1. Some People Forget - not only was the Shoah an enormous act of deliberate mass murder, it was accompanied by plundering & theft on equally enormous proportions. Efforts have been made to reclaim stolen property, but one can imagine the difficulty involved (like responding to a question of producing a death certificate for someone murdered at Auschwitz). Further, most restitution has been minimal at best. While arguably the most famous example involved negotiations with the Swiss banks, there were dealings with other countries as well. This article tells the story of the dealings with the Dutch - Institute for Global Jewish Affairs – Global Antisemitism, Anti-Israelism, Jewish Studies.
Also noteworthy, if you have the time, are these books (among others on the subject):
2. Moron Alert - the deputy leader of the NDP is under fire for comments made about Israel and (naturally) captured on video. Video: NDP deputy leader faces backlash over Israel comments | Posted | National Post. What really scares me is that this person is the Deputy Leader of the federal NDP - she (a) is too stupid to refuse comment when she does not know what she is talking about (which she admits) and (b) is doubly stupid to make comment on video. This bears a startling similarity to Helen Thomas - she was not coerced or forced into saying anything - she was simply asked a question and she responded out of ignorance and naiveté. Are you telling me that if Jack Layton ever got elected as PM (yikes in and of itself) this lady is the proverbial heartbeat away?
I also do not think that her "apology" was much better than that which Helen Thomas mustered - seems more about covering her backside than apologizing for what she said. This is the entire text from her web site:
"June 11, 2010
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your June 11 editorial which refers to a video of me recorded last Saturday, and posted online (Hater's, Ottawa Citizen, June 11, 2010).
My reference to the year 1948 as the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory was a serious and completely inadvertent error; I apologize for this and regret any confusion it has caused.
I have always supported a two-state solution to the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict and have never questioned Israel's right to exist and the Palestinian’s right to a viable state.
New Democrats have long called for a peaceful, negotiated end to the conflict where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side with secure borders. This is a policy I fully support.
I reject the allegation that I hate Israel, and I reject the assertion that I said that Israel is illegitimate or an abomination. Neither are true.
Libby Davies
MP Vancouver East"
Sorry, Ms. Davies - try again. This time try not to cover your ass.
8. Predictable - the reaction of the EU and the US to the first Freedom Flotilla (terrorists included in the carriage fee!) guaranteed this would happen - Iranian flotilla leaving for Gaza.
18. More World Cup Stuff - some football (soccer) players are notorious for taking dives to draw penalties and have opponents disqualified - which leads to this topical feature - Brow Beat : Introducing the Dive of the Day.
Never mind Davies covering her ass, how about her vitriolic mouth. Boo hiss. A.s.
ReplyDeletethere's not enough duct tape for that!!!!
ReplyDelete