After one of my epic rants, somebody I deeply respect advised me: “Why don’t you just shut up and write a blog?” Okay! Since all of my recent attempts at journalism had been rejected by even the lowliest publications, it seemed like a good idea. I fully intend to continue ranting, but more with my fingertips and less with my vocal chords. It’s easier on the audience’s ears too. Seriously, “Shut Up and Blog” is not meant to be a Facebook page, nor is it more than indirectly related to my work as a securities analyst with Cyrano Equity Research, Inc. I want to make it a platform to express my thoughts on culture, business, politics, sports and other subjects — and share ideas with others. Please do not hesitate to reply with thoughtful comments, even rants.
My first effort is called “Naming Names: For the Country’s Sake, Let’s Honor our Largest (and Most Egotistical) Taxpayers.” I hope you like it.
I’d appreciate your thoughts on this interesting article:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2013/sep/26/american-jewish-cocoon/?pagination=false
John, I’m not sure what Peter Beinart’s article has to do with my blog. But I’ll say this much: American Jews’ ignorance of Palestinians’ life and point of view is perhaps regrettable but very understandable in view of the latter’s evident (and frequently violent) rejection of Israel’s legitimacy. Also, I wonder how much non-Palestinian Arabs fret about Israeli existence under rocket attacks from Gaza?
The disappointments of the Arab Spring — the apparent failure of diverse groups within other Middle Eastern societies to coexist and govern themselves civilly after the fall of dictatorships — likely furthers our intellectual isolation. Indeed, it’s probably behind the popular reluctance in the West to punish Bashar al-Assad’s barbarism in Syria.
I give Beinart credit for calling out anti-Semitism when he sees it. What can be said about those who promote divestment in and boycotting of Israel but not China, despite the enormity of its human-rights violations and six decades of occupying Tibet? Criticism of Israeli policies is only anti-Semitic when other states are excused of equal or greater wrongs, which unfortunately is often the case.
I consider this neo anti-Semitism. For much of the world to debate whether the Jews are entitled to have a state of their own smacks of the ages-old practices of the majorities dictating where Jews could live, what occupations they could hold, what schools they could attend. Enough already!