This post may seem to some as “inside baseball” but it illustrates a wider issue of being diligently informed for civil discourse and for effectiveness in supporting a cause, while not shirking from calling out those -- even allies -- who dangerously undermine that cause.
Europe has a deeper and historic anti-Semitism than in the US, and its Jews are proportionately and politically weaker than in the US. In this sense, European Jews may be more dependent on the efforts of non-Jews to defend themselves and Israel. This defense – here or there -- is based on the increasing realization, among Jews and gentiles, that it is part of a wider defense of the West, its culture and security against Islamist jihadists. Europe has also been more accomodationist toward Islamist offenses and offenders, partly out of post-WWII pacifism and retreat from global responsibilities and partly from it placing its energy and trade interests paramount. Both the US and Europe have activist Leftist and pro-Palestinian communities, but in the US they are far more marginalized in both public opinion and government policy, and there is lower tolerance for them. In Europe, allies are harder to come by, which can lead to infiltration by some who are anti-Islamist jihad but anti-Semitic, and slower reaction.
There is a blog dispute between blog friends, Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs blog and "Baron Bodissey and Dymphna" at Gates Of Vienna (GOV) blog, about the infiltration by some anti-Semites tarnishing of anti-jihadist English Defense League. Geller, an early supporter of the EDL, says she "did not want to write" her post exposing anti-Semitism infiltration within EDL but is required to go there as "I cannot and will not sanction anti-Semitic infiltration." Accordingly, subject to EDL leadership's promised purge of such elements, she has distanced herself from the EDL. The GOV bloggers have reacted with an Open Letter in which they criticize Geller as over-reacting. Geller's reply, in her typical fashion, minces few words:
Instead of working to purge the EDL of these vile elements, the signers of this Open Letter are trying to destroy those of us who seek to maintain the proper focus of our mission and the EDL’s mission, which is fighting for freedom. I support the EDL’s original mission, but we cannot sanction evil and cover it up. We should expose it to the sunlight, so as to ensure that the group stays true to its original mission, and so that that mission is not compromised. These Machiavellian bloggers ought to know that.
Geller updates: "I stand by my concern about the increasing antisemitism in the ranks of the admins at the EDL. We have no intention of breaking with the EDL if they purge these antisemitic elements. If they do not, they will be finished as a force for good in England. I was immediately reassured that these rogue elements would be routed out. End of story."
Except it isn't the "end of story."
Geller continues to lambaste the GOV bloggers as "bottomfeeders" who "just bang keyboards." Geller has certainly been a leader of actually organizing successful counter-jihadist and counter anti-Semitic events and campaigns. Geller intimates the GOV bloggers are more concerned with Christianist beliefs than countering anti-Semitism.
I think this dispute is sad. I am saddened by any dispute between allies as I am by excess harshness in language. It is my disposition to be restrained in expressing my strong beliefs, to keep to the point and engage readers in calmer discussion. To me, this is very important to defending civil and effective discourse. And, at the same time, one cannot avoid calling out those who oppose or stray disastrously from core matters of concern. EDL and GOV have strayed, sad to say. EDL has recognized this. GOV should.
The head of the EDL has admitted that there are anti-Semitic infiltrators, and he has promised to remove them. That should definitively end any criticism of Pamela Geller as over-reacting. Any who continue to are missing the key point of Jews and Israel as the canaries in the defense of the West. Combatting anti-Semitism and defending Israel from slurs is essential, above attachment to a political party, friends or conflicting agendas. And, we are not so far gone that civil discourse be relegated.
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