Comments on: Considering the Who and How of Criticizing Israel http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 30 May 2012 14:01:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: ChrisWWW http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-176256 ChrisWWW Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:53:44 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/#comment-176256 <blockquote>Is it ever appropriate to criticize Israel’s government? If it is, under what conditions; i.e., who can articulate such criticism, and how they can do so without getting reflexively trashed?</blockquote><br>The fact you even have to ask such questions are indicative of a major problem.

Is it ever appropriate to criticize Israel’s government? If it is, under what conditions; i.e., who can articulate such criticism, and how they can do so without getting reflexively trashed?

The fact you even have to ask such questions are indicative of a major problem.

]]> By: pabel http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-176188 pabel Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:04:48 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/#comment-176188 Jdledell -- Thanks for your comment. But Michael Merritt is correct. Consider this line from the conclusion of the post: "... such criticism will be received best if it comes from an insider who carefully qualifies his or her criticism." Or this one, a few paragraphs prior: "We are creatures prone to accept criticism from someone who has walked in our respective shoes." In other words, I think we -- you and I -- are on the same page. Jdledell — Thanks for your comment. But Michael Merritt is correct. Consider this line from the conclusion of the post: “… such criticism will be received best if it comes from an insider who carefully qualifies his or her criticism.” Or this one, a few paragraphs prior: “We are creatures prone to accept criticism from someone who has walked in our respective shoes.” In other words, I think we — you and I — are on the same page.

]]> By: Michael Merritt http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-176179 Michael Merritt Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:00:20 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/#comment-176179 That's exactly what Pete said in his article. Not so much the exact wording of "closing of ranks", but the effect to the cause of an outsider's criticism is inferred. That's exactly what Pete said in his article. Not so much the exact wording of “closing of ranks”, but the effect to the cause of an outsider's criticism is inferred.

]]> By: jdledell http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-176160 jdledell Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:02:44 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/27102/considering-the-who-and-how-of-criticizing-israel/#comment-176160 Pete - You really miss the point. Ben-Ami is one of us and thus is allowed to criticize Jews and Israel. Just read the Israeli newspapers and you will see far more contentious debate about Israel's actions than you would ever see in an American paper. Jews can criticize fellow Jews all they want. However, when a non-Jew like Freeman criticizes Jews and/or Israel we close ranks to fight off such critiques. It all goes back to Jewish existential fear of our history when criticism sometimes mushroomed into pogroms. For the record, I think the treatment of Freeman was unfair and the US lost a unique mind for it's intelligence activities. I heard Freeman speak twice and both times I was a little aghast at his unvarnished words but after reflection realized he had an important point he was making that required me to dig a few layers deeper in my analysis than I would normally do. Pete – You really miss the point. Ben-Ami is one of us and thus is allowed to criticize Jews and Israel. Just read the Israeli newspapers and you will see far more contentious debate about Israel's actions than you would ever see in an American paper. Jews can criticize fellow Jews all they want. However, when a non-Jew like Freeman criticizes Jews and/or Israel we close ranks to fight off such critiques. It all goes back to Jewish existential fear of our history when criticism sometimes mushroomed into pogroms. For the record, I think the treatment of Freeman was unfair and the US lost a unique mind for it's intelligence activities. I heard Freeman speak twice and both times I was a little aghast at his unvarnished words but after reflection realized he had an important point he was making that required me to dig a few layers deeper in my analysis than I would normally do.

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