I appreciate Jeff's comments here re. Israel's attack and re. the Israel Lobby vs. the S. A. Apartheid lobby. Compelling points, both. I just have been selective in what I've been able to respond to, which is why I didn't respond earlier. In my case, at least, and I suspect in general, Jeff's conclusion that "I guess there are some 60s events that are better not talked about.about" is not merited. I don't think what you said somehow ran counter to some ideological consensus on this list, Jeff, if that's what you meant. Ted Morgan Jeffrey Blankfort wrote: > The following page by me appeared in the 1990 City Lights Review edited > by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Nancy Peters. I think it makes the > point that I've been trying to make in a somewhat different way. There > are those people who argue that the power of the pro-Israel lobby, > simply known as "the lobby" in Washington, is overrated. But they are > not the politicians who know better and who know that it is easier and > politically safer to speak out against US policy anywhere in the world > than publicly challenge Israel. > > I have noticed, by the way, that there has not been a single comment on > this list regarding my posting on Israel's attack on the USS Liberty on > June 8, 1967 which killed 34 US sailors and wounded 171 others... and > which led subsequent Israeli governments to correctly understand that > they can get away with anything, including killing Americans. I guess > there are some 60s events that are better not talked about. > > Jeff Blankfort > > If South Africa had a lobby > as powerful as the Israeli lobby... > > * Nelson Mandela would not be free. > * There would be no sanctions against South Africa. > * South Africa would be the largest recipient of US aid. > * The African National Congress would still be outlawed. > * Congress would have endorsed the idea that apartheid is not racism. > * Pro-apartheid forces cloaked as peace-makers would try to control > the anti-apartheid movement. > * Public television would require "balanced" reporting to counter > anti-apartheid programs. > * Journalists. academics and others who criticized apartheid would be > targets of character assasinations. > * The struggle of the Boers against the British for control of South > Africa would be considered a "national liberation struggle." > * South Africa would ultimately be defended as the only "democracy" in > Africa. > *__________________________________________________________________ > (Fill in whatever we forgot and send to your local congressperson) > > (First of a series of Public Service Advisories) > > Jeffrey Blankfort
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