[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] The "new anti-semitism" is back on campus

Wed Feb 13 12:36:21 CST 2008

Let me clarify that I received a postcard because I am on the mailing list of CU Jewish Federation. The postcard contains the same images as the website, although juxtaposed slightly differently. The event is sponsored by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life at the University of Illinois. It is co-sponsored, so far, by the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the CU Jewish Federation--they are also asking for more sponsors. For those unfamiliar with the code, "community relations" has taken on the task of suppressing criticism of Israel in the community, just as "anti-defamation" has taken on the task of defaming those who criticize Israel.

  In referring to Brustein's academic credentials, I'm inferring no judgment of his insight or character, other than that in all probability he is no Abraham Foxman (that is, he's not a complete idiot). His latest soon-to-be published work (just google his name) on left-wing anti-Semitism is to be viewed with skepticism, especially if it relates to the present. He should be asked about this. In fact, the current campaign against so-called "new anti-Semitism" is completely directed at the Left, for it is of course the Left that is most effectively critical of Israel, and that is a threat to liberals who pose as progressive. 

  The fact that Brustein heads International Affairs, Programs, Studies, etc. is in fact damning in terms of the offensiveness of this imagery to international students, not to mention decent human beings. I suggest that his position at this university should be shamelessly exploited for as much publicity and education regarding the plight of the Palestinians as possible, not to mention reminders of what other country is occupying the Middle East. Whatever Brustein's awareness or lack thereof of these images, this is completely SOP regarding such events, including, in the past, Millercom lectures. It's no "faux pas."

"Laurie at advancenet.net" <laurie at advancenet.net> wrote:
  Evidently, the postcard may have been designed and sent out by someone in
the sponsoring group and not the speaker. However, David said he got a
postcard not a poster; your message to the speaker about a poster may very
well have confused the speaker who may have known about the postcards but
truthfully could claim to have no knowledge of a poster, which may not
exist.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [mailto:peace-discuss-
> bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Marilyn Booth
> Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 11:27 AM
> To: peace-discuss at anti-war.net
> Cc: Peace List; Peace Discuss
> Subject: [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] The "new anti-semitism" is back on
> campus
> 
> I have just sent the speaker a message protesting the content of the
> poster. He immediately responded saying he had seen no poster and would
> I send him the link, which I have done.
> 
> Marilyn Booth
> 
> David Green wrote:
> > Friends,
> >
> > I received a postcard in the mail announcing a campus event on Feb.
> > 27th, an image of which is to be found at
> >
> >
> http://www.jewishuiuc.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/632321/jewish/Th
> e-New-Anti-Semitism.htm
> >
> > It depicts a Palestinian and another khaki-clad individual
> besmirching
> > the flag of Israel, next to a photo of a Nazi death camp. As far as I
> > know, there have never existed any death camps administered by
> Palestinians.
> >
> > While William Brustein is a prolific scholar, it appears that we are
> in
> > for another equation of anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel. That
> is,
> > an apologetic for Zionist criminality.
> >
> > Needless to say, I find this offensive, not to mention defamatory and
> > racist. It can hardly be any more offensive, but given the historical
> > moment, I fear that this is the case.
> >
> > David Green
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---
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> > 62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
> > >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> --
> *********************************
> Marilyn Booth, D.Phil.
> 
> Director
> Program in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
> University of Illinois
> 
> 221 International Studies Building
> 910 South Fifth Street
> Champaign, IL 61820
> 
> 217-244-7331
> 217 265-6399 fax
> psames at uiuc.edu
> http://www.psames.uiuc.edu
> 
> Associate Professor
> Program in Comparative and World Literature
> 3080 Foreign Languages Building
> 707 South Mathews Avenue
> Urbana IL 61801
> 
> 217-333-0023
> 217-244-4019 fax
> mbooth at uiuc.edu
> 
> Book Review Editor
> Journal of Women's History
> Department of History
> 318 Gregory Hall
> 810 South Wright St.
> Urbana, IL 61801
> 
> 217-244-6735
> 217-333-2297 fax
> womenshistory at uiuc.edu
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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