[CIMC-work] [dwlb@uchicago.edu: [Imc-chicago] editorial policy]

[donald goldhamer]

I think that Dan's note (below) deserves a response, and I am willing to do
so after we reach consensus.

My PERSONAL opinion, as a Jew, is that the graphic is disturbing, and is
intended to be so -- directed at the state of Israel (and not all its
citizens).

I do not believe that it is either anti-semetic or racist -- it might be
perceived to be so only if you equate Israel (the nation-state) and its
flag with Judaism (the faith).  Those who accept the idea that Zionist
aspirations, as implemented by the Israeli government, are legitimate may
well feel offended by such graphic criticism of the state of Israel.

I believe that the graphic is powerful and grotesque, but is so only
because the state of Israel has appropriated the star of David into its
flag.  Dan's analogy to "cross burning" is useful, in that most Christians
have no difficulty rejecting that outrageous misuse of the symbol of the
cross.  But it is the state of Israel which has misappropriated the symbol
in this case, and not the protestors.

It is that state of Israel which has made delusional claims that it
represents all people of the Jewish faith. It, in fact, represses many Jews
within its borders for their political and even religious beliefs.

--Don

---------------

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 06:26:30 -0600
From: dwlb at uchicago.edu
To: IMC-Chicago at indymedia.org
Subject: [Imc-chicago] editorial policy

Hi guys,

I just went to chicago.indymedia.org, and saw in the top right hand side of
the page the following image:

http://chicago.indymedia.org/media/all/display/8483/index.php?limit_start=48

This image is really disturbing, anti-semetic and racist and makes me feel very
uncomfortable.  I was wondering if you could hide it.

Now, I've heard the argument that because the star of david has been
apropriated into the israeli flag, and the arguement that the state of
israel's conduct towards the palestinian people is similar to the Nazi's
conduct towards the jewish people is protected under indymedia's editorial
policy, it's ok to have an israeli flag embeded with a nazi swastika.
However, in a large sense the meshing of the two symbols is so powerful and
grotesque, it stands on a profoundly different level than the argument
above. It's like the burning of a cross. It really is hate speach against
jews, and is profoundly disturbing and traumatizing, especially for those
who had family killed in the holucaust.  Indymedia should remove that image
from its website, or at least from the cycle of images that circulate in
the top right hand corner.

peace,

dan lb