Why are John Mearsheimer and Richard Falk Endorsing a Blatantly Anti-Semitic Book?

[shira]

<snip>

Hard-core neo-Nazis, racists, anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers, on the other hand, have happily counted Atzmon as one of their own. David Duke, America’s premier white supremacist, has posted more than a dozen of Atzmon’s articles on his website over the past five years and recently praised Atzmon for “writ such fine articles exposing the evil of Zionism and Jewish supremacism.” Kevin MacDonald, a professor at Cal State Long Beach whose colleagues formally disassociated themselves from his “anti-Semitic and white ethnocentric views,” called Atzmon’s book “an invaluable account by someone who clearly understands the main symptoms of Jewish pathology.” Israel Shamir, a Holocaust denier (“We must deny the concept of Holocaust without doubt and hesitation”) who argues that Jews ritually murdered Christian children for their blood and that “The rule of the Elders of Zion is already upon us,” refers to Atzmon as a “good friend” and calls Atzmon one of “the shining stars of the battle” against “the Jewish alliance.”

But neither Atzmon’s well-established reputation for anti-Semitism nor the copious anti-Semitic filth that fills The Wandering Who? has deterred Professors John Mearsheimer and Richard Falk from actively endorsing Atzmon’s work. Mearsheimer, the Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, calls The Wandering Who? a “fascinating” book that “should be read widely by Jews and non-Jews alike.” Falk, Milibank Professor of International Law Emeritus at Princeton University and United Nations Special Rapporteur on “human rights in the Palestinian territories,” calls The Wandering Who? an “absorbing and moving” book that everyone who “cares about real peace” should “not only read, but reflect upon and discuss widely.” Falk’s endorsement appears prominently on the cover of Atzmon’s book. Mearsheimer’s endorsement is featured on its first page. These professors are not merely defending Atzmon’s right to publish such a book; they are endorsing its content and urging their colleagues, students, and others to read and “reflect upon” the views expressed by Atzmon. One wonders which portions of this bigoted screed Professors Mearsheimer and Falk believe their students and others “should” read and “discuss widely.”

<snip>

These endorsements represent a dangerous step toward legitimizing anti-Semitic rhetoric on university campuses. If respected professors endorse the views contained in Atzmon’s book as “brilliant,” “fascinating,” “absorbing,” and “moving,” these views—which include Jewish domination of the world, doubting the Holocaust, blaming “the Jews” for being so hated, and attributing the current economic troubles to a “Zio-punch”—risk becoming acceptable among their students. These endorsements of Atzmon’s book are the best evidence yet that academic discourse is beginning to cross a red line, and that the crossing of this line must be exposed, rebutted, and rejected in the marketplace of ideas and in the academy. (Another evidence of this academic trend in Europe appeared recently on Atzmon’s website, where he brags that he has been invited to “give a talk on ethics at the Trondheim University” in Norway. This is the same university whose faculty refused to invite me to speak about the Arab-Israel conflict.)

Accordingly, I hereby challenge Professors Mearsheimer and Falk to a public debate about why they have endorsed and said such positive things about so hateful and anti-Semitic a book by so bigoted and dishonest a writer.

<snip>

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/97030/atzmon-wandering-who-anti-semitism-israel?page=0,0

[bemildred]

1. It's been a while since I read any of that stuff.

So I suppose I should thank the Dersh for the update. I quite agree that it's becoming more common and more acceptable to air those views, to violate those taboos. Got me thinking of Joe Vialls who I suppose is dead by now. (Edit: yep.)

But anyway, I would ask what is proposed to do about it? I mean aside from condemning it, which is to do nothing?

[King_David]

5. He is exposing it by writing. nt

[bemildred]

6. Thanks for the kick. nt

[King_David]

7. NP. Kick again nt

[bemildred]

8. +1. nt

[LeftishBrit]

2. Presumably because they're either antisemitic or stupid or possibly both.

I am not these days a great fan of Dershowitz himself due to his sympathetic comments about Glenn Beck on one occasion, and his vile (especially with regard to the timing) comments about the terrorist attack in Norway. But he is right about loony Atzmon; and right to criticize those who endorse him.

[shira]

3. The same school Dershowitz was banned from in Norway is welcoming Gilad Atzmon to speak.

Seems Dersh had a good point about the goings on in Norway.

[LeftishBrit]

9. So by the same token...

do people have a 'good point' if they bring up settler violence in connection with the massacre of the Fogel family? (People did, and we both thought it was disgusting.)

NOTHING can justify or even mitigate the evil that Breivik did! NOTHING!

And the young people who died had nothing to do with the invitation to Atzmon.

I have several good friends, who count as family to me, in Norway; and your saying that Dershowitz had a 'good point' here reminds me of the people who use some act by an Israeli organization as justification, or at least mitigation, for terrorism against Israeli civilians or Diaspora Jews.

I am NOT someone who has a kneejerk negative reaction to anything that Dershowitz says, just because it's him. Some things he says are right (as in the OP), and some are wrong. However, the remarks he made about Norway were not only wrong, but utterly inexcusable, and if they were partly based on anger at being uninvited (not 'banned') by the university, then that makes them even worse.

I will not reply further to any comments on this issue, as I will get too emotional; but I have said my piece, and that's where it stands.

[shira]

11. I really don't see anything wrong with Dershowitz's comments on Norway...

...months ago, when the Ambassador claimed terror attacks vs. Israeli citizens were not acts of terror at all. I know you have a problem with the timing of such a remark, but what the Ambassador said was outrageous in light of what had just happened WRT the Fogel family and thousands of other Israeli families affected by terror over the past few decades. Someone had to say something to counter that inexcusable nonsense right then and there.

Think of how outrageous those remarks from the Norway Ambassador was to the thousands of Israeli families affected from terror and currently still under threat from such terror. That was more disgusting than anything Dershowitz has ever put to paper.

[King_David]

16. A lot of people are not great fans of Dershowitz himself due to his

being a proud Jew and Zionist.

[LeftishBrit]

17. And a lot of other people, like Melanie Phillips, are not great fans of Dershowitz himself because

he voted for Obama.

There are many different reasons for liking of disliking someone.

[shira]

4. Palestine Solidarity Campaign hosts Atzmon at Exeter...

The PSC hosts Atzmon
http://hurryupharry.org/2011/11/08/the-psc-hosts-atzmon/

[azurnoir]

10. everyone should the link and here is an email from it showing how PSC hosted Atzmon

> From: Dave.Chappell@...
> To: edwardhill1@...; sonetteaboud13@...
> Subject: Gilad Atzmon at Colston Hall 21st Nov
> Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:42:03 +0000
>
> Hi guys,
> Don't know if you already know Gilad Atzmon, but he is a great Jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, and who also happens to be a profoundly anti-zionist Israeli.
>
> I saw him in concert in Exeter last night, and Exeter PSC had an info stall there. We also sold his CDs for him, for which he gave us the 10% commission he would normally pay the venue for doing this.
>
> He told us he is playing Colston Hall this Sunday, and wondered if Bristol PSC would like to have a stall there, and possibly also help with the CDs too under the same arrangement he gave us?
>
> if you are interested, and in my view you should go for the music anyway(!), please will you contact Gilad on 07973291505 or through his website at www.gilad.co.uk/contact\
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Chappell
> Tel. [phone]

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bristol-PSC/message/2266

for more on this group

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index8b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=99

and oh they are hosting Richard Falk who we're told luvs him Atzmon case closed

[shira]

12. You don't have a problem with pro-Palestinians hosting or promoting Atzmon, correct? n/t

[azurnoir]

13. you mean one chapter selling a CD of Atzmon playing the sax at a single event

in which they had a booth for 10% of the take? seems kind of innocuous to me but in this arena they should be more careful, guilt by association is so popular these days

[shira]

14. Why do you think they wanted to help Atzmon sell CD's? It had nothing to do with his views? n/t

[azurnoir]

15. I think it had to with money and the guy who wrote the email liked the jazz sax CD n/t