Imagine

The BBC is currently showing an interest in antisemitism. In the series called “A History of Hate” this episode tackles Pogroms.

In the third part of his series on the mechanics of hate, Allan Little examines a wave of anti-Semitic violence that erupted a century ago. During the Russian civil war, after the revolution of 1917, tens of thousands of Jews were murdered in a series of horrific pogroms. In this programme he hear how warring factions were united by their hatred for the Jewish people, fuelled by the mistaken belief that they by attacking the Jews they were "punching up" at a dangerous and powerful elite.

At the present time, a few serial antisemitic keyboard warriors frequent pro-Israel websites to leave their droppings in the comments field. They get a kick out of derailing threads and dragging them down, knowing how irresistible it is to reply to / exchange insults.

ITBB is fortunate not to have attracted any attention-seeking pains in the arse, probably because we’re not regarded as worth the trouble / too insignificant. I speak for myself, of course.

Also, I have to declare that I wouldn’t be as tolerant as David Collier is. I’d zap anyone who obviously has no intention of engaging.

I mention this to guide you to a timely modern-day example of the hatred that preceded the Holocaust, which fits the description of antisemitism described in the History of hate programme to a T.

If you haven’t already seen David Collier’s original post via our sidebar, it highlights the extreme intolerance of the anti-Zionist brigade, which in this case was directed against one of their own, merely because she briefly ‘engaged in conversation' with someone from the other side.

I won’t reproduce it., but it can be seen here. It illustrates the hate-filled atmosphere we’re currently witnessing. From crazed anti-Trump mobs to aggressive, infantile, politically and economically naive Corbynistas.

I haven’t seen any MSM analysis of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at the anti-Trump rally. I was surprised that none of the main TV political pundits offered the customary potted version aimed at the hard of comprehending. I’m not after a ‘so-what-you’re-saying-is” but the more conventional interpretation of “what-Jeremy-said”. I couldn't find anything on the Beeb; do correct me if I'm wrong

Oddly enough, Jeremy punctuated the high points in his oratory with one or two of those sudden, cold, stares of his. They denote “assertive” and often occur during combative interviews. I mean those spasmodic bouts of assertive eye-popping that accompany the tetchy “Will you let me finish !" 

For those that didn’t catch it live, here’s a transcript of the speech Jeremy Corbyn gave at the anti-trump rally.

Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do / Nothing to kill or die for,
And no (apart from one peaceful) religion too / Imagine all the people / Living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer / But I'm not the only one / I hope someday you will join us / And the world will be as one. Imagine no possessions / I wonder if you can / No need for greed or hunger / A brotherhood of man. 

We’ll fight against the hatred / and racists from the right / Happy Eid Mubarak / Thank you and goodnight.

Poetic, eh? And lyrical too. Someone should set it to music.