Wojtek
^^^^^^ CB: You've got it backwards. Americans and Israelis do react in the same way to cartoons published by Aljazeera. Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semiticism are denounced regularly here and elsewhere. If we could only get the mass media to denounce anti-Arab racism as much as they denounce anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism. What would have happened if you had sent some anti-Semitic cartoons to this list, without negative comment ? I don't think you would even consider doing that because you might be put on moderation. No debate about freedom of speech would have ensued.
There's even a general hesitation on the Left to focus on finance capital as the main seat of today's ruling class because of the historic stereotype regarding banking capital. "Finance capital is fucking over the whole world ( mandatory disclaimer: I don' t mean to imply any anti-Semitism in that remark.)" No similar hesitation to speak of "Arab oil magnates".
Why is there no similar left moral policing of other racisms besides anti-Semitism ? " Oh a bunch of anti-Arab cartoons. Wait a minute , we must respect freedom of speech, balance it against racism." I have never heard anyone talk about freedom of speech in attacking some expression as anti-Semitism. Not that I think freedom of speech should be brought up when there is some anti-Semitic expression. But why the double standard ? Why is there such militant left policing of anti-Semitism , but liberal tolerance of anti-Arabism ?
Whenever repression of racist speech is discussed, the defenders of free speech declare their responsibility to fight racism without state intervention. OK if these anti-Arab cartoons should not be subject to state repression, then those who circulate it, like Wojtek, have a special,non-state responsibility to fight anti-Arab racism. Otherwise, exercise your non-state responsibility to repress the cartoons.