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Behind the Aegis

(54,982 posts)
2. Whataboutism
Fri Aug 26, 2022, 03:20 PM
Aug 2022

Just because it exists in a more extreme form on the right doesn't mean it doesn't need to be addressed on the left when it occurs. Of course, immediately out of the gate is an "example" or "see, see, a lot of accusations of anti-Semitism on the left aren't really real". While some, not "a lot" as you opine, do conflate "criticism of the Israeli government (particularly the conservative Israeli government) with antisemitism", there are those who ignore when anti-Semitism is employed and then whine about "conflation" or attempt to stop any discussion of anti-Semitism on the left with false accusations, usually before anyone has a chance to respond, that they are the real victims by being accused of anti-Semitism.

"I have never met left-wing Holocaust deniers or left wingers chanting "Jews will not replace us"." Uh-huh. I am sure you haven't because they are almost exclusively the domain of the right. However, there are those on the left who are Holocaust minimalists or try to divert conversations away from Jewish suffering when it is discussed, and, in some situations, that is anti-Semitism.

The author points out a number of incidents which are anti-Semitic, including banning the Star of David from progressive marches and spaces. Utilizing age-old anti-Semitic stereotypes in order to "criticize" Israel can be anti-Semitic, especially when the conclusion of the critique really doesn't reflect Israel or Israelis but Jews.

I wonder if an African-American poster or a female poster or a trans poster were to post an article from someone of their community discussing the problems of racism, sexism, and transphobia, respectively, within the progressive community would be met with non-members telling them they really have nothing to be concerned about, because, you know, "whatabout" the right.

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