In the tradition of this blog, I think that the time has come for us to examine why we see so much hatred and paranoia toward Jews on this site. Day in and day out, we see blog posters and commenters who use the all encompassing code word of “Zionist” to relate all ills of the world, and atrocities committed by the IRI, to the “Jewish conspiracy” to colonize the whole world. Some don’t even use code words. Just in the past couple of weeks I have noticed the following derogatory words used to refer to Jews on this site: “yaghoobi”, “bani yahood” and “al yahood”. And this is when we have a completely polite word in the Persian language to refer to our fellow Jewish Iranians: Kalimi. Astonishingly, we even had a blog not too long ago which was comprised of a single sentence which questioned the loyalty of Iranian Jews to their homeland simply because of their religious beliefs.
I wonder, what is causing this anti-Semitism in the Iranian community? After all, modern anti-Semitism is not an Iranian, Middle Eastern or even much of a Muslim concept. It is a European invention, coming to prominence in the 18th and 19th century Europe. So, why is anti-Semitism so prominent in the ex-pat Iranian community? In my opinion, there are two main reasons. First, I blame it on cultural isolation and IRI propaganda. Many Iranian ex-pats see themselves isolated from their adopted homeland and its culture. The IRI is well aware of this concept and targets them with all kinds of overt and covert propaganda, which they inevitably succumb to, or at least partially believe.
The second, and the ironic reason, is that despite these bunch’s dislike and criticism of everything “western”, they have actually adapted and accepted the most disgusting of the western cultural habits: anti-Semitism. As much as these people lament everything that is wrong with the West, they, in a bold display of irony, they do not hesitate for a minute in believing the western created myth of “Protocols of Elders of Zion” and / or the “Jewish conspiracy for world dominance” theory that is the modified version of that myth.
But, whatever the reason is, this is not the way forward for Iran and Iranians, and is certainly is not the way to create a secular democracy in our homeland where everyone’s rights are respected. Importing these vile foreign concepts into our culture will have a domino effect. It starts with the Jews, but it can carry on to Christians, Azeris, Beluchis, Arabs, etc.
So, next time you want to criticize the “West”, take a look in the mirror and ponder about what you have done and said about another group of people. If you cannot come to terms with your actions, then I suggest that you spare us your racist rants and kindly visit, and comment on, this site.
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the anti-semitism that you
by hamsade ghadimi on Tue Jan 26, 2010 06:56 AM PSTthe anti-semitism that you see in this site is mostly the obvious smokescreen that the resident iri apologists like to inject in every one of their statements. the iri government likes nothing more than divert the attention from the brutality of their totalitarian regime by pointing finger at everyone else in the world, especially israel. iri's stance against israel and for the palestinian cause also serves them in gaining support outside of iran and in the arab/muslim population. even though the deep-rooted hate of arabs toward iranians and the fact that palestinians supported saddam hussein in the war against iran.
onlyiran,
actually the "middle east" has an everchanging geograpghical definition. according to wiki, the entire north africa, central asia, afghanistan, pakistan and the "caucus" are now considered middle east. go figure. //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East
immortal guard,
after the jews were liberated from babylon and egypt, many of their craftsmen did migrate to iran and were part of the construction of perspolis.
nitemustfall
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jan 24, 2010 07:38 PM PSTYour reasons are totally flawed. I will start with the first point:
Which country in the Middle East actually possesses nuclear weapons?
As Onlyiran points out "Middle East" is an artificial idea.The geographical distances are a better measure. In that range we have the following nations.
Given the cordial relationships between IRI and the first 4 this obviously isn't a reason.
Which country in the Middle East refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
If you use geographical distance those nations would be: Pakistan; India and Israel. The other nations like Russia; US and China that signed it get an unfair advantage that allows them have all the weapons they want! Therefore there is nothing unique about Israel.
Which country in the Middle East refuses to allow international inspections of its nuclear facilities?
Again if you look at my list none of them allow inspection of their facilities!
I am not going to go through all the list. I already showed the first three are flawed.. It is obvious that OnlyIran got it right:. The IRR and Islamists want propaganda. That is why they pick Israel. Their mistake is that this dog don't hunt no more.
Most Iranians do not care one way or other about Israel. They worry about Iran.It is only the Islamists who froth at the mouth as soon as they hear Israel. But IRR types don't understand this so they keep repeating it.
A jew in America...
by Peter Pan on Sun Jan 24, 2010 03:37 PM PST//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVS4Zgjm8HE&feature...
There is no doubt that U.S.A
by benross on Sun Jan 24, 2010 04:23 PM PSTThere is no doubt that U.S.A is supporting the subsistence of Israel in a hostile environment. Zionism encouraged Jewish people to build themselves a motherland, a Promised Land, a land of their birth as a people. And they did just that. Regardless of what we think about the idea, this is what happened and this is the situation. Some Jews were not so keen to this idea from the beginning. Many prominent Jews. Einstein being one of them. He feared -rightly- that it will enflame hostility with non Jew local people. He was favouring the idea of Israel as a 'cultural' motherland. Not an actual 'country' with borders.
But now, the situation is as it is. Israel is here and it's not prepared to go anywhere. Far from it. Facing this reality, there is two options in front of us. Either you opt for eradicating Israel from earth, or you opt for eradicating hostility toward its existence. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION.
The rest of the story, nuclear weapons, land expansion and extension of security zones etc. etc. they are all byproducts of this unsettled situation. And they will not go away until the whole region concludes one of these two options: eradicating Israel, or eradicating hostility towards it.
You want to sit in between fine. But you won't go anywhere. You will be part of the problem not part of the solution. I'd say even Ahmadinejad has a more clear option -albeit wrong- than all these so called justice seekers.
Their position is like those who say they are not racist but they don't want blacks in their neighborhood!
Actually, the whole concept of "Middle East"
by Onlyiran on Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:19 AM PSTis an artificial "western" creation (for all you west-o-phobes out there). For instance, we hear that the IRI doesn't care about Chechnya because it's not in the "Middle East", even though Chechnya is geographically closer to Iran than Lebanon and Palestine and its populations are Muslims just like Palestine and Lebanon. So why not outrage against Russia? Why do we have to be limited to some geographical box that some British person put us in and called the "Middle East" a few decades ago. I wonder if our resident west haters have ever thought about that?
nitemustfall
by Onlyiran on Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:14 AM PSTbut this blog is not about hating Israel or Zionism. It's about antisemitism that is displayed on this site, especially antisemitism against our fellow Iranians.
Here are a few reasons....
by nitemustfall on Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:11 AM PSTHere are a few reasons why people (including most Iranians) hate Israel and zionism :
Which country in the Middle East actually possesses nuclear weapons?
Israel.
Which country in the Middle East refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
Israel.
Which country in the Middle East refuses to allow international inspections of its nuclear facilities?
Israel.
Which country in the Middle East occupies land belonging to other people?
Israel, which occupies a piece of Lebanon, a larger piece of Syria, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
Which country in the Middle East has for 62 years refused to allow refugees to return to their homes and refused to consider compensation to them for their lost property?
Israel.
Which country has roads on which citizens who are Arab may not drive and housing developments where Arabs may not live?
Israel.
Which country in the region has violated more United Nations resolutions than any other?
Israel. The United States has on more than one occasion gone to war ostensibly to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions, but when it comes to resolutions directed against Israel, the U.S. is like the amoral monkey that sees, hears and says nothing. That raises the question of who's the dog and who's the tail?
Which country in the region has in the past been led by men who at one time were terrorists with a price on their heads?
Israel. Former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir once led the Stern Gang and ordered, among other things, the assassination of Count Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat working for the United Nations. Former Prime Minister Menachem Begin led the Irgun, a terrorist gang that among other things blew up one wing of the King David Hotel, killing nearly 100 people.
Which country in the Middle East openly employs assassination against its political enemies?
Israel. There have been assassinations carried out by some of the Arab governments, but they usually don't own up to them. Israel has created a euphemism that the suck-up American press has readily adopted: "targeted killings." A British journalist told me once, "The Palestinians have a talent for picking bad leaders, and the Israelis have a talent for murdering their good ones."
What are the top five countries from US import oil?
Here they are in order of volume: Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Nigeria and Venezuela. The next time you hear some blowhard politician ranting about how the Arabs control our oil imports, remind him or her of the facts. By far, a majority of oil imports come from non-Arab countries.
Which country in the region receives an annual gift of $3 billion or more from Congress?
Israel.
Which foreign-aid recipient is the only one allowed to receive its aid in a lump sum and which routinely invests part of it in U.S. Treasuries so that taxpayers pay them interest on the taxpayers' gift?
Israel.
Which country in the Middle East has the most powerful lobby in the U.S.?
Israel.
Which country in the Middle East are most American politicians, journalists and academics afraid to criticize?
Israel.
On behalf of which country has the U.S. vetoed the largest number of U.N. Security Council resolutions?
Israel.
What country do the people in the region consider the world's biggest hypocrite?
The United States.
Which countries in the Middle East have attacked U.S. ships in international waters?
Iraq and Israel. A lone Iraqi plane fired one missile at a U.S. ship by mistake. The Iraqi government quickly compensated the U.S. In 1967, Israeli airplanes and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, killing 34 Americans. The U.S. government declared it an accident even before the ship limped into port, and to this day Congress has never held a public hearing and allowed the survivors to tell their story. Their story, by the way, is that the attack was deliberate. Israel compensated the families of those who were killed, but resisted for years paying compensation for the ship.
Ethnic Discrimination
by DW Duke on Sun Jan 24, 2010 07:16 AM PSTI suspect the ethnic discrimination to which you refer was ingrained during childhood in most of those who project it here. It does negatively impact the number of people who visit this site.
Date of Constructions...
by Immortal Guard on Sat Jan 23, 2010 06:53 PM PSTYou mean whether the Jews built them with their own hands like they helped build some of the pyramids in Egypt when they were actually slaves in Egypt and as I saw in the movie "The Twelve Commandments"?
I just find it amazing that these buildings were all built after the Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement in 1978!
I just ask myself how come there were no Persian-type buildings built around the world OR in U.S. when Iran was on friendly terms with U.S. and Israel before the 1979 revolution?
Immortal Guard
by Onlyiran on Sat Jan 23, 2010 06:31 PM PSTJews built all of those things?!
VPK
by Onlyiran on Sat Jan 23, 2010 06:29 PM PST"I know there are a lot of people upset about injustices towards Palestinians. But to me it is no different than Tibet; Sudan; Georgia; or a multitude of other places. So I don't share the same fervor when it comes to Israel."
That's because Tibet, Sudan, Georgia and other places do not have the same propaganda value for the IRI and its supporters as the Palestinian / Israeli conflict. In fact, if you take a look back to less tha a decade ago, the IRI was happy to do "business as usual" with the Russians while they were massacring Chechen Muslims, and Chechnya is closer in distance to Iran than Palestine. So, we know that all of this "passion" and "concern" for the Palestinian cause that is displayed by the IRI is all hogwash. The IRI really doesn't give a rat's behind about the Palestinians. They are just another propaganda tool for their expansionist agenda.
Moreover, if you look at the situation objectively, you will see that when you compare IRI's agenda vs. Israel's agenda, you will clearly see that the expansionist party in that comparison is the IRI and not Israel. As benross once said in a comment, Israel is not seeking expansion in the greater ME (the West Bank and the settlements notwithstanding), and this whole myth that the IRI has been feeding everyone that Israel doesn't like it because the IRI is an obstacle to its expansion is another propaganda nonsense. The evidence of that is that Israel had no problems with Iran pre-IRI (and in fact helped Iran militarily and technologically). Israel wants security, but the IRI wants to expand its ideology to far expanses of the ME, hence its aid to Hamas and Hezbollah.
Regardless of the above, the "Zionist" accusation being thrown out here, on this site, as my blog suggests, is an expression of Antisemitism. For example, there are several users who throw the accusation out on regular bases. But I have seen recently that when they get frustrated, they come right out and express their true intention, and start talking about the al-Yahood and Yaghoubiss, etc. It's cultural isolation, coupled with IRI propaganda and an infusion of western antisemitism, which is the only thing that they have learned from their years of living abroad.
Aren't Arabs Semites too???
by benross on Sat Jan 23, 2010 06:07 PM PSTAren't Arabs Semites too??? So maybe anti-Semitism is a misnomer afterall?
I don't remember where I read it but it was arguing -very successfully- that people who have the most animosity against each-other are people who resemble each-other the most!
...."Colonize the Whole World"....
by Immortal Guard on Sat Jan 23, 2010 05:52 PM PSTYou mentioned in your article "Jewish conspiracy to colonize the whole world".
I don't mind as long as they don't come and build a pyramid-shaped building in Iran with Iranian money like the ones below:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxor_Hotel
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Arena
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Pyramid
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_Pyramid
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P1260138.JPG
I don't mind if they build a Persepolis replica in Egypt!
When it comes to chosing
by masoudA on Sat Jan 23, 2010 05:51 PM PSTbetween Jews and the Arabs - Iranians chose the Isrealites any day - It is not just me saying that, out history says it. We are just more compatible culturaly. Don't believe the mullah propaganda - check out our history.
So what- I am one because GOD is one
by mannya2001 on Sat Jan 23, 2010 05:25 PM PSTI am anti-semite: ALL Semites
I look forward to the day when they fight one another to death. Let them both Palestinians and Israelis and Arab Sunnis fight to their death. Why should I be sad??
God made these people fight one another from the days of Abraham. If God wants it this way, I think it is going against GOd's will to stop them
Thanks GOd, both of these tribes have exposed one another to the world. We have seen Israeli treatment of Pals. and vice versa.
Any honorable Iranian should ask himself why we should defend Pals. when Egypt, Jordan and Mahmood Abbas ( leader of 60 % of Pals) work with Israelis. We also witnessed the bravery of Pals. when the father of Mohammad Al Durra was trying to hide behind his son while Israelis were shooting. Any Iranian or even Kurd would have thrown himself utop of his child to protect them from bullets.
Let's not bring these people's problems amidst our culture. Let them kill one another- otherwise they will start to fight with us.
They have brought nothing but misery and vodoo to the world. THey introduced to us Moses the man that divided the sea!!Allaho Akbar. He divides the sea infront of his people then days later his people turn and worship a GOlden Cow...Go figure some miracle indeed...
My take
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sat Jan 23, 2010 05:01 PM PSTMy take is a bit different. I noticed people on both sides who are obsessed with Israel. On one side there are those who call anyone they disagree with Zionist and blame all problems on Zionists. On other other side there are some who seem more worried about security of Israel than Iran. Personally I go to this site to talk about Iran. Therefore in this context I am just not that interested in what Israel is doing expect when it affects Iran.
I know there are a lot of people upset about injustices towards Palestinians. But to me it is no different than Tibet; Sudan; Georgia; or a multitude of other places. So I don't share the same fervor when it comes to Israel.
By the way this is no way a problem with this web site. It is a very general issue. This web site is just more open so you get more of this. The same goes with name calling. This web side to JJ's credit is more open so you get more inflammatory discussion. I do not call this a problem of this web site. In fact I give credit to JJ for allowing pretty free discussion. The price of freedom is having to listen or read nonsense.
Benross
by Onlyiran on Sat Jan 23, 2010 04:55 PM PSTyou are absolutely correct. Some of those leftovers are still stuck in their "struggle", and others are riding political Islam's anti-Semitic doctrine, hoping that it will be the holy grail that will keep the masses united and fired up now that their 1979 experiment has failed. But like you said, they are of no consequence, and the chants of "na ghazeh, na lebnan, janam fadaye iran" on IRI's "Ghods" circus proved it.
Try Pro-Semitism...
by Immortal Guard on Sat Jan 23, 2010 04:54 PM PSTHow come there is no such term such as pro-Semitism?
I guess that would throw the Jews (sorry I mean Zionists) off the balance. It would be a completely unknown concept and will rob the Jews of the ability to keep their eyes on the ball.
So maybe anti-Semitism is a kind of survival mechanism needed by the Jews afterall???
Last but not list: Aren't Arabs Semites too??? So maybe anti-Semitism is a misnomer afterall? And how come we don't have a term called anti-Aryanism? Why is anyone advocating Aryanism is automatically labeled as a Skin Head or a Nazi???
Olyiran
by benross on Sat Jan 23, 2010 03:20 PM PSTAs it was mentioned in another blog of yours, I think it's the rotten 'left' over of cold war era, conformably dissimulating anti-Semitism of political Islam. Some dinosaurs still believe in it. Other than uselessly filling out IC pages, they are of no consequences... and my hope for Mehrdad salvation just vanished before my eyes!
You're right, onlyiran
by Sargord Pirouz on Sat Jan 23, 2010 04:14 PM PSTI cannot possibly be an anti-Semite. But I am definitely against apartheid in Palestine. Now you might say that my jewish friends against Zionism are "self-hating", but as we all know (or should know by now), this is just another trap set by the Zionists. Don't fall for it.
As for the many, many accusations hurled about IC for being an "agent" of this, or an "apologist" for that, I suggest you don't take such things seriously. There's a lot of shallow commenters here who find it necessary to stoop to such low levels whenever the discussion ranges beyond their abilities.
I never take it personally. Instead it provides me with a level of satisfaction, knowing that such resorts are in fact a sign of intellectual weakness on their part.
wow, sargord has Jewish friends
by Onlyiran on Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:36 AM PSTI'm impressed! Then you cannot possibly be an anti-Semite!!!
For all of you out there who are commenting, the purpose of this blog is not to have a discussion about Zionism vs. being Jewish, etc., and please don't take my words out of context. THere are many other words used to demean Jews on this site, and I have enumerated them above.
Let's not kid ourselves. When the accusations of being a Zionist and an AIPAC agent is thrown out like candy on this site at anyone who is critical of the IRI, we all know that the accuser(s) are not talking about the greater Zionist movement. We know that what they really mean is that "you don't like the IRI because you're a dirty Jew who wants to rule the world and the IRI is the only thing that is standing in your way". Now, you can hide behind all kinds of philosophical arguments on how you really don't mean that, but we know better. As someone said below, let's call a spade a spade.
Benross: You got it wrong again
by Bavafa on Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:28 AM PSTIndeed I am very much anti Ezraeli, and their fascist policy towards Palestinians.
Just wanted you to have the correct record,should you chose to report me in.
Mehrdad
commit human rights violation lately??
by gitdoun ver.2.0 on Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:23 AM PSTany group that commits human rights violation look for people to be disgusted at them if not go waaay over board and be racist. this pitfall of ignorance/hate applies to iranians as well as non-iranians. i'm iranian muslim i had NOTHING to do with 9/11 and yet i'm called terrorist or sandnigger by jews,mexicans, whites, blacks etc. etc.-- Israeli Jews i dunno ,,,, have Never EVER done human rights violations.--Just Kidding !!! But when Israel is harped on by the U.N. for commiting gross human rights violations look for people, be it iranian or non-iranian, to vent their legitimate disgust and anger at Jews. However, i agree, people should refrain from transforming that disgust and anger into that satanic abyss called Racism.
2nd, iranian jews who have accepted this political cult called Zionism their first and foremost allegiance is to Israel. canada? america? iran? everything else is 2nd. infact jewish endeavor in these countries is to ultimately enrich and strengthen the zionist regime. And that is perfectly fine. Their is nothing wrong with that. But let's call a Spade a Spade and not pretend otherwise.
Something tells me
by mannya2001 on Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:40 AM PSTMr/ms onlyiran listens on a daily basis to John Lennon's "Image there's no heavan."
You need an education, onlyiran
by Sargord Pirouz on Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:36 AM PSTAnti-Zionism is NOT the same as anti-Semitism. Zionists try to conflate the two terms / concepts, but they do so only to defend and protect their apartheid policies and goals in the territory of Palestine. By your own ignorance, you have fallen for this trap.
By example, I've jewish friends that are anti-Zionist.
Now, you want to talk about racism here at iranian.com? Just look at all the anti-Arab racism commented here by elements of so-called secularists and some monarchists. There's your real racism, onlyiran.
It's good to know that
by benross on Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:19 AM PSTIt's good to know that Mehrdad is NOT anti-Israeli.
Are you equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism?
by Bavafa on Sat Jan 23, 2010 09:43 AM PSTPerhaps I have missed those posts and they should be condemned, but I don't think they are anti Semitism which Zionist try to portray any one criticizing Israel or Zionist as anti-Semitism. Hardly they are the same and any one believing in that, is falling into their trap. If so, that would be the same as saying anti IRI is anti Iran and Iranians.
Mehrdad
Hatred comes from fear
by John on Sat Jan 23, 2010 08:32 AM PSTThis is something that has always disturbed me about this web site. It should be about revealing the vast Iranian culture and its people past and present, but too often it descends into name-calling and bigotry.
Unfortunately, the need to have an enemy and to find the bogeyman's fingerprints on every bad thing that happens to us appears to be one of human nature's worst, and most prevalent, characteristics.