was not to address any of the points in your OP; it was to assert that "genocide" is an inappropriate word to use in referring to Israeli's actions. These actions are arguably reckless or indefensible for many reasons (I'm on the fence about it all, personally), but "genocide" simply is not what's going on. I think we need to think about why Israel's critics use this demonizing term so readily. Kit's post here (and accompanying articles) on Wiesel, Levi, Begin, and Biden sheds some light on how the Jews variously mythologize the Shoah, but, as real genocide proper could not be more strongly associated with it, to call Israel's policies "genocidal" has unique rhetorical force. |