Tuesday, June 19, 2007


It was a year in the planning. A “massive” march on Washington was planned for June 10, 2007. Over 300 organizations endorsed it. The theme: “ The world says “No” to Israeli Occupation”

In a memo to Participants in the June 10, 2007 March on Washington, The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace and Justice declared “This will be a large protest.”
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article. php?id=1390

More optimistic rhetoric appeared at the DC Indymedia, regarding selling this story to the press:
http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/ display/139283/index.php
“Insist that they get a wide-shot of the crowd. The camera lens can be very narrow. It's one thing to say "a hundred thousand people", and quite another to show it.”

The trouble is, no one came.

Mass media reported “hundreds”
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070610/ UPDATE/706100362/1020/NATION.
DC Indymedia claimed “1,000".

The progressive community was left shaking their heads in disbelief. What do you do when reality and rhetoric don’t line up? Well, in the time honored tradition of the Israel-bashers, you lie.

According to organizing committee’s press release .“DC Protest against Israeli Occupation Big Success!” The organizers continue on to claim 5,000 participants.

Did we expect anything different? Not really. It’s a truth optional world for the Israel-bashers.


Panoramic view of June 10, 2007 march on Washington courtesy of http://ageofhooper.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 15, 2007

A Truth Optional World

It was a year in the planning. A “massive” march on Washington was planned for June 10, 2007. Over 300 organizations endorsed it. The theme: “ The world says “No” to Israeli Occupation”

In a memo to Participants in the June 10, 2007 March on Washington, The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace and Justice declared “This will be a large protest.”

More optimistic rhetoric appeared at the DC Indymedia, regarding selling this story to the press:
“Insist that they get a wide-shot of the crowd. The camera lens can be very narrow. It's one thing to say 'a hundred thousand people', and quite another to show it.”

The trouble is, no one came.

Mass media reported “hundreds”

DC Indymedia claimed “1,000".

The progressive community was left shaking their heads in disbelief. What do you do when reality and rhetoric don’t line up? Well, in the time honored tradition of the Israel-bashers, you lie.

According to organizing committee’s press release, "DC Protest against Israeli Occupation Big Success!” The organizers continue on to claim 5,000 participants.

Did we expect anything different? Not really. It’s a truth optional world for the Israel-bashers.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Wait a Second: Now It's My Fault Because I'm a Dude?

As another not-particularly-crazy internet savvy person, I too enjoy laughing my butt off at the blather posted on MuzzleWatch by Cecilie Surasky and Rob Lipton. So today I came across a new article on that comedy source for the ages: an article titled "Synchronicity: Forward publishes article about vitriol on blogs."
Now, I'm not disputing the premise of the article. The internet is a place where people can talk in anonymity, which invariably leads to shouting matches.
But in making my way through this muck, I found this little gem:
Is the harshness of language a natural outgrowth of a male-dominated medium in which anonymity gives many a chance to speak without accountability?
When did the internet, the great equalizer, become yet another outpost of our (apparently) incredibly chauvinist society, along with Western imperialism, colonialism, and all sorts of other "liberal" buzzwords?
Are you telling me that in a country where we are (rightfully) taught that all people are equal, where schools are mandated to have equal funding for boys and girls sports, where companies are applauded for appointing women to high posts, where feminism has gone so far as to make education tilted against young boys, the outlet accessible to almost everyone, has become yet another "male-dominated medium?"
Lady, you have got to be kidding me.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

"Muzzlewatch" Gets a Muzzle

One of my daily sources of amusement lately has been reading (and posting on) the "Muzzlewatch" blog put up by Jewish Voice for Peace. That blog has the ostensible purpose of "tracking efforts to stifle open debate about US-Israeli foreign policy"; they actually did very little of that, because debate is quite open, it's just that their point of view gets very little traction in US public opinion-- see this previous post on this site. They happily promoted all sorts of anti-Israel viewpoints and speakers; any criticism of those was then claimed as attempted "muzzling". Much more interesting than their rather weak postings were the comments; not only was there a good representation of the pro-Israel viewpoint from some good writers whose work I had never previously read (take a bow, Jon), but there was also--no surprise-- the expected chorus from those whose anti-Israel position comes from true, heartfelt anti-Semitism.

JVP tried shutting down comments for a day, claiming it was "not because of the bigotry per se, but the escalation of personal attacks." (I guess "bigotry per se" is OK then?) But of course once the comment boards were opened up then they couldn't get rid of the company they attracted. Yet they do seem surprised at this: "Lately, the site has become a forum for posting anti-Semitic in particular, and also other bigoted and racist comments, as well as ugly personal attacks." Just like they were, in the words of one JVP member who posted there, "appalled" at the anti-Semitism displayed at ANSWER rallies against Israel last summer(see pictures of that event here ). Yet they never publicly dissociated themselves from ANSWER after seeing similar ugliness in previous ANSWER rallies, and they went ahead and paid ANSWER so they could officially participate with a booth at that hate-fest!

So why are they surprised that their forum became a haven for anti-Semites, at least one of whom were known posters on hate sites? Despite their own high-mindedness in claiming to oppose anti-Semitism, their track record of tolerating it in practice from ANSWER and other anti-Israel groups inexorably led to this. They just don't get it-- at its core, anti-Zionism (opposing the right of the Jewish people to have our own country in our own homeland, while supporting the right of every other group, including Palestinian Arabs, to their own state) IS anti-Semitic. And an anti-Israel website will always attract anti-Semites, like flies buzzing around excrement. Of course, JVP's recent conference in Oakland featured T-shirts on sale that proudly stated "Anti-Zionist". If the shirt fits........

Friday, June 8, 2007

Here's Mud in Yer Eye, Guv'ner!

Normally, we at BlueTruth provide information and commentary; usually we don't make a point of asking readers to take specific action. However, as events would have it, not only are we happy to help publicize this weekend's counterprotest in DC (wish we could be there!), but we also offer the chance to help act against the proposed British UCU (University and College Union) boycott of Israeli universities and academics.

(if any of you weren't paying attention to any of that stuff, you can read all about it at the British site EngageOnline which was founded to combat anti-Israel boycott efforts).

Now I'm always good about sending off e-mails to decision makers, etc., etc. But while I know it's the right thing to do, I don't have any illusion that it's going to do much. I somehow don't think the folks at the UCU are going to suddenly leap out of their seats and change their minds because 10,000 Israel supporters from around the world are sending them e-mails. It's more the idea that if WE don't send those e-mails, nobody else is going to do that and silence is not a good option.

However, for those of us that like to take things to the streets and to the people, our friends at BlueStarPR have outdone themselves! Check out their new poster about the proposed British boycott of Israeli academia. Let's help them get it displayed at Tube and train stations all over London. Go here to help; make sure that you specify that it is for the British anti-boycott campaign. Let's take this across the pond and get them stammeringly red in the face as they try to backpedal from throwing away their laptops and cellphones that are contaminated with Israeli technology.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Stand With Us Stand For Peace Stand With Israel

Its been said "If the people led, the leaders will follow" I think that might be a little overly optimistic.
I think Jerry Garcia's words are more apt "Somebody had to do something, and its incredibly pathetic that it had to be us"
I've been reading about the anti-Israel march in Washington this weekend, on Sunday June 10. It seems that everyone was fruitlessly waiting for someone else to take a leadership role, and nothing has happened. But time is running out and we cannot remain silent any longer.
A grassroots effort has emerged to counter the lies and demonization in the streets, but it needs to be promoted. Please- we need to get this message out to the community We've waited too long. The time to act is now.

http://standwithisraelrally.blogspot.com/2007/06/america-stand-with-israel-at-counter.html

Please- help us get the word out. When Israel is attacked publicly, we must respond publicly.

America, Stand with Israel at the Counter-Rally on June 10, 2007.
You CAN make a difference.

Come to Washington DC on June 10, and join us in a rally to support Israel's right to peace, security and defensible borders!

Israel's opponents are on the move: On June 10, 2007, to mark the 40th anniversary of Israel's 1967 war of survival, the extremist groups "United for Peace and Justice" and "Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation" will hold what even the liberal magazine Tikkun called a rally for the "dissolution of the State of Israel." The "United for Peace and Justice" coalition includes such radical organizations as the Socialist Party USA, the Young Communists League, Communist Party USA, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Israel's supporters depend on you: We will gather on the West side of 3rd Street on the Mall, between Madison and Jefferson Drives. We are organizing this literally one week before the event, with almost no resources or time. This Counter-Rally truly is the product of a few citizens who are deeply outraged that Israel's opponents might have demonstrated in our nation's capitol without any patriotic opposing voices who will tell truth to counter these lies. We must stand up to lies and distortions.

We will not have a microphone or a speakers' platform, but we CAN show our support with our signs, flags, patriotic songs and our own strong voices as individual citizens exercising our right to assemble. We are bringing signs and flags for you to hold, sponsored by Stand with Us.

Date: Sunday, June 10

Place: Begin assembling on the west side of 3rd Street on the Mall, between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive at 1:00 PM. Our exact location may change. Please check here before the rally, and look for our American and Israeli flags on June 10.

Time:

The Counter-Rally: The Stand with Israel Counter-Rally begins at 2:00 PM and lasts until 4:00 PM
The March: The March from the Capitol to the Ellipse begins at 4:00 PM. We plan to march with our signs and flags parallel to, but apart from, the main demonstration.

What to bring: Bring a cell phone, food, water, a hat, and sunscreen.
Transportation: Don't drive--there is limited public parking on Capitol Hill. Take the metro to either Union Station on the red line or Capitol South