RE: [Marxism] How to answer these questions?,

[dwalters@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Cleary one has to admit that there is a certain 'contextual' question involved.
We're discussing this issue of Arab anti-Semitism right now, on this list, and
no one seems to mind. I think  the "where" and the "how" is of utmost
important.

Intellectually, I agree with Yoshi, et al, that one can't avoid the issue and it
has to be delt with. In fact, *every* current deals with it when it's raised.
The Jackson "Hymie" remark was discussed, and, generally dismissed as Jackson
being stupid, which, at any rate, he apologized for. When working with the
Nationn of Islam, this issue has arisen. It comes up, and needs to be
explained, and, depending on the context it's being brought up, it's a 'good
thing' not a 'bad thing'.

I engaged for some time last year with supporters of the Free Arab Voice, a
mostly Palestinian and Lebanese organization that slowly has adopted a
Holocuast Revisionist view as a way of combating the victimology of Zionism. We
talked, we made our points etc. Big deal.

In this country, I would take issue with who ever said anti-Zionist
Jewish-Americans are not involved enough in pro-Palestinian actions. I would
disagree, at least from personal experience in Boston and San Francisco the
*overwhelming majority" of non-Arab participation in these events are *Jewish*.
In fact, it's sort of a 'problem' since Jewish-Americans don't represent the
cross section of the American people. Whenever Jews participate, it has an
effect on Palestinian activists. The "problem," is that in the US, it seems to
me, my impression, is that the overwhelming majority of Palestinian activists
are secular and come from the secular Palestinain historical political
movements associated with the PLO.

Hamas supporters, in my experience, don't show their faces that openly, for
obvious reasons. But there seems to be a real secular presense among
Palestinians in the US. In the Bay Area it is a little skewed in that the
majority population of Palestinian residents are Christians, not muslims. But
there is not an issue one can't discuss with them in the proper context, either
informally or formally.

I am afraid that objectively, without meaning it, Joaquin comes off totally
condensending toward either Blacks and the issue of anti-Semitism or Arabs and
the issue of anti-Semitism. Everything and anything can be discussed, *as
comrades* and should be. If the propaganda or rhetoric, or more often than not
the hyperbole of *some* activists comes off as anti-Jewish then it hinders
*their struggle* and prevents the building, or at least raises obstacles,
toward united front actions against Zionism.

This is especially true in this country vis-a-vis Palestinians, since any
solidarity movement, to be succesful, HAS to based on the level of development
of political understand of the US working class, Palestinian positions
notwithstanding. A solidarity movement here, for Lebanon and Palestine should
not cater to, or become subordinate  to the positions of Palestinian activist
groups and individuals, especially if those positions hinder building
solidarity. That means having serious discussions on these issues.

David Walters

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