Comments on: Human rights for all http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The hacks line-up at Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-137774 The hacks line-up at Antony Loewenstein Thu, 10 May 2007 14:00:06 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-137774 [...] the latest talking points from the Israeli Foreign Ministry. And then there’s Philip Mendes, about whom I’ve written before, a man strangely keen for mainstream Jewish community [...] [...] the latest talking points from the Israeli Foreign Ministry. And then there’s Philip Mendes, about whom I’ve written before, a man strangely keen for mainstream Jewish community [...]

]]> By: Turning the other cheek » | Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-13222 Turning the other cheek » | Antony Loewenstein Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:16:13 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-13222 [...] I recently attended the Brisbane’s Writer’s Festival and one of my papers discussed Israel and Zionism (Brisbane Writer’s Festival discussion paper - Loewenstein). I debated Melbourne academic and “left-winger” Philip Mendes (more on Mendes here), a man seemingly torn between critiquing Israeli occupation yet incapable of truly condemning it. His heart and head are hopelessly conflicted. [...] [...] I recently attended the Brisbane’s Writer’s Festival and one of my papers discussed Israel and Zionism (Brisbane Writer’s Festival discussion paper – Loewenstein). I debated Melbourne academic and “left-winger” Philip Mendes (more on Mendes here), a man seemingly torn between critiquing Israeli occupation yet incapable of truly condemning it. His heart and head are hopelessly conflicted. [...]

]]> By: Mannie De Saxe http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-11682 Mannie De Saxe Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:33:13 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-11682 Philip Mendes doesn't have the courage of his convictions as the following exchange of emails between him and me shows: <b><i>Email from me to Philip Mendes on 4 June 2006: I didn't ever receive a response from you, so, to this day, I have no idea why you sent me an email saying "please read the attached file," with the subject saying Re: Your website What was supposed to be the purpose of the message? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Email from me to Philip Mendes on 5 August 2005: There is no attached file to read. ------------------------------------------------------ Email from Philip Mendes to me on 3 Aug 2005: Please read the attached file.</b></i> I am still trying to work out what it was all about!! So much for our so-called "left-wing" intellectuals! Philip Mendes doesn't have the courage of his convictions as the following exchange of emails between him and me shows:

Email from me to Philip Mendes on 4 June 2006:

I didn't ever receive a response from you, so, to this day, I have no idea

why you sent me an email saying "please read the attached file," with

the subject saying Re: Your website

What was supposed to be the purpose of the message?

————————————————————————–

Email from me to Philip Mendes on 5 August 2005:

There is no attached file to read.

——————————————————

Email from Philip Mendes to me on 3 Aug 2005:

Please read the attached file.

I am still trying to work out what it was all about!!

So much for our so-called "left-wing" intellectuals!

]]> By: M.Mayes http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-11621 M.Mayes Sat, 19 Aug 2006 19:46:27 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-11621 Well I'll be damned, I would have said that statement was pretty balanced given the different states mentioned and particularly the "or ANY others". But I guess Leo that you can pick an anti-semite from a mile away right. As for double standards I think given Israel's double standards in human rights circumstances (ie. treating a people like crap, then wondering why they suicide bomb Israel, then bulldoze houses in "self-defense") would blow away any serious arguements against Antony and others having double standards. Well I'll be damned, I would have said that statement was pretty balanced given the different states mentioned and particularly the "or ANY others". But I guess Leo that you can pick an anti-semite from a mile away right.

As for double standards I think given Israel's double standards in human rights circumstances (ie. treating a people like crap, then wondering why they suicide bomb Israel, then bulldoze houses in "self-defense") would blow away any serious arguements against Antony and others having double standards.

]]> By: Leo Buddha http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-11614 Leo Buddha Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:51:13 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-11614 Antony wrote: <blockquote>An individual who subscribes to a human rights agenda is equally critical when Jews, Arabs, Palestinians, Americans or Australians [or ANY others] breach accepted norms.</blockquote> Right on Antony. And that is one fool-proof test of antisemitism and other xxxisms. Sadly, some human rights activists DO seem to fail that test. It's dem double standards again. Antony wrote:
An individual who subscribes to a human rights agenda is equally critical when Jews, Arabs, Palestinians, Americans or Australians [or ANY others] breach accepted norms.

Right on Antony. And that is one fool-proof test of antisemitism and other xxxisms. Sadly, some human rights activists DO seem to fail that test.

It's dem double standards again.

]]> By: Ian http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-11506 Ian Thu, 17 Aug 2006 19:06:02 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-11506 Antony, its not only the "Australian Jewish Left" who can't deal with this. Yitzhak Laor has made much the same point about the deafening silence from Israeli moderates in the <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n16/laor01_.html" rel="nofollow">London Review of Books</a>. I found the last paragraph detailing the one sided/centred concerns of the Israeli "peace camp" particularly compelling. Antony, its not only the "Australian Jewish Left" who can't deal with this. Yitzhak Laor has made much the same point about the deafening silence from Israeli moderates in the London Review of Books.

I found the last paragraph detailing the one sided/centred concerns of the Israeli "peace camp" particularly compelling.

]]> By: adrian http://antonyloewenstein.com/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-11497 adrian Thu, 17 Aug 2006 17:17:47 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2006/08/17/human-rights-for-all/#comment-11497 I am astounded to discover that Philip Mendes is considered left-wing. I have not been aware of him before so I went on the google site to see what there was of him on the web. There is an interesting article of his at "http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2988" entitled "Are anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism one and the same thing". The gist of this, as far as I can see, is that he considers that Anti-Zionism is not anti-semitic if it accepts the existence of Israel and simply talks of issues about israel against a backdrop of Israel's continuing right to exist. However, Anti-Ziuonism is definitely anti-semitic if it opposes the existence of israel. If this sort of fatuous reasoning is the best he is capable of, I find it hard to take him seriously. I am astounded to discover that Philip Mendes is considered left-wing. I have not been aware of him before so I went on the google site to see what there was of him on the web. There is an interesting article of his at "http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2988&quot; entitled "Are anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism one and the same thing".

The gist of this, as far as I can see, is that he considers that Anti-Zionism is not anti-semitic if it accepts the existence of Israel and simply talks of issues about israel against a backdrop of Israel's continuing right to exist. However, Anti-Ziuonism is definitely anti-semitic if it opposes the existence of israel.

If this sort of fatuous reasoning is the best he is capable of, I find it hard to take him seriously.

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