[Imc-uk-features] Fwd: Re: please remove this anti-Semitic article

[freethepeeps at aktivix.org]

Resent as it appears not to have arrived the first time

Hi

It is of interest to note that this article sat on the site for 2 months before
the uproar started. It seems to me that Tony Greenstein has been able to
express his views on it, and also that it continues to be part of a long
running Greenstein/Atzmon battle.

The views of Andi and Yoss quoted by Chris seem to be applicable to this post
too, especially as Atzmon specifically denies that there is any racism
intended:

"I clearly identify a line of ugliness that is stretched between Zionism,
Neocons, and the Bund, a line of racially orientated discourse that is
stretched between Jaz (a group that calls itself Jews Against Zionism) and ADL
(a group that claims its aim is to “stop defamation of the Jewish people
to assure justice and fair treatment for all”). Both of them are radical
groups, radically oriented towards putting Jewish identity first. And what is
Jewish identity? To those who have read my articles, it is more than obvious
that I believe it has nothing to do with racial category (which I’ve
never even dealt with in my writing) but rather with racially-orientated
politics. That is the tendency which I obviously disapprove of, and over the
years I’ve expressed the reasons why."

There are clear difficulties in calling someone who has served in the Israeli
army an anti-semite, and I do not believe that Atzmon hates all Jews because
they are Jewish.

The article exists in numerous places on the web, and I do not think that we
should bow to Tony Greenstein's demand for censorship. 

Gilad Atzmon, like Tony Greenstein, is part of the British left, and ultimately
we should exercise the greatest caustion when choosing to censor those with
progressive views.

I am therefore for leaving the article on the newswire.

best

ftp

Quoting Chris <chris at aktivix.org>:

> Hi
> 
> On Tue 30-Oct-2007 at 10:22:22AM +0000, startx wrote:
> > 
> > of course we DO hide content because of the writers.
> > 
> > the writer (Gilad Atzmon) seems to me to clearly anti-semitic 
> > 
> > therefore this article should be hidden asap.
> 
> There was a discussion about Gilad Atzmon earlier in the
> year over this article:
> 
> - Purim Special: From Esther to AIPAC
>   Gilad Atzmon [repost] 
>   http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364419.html
> 
> The thread started here: 
> 
>  
>
http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-uk-features/2007-March/thread.html#6457
> 
> On Wed 07-Mar-2007 at 01:14:58AM +0000, Andi wrote:
> > 
> > this is definitely not racist and the author takes some
> > pain to make sure it isn't. i wouldn't hide it but i
> > feel it's on the edge. 
> 
> On Wed 07-Mar-2007 at 11:57:52AM +0000, yossarian wrote:
> > 
> > I don't think it's racist, although it's certainly
> > guaranteed to piss people off, which is fine. I was
> > queasy about the following line:
> > 
> > "Though some may dispute the numbers (Shraga Elam), and
> > others question the validity of memory (Ellis,
> > Finkelstein), no one goes as far as revisionism, not a
> > single Holocaust religion scholar dares engage in a
> > dialogue with the so-called â&#8364;&#732;deniersâ&#8364;&#8482; to discuss
their
> > vision of the events or any other revisionist
> > scholarship."
> > 
> > Never having heard of this Gilad fellow before, I was
> > waiting for some kind of endorsement of the
> > "revisionist" view (which never appeared).  Basically
> > it's a controversial article, which is somewhat on the
> > edge but seemingly meant as a positive contribution. So,
> > leave it showing, I'd say.
> > 
> > Yoss
> > 
> > ps I also have no problems with saxophonists writing in
> > academic style.  We should hide all posts by Kenny G on
> > general principle, though.
> 
> Chris
> 
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