The ‘Islamist lobby’ has us on the back foot. Here’s why. I will be honest and admit I don’t really know why. But this has been allowed to happen somehow. All I can do is present a couple of examples.
On the Spectator website, Stephen Daisley brings us: Take it from this expert: Jeremy Corbyn is an anti-Semite
“Yair Lapid is not mincing his words. One of the leaders of Israel’s main centre-left party broke with protocol this morning at a conference in Jerusalem to urge British voters not to elect Jeremy Corbyn.”
Many responses to this piece seem to agree that “interfering” in another country’s election is unbecoming, but more relevant to me is that there is also a disturbing assertion that whining about antisemitism is counterproductive.
Yep. We mustn’t barge in and trample too heavily all over the Labour Party’s antisemitism problem because it will antagonise people! Oh, dear. Whose terms are we arguing on?
That was number one. Now for number two:
 |
| Don't frighten the horses |
On Sunday a rally against antisemitism took place in Parliament Square. Some celebrity speakers were invited, including Tracy Ann Oberman and Rachel Riley. You might have read the post about this on Harry’s Place (you probably wouldn’t have heard about it elsewhere) but it’s not so much the rally itself that I’m interested in. (Did it do any good? I have no idea.) More worrying is the fact that one of the advertised speakers was dis-invited. His name is Col. Richard Kemp.
I’m a fan of Col Kemp for several reasons - one being that his pro-Israel advocacy has the inbuilt advantage of (him) not-being-a-Jew. This is the opposite of being an As-a-Jew. In the current climate of rampant Jew-bashing, any Jew who complains about antisemitism is automatically placed on a “they would say that, wouldn’t they” footing. (Whose terms are we on now?)
Another good reason to admire Col Kemp and to accept the validity of his views is his formidable military experience, which gives him a unique understanding of Middle Eastern warfare and what drives it. He has huge respect for the moral and ethical standards of the IDF.
So why was he un-invited to speak at the rally? Because his outspoken views on Islam might ‘discredit’ the cause. Yes, suspend your disbelief - this really happened. Look at the video on Daphne Anson’s blog (and on YouTube) and weep. If you see this fearful timidity an insignificant example of ‘don’t frighten the horses’ I think you're mistaken. Tracy Ann and Rachel, admirable as they may be for speaking out, especially as they work alongside many lefty, anti-Zio luvvies, both still feel the need to tag “Islamophobia and all forms of racism” onto their campaigns against antisemitism.
Whose terms are we on, again? If you look at the responses to the aforementioned article, you’ll find a mixed bunch of comments. Fancy having to argue over the no-platforming of a loyal ally, and all for the fear that he might offend someone by mentioning that a large chunk of the antisemitism they're rallying about emanates from within Islam. The ones who defend that awful decision are on the back foot - and there’s your embryonic blasphemy law for you.
I think Jews are right to "bang on about" antisemitism. A Corbyn government would soon turn into a Corbyn regime and anti-semitism would become mainstream policy under the guise of opposition to "Zionism". Followers of anti-Jewish religions (some Christians still but mostly Muslims)would have free rein to pursue their vendettas against Israel and Jewish people more generally.
ReplyDeleteThe Conservatives have created this problem of "equivalence" by failing for decades to address the realities of immigration and culture. They have occasionally played the numbers game (half-heartedly) but never the "quality game" of ensuring we have people coming to live here who (a) like us and our culture, including our democracy (b) intend to mix freely in our society and (c) can offer a real contribution to improving our society through their skills. This isn't just about Islam - the same strictures should apply to all peoples and religions, including any followers of a religion who like to entirely separate themselves from the rest of the community.
In these 'green' days maybe we should encourage more Amish to come and live here? No more front gardens ripped up to provide parking for large German cars, no need for dozens of long-distance flights between here and Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteThe Islamist lobby that I really don't understand are the 'as a Jew' crowd. When they start making comparisons between European Jews trying to get out of 1940s Germany and Muslims trying to get in then they have really lost it. Perhaps they have integrated so well into the UK that they have adopted the self-loathing of the English 'elite'?
I often wonder what’s behind this, too.
DeleteI don’t see it as an Islamist lobby as such; more an indiscriminately pro-immigration / open borders movement, possibly, at least in the case of Alf Dubs, based on the concept that it would be hypocritical to deny others the sanctuary that Britain once gave them.
Many assimilated Jews haven’t absorbed the salute or 'toast' ‘Next year in Jerusalem’ with their other’s milk, so to speak, and aren’t engaged (or have no affinity) with Israel. If they’ve swallowed the Palestinian narrative, then being Jewish will have made them ashamed to be associated with Israel simply because of their identity/ ethnicity, which, ironically, they exploit - - hence “AsaJew”.
That’s a theory.