Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (52620)	7/3/2004 7:06:00 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 793707

It can be a thin line. But when they go to puppet/puppeteer type of language, it is fairly obvious. I almost responded when you made your initial comment but I really didn't want to get the thread into another discussion of anti-semitism. Since we're already there, however, I'll weigh in. I don't thing the puppeteer comment was inherently anti-semitic and I don't think it helpful to assume it to be that. Maybe it was a reflection of the anti-semitism of the speaker and maybe it was an ordinary criticism. To evaluate something like this we have to take the comment and substitute other players. What if someone commented that, for example, the US was pulling Poland's strings? This is a reasonable observation. Poland seems anxious to do as we wish. Is there some religious or ethnic bigotry in commenting on that? Of course not. What makes Nader's comment an issue is the old prejudice about Jews running the world. To believe that is anti-semitic. So what do nice people do when faced with making a legitimate observation that plays to an old prejudice. If we make the observation we are judged anti-semitic. If we hold back on making the observation because of the sensitivity, then we are being PC. Damned if you do or you don't. Nader's comment was anti-semitic only if Nader is anti-semitic. Just because the comment gives aid and comfort to anti-semites does not make it "obviously" anti-semitic any more than commenting on the breeding habits of NBA players is obviously racist. It is, as you say, a thin line. I think the side of the line is a function of where the speaker is.