Leslie Hughes: Raving Anti-Semite?

The Dion Liberals have asked Leslie Hughes to step out of the race, apparantly, she is an anti-semite! This fiasco certainly illustrates the changes within the various Jewish advocacy groups in Canada, especially after the takeover last year by CIJA and her moneybag sponsers.

Liberals ask candidate to step down over 9/11 comments
'No room' for 'odious' anti-Semitic conspiracy theories: Jewish group CEO


(Dion said)"I have reviewed the past comments of Lesley Hughes and it is clear they do not meet [our] standard," Dion said in a Friday release. "While I appreciate her apology, I cannot condone those sentiments in any way. I have therefore asked Ms. Hughes to step down as the Liberal party candidate in Kildonan-St. Paul."

Hughes, who learned of Dion's request from CBC News in Winnipeg, said she was stunned.

"It's a major shock to my faith in the party and the whole system," said Hughes, who defended her track record by citing her biography about a leading figure of the Jewish community and the Holocaust education that she taught in classes at the University of Winnipeg for more than a decade.

"It's the theatre of the absurd," said Hughes.

Well Ms. Hughes, welcome to the current state of affairs in Canadian politics. You cannot criticise Israel in any way whatsoever and certainly not the official conspiracy of Arabs version of the 911 attacks. This is clearly and transparantly pure anti-semitism on your part. Repent now.

The trend in the last decade to equate the actions of Israel with the desires of all Jews, whether Israelis or living in the Diaspora, is polarising the view and understanding of us all. There are many Jews who don't agree with the actions of the State of Israel and do not abide by her decisions. Yet, what we have now in Canada is a silencing of their voices.

How did this happen? Where is the plurality of opinion gone in the CJC? Was it ever even allowed? I digress.

If anyone is interested in reading the article which has resulted in this woman's turfing here it is.

The only bit which even mentions Israel (not Jews) is excerpted below:

Many official sources are claiming to have warned the American intelligence community, which spends $30 billion a year gathering information, about the attacks on the twin towers on that heartbreaking day.

German Intelligence (BND) claims to have warned the U.S. last June, the Israeli Mossad and Russian Intelligence in August. Israeli businesses, which had offices in the Towers, vacated the premises a week before the attacks, breaking their lease to do it. About 3000 Americans working there were not so lucky.

Yes, that is it. That is why Leslie has now been tarred with the 'anti-semite' label.

Question: Can Dion read? Did he read this piece? If so, can he explain what exactly is the problem here?

Greens, Anti-semitism, Free Speech and Canada

Wow... I haven't had time to blog much - but I just had to put something up about this:

Green Candidate accused of 'Israel-Bashing' gets May's support

Before posting excerpts from the article, let me just say that it's badly written, though of course not surprising, as any criticism of Israeli policy with regards to the Palestinian Peoples is wrongly labelled 'anti-semitism' by the mainstream (shilling) media, and of course by the gatekeepers themselves - the CIC. Please note this is NOT about the recent ousting of Shavluk in BC - who was also accused of making 'anti-semetic' comments on an online forum (which I personally remember and the worst about him wasn't those comments btw).

No this time it's a renowned neurologist, Dr.Qais Ghanem. What did he dare to do? Gosh, it seems that he dared to suggest that the party adopt the view that Israel should withdraw to her 67 borders, as suggested by the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. What you never heard of it? No wonder - as it is supported by all Arab Lands and would actually lead to peace for Israel and a future for the displaced and stateless people of Palestine. It is not radical, and it allows for 'normalised' relations by all Arab League countries wrt Israel (I know, I know - how could Israel continue playing the victim card is she actually started to get on with her neighbours?) But I digress...

Sara Saber-Freedman, executive vice-president of the Canada Israel Committee, said the Greens would be adopting an extreme position should the resolution be endorsed by party members at their next convention.

“We think it would be extraordinarily unfortunate if it were to be adopted,” she said. “It would place the Green Party very far outside the Canadian mainstream.”

Oh really Sara? So, anyone who doesn't support the ongoing occupation, collective punishment and theft of land by Israel is out of the mainstream? Really? To me, Israel's security depends on learning how to get on with others, learning to play nice and not be the spoiled brat in the sandbox. It would go a long way to changing the Arab world's opinion of her, but alas if there was peace how could the extortion of Billions of dollars in the name of security continue?

Back to the story. Dr. Ghanem is certainly not an anti-semite. The greens aren't either. Yet these days it seems anyone calling Israel out on her behaviour is deemed one. This is ridiculous. If we criticise the Canadian government's policies does that mean I am anti-canadian? If I am bitching about US foreign policy am I then anti-american? What if I don't agree with the Pope? Am I then anti-Catholic? What nonsense. The overuse of the term anti-semite detracts from those who ARE real jew-haters - who hate Jews simply due to the fact they are Jews. Lumping all Jews together with the actions of the state of Israel is a slippery slope. It endangers Jews not only those in Israel, but those in the diaspora as well.

The CIC would do better to stop using the term, or at least use a better one: Anti-Likud, might do.