Thank you. I think you raise some excellent additional points. I always found the proliferation of holocaust museums in the U.S. somewhat odd given that the United States was one of the liberators of the camps and it was Dwight Eisenhower who made sure they were documented, lest people forget or deny what happened. Also the US has been o…
Thank you. I think you raise some excellent additional points. I always found the proliferation of holocaust museums in the U.S. somewhat odd given that the United States was one of the liberators of the camps and it was Dwight Eisenhower who made sure they were documented, lest people forget or deny what happened. Also the US has been one of the safest and most hospitable countries in the world for Jews to live and thrive (albeit imperfect, as it is for everyone). If the US is to be making museums of this type, it would be more appropriate to make them to remind us of the horrors of our national sins such as slavery and the genocide of native Americans.
Terms like antisemitism and racism can provide a societal shield against such conduct by virtue of the severe social opprobrium they rightfully engender. However, when they are used as a sword to shut down debate and dismiss legitimate criticism, they risk being denudered of their meaning and the behavior moderating social stigma they engender. Once this happens, the flood gates for real antisemitism and racism can open. This is what I fear as Zionists and Israeli supporters continue to apply a maximalist concept of antisemitism to any legitimate criticism of Israel and its policies towards the Palestinians, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
Btw, the US government deserves as much criticism for enabling Israel's behavior because without our aid money, munitions and blind support of their policies, none of their bad conduct would be possible.
Thank you. I think you raise some excellent additional points. I always found the proliferation of holocaust museums in the U.S. somewhat odd given that the United States was one of the liberators of the camps and it was Dwight Eisenhower who made sure they were documented, lest people forget or deny what happened. Also the US has been one of the safest and most hospitable countries in the world for Jews to live and thrive (albeit imperfect, as it is for everyone). If the US is to be making museums of this type, it would be more appropriate to make them to remind us of the horrors of our national sins such as slavery and the genocide of native Americans.
Terms like antisemitism and racism can provide a societal shield against such conduct by virtue of the severe social opprobrium they rightfully engender. However, when they are used as a sword to shut down debate and dismiss legitimate criticism, they risk being denudered of their meaning and the behavior moderating social stigma they engender. Once this happens, the flood gates for real antisemitism and racism can open. This is what I fear as Zionists and Israeli supporters continue to apply a maximalist concept of antisemitism to any legitimate criticism of Israel and its policies towards the Palestinians, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
Btw, the US government deserves as much criticism for enabling Israel's behavior because without our aid money, munitions and blind support of their policies, none of their bad conduct would be possible.