocide Studies, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Rev. Dr. Eugene Gorski, C.S.C. Theology Faculty University of Notre Dame
Jeremy Ben-Ami former Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor to President Clinton
Prof. Randall C. Zachman Associate Professor of Reformation Studies University of Notre Dame
Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Ph.D President, International Council of Christians & Jews
Marc Weiner Comedian
Rev. Msgr. Guy Massie Pastor, St. Andrew's R.C. Church Brooklyn, New York
Mary C. Doak, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Theology University of Notre Dame
Peter R. Rosenblatt former U.S. Ambassador; Heller and Rosenblatt, Washington D.C.
Harrison J. Goldin New York City Comptroller, 1974-1989 New York State Senator, 1966-1973
Rev. Ivan A. Rogers Member emeritus, National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel
Frank Sullivan former Spokesman for the Mayor of Chicago
Thane Rosenbaum Novelist and law professor
Ted Solotaroff Author, retired editor, Contributing Editor of The Nation
Dr. John Eibner Assistant to the International President Christian Solidarity International
Rev. Dr. Keith Roderick Secretary General Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights
Dr. Walter Reich Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Professor of International Affairs, Ethics and Human Behavior, George Washington University; Former Director, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
John Loftus former Justice Department prosecutor; President, Florida Holocaust Museum
Jules Polonetsky former New York City Commissioner of Consumer Affairs
Prof. Robert S. Wistrich Director, The Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism Hebrew University
Prof. Michael Berenbaum University of Judaism
Mark Podwal Artist and Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology
Prof. Padriac Oââ¬â¢Hare Professor of Religious Studies and Director, Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, Merrimack College
Nathan Lewin, Esq. Hon. President, American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
Prof. Kevin Madigan Associate Prof. of the History of Christianity Harvard Divinity School
Prof. Jacob Neusner
Bard College
Dr. Racelle R. Weiman
Director, Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education,
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Prof. Gary Anderson Professor of Theology University of Notre Dame
Prof. Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM Professor of New Testament and Spirituality Jesuit School of Theology
Archie Rand Artist and Presidential Professor of Visual Arts, Brooklyn College
Prof. Euan K. Cameron Academic Dean Henry Luce III Professor of Reformation Church History Union Theological Seminary
William J. Kilberg, P.C. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; former Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor
Will Eisner Artist and author of Fagin the Jew and The Plot
Rev. Emilie M. Townes Carolyn Williams Beaird Professor of Christian Ethics Union Theological Seminary
Joe Kubert Artist, editor, and author of Yossel: April 19, 1943
John J. Michalczyk Chair, Fine Arts Dept., Boston College Producer, ââ¬ÅThe Cross and the Star: Jews, Christians and the Holocaustââ¬Â
Gary E. Erlbaum Chairman, Greentree Properties
Dr. Carl E. Savage Associate Director Doctor of Ministry Program Drew University Theological School
Rivka Haut Author
Sister Mary C. Boys, S.N.J.M. Skinner and McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology Union Theological Seminary
Lance A. Kawesch, Esq.
Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Prof. Lawrence S. Cunningham
John A. O'Brien Professor of Theology
University of Notre Dame
Prof. Stephen Moore Professor of New Testament Drew University Theological School
Ron Rosenbaum Editor, Those Who Forget the Past: The Question of Anti-Semitism
Neshama Carlebach Singer-Songwriter
Prof. Christopher Morse Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Theology and Ethics Union Theological Seminary
Dr. Mark A. Miller Instructor of Church Music and Director of Music Drew Theological School
Prof. Alan Cooper Professor of Bible Union Theological Seminary Jewish Theological Seminary
Prof. Janet R. Walton Professor of Worship Union Theological Seminary
Prof. Edwina Wright Assistant Professor of Old Testament Union Theological Seminary
Prof. Richard Landes Professor of History, Boston University Director, Center for Millennial Studies
Adam Kubert Artist, Marvel Comics
Pierre Sauvage President, Chambon Foundation
Prof. Michael A. Signer Abrams Professor of Jewish Thought and Culture Department of Theology University of Notre Dame
Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P., Ph.D. Professor of New Testament Studies Catholic Theological Union
Dr. Rafael Medoff Director, The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies
(Institutions listed for identification purposes only.)
Funny how we keep seeing some of the same names we find in other neocon front groups. They've learned well from Willi Munzenburg.
2004-10-19 15:37 | User Profile
Because I am still going to the big town with my anti-Zionist sign I guess that this means that one of this days I will be arrested, according to the Zionist being a anti-Zionist is like being a anti-Semitic for they are both the same.
I guess I'll have to let the jury decide if they are both the same or not.
I hope it really happens, by the way, the attorney for the town that I go to told me that my sign was legal and the place where I stand with it is also legal, so, he better be on my side sinse he will be my first witness and a Semitic Jew will be my second witness.
2004-10-19 17:29 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Sertorius] We are deeply disappointed to learn of the State Department’s opposition to the Global Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (H.R.4230), which has been proposed by Rep. Tom Lantos.[/QUOTE] Lots of catholic sistas; not too many bruthas.
2004-10-19 18:06 | User Profile
Why post the whole thing all over again? what's your point in doing this?
2004-10-21 16:49 | User Profile
Sammy hit a homer in my book with this one, BK. This article should be required reading for all nationalists.