tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post5479137530489210927..comments2024-02-22T13:40:45.894+11:00Comments on Happy Antipodean: Matthew da Silvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-18652661100031432592007-04-18T16:43:00.000+10:002007-04-18T16:43:00.000+10:00I agree with you but what choice do you have?Look ...I agree with you but what choice do you have?<BR/><BR/>Look at Iran's publicity stunts. They're doing it to appeal to the masses in countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Hezbollah is doing it with its charity work in the south of Lebanon. Hamas does it in the Gaza Strip. Without support in the rank and file, they can do nothing.<BR/><BR/>If Israel is beleaguered and you wish to support its Matthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-84219477648434243042007-04-18T16:33:00.000+10:002007-04-18T16:33:00.000+10:00So .... the onus is on me, to get them on side?The...So .... the onus is on me, to get them on side?<BR/><BR/>They are racists and thugs. I am supposed to, what, cajole their approval? Dazzle them with my clearminded case-building?<BR/><BR/> A big ask!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-86441394623398868572007-04-18T16:23:00.000+10:002007-04-18T16:23:00.000+10:00"spare the Motherhoood statements".This is how Aus..."spare the Motherhoood statements".<BR/><BR/>This is how Australians think. And it's how most Westerners think, too. As you probably know. Just as you can't speak for all Jews, I can't speak for all gentiles with my nice, elegant blog posts.<BR/><BR/>The tabloid press is there for a reason, just as there are armed Zionists who refused to vacate in Gaza, and resent calls to vacate the West Bank.<Matthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-319804672627659382007-04-18T16:12:00.000+10:002007-04-18T16:12:00.000+10:00True, but continually subverted by circumstances:"...True, but continually subverted by circumstances:<BR/><BR/>" Israel can win Western support by making concessions ... Israel need never fear any enemy because those who sympathised with it would jump to its defence in an instant."<BR/><BR/>The view from my place is darker. Israel, with the enthusiastic approval of many in my faction, has made concessions in the past. Examples: <BR/>- release of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-91988201730738009662007-04-18T14:58:00.000+10:002007-04-18T14:58:00.000+10:00Ian, I have no 'loyalty' to Loewenstein. If he sta...Ian, I have no 'loyalty' to Loewenstein. If he starts being a dickhead tomorrow, then I'll say so.<BR/><BR/>In your taxonomy of L's message only (a) and (d) resonate with me.<BR/><BR/>Re: (a): Israel's current treatment of Palestinians cannot continue indefinitely.<BR/><BR/>Re: (b): L has had shit thrown at him by Jews that shouldn't have been thrown.<BR/><BR/>Re: my bias toward Israelis: no Matthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-24137077087912983402007-04-18T14:44:00.000+10:002007-04-18T14:44:00.000+10:00Sorry, but I really think you are not getting it. ...Sorry, but I really think you are not getting it. I know your intentions are honorable.<BR/><BR/>"Loewenstein's message resonates ..."<BR/>But what is he saying? Four things: (a) that Israel conducts itself in a cruel and unjust manner, (b) that it is in any case an illegitimate state; (c) that the Jewish community conducts itself in a blind, vindictive and censorious manner, and (d) that he, L, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-49369667265696712782007-04-18T13:01:00.000+10:002007-04-18T13:01:00.000+10:00"there is nothing a Zionist can say publicly which..."there is nothing a Zionist can say publicly which will not invite, at the very least, this kind of exchange"<BR/><BR/>Ian, this is simply not true. My daily diet of media includes both the Australian and the SMH. I also surf a lot, as you will see from my blog posts. I pay attention. I am extremely suspicious of any kind of spin.<BR/><BR/>Loewenstein's message resonates with me. I have no agendaMatthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-90290399162047356522007-04-18T12:47:00.000+10:002007-04-18T12:47:00.000+10:00OK. I am happy to get off the bus here. I have wor...OK. I am happy to get off the bus here. I have work to do. Sure, I respect your right to criticise Michael Danby. But a few last reactions:<BR/><BR/>"I hold Jews to a higher standard than most Muslims.'<BR/><BR/>Please. Don't. <BR/><BR/>"Most Jews are familiar with the day-to-day trappings of liberal democracy, whereas the vast majority of Muslims are not."<BR/><BR/>Your thoughts; not necessarilyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-72731484930533642842007-04-18T11:27:00.000+10:002007-04-18T11:27:00.000+10:00Ian,I'm sorry, but Danby's behaviour is, to me, re...Ian,<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry, but Danby's behaviour is, to me, reprehensible. The journalist who wrote the story obviously thought there was something not quite right, as well.<BR/><BR/>I'm open to learning about new sources of comment about the Israel-Palestine issue. You mention Suzanne Rutland and Leanne Piggott. The problem you've got there is that they are totally unknown to the wider public, of Matthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-56309854216511898492007-04-18T11:04:00.000+10:002007-04-18T11:04:00.000+10:00I don't know if I have the stamina for this. I fin...I don't know if I have the stamina for this. I find blog commenting a wearying medium for exchange. And I enjoy your blog; so I am not coming from a prefab position of enmity. But you have now ratcheted up the heat, so here goes.<BR/><BR/>" it is the Jewish press that carries shrill denunciations."<BR/><BR/>Rubbish. There is but one Jewish newspaper in Australia, and its free speech record is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-76334241310398217322007-04-17T09:38:00.000+10:002007-04-17T09:38:00.000+10:00To characterise Loewnstein's contribution to the d...To characterise Loewnstein's contribution to the debate in Australia as "shrill reheating of well known existing criticisms" is IMHO not correct. Quite the contrary, it is the Jewish press that carries shrill denunciations.<BR/><BR/>Danby is shrill, Loewenstein is refreshing.<BR/><BR/>Shrillness is what we expect from Ahmedinejad, not from well-educated, liberal, democracy-loving Jews. They Matthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-21149666816169465332007-04-17T09:21:00.000+10:002007-04-17T09:21:00.000+10:00You say: "I do support Anthony Loewenstein's effor...You say: "I do support Anthony Loewenstein's efforts to generate a debate."<BR/><BR/>That's fine, but Mr Loewenstein has yet to generate a debate, in terms of actual proposals, as distinct from shrill reheating of well known existing criticisms.<BR/><BR/>Furthermore, after some two or three years of reading and hearing him, I have yet to see him respond to the legitimate criticisms levelled at Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-74449379927278666662007-04-14T17:42:00.000+10:002007-04-14T17:42:00.000+10:00Describing Israel as an 'ossupation' was not my wo...Describing Israel as an 'ossupation' was not my word.<BR/><BR/>I did not talk about the 'Jewish world' as a pejorative.<BR/><BR/>I made no generalisations about what 'most Jews' do.<BR/><BR/>You are way, way off the mark, buddy. I made no generalisations about race. I did no stereotyping. I suggest you read my post again.<BR/><BR/>As to denying the Holocaust: it's something I've never done, and Matthew da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158988637117138260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21277069.post-91098905044652974202007-04-14T17:34:00.000+10:002007-04-14T17:34:00.000+10:00I think you'll find it's been very many years sinc...I think you'll find it's been very many years since Michael Danby was on the board of AIJAC.<BR/><BR/>Not that the facts would get in the way of anyone who characterises Israel as an "occupation", talk about the "Jewish world" as a pejorative and with such certainty about what "most Jews" do.<BR/><BR/>Being concerned about the welfare of the Palestinian people (I assume your motivation) is a goodAndrew Landeryouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15560465864993274440noreply@blogger.com