Thanks to Iran and its crazy Almadinejad, I’m happy to be the first person in 60 years to be able to mention Hitler in a debate.
The saddest thing about Almadinejad’s remarks was not that he was calling for the death of Jews and death to America, but that after the initial shock, people seemed to universally say, “So what? Every leader in the MENA spouts the same bullsh*t rhetoric.”
Perhaps it’s the result of having only one party (one man) running in their elections, but the Jews are blamed for everything. Much the way Hitler did in the lead up to his Final Solution.
So while the shock is still fresh from Almadinejad’s comments and while Iranians continue to protest in the streets calling for Death to America and for the Distruction of Israel, I think its is a good time for the rest of the world to crack down on the Anti-Semitism and racism so proliferate in the MENA.
In considering Hitler and 1930’s Germany, how can an enlightened society so willing disregard Iran’s actions?
I think that by cracking down on Iran and its anti-Semitism it will force the people of MENA to find something else to blame. It will most likely be The Great Satin America (sorry guys) at first. But it might also cause them to look for other reasons that their life is so bad—perhaps even {gasp} their own inept dictatorships or outdated theocracies.
The challenge now is what to do. How does one country end racism in another country? Sanctions seemed to work in South Africa, could the same work for Iran?
I can’t think of anything we could do that would not be blamed on “Zionists”, including sanctions; I can just hear the screams about how the “Jews control international trade !”
It’s funny - during the run-up to the Iraq war, I pointed out that there were several more substantial threats to us in the world, and Iran was on the short list.
So we did Iran a big favor by knocking off their worst enemy, and making them not only the unrivalled big boy on the block, but the country that clearly has the most influence in Iraq.
It’s a little late for getting tough with them, even if we had a way of doing so. We can’t exactly lodge a formal diplomatic protest with them, because we don’t recognize them in the first place.
Not that it justifies anything, but a lot of Muslim countries say things like this about Israel. It makes more news when Iran says it, because they might soon have nukes to wave around. Which (to complete the circle) is why they were the bigger threat. Oops.
The real question is, are you going to advocate getting tough with:
a) all Muslim nations whose leaders advocate the destruction of Israel?
b) just the ones that are on the verge of nuke-hood?
c) none of them?
What shock?
November 2003: Iran Calls for the Destruction of Israel
November 2000: Iran Calls for the Destruction of Israel
Periodic calls for the destruction of Israel have been floating out of Iran for a long time. The idea that we should be shocked by this is itself shocking.
As far as what to do about it it, it’s not as if the neocons can put a gun to the head of every last MENA resident and force them to like Israel.
Statements condemning Israel, or calling for its destruction have been coming out of Iraq for decades. There’s nothing new there. The new factor is the conquest of Iraq, and the neocons, Bolton et.al. calling for an invasion of Iraq. That is why this particular crap from the mouth of Iran’s leader is garnering so much “shock.”
I don’t see any similiarity between this and Hitler though. Yeah, antisemitism is a moral travesty and one of the main reasons I do not support the “Palestinian cause” which to a large degree is just xenophobic antisemitism. But there really isn’t any power on the part of the antisemites that I can see.
But I could be wrong and chemical/nuclear/biological weapons could get thrown at Israel someday.
I guess the question is what can we do more than condemn it? Is anyone seriously floating the idea of Western/UN military intervention for threatening to destroy Isreal? Even for Isreal herself that would be precipitous at this point – or do you say no?
Sanctions - soon - for the Nuke Issue (not for the remarks though it goes to motive and makes the case stronger) at this point I think …
emacknight: you’re saying that some tough talk will end anti-Semitism in the Middle East? I think that’s the most naive thing I’ve ever heard.
Here’s the main problem, aside from the fact that anti-Semitism there is a very deeply ingrained thing: the comparisons to Hitler and apartheid South Africa are way off base. Those were cases where governments were oppressing their own people. This is a country making bellicose and unpleasant statements that are really nothing new. I’m sure Iranian Jews don’t have it so great, which is why there are some sizeable Persian Jewish communities in New York and elsewhere. So it’s a bad comparison. These statements ought to be condemned and I’m sure the international community could do more to discourage it. Still, saying terrible things about Jews does not merit an instant comparison to Hitler. Sorry, e.
Sevastopol, if you’re making the “Jews != Semites” point, can I say you’ve not picked the best manner or moment?
Well, when Hitler started his anti-Semitic speaches he was a nobody spouting gibberish in a bar–completely and utterly powerless. He was then able to inspire an entire nation to follow him, predominantly by convincing them that the Jewish people caused all the problems.
This is now the President (if only symbolic) of country making similar statements. And sadly its already been pointed out that its been going on for years, so much so that we just don’t care.
Those of us concerned are left wondering, “what can be done?” And unfortunately I just don’t know. In theory sanctions seemed to help end apartheid in South Africa.
And as for the UN, according to jimmmy’s links Annon was “dismayed” but the comments.
Where else in the world would we allow these sorts of comments, followed by large scale protests? Does anyone else find is odd that people in Iran are able to freely demonstrate for the distruction of America and Israel, but not free and democratic elections? Or freedome of the press? There’s a connection there that is lost on too many people.
Actually Jews in Iran are treated fairly well, especially when compared to how Iran treats some of its other minorities. The Jews are guarenteed a certain level of autonomy and even a seat or two in the Iranian parliment (for whatever that’s worth).
Add me to the folks saying that this sort of saber ratteling from Iran is next to meaningless, other then it signifies that they’re trying to distract the populace from domestic problems (some might argue that American politicians use Iran for a similar purpose). Remember the Iranian parliment chanting “Death to America” a year or so ago, same sort of thing.
You know, I expected a lot of semantics about whether the speach was anti-Jewish or just anti-Israel, but I really didn’t expect anyone to claim that there isn’t anti-Semitism in Iran.
Nobody did. You got someone saying Ahmadinejad’s statement wasn’t anti-Semitic, which is arguable, and you got a very good cite that Jews in Iran don’t have it as bad as Jews in Nazi Germany or blacks in apartheid South Africa. Ipso facto oingo boingo, your opening statement goes out the window.
Since these statements are a fairly common occurrence - although that’s bad in itself - it makes it harder for you to say “we need to draw a line in the sand, NOW!” I’m not sure what should be done to curb these comments and the hatred spewed against Israel and Jews in the Middle East, but I’m open to ideas.