[lit-ideas] Re: Do You Have a Moral Urgency?
- From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 10:45:43 -0700 (PDT)
Lawrence,
I have read that in the US any attempt to criticize
Israel or its policies invariably gets denounced as
"anti-semitism." Further, I have been repeatedly
smeared with that label, although I don't remember
making any remarks comparable to what Phil blurted out
about "unwashed Arab masses". Dont remember that you
protested then.
O.K.
--- Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Phil,
>
>
>
> I read someplace in the past few months, probably
> more than one 'someplace,'
> that in Europe attempts to oppose Islamist
> aggressiveness are invariably
> denounced as "racism." If you oppose too vehemently
> anything the Islamists
> are doing in Europe then you are a racist. This has
> the effect of moving
> the discussion away from the threat of the Islamists
> and to the person
> concerned about the threat -- that is, his presumed
> racism -- much as is
> happening on this thread.
>
>
>
>
>
> Lawrence
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Phil Enns
> Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 9:49 AM
> To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Do You Have a Moral
> Urgency?
>
>
>
> Simon Ward wrote:
>
>
>
> "It comes down to writing generalised phrases
> without thought."
>
>
>
> Again, wrong. Generalizations are fine as long as
> one doesn't attempt
>
> to draw more meaning from them than is fitting. I
> wrote about the
>
> 'unwashed Arab masses' and as a generalization it
> has as much meaning as
>
> my point drew from it. Not more, not less. Only a
> sloppy reader would
>
> take from the phrase a meaning regarding Arabs in
> general. Are you a
>
> sloppy reader, Simon?
>
>
>
>
>
> Simon wrote:
>
>
>
> "Now if I were to warble on about 'moneygrabbing
> Jews', Stan would be
>
> down on me like a thunderclap."
>
>
>
> And rightfully so. What on earth would lead you to
> say such a thing?
>
> Are you anti-Semitic, Simon?
>
>
>
>
>
> Simon concludes:
>
>
>
> "Or are you in denial Phil?"
>
>
>
> I love seeing this rhetorical move in action. It
> has that 'Stopped
>
> beating your wife yet?' quality. A bit much,
> though, combined with the
>
> 'You are a racist!' stuff. It's a matter of focus.
> Do you want people
>
> to focus on your 'Racist!' hand-waving spiel or the
> psycho-babble? I
>
> don't think it works if you have both. Eric knows
> more about writing so
>
> he might correct me. However, it works if you are
> Omar or Amago, but
>
> they are caricatures. Are you a caricature, Simon?
>
>
>
>
>
> Less sincerely,
>
> but entertained nevertheless,
>
>
>
> Phil Enns
>
> Toronto, ON
>
>
>
>
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