An Exchange of Views - Progressive Style

09/13/04 | vanity

[genefromjersey]

There's another website I participate in,and I often find myself crossing verbal swords with the self-defined "intellectual elite". Today was no exception.

On one thread,an anonymous poster was making snotty remarks about "neo-cons" in the Administration.He/she (whatever!) listed several by name,and it suddenly occurred to me all of the names were Jewish .

I responded politely-which took a bit of effort.I'm not Jewish,but 3 of my grandchildren are.My closest friend in high school was the son of death camp survivors-(and yes,I saw the tattoos with my own eyes !)

I expressed my concern to "Anonymous",saying I knew anti-Semitism had become "respectable" again in the "progressive community";and I wondered what the progressives meant when they used the label "Neo-Con". Were they talking about new converts to conservatism,or were they using the term as a "shorthand" slur against Jews ?

"Anonymous" fired back immediately. Progressives were NOT anti-Semitic,he/she (whatever!) said ; but they WERE Anti-Zionist . This statement was followed by a lengthy diatribe about taxpayers being forced to fund and fight unending wars in the Middle East on behalf of the Israelis.

Because "Anonymous" prides him/her self (whatever !) on high intellectual achievement, I decided to go with a "high-toned" approach. My answer was: Res ipsa loquitur -which means "The thing speaks for itself" or "The situation is self-evident."

"Anonymous" decided to blast me in Latin,saying : Quare clausumfregit .

I admit I had to look that one up.It's been over 50 years since I saw a Latin text.

It turned out to be an obscure legal premise,relating to the entry into the property of another without consent.The Latin text means: Force is implied in every trespass. In other words, the response had nothing to do with the discussion-or much of anything else.

How very....... progressive !

[68skylark]

For the last few years, "neo-con" has been a code word for Jews among the left. They imply that those who want to liberate Iraq are really trying to advance the interests of Israel. It's nonsense -- it sounds like you smelled a rat, and I'd say your sense of smell is working right.

[CR]

Would you call his reply a non sequitur?

[Truthsearcher]

Actually I think I knew what this person is saying, it fits in with the Anti-Zionist stance he/she is taking.

I think he/she is talking about the creation of Israel as a trespass onto the Arab world as the cause of tensions in the middle east.

[genefromjersey]

Yeah: non sequitur et non compos mentos ( If I remember right.)

[genefromjersey]

I got a bit long-winded,as us old gaffers do,but I wanted to make an additional point: Do not be afraid to confront the "intellectual elite " : They are not all that intellectual,and they are elites only in their own minds.

Old Vladimir Lenin knew exactly what to do with them once the Communists were in power: He had them shot.

It is reported they asked :" But why ? "
And the executioners responded: " It's the only way we know of shutting you idiots up. "

[WOSG]

hmmm ... I think it is a high-minded way of saying that he/she agrees with Hamas' goals: The Jews need to be driven out of the land of Israel, it's dar el-Islam land and jews dont belong.

just a guess.

This is more low-brow, but here is my label for this leftwing anti-Israel attitude that wants to hand over a country that is democratic and civilized to jihadist terrorists:

DUmmitude.