ANTI-SEMITISM AGAIN

Sunday, February 14, 2010

To the Editor of Books:

I have not a scintilla of doubt that anti-Semitism is still virulent in the United States, the Middle East and the rest of the world. (The Lethal Obsession by Robert S. Wistrich, 2/14/10) I do resent the notion in Bruce Bramlett’s review that casual conversation, church, academic and diplomatic negotiations is evidence that a “genteel anti-Semitic discourse is becoming acceptable.”

The constant barrage by the holocaust industry of movies, TV shows and books deadens people’s sensitivity to the horrors of that terrible event. Powerful Jewish lobbies have silenced political debate on criticism and funding of Israel’s war machine and anti-Palestinian legislation. American politicians fear the loss of Jewish money and support.

Since there is no national debate on these issues, only casual conversation, church and academic and diplomatic are acceptable or possible at this time in the United

States. This is not anti-Semitism; this is healthy discussion, talking about what is not politically correct.

Robert Warren Cromey

San Francisco

Here are the responses to my letter to Chronicle Books.

Robert, I love you. You do step in where angels fear to tread. Keep on keeping on. The world is surely better for your voice.

Amen!!

Thank you. The problem is that the Jewish homeland is Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, France, the Ukraine, Russia and the Baltic states. Not some strip of land held by other semites for the last 2000 years and appropriated for use by a nervous and guilty post-war Anglo-American alliance.

Granted, the overwhelming urge was to right a wrong, but that urge has historically created such things as the adjective "balkanized" and French Huguenots fleeing to Germany under cover of night, only to be rejected a generation later.

What a world.

Robert, thanks for this. It is very difficult to discuss these issues for fear of hurting the feelings of one's Jewish friends and colleagues, or worse, raising the specter that one is anti-Semitic. Of course this sensitivity is all too understandable and has all too much historic precedent, but still we must be able to disagree about issues on the merits of the arguments and not on arguments that are essentially ad hominem.

Excellent letter, Robert

Thoughtful letter, Robert! Keep up the good work.

I thought yesterday's 2nd lesson was a bit anti-semitic.

Your comment "The constant barrage by the holocaust industry of movies, TV shows and books deadens people’s sensitivity to the horrors of that terrible event" is really hitting right-on. Very concise. I agree with your letter entirely. Not a surprise, I guess.

This is not anti-Semitism; this is healthy discussion, talking about what is not politically correct.

Oh, I agree. I am pro Israel but infuriated by the injustice of the illegal occupation of land that belongs to the Palestinians. I believe the political leadership in Israel, in violation of the wishes of many Israeli citizens, does not want a Palestinian state and will do everything it can to prevent that peaceful resolution of the problem. I also am angry at our government for not forcing both sides to adopt the two-state solution.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Because I deplore the horrific circumstances caused by the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, I've been called "anti-Semitic" by some of my Jewish friends. They seem to have forgotten the dehumanization, torture and murder against them by the Nazis.