A Dangerous Conflation
We reject antisemitism in all its forms, including when it masquerades as criticism of Zionism or Israel’s policies. We also recognize that, as journalist Peter Beinart wrote in 2019, “Anti-Zionism is not inherently antisemitic—and claiming it is uses Jewish suffering to erase Palestinian experience.”
Freedom for the One Who Thinks Differently
What frightens us is the prevailing atmosphere of racism and xenophobia in Germany, hand in hand with a constraining and paternalistic philo-Semitism. We reject in particular the conflation of anti-Semitism and any criticism of the state of Israel.
Jewish writers, academics, journalists, artists, and cultural workers living in Germany
The Enemy is Authoritarianism
Looking deeper at the Israel-Hamas war and what we're all actually fighting for.
authoritarianism, an ideology that insisted on the the idea that humans do not have inherent worth outside of their subservience to a larger system, leader, and/or goal.
It also applies to things like parenting, where parents “set rigid rules with no explanation, and expect their children to obey them without question or face severe punishment. Children follow these rules because they know there are consequences if they don’t.”
The argument goes, “Yes, you have problems. We, the powerful who control your life, are on your side. And we have the answer for the root of any and all your problems: this group. They are your enemy. Focus all your energies there.”
Authoritarianism is a spectrum and a process: it is not static.
the point is that while they are different in scope and severity, they are all rooted in the belief system of authoritarianism.
There must always be an enemy to destroy or oppress. There must always be a new crisis.
antisemitism is part of “almost all extremist ideologies and narratives.”
however, it is the authoritarian impulse and belief system that is even more dangerous than antisemitism.
in an authoritarian world, there is a need for constant crises. War is inherent in authoritarianism.
authoritarianism is maximalist: either you buy in, you’re subservient, or you’re dead.
And the core problem, the destruction of internal autonomy, gets worse and worse.
Have We Scholars of Anti-Semitism Failed to Facilitate Empathy for Its Victims? - Public Seminar
For almost a century, most of us have focused on dissecting anti-Semitic ideas and ideologies. But—with the very important exception of those studying the Holocaust—we have not paid enough attention to the impact these ideas, images, and actions have on Jews as human beings.
TJ Radcliffe (@tjradcliffe@mastodon.scot)
@theautisticcoach@neurodifferent.me @actuallyautistic@a.gup.pe @mazeldon@a.gup.pe You are not alone, for what that's worth. I've come to believe that neurotypicals are (almost) always more focused on power and their personal agenda than facts, and current events are like catnip to them: they can't resist falling into their phalanxes of ideological solidarity and marching blindly at the Other. Those phalanxes represent their fundamental values, which often turn out to not include compassion for all :-(
In Deutschland wird gerne über Palästinenser:innen gesprochen, aber nicht mit ihnen.
In einem Artikel der SZ zum Fall Deutsche Welle wurden mein Kollege und ich namentlich genannt und unsere Investigation falsch wiedergegeben, jedoch wurden wir nicht um eine Stellungnahme gebeten.
Pro-Israel bias shaped DW's antisemitism probe - pt2
In late 2021 the German broadcaster appointed an "independent" investigative committee that held pro-Israeli views. A year-long Arab48 investigation finds that DW Arab employees were unfairly dismissed over largely spurious antisemitism charges.
Pro-Israel bias shaped DW's antisemitism probe - pt1
In late 2021 the German broadcaster appointed an "independent" investigative committee that held pro-Israeli views. A year-long Arab48 investigation finds that DW Arab employees were unfairly dismissed over largely spurious antisemitism charges.
