Having pointed out, slightly nervously, in response to a recent post, that it was good that HP was a pluralist blog – here’s a miscellany of different stories from varied parts of the blogosphere.
Starting with our comrades over at Socialist Unity. In an article of more than usual ghastliness from John Wight, criticising Mehdi Hasan (apparently Melanie Phillips and North London dinner parties have infected him or something), I did find one point I had to agree with. Wight picks out this bit for criticism:
“How can Muslims complain about our rights, our freedoms, our collective future, if we aren’t engaged in the political process across the board as active British citizens? We have an obligation, as Britons and as Muslims, to fully participate in local and national debates and not to stand idly by.”
And I suppose I go along with Wight in so far as I too think Muslims should be able to talk about their rights and freedoms, or grumble about anti-Muslim discourse or whatever, without any preconditions – i.e. without taking part in the political process across the board.
For example, a Muslim might reasonably object to this story, which I read about on Islamophobia Watch. It seems a clear cut case of anti-Muslim bigotry, comparatively minor, but very irksome. Apparently a French school girl was sent home for wearing a maxi skirt because it seemed a bit religious – outlawing clear religious symbols is one thing – but it seems doubtful that a Christian girl’s choice of skirt would have been viewed in this way.
But, although this seemed unfair, her problems are trivial compared to those faced by a 17 year old Egyptian boy, imprisoned for three years for publishing cartoons mocking Islam on his Facebook page. This is the maximum penalty for the ‘crime’.
Some time ago I observed how completely appalling most pro-Palestinian sites seemed to be. So it seems fair to acknowledge a more thoughtful (and well written) example of the genre, Steve Hynd’s blog. So many Palestinian activists seem either to be racist or indifferent to racism, certainly indifferent to Israelis, whom they seem intent on dehumanising with their hyperbole and hate. Hynd seems to be making an effort to avoid that kind of rhetoric, which doesn’t mean he is not rather selective and partisan in his posts. But that’s allowed.
He doesn’t, for example, talk much about Palestinians imprisoned by the PA – on CifWatch there is an interesting story about two Palestinian writers who have been imprisoned for criticising their leaders.
Press freedom is meant to be protected under Palestinian law but the legislation allows for journalists to be prosecuted for activities which threaten “Palestinian unity or values”.
Another topic not often considered by those eager to note the failings of Israel is the problem of antisemitism in the region. In a mailing from the hate monitor group, I read about the success enjoyed in Jordan by a book which invokes the Protocols, reasserts the blood libel and claims that Jews are intent on making war and converting others to their faith.
Finally two stories focusing on the need to preserve knowledge and memories. Over on Lolo Diklo there is a moving cross post from Romani Elders – this site aims to pass on the experiences of older Roma in the hope that the lessons of history may help improve the lives of Roma today. Zoni Weisz describes his final memories of being parted from his family, who all died in Auschwitz whereas he, put on another train, managed to survive the war.
Over on Shiraz Socialist there is a call to support two libraries threatened by the problems faced by London Metropolitan University – a Women’s History and a Trade Union History collection. There is a link to a petition to try to save these for the benefit of later researchers and activists.
