From Cathy Young:
England’s National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) has voted for an academic boycott on Israeli institutions of higher education that do not renounce Israel’s “apartheid policy.”
[…]
Also today, the Ontario division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the largest labor union in Canada, voted in favor of a boycott of Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians.
Are these boycotts anti-Semitic? Maybe not, but, as I noted the other day, they are hypocritical, sanctimonious, and deeply wrong. No one is demanding a boycott of Russian academics over Russia’s occupation of Chechnya and the atrocities committed there (which dwarf, to put it mildly, Israel’s human rights abuses in the occupied territories). Or, as Ari Paul points out in an article at Reason.com, a boycott of Chinese academics because of the occupation of Tibet and other assorted abuses by the Chinese regime. Or … sadly, the list could go on and on.
Partly, this double standard is rooted in the all-too-familiar leftist mentality which strenuously condemns bad behavior by Western or pro-Western governments while turning a blind eye to the far worse misdeeds of communist and/or Third World regimes. (It’s not quite clear into which category Putin’s Russia falls.) But the movement to boycott Israel is especially repulsive because it combines this anti-Western, anti-democratic bias with an element of “picking on the little guy.” No one in his or her right mind, even among the British intelligentsia or Canadian public employees, would propose boycotting American institutions because of the occupation of Iraq. Why? Because, obviously, such a boycott would cripple any institution’s ability to conduct its business; in the case of an academic boycott, it would cripple a country’s academic life and scientific research. But lashing out at Israel as a proxy for America is something one can do with minimal inconvenience.
An American boycott of any institution that participates in this shameful enterprise would be an appropriate response. It would be too much to expect the American Association of University Professors, but the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers should step up to the plate.
I’m glad Cathy wrote this so I wouldn’t have to.
I’d simply add that I think one of the prime reasons the Western left, for all its purported “progressivism,” is so concerned with punishing Israel is that Israel, like, say, Michael Steele or Thomas Sowell, has wandered off the progressive plantation and rejected the narrative assigned it by those who presume to speak for a larger identity agenda. Which is to say, kibbutz culture has given way, over the years, to a strong capitalist system—and so Israel is considered by many on the left to be a traitor to the cause of worldwide socialism, just as surely as Steele and Sowell (among others) are considered race traitors for rejecting the political narrative assigned them by those who have assumed the mantle of “authentic” blacks.
A shame. And a frightening reminder of Europe’s chequered history with Jewry.
Over the last few days one almost senses a convergence of thought at pw about the foolishness of the entire universe of PC, denial, and socialism. By now its presence in the land is more than a little palpable.
Which begs the question, what is the psychology behind the perpetual denial of reality? Behind thousands incessantly falsifying history so as to paint yet another fresh start on the failure of collectivism? On destroying free will and choice?
Why on earth would otherwise capable minds insist on merely assuming outcomes, applying disproved theories, and looking the other way again and again and again?
Does it really feel that good?
tw: Problems way to big to ignore.
Fascinating … the timing on this …
Above the fold in The Ottawa Citizen today is an article that should jolt Canadian Liberals a bit. Their hero “Young Trudeau: Fascist, anti-Semite, and separatist”.
Jeff,
You’re a disgrace to men.
Manly men like me had our women stay home and take care of the children.
I propose that any man who sits at home all day and disrespects fellow men doesn’t get to drink any Bud Light.
Man Law?
Oh wait.. You have wine coolers in your fridge.
Do you call your wife “Sir”?
I could go on my seed. But you get the point.
And don’t even try to talk to me about sports.
I’m ashamed.
Israel is the World’s Jew. And when the Jew gets uppity ….
Contemporary Leftism is filled with antisemites and self-loathing non-religious Jews.
Noam Chomsky’s recent public pronouncements on Hamas policies being so much better than American or Israeli is the latest proof.
What a bunch of idiots. As if the academics have power, or are the ones doing wrongs. If anything, all this does is marginalize them and give power to the extreme likudniks
Like we expect Michael Steele, and the Israeli Kibbutz system to step up to the plate.
But Cathy Young, who might not expect “too much” from the AAUP, should do some googling:
But perhaps its easier to just have expectations that are “too much.” Because the AAUP conviently fills our narrative of how the academy works.
They’re totally falling for that narrative.
It’s about time. We really need to distinguish ourselves from them. Perhaps make them wear patches, badges, or some kinda ‘flair’….
Oops. I spoke too soon. I nation over in their vacinity is already taking the initiative.
Now if we could just gather them to tegether and put them in camps……
If past is precedent, by boycotting those Jews, NATFHE can expect all the really super smart Jews to come to America and help create the equivalent of a nuclear pedagogical program.
All that’s needed is a guy named ‘Leslie’ to steer the project to completion.
Any volunteers?
Boy nates**t,
That is really funny. I am sure you will write something clever and snarky, keep laughing.
When Isreal bombs Iran for us you can come back to this site and say look what the joos did and get another big laugh. Jews have a great sense of humor, but somedays the camp jokes just do not work. piss off clown
Lou – I believe nate was being sardonic….
Lou, natesnake was being ironic.
Everyone: IGNORE ACTUS.
Oh, and does anyone else find it amazing how often leftist twits troll based on racism, homophobia, and sexism? It’s like it lays just beneath the surface of their psyche, and they let it spray out whenever they feel they have a worthy target.
And the AAUP, of course.
Cathy Young:
The AAUP:
You left out, The AAUP:
On further reflection, I do come around a bit to her position. It is “too much” to expect that people who are against one boycott due to its impact on academic freedom are going to impose another boycott and further restrict academic freedom. Way too much.
How can we condemn Israel’s policies when we don’t have universal health care here?
And what about Abu Ghraib?
Et cetera, et cetera.
Funny how the Left’s argument that the US doesn’t have the moral standing or stature to criticize the policies of other countries is set aside when it comes to Israel.
Or any other Western nation that is aligned with the US.
Especially Israel.
SMG
Does anyone know where to find a list of individual British boycotters of Israel, so we can boycott them, preferably one that lists their academic specialties for easy searching? I know one is Richard Seaford, who as it happens is a classicist, as I am. I won’t throw away the one book of his I already own, a commentary on Euripides’ Cyclops, but I’ll never buy another as long as he’s boycotting Israel. In fact, I think I’ll submit an article to the Israeli classical journal he was so rude to, partly because it’s a good journal, partly just to do my bit in violating his stupid boycott.
You are educable, actus. I’m surprised.
Seriously, if you weren’t so damn busy trying to find something to disagree with out of sheer bloody-mindedness, you might more often find things to disagree with out of solid principle.
The problem is that I don’t know what her intent was in separating the AAUP form the AFL CIO and the AFT. The American Federation of teachers also opposes boycotts on the grounds of academic freedom. So I don’t know why the distinction. I can guess, because there is a narrative of the AAUP that goes along with people that talk about “all-too-familiar leftist mentality.” But that guess is about it.
It doesn’t matter why she made the attempt. (That’s the bloody-mindedness I’m referencing.) All you need to do is point out that the course of action that she’s urging would require the AAUP and the AFT to take an incoherent position. Instead, your first instinct is to impute motive, etc. And that’s the kind of thing that garners you so much negativity around here.
But hey, it’s your thing. Do what you wanna do.
You would? Well, come on, man—add it!
It’s apparent that the citizens of Canada and the UK have been dumbed down for years. Now we know it’s not their fault. The entire country’s educators are dumb, really, really dumb, on the verge of ready for the loony bin. LMAO at the stupidity of those claiming to be the educated.
Sure it does. I’m wondering what she means by it. She could mean that she knows the AAUP is principled and doesn’t not support any boycotts that restrict academic freedom. But she’s also ignorant of the AFT’s similar position then. Or she could mean that the AAUP wouldn’t take a position against these boycotts, while the AFT would.
I don’t know, so I guessed, given the context.
*sigh*
I changed my mind, actus, you aren’t educable after all.
Oh well. I can’t tell you who to sock it to.
Just say NAZI with a lisp and it comes out
NATFHE. The shoe fits.
Wyatt â€â€
“Don’t be stupid, be a smarty!
Come and join the NATFHE party!”  M. Brooks
So rectus, you’re trolling over here now, leaving a trail of senseless non sequiturs in your wake eh? As I was reading the comments, I somehow felt your presence when I got a little way down the page, then this: Like we expect Michael Steele, and the Israeli Kibbutz system to step up to the plate. I’m starting to suspect that you’ve never written one coherent string of words in your life; is that some sort of psychological trick to confuse the issue, or are you just that stupid?
Everyone ignore rectus; he’s obviously recovering from a head injury.
It is called history, it will expand your mind, dude. Some of us use it to form coherent world views, it’s really cool. You should try it, it won’t hurt you. All the cool kids are doing it. If you don’t like it you can quit anytime. Really.
Its certainly going to help me see actions with respect to israel as part of europe’s “chequered history with jewry.” A weak euphemism, but it works.
Memo to Europe:
6/1/2006
Dear Sir/Madam/GLBTQ etc. etc:
In your sincere effort to kill us off before, we founded a homeland far away from you.
Do fuck off.
Yours sincerely,
World Jewry
The Israelis do practice a kind of aparthied.
They’ve been practicing it since the end of the Mandate period.
The old-line Zionists, who view Israel as having the moral right to oppress Palestinians, still seem to control Israel’s foreign policy.
Hopefully, blind support for Israel’s policies by US politicians will come to an end.
One of these days….
Carl —
You’re one of those buffoons who stands around in airports handing out LaRouche fliers, aintcha? That you’re a buffoon is beyond dispute, just trying to ascertain precisely which kind.
Aren’t these cockbreaths also known as the Union of Shit-eating Marxist Dimwits, or the NEA/CSEA here in the states?
Oh that’s the imputed right to oppress in the Gospel according to Carl von Judenhass, versus that explicitly described muslim religious duty to drive the Jews into the sea which is the source of the aforementioned oppression.
Sod off, Carl. And watch the fence go up, up, up…
tw: Another in a long series of Palestinian miscalculations.
Not all lefties are on the same track. Anyone check out the Euston Manifesto? Started by a Socialist, Norm Geras, their 15 principles sound (gasp!) entirely reasonable. They favor war against fascist imperialists, meaning Saddam’s Iraq, and have a plank specifically favoring Israel, and condemning anti-Americanism as practiced in leftie circles.
If I didn’t know Norm, I would have thought it was a joke. But they have almost 2000 prominent lefties signed on, if you add Christopher Hitchens and there are at least 2001 socialists and leftists who have their brains plugged in. Maybe it’s a trend….
I do not think we will be seeing Carl’s name on there any time soon I reckon.
The old slogan: “Kauf nicht bei Juden”.
The new progressive updated slogan: “Studier nicht bei Juden”.
I don’t agree with your analysis. The European left has always been vociferously anti-semitic and anti-Israel, just like the rest of the Europeans. It is just a visceral hatred that all Europeans share. Completely different situation than black conservatives in this country.
Mike said,”Completely different situation than black conservatives in this country.”
Then why do I get the impression that the liberal left would like to have black conservatives wear identifying armbands?
Of course I also think that american leftist are modeling their beliefs on what they think euro lefties are up to.
I’m inclined to agree with you. Given that socialists tend to be quick to resort to mob emotionalism (see Riots, France), it wouldn’t surprise me to know another holocaust is just under the surface.
To idiots like Carl, it would be “different this time” because their leftist utopianism would justify it. (e.g. Israel is an apartheid state therefore…)
> Which begs the question, what is the psychology behind the perpetual denial of reality?
The reset button.
Lefties everywhere have this little reset button set into their skulls, usually hidden by hair.
The existence of this button can’t be directly proven, but strong secondary evidence can be presented by the fact that you can take one of the more seemingly rational lefties, engage them in a dialogue (this is what marks them as “seemingly rational”), and show them how, starting from some standard starting point of theirs, you can lead them, step by step, with them going, at each intermediate point “Yes, I see” and “Yeah, you’re exactly right, that certainly follows”—and show them how the inarguable logical consequence of some pet point of theirs leads to either the exact opposite of what it is purportedly supposed to elicit, or, alternately, that it cannot possibly produce even remotely positive outcome in addition to whatever social ills they were targeting.. So, having led them down the logical garden path to enlightenment, one would presume, on this point alone, that they would shift their positions.
Instead, you meet up with them a week later, and you’ll hear them arguing in favor of EXACTLY THAT POSITION which you disproved for them the week before.
The RESET BUTTON has been pressed.
Once it gets pressed, the Lefty brain goes into a self-analyis mode looking for any thoughts or ideas not a part of the leftist agenda, and purges them categorically, along with any subsidiary notions which are anathema to the leftist agenda.
It really is the only possible explanation.
There was this episode of some news show, where they went to these teachers who encouraged their middle school class to collect moneys with the express intent of buying the freedom of some modern slaves. Anyone with the most trivial knowledge of economics will tell you what the Unintended Consequences of this action were—they increased the size of the market, so that MORE people were abducted into slavety. Upon being advised of this, said teacher (s) said they would “continue the practice, because it made the kids feel good about themselves.”
This reset button also explains how it is that they don’t seem to learn from past mistakes (i.e., “wisdom”), and are now, for example, in the throes of some neo-Chamberlainist response to the threat of Iran.
There is such a thing as a bell curve. It’s kind of like dinosaurs. Society is thin at one end, much thicker in the middle, and thin again at the far end.
The far left and far right are the thin ends. Murtha, Sheehan, Dean et al are almost the far left.
The KKK, David Duke and Helen Thomas are the far right (keep in mind that the ‘far’ ends of a circle touch).