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Educating Non-Americans About Neo-Cons
There are certain expressions commonly used in America but their meanings are unknown to non-Americans. One such word is “Neo-Con”. Here is an interesting explanation about this word, and how influential these neo-cons are in the U.S. polity.
12 Responses to “Educating Non-Americans About Neo-Cons”
Actually, “neo-con” is generally used as an anti-Semitic slur. It’s a code-word for Jew. As a Jewish liberal and center-left Democrat, I’ve been called “neo-con” many times.
Sure it is, Holly. Just like ever questioning Israel’s policies is anti-Semetic? I’ve always believed in Israel’s right to exist peacefully, yet I’ve been called anti-Semetic simply for questioning some of their policies. In fact, you’ve brought up the anti-Semetism slur in ways that have implied you are including me.
and that’s my HUGE problem with this. it’s like we’re not allowed to criticize israel at ALL w/o being labeled an anti-semite. and that’s just wrong. and what also sucks is that holly has to get the “neo-con” label even tho she isn’t.
Everyone is permitted to (and frequently does) criticize Israeli policy but it is important that your criticism be based on actual knowledge of the situation. 95 percent of those with whom I’ve discussed Israel online are grossly ignorant and have no idea what they are talking about.
OK, I’m seriously confused. I have never heard of the usage of the expression “neo-con” as any reference to Judaism or those who follow that faith. Every time I have seen it used is in the context of “neo-conservative” and the associated policies of pre-emptive attacks.
I guess that Cheney and Rumsfeld are Jews according to Holly – LOL?
Holly, consider this. Some people throw around the neocon term just like you throw around the anti-Semite term. How is your use of “anti-Semite” different than their use of “neocon”? In some occasions, the term may be getting used properly. In many occasions, it’s being used falsely as a derogatory term meant to belittle the individual and cut off debate.
As a sidenote, I’ve been called an anti-Semite and a neocon. I don’t assume that everyone who calls me an anti-Semite is a neocon or that everyone who calls me a neocon is an anti-Semite. Many of these people are simply individuals who like to label someone based on a first impression without knowing all the details of one’s beliefs.
I don’t agree often with Holly, but she was close on this one. Neo-con is used often as code word not for Jew, but rather for Zionist, particularly to infer rabid Zionism. Not all the time, but often.
C.Prez: where did you get that notion that you should not criticize Israel. What a bunch of belony. Perhaps there are one or two people who think like that, but that’s about it.
Sal was, for instance, an anti-Semite. Why? Because he did not just speak about Israelis, but about Jews in general. That is anti-Semitic.
Michael, the problem is Sal wasn’t the only one being called anti-Semetic. I don’t think anyone, or at least more than maybe one or two others, supported Sal’s views but some, if not flat out calling people other than Sal anti-Semetic, strongly insinuated that some who did nothing other than questioning Israel’s response were anti-Semetic. Just as Holly is insinuating here that the use of the word “neocon” is “generally” (a word that suggests most of the time to many people) an anti-Semetic slur.
To me they are totally separate concepts. A neo-con believes that America has a duty to exert a strong military presence in the world in areas where American interests are at stake—which means building bases in foreign countries and building up our military strength. Its a view (although a rather agressive one) of the role a superpower should play to protect American holdings abroad. This has nothing to do with anti-semitism, unless you conclude that all neocons are aggressively pro-Israel, and that basis forms their world view. Maybe it springs from the reverse-where those who opposed a strong military alliance with Israel were deemed anti-semitic, but that still requires a large assumption.
Holly – you said on another post that you agree with the PNAC- which was developed by neocons-maybe that and not the fact that you’re a Jew is why others call you that. I called Michael VdG a neo-con , but it was because of his politics- I have no idea or interest in what his religion is. Whereas I would never call Elrod a neocon, and he has admitted on this blog that he is Jewish.