I don't see her comments as antisemitic per se, but they perfectly illustrate the Labour Party's issue with antisemitism, particularly under the previous leadership. Corbyn himself, despite his and his supporters' unshakeable belief that there wasn't a racist bone in his body, came over as antisemitic.
Hence the reaction, which could be seen as excessive but where Starmer needs to make a point. I'd also suggest that Abbott is seen as a risk, and open target for the media, os he's been given the chance to remove that risk.
This has nothing to do with Corbyn, or left wing politics.
This ridiculous letter exposes the lie at the centre of BLM. The fallacy that racism is a simple matter of the struggle between oppressed blacks against oppressor whites, hence white guilt, and everything else is just gradations of oppression, right down to the nastiness shown to redheads.
This argument is not just naive and stupid, it's very dangerous, taken to its conclusion two extremes collide. In the United States it is not unknown for blacks to express hostility towards Jews because of the belief that Jews are the chief white oppressor, what with secretly running the world and what not. Which bizarrely dove tails with white supremacists chanting "Jews will not replace us", coz they know Jews are out to destroy the white world order, that would be the same white world order some blacks believe is run by Jews! Coz every true Aryan knows the "tribe" is out to dilute all those pure white bloodlines.
Jews are caught between a rock and a hard place. In such circumstances, given the terrible consequences of complacency, is it any wonder that establishment Jewish groups trashed Corbyn? Even hounding "unacceptable" Jews who dissented! Many Jewish Groups and publications behaved appallingly during the Corbyn era, they lied and dissembled and you're still doing it now, but if I were in your situation I'd probably do the same.
Agreed it’s complicatedShe seems to be arguing for a hierarchy of racism and is not the first to do so.
The question is whether one form of racism is 'better' than another, or whether they are all equally bad. And that in turn brings up awkward questions like why are the Irish seen as more likely to be discriminated against than (say) the Welsh; especially when, if you look at DNA, English Welsh, Irish and Scots are pretty much the same race anyway.
It's mind-bogglingly complicated.
I don't agree with your first line. The hard left that Corbyn is a key proponent of is awash with antisemitism. Individually Corbyn and other lefties may not be antisemitic but to say its a recurring theme is an understatement. A quick dip in to hard left social media and antisemitism is easily uncovered, it's no surprise to me Corbyn had 'liked' a clearly antisemitic image, there are lots on there.
Their reluctance to acknowledge it is a clear problem and leads to the almost non existence of efforts to address it. They refuse to enter into the debate, but will happily discuss the oppression of the Palestinians from dawn to dusk. Abbot is clearly influenced by these views, it's a shame as she was a very good and moderate Labour MP for the main part of her career. She is ruining her legacy.
Interesting comment just now on LBC
Has she done it to undermine Starmer in the upcoming local elections. Starmer has ostracised the left, maybe it is payback for the treatment of her pal Jeremy.
Because you're not allowed to be proud any more. Just Gammon, jingoistic and racist - heaven forbid don't celebrate or even reference St George's Day.I’m not sure if this is a serious point but why is waving a Union Jack and supporting the royal family racist?
I’m not sure if this is a serious point but why is waving a Union Jack and supporting the royal family racist?