Excellent, informative post by William Jacobson:

Should These Jews Also Go Back to Poland and Germany?

Helen Thomas' comments that Jews in Israel should go back to Poland and Germany perpetuated the falsehood that Israel is a European implant, which fits nicely into the narrative of the Islamist-Leftist anti-Israel coalition.

In fact, as I documented before, there was an exchange of populations at the time of and after Israel's independence, with roughly equal numbers of Jews fleeing Muslim lands to Israel as there were non-Jews fleeing what now is Israel and the West Bank.

In following up on Thomas' comments, I came upon the story of the expulsion of Jews from Iraq, which started with the Farhoud (sometimes called "Krystallnacht in Baghdad").

I never heard of the Farhud specifically, although I was aware at a more general level of the attacks on Jews in Muslim lands prior to and after the creation of the State of Israel. This post was illuminating:

Few people in Iraq know what happened in Baghdad exactly 69 years ago.

But on June 1-2, 1941, something previously unthinkable in the city occurred. Mobs attacked the capital's prosperous and influential Jewish community, killing more than 100 people and looting homes.

By the time the orgy of murder and pillaging was done, the Jewish community was so shaken that it would never recover. Within 10 years, the vast majority would leave the country, leaving behind just the handful of people who tend the capital's empty synagogue today.

The two days of terror are known in Iraq as the Farhud, the Arabic word for pillaging or looting an enemy. Yet most Iraqis know very little about the event because Iraq's history books rarely speak of them. Those writers who do mention those days simply explain the violence as the result of the Iraqi Jewish community's "Zionist activities," ithout detailing more.

But people who survived the attacks and remember the events tell another story -- like Layer Abudia, who now lives in Israel, who was a child at the time of the pogrom.

An interesting discussion of the forced expulsion of the Iraqi Jewish community, much of which ended up in Israel, is in this clip of Iraqi Author Dr. Rashid Al-Khayounfrom which appeared on Al-Arabiya TV (transcript here). A key player in the expulsion of the Jews of Iraq to British Palestine (and eventually Israel) was the Nazi-supporting Grand Mufti of Jerusalem:

Interviewer: But many of the Jews moved to Israel.

Dr. Rashid Al-Khayoun: They were coerced to move.

Interviewer: Who forced them?

Dr. Rashid Al-Khayoun: The wave of pan-Arab nationalism within Iraq.

Interviewer: So they thought that Israel would be better for them than Iraq?

Dr. Rashid Al-Khayoun: They did not go [straight] to Israel. First, they went to European countries, to Iran... They tried to find an interim region from where they could later return to Iraq. You shouldn't be surprised if I told you that the first to study [the possibility] of expelling the Jews from Iraq was the so-called Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin Al-Husseini.

Interviewer: What, Amin Al-Husseini banished the Jews of Iraq to Palestine?

Dr. Rashid Al-Khayoun: Yes, Amin Al-Husseini played a significant role, along with German Nazism, in dragging the Jews out of Iraq.

The history of the Farhoud and the expulsion of the Iraqi Jewish community contradicts the picture often portrayed in Western media of Jews being an accepted minority in Arab states.

Are the Iraqi Jews and their descendants in Israel among the Jews who should go back to where they came from?

Somehow, I think Helen Thomas and her supporters would say "yes," which tells you everything you need to know.

Why the "Helen Thomas Issue" Matters

It has long been accepted that Helen Thomas, the so-called Dean of the White House press corps, is no longer relevant as a journalist. Most of the time, she is simply ignored, with perhaps a roll of the eyes. You can almost hear most of her fellow journalists saying "oh, that's just Helen being Helen." Sort of like the crazy aunt with the 15 cats.

However, while she is mostly cast aside as a serious journalist now, she still holds court at the most senior White House correspondent. Often, especially when a Democrat is in the White House, hers is the first question allowed during Presidential press conferences.

For many years, Thomas has been quite vocal about her disdain for the State of Israel. Although born in Kentucky, her parents were Lebanese immigrants who settled in Detroit soon after her birth. Her pro-Palestinian views were never more exposed than when her false claims of one-sided Israeli aggression was answered by then-White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, thanking her for "the Hezbollah view."

So was it that much of a surprise that Thomas was caught on camera saying this?

"Tell them (Israelis) to get the hell out of Palestine. Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. Not Germany. Not Poland."

When the questioner, who knew he's caught a live one, asked what Jews should so, Thomas didn't miss a beat, saying "They go home. Poland. Germany. And America and everywhere else."

So, why should it matter what this old, most certainly senile old biddy says?

It matters precisely because who she is and who, as a member of the White House Press Corps, is. Because of her lofty place of honor, she is someone who is supposedly a person of virtue and honor. Journalists are to recognized for their devotion to the truth. And yet, everything Thomas said here is ignorant and false, not to mention deeply anti-Semitic.

The fact is, had she said this and instead of talking about the Jews, said that the Blacks should go back to Africa, or that the Hispanics should go back to Mexico, what would the media do? Aside from an enormous uproar to have her fired, I could see President Obama criticizing her for her racist views. Every network on TV would attack her the same way they attacked Jimmy the Greek, or Rush Limbaugh, when he said Donovan McNabb was overrated. Even Slate Magazine, a true bastion of liberalism, came out and agreed with Limbaugh's assessment.

But Rush was torn apart in the media, fired from hos job on ESPN and it directly affected his attempt to purchase the St. Louis Rams a few years later.

But of course, when it comes to Israel and the Jews, nary a peep is heard. Certainly, conservative blogs are all over this. What's remarkable is how the Right is constantly slurred as racists, and the like, while the majority of Jews vote overwhelmingly Democrat. Yet, once again, it is only the Right that is standing up for the State of Israel.

By taking the stance that this is just Helen being Helen, the media (as well as the President, by not commenting) is being complicit in the frightening rise of acceptance of Jew-hatred. But, of course, this is nothing new from the Obama White House. Since taking office, the President has cast Israel as the reason for the Middle East troubles. His slobbering over the Iranians and Syrians, his outrageous condemnation of Israel building in its' capitol and she shameful treatment of Prime Minister Netanyahu have given anti-Semites reason to increase their vilification of Israel and the Jews. There is a reason why only 6% of the Israelis approve of the American President. They remember when he said "“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

The point is, 75 years after the Holocaust, anti-Semitism is becoming the norm again. As Islam infiltrates more and more countries, they bring with them a revisionist history of the world. When you add this to the dark anti-Semitism of old Europe, you end up with the seeds for another genocide. IF we allow crazy old Helen a continued platform to spread her vile falsehoods and anti-Semitic rants, we are equally as guilty as if we said them ourselves.

Thomas did attempt an apology of sorts. But if taken at her word, she has to be lying. You can not say "I believe such and such" one day and then say "that isn't what I believe" the next. One of those comments must be a lie. As a member of the free press, that alone should disqualify her from her job.

But the blatant racism of her comments, along with her long history of hostility and ignorant statements about Israel, should immediately cause her dismissal. She is an embarrassment to her employers, her industry and to her country. It's time she be treated as such.

No to Mohammad, but yes, yes, yes to anti-Semitism

A few weeks ago, Comedy Central was simply just a funny television network. Then, some crackpot Jihadist became offended by the fact that the show "South Park" dared to include Mohammad in a spoof of all religious icons.

Was South Park's humor odious? Absolutely. But because that show is offensive to each religion equally, the sting of it's debasing humor comes across as truly harmless. The fact is, South Park has always pushed the limits of society (or has at least tried to) since it's launching, a number of years ago.

By the same vein, Comedy Central makes no apologies, at least never used to, for it's outrageous comedy. Certainly, with perhaps the exception of Jon Stewart's "Daily Show," is there any anti-religion sentiment that isn't shared amongst all faiths equally.

But then the threats came and the network coward to political correctness. Or perhaps it was cowardice. Whatever it was, Comedy Central pulled the episode in deference (or fear) to Islamic extremists. It didn't matter than Christianity, Judaism and a host of other faiths were lampooned as well. All that did matter, again, was the Islam was held to a different standard.

When the story first broke, the network issued a statement, saying: "In light of recent world events, we feel we made the right decision."

And what world events were those? Well, I don't have to tell you.

I thought perhaps this little incident would have tamed the networks attacks on religion. Perhaps, in light of the huge scandal, Comedy Central would take a hard look at who they offend.

I was wrong. And in a very big way.

From the Israelinsider:

Comedy Central website has published an anti-semitic game called "I.S.R.A.E.L. Attacks," in which a murderous robot called Israel is called upon to wipe out every cartoon character on the show. The short animated movie that introduces the premise of the game portrays a "Jew Producer" being "busted" for stealing cartoon characters. "I.S.R.A.E.L" is then sent out to destroy them all.

Here is the video of the game. Check it out for yourselves:




So, what does this tell us? Well, for one, making fun of Jews - in an very disturbing, anti-Semitic way (take a look at the way the creator of the robot looks, with the hook nose and greedy eyes) - is a-ok. But to even show any image of "the prophet" is absolutely against their moral code of ethics.

Generally, when some stupid television show makes fun of religion, I don't give a damn. As the old saying goes, I may not like what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it. However, when that show belittles one individual religion - even if it's Islam - it goes over the line.

Yes, Muslims are way too overly sensitive and need to not get all Jihadi over a cartoon depiction of Big Mo. I mean, he was just part of an attack against religion in general. You see, it wasn't as if the show depicted Muslims in a stereotypical way.

And thus lies the problem. It isn't enough that the network finds humor in mocking religions and there icons. But Comedy Central went to a further extreme and licensed a game that is so blatantly anti-Semitic that it makes my skin crawl.

The network, which cowered to Muslim threats of extreme violence, feels no shame whatsoever about debasing not only Judaism, but of Jews individually. That, my friends, is the ultimate in cowardice. And for a network that has so many Jewish people in it's hierarchy, it is way beyond shameful.

Perhaps that's why they did it. After all, so many Jews in the past felt that if we just bow down to the whims of others, they'll treat us better. So what better way to do that than to honor Mohammad, while belittling themselves?

After all, that kind of attitude saved us from the gas chambers, right? Oh, wait.

Comedy Central has really gone over the line and deserves nothing less than a boycott of their shows. I rarely believe that boycotts work, but in this case I feel so angry at their cowardice and egregious anti-Semitism that I will do everything I can do to punish the network as best I can. Certainly, my TV will not turn to the channel, and my family will never watch it again. I will write to their advertisers and demand to be heard. I suggest anyone who finds this kind of "humor" unacceptable to do the same.

The sad truth is this helps explain why Islam is conquering the world. By censoring any mention of Mohammad, they are showing the world - especially the Islamic world - that we respect their religion over our own (and anyone else's). Of course, that only proves to them that their religion is supreme. And that, my friends, is why they are winning.

Consider the situation at Ground Zero. Mayor Bloomberg has not said one word about the plans to build a Mosque on the grounds were 2,996 innocent people were slaughtered by Islamic terrorists. The fact that the dedication of said Mosque is 9/11/2011 - exactly 10 years to the day of the World Trade Center attack notwithstanding. Then, consider the fact that the 9/11 memorial in Shanskville, PA was created in the shape of an Islamic crescent, with the top pointing towards Mecca.

And none of this is by accident, either. Wherever Islam conquers, they defile what was there before. When they conquered Jerusalem, they made a point to build the Mosque of Omar (the Dome of the Rock) right on top of the Jewish Temple. With the building of the Mosque in lower Manhattan, they are doing it again. And if you think this is being built in the name of friendship building between two religion, you are sadly mistaken, I'm afraid. Here is more on the travesty at Ground Zero.

Islam dominates and America has become far to scared to fight it. Whether it be through the feckle behavior of our political leaders, or the cowardice of our media, we are slowly succumbing to the real radical change in society. Political correctness, the cornerstone of liberalism, has neutered our country and created a void in our faith. By allowing Islam to be viewed above all other religions, we are destroying the fabric that create our nation and our heritage. Make no mistake, Islam takes no prisoners.

And clearly, Comedy Central has no clue.

No More "Glee" For Me

I think I'm about to stop watching one of my favorite shows.

I've been watching "Glee" every time it's been on, since it debuted last year. I find the show vastly entertaining and I think the characters are very believable. But that all changed in the past two weeks.

Last week, it was an obnoxious quip about Rachel, one of the lead characters. Rachel is a neurotic, Jewish girl. Of course, in Hollywood, what other kind of Jew is there? Anyway, because of her burning desire to be a star, not to mention her nerdiness (we can't have a "cool" Jew, now can we? And don't say Puck - he's only half-Jewish), she is pretty unpopular. This week, when of the "cool" cheerleaders called her "Pipi Longstocking," one of the other cheerleaders mocked her by saying, "yeah, an Israeli Pipi Longstocking."

Now what was the point here? And no, Rachel is not Israeli - not on the show, not in real life. The only reason for someone to make that distinction is to insult them, or at least to attempt to do so. It would be as if one of the black characters were called the "African Pipi Longstocking." No one would excuse that.

In last week's episode took it one step farther. Again regarding Rachel, one of the cheerleaders told her to "go back to Israel." And again I ask you, what would have been the outcry if they told the black girl to "go back to Africa?" Or the Asian girl to "go back to China?"

See my point?

Look, I recognize that these things are said in real high schools across America. But if a television show is going to put this in the dialogue, then they should use it to show how wrong and unacceptable this type of language is.

But I suppose that wouldn't fit the agenda of Glee's writers. After all, tonight's episode glorified Madonna as if she were a modern day saint - even going so far to simulate sex scenes between the supposedly underage cast. Granted, two of the three couples who were losing their virginity ended up backing out. Not out of any moral epiphany, mind you, but simply because one partner was too scared. The was nary a word spoken about the idea of abstaining, nor was anything said about the damage pre-marital sex (between two people who do not love and respect each other) does to one's self-esteem.

Look, I'm certainly no angel and I'm no prude, either. Sex is a wonderful thing, if shared between two loving people. But when not done in that situation, it can be ugly, abusive and in the case of being the first time, deeply regretful. Why couldn't the writers of a show geared towards the youngest, most vulnerable among us, show some responsibility and tell it like it is. Instead of making it appear to be "no big deal."

Hell, they allowed one young girl to become pregnant. Couldn't they have had her at least warn her friends of the perils? No, instead they made some fly-by comment that if you blinked, you missed it.

Of course, Glee is the show where last year, when this girl became pregnant and told her father, he was portrayed as a mean, intolerant ass who watches Glenn Beck (as if that were a bad thing). Tonight, the anti-conservative crack was about the students not having anyone to look up to. One of the teachers whined that all they had was "Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Ann Coulter."

Last I checked, Ann Coulter wasn't shaving her head, losing her children and running away from rehab. But I digress. Last week, it was a stupid quip from resident evil woman Sue Sylvester, saying that she can't believe how dumb her Cheerios (the cheerleading squad) were, by saying, "and I taught a young beauty queen from Wasilla, Alaska." Any guesses who that might be?

But I know Hollywood is grossly liberal and I do have a thick skin. But that doesn't mean I can accept Antisemitism to go unchallenged, either.

It's just a shame because I felt this show had so much promise.

And there was another liberal lie mentioned on tonight's show, as well. Quinn, the pregnant teenager, commented that "The fact is that women still earn 70 cents for every dollar for doing the same job. It starts in high school."

How many times have we heard this crap? Carrie Lukas has a great, honest rebuttal to this liberal myth, which you can read here (h/t Newsbusters for the link). But in a nutshell, it isn't as cut and dry as the liberals (and feminists) would have you believe. Think about it for a minute and read the her article. I think it will open your eyes.

So I think I'm done with Glee. Thanks Hollywood, you screwed up another great show.