tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post8613133719599054596..comments2024-03-12T22:31:46.500-04:00Comments on What Would Phoebe Do?: If you can't say anything critical...Phoebe Maltz Bovyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996039330841139883noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-78440564740963348592008-05-09T17:03:00.000-04:002008-05-09T17:03:00.000-04:00True that, Phoebe.True that, Phoebe.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13088947408526684203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-43098807708051062002008-05-09T13:05:00.000-04:002008-05-09T13:05:00.000-04:00"The internal pro-Israel debate then gets defined ...<I>"The internal pro-Israel debate then gets defined in terms of those who are willing to criticize the country and those who believe the country can do no wrong. Where's the place for those who have no illusions about any nation being perfect, but..."</I><BR/><BR/>I would suggest the place for those who have no illusions about Israel being perfect is among those who are willing to criticize the country when the merits call for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-34384334134041979782008-05-09T12:57:00.000-04:002008-05-09T12:57:00.000-04:00"As I see it, the need felt by self-proclaimed pro...<I>"As I see it, the need felt by self-proclaimed pro-Israel Jews to show (and show, and show) their willingness to criticize Israel, rather than to mention their criticisms only when appropriate, comes less from the need to counteract Israel's more rah-rah supporters than from a tradition, far older than the state of Israel, of Jews believing that the best way to defend yourself against anti-Semitism is to show that you are the exception."</I><BR/><BR/>So for Americans who expressed opposition to the Iraq war, was their motivation to defend themselves from anti-Americanism?<BR/><BR/>There's a far more parsimonious explanation, y'know. And it's that some Jews actually don't approve of Israel's post-'67 conduct.<BR/><BR/>If you want to limit your criticism to some weird strawman person who objects to Israeli conduct every time you mention the word falafel, then sure. But I think your notion of where objections to Israeli conduct are "appropriate" is far too narrow.<BR/><BR/>To be a Zionist means to take some ownership of Israel, even if one is a diaspora Zionist. And ownership confers certain responsibilities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com