Commenter Profile

Total number of comments: 12 (since 2010-05-27 11:59:13)

Atheist and long time observer of the Middle East. Strong believer in universal human rights.

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• 'FEMEN' and the suppression of native voices
  • Gryfin April 7, 2013 at 5:24 pm with 1 replies

    It looks like I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent. I find the repeated references to the body shape of the white women completely inconsistent with any notion of feminism and, quite frankly, a little racist. There is no need for that kind of "catty" discourse at all.

• Could the Israel lobby's unending battle to stop Hagel hurt the lobby?
  • Gryfin January 28, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Although I'm not pleased to say this, the tactics of the Israel Lobby appear to have an effective Win/Win strategy to them.

    First, if successful in preventing Hagel's nomination, they will have achieved their objective. That's a win.

    But, if that doesn't happen, then the deluge of personal smear heaped on Hagel reflexively prompts his supporters to trumpet his unending support for Israel. The Lobby smirks and withholds approval until sufficient fealty is demonstrated. That's also a win.

• Preparing for the best
  • Gryfin December 23, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Excellent article that recognizes the emerging responsibilities of all sides given the direction events will inevitably take. The only bone to pick is with the term "non-Jews". While the intended meaning is clear, it is never good to define people by what they are not rather than what they are. By doing so, one inherently assigns a subordinate or negative status to those described that way. I don't think the writer intended that and admittedly I've used the term myself, but the unintentional meanings arising from term do not serve us well.

• In 'Dissent' debate, Walzer hints that leftists who focus on Israel are anti-Semitic
  • Gryfin December 17, 2012 at 10:40 am with 3 replies

    I'm frequently challenged by supporters of Israel along similar lines - why is Israel singled out?

    I usually answer this way:

    I know there other injustices in the world, but I don't find any of my fellow citizens defending them in any way. But I do find some of my fellow citizens stridently defending the indefensible when inflicted by Israel.

    I don't drive down the streets of my city and find churches or mosques sporting billboards asking me to contribute to a foreign country that constantly commits human rights abuse but I see almost every synagogue festooned with Israel Bonds or JNF billboards.

    I've never seen a religious school in my city flying the flag of another country, whether it is a church, mosque, or a mandir. Yet, I drive by Jewish schools in town and I see the flag of Israel flying side by side with the flag of Canada.

    And finally, while all my fellow citizens who support Israel also strongly support the separation of religion and state in Canada, they seem to suffer amnesia when asked to support such a principle in Israel.

    Frankly, asking me to turn a blind eye to all of this insults my intelligence.

• It's time for the media to talk about Zionism
  • Gryfin December 4, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Well written Phil. Every so often you offer something like this and it uplifts my spirits and renews my faith in humanity.

• The United Church of Canada's divestment showdown
  • Gryfin August 15, 2012 at 7:48 pm with 1 replies

    Good news. The United Church of Canada has affirmed the boycott of settlement products. The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs is currently coughing up a fur ball.

• StandWithUs' revisionist history train campaign
  • Gryfin August 10, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    A wonderful encapsulation of the problems associated with the "God is a Realtor and the Torah is a Property Deed" crowd.

• The crisis of Jewish identity
  • Gryfin July 17, 2012 at 2:33 pm with 1 replies

    Hats off to you Phil...this is why I keep coming back:

    "I will not put religious community over my progressive principles."

• Israeli gov't study declares West Bank not occupied, Earth flat
  • Gryfin July 9, 2012 at 11:43 am

    So, if the Occupied Territories are now part of Israel proper, the Apartheid argument just got quite a bit stronger.

• Coalition partners don't associate with astroturfing 'Iran 180'
  • Gryfin June 29, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    What a brilliant move by the Pinkwashers - Associating gay sex with evil people. Associating the gay sex as a form of punishment. And then to have the wonderful idea of expressing this at a Gay parade.

• My spirit is American (a religious manifesto)
  • Gryfin April 2, 2012 at 11:55 am with 1 replies

    A beautiful piece. Easily applicable to anyone of any faith.

• Welcome to the new Mondoweiss
  • Gryfin November 15, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Good work, gentlemen.

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