One of the great things Joe Klein said in his seminal piece on Jewish neocons earlier this year was that people who opposed the war or who criticized Israel got bullied. A friend writes to ask: Is Jeffrey Goldberg bullying Joe Klein, and points to this Goldberg retort:
are saying to the rest of the world, "Those Jews over there, the ones
you don't like? Well, I don't like them either! In fact, I like them
less than you like them! So just remember, I'm not them."
But here's the thing: The czar is dead. A little Jewish self-confidence wouldn't be a bad, or inappropriate, thing.
My friend writes:
Goldberg's first point is made by right wingers all the time. Silly point.
But what's going on with the second point about
Jewish self-confidence? What's the game here? A different form of
calling out self-hate? Is that too tough an interpretation? Goading
him to stand up like a man, like a macho IDF
soldier would? In other words, like Goldberg himself? Seems to me
that Klein is, in fact, speaking out from self-confidence, just one
oriented in a very different direction from Goldberg's. It's a bit like
criticism of those opposed to the Iraq war for being non-patriotic.
Many of them would say it's in fact their love of country that gave
them the confidence and determination to speak out.
I think Goldberg's tone is somewhat bullying, in the sense that he wants Klein to shut up about this stuff, and is being swaggery, and is accusing him of gentile-bootlicking. I believe that similar types of argument had an effect on George Soros (the Hungarian childhood stuff) and Tony Judt (like me an apparently-assimilating intermarried rhinestone cowboy). But all's fair in love and war. So OK, let's open up the whole self-hatred motivation argument, along with the neocon-parochial argument. Get back in the ring, Joe, and watch out for that right-hand uppercut!
Its both a smoke-screen accusation and in different ways meaningful.
Calling someone racist, calling someone anti-semitic, calling a dissenting Jew self-hating, are used by many that seek to silence all discussion, clearly.
And, on the other hand, there are many that describe themselves as not anti-semitic, but rant about some Jews practising their religion in an insular manner (not cosmopolitan), expressing their contempt for Jews affirming as Jews.
Others do accurately identify internal personal dramas, that are more prevalent among assimilated parents. Jewishness doesn't appear to be a rational present consciousness, but only residual.
So, if I support Palestinian causes for sole purpose of human sympathy, that is not "self"-hating. But, if I support Palestinian causes out of some motivation to rebel against imposing family, that might be described accurately as "confused" at least.
Noone has only one motivation. Those that call others "self-hating" as if it were black and white, also fail to self-inquire.
"What is that I am? What is it that I'm a part of?"
The word 'Neocon' that modern emblem of jewishness will take on its deserved catastrophic meaning. These people will have sunk the entire jewish boat, all the time shouting 'self haters'.
"he seems to spend more energy attacking neo-conservative Jews than he does the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps"
As well he should. Neo-conservative Jews control the Middle East policy of this country, in the interest of Israel first. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps? No such power.
Witty and those like him always send out their messages, all ignoring
real power in the present world.
They speak in fair-minded abstractions, while all the time ignoring
real practical power facts on the ground.
I just wish Joe The Plumber would realize he is their two-bit whore.
Bah! Un-disprovable smears. You could mount the steps of the Knesset on your tongue and it wouldn't make any difference to these wretches.
"I just wish Joe The Plumber would realize he is their two-bit whore."
I think he probably realizes that. Of course, 'two-bit' whores make a lot of money in this country.