If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Options
Ken Livingstone accused of anti-semitism
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
*NOT ANOTHER ANTI-SEMITISM THREAD SHOCK* :eek:
Yes, I'm afraid you. Sorry for it but I think the story is interesting in two levels.
Ken Livingstone had an argument three nights ago with a reporter from the Evening Standard (prop. the Rothermere family). According to Ken the journalist had been following and bothering him for a while, and now was stalking a gay event Ken had attended.
When Ken came out he asked the reporter if happened to be a German war criminal. The reporter said he was in fact Jewish, and was offended at such remark. Ken replied "Ah right, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4256549.stm
Now what Ken was referring to here (which was reported on the radio but has been left out of the BBC article) is this man working for the Standard, which is part of the profoundly homophobic and historically anti-semite Rothermere media empire, and stalking a party held to celebrate gay rights. Ken was said to describe the Standard as a homophobic fascist piece of garbage- which it is, together with the other Associated Newspaper publications.
Point no. 1: His comments about the bloke being a concentration camp guard might have been distasteful or even offensive, but are they really anti-semite, as the Board of British Jews claim? I really can't see it. I'm sorry to say so, but to me this is being oversensitive- especially when it is very clear that the remark wasn't made with racist intentions.
Point no 2: Why oh why would any Jewish person want to work for the Rothermere family anyway? This is the people who openly supported Franco, Hitler and Mosley for years. Surely the journalist has little grounds to accuse others of anti-semitism when he's happy to work for such people?
Yes, I'm afraid you. Sorry for it but I think the story is interesting in two levels.
Ken Livingstone had an argument three nights ago with a reporter from the Evening Standard (prop. the Rothermere family). According to Ken the journalist had been following and bothering him for a while, and now was stalking a gay event Ken had attended.
When Ken came out he asked the reporter if happened to be a German war criminal. The reporter said he was in fact Jewish, and was offended at such remark. Ken replied "Ah right, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4256549.stm
Now what Ken was referring to here (which was reported on the radio but has been left out of the BBC article) is this man working for the Standard, which is part of the profoundly homophobic and historically anti-semite Rothermere media empire, and stalking a party held to celebrate gay rights. Ken was said to describe the Standard as a homophobic fascist piece of garbage- which it is, together with the other Associated Newspaper publications.
Point no. 1: His comments about the bloke being a concentration camp guard might have been distasteful or even offensive, but are they really anti-semite, as the Board of British Jews claim? I really can't see it. I'm sorry to say so, but to me this is being oversensitive- especially when it is very clear that the remark wasn't made with racist intentions.
Point no 2: Why oh why would any Jewish person want to work for the Rothermere family anyway? This is the people who openly supported Franco, Hitler and Mosley for years. Surely the journalist has little grounds to accuse others of anti-semitism when he's happy to work for such people?
Beep boop. I'm a bot.
0
Comments
2) Given that the current Lord Rothmere has no links to Hitler et al (who were dead before he was born) I don't see why he should be held responsible for the sins of his fathers (and the links are over-exxagerated - in the years before and during WW2 the Daily Mail was not a pro-Nazi paper - as even a cursory reading of it should make clear- any more than the Guardian was pro-Stalin). So why shouldn't a Jewish journalist wish to work for them.
Point 2. If the Tories win the next election, I would effectively be working on their agenda. Does that mean that I should resign?
If that is indeed the case, I would not want to be associated with that corporation in any way whatsoever if were Jewish. Well I wouldn't want to be associated with them regardless, but especially if I were Jewish.
It is true that they don't peddle an anti-semite agenda nowadays- the subjects of their righteousness and fury are now gypsies, asylum seekers and homosexuals.
I don't think that is a very appropriate comparison MoK...
I don't think it was anti-semitic, just moronic. But since when has Ken ever reallt thought before opening his mouth?
Why not. Working for them doesn't mean that I support their political views. I cannot see the difference here.
As for the HateMail, I never expect them to apologise nor would I want them to. Why should they?
They also stopped support for the BUF in 1934 after the violence of the Olympia meeting.
Now I think the Mail's a shit paper read by morons but I'm not going to base my views on what the paper is like today on what it was like in the 1930's.
A Jewish person might try to take comfort from the fact that today the Daily Mail is if not Jewish-friendly, at least Jewish-neutral. But if you look carefully at the abuse and slander directed at certain minorities, namely homosexuals, Roma, asylum seekers and to a lesser extent Muslims, and compare it with the kind of things that were said about Jewish people during the 1930s, the similarities are shocking and all too obvious.
Ken was simply highlighting what a nasty rag the journo works for. His comments might have been inappropriate but he's right in essence.
But I don't think the quotes wwere Livingstone's way of suggesting that the Daily Mail was anti-asylum seeker or whatever. It was Livingstone sounding off before his brain was fully engaged.
Don't be silly! Ken is a loony lefty anyway so Lukesh automatically jumps on his hate horse.
I think "anti-semitism" receives coverage that is completely disproportionate, and that Islamophobia receives little....
Ken Livingstone is a toerag - but not an anti-semitic one.
The analogy with the camp guard, was people doing unspeakable things for money, like, erm, working for the substandard.
Prove it. ........
Google news: Islamophobia uk - results 48
Google news: Islamophobia - results 189
Google news: anti-semitism uk - results 160
Google news: anti-semitism - results 3920
I reckon there are more than 532 attacks on muslims every year. What say you?
And personally, yes, I'd be fucking offended too.
Google news: Islamophobia uk - results 48
Google news: Islamophobia - results 189
Google news: anti-semitism uk - results 160
Google news: anti-semitism - results 3920
You're talking shite
So, explain why there are so many more reports on anti-semitism than islamophobia, which you claim receives "completely disproportionate" coverage...
Actually, don't bother
This is getting interesting. Its not anti-semitic to liken a jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard (and you're right no-one has used the term yet) but say "End the occupation" and the accusations come streaming in ............
I did like this:
sauce
I still reckon its all to do with Qaradawi ......
And where does it state that Livingstone was accused of anti-semitism?
Obviously I couldn't know that. But according to the article The Board of Deputies of British Jews haven't called him or the comments anti-semitic. But rather "insensitive".
Now, as I have said before I believe that people accuse Jews, Israel and Jewish organisations to use the "anti-semite" card more often than what really happens. Hence the impression outgrows reality.
Therefore I see it as a negative when Aladdin uses this method himself. Nonetheless the billboards you're mentioning.
The witch-hunt has begun, incidentally:
Livingstone faces official inquiry into his comments
Now, precise "anti-semitic" accusations or not, this is not only a monumental waste of fucking time, but also does the Jewish cause no favours whatsoever. Was it insensitive and out of order? Yes. Does it merit an official inquiry and the Board of British Jews as well as many others making throwing such a tantrum about it? I very much doubt it...
And incidentally, I agree with this Livingstone comment 100%:
"If he isn't happy he shouldn't be working for a paper like that. You can't expect to work for the Daily Mail group and have the rest of society treat with you respect as a useful member of society, because you are not."
Just want you to remember that next time you accuse Jewish organisations and the likes to use the "Anti-Semite" card at their any given opportunity, that this time it wasn't the case.
Regarding the comments, I'll say it again, they're not racist nor anti-semitic. But still worth to take up, being that it implies that the tone is acceptable in society. Which I for one, completely disagree with.
Had anyone said the same to me, I'd do my best to make an issue out of it too.