Summary
Ca canny: Scottish Doric for “Go Easy” !
When I first started writing I published two key articles of principal:
I am not antisemitic/why - knowing the subject matter in the current conflict, why my informed good intent is NOT antisemitic (first reference on all social media channels) as the most important thing to understand - intent v prejudice
This is how I fairly research/I will acknowledge and correct errors - acknowledging that I will not always get it right and keen to correct and will always quote source (written here “Ca’ Canny” as we say in Scotland)
This article - which I honestly expect to update - is correcting where I’m wrong, and why - in an attempt to do better next time, but also adding additional explanation and context where it is necessary.
The article is primarily for me as a reference, but also I hope to demonstrate some integrity and not being infallible (with a staff of one!).
Contents
2 Jan 2023 - Antisemitism Infographic: wrong positioning of flag
2 Jan 2023 - Antisemitism Infographic: wrong positioning of flag
Frustrated with reading constant blanket accusations of antisemitism in the current crisis and noting it's been a common theme, for my own sanity I produced a simple diagram to demonstrate key points:
Israeli Government does not speak for ALL Israeli people, nor all Jewish people worldwide
Protest it at the Israeli Government and their policies - NOT at Jewish people in general (which is antisemitic)
Definitions of antisemitism from Jewish organisations to support this
Simple intent.
I posted this on a pro-Israeli lobby group page1 in discussion with someone to clearly show (I hoped) my understanding of the repeated confusion between “antisemitic” and “anti-Jewish”.
The problem is that I put the Israeli flag in the wrong place! Next to “Israeli People in Israel” as opposed to next to “Israeli Government".
I was quite rightly and somewhat embarrassingly chastised on this on social media when I noted that - despite agreeing people plastering stickers marked “BOYCOTT" with the Israeli flag crossed out was idiotic vandalism - it was not antisemitic.
Yet if you’re crossing out the flag which sits on the diagram next to the population of Israel…. FFS OOPS…🤦♂️
This was an honest mistake and had not crossed my mind. To try to use a different image for Israeli Government (Israeli Government website logo and an IDF motif crossed out at best!) would be misconstrued.
A few points below - but I have corrected the picture and I have also corrected the 4 social media posts where I used this - including crediting the person who pointed out my mistake (not that it helped!).
Boycott Context
I do note that the sign also says BOYCOTT Israel. Meaning Boycotting goods from Israel.
And quoting the Next Task Force2 (100 prominent Jewish Leaders advising Biden’s Administration in 2020 on defining US National strategy to counter anti-semitism):
Boycotting goods made in the West Bank and/or Israel is not antisemitic unless it specifically singles out Israel because of its Jewish character.
Regardless - the flag represents the Israeli Government current actions - Since the IDF fight under the Israeli nation flag under the orders of the Israeli Government - it is fair to say that crossing out an Israeli flag is against Israeli Policy (but if you vandalise, regardless, it’s destruction of property).
Jerry Seinfeld Context
The full sign was for Jewish comedian Jerry Seinfeld - on a tour of Australia - here is the original post. Which on first view and reading the comment looks cut and dried.
However - Jerry Seinfeld is NOT being targeted because he is Jewish - but because of his historical high profile pro-Israeli stance, and most recent actions probably when these posters went up.
Seinfeld has been actively pro-Israeli advocate in the US and in 2018 visited a West Bank IDF training camp and posed with a machine gun3 which was heavily criticised as antagonistic at the time. The below is from Twitter posts, quickly removed.
In the current conflict, Seinfeld was a key entertainment industry organising a support letter for Israel4 which had been described as pressurising and divisive forcing people to choose sides or risk cancellation.
He has also recently visited Israel (but not with other ethnic groups5).
It is for these reasons - that his posters have been targeted.
However - I do not condone vandalising a poster - destruction of property never mind an appearance of antisemitism.
Christian Pro-Israeli Speaker
You would have had the same defacing of adverts for other prominent pro-Israeli speakers - example “Christian atheist” author Douglas Murray giving a talking tour, who has extreme Islamophobic pro-Israeli views.
Murray is in fact touring in March this year6 - and it will be brilliant to watch; but if the idiots vandalise his adverts they should be punished as those for Seinfeld’s adverts.
But not for reasons of antisemitism, but vandalism of property.
Just not with my original diagram trying to explain the distinction! 🤦♂️
Finally - go on say it…
This did give me pause for thought (quoting and editing * to avoid AI thinking I’m saying this!)
“You put alot of energy into trying to prove you are not anti-semite. Why ? Who cares already ? Say it " I f***ing hate J**s and think they are responsible for all the world's problems." Go on do it. You 'll feel much better . Like catharsis”
It IS a lot of energy. But that’s the point - words are twisted and positions manipulated so that a genuine humanitarian protest or criticism of the State of Israel are shut down as “antisemitic”.
It’s a play on semantics that is just incredibly frustrating.
I am NOT antisemitic, I speak out against antisemitism if I see it (and have done) but I don’t tolerate being manipulated, and want to avoid all doubt - so you have to combat this with positioning statements before getting to the nub of your argument so you don’t get shut down.
And calling out antisemitism goes the other way - calling out FALSE antisemitism which is what I tried to do today.
So I put the energy in to not be misunderstood and satisfy myself I am acting with good intent.
That and annoying autism crossing the t’s hence this article!
Related Articles
Other:
n/a
Substack:
Antisemitism Statement - to show good intent, knowing the subject matter in the current crisis - I am not antisemitic
Writing Principles - including correcting errors
Australian Jewish Association FB - “SOPHISTICATED DEBATE ON DISPLAY“- https://www.facebook.com/AustralianJewishAssociation/posts/pfbid02AssNRwoirZTHCvXStMcaEfjHL2CPZWdTpyDg3XF9TNVhiWufNbRgme7qbYphxLucl
The Nexus Task Force - “Guide to Identifying Antisemitism in Debates about Israel“ -https://israelandantisemitism.com/guide-to-identifying-antisemitism-in-debates-about-israel/
The Times of Israel 11 Jan 2018 - “Seinfeld under fire over visit to West Bank ‘military camp’“ - https://www.timesofisrael.com/seinfeld-under-fire-over-visit-to-west-bank-military-camp/
The New York Times 29 Oct 2023 “Reaction to Hamas Attack Leaves Some Jews in Hollywood Feeling Unmoored“ - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/29/business/hamas-attack-hollywood-jews.html
The Times of Israel 20 Dec 2023 - “Comedian Jerry Seinfeld visits Kibbutz Be’eri, meets survivors of Hamas massacre“ - https://www.timesofisrael.com/comedian-jerry-seinfeld-visits-kibbutz-beeri-meets-survivors-of-hamas-massacre/
Douglas Murray - “Uncomfortable Conversations” - Ticketek - https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=DOUGLASM24