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Egyptian Anti-Semitism

It seems that John Guardiano doesn't take kindly to me drawing attention to the anti-Semitic imagery being put to use by some of the protesters in Egypt:

Aaron Goldstein discovers some examples of anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli sentiment amid the hundreds of thousands of Egyptian protesters and declares that, voilà! -- the protesters "hold Israel responsible for their lot in life under Mubarak."

Well, here's what I actually wrote, "If Egyptian protesters consider Mubarak a tool of Israel is it really a stretch that to think these protesters hold Israel responsible for their lot in life under Mubarak?"

I am simply asking a question. As someone who is vocally supporting this movement in Egypt, Guardiano should be all for asking questions. If some of the Egyptian protesters have no qualms about the use of anti-Semitic imagery then why is it so unreasonable to ask about the public manifestation of these attitudes? I don't know why Guardiano is so troubled by this question.

Alas, Guardiano is content to dismiss the anti-Semitism of some of the protesters. Why? Because The New York Times says so. OK, maybe Nicholas Kristof saw only one anti-Semitic sign. Well, he can take a look at these others. Somehow I find it hard to believe there aren't more where those came from.

View all comments (43) | Leave a comment

Paul McGrath| 2.8.11 @ 6:58PM

These constant feuds between the two of yez are becoming a bit tiresome. He made his point and you made yours. Let it go, for God's sake.

Mike| 2.8.11 @ 8:10PM

Thank you, Paul.

Alan Brooks| 2.8.11 @ 9:30PM

Iran is the big Hitler-lover, not Egypt.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 3:57PM

I disagree. Argument is the lifeblood of politics. Audit is the unique gift of the Greeks by which truth is discovered.

Curly Smith| 2.8.11 @ 7:09PM

All you have to do to gauge the level of anti-Semitism in Egypt is stand on the 6 October Bridge in Cairo and ask an average Egyptian "isn't 6 October an odd name for a bridge?". Then travel around and visit all of the other monuments dedicated to October 6th. And, of course, no trip would be complete without a visit to 6 October City.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.8.11 @ 7:32PM

Mr. Guardiano,
Nice try....but a miss. I've lived and worked there.
As a country, the Egyptians have been embarrassed by Israelis...let's see ...for nearly three thousand years.

You would think they would have learned something by now...but Muslims are evidently slow learners...just like Pharoah.

John Guardiano| 2.8.11 @ 8:02PM

Ken,
Did you read my post?
http://bit.ly/huhCLx

That anti-Semitism and hostility toward Israel are prevalent in Egypt isn't in doubt. What is in doubt is whether this has been a driving force behind the Egyptian revolution. It hasn't.

Regards,
John

simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 8:53PM

John..and what do you base that on....? Given what news is presented to us by our glorious media, most of us can not discern what this Egyptian insurrection is about. We typically do not receive anything but sound bites and a parade of columnist idiots spouting off that more likely know less than the average American. Well, I have been reading quite a lot about the middle east and the history of Islam for the last 1400 years and I can not see how you could say that ant-semitism does not play a huge role in this insurrection as well as the forces of radical Islam. By the way where were you in 1979? How many times do we need to go through this? You really do not think this revolution does not have anything to do with hatred for Israel and the West and not an attempt of the muslim brotherhood to establish an Islamic State dedicated to destroying the two satans? Yeah, this is about democracy..yep that's what they want..sure.. self government, inalienable rights, freedom of religion and speech. Like Iran, right?

David C| 2.9.11 @ 5:24AM

"most of us can not discern what this Egyptian insurrection is about."

Speak for yourself, Simon.

What the Egyptian insurrection is about is obvious: people fed up with a corrupt government headed by a president who maintains his power through rigged elections and secret police. That such objection can be held by people of vastly different political stripes changes nothing.

John Guardiano is more than willing to admit the presence of radical Islamists in Egypt and the danger the present. Your inability to see anything else is a function of your bigotry against the people of the region.

simon templar| 2.9.11 @ 1:18PM

Oh, you know? I said most of us. Not implying that I did not know as I have made a significant attempt to read several books about the subject from people who actually lived there. So, now I am bigot. Really, wow, secret police and rigged elections, oh my. Every frigin Arab middle east country is run like this...particuarly that great democratic republic of Iran. You are just another idiot liberal troll since we are now calling people names. You learned nothing from Iran, did you? My "pessimistic" view is neither bigoted nor limited in view. I can wish and do wish things were different for these people but that does not change reality. I wish them justice, self government, and freedom. My wishes mean nothing. What do you not get here. Evidence is on the side of the argument that they do NOT seek these things. Yeah, we conservatives want a dictator..we are all for secret police and we would prefers something that's not a democratic Republic. You know nothing of the history of this region nor the forces that are in play here.

Occam's Tool| 5.4.11 @ 7:49PM

Simon--agree again. Awesome!

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.8.11 @ 9:42PM

Yes, John, Idid read your column.
I honestly believe you don't understand that 'Blood fueds' go on for thousands of years over there.
Thar's why Muslims always cover their faces in battle.

David C| 2.9.11 @ 5:27AM

And blood feuds have never been known to long endure elsewhere, right Ken?

Please read my reply to Simon above.

Chris| 2.9.11 @ 7:00AM

What, your, "You are a bigot" response?

simon templar| 2.9.11 @ 1:26PM

Yeah, not for two thousand years. In fact, I knew a journalist who once told me that he visted Italy and had discussions with italian merchants who told him that they still hear complaints and insults from Arabs that they trade with about percieved offenses dating back hundreds of years. Oh, but I am sure that is not political correct or culturally sensitive. Please join us in the real world. Bigot, right?

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 4:01PM

The Hatfields and McCoys are now business partners, David C. I don't think the different factions in Egypt are likely to coelesce anytime soon.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 10:22AM

Dear John,

I'm certain it is a part, as the "revolutionaries" always need to blame someone else and the Jews are convenient targets. This is a country in which a TV show on the Protocols is very popular.

This is why I think it will end badly. The Egyptians are not our friends---on 9/11 no one in Egypt lined up to give blood like they did in Israel. They are Islamofascists and jerks.

Occam's Tool| 2.10.11 @ 11:50PM

OK, let's suppose that's true. However, the protesters are still antisemitic and anti-American, and are still swine. As Yossarian would put it, when told that tghe enemy isn't just shooting at him, they're shooting at everyone, "what's the difference." Egypt is not Iran. We SHOULD have supported those protestors.

Clint| 2.8.11 @ 8:52PM

"The April 6 and Khaled Said groups have emerged as the organizers of the anti-Mubarak coalition. "

" Leftists, socialists and pro-labor people know that the movement takes its name from April 6, 2008, when a series of strikes and labor actions by textile workers in Mahalla led to a growing general strike by workers and residents and then, on April 6, faced a brutal crackdown by security forces. A second, allied movement of young Egyptians developed in response to the killing by police of Khaled Said, a university graduate, in Alexandria. Both the April 6 group and another group, called We Are All Khaled Said, built networks through Facebook, and according to one account the April 6 group has more than 80,000 members on Facebook. The two groups, which work together, are nearly entirely secular, pro-labor and support the overthrow of Mubarak and the creation of a democratic republic."

simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 8:56PM

Yeah, I believe in Santa Claus too. Yeah, democratic Republic..yeah..that's it..are you insane?

Clint| 2.8.11 @ 9:43PM

No, & I'm not buyin' your Israel Fister Agenda Neither, Sport.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 10:22AM

It's OK, Clint, you will be proved wrong...again, you Nazi moron.

Clint| 2.9.11 @ 11:12AM

It's OK Tool Job, American's Are Wising Up To Your Fixated Obsessed Israel Firster Agenda.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 10:27AM

"Israel Fister?" I call profane.

Clint| 2.9.11 @ 11:08AM

You're Agenda Is Profane Israel Firster Tool Job.

simon templar| 2.9.11 @ 1:36PM

My argument has nothing to do with Israel. Typical liberal ploy of misdirection. No one is asking you to fall down and worship Israel nor is ANYONE claiming that Israel has not made a single mistake. Israeli themselves do not claim this. We are discussing what is going on in Egypt.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 3:58PM

Simon,

Clint is a hydrocephalic homonculus. I shouldn't argue with him, either. Don't make my mistake.

simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 9:02PM

Mr. Goldstein...please know that I stand with you and will fight right next to you as many other conservatives in this country. You are not alone. We know whats going down here and we know our fates are intertwined. Stand firm, brother.

bert| 2.9.11 @ 12:20AM

John , your lovely freedom fighters were the same crowd involved in the murder of innocent Christians. Now these Muslim murders have aligned themselves with radical leftists ( those sweet Code Pinkers) , radical left wing American unions goons such as the UAW ( Obama budddies ), and Other Soros leftist wing front groups ( see Code Pink again). Guess what all these lovely haters hate the most and bind them ? An intense hatred of Israel !! Johnny , its time to wake up and grow up !

David C| 2.9.11 @ 5:29AM

Yet more anti-Egyptian, anti-Arab bigotry.

The only people in Egypt with the gumption to protest against the regime are the same types who murder Christians? I didn't know libel was permitted on the Spectator's boards.

simon templar| 2.9.11 @ 1:43PM

Hey, your own liberal media outlets recently polled Egyptians on their approval in killing muslim converts to christianity and found an overall majority supporting that. Bigot, right?

David C| 2.9.11 @ 5:16AM

Aaron Goldstein makes the mistake, here as in earlier columns, of equating anti-Isreal sentiment with anti-semitism. Granted, the former could lead to the latter, but they are not the same thing.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 10:23AM

No, but that's the way to bet David, since they are almost never separate---take Clint, above, a rampaging Nazi.

Clint| 2.9.11 @ 11:18AM

Take Tool Job above, a rampant Fixated Obsessed Israel Firster AgendaGirl, who is all Atwitter & PMS'y because Clint & Many Other Tea Party Patriots Won't Kneel Before Tool Job's Israel Firster Agenda.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 3:54PM

And that accounts for your other delightfully antisemitic comments? Like, for instance, the time you wrote that Jews haven't won a particularly high number of Nobels?

As for being a girly man---I walk around in shirt sleeves in Northern Minnesota in the winter. Given your low testosterone count, doubt you could do that, punk.

Mike| 2.9.11 @ 9:05AM

As usual, Goldstein finds an anti-semite behind every tree.

Just as the Tea Party movement has racist elements you can be certain the driving force in Egypt is lack of material comforts, like food, housing etc.

Mubarak is the 50 billion dollar man. His people live on a couple of thousand a year and somehow all of you big democracy lovers think he should stay in power because he hasn't threatened Israel in 30 years.

You have lost your way. Israel is not the 51st state.

Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 10:26AM

No, but they are a buffer state against Islamic terrorism, and are skilled at fighting the enemies that our policies in Iran (supporting the overthrow of the Shah), and Saudi Arabia (not demanding the defunding of terrorist groups in exchange for our military protection) have created that have NOTHING to do with Israel.

Not every conflict in the Middle East involves Israel, but all factions blame Israel, sometimes psychotically (Israeli spy vultures in Saudi, for example, or spy squirrels in Iran---sheesh, it reads like something Clint might think up.). Bell rung for Clint---start calling me "Tool Job" and frothing...now.

Clint| 2.9.11 @ 11:26AM

The Israel Firster Pavlovian Slobbering Israel Firster Tool Job is a Bus Callin' A Lemon Pie Yellow.
Many of We Tea Party Patriots aren't into Asskissing Your Israel Firster Agenda.

America's National Interests Trump Your Israel Firster Agenda,Tool Job.

Occam's Tool| 2.10.11 @ 11:51PM

Prison buses are white, Clint. I would expect someone like you to know this.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.9.11 @ 10:35AM

You anti "Israel" twerps are simply hiding behind semantics.
Duh..."Israel" is where Jews went to build a life when no one else gave a damn.
Maybe I am an "Iraqi firster" as well. I think it was a noble enterprise to give the poor schmucks a "chance" at a decent life.
That's what America has always been about, and I am proud about that.

I honestly do not know if Muslims can ever have a decent life under Sharia, but at least Iraqis are not being fed into wood choppers for fun any more.

Clint| 2.9.11 @ 11:35AM

Then Kenny The Squirrel Should have No Problem When Our Tea Party Senator Dr.Rand Paul calls for Cuts in Foreign Aid to all those Sand Monkey Tribes, Including Israel & Egypt.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Rise Up.