I am not a big fan of Lerner, but his statement below is perfectly reasonable. There is plenty of antisemitism in the U.S. political left, and knee jerk reactions against any use of the term are a real problem.
-Chip Berlet
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From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org on behalf of Bryan Atinsky Sent: Sat 2/11/2006 4:29 AM To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Subject: [lbo-talk] Rabbi Michael Lerner using the Antisemitism card against the US Green Party
<<SNIP>>
Now, Rabbi Michael Lerner uses the tried and true (well actually false in this case) Antisemitism card against the US Green Party:
I think the Greens have made a big strategic as well as moral mistake. What Israel is doing is a violation of human rights and a big sin. But it is not in the same league with the sins of many other nations, first and foremost the U.S. If the Greens were calling for divestment from the U.S., Russia (because of Chechnya), China (because of Tibet), and Sudan (because of Darfur) then adding Israel to that list would be appropriate and I'd support such a multi-focused divestment. But to single out Israel, while not calling for divestment from U.S. corporations that make possible the far more bloody occupation of Iraq, is a double standard that smacks of traditional anti-Semitism.
Rabbi Michael Lerner
editor, Tikkun
<<SNIP>>
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