DISSENT REJECTED
Journalist and author Antony Loewenstein responds very aggressively to his cousin Ronald Green's rather mild letter to the Australian Jewish News:
It's interesting that Loewenstein describes his cousin as "anti-Palestinian, racist, anti-German and anti-Arab" when he is himself avowedly anti-American and anti-Israel – on page 29 of his books he speaks of his growing "antipathy towards Israel".
Green, on the other hand, is my cousin (which he doesn’t disclose in the letter). It’s an odd forum - in the Australian Jewish News of all places - to engage in a family slanging match, but perhaps it’s not surprising. I portray Green and his family in the book as anti-Palestinian, racist, anti-German and anti-Arab. It was painful to see one’s family, however distant, display such traits. Frankly, I suspect he hasn’t even read the book (and is a failed novelist himself.)Loewenstein obviously subscribes to the notion that a good offence is the best defence. His commenters are right in there supporting the noble author against his nasty family:
Ronnie Green is beset with this sickness [hatred of Arabs]. Within Israel, his attitude is sadly not uncommon. His recollections of my time with his family are woefully inaccurate, but then, he does accuse my book of containing “Jewish conspiracy theories.”
Glenn Condell: It’s sad, but you must have been prepared for these sorts of reactions. They’re so tired and predictable you could almost have scripted them yourself.Ronald Green is right though, Loewenstein does have accuracy problems.
Roonaldo: As Glenn said above, you have to be prepared for these kinds of reactions - even from people who are extended family members. It’s all part of the deep psychological trauma that comes with supporting a State that routinely abuses human rights and can only function through repressive military or police action against its neighbours or fellow citizens. Same abuse was suffered by those who lived in the southern US and supported the civil rights movement and those who lived in South Africa and opposed apartheid.
Andrew Worssam: Having read about Ant’s background in My Israel Question, I feel that I understand his journey (sorry to use that word!) and I can understand some of my Jewish friends a bit better too. I wish they would change, but I don’t hold out much hope...
Addamo_01: Behind the facade of intellectual and moral superiority resides their own deep seated rascism and extremism, that they keep well guarded, but which usually slips out inadvvertently with time.
It's interesting that Loewenstein describes his cousin as "anti-Palestinian, racist, anti-German and anti-Arab" when he is himself avowedly anti-American and anti-Israel – on page 29 of his books he speaks of his growing "antipathy towards Israel".
posted by Anonymous at 9:57 AM |
1 Comments:
Such a nice Jewish boy, or so it would seem for some on LP.
Late to the argument re AL on LP RJ. Hmm. However note with interest that your critique of his scholarship greeted with, nothing.
Might add here that his Jewish only roads has changed. When he got to Adelaide ABC radio it was a “sense “ of Jewish only roads. Now in New Matilda it has become “builds roads specifically for Jewish settlers”. This his latest gem as conclusion to the article.
“The peace movement intends to win, and it’s only a matter of time before we do. “
AL leading light in Peace Movement now.
And the message to his Protocol believing mates I reckon is in there.
"We deserve to know why a tiny nation on the other side of the world, that has maintained an illegal occupation over the Palestinians for nearly 40 years, is given complete and total bi-partisan support by our two main political Parties. I believe the answers to this question are rooted in geopolitical realities, Zionist lobby pressure and self-interest"
http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?ArticleID=1745&HomepageID=155
That on LP they argue whether his is a polemic, or a scholarly work quite rattles me. That he fibs doesn’t matter? But then I am not an insider and don’t understand the mores of intellectual discourse
That the fact that he monsters his hospitable family in his book also doesn’t get some gray cells wondering is a marvel. I do look forward to his next book, (Random House, the Australian media, in 2007) which I am guessing will be called “Engineering Consent”. Should be priceless if he applies the same level of accuracy and partisanship when deciding to give the media players in Oz a blast. They have been kind to him so far. Whereas his current publication is a matter of curiosity to the big boys and girls in the media here, an attack on them might lead to an actual examination of the thoughts of Antony and some unpleasant refuting. Marr would certainly want to be in a position to distance himself from the idea that Antony is either a scholar or a truth teller.
That his story about Jews and Israel is the cloth which invisible to anyone who is stupid,
and Antony the tailor, may not particularly interest them. When the con man publishes the fiction about the media that purports to be scholarship, the tailor might have had his day.
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