The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) thinks that an article about banning books printed in Israel is a great addition to their Facebook BDS movement links. The article Scotland: Glasgow districts boycott Israeli books is really a glimpse of the past, all the way back to Nazi Germany.
The article begins, “Several districts in southwest Scotland expands boycott on Israeli products, bar stores from carrying English translations of Israeli books.’A place that boycotts books isn't far from a place that burns them,' says Ambassador Ron Prosor.”
The article continues, “Two and a half years ago, shortly after Operation Cast Lead, the West Dunbartonshire Regional Council, located west of Glasgow, approved a bill that called to boycott goods produced in Israel.”
8 comments:
The whole Nazi-comparison thing lost it's steam years ago, honestly. If someday we have storm-troopers marching down the streets bearing swastikas, I don't think most people will even have a word to call them anymore, Nazi has been so thoroughly worn out.
That aside, the difference between boycotting books as a political statement about the policies of a certain nation on the one hand, and seeking to exterminate a people and do things like make them into lamp-shades on the other hand should be readily apparent to everyone.
Yes, yes, it's been several hours since anyone spoke about exterminating anyone.
Bruce Byrne
Concord, Ca
Doug,
Interesting thoughts on your part. First of all I could have shown some modern day videos of such actions in Europe and the Balkans. Just recently it was against the Roma.
Second the Nazis started out with book burnings, they ended up using human skin for lamp shades.(It didn't happen all at once.) And notice if you read the news article the city council banned stores from selling the books. That is much, much more than boycotting.
The Nazis didn't start out as a large political movement. They started out as a small group of rabble rousers who hated Jews.
Too true Bruce.
I would not be surprised if Israeli books (or English translations of Israeli books) were the ONLY ones boycotted. This reflects the relentless campaign of vilification against the Jewish state. There is an obsession bordering on hysteria against Israel in much of the world.
John Erthein
DeFuniak Springs, FL
John,
I do not know of any place that is more relentless in their campaign against a Jewish Israel then the IPMN.
Except of course groups like Storm Front, etc. who don't mind at all what IPMN is doing.
So do these districts in Scotland ban books from Israel that are critical of the Israeli government's actions and positions? That would be true irony. "Can't read books by people who agree with the rulers of the district! Would be funny if anyone knew when to laugh.
Bob Campbell
Sharon Hill, PA
There is a huge difference between a boycott and a ban. This is self-evident, but a person can certainly choose what he or she wants to read ... for whatver reason.
The logic of ban is quite different - it is choosing for everyone what you can acquire.
This is the major problem with the so-called 'intellectual boycott' thrust of BDS. It is usuall complicated - because it usually consists in limiting what information is available rather than what people choose.
Bob - I don't know the details of the Glasgow district bans, but I do know the intellectual boycott does actually attack people who are supportive of the anti-Israel cause.
There is something altogether sinister about this on another level. It cuts people off from ideas. Not self-chosen ... which might be bad, might be narrow, etc. But externally.
Post a Comment